Exploring the cardiovascular health behaviors of college students and the areas that need increased public health efforts.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death worldwide among adults. Traditionally, the disease has been considered as a condition affecting older adults. However, its risk factors (e.g., poor diet, sedentary behavior, inadequate sleep, and obesity) are increasingly being identified in younger populations. There is a need to increase the evidence of CVD risk factors in this population to further support preventive programs in this demographic. OBJECTIVE(S): This study investigates the prevalence of CVD risk factors in young adult, college students. DESIGN: Data was used from the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) II-C. SAMPLE: The sample included data from 426,259 students, ages 18-25. MEASUREMENTS: Data was reviewed on race, nutrition, physical activity, tobacco use, sleep, weight, and history of chronic disease. Descriptive statistics were utilized to examine the prevalence of CVD risk factors. RESULTS: There was a notable prevalence of CVD risk factors, such as insufficient nutrition, obesity, insufficient physical activity, and inadequate sleep, among college students. CONCLUSIONS: CVD-related risk factors are on the rise within this demographic. There is a pressing need for the expansion of public health initiatives aimed at enhancing CVD awareness and prevention among college students.

Educational Needs of Rural Students Interested in the Nursing Profession.

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to uncover the educational requirements of minority rural students who aspire to pursue a career in nursing. To achieve this goal, focus groups and interviews were organized for middle school students (seventh to ninth grade) and community members with a stake in education. The outcomes of these discussions revealed crucial themes: limited knowledge of educational pathways, constraints posed by limited community resources, and a strong yearning for a mentorship program that is both informative and interactive. The findings served as the cornerstone for the creation and development of a mentorship initiative tailored specifically for minority rural students.

Guided Metabolic Detoxification Program Supports Phase II Detoxification Enzymes and Antioxidant Balance in Healthy Participants.

Adequate antioxidant supply is essential for maintaining metabolic homeostasis and reducing oxidative stress during detoxification. The emerging evidence suggests that certain classes of phytonutrients can help support the detoxification process by stimulating the liver to produce detoxification enzymes or acting as antioxidants that neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals. This study was designed to examine the effects of a guided 28-day metabolic detoxification program in healthy adults. The participants were randomly assigned to consume a whole food, multi-ingredient supplement (n = 14, education and intervention) or control (n = 18, education and healthy meal) daily for the duration of the trial. The whole food supplement contained 37 g/serving of a proprietary, multicomponent nutritional blend in the form of a rehydratable shake. Program readiness was ensured at baseline using a validated self-perceived wellness score and a blood metabolic panel, indicating stable emotional and physical well-being in both groups. No significant changes or adverse effects were found on physical or emotional health, cellular glutathione (GSH) and the GSH:GSSG ratio, porphyrin, and hepatic detoxification biomarkers in urine. The intervention was positively associated with a 23% increase in superoxide dismutase (p = 0.06) and a 13% increase in glutathione S-transferase (p = 0.003) activities in the blood. This resulted in a 40% increase in the total cellular antioxidant capacity (p = 0.001) and a 13% decrease in reactive oxygen species (p = 0.002) in isolated PBMCs from participants in the detoxification group. Our findings indicate that consuming a whole food nutritional intervention as a part of the guided detoxification program supported phase II detoxification, in part, by promoting enhanced free radical scavenging and maintaining redox homeostasis under the body's natural glutathione recycling capacity.

Alleviation of Pain, PAIN Interference, and Oxidative Stress by a Novel Combination of Hemp Oil, Calamari Oil, and Broccoli: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Chronic pain is a critical health issue in the US that is routinely managed pharmacologically with diminishing results. The widespread misuse and abuse of prescription opioid pain medications have caused both healthcare providers and patients to seek alternative therapeutic options. Several dietary ingredients have been traditionally used for pain relief and are known to have potential analgesic properties. This double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial aimed to test whether a novel combination of full spectrum hemp oil (phytocannabinoids), calamari oil (omega-3 fatty acids), and broccoli (glucosinolates) could reduce chronic pain and attenuate damage from oxidative stress in adults seeking chiropractic care. Participants (average age = 54.8 ± 13.6 years old) were randomly assigned to consume a whole-food, multi-ingredient supplement (n = 12, intervention and standard chiropractic care) or placebo (n = 13, mineral oil and standard chiropractic care) daily for 12 weeks. The subjects' self-reported perceived pain, pain interference, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) status in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were quantified at baseline, mid-checkpoint, and postintervention. The intervention was positively associated with a 52% decrease in pain intensity and several parameters of pain interference, including quality of sleep. Decreases in the markers of oxidative stress were also observed in the participants from the intervention group (29.4% decrease in PMBC ROS). Our findings indicated that supplementation with a novel combination of hemp oil, calamari oil, and broccoli has the potential to manage chronic pain when combined with standard chiropractic care, as suggested by its effects on pain intensity and oxidative stress.

Navigating Supported Employment and Education Services for Youths During COVID-19 and Severe Weather Events.

In 2021, the British Columbia (BC) Interior experienced a series of unprecedented disasters, ranging from extreme heat and wildfires to catastrophic flooding and evacuations. Along with these severe weather events, BC was affected by COVID-19 outbreaks and public health restrictions. Despite these challenges, communities worked to ensure that youths who are at risk for increased mental health challenges continued to have access to services that promote well-being, such as individual placement and support programs for supported employment and education. This Open Forum presents program considerations and adaptations in Foundry Penticton, one of 12 province-wide integrated youth hubs, to ensure service delivery during acute and chronic disasters.

Improving Confidence in Clinical Assessment Skills Through Service-Learning Experiences Among Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND: Service-learning (SL) was incorporated into a nonclinical undergraduate nursing course. This study examined the effects of SL on nursing students' confidence in performing patient health assessments. METHOD: Nursing students completed an experiential SL vital signs assessment and a subsequent reflective journal. Of 112 reflective journals, 30 journals were randomly selected for qualitative analysis to understand the experiences of SL for nursing students. A rapid analytic framework was used for data analysis. RESULTS: The following domains were identified: overcoming initial fear, building confidence in clinical assessment skills, practicing therapeutic communication and patient education, and developing problem solving skills. CONCLUSION: This project highlights that SL experiences are not limited only to clinical settings but also are appropriate for nontraditional preclinical settings as well. Such experiences introduce nursing students to patient care and critical reasoning prior to transitioning to subsequent clinical nursing courses. [J Nurs Educ. 2022;61(5):272-275.].

Obesogenic and diabetic effects of CD44 in mice are sexually dimorphic and dependent on genetic background.

INTRODUCTION: CD44 is a candidate gene for obesity and diabetes development and may be a critical mediator of a systemic inflammation associated with obesity and diabetes. METHODS: We investigated the relationship of CD44 with obesity in CD44-deficient mice challenged with a high-fat diet. RESULTS: In mice fed a diet high in fat, cholesterol, and sucrose for 12 weeks fat mass accumulation was reduced in CD44-deficient mice bred onto both a C57BL/6J and the naturally TLR deficient C3H/HeJ background. Reduced fat mass could not be attributed to lower food intake or an increase in energy expenditure as measured by indirect calorimetry. However, we observed a 40-60% lower mRNA expression of the inflammation markers, F4/80, CD11b, TNF-α, and CD14, in adipose tissue of CD44-deficient mice on the C57BL/6J background but not the C3H/HeJ background, perhaps indicating that alternative factors may be affecting adiposity in this model. Measures of hepatic steatosis and insulin sensitivity were improved in CD44-deficient mice on a C57BL/6J but not in the C3H/HeJ mice. These results were highly sexually dimorphic as there were no detectable effects of CD44 inactivation in female mice on a C57BL/6 J or C3H/HeJ background. CONCLUSION: CD44 was associated with adiposity, liver fat, and glucose in male mice. However, the effects of CD44 on obesity may be independent of TLR4 signaling.

Relationships Among Exercise, Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Academic Achievement Among Prelicensure Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND: Nursing school is challenging and can be stressful for many students. Nursing students are also susceptible to stress, anxiety, and depression. Exercise and mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to improve mental health outcomes in other populations, but it is not known how these strategies influence academic achievement. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among exercise, mindfulness, academic achievement, and mental health among undergraduate nursing students. METHODS: This study used a cross-sectional design that uses correlational, regression, and mediation analyses. RESULTS: Mindfulness was inversely associated with depression and anxiety and, although not statistically significant, was positively associated with academic achievement. Exercise was not significantly associated with anxiety or academic achievement but was associated with depression. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence-based interventions that promote mindfulness among nursing students should be implemented to promote mental health and academic achievement, especially because MBIs are cost-effective and convenient alternatives to other psychotherapies.

Dietary Folic Acid Alters Metabolism of Multiple Vitamins in a CerS6- and Sex-Dependent Manner.

Folic acid, an oxidized synthetic pro-vitamin B9, is widely used in vitamin supplement formulations and food fortification to maintain optimal folate status in humans. Studies on folic acid (FA) efficiency in improving folate status and correcting folate deficiency pathologies are abundant, but precise knowledge of FA effects on human and animal tissues is not available. In our recent study, 10-week-old wild-type and CerS6 knockout (KO) mice were placed on FA-deficient, control, or FA over-supplemented diet for 4 weeks. Untargeted metabolomics characterization of mouse liver, brain, and testes tissues after the dietary treatment revealed profound effects of FA on the liver metabolome. Here, we present the analysis of dietary FA effects on tissue concentrations of other vitamins in mice. Despite the expectation that identical dietary supply of the vitamins (excluding FA) to each group should support similar tissue vitamins concentrations, metabolomics data demonstrate significant alterations of tissue concentrations of multiple vitamins by different levels of FA supplementation that were sex- and genotype-dependent. Moreover, we found significant differences in the liver concentration of retinol, thiamin diphosphate, pantetheine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine between males and females. While the liver had more changes in vitamins and vitamin derivative levels, the brain tissue and testes also showed changes linked to FA supplementation. Over-supplementation with FA had negative effects on concentrations of vitamins A, B1, B2, and B6, or their metabolites in the liver, but increased intermediates in coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis, as well as gamma/beta-tocopherol and phosphorylated forms of B6 in the CerS6 KO brain. Overall, our data demonstrate that dietary FA supplementation significantly affects the metabolism of other vitamins, and that these effects depend on the CerS6 status and sex of the animal. Further research is required to determine whether the observed effects are specific to FA, and the mechanisms that are involved.

Ceramide synthase 6 mediates sex-specific metabolic response to dietary folic acid in mice.

Folic acid-fortified foods and multi-vitamin supplements containing folic acid (FA) are widely used around the world, but the exact mechanisms/metabolic effects of FA are not precisely identified. We have demonstrated that Ceramide Synthase 6 (CerS6) and C16:0-ceramide mediate response to folate stress in cultured cells. Here we investigated the dietary FA effects on mouse liver metabolome, with a specific focus on sphingolipids, CerS6 and C16:0-ceramide. Wild-type and CerS6-/- mice were fed FA-deficient, control, or FA over-supplemented diets for 4 weeks. After dietary treatment, liver concentrations of ceramides, sphingomyelins and hexosylceramides were measured by LC-MS/MS and complemented by untargeted metabolomic characterization of mouse livers. Our study shows that alterations in dietary FA elicit multiple sphingolipid responses mediated by CerS6 in mouse livers. Folic acid-deficient diet elevated C14:0-, C18:0- and C20:0- but not C16:0-ceramide in WT male and female mice. Additionally, FA over-supplementation increased multiple sphingomyelin species, including total sphingomyelins, in both sexes. Of note, concentrations of C14:0- and C16:0-ceramides and hexosylceramides were significantly higher in female livers than in male. The latter were increased by FD diet, with no difference between sexes in total pools of these sphingolipid classes. Untargeted liver metabolomic analysis concurred with the targeted measurements and showed broad effects of dietary FA and CerS6 status on multiple lipid classes including sex-specific effects on phosphatidylethanolamines and diacylglycerols. Our study demonstrates that both dietary FA and CerS6 status exhibit pleiotropic and sex-dependent effects on liver metabolism, including hepatic sphingolipids, diacylglycerols, long chain fatty acids, and phospholipids.

Heart Health in Teachers-Do We Need to Know More?

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between the prevalence and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and hypertension, physical activity, and mental health in teachers. METHODS: Data were drawn from the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A series of analyses were conducted utilizing exploratory data analysis, nominal logistic regression, and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: The study sample included 148 participants. The results showed that an increase in age and BMI contributed to an increase in high blood pressure. Significance was not seen between physical activity, anxiety, and mental well-being as they related to cardiovascular disease and teaching. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and hypertension could be related to the occupation of teaching; however, additional research should be done to assess the relationship between the occupation of teaching and cardiovascular disease.

Sphingolipids and the link between alcohol and cancer.

Epidemiological evidence underscores alcohol consumption as a strong risk factor for multiple cancer types, with liver cancer being most commonly associated with alcohol intake. While mechanisms linking alcohol consumption to malignant tumor development are not fully understood, the likely players in ethanol-induced carcinogenesis are genotoxic stress caused by formation of acetaldehyde, increased oxidative stress, and altered nutrient metabolism, including the impairment of methyl transfer reactions. Alterations of sphingolipid metabolism and associated signaling pathways are another potential link between ethanol and cancer development. In particular, ceramides are involved in the regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation, senescence, and apoptosis and are known to function as important regulators of malignant transformation as well as tumor progression. However, to date, the cross-talk between ceramides and alcohol in cancer disease is largely an open question and only limited data are available on this subject. Most studies linking ceramide to cancer considered liver steatosis as the underlying mechanism, which is not surprising taking into consideration that ceramide pathways are an integral part of the overall lipid metabolism. This review summarizes the latest studies pointing to ceramide as an important mediator of cancer-promoting effects of chronic alcohol consumption and underscores the necessity of understanding the role of sphingolipids and lipid signaling in response to alcohol in order to prevent and/or successfully manage diseases caused by alcohol.

Ceramide Synthase 6: Comparative Analysis, Phylogeny and Evolution.

Ceramide synthase 6 (CerS6, also known as LASS6) is one of the six members of ceramide synthase gene family in humans. Comparisons of CerS6 amino acid sequences and structures as well as of CerS6 gene structures/locations were conducted using data from several vertebrate genome projects. A specific role for the CerS6 gene and protein has been identified as the endoplasmic reticulum C14- and C16-ceramide synthase. Mammalian CerS6 proteins share 90⁻100% similarity among different species, but are only 22⁻63% similar to other CerS family members, suggesting that CerS6 is a distinct gene family. Sequence alignments, predicted transmembrane, lumenal and cytoplasmic segments and N-glycosylation sites were also investigated, resulting in identification of the key conserved residues, including the active site as well as C-terminus acidic and serine residues. Mammalian CerS6 genes contain ten exons, are primarily located on the positive strands and transcribed as two major isoforms. The human CERS6 gene promoter harbors a large CpG island (94 CpGs) and multiple transcription factor binding sites (TFBS), which support precise transcriptional regulation and signaling functions. Additional regulation is conferred by 15 microRNA (miRNA) target sites identified in the CERS6 3'-UTR region. Phylogenetic analysis of the vertebrate CerS1⁻6 gene families relationships supports a major role for the CerS6 enzyme that is strongly conserved throughout vertebrate evolution.

Association Between Variants in Arsenic (+3 Oxidation State) Methyltranserase (AS3MT) and Urinary Metabolites of Inorganic Arsenic: Role of Exposure Level.

Variants in AS3MT, the gene encoding arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltranserase, have been shown to influence patterns of inorganic arsenic (iAs) metabolism. Several studies have suggested that capacity to metabolize iAs may vary depending on levels of iAs exposure. However, it is not known whether the influence of variants in AS3MT on iAs metabolism also vary by level of exposure. We investigated, in a population of Mexican adults exposed to drinking water As, whether associations between 7 candidate variants in AS3MT and urinary iAs metabolites were consistent with prior studies, and whether these associations varied depending on the level of exposure. Overall, associations between urinary iAs metabolites and AS3MT variants were consistent with the literature. Referent genotypes, defined as the genotype previously associated with a higher percentage of urinary dimethylated As (DMAs%), were associated with significant increases in the DMAs% and ratio of DMAs to monomethylated As (MAs), and significant reductions in MAs% and iAs%. For 3 variants, associations between genotypes and iAs metabolism were significantly stronger among subjects exposed to water As >50 versus ≤50 ppb (water As X genotype interaction P < .05). In contrast, for 1 variant (rs17881215), associations were significantly stronger at exposures ≤50 ppb. Results suggest that iAs exposure may influence the extent to which several AS3MT variants affect iAs metabolism. The variants most strongly associated with iAs metabolism-and perhaps with susceptibility to iAs-associated disease-may vary in settings with exposure level.