Impressions and aspirations from the FDA GREAT VI Workshop on Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders Beyond Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Perspectives for Progress in the Field.

The US Food and Drug Administration hosted a workshop on July 21, 2021, to discuss the disease characteristics, natural history, and end points to assess treatment benefit in patients with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) beyond eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Notably, EGIDs beyond EoE, such as eosinophilic gastritis, eosinophilic enteritis, and eosinophilic colitis, herein referred to as non-EoE EGIDs, are understudied relative to EoE. This workshop provided a forum for open discussion among stakeholders-medical professionals (including their societies and research groups), Food and Drug Administration representatives, an industry representative, and a patient representative-to facilitate drug development. Experts in many disciplines related to EGIDs, including allergy, immunology, epidemiology, gastroenterology, and pathology, and both adult and pediatric clinicians contributed. Herein, we discuss some of the insights of the material presented at the meeting and present perspectives on moving the field forward toward drug approval.

Blood pressure surge with alarm is reduced after exercise and diet intervention in firefighters.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac-related incidents are a public health concern for tactical occupations, and cardiovascular disease rates are higher in these populations compared with civilians. Research is needed to examine blood pressure (BP) responses in firefighters. The pager alert is one occupational hazard, and it is unknown if lifestyle change can reduce the systolic surge response. PURPOSE: To measure BP surge with alarm in firefighters to determine whether the magnitude is lower after a 6-week tactical exercise and Mediterranean-diet intervention. METHODS: SBP and DBP and BP surge levels, circulating markers, vascular health, and fitness were analyzed. BP surge with alarm was captured during a 12-hour workshift. Exercise and diet were self-reported. Diet was tracked with diet scores based on number of servings. RESULTS: Twenty five firefighters (43.4 ±â€…13.9 years) participated. We found changes in the magnitude of BP surge with alarm (SBP surge from16.7 ±â€…12.9 to 10.5 ±â€…11.7 mmHg, P < 0.05; DBP surge from 8.2 ±â€…10.8 to 4.9 ±â€…5.6 mmHg, P > 0.05) after intervention. We confirm that clinical (127.6 ±â€…9.1 to 120 ±â€…8.2 mmHg) and central (122.7 ±â€…11.3 to 118.2 ±â€…10.7 mmHg) SBP levels improve with exercise and diet. We report for the first time in firefighters that oxidative stress markers superoxide dismutase (9.1 ±â€…1.5 to 11.2 ±â€…2.2 U/ml) and nitric oxide (40.4 ±â€…7 to 48.9 ±â€…16.9 µmol/l) levels improve with an exercise and diet intervention. CONCLUSION: These findings have implications toward the benefit that short-term lifestyle changes make toward reducing the alarm stress response in first responders.

In Our Community, Dementia Speaks: Pilot of a person-centered training targeting African-American caregivers of persons-living with dementia (innovative practice).

African-Americans face higher rates of Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias than any other group. With cases of Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias expected to double by 2050 the African-American community stands to be disproportionally affected. Recognizing the need for culturally tailored programming for caregivers and those living with Alzheimer's disease and other related dementias In Our Community, Dementia Speaks was developed through a community-participatory model of engagement. While pilot results showed a non-statistically significant increase in pre/posttest knowledge a more nuanced review of the data indicates success in changing attitudes and behaviors regarding the disease among caregivers. Results provide a guide for informing future interventions and improving existing programming.

Office for the Study of Aging at the University of South Carolina: Promoting Healthy Aging Through Program Development, Evaluation, Education/Training, and Research for South Carolina's Older Adults.

The Office for the Study of Aging (OSA) at the University of South Carolina was established in 1988 in conjunction with the founding of the South Carolina Alzheimer's Disease Registry. Over the last 25 years, the Office for the Study of Aging has furthered its purpose through the development of research and programs for all of South Carolina's aging population. Examples include the Placemat Strength Training Program, the Dementia Dialogues education program, and the South Carolina Vulnerable Adult Guardian ad Litem program. The work of the office is sustained through a unique government-university-community partnership that supports innovative work and provides direct lines for dissemination, translation, and implementation of programs. The office's efforts have resulted in two state laws involving aging and older adults as well as recognition through awards and publications. The Office provides a partnership model that offers a dissemination and translation pipeline for programs to be developed, piloted, revised, and enacted into policy.