miR-142-3p regulates cortical oligodendrocyte gene co-expression networks associated with tauopathy.

Oligodendrocytes exist in a heterogenous state and are implicated in multiple neuropsychiatric diseases including dementia. Cortical oligodendrocytes are a glial population uniquely positioned to play a key role in neurodegeneration by synchronizing circuit connectivity but molecular pathways specific to this role are lacking. We utilized oligodendrocyte-specific translating ribosome affinity purification and RNA-seq (TRAP-seq) to transcriptionally profile adult mature oligodendrocytes from different regions of the central nervous system. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis reveals distinct region-specific gene networks. Two of these mature myelinating oligodendrocyte gene networks uniquely define cortical oligodendrocytes and differentially regulate cortical myelination (M8) and synaptic signaling (M4). These two cortical oligodendrocyte gene networks are enriched for genes associated with dementia including MAPT and include multiple gene targets of the regulatory microRNA, miR-142-3p. Using a combination of TRAP-qPCR, miR-142-3p overexpression in vitro, and miR-142-null mice, we show that miR-142-3p negatively regulates cortical myelination. In rTg4510 tau-overexpressing mice, cortical myelination is compromised, and tau-mediated neurodegeneration is associated with gene co-expression networks that recapitulate both the M8 and M4 cortical oligodendrocyte gene networks identified from normal cortex. We further demonstrate overlapping gene networks in mature oligodendrocytes present in normal cortex, rTg4510 and miR-142-null mice, and existing datasets from human tauopathies to provide evidence for a critical role of miR-142-3p-regulated cortical myelination and oligodendrocyte-mediated synaptic signaling in neurodegeneration.

Gender differences in coping with long-term COVID-19 impacts among older adults.

Initial COVID-19 pandemic research suggests that during the first few weeks of the pandemic women were disproportionately impacted by restrictions compared to men. This study explored whether these gender differences in coping with pandemic restrictions were present among older adults 8-9 months into the COVID-19 pandemic. Data are based on online survey responses (n = 781) from respondents aged 60 and older. The survey was fielded from November 2 to December 4, 2020. Compared to older men, a greater proportion of older women self-reported an increase in being lonely, anxious, scared, sad, stressed, hopeless, and frustrated as compared to the beginning of the pandemic. More women reported engaging in healthy coping behaviors compared to men and self-reported more decreases in sleeping and in eating compared to the first few weeks of the pandemic. A greater proportion of older women reported a decline in physical activity since the first few weeks of the pandemic compared to older men. Self-reported changes in communication did not differ by gender, except for text messaging. More women compared to men reported that their use of text messaging increased since the initial stages of the pandemic. Results showed significant gender differences among older adults in coping with long-term COVID-19 restrictions 8-9 months into the pandemic.

"At First It Wasn't so Bad": How Adults Aged 60 and Older Feel About Social Distancing During COVID-19.

We conducted an exploratory study to describe the emotional experience of adults aged 60 and older in the United States practicing social distancing during COVID-19. The survey asked respondents how they were feeling during social distancing. Responses (n=673) were coded into segments by affect and then specific emotional states. A large portion of respondents reported negative emotions (e.g. anxiety, loneliness). A smaller portion reported positive emotions (e.g. optimism, gratitude). Younger respondents (aged 60-70) reported more feelings of anxiousness and fear compared to older respondents (71+). Older respondents were more likely to report negative feelings towards the government. For both age groups, female respondents were significantly more likely to report feeling afraid and having negative feelings about their own health. We conclude that many older adults are vulnerable to negative emotional outcomes during the pandemic. This highlights the importance of interventions targeting vulnerable older adults.

Effects of Coadsorbed Water on the Heterogeneous Photochemistry of Nitrates Adsorbed on TiO2.

Nitric acid, a well-known sink of NO x gases in the atmosphere, has been found to be photoactive while adsorbed on tropospheric particles. When adsorbed onto semiconductive metal oxides, nitrate's photochemical degradation can be interpreted as a photocatalytic process. Yet, the photolysis of nitrate ions on the surface of aerosols can also be initiated by changes in the symmetry of the ion upon adsorption. In this study, we use quantum chemistry to model the vibrational spectra of adsorbed nitrate on TiO2, a semiconductor component of atmospheric aerosols, and determine the kinetics of the heterogeneous photochemical degradation of nitrate under simulated solar light. Frequencies and geometry calculations suggest that the symmetry of chemisorbed nitrate ion depends strongly on coadsorbed water, with water changing the reactive surface of TiO2. Upon irradiation, surface nitrate undergoes photolysis to yield nitrogen-containing gaseous products including NO2, NO, HONO, and N2O, in proportions that depend on relative humidity (RH). In addition, the heterogeneous photochemistry rate constant decreases an order of magnitude, from (5.7 ± 0.1) × 10-4 s-1 on a dry surface to (7.1 ± 0.8) × 10-5 s-1 when nitrate is coadsorbed with water above monolayer coverage. Little is known about the roles of coadsorbed water on the heterogeneous photochemistry of nitrates on TiO2, along with its impact on the chemical balance of the atmosphere. This work discusses the roles of water in the photolysis of surface nitrates on TiO2 and the concomitant renoxification of the atmosphere.

Emergency department visits in patients with low acuity conditions: Factors associated with resource utilization.

OBJECTIVES: To identify health beliefs of emergency department (ED) patients with low acuity conditions and how these affect ambulance (AMB) utilization. METHODS: We performed a prospective, observational study on a convenience sample of patients 18years or older, who presented to the ED of an urban, academic hospital with an Emergency Severity Index (ESI) triage level of 4 or 5. Demographics, treatment, and disposition data were obtained along with self-administered surveys. Characteristics of patients with low acuity conditions who presented to the ED by AMB were compared to the patients who came to the ED by private transportation (PT). Data were analyzed with the chi-square test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: A total of 197 patients (97 AMB and 100 PT) were enrolled. Compared to PT, AMB patients were more likely to: be insured (82% vs. 56%; p=0.000), have a primary care provider (62% vs. 44%; p=0.048), and lack a regular means of transportation (53% vs. 33%; p=0.005). Three surveys were used the SF-8, Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults [STOFHLA], and Health Belief Model [HBM]. Answers to HBM showed patients perceive that their illness required care within one hour of arrival (38% vs. 21%; p=0.04), have used an ambulance in the past year (76% vs. 33%; p=0.001) and to utilize an ambulance in the future for similar concerns (53% vs. 15%; p=0.000). AMB patients were more likely to call an ambulance for any health concern (p=0.035) and felt that there were enough ambulances for all patients in the city (p=0.01). There were no differences in age, employment, level of income and education, nor hospital admission rate between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ambulance use in low-acuity ED patients is associated with misperceptions regarding severity of illness and resource allocation as well as limited access to private transportation. Understanding patient perceptions of illness and other barriers to receiving care is imperative for the development of interventions aimed at enabling change in health behaviors such as the elective use of limited resources.

Nonnodulating Bradyrhizobium spp. Modulate the Benefits of Legume-Rhizobium Mutualism.

UNLABELLED: Rhizobia are best known for nodulating legume roots and fixing atmospheric nitrogen for the host in exchange for photosynthates. However, the majority of the diverse strains of rhizobia do not form nodules on legumes, often because they lack key loci that are needed to induce nodulation. Nonnodulating rhizobia are robust heterotrophs that can persist in bulk soil, thrive in the rhizosphere, or colonize roots as endophytes, but their role in the legume-rhizobium mutualism remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of nonnodulating strains on the native Acmispon-Bradyrhizobium mutualism. To examine the effects on both host performance and symbiont fitness, we performed clonal inoculations of diverse nonnodulating Bradyrhizobium strains on Acmispon strigosus hosts and also coinoculated hosts with mixtures of sympatric nodulating and nonnodulating strains. In isolation, nonnodulating Bradyrhizobium strains did not affect plant performance. In most cases, coinoculation of nodulating and nonnodulating strains reduced host performance compared to that of hosts inoculated with only a symbiotic strain. However, coinoculation increased host performance only under one extreme experimental treatment. Nearly all estimates of nodulating strain fitness were reduced in the presence of nonnodulating strains. We discovered that nonnodulating strains were consistently capable of coinfecting legume nodules in the presence of nodulating strains but that the fitness effects of coinfection for hosts and symbionts were negligible. Our data suggest that nonnodulating strains most often attenuate the Acmispon-Bradyrhizobium mutualism and that this occurs via competitive interactions at the root-soil interface as opposed to in planta IMPORTANCE: Rhizobia are soil bacteria best known for their capacity to form root nodules on legume plants and enhance plant growth through nitrogen fixation. Yet, most rhizobia in soil do not have this capacity, and their effects on this symbiosis are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of diverse nonnodulating rhizobia on a native legume-rhizobium symbiosis. Nonnodulating strains did not affect plant growth in isolation. However, compared to inoculations with symbiotic rhizobia, coinoculations of symbiotic and nonnodulating strains often reduced plant and symbiont fitness. Coinoculation increased host performance only under one extreme treatment. Nonnodulating strains also invaded nodule interiors in the presence of nodulating strains, but this did not affect the fitness of either partner. Our data suggest that nonnodulating strains may be important competitors at the root-soil interface and that their capacity to attenuate this symbiosis should be considered in efforts to use rhizobia as biofertilizers.

Depression and Anxiety During Pregnancy: Evaluating the Literature in Support of Clinical Risk-Benefit Decision-Making.

Depression and anxiety during pregnancy are common, and patients and providers are faced with complex decisions regarding various treatment modalities. A structured discussion of the risks and benefits of options with the patient and her support team is recommended to facilitate the decision-making process. This clinically focused review, with emphasis on the last 3 years of published study data, evaluates the major risk categories of medication treatments, namely pregnancy loss, physical malformations, growth impairment, behavioral teratogenicity, and neonatal toxicity. Nonpharmacological treatment options, including neuromodulation and psychotherapy, are also briefly reviewed. Specific recommendations, drawn from the literature and the authors' clinical experience, are also offered to help guide the clinician in decision-making.

Methodology for Using 3-Dimensional Sonography to Measure Fetal Adrenal Gland Volumes in Pregnant Women With and Without Early Life Stress.

Fetal adrenal gland volumes on 3-dimensional sonography have been studied as potential predictors of preterm birth. However, no consistent methodology has been published. This article describes the methodology used in a study that is evaluating the effects of maternal early life stress on fetal adrenal growth to allow other researchers to compare methodologies across studies. Fetal volumetric data were obtained in 36 women at 20 to 22 and 28 to 30 weeks' gestation. Two independent examiners measured multiple images of a single fetal adrenal gland from each sonogram. Intra- and inter-rater consistency was examined. In addition, fetal adrenal volumes between male and female fetuses were reported. The intra- and inter-rater reliability was satisfactory when the mean of 3 measurements from each rater was used. At 20 weeks' gestation, male fetuses had larger average adjusted adrenal volumes than female fetuses (mean, 0.897 versus 0.638; P = .004). At 28 weeks' gestation, the fetal weight was more influential in determining values for adjusted fetal adrenal volume (0.672 for male fetuses versus 0.526 for female fetuses; P = .034). This article presents a methodology for assessing fetal adrenal volume using 3-dimensional sonography that can be used by other researchers to provide more consistency across studies.

Trends in anemia management practices in patients receiving hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis: a retrospective cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent changes in clinical practice guidelines and reimbursement policies may have affected the use of anemia-related medications and red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients. We sought to compare patterns of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) and intravenous (IV) iron use, achieved hemoglobin levels, and RBC transfusion use in PD and HD patients. METHODS: In quarterly cohorts of prevalent dialysis patients receiving persistent therapy (>3 months), 2007-2011, with Medicare Parts A and B coverage, we assessed ESA and IV iron use and dose, RBC transfusions, and hemoglobin levels. Quarterly transfusion rates were calculated. RESULTS: Observable PD and HD patients numbered 14,958 and 221,866 in Q1/2007 and 17,842 and 256,942 in Q4/2011. Adjusted ESA use was lower in PD (71.4-80.1%) than in HD (86.9-92.0%) patients, decreasing from 80.1% (Q1/2010) to 71.4% (Q4/2011) in PD patients, and from 92.0 to 86.9% in HD patients. The mean adjusted ESA dose decreased by 67.5% in PD and 58.4% in HD patients. IV iron use tended to increase, peaking at 39.3% for PD (Q3/2011) and 80.5% for HD (Q2/2011) patients. Adjusted mean hemoglobin levels fell from 11.7 to 10.6 mg/dl in PD and from 12.0 to 10.7 mg/dl in HD ESA users; adjusted transfusion rates increased from 2.4 to 3.0 per 100 patient-months in PD and from 2.6 to 3.3 in HD patients. CONCLUSIONS: In patients receiving persistent dialysis, dose and frequency of ESA administrations decreased during the period 2007-2011. Mean hemoglobin levels decreased by more than 1 g/dl, while transfusion rates increased by approximately 25%.

Psychiatric consultation to the postpartum mother.

The immediate postpartum period is a time of acute vulnerability to mental illness, which presents unique challenges for the psychiatric consultant. Because the postpartum hospital stay is typically brief, the consultant must have a working knowledge of postpartum physiology and the myriad forms of mental illness that may emerge in this vulnerable time, in order to quickly make a diagnosis and formulate a treatment plan. This review aims to characterize the most common reasons for postpartum consultation, review postpartum physiology and psychiatric conditions, and propose an evidence-based, practical approach to treatment. A literature search using the terms "postpartum," "obstetric," "consultation," and "psychiatry" yielded six studies that identified reasons for psychiatric consultation to the obstetrics and gynecology services. These studies informed the structure of the article such that we review the most common reasons for consultation and how to approach each issue. The most common reason for consultation is past psychiatric history, often in the absence of current symptoms. For each clinical situation, including depression, adverse birth events, and psychosis, we present a differential diagnosis, as well as risk factors, clinical signs, and recommended treatment.

Prenatal programming of mental illness: current understanding of relationship and mechanisms.

The British epidemiologist Dr. David J. Barker documented the relationship between infant birth weight and later onset of hypertension, coronary heart disease, insulin resistance, and type II diabetes. A stressful in utero environment can cause long-term consequences for offspring through prenatal programming. Prenatal programming most commonly occurs through epigenetic mechanisms and can be dependent on the type and timing of exposure as well as the sex of the fetus. In this review, we highlight the most recent evidence that prenatal programming is implicated in the development of psychiatric disorders in offspring exposed to maternal stress during pregnancy. Methodological differences between studies contribute to unavoidable heterogeneity in study findings. Current data suggest that fetal exposure to maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysregulation, excessive glucocorticoids, and inflammation with resulting epigenetic changes at both the placental and fetal levels are important areas of continued investigation.

Predialysis care and dialysis outcomes in hemodialysis patients with a functioning fistula.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Predialysis care has been associated with improved first-year outcomes. We investigated types of predialysis care associated with improved patient outcomes in patients initiating dialysis with a fistula and at least 2 years of predialysis care. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort of incident hemodialysis patients with ≥2 years of Medicare coverage before dialysis initiation, care patterns and patients were determined using Medicare claims. Fistula use at initiation was ascertained from the Medical Evidence Report. RESULTS: Patients aged ≥67 years who initiated hemodialysis with a fistula (n = 14,459) differed demographically and clinically from patients who initiated with other vascular access types; however, 55% had diabetes, 28% heart failure, and 40% ischemic heart disease. In the year preceding initiation, 88% of these patients visited a nephrologist, 66% a cardiologist, 9% an endocrinologist, and 3% a dietician; most underwent routine laboratory measurements. In the first year of dialysis, 50% were hospitalized and 1.3% underwent transplant; the mortality rate remained constant (∼20 per 100 patient-years). Of predialysis care factors evaluated, only fistula placement more than 1 month before dialysis initiation was associated with lower hospitalization and mortality risk and greater likelihood of transplant. Other potentially modifiable factors included more contact with cardiologists and endocrinologists. CONCLUSION: Patients initiating dialysis with a functioning fistula appear to receive substantial predialysis preparation. This selected population does not show the excess mortality risk often observed early in dialysis treatment. Earlier fistula placement and referral to cardiology and endocrinology appear to be important aspects of predialysis care.

Improved immunogenicity with high-dose seasonal influenza vaccine in HIV-infected persons: a single-center, parallel, randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: HIV-infected persons have less robust antibody responses to influenza vaccines. OBJECTIVE: To compare the immunogenicity of high-dose influenza vaccine with that of standard dosing in HIV-positive participants. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01262846) SETTING: The MacGregor Clinic of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, from 27 October 2010 to 27 March 2011. PARTICIPANTS: HIV-infected persons older than 18 years. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly assigned to receive either a standard dose (15 mcg of antigen per strain) or a high dose (60 mcg/strain) of the influenza trivalent vaccine. MEASUREMENTS: The primary end point was the rate of seroprotection, defined as antibody titers of 1:40 or greater on the hemagglutination inhibition assay 21 to 28 days after vaccination. The primary safety end point was frequency and intensity of adverse events. Secondary end points were seroconversion rate (defined as a greater than 4-fold increase in antibody titers) and the geometric mean antibody titer. RESULTS: 195 participants enrolled, and 190 completed the study (93 in the standard-dose group and 97 in the high-dose group). The seroprotection rates after vaccination were higher in the high-dose group for the H1N1 (96% vs. 87%; treatment difference, 9 percentage points [95% CI, 1 to 17 percentage points]; P = 0.029), H3N2 (96% vs. 92%; treatment difference, 3 percentage points [CI, -3 to 10 percentage points]; P = 0.32), and influenza B (91% vs. 80%; treatment difference, 11 percentage points [CI, 1 to 21 percentage points]; P = 0.030) strains. Both vaccines were well-tolerated, with myalgia (19%), malaise (14%), and local pain (10%) the most frequent adverse events. LIMITATIONS: The effectiveness of the vaccine in preventing clinical influenza was not evaluated. The number of participants with CD4 counts less than 0.200 × 109 cells/L was limited. CONCLUSION: HIV-infected persons reach higher levels of influenza seroprotection if vaccinated with the high-dose trivalent vaccine than with the standard-dose. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Center for AIDS Research of the University of Pennsylvania.

The chemical assessment of surfaces and air (CASA) study: using chemical and physical perturbations in a test house to investigate indoor processes.

The Chemical Assessment of Surfaces and Air (CASA) study aimed to understand how chemicals transform in the indoor environment using perturbations (e.g., cooking, cleaning) or additions of indoor and outdoor pollutants in a well-controlled test house. Chemical additions ranged from individual compounds (e.g., gaseous ammonia or ozone) to more complex mixtures (e.g., a wildfire smoke proxy and a commercial pesticide). Physical perturbations included varying temperature, ventilation rates, and relative humidity. The objectives for CASA included understanding (i) how outdoor air pollution impacts indoor air chemistry, (ii) how wildfire smoke transports and transforms indoors, (iii) how gases and particles interact with building surfaces, and (iv) how indoor environmental conditions impact indoor chemistry. Further, the combined measurements under unperturbed and experimental conditions enable investigation of mitigation strategies following outdoor and indoor air pollution events. A comprehensive suite of instruments measured different chemical components in the gas, particle, and surface phases throughout the study. We provide an overview of the test house, instrumentation, experimental design, and initial observations - including the role of humidity in controlling the air concentrations of many semi-volatile organic compounds, the potential for ozone to generate indoor nitrogen pentoxide (N2O5), the differences in microbial composition between the test house and other occupied buildings, and the complexity of deposited particles and gases on different indoor surfaces.

Sensitization from transfusion in patients awaiting primary kidney transplant.

BACKGROUND: Sensitization to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) from red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is poorly quantified and is based on outdated, insensitive methods. The objective was to evaluate the effect of transfusion on the breadth, magnitude and specificity of HLA antibody formation using sensitive and specific methods. METHODS: Transfusion, demographic and clinical data from the US Renal Data System were obtained for patients on dialysis awaiting primary kidney transplant who had ≥ 2 HLA antibody measurements using the Luminex single-antigen bead assay. One cohort included patients with a transfusion (n = 50) between two antibody measurements matched with up to four nontransfused patients (n = 155) by age, sex, race and vintage (time on dialysis). A second crossover cohort (n = 25) included patients with multiple antibody measurements before and after transfusion. We studied changes in HLA antibody mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) and calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA). RESULTS: In the matched cohort, 10 of 50 (20%) transfused versus 6 of 155 (4%) nontransfused patients had a ≥ 10 HLA antibodies increase of >3000 MFI (P = 0.0006); 6 of 50 (12%) transfused patients had a ≥ 30 antibodies increase (P = 0.0007). In the crossover cohort, the number of HLA antibodies increasing >1000 and >3000 MFI was higher in the transfused versus the control period, P = 0.03 and P = 0.008, respectively. Using a ≥ 3000 MFI threshold, cPRA significantly increased in both matched (P = 0.01) and crossover (P = 0.002) transfused patients. CONCLUSIONS: Among prospective primary kidney transplant recipients, RBC transfusion results in clinically significant increases in HLA antibody strength and breadth, which adversely affect the opportunity for future transplant.

Elevated risk of adverse obstetric outcomes in pregnant women with depression.

In this study, we evaluated the association between prenatal depression symptoms adverse birth outcomes in African-American women. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 261 pregnant African-American women who were screened with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at their initial prenatal visit. Medical records were reviewed to assess pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, specifically preeclampsia, preterm birth, intrauterine growth retardation, and low birth weight. Using multivariable logistic regression models, an EPDS score ≥10 was associated with increased risk for preeclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight. An EPDS score ≥10 was associated with increased risk for intrauterine growth retardation, but after controlling for behavioral risk factors, this association was no longer significant. Patients who screen positive for depression symptoms during pregnancy are at increased risk for multiple adverse birth outcomes. In a positive, patient-rated depression screening at the initial obstetrics visit, depression is associated with increased risk for multiple adverse birth outcomes. Given the retrospective study design and small sample size, these findings should be confirmed in a prospective cohort study.

Analysis of micro- and nanoscale heterogeneities within environmentally relevant thin films containing biological components, oxyanions and minerals using AFM-PTIR spectroscopy.

Minerals in groundwater interact with various chemical and biological species including organic matter, proteins, and prevalent oxyanions, resulting in surface coatings and thin films of these different components. Surface interactions and the surface adsorption of these components on both oxide and oxyhydroxide iron surfaces have been widely investigated using a variety of spectroscopic methods. Despite these numerous studies, there still remains uncertainty with respect to interactions between these individual components, as well as heterogeneities and phase segregations within these thin films. In this study, we investigate mixtures containing Fe-containing minerals, proteins, and oxyanions to better understand surface interactions and phase segregation using Atomic Force Microscopy PhotoThermal Infrared (AFM-PTIR) spectroscopy. The results of this study show that AFM-PTIR spectroscopy can identify both nano- and microscale heterogeneities present within these thin films that are difficult to discern with other more conventional techniques such as ATR-FTIR spectroscopy due to phase segregation and mineral surface interactions. Overall, AFM-PTIR spectroscopy provides insights into multi-component environmental films that are difficult to uncover using other methodologies. This method has the potential to differentiate between bound and unbound toxic species as well as biological components, including environmental DNA, which can be used to assess the fate and transport of these species in the environment.

Vibrational spectroscopy as a probe of heterogeneities within geochemical thin films on macro, micro, and nanoscales.

Minerals play a critical role in the chemistry occurring along the interface of different environmental systems, including the atmosphere/geosphere and hydrosphere/geosphere. In the past few decades, vibrational spectroscopy has been used as a probe for studying interfacial geochemistry. Here, we compare four different vibrational methods for probing physical and chemical features across different mineral samples and length scales, from the macroscale to nanoscale. These methods include Attenuated Total Reflection - Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR), Optical Photothermal Infrared (O-PTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy-Infrared (AFM-IR) and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The emergence of these micro-spectroscopic probes has offered new insights into heterogeneities within geochemical thin films and particles. These developments represent an important step forward for analyzing environmental interfaces and thin films as often these are assumed to be physically and chemically homogeneous. By comparing and integrating data across these measurement techniques, new insights into sample differences and heterogeneities can be gained. For example, interrogation of the various mineral samples at smaller length scales is shown to be particularly informative in highlighting unique chemical environments, including for chemically complex, multicomponent samples such as Arizona Test Dust (AZTD), as well as differences due to crystal orientation.

Enduring impact of childhood adversity: Affective modulation of acoustic startle response during pregnancy and postpartum.

BACKGROUND: Women with a history of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) enter pregnancy and the postpartum with a physiologic system programmed by early life stress, potentially reflected in psychophysiologic reactivity. METHODS: We enrolled pregnant, psychiatrically healthy women ≥18 years old. Using the ACE Questionnaire, women were categorized as high (≥2 ACEs; n = 77) or low ACE (<2 ACEs; n = 72). Participants completed an affective modulation of acoustic startle response (ASR) task during pregnancy and postpartum, in which ASR magnitude was measured while participants viewed pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral pictures. Two types of control trials were included (habituation trials presented at baseline and intertrial interval trials presented when no picture was present). RESULTS: Among high ACE women, ASR was significantly higher postpartum compared with pregnancy in the unpleasant (p = 0.002, ß = 0.46, 95% CI [0.18, 0.74], χ2 = 10.12, z = 3.18) and intertrial interval trials (p = 0.002, ß = 0.44, 95% CI [0.16, 0.73], χ2 = 9.25, z = 3.04), accounting for multiple comparisons using a Bonferroni correction at p < 0.005. Among low ACE women, ASR was similar in pregnancy and postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: Physiological reactivity increased in high ACE women from pregnancy to postpartum, but no change was observed in low ACE women.

Maternal adverse childhood experiences impact fetal adrenal volume in a sex-specific manner.

BACKGROUND: The mechanisms by which parental early life stress can be transmitted to the next generation, in some cases in a sex-specific manner, are unclear. Maternal preconception stress may increase susceptibility to suboptimal health outcomes via in utero programming of the fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. METHODS: We recruited healthy pregnant women (N = 147), dichotomized into low (0 or 1) and high (2+) adverse childhood experience (ACE) groups based on the ACE Questionnaire, to test the hypothesis that maternal ACE history influences fetal adrenal development in a sex-specific manner. At a mean (standard deviation) of 21.5 (1.4) and 29.5 (1.4) weeks gestation, participants underwent three-dimensional ultrasounds to measure fetal adrenal volume, adjusting for fetal body weight (waFAV). RESULTS: At ultrasound 1, waFAV was smaller in high versus low ACE males (b = - 0.17; z = - 3.75; p < .001), but females did not differ significantly by maternal ACE group (b = 0.09; z = 1.72; p = .086). Compared to low ACE males, waFAV was smaller for low (b = - 0.20; z = - 4.10; p < .001) and high ACE females (b = - 0.11; z = 2.16; p = .031); however, high ACE males did not differ from low (b = 0.03; z = .57; p = .570) or high ACE females (b = - 0.06; z = - 1.29; p = .196). At ultrasound 2, waFAV did not differ significantly between any maternal ACE/offspring sex subgroups (ps ≥ .055). Perceived stress did not differ between maternal ACE groups at baseline, ultrasound 1, or ultrasound 2 (ps ≥ .148). CONCLUSIONS: We observed a significant impact of high maternal ACE history on waFAV, a proxy for fetal adrenal development, but only in males. Our observation that the waFAV in males of mothers with a high ACE history did not differ from the waFAV of females extends preclinical research demonstrating a dysmasculinizing effect of gestational stress on a range of offspring outcomes. Future studies investigating intergenerational transmission of stress should consider the influence of maternal preconception stress on offspring outcomes.