Association between 24-hour blood pressure variability and chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional analysis of African Americans participating in the Jackson heart study

Background Studies suggest 24-h blood pressure (BP) variability has prognostic value for cardiovascular disease. Several factors associated with high 24-h BP variability are also common among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We hypothesized 24-h BP variability would be higher for individuals with versus without CKD. Methods We analyzed 1,022 Jackson Heart Study participants who underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Twenty-four hour BP variability was defined by two metrics: day-night standard deviation (SDdn) and average real variability (ARV). CKD was defined as ACR ≥30 mg/g or eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Results The mean SDdn of systolic BP (SBP) was 10.2 ± 0.2 and 9.1 ± 0.1 mmHg and the mean ARV of SBP was 9.2 ± 0.2 and 8.6 ± 0.1 mmHg for those with and without CKD, respectively (each p ≤ 0.001). After adjustment for age and sex, SDdn and ARV were 0.98 mmHg (95 % CI 0.59, 1.38) and 0.52 mmHg (95 % CI 0.18, 0.86), respectively, higher among participants with versus without CKD. These differences were not statistically significant after further multivariable adjustment including 24-h mean SBP. Older age, and higher total cholesterol and 24-h mean SBP were associated with higher SDdn and ARV of SBP among participants with CKD. Mean SDdn and ARV of diastolic BP (DBP) were higher for participants with versus without CKD but these associations were not present after multivariable adjustment. Conclusion Data from the current study suggest that CKD is associated with higher 24-h BP variability, but the association is primarily explained by higher mean BP among those with CKD

Differential expression of glycoproteins containing [alpha]--galactosyl groups on normal human breast epithelial cells and MCF-7 human breast carcinoma cells

Cell surface glycoproteins were isolated from the lysates of 125I-labeled normal human mammary epithelial cells (NHMEC) and from the human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7, of blood-group O phenotype, by affinity chromatography on Griffonia simplicifolia I lectin-Sepharose. Specific elution of glycoproteins from the column with methyl [alpha]--galactoside suggests the presence of [alpha]--galactosyl groups on these moieties. SDS-PAGE analysis of isolated glycoproteins revealed both quantitative and qualitative differences between glycoproteins from normal and malignant cells. Three major glycoproteins of Mr 180 kDa, 85 kDa and the 44 kDa were obtained from MCF-7 cells. The 180-kDa glycoprotein was absent in NHMEC and the 44-kDa glycoprotein was very weakly expressed in these cells. The only glycoprotein which was found in almost equal amount in the lysate from both normal and malignant cells was the 85-kDa glycoprotein. These results indicate differences between normal human mammary epithelial cells and one kind of malignant human mammary epithelial cells, in the expression of glycoproteins containing [alpha]--galactosyl groups, irrespective of blood-group phenotype; they also demonstrate that [alpha]--galactosyl group are expressed in a very restrictive manner on the surface of this tumor cell line.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/29093/1/0000129.pd

The 5S ribosomal RNA gene clusters in Tetrahymena thermophila : strain differences, chromosomal localization, and loss during micronuclear ageing

The organization of the 5S genes in the genome of Tetrahymena thermophila was examined in various strains, with germinal ageing, and the 5S gene clusters were mapped to the MIC chromosomes. When MIC or MAC DNA is cut with the restriction enzyme Eco RI, electrophoresed, blotted, and probed with a 5S rDNA probe, the banding patterns represent the clusters of the 5S rRNA genes as well as flanking regions. The use of long gels and 60 h of electrophoresis at 10 mA permitted resolution of some 30–35 5S gene clusters on fragments ranging in size from 30-2 kb (bottom of gel). The majority of the 5S gene clusters were found in both MIC and MAC genomes, a few being MIC limited and a few MAC limited. The relative copy number of 5S genes in each cluster was determined by integrating densitometric tracings made from autoradiograms. The total number of copies in the MAC was found to be 33% greater than in the MIC. When different inbred strains were examined, the majority of the 5S gene clusters were found to be conserved, with a few strain-specific clusters observed. Nine nullisomic strains missing both copies of one or more MIC chromosomes were used to map the 5S gene clusters. The clusters were distributed non-randomly to four of the five MIC chromosomes, with 17 of them localized to chromosome 1. A deletion map of chromosome 1 was constructed using various deletion strains. Some of these deletion strains included B strain clones which had been in continuous culture for 15 years. Losses of 5S gene clusters in these ageing MIC could be attributed to deletions of particular chromosomes. The chromosomal distribution of the 5S gene clusters in Tetrahymena is unlike that found for the well-studied eukaryotes, Drosophila and Xenopus .Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47556/1/438_2004_Article_BF00330970.pd

Key Topics on End-of-Life Care for African Americans

Racial classifications of human populations are politically and socially determined. There is no biological or genetic basis for these racial classifications. Health behaviors may be influenced by culture and poverty. Disparities in health outcomes, sometimes resulting in higher mortality rates for African-Americans appear to influence end of life decision-making attitudes and behaviors. To improve the quality of end of life care in African-American communities, health care professionals must better understand and work to eliminate disparities in health care, increase their own skills, knowledge and confidence in palliative and hospice care, and improve awareness of the benefits and values of hospice and palliative care in their patients and families

An Analysis of Resting-State Functional Transcranial Doppler Recordings from Middle Cerebral Arteries

Functional transcrannial Doppler (fTCD) is used for monitoring the hemodynamics characteristics of major cerebral arteries. Its resting-state characteristics are known only when considering the maximal velocity corresponding to the highest Doppler shift (so called the envelope signals). Significantly more information about the resting-state fTCD can be gained when considering the raw cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) recordings. In this paper, we considered simultaneously acquired envelope and raw CBFV signals. Specifically, we collected bilateral CBFV recordings from left and right middle cerebral arteries using 20 healthy subjects (10 females). The data collection lasted for 15 minutes. The subjects were asked to remain awake, stay silent, and try to remain thought-free during the data collection. Time, frequency and time-frequency features were extracted from both the raw and the envelope CBFV signals. The effects of age, sex and body-mass index were examined on the extracted features. The results showed that the raw CBFV signals had a higher frequency content, and its temporal structures were almost uncorrelated. The information-theoretic features showed that the raw recordings from left and right middle cerebral arteries had higher content of mutual information than the envelope signals. Age and body-mass index did not have statistically significant effects on the extracted features. Sex-based differences were observed in all three domains and for both, the envelope signals and the raw CBFV signals. These findings indicate that the raw CBFV signals provide valuable information about the cerebral blood flow which can be utilized in further validation of fTCD as a clinical tool. © 2013 Sejdić et al

Rare Coding Variants in RCN3 Are Associated with Blood Pressure

BACKGROUND: While large genome-wide association studies have identified nearly one thousand loci associated with variation in blood pressure, rare variant identification is still a challenge. In family-based cohorts, genome-wide linkage scans have been successful in identifying rare genetic variants for blood pressure. This study aims to identify low frequency and rare genetic variants within previously reported linkage regions on chromosomes 1 and 19 in African American families from the Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program. Genetic association analyses weighted by linkage evidence were completed with whole genome sequencing data within and across TOPMed ancestral groups consisting of 60,388 individuals of European, African, East Asian, Hispanic, and Samoan ancestries. RESULTS: Associations of low frequency and rare variants in RCN3 and multiple other genes were observed for blood pressure traits in TOPMed samples. The association of low frequency and rare coding variants in RCN3 was further replicated in UK Biobank samples (N = 403,522), and reached genome-wide significance for diastolic blood pressure (p = 2.01 × 10− 7). CONCLUSIONS: Low frequency and rare variants in RCN3 contributes blood pressure variation. This study demonstrates that focusing association analyses in linkage regions greatly reduces multiple-testing burden and improves power to identify novel rare variants associated with blood pressure traits

The Big Yes and the Little No

Program for the sixth annual RISD Cabaret held in the cellar at the top of the Waterman Building. Design and layout by Nonie Close.https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/liberalarts_cabaret_programs/1005/thumbnail.jp

Second-generation colon capsule endoscopy compared with colonoscopy

Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) represents a noninvasive technology that allows visualization of the colon without requiring sedation and air insufflation. A second-generation colon capsule endoscopy system (PillCam Colon 2) (CCE-2) was developed to increase sensitivity for colorectal polyp detection compared with the first-generation system. OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility, accuracy, and safety of CCE-2 in a head-to-head comparison with colonoscopy. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective, multicenter trial including 8 European sites. PATIENTS: This study involved 117 patients (mean age 60 years). Data from 109 patients were analyzed. INTERVENTION: CCE-2 was prospectively compared with conventional colonoscopy as the criterion standard for the detection of colorectal polyps that are >/=6 mm or masses in a cohort of patients at average or increased risk of colorectal neoplasia. Colonoscopy was independently performed within 10 hours after capsule ingestion or on the next day. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: CCE-2 sensitivity and specificity for detecting patients with polyps >/=6 mm and >/=10 mm were assessed. Capsule-positive but colonoscopy-negative cases were counted as false positive. Capsule excretion rate, level of bowel preparation, and rate of adverse events also were assessed. RESULTS: Per-patient CCE-2 sensitivity for polyps >/=6 mm and >/=10 mm was 84% and 88%, with specificities of 64% and 95%, respectively. All 3 invasive carcinomas were detected by CCE-2. The capsule excretion rate was 88% within 10 hours. Overall colon cleanliness for CCE-2 was adequate in 81% of patients. LIMITATIONS: Not unblinding the CCE-2 results at colonoscopy; heterogenous patient population; nonconsecutive patients. CONCLUSION: In this European, multicenter study, CCE-2 appeared to have a high sensitivity for the detection of clinically relevant polypoid lesions, and it might be considered an adequate tool for colorectal imaging