Race/ethnicity-specific associations between breastfeeding information source and breastfeeding rates among U.S. women.

BACKGROUND: Despite evidence of the impact of breastfeeding information on breastfeeding rates, it is unknown if information sources and impact vary by race/ethnicity, thus this study assessed race/ethnicity-specific associations between breastfeeding information sources and breastfeeding. METHODS: We used data from the 2016-2019 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System. Race/ethnicity-stratified multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate associations between information source (e.g., family/friends) and breastfeeding rates (0 weeks/none, < 10 weeks, or ≥ 10 weeks; < 10 weeks and ≥ 10 weeks = any breastfeeding). All analyses were weighted to be nationally representative. RESULTS: Among 5,945,018 women (weighted), 88% reported initiating breastfeeding (≥ 10 weeks = 70%). Information from family/friends (< 10 weeks: aORs = 1.58-2.14; ≥ 10 weeks: aORs = 1.63-2.64) and breastfeeding support groups (< 10 weeks: aORs = 1.31-1.76; ≥ 10 weeks: aORs = 1.42-2.77) were consistently associated with breastfeeding and duration across most racial/ethnic groups; effects were consistently smaller among Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic women (vs White women). Over half of American Indian and one-quarter of Black women reported not breastfeeding/stopping breastfeeding due to return to school/work concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Associations between breastfeeding information source and breastfeeding rates vary across race/ethnicity. Culturally tailored breastfeeding information and support from family/friends and support groups could help reduce breastfeeding disparities. Additional measures are needed to address disparities related to concerns about return to work/school.

Mechanical testing of particle streaming and intact extracellular mucilage nanofibers reveal a role of elastic force in diatom motility.

Diatoms are unicellular microalgae with a rigid cell wall, able to glide on surfaces by releasing nanopolymeric fibers through central slits known as raphes. Here we consider the modelNitszchia communisto perform quantitative studies on two complementary aspects involved in diatom gliding. Using video microscopy and automated image analysis, we measure the motion of test beads as they are pulled by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) fibers at the diatom raphe (particle streaming). A multimodal distribution of particle speed is found, evidencing the appearance of short-time events of high speed and acceleration (known as jerky motion) and suggesting that different mechanisms contribute to set diatom velocity during gliding. Furthermore, we use optical tweezers to obtain force-extension records for extracellular diatom nanofibers; records are well described by the worm-like chain model of polymer elasticity. In contrast to previous studies based on application of denaturing force (in the nN regime), application of low force (up to 6 pN) and using enable us to obtain the persistence length of intact fibers. From these measurements, mechanical parameters of EPS fibers such as radius and elastic constant are estimated. Furthermore, by modeling particle streaming as a spring in parallel with a dashpot, we show that the time involved in the release of mechanical energy after fiber detachment from beads (elastic snapping) agrees with our observations of jerky motion. We conclude that the smooth and jerky motions displayed by gliding diatoms correspond to molecular motors and elastic snapping, respectively, thus providing quantitative elements that incorporate to current models of the mechanics behind diatom locomotion.

BMI and Allostatic Load Are Directly Associated with Longitudinal Increase in Plasma Neurofilament Light among Urban Middle-Aged Adults.

BACKGROUND: Plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a novel biomarker for age-related neurodegenerative disease. We tested whether NfL may be linked to cardiometabolic risk factors, including BMI, the allostatic load (AL) total score (ALtotal), and related AL continuous components (ALcomp). We also tested whether these relations may differ by sex or by race. METHODS: We used data from the HANDLS (Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span) study [n = 608, age at visit 1 (v1: 2004-2009): 30-66 y, 42% male, 58% African American] to investigate associations of initial cardiometabolic risk factors and time-dependent plasma NfL concentrations over 3 visits (2004-2017; mean ± SD follow-up time: 7.72 ± 1.28 y), with outcomes being NfLv1 and annualized change in NfL (δNfL). We used mixed-effects linear regression and structural equations modeling (SM). RESULTS: BMI was associated with lower initial (γ01 = -0.014 ± 0.002, P < 0.001) but faster increase in plasma NfL over time (γ11 = +0.0012 ± 0.0003, P < 0.001), a pattern replicated for ALtotal. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), serum total cholesterol, and resting heart rate at v1 were linked with faster plasma NfL increase over time, overall, while being uncorrelated with NfLv1 (e.g., hsCRP × Time, full model: γ11 = +0.004 ± 0.002, P = 0.015). In SM analyses, BMI's association with δNfL was significantly mediated through ALtotal among women [total effect (TE) = +0.0014 ± 0.00038, P < 0.001; indirect effect = +0.00042 ± 0.00019, P = 0.025; mediation proportion = 30%], with only a direct effect (DE) detected among African American adults (TE = +0.0011 ± 0.0004, P = 0.015; DE = +0.0010 ± 0.00048, P = 0.034). The positive associations between ALtotal/BMI and δNfL were mediated through increased glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations, overall. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiometabolic risk factors, particularly elevated HbA1c, should be screened and targeted for neurodegenerative disease, pending comparable longitudinal studies. Other studies examining the clinical utility of plasma NfL as a neurodegeneration marker should account for confounding effects of BMI and AL.

COVID-19-Related Discrimination Among Racial/Ethnic Minorities and Other Marginalized Communities in the United States.

Objectives. To determine the prevalence of COVID-19-related discrimination among major US racial/ethnic groups and estimate associations between discrimination, race/ethnicity, and other sociodemographic characteristics. Methods. We conducted a nationally representative online survey of 5500 American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Latino (English and Spanish speaking), White, and multiracial adults from December 2020 to February 2021. Associations between sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19-related discrimination were estimated via multinomial logistic regression. Results. A total of 22.1% of the participants reported experiencing discriminatory behaviors, and 42.7% reported that people acted afraid of them. All racial/ethnic minorities were more likely than White adults to experience COVID-19-related discrimination, with Asian and American Indian/Alaska Native adults being most likely to experience such discrimination (discriminatory behaviors: adjusted odd ratio [AOR] = 2.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.73, 3.89; and AOR = 2.67; 95% CI = 1.76, 4.04; people acting afraid: AOR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.15, 2.07; and AOR = 1.84; 95% CI = 1.34, 2.51). Limited English proficiency, lower education, lower income, and residing in a big city or the East South Central census division also increased the prevalence of discrimination. Conclusions. COVID-19-related discrimination is common, and it appears that the pandemic has exacerbated preexisting resentment against racial/ethnic minorities and marginalized communities. Efforts are needed to minimize and discredit racially driven language and discrimination around COVID-19 and future epidemics. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(3):453-466. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306594).

Perceived general, mental, and physical health of Latinos in the United States following adoption of immigrant-inclusive state-level driver's license policies: a time-series analysis.

BACKGROUND: In the United States (U.S.), several states have laws that allow individuals to obtain driver's licenses regardless of their immigration status. Possession of a driver's license can improve an individual's access to social programs, healthcare services, and employment opportunities, which could lead to improvements in perceived mental and physical health among Latinos living in the U.S. METHODS: Using Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data (2011-2019) for Latinos living in the U.S. overall (immigration status was not available), we compared the average number of self-reported perceived poor mental and physical health days/month, and general health status (single-item measures) before (January 2011-June 2013) and after implementation (July 2015-December 2019) of immigrant-inclusive license policies using interrupted time-series analyses and segmented linear regression, and a control group of states in which such policies were not implemented. We also compared the average number of adults reporting any perceived poor mental or physical health days (≥ 1 day/month) using a similar approach. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-three thousand eight hundred seven Latino adults were included; 66,805 lived in states that adopted immigrant-inclusive license policies. After implementation, average number of perceived poor physical health days significantly decreased from 4.30 to 3.80 days/month (immediate change = -0.64, 95% CI = -1.10 to -0.19). The proportion reporting ≥ 1 perceived poor physical and mental health day significantly decreased from 41 to 34% (OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.80-1.00) and from 40 to 33% (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.74-0.94), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among all Latinos living in the U.S., immigrant-inclusive license policies were associated with fewer perceived poor physical health days per month and fewer adults experiencing poor physical and mental health. Because anti-immigrant policies can harm Latino communities regardless of immigration status and further widen health inequities, implementing state policies that do not restrict access to driver licenses based on immigrant status documentation could help address upstream drivers of such inequities.

An Assessment of Balance through Posturography in Healthy about Women: An Observational Study.

The incidence of falls in adults constitutes a public health problem, and the alteration in balance is the most important factor. It is necessary to evaluate this through objective tools in order to quantify alterations and prevent falls. This study aims to determine the existence of alteration of balance and the influence of age in a population of healthy women. Static posturography was performed on 49 healthy adult women with no history of falls in four different situations using the Romberg test with the NedSVE/IBV® platform. The variables studied were the body sway area and the anteroposterior and mediolateral displacements. The situation of maximum instability occurred in RGC (p = 0.001), with a significant increase in anteroposterior oscillations regarding the ML (p < 0.001), with no correlation to age. Age alone does not influence the balance in the sample studied, other factors must come together to alter it. The joint cancellation of visual and somatosensory afferents could facilitate the appearance of falls, given that it is a situation of maximum instability. Proprioceptive training is interesting as a preventive strategy for falls.

Analyzing Uncertainty in Complex Socio-Ecological Networks.

Socio-ecological systems are recognized as complex adaptive systems whose multiple interactions might change as a response to external or internal changes. Due to its complexity, the behavior of the system is often uncertain. Bayesian networks provide a sound approach for handling complex domains endowed with uncertainty. The aim of this paper is to analyze the impact of the Bayesian network structure on the uncertainty of the model, expressed as the Shannon entropy. In particular, three strategies for model structure have been followed: naive Bayes (NB), tree augmented network (TAN) and network with unrestricted structure (GSS). Using these network structures, two experiments are carried out: (1) the impact of the Bayesian network structure on the entropy of the model is assessed and (2) the entropy of the posterior distribution of the class variable obtained from the different structures is compared. The results show that GSS constantly outperforms both NB and TAN when it comes to evaluating the uncertainty of the entire model. On the other hand, NB and TAN yielded lower entropy values of the posterior distribution of the class variable, which makes them preferable when the goal is to carry out predictions.

Kinetic Stabilization of 1D Surface States near Twin Boundaries in Noncentrosymmetric BiPd.

The search for one-dimensional (1D) topologically protected electronic states has become an important research goal for condensed matter physics owing to their potential use in spintronic devices or as a building block for topologically nontrivial electronic states. Using low temperature scanning tunneling microscopy, we demonstrate the formation of 1D electronic states at twin boundaries at the surface of the noncentrosymmetric material BiPd. These twin boundaries are topological defects that separate regions with antiparallel orientations of the crystallographic b axis. We demonstrate that the formation of the 1D electronic states can be rationalized by a change in effective mass of two-dimensional surface states across the twin boundary. Our work therefore reveals a novel route towards designing 1D electronic states with strong spin-orbit coupling.

Assessing the risk zones of Chagas' disease in Chile, in a world marked by global climatic change.

BACKGROUND: Vector transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi appears to be interrupted in Chile; however, data show increasing incidence of Chagas' disease, raising concerns that there may be a reemerging problem. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the actual risk in a changing world it is necessary to consider the historical vector distribution and correlate this distribution with the presence of cases and climate change. METHODS: Potential distribution models of Triatoma infestans and Chagas disease were performed using Maxent, a machine-learning method. FINDINGS: Climate change appears to play a major role in the reemergence of Chagas' disease and T. infestans in Chile. The distribution of both T. infestans and Chagas' disease correlated with maximum temperature, and the precipitation during the driest month. The overlap of Chagas' disease and T. infestans distribution areas was high. The distribution of T. infestans, under two global change scenarios, showed a minimal reduction tendency in suitable areas. MAIN CONCLUSION: The impact of temperature and precipitation on the distribution of T. infestans, as shown by the models, indicates the need for aggressive control efforts; the current control measures, including T. infestans control campaigns, should be maintained with the same intensity as they have at present, avoiding sylvatic foci, intrusions, and recolonisation of human dwellings.

Integrating multivariate and geostatistical analyses for assessing the socio-environmental vulnerability of children in the vicinity of a contaminated site.

Vulnerability assessments are commonly based on complex indices that may be inappropriate for characterizing risks in small groups of people exposed to environmental hazards. The aim was to present a multivariate and geostatistical approach to explore human health risks at the individual, household and community level. First, biological and socioeconomic characteristics from 179 children were used in a cluster analysis to find groups and identify vulnerability profiles. Then, both the exposure of children to arsenic and lead in soils and their accessibility to community resources were assessed using a geospatial analysis. The results identified three vulnerability profiles among children that were not in agreement with the environmental exposure and deficit of community resources. The proposed approach helps optimize strategies to manage both environmental and social risks based on the vulnerability of the exposed population.

Revisiting Hansen Solubility Parameters by Including Thermodynamics.

The Hansen solubility parameter approach is revisited by implementing the thermodynamics of dissolution and mixing. Hansen's pragmatic approach has earned its spurs in predicting solvents for polymer solutions, but for molecular solutes improvements are needed. By going into the details of entropy and enthalpy, several corrections are suggested that make the methodology thermodynamically sound without losing its ease of use. The most important corrections include accounting for the solvent molecules' size, the destruction of the solid's crystal structure, and the specificity of hydrogen-bonding interactions, as well as opportunities to predict the solubility at extrapolated temperatures. Testing the original and the improved methods on a large industrial dataset including solvent blends, fit qualities improved from 0.89 to 0.97 and the percentage of correct predictions rose from 54 % to 78 %. Full Matlab scripts are included in the Supporting Information, allowing readers to implement these improvements on their own datasets.

Long-term follow-up of essential thrombocythemia patients treated with anagrelide: subgroup analysis according to JAK2/CALR/MPL mutational status.

BACKGROUND: Anagrelide represents a treatment option for essential thrombocythemia, although its place in therapy remains controversial. AIM: To assess the impact of mutational status in response rates and development of adverse events during long-term use of anagrelide. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 67 patients with essential thrombocythemia treated with anagrelide during 68 (4-176) months. RESULTS: Mutational frequencies were 46.3%, 28.3%, and 1.5% for JAK2V617F, CALR and MPL mutations. Anagrelide yielded a high rate of hematologic responses, which were complete in 49.25% and partial in 46.25%, without differences among molecular subsets. The rate of thrombosis during treatment was one per 100 patient-years, without excess bleeding. Anemia was the major adverse event, 30.3% at 5-yr follow-up, being more frequent in CALR(+) (P < 0.05). Myelofibrotic transformation developed in 14.9% (12.9%, 21%, and 12.5% in JAK2V617F(+), CALR(+), and triple-negative patients, respectively, P = NS) and those treated >60 months were at higher risk, OR (95% CI) 9.32 (1.1-78.5), P < 0.01, indicating the need for bone marrow monitoring during prolonged treatment. CONCLUSION: Although CALR(+) patients were at higher risk of developing anemia, anagrelide proved effective among all molecular subsets, indicating that mutational status does not seem to represent a major determinant of choice of cytoreductive treatment among essential thrombocythemia therapies.

Association between respiratory muscle strength and reduction of arterial blood pressure levels after aerobic training in hypertensive subjects.

[Purpose] The purpose of present study was associate the increase of respiratory muscle strength with blood pressure levels in hypertensive subjects who underwent an aerobic exercise program. [Subjects and Methods] 90 hypertensive subjects were divided in two groups: intervention and control. All participants had an interview with a physiotherapist and were evaluated by 6-minute walk test, maximal inspiratory pressure, maximal expiratory pressure, heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, before and after the 8 weeks. In the intervention group, the subjects underwent aerobic exercise program, 2 times a week for 8 weeks [Results] After the program, the levels of blood pressure were significantly reduced and the distance walked in the 6-minute walk test and the respiratory muscle strength were increased, compared to pre intervention and control group values. However, there was no correlation between the results provided by 6-minute walk test, maximal inspiratory pressure and maximal expiratory pressure with systolic arterial blood pressure levels. Nonetheless, the distance walked correlated with respiratory muscle strength values, in the intervention group. [Conclusion] The present study demonstrated that the aerobic training was effective in reducing the arterial blood pressure in hypertensive subjects associated with an improvement of physical conditioning and respiratory muscle strength.

Circular random motion in diatom gliding under isotropic conditions.

How cells migrate has been investigated primarily for the case of trajectories composed by joined straight segments. In contrast, little is known when cellular motion follows intrinsically curved paths. Here, we use time-lapse optical microscopy and automated trajectory tracking to investigate how individual cells of the diatom Nitzschia communis glide across surfaces under isotropic environmental conditions. We find a distinct kind of random motion, where trajectories are formed by circular arcs traveled at constant speed, alternated with random stoppages, direction reversals and changes in the orientation of the arcs. Analysis of experimental and computer-simulated trajectories show that the circular random motion of diatom gliding is not optimized for long-distance travel but rather for recurrent coverage of limited surface area. These results suggest that one main biological role for this type of diatom motility is to efficiently build the foundation of algal biofilms.

Double barreled wet colostomy: initial experience and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic exenteration and multivisceral resection in colorectal have been described as a curative and palliative intervention. Urinary tract reconstruction in a pelvic exenteration is achieved in most cases with an ileal conduit of Bricker, although different urinary reservoirs have been described. METHODS: A retrospective and observational study of six patients who underwent a pelvic exenteration and urinary tract reconstruction with a double barreled wet colostomy (DBWC) was done, describing the preoperative diagnosis, the indication for the pelvic exenteration, the complications associated with the procedure, and the followup in a period of 5 years. A literature review of the case series reported of the technique was performed. RESULTS: Six patients had a urinary tract reconstruction with the DBWC technique, 5 male patients and one female patient. Age range was from 20 to 77 years, with a medium age 53.6 years. The most frequent complication presented was a pelvic abscess in 3 patients (42.85%); all complications could be resolved with a conservative treatment. CONCLUSION: In the group of our patients with pelvic exenteration and urinary tract reconstruction with a DBWC, it is a safe procedure and well tolerated by the patients, and most of the complications can be resolved with conservative treatment.

Women's Use of Intimate Partner Aggression: Associations With Sexist Experiences.

Identity-based discrimination experiences have been associated with intimate partner aggression (IPA) use, yet very little research has examined sexist discrimination. This study explored whether women's experiences of sexist discrimination are associated with their IPA use. Participants were 626 predominantly white, cisgender, heterosexual women who completed self-report measures online. Women's sexist experiences were significantly and positively correlated with their IPA use, even after controlling for recent stressful experiences and gender-based violence exposures. Psychological distress symptoms significantly mediated the relation between sexist experiences and IPA use. The findings demonstrate the importance of considering the role of sexism in women's IPA.

Genotoxicity and heating Performance of VxFe3-xO4 nanoparticles in Health applications.

The applications of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as biocatalysts in different biomedical areas have been evolved very recently. One of the main challenges in this field is to design affective MNPs surfaces with catalytically active atomic centres, while producing minimal toxicological side effects on the hosting cell or tissues. MNPs of vanadium spinel ferrite (VFe2O4) are a promising material for mimicking the action of natural enzymes in degrading harmful substrates due to the presence of active V5+ centres. However, the toxicity of this material has not been yet studied in detail enough to grant biomedical safety. In this work, we have extensively measured the structural, compositional, and magnetic properties of a series of VxFe3-xO4 spinel ferrite MNPs to assess the surface composition and oxidation state of V atoms, and also performed systematic and extensive in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity testing required to assess their safety in potential clinical applications. We could establish the presence of V5+ at the particle surface even in water-based colloidal samples at pH 7, as well as different amounts of V2+ and V3+ substitution at the A and B sites of the spinel structure. All samples showed large heating efficiency with Specific Loss Power values up to 400 W/g (H0 = 30 kA/m; f = 700 kHz). Samples analysed for safety in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line with up to 24h of exposure showed that these MNPs did not induce major genomic abnormalities such as micronuclei, nuclear buds, or nucleoplasmic bridges (MNIs, NBUDs, and NPBs), nor did they cause DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) or aneugenic effects-types of damage considered most harmful to cellular genetic material. The present study is an essential step towards the use of these type of nanomaterials in any biomedical or clinical application.

Allostatic Load and Cognitive Function Among Urban Adults in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span Study.

BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies have linked cognition to allostatic load (AL) which reflects multisystem dysregulation from life course exposure to stressors. OBJECTIVE: To examine baseline and changes in AL and their relationships with 11 cognitive function test scores, while exploring health disparities according to sex and race. METHODS: Longitudinal [Visit 1 (2004-2009) and Visit 2 (2009-2013)] data were analyzed from 2,223 Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span participants. We calculated AL total score using cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory risk indicators, and applied group-based trajectory modeling to define AL change. RESULTS: Overall and stratum-specific relationships were evaluated using mixed-effects linear regression models that controlled for socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health characteristics. Baseline AL was significantly associated with higher log-transformed Part A Trail Making Test score [Loge (TRAILS A)] (ß= 0.020, p = 0.004) and increasing AL was associated with higher Benton Visual Retention Test score [BVRT] (ß= 0.35, p = 0.002) at baseline, in models that controlled for age, sex, race, poverty status, education, literacy, smoking, drug use, the 2010 healthy eating index and body mass index. Baseline AL and AL change were not related to change in cognitive function between visits. There were no statistically significant interaction effects by sex or race in fully-adjusted models. CONCLUSION: At baseline, AL was associated with worse attention or executive functioning. Increasing AL was associated with worse non-verbal memory or visuo-constructional abilities at baseline. AL was not related to change in cognitive function over time, and relationships did not vary by sex or race.

Longitudinal association of allostatic load with depressive symptoms among urban adults: Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence suggests that lifetime exposure to stressful life events and chronic stressors may be linked to geriatric depression. Allostatic load (AL) is considered a mediator of the stress-health relationship and has been linked to psychosocial factors reflecting health disparities. The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal associations of AL with depressive symptoms scores among urban adults, before and after stratifying by sex and race. METHODS: Secondary analyses were performed using Visit 1 (2004-2009), Visit 2 (2009-2013) and Visit 3 (2013-2017) data collected on 2298 Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span study participants (baseline age: 30-64 y). AL at Visit 1 (ALv1) and z-transformed probability of higher AL trajectory (ALtraj) between Visits 1 and 3 were calculated using cardiovascular, metabolic and inflammatory risk indicators. The 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale was used to calculate total and domain-specific depressive symptoms scores. Mixed-effects linear models controlled for socio-demographic, lifestyle and health characteristics. RESULTS: In fully adjusted models, a positive cross-sectional relationship was observed between ALv1 and "somatic complaints" depressive symptoms (ß = 0.21, P = 0.006) score at Visit 1, whereas ALtraj was associated with increasing depressive symptoms score (ß = 0.086, P = 0.003) between Visits 1 and 3. An inverse relationship was observed between ALtraj and "positive affect" depressive symptoms score at Visit 1 among women (ß = -0.31, P < 0.0001) and White adults (ß = -0.32, P = 0.004). Among women, ALtraj was also positively related to change in "somatic complaints" depressive symptoms score between Visits 1 and 3 (ß = 0.043, P = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Among urban adults, AL may be associated with "somatic complaints" depressive symptoms at baseline. Higher AL trajectories may predict increasing depressive symptoms (overall) and increasing "somatic complaints" depressive symptoms (among women). A higher AL trajectory may be associated with lower "positive affect" depressive symptoms at baseline among women and White adults only.

Plasma neurofilament light as blood marker for poor brain white matter integrity among middle-aged urban adults.

Plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL)'s link to dementia may be mediated through white matter integrity (WMI). In this study, we examined plasma NfL's relationships with diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging markers: global and cortical white matter fractional anisotropy (FA) and trace (TR). Plasma NfL measurements at 2 times (v1: 2004-2009 and v2: 2009-2013) and ancillary dMRI (vscan: 2011-2015) were considered (n = 163, mean time v1 to vscan = 5.4 years and v2 to vscan: 1.1 years). Multivariable-adjusted regression models, correcting for multiple-testing revealed that, overall, higher NfLv1 was associated with greater global TR (ß ± SE: +0.0000560 ± 0.0000186, b = 0.27, p = 0.003, q = 0.012), left frontal WM TR (ß ± SE: + 0.0000706 ± 0.0000201, b ± 0.30, p = 0.001, q = 0.0093) and right frontal WM TR (ß ± SE: + 0.0000767 ± 0.000021, b ± 0.31, p < 0.001, q = 0.0093). These associations were mainly among males and White adults. Among African American adults only, NfLv2 was associated with greater left temporal lobe TR. "Tracking high" in NfL was associated with reduced left frontal FA (Model 2, body mass index-adjusted: ß ± SE:-0.01084 ± 0.00408, p = 0.009). Plasma NfL is a promising biomarker predicting future brain white matter integrity (WMI) in middle-aged adults.