Western diet categorized by high levels of fat, sugar, and salt is strongly linked to increased oxidative stress, contributing to progression of chronic pulmonary diseases. Blueberries (BB), rich in polyphenols, have been studied for their potential to mitigate oxidative damage. This study investigates effects of BB supplementation on oxidative stress markers in lungs of mice consuming a high-fat, high-sucrose, high-salt (HFHSS) diet. UM-HET3 male mice were fed a control diet (low-fat, low-sucrose, low-salt, LFLSS) alone or supplemented with 5% BB for four weeks. Animals were then maintained on LFLSS diet (n = 7), switched to HFHSS diet (n = 8), or HFHSS + 5% BB (n = 10) for 12 weeks. Lungs of sacrificed animals were analyzed for protein expression of antioxidant enzymes using Western blot. Data were assessed for normality (Shapiro-Wilk test) and differences were compared using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s posthoc test. Heme-oxygenase (HO)-1 expression was significantly decreased in HFHSS group, which was not prevented by BB supplementation suggesting a compensatory mechanism to the HFHSS diet. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx)-3 and superoxide dismutase (SOD)2 showed no differences between groups, while GPx-1 was significantly lowered in the HFHSS + BB group compared to control potentially indicating that BB conferred early antioxidant protection, mitigating oxidative stress during the initial four weeks. Preliminary data does not directly confirm protective properties of BB against oxidative stress in lungs of mice. Further analysis is ongoing.

The enzyme D-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase is essential for the biosynthesis of L-serine in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and offers a significant opportunity for the development of new drugs.(1) Being a metallo-flavoenzyme, the bacterial enzyme employs FAD and Zn2+ to convert D-2-hydroxyglutarate to 2-ketoglutarate.(2,3) The enzyme is also active with the alternative metals Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, and Cd2+.(3) In this study, Zn2+ was replaced with Co2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, or Mn2+ to explore the impact of these metals on the rate of flavin reduction and catalysis in the bacterial enzyme. We purified the recombinant His-tagged enzyme with 1 mM chloride salts of the various metals and tested the kinetic properties and metal stoichiometry of all enzyme variants. The metal-to-protein ratio was determined by ICP-MS to evaluate metal binding to the enzyme and all metals were loaded in significant amounts to the enzyme. Aside from the Cd2+-loaded enzyme that showed no D-malate concentration dependence on the rate of flavin reduction, the anaerobic reductive half-reaction showed a ≤ 2-fold increase in rate of flavin reduction (kred) values for the Co2+, Ni2+, and Mn2+-loaded enzymes compared to the Zn2+-loaded enzyme (70 s-1), indicating that alternative metals influence the rate of flavin reduction in the enzyme. Additionally, the Kd values for the D-malate substrate were similar for the Zn2+, Co2+ and Mn2+-loaded enzymes (~10 mM) but was ~2-fold less with the Ni2+-loaded enzyme (4 mM), suggesting that the highest binding affinity is achieved with the least electropositive metal (Ni2+) in the bacterial enzyme. While Ni2+ (24,000 M-1s-1) and Co2+ (43,000 M-1s-1) increased the kcat/Km values of the bacterial enzyme, Mn2+ (3,300 M-1s-1) and Cd2+ (950 M-1s-1) decreased the enzyme’s kcat/Km value compared to Zn2+ (7,000 M-1s-1) with D-malate as substrate. Additionally, all alternative metals yielded a ~4-fold decrease in the rate of enzyme turnover compared to the Zn2+-loaded enzyme, except for Co2+, which yielded similar rates as Zn2+. These results collectively indicate that the alternative metal ions modulate the rate of flavin reduction, substrate specificity and catalysis in the bacterial enzyme.

INTRODUCTION: Menthol cigarettes pose a significant public health threat, as they not only facilitate the initiation of smoking but also decrease cessation efforts. The proposed ban on mentholated cigarettes and cigars carries substantial implications for health equity, as menthol tobacco products are used at disproportionately higher rates among African Americans, a group that has experienced ongoing, severe tobacco-related health disparities. If the menthol ban is enacted, it will be equitable to ensure that individuals who typically use mentholated products do not transition to other harmful tobacco alternatives. METHODS: This study examined the use of various tobacco products among people who smoked primarily menthol cigarettes vs. non-menthol cigarettes. Baseline data was drawn from a randomized controlled trial of 504 adults in Atlanta, GA. Participants were largely male (60.6%) and African American (64.5%) and had to be active smokers with a desire to quit. Chi-square analyses examined associations between current menthol cigarette use and past 30-day use of other tobacco products (cigars, cigarillos, filtered cigars, hookah). RESULTS: Results show that menthol cigarette smokers were significantly more likely to have smoked cigars, cigarillos, or filtered cigars (53.3% vs. 32.0%, p < .001) and hookah (19.2% vs. 3.9%, p = .001) in the past 30 days. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that adults who prefer mentholated cigarettes are more likely to use other flavored tobacco products, highlighting the need for an equitable menthol ban across all tobacco products, not just combustible cigarettes.

Introduction: Cognitive and mood disorders, which are increasingly prevalent due to stress, depression, and anxiety, necessitate effective treatments with minimal side effects. Tryptophan (TRP) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), serotonin precursors, are potential therapeutic options. Serotonin deficiency is linked to various cognitive and mood disorders. Previous studies on TRP and 5-HTP supplementation have shown mixed results, suggesting a comprehensive review is needed. Method: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines, with studies sourced from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar between 2000 and 2023. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults and children with cognitive or mood disorders were included. The exclusion criteria were studies focused on specific disorders, those involving other mental disorders, or those not in English. The data extracted focused on demographic information, supplement dosage, and outcome measures such as plasma glucose levels, BMI, depression status, and mood. Results Sixteen RCTs met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis revealed that TRP and 5-HTP supplementation significantly increased total plasma levels and improved mood and depression scores. However, no significant impact was found on BMI or Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score. High heterogeneity was observed across studies. Conclusion: TRP and 5-HTP supplementation appear to effectively enhance mood and reduce depression symptoms in individuals with cognitive and mood disorders. However, the benefits of cognitive function are less clear, and further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the variability in responses.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 is a gram-negative bacterium responsible for ~10% of all nosocomial infections in the U.S. In 2017 alone, P. aeruginosa infections caused ~3000 deaths and ~30,000 nosocomial infections.1 P. aeruginosa’s survival relies on the ability of D-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase (PaD2HGDH) to reproduce 2-ketoglutarate from D-2-hydroxyglutarate during L-serine biosynthesis.2-5 Since the knockout of the PaD2HGDH gene impairs P. aeruginosa growth, PaD2HGDH is a potential therapeutic target against P. aeruginosa.2 PaD2HGDH has been established as a Zn2+ and FAD-dependent dehydrogenase that uses Zn2+ to orient and polarize its substrate for catalysis.4,5 In closely related flavin-dependent enzymes such as the FMN-dependent -hydroxy acid oxidizing enzymes and the glucose-methanol-choline (GMC) class of enzymes, a catalytic base, usually a histidine residue, is responsible for activating the substrate for catalysis.6,7 Amino acid sequence alignment of PaD2HGDH with other FAD-dependent -hydroxy acid oxidizing enzymes revealed a fully conserved H421 residue3, whose active site location is topologically conserved for catalytic bases in most GMC-type enzymes.6 Additionally, a recent mechanistic study on PaD2HGDH revealed the requirement of a proton acceptor for enzyme catalysis after the alcohol proton displacement by the Zn2+ cofactor.7 However, the role of H421 in PaD2HGDH catalysis has not been established. In this study, site-directed mutagenesis was used to replace H421 with glutamine, asparagine, phenylalanine, or cysteine. The variant enzymes were purified in the presence of 1 mM ZnCl2 and investigated for their mechanistic, biophysical, and structural properties. From UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and ICP-MS data, both the FAD and Zn2+ cofactors are bound to all the variant enzymes. Circular dichroism spectroscopy revealed a similar overall fold, with comparable secondary and tertiary structural elements across all enzymes. Additionally, there was an observed 400-fold decrease in the variant enzymes’ activities, with a ~70% decrease in flavin reduction in comparison to the wild-type enzyme. The data suggest that the fully conserved H421 residue is important for enzyme catalysis and is likely the proton acceptor required for flavin reduction in PaD2HGDH. References 1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2019), Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, U.S .Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, Atlanta, GA:1-114 2. Guo, X. et al. (2018) d-2-Hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase plays a dual role in l-serine biosynthesis and d-malate utilization in the bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri. J Biol Chem. 293(40):15513-15523 3. Quaye, J.A., Gadda G. (2020) Kinetic and Bioinformatic Characterization of d-2-Hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. Biochemistry. 59(51):4833-4844 4. Quaye, J.A., Gadda G. (2023) Uncovering Zn2+ as a cofactor of FAD-dependent Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 d-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase. J Biol Chem. 299(3):103007 5. Quaye, J.A., Gadda G. (2023) The Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 metallo flavoprotein d-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase requires Zn2+ for substrate orientation and activation. J Biol Chem. 299(3):103008 6. Romero, E., Gadda G. (2014) Alcohol oxidation by flavoenzymes. Biomol Concepts. (4):299-318 7. Quaye, J.A., Gadda G. (2024) Metal-Triggered FAD Reduction in D 2-Hydroxyglutarate Dehydrogenase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. ACS Bio & Med Chem Au. doi: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.4c00108

my abstract entails a assessment of the feasible use of defective interfering particles as an adjunct to multi-drug antiviral therapy with potential to avoid viral resistance to anti-virals and also the possibility of limiting as well as treating some viral infections.

The CDC reports that 6 in 10 adults in the United States have a chronic condition and 4 in 10 have two or more chronic conditions. Consumer Health Informatics (CHI) are technologies that interact directly with health consumers to provide them with information or services for the promotion of health. Since all chronic conditions require some level of patient engagement for successful management, CHIs provide an opportunity to improve outcomes. Type 2 (T2) diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions impacting an estimated 35M Americans in the US. With the increased number of children and teenagers developing T2 diabetes, the potential is high for increasing patient engagement using technological applications. This presentation examines the effects of Consumer Health Informatics on Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

In this exploratory study, a convenience sample of Atlanta's unhoused youth is examined to uncover misconceptions about the most needed support for youth experiencing homelessness in Atlanta, Georgia. The study uses secondary data from the 2015 Atlanta Youth Count and Needs Assessment (AYCNA), a community-based field survey of Atlanta's unhoused youth aged 14 to 25. Participants were asked about their contact with homeless service providers in the thirty days before being surveyed, with specific providers such as "Covenant House" and “Chris Kids” being listed. The study aims to explore Atlanta's homelessness efforts for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ youth using minority stress theory and an intersectional approach. Descriptive and bivariate statistics, along with logistic regression, are used to measure the connection between participants' demographics and their contact with service providers. The study seeks to understand how participants interact with different service provider agencies and highlight which youth demographics are most in contact with treatment services in metro Atlanta, Georgia. The findings suggest a need for further research to enhance service providers' outreach capabilities.

Dietary approaches to autoimmune diseases: prevention, treatment, and protocol development Nadia Varigina, Amanda McCloskey, Desiree Wanders Department of Nutrition, Georgia State University Abstract:Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks the body's tissues, resulting in inflammation, tissue damage, and systemic complications. Autoimmune diseases are the third most prevalent disease group in the US. Common conditions include autoimmune thyroid diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, and inflammatory bowel diseases. While genetic predisposition plays a significant role, external factors like nutrition also contribute to their development and progression. Current treatments focus primarily on symptom management through immunosuppressive therapies, often neglecting the potential of dietary interventions. Emerging evidence highlights the role of nutrition in managing autoimmune diseases. The Mediterranean diet's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties are promising. Additionally, bioactive compounds such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), curcumin, resveratrol, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have demonstrated significant immunomodulatory effects. Despite these promising findings, the lack of standardized dietary guidelines and inconsistencies in research quality remain substantial challenges. Registered Dietitians (RDs) are pivotal in bridging the gap between emerging research and practical, evidence-based dietary strategies. Their specialized expertise is indispensable for developing comprehensive medical nutrition therapy (MNT) guidelines and integrating these approaches into multidisciplinary care plans. This narrative review consolidates current evidence on the relationship between nutrition and autoimmune conditions, emphasizing the critical role of RDs in managing these complex diseases to enhance patient outcomes. This review aims to provide a foundation for creating an MNT protocol for autoimmune disease management to be implemented by RDs to deliver personalized and effective care to their clients and patients with autoimmune conditions.

Boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) dyes are a class of organoboron compounds that have been cited as candidates for explorations into fluorescence imaging, photodynamic therapy, and optoelectronics. The meso-modified analog, Aza-BODIPY has become ubiquitous in biomedical applications due to the propensity to tune physicochemical and spectral properties by varying hydrophobic and hydrophilic substituents. One modality of imaging is photoacoustic (PA) imaging, which combines the features of optical and ultrasound imaging, absorbs near-infrared light (NIR) to excite a PA probe to cause tissue expansion and induce pressure, which subsequently allows for the generation of ultrasound wave for detection. Compared with fluorescence imaging, ultrasound waves confer the advantage of less autofluorescence of biological tissues, due to less photons scattering, which facilitate deeper tissue penetration (>3 cm). As a result, PA agents are notable for greater accuracy and visual result compared to solely optical imaging. This research reports probative results and aim of the synthesis of Aza-BODIPY dyes as activatable PA probes with respect to their absorbance and fluorescence optical properties and density-functional theory (DFT) computational studies. Herein, we synthesized and evaluated 14 Aza-BODIPY dyes with respect to purely optical imaging; however, preliminary screenings reveal little to no fluorescence of such agents, rendering them futile for optical fluorescence imaging. However, the inclination to utilize as PA probes is a promising advent. This research is the culmination of aim to design Aza-BODIPY dyes for tumor targeting and bioimaging that redshifted to NIR-II region and confer good optoacoustic properties.

Introduction Global temperatures are rising, resulting in sea level rise (SLR) that will damage and disconnect coastal communities. It is, however, unknown how these communities will be affected regarding their access to healthcare. Examining the effect of SLR on healthcare accessibility is essential for equitably advocating for the future stability of coastal communities. This study seeks to 1) determine to what extent healthcare accessibility is affected as a result of SLR, and 2) identify the sociodemographic characteristics of the affected neighborhoods. Methods This study uses primary care and mental healthcare datasets in Chatham County, Georgia and Duval County, Florida as well as SLR data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. To explore future healthcare access within these communities, preliminary research utilizes a network analyst tool to examine healthcare facility service areas, expressed in ranges of time (0-10 minutes, 10-20 minutes, 20-30, and 30-40 minutes) required to drive to healthcare facilities for 2020 and 2100 (with five feet of SLR). Results Results reveal an average of 85% of community residents will experience a reduction in healthcare accessibility by 2100. The results of the sociodemographic analyses reveal that affected residents in Chatham County are more likely to be low-income, black, and younger (below 44) while affected residents in Duval County are more likely to be middle-to-high income, white, and older (above 45). These results highlight the universal applicability of this research to coastal communities at risk of experiencing SLR.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly one-third of all fatalities and posing a significant public health challenge. In 2019, CVD was responsible for approximately 9.6 million deaths among men and 8.9 million among women globally, impacting not only the elderly but also younger individuals aged 30 to 70. These statistics highlight the urgent need for effective preventive measures to manage CVD. This project aims to develop a predictive model to assess individual CVD risk using the "Cardiovascular Disease Dataset" from the Mendeley Data repository. We will use RapidMiner to train a model with high accuracy to predict the likelihood of having CVD by analyzing twelve predictor variables. We compare different predictive models using the confusion matrix and ROC curve. We expect our selected model to predict the likelihood of having CVD with a high accuracy. We will also analyze the R square of selected predictors and train those predictors to be able to determine if concentrating on those predictors alone can reduce the chances of CVD. The project will provide insights into false positives as borderline cases. The predictive model will provide healthcare professionals with actionable insights, enabling early detection and personalized care. This project aligns with broader public health goals by promoting early detection and prevention of CVD.

Background: Published epidemiological studies on the association between perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) exposure and cognitive functions focus mostly on children, with little information available in adults. Objective: To identify associations between perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and cognitive functions in adults 60 years and older. Methods: The study is based on cognitive function tests from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2014: Word List Learning Test (CERAD_WL), Delayed word recall (CERAD-DR), Animal Fluency test (AF), and digit symbol substitution test (DSST). Study participants scoring in the lowest 25th percentile of each cognitive assessment calculated from the full aggregate sample were identified as low cognitive performers (LCP). Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were performed to analyze the relationship between the outcomes and each PFAA in the whole and stratified by sex group. Result: In males, there are statistically significant associations of PFOS with decreased DSST and higher odds of LCP in DSST, whereas in females an improved DSST score is associated with PFOA or PFHxS. In addition, higher level of PFNA or PFOS are associated with decreased odds of WL-LCP and DR-LCP in females. Conclusion: This is the first report of a positive association of PFOS with decreased DSST in male adults, and sex differences in the relationship between several cognitive test scores and PFAAs. Because of the many associations evaluated, the possibility that the reported correlations were due to chance cannot be dismissed.

In the context of an aging and increasingly diverse America, the health and well-being of older Asian Americans are critical yet understudied areas. Asian Americans represent the fastest-growing ethnic minority among older adults, yet face unique challenges shaped by immigration, acculturation, and systemic inequities. This study investigates the interplay between socioeconomic status (SES) and acculturation factors—familiarity with American culture, English proficiency, and length of U.S. residency—in shaping self-rated overall health, mental health, and quality of life among older Asian Americans. Using data from the 2015 Asian American Quality of Life (AAQoL) survey, this study analyzes a sample of 1,127 individuals aged 40 and older. Results highlight significant associations between SES, acculturation, and health outcomes. Higher income and education are positively linked to health measures, though their impact diminishes when acculturation factors are considered. Acculturation emerges as a robust predictor of better health outcomes, underscoring the critical role of cultural fluency and integration in navigating health systems and fostering well-being. Interaction analyses reveal complex dynamics; extended residency positively moderates the negative effect of education on quality of life, while cultural familiarity negatively moderates the positive effect of income on health. The findings illustrate the multifaceted nature of aging among older Asian Americans, shaped by intersecting structural and cultural determinants. While SES provides flexible resources such as financial stability and educational attainment, acculturation offers "fluent resources," enabling effective navigation of cultural and systemic barriers. These insights emphasize the importance of addressing both structural inequities and cultural opportunities to promote healthy aging. Future research should explore ethnic subgroup differences and qualitative narratives to deepen understanding of aging experiences in this population, contributing to more equitable health policies and interventions.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes high hospitalizations and mortality in children and elderly. RSV pre-fusion stabilized protein vaccines have been licensed for elderly and maternal vaccination. Nonetheless, there exists an urgent demand for a safer and effective RSV vaccine in elderly and young children, avoiding vaccine-enhanced disease. We developed a new pre-fusion mRNA construct (F1d-dcmTM) containing additional mutations as well as prototype pre-fusion stabilizing mutations (DS-Cav1). New pre-fusion F1d-dcmTM mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNP) was found to be more effective in inducing neutralizing antibodies after vaccination of mice than prototype DS-Cav1 Pre-fusion protein. Remarkably, we found that combined F1d-dcmTM mRNA-LNP and Pre-fusion protein vaccination elicited significantly higher amounts of RSV neutralizing antibodies in mice than those by either vaccine alone. After challenge of vaccinated mice with RSV, F1d-dcmTM mRNA-LNP and combination group with pre-fusion protein provided effective protection by clearing lung viral loads, preventing lung histopathology and inflammation, and inducing balanced T cell responses, compared to those by prototype pre-fusion protein. These new RSV pre-fusion mRNA vaccine construct and a strategy of combined vaccination would provide safer and more effective protection than current prototype RSV pre-fusion subunit vaccine.

Title: Parameter Estimation in Epidemiological Models Using the Sum of Absolute Deviations Method Yisa Abolade, Yichuan Zhao, Gerado Chowel Abstract: Reliable parameter estimation is vital for accurate predictions in infectious disease modeling, especially during public health emergencies. The Least Squares (LSQ) method is traditionally favored for its computational efficiency and closed-form solutions, assuming normally distributed errors. However, LSQ is highly sensitive to outliers, which can lead to biased parameter estimates when dealing with noisy data which is a common scenario in real-world epidemiological studies. To address this issue, we introduce the Sum of Absolute Deviations (SAD) as a robust estimation technique that minimizes the absolute differences between observed and predicted values. Unlike LSQ, SAD is less affected by outliers because it imposes a linear penalty on residuals, making it better suited for handling heavy-tailed error distributions epidemiological datasets. This study evaluates the performance of SAD using both simulated and real-world infectious disease data, demonstrating its advantages over LSQ in scenarios with outliers or non-normally distributed errors. By adapting concepts from signal processing, where SAD has proven effective in recovering signals from corrupted data, we apply these techniques to epidemiological modeling. Our findings indicate that SAD not only enhances the robustness of parameter estimation but also improves the accuracy of epidemic forecasts, offering a promising alternative to conventional LSQ methods. These results have significant implications for real-time epidemic tracking, where robust estimation methods are crucial for guiding timely public health interventions. This research contributes to the expanding literature on robust parameter estimation methods and provides a framework for applying SAD to epidemiological models. We believe that SAD, given its successful application in other fields like signal processing, holds considerable potential for improving the reliability of forecasts in infectious disease modeling, ultimately supporting more effective public health strategies. KEYWORDS Parameter estimation, real-time forecasting and performance, SAD, LSQ.