Religiosity and Excess Weight Among African-American Adolescents: The Jackson Heart KIDS Study.

Recent studies suggest that religion and spirituality can yield health benefits for young African-Americans. We examined the relationship between religious practices, spirituality, and excess weight among African-American adolescents (N = 212) residing in the Deep South. Results from modified Poisson regression analysis indicate that adolescents who prayed daily had a lower prevalence of excess weight (PR 0.77 [95% CI 0.62-0.96]) than those who did not. This relationship was only significant for 12-15 year-old participants in age-stratified analysis. These findings suggest that preventive interventions offered to children and younger adolescents can have implications for weight status across the lifespan.

Relation of Magnesium Intake With Cardiac Function and Heart Failure Hospitalizations in Black Adults: The Jackson Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about magnesium intake and risk of heart failure (HF) hospitalizations, particularly in blacks. We hypothesize that magnesium intake relates to HF hospitalization in blacks. METHODS AND RESULTS: From the Jackson Heart Study cohort (n=5301), we studied 4916 blacks recruited during 2000 to 2004 in Jackson (Mississippi), who completed an 158-item Food-Frequency Questionnaire that included dietary supplements. Daily magnesium intake derived from the questionnaire was divided by the body weight to account for body storage and stratified by quartiles (0.522-2.308, 2.309-3.147, 3.148-4.226, and ≥4.227 mg magnesium intake/kg). Cox proportional hazards modeling assessed the association between quartiles of magnesium intake/kg and hospitalizations for HF adjusting for HF risk, energy intake, and dietary factors. The cohort had a mean age=55.3 (SD=12.7 years) and composed of 63.4% women, 21.6% diabetes mellitus, 62.7% hypertension, 7.1% coronary disease, and 2.8% with known HF. When compared with participants in the first quartile of magnesium intake/kg, those with higher magnesium intake (>2.308 mg/kg) had decreased risk of HF admission, with adjusted hazard ratios of 0. 66(95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.94) in the second quartile to 0.47 (95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.82) in the highest quartile. Results were similar when individuals with previously diagnosed HF (2.8%) were excluded or when the analysis was repeated using quartiles of magnesium intake without accounting for body weight. CONCLUSIONS: Magnesium intake <2.3 mg/kg was related to increased risk of subsequent HF hospitalizations. Future studies are needed to test whether serum magnesium levels predict risk of HF.

Effect of soybean protein on novel cardiovascular disease risk factors: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and the world. Clinical trials have suggested that soybean protein lowers lipids and blood pressure. The effect of soybean protein on novel CVD risk factors has not been well studied. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of soybean protein on biomarkers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and adipocytokines. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The effect of 8 weeks of 40 g of soybean protein supplement (89.3 mg isoflavones), 40 g of milk protein supplement and 40 g of complex carbohydrate placebo was examined in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, three-phase crossover trial among adults in New Orleans, Louisiana and Jackson, Mississippi. Plasma levels of inflammation biomarkers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α), endothelial dysfunction biomarkers (E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, thrombomodulin) and adipocytokines (high-molecular weight adiponectin, leptin, resistin) were measured at baseline and at the end of each intervention using immunoturbidimetric and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay techniques. RESULTS: Soy protein supplementation resulted in a significant mean net change (95% confidence interval) in plasma E-selectin of -3.93 ng/ml (-7.05 to -0.81 ng/ml; P=0.014) compared with milk protein, and in plasma leptin of -2089.8 pg/ml (-3689.3 to -490.3 pg/ml; P=0.011) compared with carbohydrate. There were no significant changes in any other risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Soy protein supplementation may reduce levels of E-selectin and leptin. Further research is warranted to investigate the mechanisms through which protein may confer protective effects on novel CVD risk factors.

Universal iron supplementation: a simple and effective strategy to reduce anaemia among low-income, postpartum women.

OBJECTIVE: To reduce prevalence of anaemia in low-income postpartum women. DESIGN: A randomised, non-blind clinical trial was conducted among 959 low-income, postpartum women in eleven clinics in Mississippi. The clinics were randomised to one of three treatment groups: (i) selective anaemia screening of high-risk women as recommended currently (control); (ii) universal anaemia screening and treatment of anaemic women (group I); and (iii) universal Fe supplementation of 65 mg/d for two months to all low-income women (group II). All study participants within each clinic received the same treatment. Women were followed up at 6 months after delivery. Hb was measured at baseline and at follow-up. The primary outcome variable was the proportion of women with anaemia after treatment. SETTING: Eleven health clinics in Mississippi. SUBJECTS: Low-income, postpartum women. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of the three study groups were compared using one-way ANOVA and an appropriate post hoc test for continuous variables and the χ2 test for categorical variables. Fifty-two per cent of postpartum women were anaemic (Hb < 12·0 g/dl) and the rate decreased to 33 % at 6 months after the intervention. Group II women, who received universal Fe supplementation, improved their Hb status significantly (P < 0·001) at 6 months postpartum compared with the other groups. Prevalence of anaemia was also significantly lower among group II women (22·5 %) compared with controls (34 %) and group I women (43 %; P < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: A universal Fe supplementation strategy was effective in reducing the prevalence of anaemia among low-income postpartum women.

Gasoline prices and traffic safety in Mississippi.

PROBLEM: Limited literature suggests that gasoline prices have substantial effects on reducing fatal crashes. However, the literature focuses only on fatal crashes and does not examine the effects on all traffic crashes. METHODS: Mississippi traffic crash data from April 2004-December 2008 from the Mississippi Highway Patrol and regular-grade unleaded gasoline price data from the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy were used to investigate the effects of gasoline prices on traffic safety by age, gender, and race. RESULTS: Gasoline prices have both short-term and intermediate-term effects on reducing total traffic crashes and crashes of females, whites, and blacks. The intermediate-term effects are generally stronger than the short-term effects. Gasoline prices also have short-term effects on reducing crashes of younger drivers and intermediate-term effects on older drivers and male drivers. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: Higher gasoline taxes reduce traffic crashes and may result in additional societal benefits.

Investigation of gender heterogeneity in the associations of serum phosphorus with incident coronary artery disease and all-cause mortality.

Serum phosphorus levels in the general population have been reported to be associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and increased carotid intima-media thickness. The authors examined gender heterogeneity in the association of phosphorus with all-cause mortality and incident coronary artery disease using data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (1987-2001). Baseline phosphorus levels were higher in women and were associated differently among men and women with traditional atherosclerosis risk factors such as age, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. In a multivariable-adjusted model, men in the highest quintile of serum phosphorus level (>3.8 mg/dL) had an increased mortality rate (hazard ratio = 1.45, 95% confidence interval: 1.12, 1.88), while women did not (hazard ratio = 1.18, 95% confidence interval: 0.89, 1.57). The multivariable likelihood ratio test of effect modification by gender was significant at alpha = 0.1 (P = 0.085) for all-cause mortality. Although the associations of phosphorus with coronary artery disease also appeared to differ substantially by gender, the multivariable test for effect modification suggested that the difference was consistent with random variation (P = 0.195). These results suggest the need for further investigation into gender differences in the contribution of mineral metabolism to cardiovascular disease in the general population.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use by African American (AA) and Caucasian American (CA) older adults in a rural setting: a descriptive, comparative study.

BACKGROUND: The use of CAM is at an all time high. There is very little research that compares the use of CAM in elders by ethnicity in rural settings. The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a difference between African American and Caucasian American rural elders on use of CAM and self-reported satisfaction with CAM. METHODS: The design was a descriptive, comparative study of 183 elders who reported the number of CAM used and satisfaction with CAM. A convenience sample was recruited through community service organizations in the state of Mississippi. The availability of elders through the support groups, sampling bias, subject effect, and self-report were limitations of the study. RESULTS: The commonest examples of CAM used by rural elders were prayer, vitamins, exercise, meditation, herbs, chiropractic medicine, glucosamine, and music therapy. Significant findings on SES and marital status were calculated. Differences on ethnicity and demographic variables were significant for age, education, and the use of glucosamine. CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers must be aware that elders are using CAM and are satisfied with their use. Identifying different uses of CAM by ethnicity is important for health care practitioners, impacting how health care is provided.

Acute carbon monoxide poisoning: emergency management and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

An ice storm in February 1989 resulted in numerous incidences of carbon monoxide poisoning in central Mississippi secondary to exposure to open fires in unventilated living spaces. Sixteen cases were treated during this period at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and 6 received Hyperbaric Oxygen therapy. These 6 cases and the mechanisms of CO poisoning are discussed and recommendations for emergency management are reviewed.