The Impact of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors on Late Graft Outcome Disparities in Adult African American Kidney Transplant Recipients

Introduction: Although outcome disparities for non-Hispanic Black (NHB) kidney transplant recipients are well known and documented, there is paucity in the data assessing the impact of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and risk control on racial disparities in kidney transplantation. Methods: Longitudinal study of a national cohort of veteran kidney recipients transplanted between Jan 2001 and Dec 2007 (follow up through Dec 2010) with the aim of determining the prevalence and impact of CVD risk factor and control, compared between NHB and non-Hispanic White (NHW) recipients, on death-censored graft loss (DCGL), overall graft loss and mortality. Data included comprehensive baseline characteristics acquired through the USRDS with detailed follow up clinical, laboratory and medication regimen information acquired through linkage to the VA electronic health records. Analyses were conducted using sequential multivariable modeling (Cox regression), incorporating blocks of variables into iterative nested models. Results: 3,139 patients with complete data were included (2,095 NHW [66.7%] and 1,044 NHBs [33.3%]). At five years post-transplant, NHBs had a higher prevalence of hypertension (100% vs. 99.2%, p\u3c0.01) and post-transplant diabetes (58.9% vs. 53.3%, p\u3c0.01) with reduced control of hypertension (BP \u3c140/90, 60% vs. 69% p\u3c0.01), diabetes (A1c \u3c7%, 35% vs. 47%, p\u3c0.01) and LDL (\u3c100 mg/dL, 55% vs. 61%, p\u3c0.01), when compared to NHWs. Adherence to several medication classes used to manage CVD risk factors was significantly lower in NHBs, as compared to NHWs. The unadjusted risk of DCGL was two-fold higher in NHBs, when compared to NHWs (HR 2.00, 95% CI 1.61-2.49). After adjustment for recipient sociodemographics, donor criteria, transplant characteristics, CVD risk factors and control and post-transplant events, the adjusted independent risk of DCGL was substantially reduced (HR 1.49, 1.11-1.99). CVD risk factors and risk control reduced the influence of NHB race on DCGL by 8.7-17.5%. Similar trends were noted for the outcomes of overall graft loss and mortality and were consistent in multiple sensitivity analyses. Conclusion: These results demonstrate that NHB kidney transplant recipients have substantially higher rates of CVD risk factors and reduced CVD risk control, as compared to NHWs. These issues may be partly related to medication non-adherence and meaningfully contribute to disparities for graft outcomes within NHBs

Notes on Eastern North American Butterflies

Editor’s Note (Harry Pavulaan). New natural history elements and distribution records of several eastern North American butterflies are reported. While diversity and distribution of butterflies in the eastern United States are commonly believed to be fully known, the findings presented here show that much is yet to be learned of our butterfly fauna. Includes: 1. Pages 1-3 Lethe eurydice and L. appalachia Larvae (Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) Eat Their Shed Cuticle (Exuvia) Soon after Molting in Vermont, USA by David J. Hoag Abstract Larvae of Lethe eurydice and L. appalachia were observed eating their newly shed cuticle (exuvia). Further studies are needed to examine the extent of this unique dietary habit within the Satyrinae. 2. Page 4 Virginia state record of Phyciodes phaon (W. H. Edwards, 1864) (Nymphalidae: Limenitidinae) by Harry Pavulaan Abstract A state record specimen of Phyciodes phaon, originally reported by the author in the Virginia Butterfly Bulletin (Pavulaan, 2000), is illustrated for the first time with a view of location collected. 3. Pages 5-13 Butterflies of the Potomac River Woodlands in Leesburg, Loudoun Co., Virginia: A Depauperate Fauna? by Harry Pavulaan Abstract Butterfly observations made over a 16-year period (2005-2020) in the deciduous woodland habitat along the Potomac River in Leesburg, Virginia reveal a depauperate butterfly fauna in a region otherwise known for its rich butterfly diversity. While the forest canopy contains a high diversity of deciduous tree species, and patches of understory shrubs show limited variety, the herb flora of the forest floor is severely lacking due to uncontrolled deer browsing, poor soil conditions and prolonged annual summer droughts. The butterfly fauna is summarized here. 4. Page 14 Limenitis a. arthemis (White Admiral) in Coastal Southeastern Virginia by Brian Taber Abstract Limenitis a. arthemis is reported from coastal southeastern Virginia for the first time. 5. Pages 15-16 Three Species of the Pearly-Eye Genus Enodia (Hübner, 1819) Observed Together in Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia by Kenneth Lorenzen Abstract Butterflies of the Pearly-eye group of satyrs (genus Enodia) are rarely observed together at the same site at the same time. This report documents an occurrence of Enodia anthedon, E. portlandia, and E. creola together at a location near Jamestown, Virginia, United States. Editor’s note: Enodia is now recognized as a subgenus of Lethe. 6. Pages 17-19 Atlides halesus (Cramer, 1777) (Lycaenidae: Theclinae) and American Mistletoe in Northern Virginia by Harry Pavulaan and Richard D. Ullrich Abstract Atlides halesus halesus (Great Purple Hairstreak) is documented from three sites in western Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. The host American Mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum) is widespread in this area, forming dense infestations on trees which certainly supports a resident population of the butterfly as evidenced by several records over a 13-year span

Prospectus, November 28, 1972

TOYS FOR TOTS; Parkland vets Attend Regional Meeting; True Happenings; She Dislikes Park Area Modernization; Wasted Votes; leave the dead dead; Quiet; Prof Spectus; Rec Tournaments; Special Edition of Cruisin\u27 \u2772; A New Party?; Info for Students on Guaranteed Loan Program; Amphetamines: You don\u27t have to be \u27Street people\u27 to be hooked; Cold Vaccine; Speaking of Sports; New Cheerleaders Selected; Intramurals Winter Quarter; Parkland College Varsity Basketball Schedule November & Decemberhttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_1972/1001/thumbnail.jp

Acute Effects of Ballistic and Non-ballistic Bench Press on Plyometric Push-up Performance

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a ballistic or non-ballistic concentric-only bench press (COBP) on subsequent plyometric push-up performance. Fourteen resistance trained men completed two separate one-repetition-maximum (1RM) testing sessions followed by three randomized experimental explosive push-up sessions. These sessions combined a heavy concentric bench press with plyometric push-ups. Using a series of 3 × 10 (condition × time) repeated measures ANOVA, comparisons were made between the effects of ballistic and non-ballistic bench presses on performance of plyometric push-ups to investigate push-up performance variables. Compared with the control condition, both ballistic and non-ballistic bench presses produced lower net impulse and take-off velocity data. No differences were found between ballistic and non-ballistic conditions comparing net impulse and take-off velocity. We conclude that the magnitude of loading used in the current investigation may have caused acute fatigue which led to lower push-up performance characteristics. This information can be used to alter loading protocols when designing complexes for the upper body, combining the bench press and plyometric push-ups

The first total synthesis of (+)-mucosin

The first total synthesis of (+)-mucosin has been completed allowing assignment of the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product. A zirconium induced co-cyclisation was utilised to install the correct stereochemistry of the four contiguous stereocentres around the unusual bicyclo[4.3.0]nonene core

Identifying state-level policy and provision domains for physical education and physical activity in high school

Abstract Background It is important to quickly and efficiently identify policies that are effective at changing behavior; therefore, we must be able to quantify and evaluate the effect of those policies and of changes to those policies. The purpose of this study was to develop state-level physical education (PE) and physical activity (PA) policy domain scores at the high-school level. Policy domain scores were developed with a focus on measuring policy change. Methods Exploratory factor analysis was used to group items from the state-level School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) into policy domains. Items that related to PA or PE at the High School level were identified from the 7 SHPPS health program surveys. Data from 2000 and 2006 were used in the factor analysis. RESULTS: From the 98 items identified, 17 policy domains were extracted. Average policy domain change scores were positive for 12 policy domains, with the largest increases for “Discouraging PA as Punishment”, “Collaboration”, and “Staff Development Opportunities”. On average, states increased scores in 4.94 ± 2.76 policy domains, decreased in 3.53 ± 2.03, and had no change in 7.69 ± 2.09 policy domains. Significant correlations were found between several policy domain scores. Conclusions Quantifying policy change and its impact is integral to the policy making and revision process. Our results build on previous research offering a way to examine changes in state-level policies related to PE and PA of high-school students and the faculty and staff who serve them. This work provides methods for combining state-level policies relevant to PE or PA in youth for studies of their impact

Microwave Electrodynamics of Electron-Doped Cuprate Superconductors

We report microwave cavity perturbation measurements of the temperature dependence of the penetration depth, lambda(T), and conductivity, sigma(T) of Pr_{2-x}Ce_{x}CuO_{4-delta} (PCCO) crystals, as well as parallel-plate resonator measurements of lambda(T) in PCCO thin films. Penetration depth measurements are also presented for a Nd_{2-x}Ce_{x}CuO_{4-delta} (NCCO) crystal. We find that delta-lambda(T) has a power-law behavior for T<T_c/3, and conclude that the electron-doped cuprate superconductors have nodes in the superconducting gap. Furthermore, using the surface impedance, we have derived the real part of the conductivity, sigma_1(T), below T_c and found a behavior similar to that observed in hole-doped cuprates.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, 1 table. Submitted to Physical Review Letters revised version: new figures, sample characteristics added to table, general clarification give

The Effect of a Physical Activity Intervention on Bias in Self-Reported Activity

A positive outcome in self-reported behavior could be detected erroneously if an intervention caused over-reporting of the targeted behavior. Data collected from a multi-site randomized trial were examined to determine if adolescent girls who received a physical activity intervention over-reported their activity more than girls who received no intervention

State Policies Targeting Junk Food in Schools: Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Effect of Policy Change on Soda Consumption

Objectives. We estimated the association between state policy changes and adolescent soda consumption and body mass index (BMI) percentile, overall and by race/ethnicity