The Economic Contribution of West Virginia\u27s Forest Products Industry

The hardwood forests that cover West Virginia have historically been an important resource to the state. The turbulent economic conditions resulting from the U.S. housing market collapse of the mid-2000s and subsequent economic recession have cause immense disruptions in the country’s forest products industry (FPI). An assessment of the economic contribution of the state’s FPI and the 7 major forest product sectors which comprise it was completed using the input-output economic modeling software IMPLAN with 2017 data. The historical contribution of the state industry was then assessed and compared for the years 2006, 2010, 2015, and 2017 to examine the changes in the industry’s contributions among these years. Finally, an assessment of the FPI’s economic contribution in five separate regions of the state for the years 2006 and 2017 was performed. As of 2017, the West Virginia FPI directly contributed $2.2 billion in output, 10,198 jobs,$750.5 million in gross state product (or value added), and $404.5 million in employee compensation to the state economy. In terms of total contributions to the broader economy, the industry supported$3.4 billion in output, 19,219 jobs, $1.4 billion in gross state product, and$764.4 million in employee compensation. In 2017, the primary solid wood products sector was found to be the largest individual FPI sector in terms of direct contributions of output, jobs, and employee compensation while the logging sector was the largest in terms of value added. In 2006, the West Virginia FPI directly contributed $2.8 billion in output and over 15,000 jobs, while supporting$3.7 billion in total output and nearly 21,000 jobs in the broader state economy. Immense decreases in industry contribution were found in both the direct and total contributions of the industry from 2006 to 2010. The largest percentage decreases between these years were experienced in the secondary solid wood products and wood furniture sectors. Between 2010 and 2015, the industry direct contributions rose by all measures except employee compensation, which continued to fall by 1.5 percent of its 2010 level of $395 million. Increases in indirect and induced contributions of the industry, however, resulted in increasing total contributions of all measures. Between 2015 and 2017, all measures of direct contributions of the industry increased, but failed to rise to their previous 2006 levels of any measure analyzed. This was also found to be the case of the FPIs in the five regions of the state that were analyzed. The Highlands region, comprised of 11 counties in the eastern portion of the state was, by far, the largest contributor to the state’s FPI in both 2006 and 2017. By 2017, the region provided more than half of the statewide industry’s direct contributions of output in the logging and primary and secondary solid wood products sectors. The North Central region of the state, meanwhile, experienced most of the largest losses in direct and total contribution of the state from 2006 to 2017. As of 2017, the West Virginia FPI remains a key industry for the state as total industry contributions accounted for 2.2 percent of all jobs and 1.8 percent of gross state product. While these shares are still below 2006 values, they were seen to have increased from 2010 to 2015 and 2015 to 2017. However, the inability of the FPI throughout the state to return to 2006 levels of direct contributions suggest long-term industry trends such as the continued offshoring of value- added forest products sectors and increased industry automation are still putting negative pressure on direct industry growth. Additionally, new challenges the industry faces may be diminishing industry contributions such as the uncertainty about the future availability of the foreign markets and competition for labor from new industries. In order to meet these challenges, it is recommended that state and federal policymakers, developmental authorities, and other industry interests make a concerted effort to grow the state FPI through targeted growth of the industry’s secondary solid wood products and wood furniture sectors. Though these sectors experienced some of the most severe decreases in direct contributions over the years analyzed, as of 2017, they were still large contributors the state’s overall FPI. These sectors require more highly skilled labor and were found to contribute a large number of jobs and high employee compensation relative to their output. Growth in these sectors would not only support value- added wood products manufacturing jobs but would also increase economic activity between FPI sectors within the state and decrease the industry’s reliance on exporting its primary forest products out of state. Secondly, these efforts should be targeted in the Southern and Highlands region of the state, in which the FPI was found to fare relatively better over the years analyzed. The FPI presents immense opportunity to provide badly-needed jobs in these regions and serve to induce further growth in industry activity throughout the state

Serum metabolomic profiling in acute alcoholic hepatitis identifies multiple dysregulated pathways

Background and Objectives While animal studies have implicated derangements of global energy homeostasis in the pathogenesis of acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH), the relevance of these findings to the development of human AAH remains unclear. Using global, unbiased serum metabolomics analysis, we sought to characterize alterations in metabolic pathways associated with severe AAH and identify potential biomarkers for disease prognosis. Methods This prospective, case-control study design included 25 patients with severe AAH and 25 ambulatory patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Serum samples were collected within 24 hours of the index clinical encounter. Global, unbiased metabolomics profiling was performed. Patients were followed for 180 days after enrollment to determine survival. Results Levels of 234 biochemicals were altered in subjects with severe AAH. Random-forest analysis, principal component analysis, and integrated hierarchical clustering methods demonstrated that metabolomics profiles separated the two cohorts with 100% accuracy. Severe AAH was associated with enhanced triglyceride lipolysis, impaired mitochondrial fatty acid beta oxidation, and upregulated omega oxidation. Low levels of multiple lysolipids and related metabolites suggested decreased plasma membrane remodeling in severe AAH. While most measured bile acids were increased in severe AAH, low deoxycholate and glycodeoxycholate levels indicated intestinal dysbiosis. Several changes in substrate utilization for energy homeostasis were identified in severe AAH, including increased glucose consumption by the pentose phosphate pathway, altered tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity, and enhanced peptide catabolism. Finally, altered levels of small molecules related to glutathione metabolism and antioxidant vitamin depletion were observed in patients with severe AAH. Univariable logistic regression revealed 15 metabolites associated with 180-day survival in severe AAH. Conclusion Severe AAH is characterized by a distinct metabolic phenotype spanning multiple pathways. Metabolomics profiling revealed a panel of biomarkers for disease prognosis, and future studies are planned to validate these findings in larger cohorts of patients with severe AAH.This study was funded by Grant 5K08AA017622 from the National Institutes of Health and a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Pilot Grant to JB. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Seroprevalence of 13 common pathogens in a rapidly growing U.S. minority population: Mexican Americans from San Antonio, TX

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Infection risks vary among individuals and between populations. Here we present information on the seroprevalence of 13 common infectious agents in a San Antonio-based sample of Mexican Americans. Mexican Americans represent the largest and most rapidly growing minority population in the U.S., and they are also considered a health disparities population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed 1227 individuals for antibody titer to <it>Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Helicobacter pylori, Toxoplasma gondii</it>, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus-1, herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), varicella zoster virus (VZV), adenovirus-36, hepatitis A virus, and influenza A and B. Seroprevalence was examined as a function of sex, age, household income, and education.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seroprevalence estimates ranged from 9% for <it>T. gondii</it> to 92% for VZV, and were similar in both sexes except for HSV-2, which was more prevalent in women. Many pathogens exhibited a significant seroprevalence change over the examined age range (15-94 years), with 7 pathogens increasing and HHV-6 decreasing with age. Socioeconomic status significantly correlated with serostatus for some pathogens.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings demonstrate substantial seroprevalence rates of these common infections in this sample of Mexican Americans from San Antonio, Texas that suffers from high rates of chronic diseases including obesity and type-2 diabetes.</p

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Serum metabolomic profiling in acute alcoholic hepatitis identifies multiple dysregulated pathways

Background and Objectives While animal studies have implicated derangements of global energy homeostasis in the pathogenesis of acute alcoholic hepatitis (AAH), the relevance of these findings to the development of human AAH remains unclear. Using global, unbiased serum metabolomics analysis, we sought to characterize alterations in metabolic pathways associated with severe AAH and identify potential biomarkers for disease prognosis. Methods This prospective, case-control study design included 25 patients with severe AAH and 25 ambulatory patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Serum samples were collected within 24 hours of the index clinical encounter. Global, unbiased metabolomics profiling was performed. Patients were followed for 180 days after enrollment to determine survival. Results Levels of 234 biochemicals were altered in subjects with severe AAH. Random-forest analysis, principal component analysis, and integrated hierarchical clustering methods demonstrated that metabolomics profiles separated the two cohorts with 100% accuracy. Severe AAH was associated with enhanced triglyceride lipolysis, impaired mitochondrial fatty acid beta oxidation, and upregulated omega oxidation. Low levels of multiple lysolipids and related metabolites suggested decreased plasma membrane remodeling in severe AAH. While most measured bile acids were increased in severe AAH, low deoxycholate and glycodeoxycholate levels indicated intestinal dysbiosis. Several changes in substrate utilization for energy homeostasis were identified in severe AAH, including increased glucose consumption by the pentose phosphate pathway, altered tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity, and enhanced peptide catabolism. Finally, altered levels of small molecules related to glutathione metabolism and antioxidant vitamin depletion were observed in patients with severe AAH. Univariable logistic regression revealed 15 metabolites associated with 180-day survival in severe AAH. Conclusion Severe AAH is characterized by a distinct metabolic phenotype spanning multiple pathways. Metabolomics profiling revealed a panel of biomarkers for disease prognosis, and future studies are planned to validate these findings in larger cohorts of patients with severe AAH

Pancreatic quantitative sensory testing to predict treatment response of endoscopic therapy or surgery for painful chronic pancreatitis with pancreatic duct obstruction: study protocol for an observational clinical trial

INTRODUCTION: Treatment for abdominal pain in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) remains challenging in the setting of central nervous system sensitisation, a phenomenon of remodelling and neuronal hyperexcitability resulting from persistent pain stimuli. This is suspected to render affected individuals less likely to respond to conventional therapies. Endotherapy or surgical decompression is offered to patients with pancreatic duct obstruction. However, the response to treatment is unpredictable. Pancreatic quantitative sensory testing (P-QST), an investigative technique of standardised stimulations to test the pain system in CP, has been used for phenotyping patients into three mutually exclusive groups: no central sensitisation, segmental sensitisation (pancreatic viscerotome) and widespread hyperalgesia suggestive of supraspinal central sensitisation. We will test the predictive capability of the pretreatment P-QST phenotype to predict the likelihood of pain improvement following invasive treatment for painful CP.METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This observational clinical trial will enrol 150 patients from the University of Pittsburgh, Johns Hopkins and Indiana University. Participants will undergo pretreatment phenotyping with P-QST. Treatment will be pancreatic endotherapy or surgery for clearance of painful pancreatic duct obstruction.PRIMARY OUTCOME: average pain score over the preceding 7 days measured by Numeric Rating Scale at 6 months postintervention. Secondary outcomes will include changes in opioid use during follow-up, and patient-reported outcomes in pain and quality of life at 3, 6 and 12 months after the intervention. Exploratory outcomes will include creation of a model for individualised prediction of response to invasive treatment.ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The trial will evaluate the ability of P-QST to predict response to invasive treatment for painful CP and develop a predictive model for individualised prediction of treatment response for widespread use. This trial was approved by the University of Pittsburgh Institutional Review Board. Data and results will be reported and disseminated in conjunction with National Institutes of Health policies.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04996628.</p

Serum levels of protein degradation products.

<p>Relative levels of serum protein degradation products, including acetylated amino acids, dipeptides, and urea cycle intermediates. Serum levels of each metabolite were compared using paired Welch's <i>t</i> tests, and <i>q</i> values were calculated to account for false discovery rates to correct for multiple comparisons.</p><p>Serum levels of protein degradation products.</p