A Longitudinal Assessment of Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Food Environment Exposure and Retail Market Concentration

Abstract Objective: This paper assesses trends in food environment and market concentration and racial and ethnic inequities in food environment exposure and food retail market concentration at the U.S. census tract level from 2000 to 2019. Design: Establishment-level data from the National Establishment Time Series were used to measure food environment exposure and food retail market concentration. We linked that dataset to race, ethnicity, and social vulnerability information from the American Community Survey and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. A geospatial hot-spot analysis was conducted to identify relatively low and high healthy food access clusters based on the Modified Retail Food Environment Index (mRFEI). The associations were assessed using two-way fixed effects regression models. Setting: Census tracts spanning all U.S. states Participants: 69,904 US census tracts Results: The geospatial analysis revealed clear patterns of areas with high and low mRFEI values. Our empirical findings point to disparities in food environment exposure and market concentration by race. The analysis shows that Asian Americans are likelier to live in neighborhoods with a low food environment exposure and low retail market concentration. These adverse effects are more pronounced in metro areas. The robustness analysis for the social vulnerability index confirms these results. Conclusion: U.S. food policies must address disparities in neighborhood food environments and foster a healthy, profitable, equitable, and sustainable food system. Our findings may inform equity-oriented neighborhood, land use, and food systems planning. Identifying priority areas for investment and policy interventions is essential for equity-oriented neighborhood planning

MicroRNA-22 suppresses NLRP3/CASP1 inflammasome pathway-mediated proinflammatory cytokine production by targeting the HIF-1α and NLRP3 in human dental pulp fibroblasts

Aim To investigate the synergetic regulatory effect of miR-22 on HIF-1α and NLRP3, subsequently regulating the production of the NLRP3/CASP1 inflammasome pathway-mediated proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 in human dental pulp fibroblasts (HDPFs) during the progression of pulpitis. Methodology Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunofluorescence (IF) were performed to determine the localization of miR-22-3p, NLRP3 and HIF-1α in human dental pulp tissues (HDPTs). The miR-22 mimics and inhibitor or plasmid of NLRP3 or HIF-1α were used to upregulate or downregulate miR-22 or NLRP3 or HIF-1α in HDPFs, respectively. Computational prediction via TargetScan 5.1 and a luciferase reporter assay were conducted to confirm target association. The mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1α, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 were determined by qRT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. The release of IL-1β and IL-18 was analysed by ELISA. The significance of the differences between the experimental and control groups was determined by one-way analysis of variance, p < .05 indicated statistical significance. Results A decrease in miR-22 and an increase in HIF-1α and NLRP3 in HDPTs occurred during the transformation of reversible pulpitis into irreversible pulpitis compared with that in the healthy pulp tissues (p < .05). In the normal HDPTs, miR-22-3p was extensively expressed in dental pulp cells. HIF-1α and NLRP3 were mainly expressed in the odontoblasts and vascular endothelial cells. Whereas in the inflamed HDPTs, the odontoblast layers were disrupted. HDPFs were positive for miR-22-3p, HIF-1α and NLRP3. Computational prediction via TargetScan 5.1 and luciferase reporter assays confirmed that both NLRP3 and HIF-1α were direct targets of miR-22 in HDPFs. The miR-22 inhibitor further promoted the activation of NLRP3/CASP1 inflammasome pathway induced by ATP plus LPS and hypoxia (p < .05). In contrast, the miR-22 mimic significantly inhibited the NLRP3/CASP1 inflammasome pathway activation induced by ATP plus LPS and hypoxia (p < .05). Conclusion MiR-22, as a synergetic negative regulator, is involved in controlling the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines mediated by the NLRP3/CASP1 inflammasome pathway by targeting NLRP3 and HIF-1α. These results provide a novel function and mechanism of miR-22-HIF-1α-NLRP3 signalling in the control of proinflammatory cytokine secretion, thus indicating a potential therapeutic strategy for future endodontic treatment

Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Screen Time -related Attitudes and Perceived Barriers of Family Childcare Providers and Differences by Ethnicity

Background:Childcare settings play an important role in shaping young children’s eating, physical activity (PA), and screen time (ST) behaviors. However, little research has focused on family childcare homes (FCCHs). This paper examines family child care provider (FCCP)-reported attitudes and perceived barriers related to nutrition, PA, and ST of preschool aged children in their FCCH, exploring differences by provider ethnicity. Methods:We used baseline data from an ongoing cluster-randomized trial including surveys with FCCPs. We examined demographic characteristics and provider-reported nutrition, PA, and ST-related attitudes and barriers. Differences by ethnicity were assessed using chi square and multivariate loglinear analysis adjusting for provider education. Results:FCCPs from Rhode Island and Massachusetts completed a telephone survey (n=168, 100% female and 72% Hispanic) and in person survey (n=127). The attitudes of many FCCPs were consistent with national guidelines for obesity prevention in early child care. Adjusting for education, there were statistically significant differences in some attitudes by ethnicity. Hispanic FCCPs were less likely than non-Hispanic FCCPs to agree with statements related to the ease of healthful dietary practices such as children’s water, juice and milk intake, serving whole grains, and knowing how to help children be more physically active. Hispanic FCCPs were more likely than non-Hispanic FCCPs to agree with the importance of sitting with and eating the same foods as the children, joining with children in play, and leading PA lessons. Conclusions:While many FCCP hold some nutrition, PA, and ST-related attitudes consistent with national guidelines, improvement is needed to ensure that all providers engage in positive practices and achieve better nutrition, PA and ST-related environments in FCCHs. There is also a need for culturally relevant trainings for FCCPs

Core authors of researching CRF in ovarian cancer survivors.

Core authors of researching CRF in ovarian cancer survivors.</p

Map of the top 25 keywords with the strongest citation bursts.

Map of the top 25 keywords with the strongest citation bursts.</p

Annual publications on cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer survivors.

Annual publications on cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer survivors.</p

Map of keyword co-occurrence network in cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer survivors.

Map of keyword co-occurrence network in cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer survivors.</p

Map of author network related to cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer survivors.

Map of author network related to cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer survivors.</p

Map of research countries in cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer survivors.

Map of research countries in cancer-related fatigue in ovarian cancer survivors.</p