Direct Association Research Articles

Efficacy of treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after virus-induced exacerbations

Viral respiratory infection is one of the main etiologic factors for acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD). The disease course after virus-associated AECOPD and the response to treatment have not been studied adequately.The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of single-inhaler triple therapy (SITT) of long-acting anticholinergic drugs (LAMA)/long-acting β2-agonists (LABA) of adrenergic receptors/inhaled glucocorticosteroids (ICS) on COPD symptoms, lung function, exercise tolerance, and inflammatory activity compared with multiple-inhaler triple therapy (MITT) after a virus-associated COPD exacerbation.Methods. This was an observational prospective cohort study of COPD patients (spirographус criterion) hospitalized for AECOPD with viral (n = 60) or viral-bacterial (n = 60) infection. The comparison group included patients with bacterial AECOPD (n = 60). Viral infection was diagnosed by PCR-RT of sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for RNAs of rhinovirus, RS virus, influenza A and B viruses, or SARS-CoV-2 virus. Bacterial infection was demonstrated by sputum purulence and/or procalcitonin test results and/or standard culture data. During AECOPD, blood cytokines were measured by ELISA. The patients were treated with SITT (investigational treatment) or MITT (comparison treatment) of LAMA/LABA/ICS in real-world clinical practice. The follow-up started 4 weeks after AECOPD regression and discharge from hospital.Results. After 52 weeks of treatment, FEV1 decline was smaller than in the SITT group. Differences from the MITT group were greater in patients with viral AECOPD (–69 (–75; –10) ml vs –75 (–78; –72) ml) or viral-bacterial AECOPD (–67.5 (–69; –37.25) ml vs –75.5 (–84; –70.25) ml). An increase in DLCO/Va, 6-minut walk test (6MWT) results, a decrease in bronchodilation coefficient, blood eosinophils and fibrinogen was seen only in subjects who received SITT and had viralor viral-bacterial AECOPD. A multiple regression model revealed a direct association between blood interleukin-5 and improvement in FEV1 (В = 0.848) and DLCO/Va (B=0.117) and a negative correlation with blood levels of amino-terminal propeptide of type-III procollagen and improvement in DLCO/Va (В = –0.021).Conclusion. SITT with LAMA/LABA/ICS was more effective in preventing FEV1 decline, increasing DLCO, 6MWT results, and decreasing airway inflammation in virus-associated or viral-bacterial AECOPD.

Preweaning piglet survival on commercial farms.

Preweaning piglet mortality (PWM), a trait highly related to litter size, is one of the main concerns associated with productive efficiency and animal welfare in commercial pig farms. The objectives of this work were to study piglet survival at the farm level, to establish a survival rate (SR) as a target indicator to be improved, and to model it based on other reproductive parameters. Analyzed data corresponded to 580 Spanish commercial farms with a total inventory of 809,768 sows. These farms showed a mean SR of 85.70% piglets born alive (BA), which decreased to 81.81% when total piglets born (TB) were considered. The SR was strongly associated with prolificacy (P < 0.01), the parities with the highest prolificacy being those that had the lowest SR. Thus, the highest correlations were for the SR of piglets BA in the third and fourth parities (r = -0.460 and r = -0.452, respectively, P < 0.01), and for the SR of piglets TB in the fourth parity (r = -0.546, P < 0.01), which was the one with the highest prolificacy. The values corresponding to the quartile of farms with the highest SR within the most productive farms were established as targets to be improved, which were ≥88.5% of piglets BA and 83.2% of piglets TB. Nevertheless, the direct associations shown between the piglet's survival and prolificacy and other productive factors, such as the age of piglets at weaning, the farrowings per sow and year and the farrowing interval, suggest the convenience of modeling the risk of PWM on farms to have its own target of survival index to be improved.

Post-traumatic stress disorder among heart disease patients: a clinical follow-up of individuals with myocardial infarction in the Tromsø Study

BackgroundMyocardial infarction is likely to be experienced as a life-threatening and potentially traumatic event. Approximately one-third of patients with myocardial infarction experience clinically significant symptoms of anxiety/depression. However, it is unclear how many of these patients experience these symptoms because of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We conducted a clinical screening of individuals with a confirmed myocardial infarction diagnosis. Our goal was to examine the prevalence of PTSD in myocardial infarction patients and study how PTSD symptoms were associated with exposure to potentially traumatic events.MethodThis is epidemiological research with a cross-sectional design following up participants from the Tromsø Study with a confirmed diagnosis of myocardial infarction. We sent invitations to participants in the Tromsø Study with clinically significant self-reported anxiety or depression symptoms following myocardial infarction. A cross-sectional sample of N = 79 participants (61 men and 18 women) was collected. During an interview, participants completed the Stressful Life Events Screening Questionnaire and the PTSD checklist PCL-5.ResultsWe found nine participants (11.6%) with probable PTSD. This was significantly higher than the postulated population prevalence in Norway (p < 0.015). We found no direct association between myocardial infarction as illness trauma and symptom levels (p = 0.123). However, we found a significant linear trend (p = 0.002), indicating that symptom severity increased proportionately as the number of post-traumatic events increased.ConclusionPTSD prevalence in myocardial infarction patients was related to lifetime exposure to traumatic events, not the myocardial infarction event alone. More research is required to examine the interaction between myocardial infarction and PTSD. Clinicians should be aware that anxiety or depression symptoms after MI could be secondary symptoms of PTSD.

Blood Haemoglobin Concentration Is Directly and Independently Related with Pulse Wave Velocity, a Measure of Large Artery Stiffness.

High haemoglobin level has been associated with metabolic syndrome, elevated blood pressure (BP), and increased mortality risk. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association of blood haemoglobin with haemodynamics in 743 subjects, using whole-body impedance cardiography and pulse wave analysis. The participants were allocated to sex-stratified haemoglobin tertiles with mean values 135, 144, and 154 g/L, respectively. The mean age was similar in all tertiles, while body mass index was higher in the highest versus the lowest haemoglobin tertile. The highest haemoglobin tertile had the highest erythrocyte and leukocyte counts, plasma C-reactive protein, uric acid, renin activity, and aldosterone. The lipid profile was less favourable and insulin sensitivity lower in the highest versus the lowest haemoglobin tertile. Aortic BP, cardiac output, and systemic vascular resistance were similar in all tertiles, while the pulse wave velocity (PWV) was higher in the highest versus the lowest haemoglobin tertile. In linear regression analysis, age (Beta 0.478), mean aortic BP (Beta 0.178), uric acid (Beta 0.150), heart rate (Beta 0.148), and aldosterone-to-renin ratio (Beta 0.123) had the strongest associations with PWV (p < 0.001 for all). Additionally, haemoglobin concentration was an explanatory factory for PWV (Beta 0.070, p = 0.028). To conclude, blood haemoglobin concentration had a small direct and independent association with a measure of large artery stiffness.

Association of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 with rheumatoid arthritis in Iraqi patients: A case-control study.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic immune-mediated inflammatory arthritis, impacting 0.5-1% of the global population, and leading to progressive deterioration of the musculoskeletal and joint systems. This study aims to analyze the serum levels of soluble triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in Iraqi patients with RA and healthy individuals. It also intends to assess the diagnostic significance of these receptors, investigate their association with disease activity and examine their correlation with the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the patients. From December 2020 to June 2021, 117 RA patients with a mean age of 50 years participated in the study. The patients were categorized into inactive and active disease groups based on their DAS28 score and CDAI, as determined by a Rheumatologist. The serum levels of a specific triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) (Pg/mL) were measured. The results showed that the active RA patients had significantly higher levels of the receptor (270.17±187) compared to both the inactive RA patients (112.81±37.48) and the healthy controls (43.89±29.53) (P < 0.001). The sTREM-1 demonstrated a high discriminatory ability (AUC ≥ 0.936) between RA and control groups. Moreover, a direct association was observed between the DAS-28ESR and sTREM-1 levels.

Dietary risk factors for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance in a racially diverse population

AbstractMonoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), a precursor of multiple myeloma, is associated with shorter lifespan and cardiac, renal, neurologic, and immune-related comorbidities. There is little known about modifiable risk factors for this condition. To determine whether the risk of MGUS is associated with dietary factors in a racially diverse population, we conducted a US population–based case-control study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-2004), which included 373 individuals with MGUS and 1406 matched controls. Diet was characterized by one 24-hour dietary recall, with gram intake of individual foods and beverages aggregated into groups. Unconditional multivariable logistic regressions were used to model associations between intake of several food groups and MGUS, with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) reported for the highest relative to the lowest quantile of intake. Daily gram intake of several food and beverage groups were significantly associated with MGUS. MGUS was inversely associated with whole-grain bread, oats, and rice (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.48-1.00; P < .05), fruits (excluding juice) and vegetables (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.52-0.93; P = .02), vegetables (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.56-0.99; P < .05), tomatoes (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.51-1.00; P < .05), and cruciferous vegetables (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.26-0.74; P < .01). Direct associations were observed for sugar-sweetened beverages (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.00-1.78; P < .05), sugar-sweetened soft drinks (OR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01-1.96; P = .04), and artificially sweetened soft drinks (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.04-2.33; P = .03). Our study shows that diet is potentially a modifiable risk factor for MGUS.

An integrated model of psychosocial correlates of insomnia severity in family caregivers of people with dementia

Objectives Research has shown the relevance of stress and coping factors in explaining caregivers’ insomnia symptoms. However, few attempts have been made to empirically test an integrative model for insomnia severity in family caregivers of people with dementia. The aim of this study was to test such a model, in which insomnia severity is proposed to be influenced by predisposing factors, precipitated by stressors, and perpetuated by behaviors to cope with these stressors. Methods 311 family caregivers of people with dementia were assessed for variables categorized as predisposing (e.g. female gender), precipitating (e.g. care-recipient’s behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia [BPSD]), and perpetuating factors (e.g. sleep aids). A theoretical model was developed and then statistically tested using structural equation modelling, analyzing the direct and indirect effects of the assessed variables on caregivers’ insomnia severity. Results Distress, sleep aids, and experiential avoidance showed a direct association with insomnia severity. Female gender, younger age, cognitive fusion, leisure activities, dysfunctional thoughts, frequency and distress caused by care-recipient’s BPSD showed indirect associations with insomnia severity. The model explained 22% of the variance of caregivers’ insomnia severity. Conclusion The results provide additional empirical support for the importance of predisposing, precipitating and perpetuating factors associated with caregivers’ insomnia severity. The integrative model we propose may also be useful for developing interventions targeting insomnia symptoms in family dementia caregivers.

Examining associations between distress tolerance, perceived COVID-19 threat, and psychological outcomes: The moderating role of social support

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant psychological distress worldwide. It is important to enhance our understanding of the interpersonal and intrapersonal processes that can be addressed to promote psychological well-being after experiencing an adverse event like a pandemic. Therefore, to understand the direct and indirect associations between distress tolerance and diverse psychological outcomes following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we examined whether perceived COVID-19 threat mediates the association between distress tolerance and several psychological outcomes (i.e., psychological well-being, depression, anxiety, and stress). We also investigated whether social support moderates the indirect associations between distress tolerance and these psychological outcomes. We collected online survey data between April and July 2020 from individuals living in Canada (N = 139). Moderated mediation analyses indicated higher distress tolerance was associated with lower perceived COVID-19 threat which in turn was associated with higher psychological well-being, and lower depression and stress. Additionally, social support satisfaction enhanced the indirect association between distress tolerance and psychological well-being. Our findings may inform the design of interventions that promote psychological well-being after the onset of an adversity like the COVID-19 pandemic by presenting distress tolerance, perceived threat, and social support as targets for intervention. Future research should investigate the moderating role of different types of social support on the association between distress tolerance and psychological outcomes.

Managerial latitude and adaptive selling: Important roles of salesperson perceived control and work centrality

Based on the Conservation of Resources theory, we propose a positive relationship between managerial latitude and salespeople’s adaptive-selling behavior. We also propose salesperson perceived control as a relevant mediator and salesperson work centrality as an important boundary condition. Using time-lagged (three rounds, two months apart) data from 321 sales manager-employee dyads, the present work shows that managerial latitude positively influences adaptive selling, both directly and indirectly, via salesperson perceived control. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that salesperson work centrality functions as a moderator of the direct association between managerial latitude and perceived control, as well as in the indirect link between managerial latitude and adaptive selling. The present study carries several important practical implications for organizations operating in different service and manufacturing sectors.

Fungal and bacterial gut microbiota differ between Clostridioides difficile colonization and infection.

Aim: The bacterial microbiota is well-recognized for its role in Clostridioides difficile colonization and infection, while fungi and yeasts remain understudied. The aim of this study was to analyze the predictive value of the mycobiota and its interactions with the bacterial microbiota in light of C. difficile colonization and infection. Methods: The mycobiota was profiled by ITS2 sequencing of fecal DNA from C. difficile infection (CDI) patients (n = 29), asymptomatically C. difficile colonization (CDC) patients (n = 38), and hospitalized controls with C. difficile negative stool culture (controls; n = 38). Previously published 16S rRNA gene sequencing data of the same cohort were used additionally for machine learning and fungal-bacterial network analysis. Results: CDI patients were characterized by a significantly higher abundance of Candida spp. (MD 0.270 ± 0.089, P = 0.002) and Candida albicans (MD 0.165 ± 0.082, P = 0.023) compared to controls. Additionally, they were deprived of Aspergillus spp. (MD -0.067 ± 0.026, P = 0.000) and Penicillium spp. (MD -0.118 ± 0.043, P = 0.000) compared to CDC patients. Network analysis revealed a positive association between several fungi and bacteria in CDI and CDC, although the analysis did not reveal a direct association between Clostridioides spp. and fungi. Furthermore, the microbiota machine learning model outperformed the models based on the mycobiota and the joint microbiota-mycobiota model. The microbiota classifier successfully distinguished CDI from CDC [Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUROC) = 0.884] and CDI from controls (AUROC = 0.905). Blautia and Bifidobacterium were marker genera associated with CDC patients and controls. Conclusion: The gut mycobiota differs between CDI, CDC, and controls and may affect Clostridioides spp. through indirect interactions. The mycobiota data alone could not successfully discriminate CDC from controls or CDI patients and did not have additional predictive value to the bacterial microbiota data. The identification of bacterial marker genera associated with CDC and controls warrants further investigation.

Association between time perspective and metacognition among Lebanese adults: the mediating role of mindfulness

BackgroundMindfulness may serve as a component of metacognitive beliefs and can also be viewed as a form of time perspective. The interplay between time perspective and metacognitive beliefs remains understudied. Both aspects, however, display considerable stability over time and significantly influence an individual’s life and well-being. Lebanon, marked by its diverse and complex history, struggles with various political, social, and economic challenges. This study offers a valuable and unprecedented opportunity to examine these connections within a distinct cultural context, shedding light on the unique experiences of the Lebanese population. Therefore, our research aims to investigate the connection between time perspective and metacognition, with a focus on the role of mindfulness as a mediator.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted from August to November 2022 and involved participants from various regions of Lebanon. The questionnaire included sociodemographic data and scales such as the Arabic versions of the 15-item Short Form of the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, the Metacognitions Questionnaire, the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory and the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-2).ResultsOur investigation recruited 423 participants. The analysis showed that individuals with a positive stance on their past, a hedonistic present, or a future-oriented outlook exhibited heightened levels of mindfulness. This elevated state of mindfulness, in turn, demonstrated a significant link to augmented cognitive self-consciousness (An increased introspection into one’s own thoughts). We also observed a direct association between a future-focused time perspective and high scores of cognitive self-consciousness. Furthermore, mindfulness emerged as a crucial mediator in the relationships between time perspectives and negative beliefs about the danger of worry. Similarly, individuals with a positive view on their past, a hedonistic present orientation, or a future-focused mindset demonstrated elevated levels of mindfulness, which was correlated with less negative beliefs about the danger of worry. Notably, a positive past perspective was directly associated with less negative views on worry and the subsequent loss of control, whereas higher future focused time perspective scores was significantly and directly associated with more negative beliefs about worry, whereas more future focused time perspective was significantly and directly associated with more negative beliefs about worry.ConclusionOur findings found several meaningful associations between our variables, but it primarily underscored the significance of considering distinct subcomponents within mindfulness and psychopathological metacognition that may overlap, shedding light on their differential impacts on psychological well-being. We were also able to mirror the dual pathway theory of time perspective suggested in previous studies. These insights carry notable implications for the development and refinement of mindfulness-based and metacognitive interventions, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches that consider varying time perspectives. Continued investigation in this area promises to advance our understanding of these constructs and refine their practical applications in mental health interventions and well-being enhancement strategies.

Identifying the insomnia-related psychological issues associated with hyperarousal: A network perspective

Hyperarousal, recognized as a fundamental characteristic of insomnia for decades, has yielded limited evidence concerning its direct psychological associations. This study aimed to explore the psychological factors linked to hyperarousal within the framework of interrelated variables. Two independent samples, comprising n = 917 and n = 652 young adults, were included in the study. Employing the first dataset as a discovery sample and the second dataset as a replication sample, network analyses were conducted using 26 variables derived from 17 scales. The objective was to estimate the direct and indirect associations between psychological issues, including hyperarousal and insomnia. Additionally, linear regression analysis was employed to assess the convergence of findings obtained from the network analysis. Network analyses in both samples converged to reveal direct associations between insomnia severity and several psychological factors, including negative sleep beliefs, physical fatigue, insomnia response to stress, hyperarousal, self-reported depression, and mental fatigue. Notably, the nodes with relative importance within the network include trait anxiety, depressive rumination, hyperarousal, perfectionism sub-dimension of concern over mistakes, and private self-consciousness. Hyperarousal is one of the key factors linking insomnia with a variety of psychological issues, including emotion-related factors (rumination, perveived stress), sleep-related factors (dysfunctional sleep beliefs and attitudes, insomnia response to stress, fatigue, chronotype), and self-related factors (self-consciousness, perfectionism). The results suggest that forthcoming strategies for enhancing the treatment efficacy of insomnia could consider supplementary interventions that specifically address hyperarousal, other factors directly linked to insomnia, or the hub nodes within the network.

Relational Uncertainty, Parent Involvement, and Conversations about the State of the Relationship as Predictors of Relational Turbulence in Romantic Relationships

ABSTRACT This study investigated how parent involvement (i.e., parent interference and facilitation) moderates the direct and indirect associations between young adults’ relational uncertainty and turbulence vis-à-vis communication about the state of their romantic relationship. Participants included 264 young adults currently involved in a romantic relationship. Results indicated that parent interference and facilitation are associated with the valence of young adults’ conversations with their romantic partner about relational state. The extent to which parent involvement alters communication between romantic partners depends on how much the young adult values their parent’s opinion. Importantly, the indirect association between relational uncertainty and turbulence through communication valence depended upon parent interference and facilitation, which was further conditioned by whether the child valued their parent’s opinions about their romantic relationship. An important contribution of this study is the illumination of a tension between parent-child and child-partner relationships that may function as a boundary condition for relational turbulence.

“Contagious” brands: Are they safe from coronavirus?

PurposeThis study aims to investigate how brand love and brand loyalty for three brands evolved during critical moments of the 2020 pandemic, and how they performed in the long run up to 2022.Design/methodology/approachAn online longitudinal study, including a survey and Twitter data for three brands: Corona Extra, with a direct semantic association with the word coronavirus; Virus Vodka, with an indirect association; Modelo Especial, with no association with the virus name but from the same company as Corona Extra.FindingsDespite external data indicating a harmful association between Corona Extra and coronavirus, this study's findings revealed that the brand maintained its brand love in the long run and increased brand loyalty during the critical moments of the pandemic. This study's data suggest that brand love and brand loyalty may be the underlying reasons for the increase in Corona Extra's brand equity during the pandemic.Originality/valueThe COVID-19 pandemic created a highly stressful situation for consumers and brands. Some brands' names had unfortunate semantic similarities with the virus terminology, which became an additional stressor during that time. This study harnessed the opportunity to investigate brand love and brand loyalty during the pandemic at four points in 2020 and one in 2022. The authors also examined relevant Twitter data during 2020.

Functional characterization of missense variants affecting the extracellular domains of ABCA1 using a fluorescence-based assay

Excess cholesterol originating from nonhepatic tissues is transported within HDL particles to the liver for metabolism and excretion. Cholesterol efflux is initiated by lipid-free or lipid-poor apolipoprotein A1 interacting with the transmembrane protein ABCA1, a key player in cholesterol homeostasis. Defective ABCA1 results in reduced serum levels of HDL cholesterol, deposition of cholesterol in arteries, and an increased risk of early onset CVD. Over 300 genetic variants in ABCA1 have been reported, many of which are associated with reduced HDL cholesterol levels. Only a few of these have been functionally characterized. In this study, we have analyzed 51 previously unclassified missense variants affecting the extracellular domains of ABCA1 using a sensitive, easy, and low-cost fluorescence-based assay. Among these, only 12 variants showed a distinct loss-of-function phenotype, asserting their direct association with severe HDL disorders. These findings emphasize the crucial role of functional characterization of genetic variants in pathogenicity assessment and precision medicine. The functional rescue of ABCA1 loss-of-function variants through proteasomal inhibition or by the use of the chemical chaperone 4-phenylbutyric acid was genotype specific. Genotype-specific responses were also observed for the ability of apolipoprotein A1 to stabilize the different ABCA1 variants. In view of personalized medicine, this could potentially form the basis for novel therapeutic strategies.

Toddler negative affectivity and effortful control: Relations with parent-toddler conversation engagement and indirect effects on language

Evidence that early parent-child conversation supports early language development suggests a need to understand factors that account for individual differences in parent-child conversation engagement. Whereas most studies focus on demographic factors, we investigated the role of toddler temperament in a longitudinal study of 120 economically strained families. Specifically, we investigated the degree to which toddlers’ negative affectivity and effortful control, considered together as a composite reflecting challenging temperament, accounted for variability in parent-toddler conversation engagement, and whether the frequency of that engagement mediated associations between toddler temperament and toddler expressive language skills. Toddler challenging temperament (i.e., high negative affectivity and low effortful control) and parent-toddler conversation engagement were measured at 18 and 30 months. Toddler expressive language skills were measured at 18, 24, and 36 months. As expected, a path model indicated inverse relations between toddler challenging temperament and concurrent parent-toddler conversation engagement at both 18 and 30 months. Unexpectedly, there were no direct associations between toddler challenging temperament and toddler expressive language skills either concurrently or longitudinally. However, we found indirect effects of toddler challenging temperament on later toddler expressive language skills via parent-toddler conversation engagement. Findings highlight the importance of considering toddler temperamental characteristics in addition to family demographics as important factors that account for variability in parent-toddler conversation engagement.

Examining indirect effects of advertising exposure on young adults' cannabis and nicotine vaping.

To examine longitudinal associations between exposure to two types of advertisements (medical/recreational cannabis and e-cigarette retailers [vape shops]) and young adults' cannabis and nicotine vaping behavior. Positive and negative expectancies for cannabis and vaping nicotine were examined as mediators of these associations. Secondary analysis of observational data from a longitudinal cohort of young adults recruited from Southern California (Wave 13: N = 2,411, 56% female, Mage = 23.6). Participants completed web-based surveys annually, reporting on advertising exposure in 2018, expectancies in 2019, and cannabis and nicotine vaping in 2020. Two path models were specified: (a) of past-month cannabis vaping only, nicotine vaping only, and co-use (vs. no vaping) and (b) of single product vaping (vs. co-use). Path analyses modeled direct and indirect associations between variables. Controlling for past-month cannabis and nicotine use and other covariates, there were no significant direct associations of advertising exposure with cannabis and/or nicotine vaping. However, the association between cannabis advertising exposure and vaping (cannabis only) was significantly mediated by positive cannabis expectancies (β = 0.02, SE = 0.01, p = .03). Among those who vaped cannabis and/or nicotine in the past month at Wave 13, expectancies did not significantly mediate associations between advertising exposure and single product use (vs. co-use). Although exposure to cannabis advertisements may not be directly associated with young adults' cannabis vaping 2 years later, the effects of advertising exposure may be exerted indirectly by increasing positive beliefs about cannabis. Implications for public health policy are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Association of Gene Polymorphisms with Breast Cancer Risk in the Kazakh Population.

The research aim is analyzing and identify reliable genetic markers of breast cancer risk in the Kazakh population. The databases were analyzed with the selection of polymorphisms associated with the development of breast cancer and further genotypic study of a group of women with a confirmed diagnosis of breast adenocarcinoma (group No. 1) and a group of relatively healthy women (group No. 2). The research presents the results of a study on the frequency of certain single-nucleotide polymorphisms in patients with breast cancer in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The frequency of single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs4646, rs1065852, rs4244285, rs67376798, rs6504950, rs2229774, rs1800056, rs16942, rs4987047 is statistically significant compared to the control group of patients. These polymorphisms in the Kazakh population have a direct association with an increased risk of breast cancer in women and may be used as cancer indicators during the genetic screening of patients with a complicated family history. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms such as rs55886062, rs3918290, rs12721655, rs4987117, rs2229774, rs11203289, rs137852576, rs11571833, rs80359062 and rs11571746 were found in more than 40. Zero percent of patients with breast cancer may be used as markers for detecting patients at increased risk of breast malignancy in the Kazakh population without a history of poor family history. The usage of the data obtained in a set of state programs for early screening of patients will improve the rates of early breast tumor detection, form groups of patients with a high risk of disease development and improve the quality and expectancy of life.

Directional associations between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and cannabis use in young adults: Uncovering variation by sex, race, and ethnicity.

Prevalence rates of cannabis use and PTSD vary, with men reporting greater cannabis use than females, females reporting higher rates of PTSD than males, and race and ethnic minority persons reporting higher rates of both cannabis and PTSD compared to non-Hispanic White individuals. This study extends our understanding of directional associations between cannabis use and PTSD from early to late young adulthood (18-26 years old) using two theoretical models: symptom-driven pathway and substance-induced pathway. Participants provided yearly data for 14 years, and the present study utilized data from Waves 9 through 14. Those endorsing Criterion A in at least one wave of data collection (n = 1,454) were included in the analytic sample. We used autoregressive latent trajectory with structured residuals to understand reciprocal associations for the full sample, as well as by sex and race or ethnicity. For the full sample, we noted support for both symptom-driven and substance-induced pathways during early young adulthood (18-20) but only support for a symptom-driven pathway during late young adulthood (21-26). Males showed the same pattern as the full sample; however, for females, only a symptom-driven pathway during late young adulthood was found. For race and ethnic minority participants, we showed full cross-lagged effects during both early and late young adulthood and no associations for non-Hispanic White individuals. Results indicate that both men and individuals from minoritized racial and ethnic groups are more likely to report heightened PTSD symptomology, maladaptive coping, and worsening symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Different astrocyte phenotypes mediate the pathological cascade early in the Alzheimer’s disease continuum

AbstractBackgroundGlial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and chitinase‐3‐like protein 1 (YKL‐40) are biomarkers of different astrocyte phenotypes, both of which are elevated in the dementia phase of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the specific contribution of these astrocyte phenotypes early in the AD continuum is not fully understood. Here, we studied how these two astrocyte phenotypes mediate the early pathogenic cascade in the preclinical stage of AD.MethodWe assessed 384 cognitively unimpaired individuals from the ALFA+ study with amyloid‐β (Aβ)42/40, phosphorylated tau (p‐tau181), neurofilament light (NfL) and YKL‐40 measured in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and GFAP measured in plasma, as well as [18F]flutemetamol positron emission tomography (PET) and neuropsychological testing (Annual change in the Preclinical Alzheimer’s Cognitive Composite [PACC]). Path analysis using structural equation modelling was used to quantify the relationships between biomarkers of reactive astrogliosis and Amyloid‐Tau‐Neurodegeneration biomarkers, while incorporating age, sex, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 effects. Direct effects with FDR‐corrected p‐values below .05 were considered significant.ResultCSF Aβ42/40 was associated with Aβ aggregation as measured by PET and with CSF p‐tau181, respectively. The latter was associated with CSF NfL, but no associations were found between any biomarkers and PACC changes in this early sample (Figure 1; Table 1). Plasma GFAP mediated the association between CSF Aβ42/40 and Aβ‐PET. Additionally, CSF YKL‐40 mediated the association between Aβ‐PET and p‐tau181 and between p‐tau181 and NfL. APOE ε4 had a direct association with CSF Aβ42/40 only, whereas age had independent associations with CSF Aβ42/40, NfL, GFAP and YKL‐40. Male sex was associated with higher CSF NfL levels, independently of other variables tested.ConclusionOur results suggest that astrocyte phenotypes that release GFAP into the blood influence the aggregation of soluble Aβ into fibrillary plaques. On the other hand, those releasing YKL‐40 into the CSF appear to play a role later in the pathological cascade, mediating downstream tau pathology and neuronal damage. These results indicate that different astrocyte phenotypes are specifically involved in distinct stages of the early pathological cascade in preclinical AD. Interventions targeting astrocyte dysfunction in preclinical stages may prevent or delay the onset of AD dementia.