Filling in the Food Security Gaps: Examining The Farmers\u27 Market System in Norwalk, Connecticut

Farmers’ markets are seen as important venues for increasing access to nutritious food and mitigating chronic diseases. The 2016 Community Health Needs Assessment found chronic disease/obesity to be the primary health priority for the Greater Norwalk Region. In Norwalk, the prevalence of adult obesity reported in 2017 (22%) was significantly higher than the surrounding towns (11%). Farmers’ markets (FM) could be a potential approach to mitigating Norwalk’s chronic disease/obesity challenges through increasing access to nutritious food sources. While there are several small farmers’ markets held each summer in Norwalk, not much is known about the benefits and challenges of farmers’ market utilization in Norwalk from the perspectives of key stakeholders. The Norwalk Health Department hopes to increase farmers’ market usage as an approach to filling important food security gaps. The objectives of this study were as follows: Identify barriers and benefits of the Norwalk farmers’ market system from the perspective of consumers, farmers, and market managers in the Norwalk farmers’ market system, and increase community access to local, state, and federal resources.https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/ysph_pbchrr/1021/thumbnail.jp

A New Type of Embedded File System Based on SPM

Abstract. Commonly, embedded file systems reside in main memory to manage the external memory such as flash memory in embedded systems. With the progress of hardware of embedded systems, the gap of speed between main memory and CPU is becoming larger and larger. The traditional embedded file systems can not be able to support real-time response enough for their main memory management policy. A new type of embedded file system is presented to provide more real-time performance. This new embedded file system, SPM file system, is based on the internal SRAM on chip and is able to reduce response time. Keywords. Embedded System, File System, Scratched-Pad Memory

Recent Advances in Gene Therapy for Familial Hypercholesterolemia: An Update Review

(1) Background: Existing lipid-lowering therapies have difficulty in achieving lipid target levels in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), especially in the treatment of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. (2) Method: All of the literature data containing “Familial hypercholesterolemia” and “Gene Therapy” in PubMed and Clinical Trials from 2018 to 2022 were selected. (3) Results: The rapid development of gene therapy technology in recent years is expected to change the treatment status of FH patients. As emerging gene therapy vectors, the optimized adeno-associated viruses, exosomes, and lipid nanoparticles have demonstrated an improved safety and higher transfection efficiency. Various RNA-targeted therapies are in phase 1–3 clinical trials, such as small interfering RNA-based drugs inclisiran, ARO-ANG3, ARO-APOC3, olpasiran, SLN360, and antisense oligonucleotide-based drugs AZD8233, vupanorsen, volanesorsen, IONIS-APO(a)Rx, etc., all of which have demonstrated excellent lipid-lowering effects. With gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas 9 and meganuclease, completing animal experiments in mice or cynomolgus monkeys and demonstrating lasting lipid-lowering effects, patients with FH are expected to reach a permanent cure in the future. (4) Conclusion: Gene therapy is being widely used for the lipid-lowering treatment of FH patients and has shown excellent therapeutic promise, but the current delivery efficiency, economic burden, immunogenicity and the precision of gene therapy can be further optimized

Association between dietary calcium intake and severe abdominal aorta calcification among American adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background: Evidence regarding the relationship between dietary calcium intake and severe abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between dietary calcium intake and severe AAC in American adults based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods: The present cross-sectional study utilized data from the NHANES 2013–2014, a population-based dataset. Dietary calcium intake was assessed using two 24-h dietary recall interviews. Quantification of the AAC scores was accomplished utilizing the Kauppila score system, whereby severe AAC was defined as having an AAC score greater than 6. We used multivariable logistic regression models, a restricted cubic spline analysis, and a two-piecewise linear regression model to show the effect of calcium intake on severe AAC. Results: Out of the 2640 individuals examined, 10.9% had severe AAC. Following the adjustment for confounding variables, an independent association was discovered between an augmented intake of dietary calcium and the incidence of severe AAC. When comparing individuals in the second quartile (Q2) of dietary calcium intake with those in the lowest quartile (Q1), a decrease in the occurrence of severe AAC was observed (odds ratio: 0.66; 95% confidence interval: 0.44–0.99). Furthermore, the relationship between dietary calcium intake and severe AAC demonstrated an L-shaped pattern, with an inflection point observed at 907.259 mg/day. Subgroup analyses revealed no significant interaction effects. Conclusion: The study revealed that the relationship between dietary calcium intake and severe AAC in American adults is L-shaped, with an inflection point of 907.259 mg/day. Further research is required to confirm this association

Table_1_Association between dietary zinc intake and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity in US adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.docx

PurposeHelicobacter pylori infection is a well-established etiological factor for gastric inflammation and a significant risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. However, the precise relationship between dietary zinc intake and seropositivity for Helicobacter pylori remains uncertain.MethodsThis cross-sectional observational study utilized data from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 1999 and 2000. The study cohort comprised 2,884 adults aged 20 years or older who provided comprehensive 24-h dietary recall data. The presence of Helicobacter pylori infection was confirmed using serum analysis and lgG protein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Multivariable logistic regression models and generalized additive model (GAM) were employed to explore the potential association between dietary zinc intake and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity.ResultsAdditionally, subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate the robustness of the primary findings. Of the 1,281 participants, 47.8% were male and the average age was 49.5 years. In the fully adjusted model, a statistically significant inverse association between dietary zinc intake and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity was observed [quartile variable, Q4 vs. Q1, odds ratio (OR): 0.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.57–0.91, p = 0.007]. Furthermore, the relationship between dietary zinc intake and Helicobacter pylori seropositivity exhibited an L-shaped pattern, indicating a saturation effect. The results of sensitivity analysis remained consistent and reliable.ConclusionTherefore, this study suggests that higher dietary zinc intake may be associated with a lower prevalence of Helicobacter pylori seropositivity. Notably, this association follows an L-shaped pattern, with a threshold point estimated at 24.925 mg/day.</p

sj-docx-5-tak-10.1177_17539447241232774 – Supplemental material for Association between dietary calcium intake and severe abdominal aorta calcification among American adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Supplemental material, sj-docx-5-tak-10.1177_17539447241232774 for Association between dietary calcium intake and severe abdominal aorta calcification among American adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey by Kai Zhang, Fangming Gu, Yu Han, Tianyi Cai, Zhaoxuan Gu, Jianguo Chen, Bowen Chen, Min Gao, Zhengyan Hou, Xiaoqi Yu, JiaYu Zhao, Yafang Gao, Jinyu Xie, Rui Hu, Tianzhou Liu and Bo Li in Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease</p