Creation and validation of a NOVA scored picture set to evaluate ultra-processed foods.

There has been a rapid shift in the modern food environment towards increased processing in foods consumed in the United States (US) and globally. The NOVA system (not an acronym) for classifying food on degree of processing currently has the most empirical support. Consumption of foods in the NOVA 4 category, ultra-processed foods (UPF), is a risk factor for a host of poor health outcomes including heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Despite these poor health outcomes, UPF make up 58% of calories consumed in the US. Methodologies for assessing the reinforcing and rewarding properties of these foods are necessary tools. The Becker-DeGroot-Marschak auction paradigm (BDM) is a well validated tool for measuring value and is amenable to neuromonitoring environments. To allow for the testing of hypotheses based on level of food processing, we present a picture set of 14 UPF and 14 minimally-processed foods (MPF) matched on visual properties, food characteristics (fat, carbohydrate, cost, etc.), and rated perceptual properties. Further, we report our scoring of these foods using the NOVA classification system and provide additional data from credentialed nutrition professionals and on inter-rater reliability using NOVA, a critique of the system. Finally, we provide all pictures, data, and code used to create this picture set as a tool for researchers.

Trends in Teenagers' Nonopiod Substance Exposures Reported to Poison Control Centers, 2010-2015.

OBJECTIVE: To describe current trends in nonopioid substance exposures and associated outcomes among teenagers nationwide. STUDY DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, we used 2010-2015 data from the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System and Poisson tests to document trends in the rate of calls to poison control centers involving adolescents stratified by sex, exposures by substance category, proportion of intentional exposures, and severity of exposures. RESULTS: The number of calls per 1000 persons increased from 5.7 to 6.8 for teenage girls and decreased from 4.7 to 4.3 for boys. Reported exposures to prescription and over-the-counter medications and illicit street drugs increased between 24% and 73%, and reported opioid exposures decreased by 16%. Among teenage girls, intentional exposures increased from 57% to 68%, with cases increasingly managed in health care facilities and more likely to result in worse health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in intentional nonopioid substance exposures among teenage girls, with serious and potentially life-threatening consequences, is a matter of serious concern. Similar trends were not observed among teenage boys.

Completion of Requirements in Iowa's Medicaid Expansion Premium Disincentive Program, 2014-2015.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate rates of member compliance with Iowa's Medicaid expansion premium disincentive program. METHODS: We used 2014 to 2015 Iowa Medicaid data to construct rolling 12-month cohorts of Wellness Plan and Marketplace Choice members (Iowa's 2 Medicaid expansion waiver programs for individuals ≤ 100% and 101%-138% of the federal poverty level, respectively), calculated completion rates for required activities (i.e., wellness examinations and health risk assessments), and identified factors associated with program compliance. RESULTS: Overall, 18.5% of Wellness Plan and 12.5% of Marketplace Choice members completed both activities (P < .001). From 2014 to 2015, completion rates for both activities decreased for Wellness Plan members but increased for Marketplace Choice members. Members who were younger, male, or non-White were less likely to complete required activities. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 81% of Wellness Plan members and 87% of Marketplace Choice members failed to comply with program requirements and should have been subject to paying premiums the following year or face disenrollment. Disparities in completion rates may exacerbate disparities in insurance coverage and health outcomes. Public Health Implications. As states consider establishing Medicaid premium disincentive programs, they should anticipate challenges to successful implementation.

Impact of obesity on the perinatal vaginal environment and bacterial microbiome: effects on birth outcomes.

Introduction. Lactobacillus species predominate the human vagina and are associated with positive vaginal health, including an acidic pH (<4.5). The prevalence of vaginal Lactobacilli increases with increased oestrogen due to increased glycogen production within the vagina. Lactobacilli produce lactic acid, thereby lowering vaginal pH, preventing growth of other bacteria, and lowering microbial diversity. Lower placental oestrogen levels in obese pregnant women could dampen the mechanism to initiate this process, which may be associated with vaginal dysbiosis and unfavourable pregnancy outcomes.Hypothesis. We hypothesize that oestrogen and glycogen levels will be lower, vaginal pH will be higher, and vaginal microbiome diversity will be greater during pregnancy in obese and overweight women compared to healthy weight women.Aim. Pregnancy complications (e.g. preterm birth) are more common in overweight and obese women. If vaginal dysbiosis plays a role, and quantifiable predictors of this increased risk can be determined, these measures could be used to prospectively identify women at risk for pregnancy complications early in pregnancy.Methodology. Vaginal samples were collected at 10-14, 18-24, 26-30, and 34-37 weeks gestation and at delivery from 67 pregnant participants (23 healthy weight, 22 overweight, 22 obese). A blood sample to quantify serum oestrogen was collected at 10-14 weeks. Vaginal samples were collected to test vaginal pH using pH paper, glycogen abundance using fluorometry, and the vaginal microbiome using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing.Results. Vaginal pH was higher in obese participants compared to healthy weight participants (P=<0.001). Vaginal glycogen levels increased over time in obese participants (P=0.033). The vaginal bacterial alpha diversity was higher in obese participants compared to healthy weight participants (P=0.033). The relative abundances of Peptoniphilus and Anaerococcus were increased in overweight and obese participants, as well as in complicated pregnancies, at 10-14 weeks gestation.Conclusion. The relative abundance of specific vaginal bacteria, like Peptoniphilus and Anaerococcus, in early pregnancy could predict pregnancy outcomes. Our goal is to use the information gathered in this pilot study to further determine the feasibility of assessing the vaginal environment during pregnancy to identify women at risk for negative pregnancy and birth outcomes in the context of a larger study.

Measurable Outcomes of an Ophthalmology and Rheumatology Coordinated Care Clinic.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact of an Ophthalmology/Rheumatology multidisciplinary clinic for patients with anterior uveitis by comparing outcomes between those who received traditional care (TC) versus coordinated care (CC). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children with anterior uveitis from a pediatric tertiary care center between 2013 and 2022. Standard descriptive statistics were used; survival analyses explored differences in cohort disease activity and biologic DMARDs use. Steroid use by cohort was compared using generalized estimating equation model with Poisson distribution and log link. Complications were compared using logistic regression. Number of visits in each cohort were assessed using Poisson generalized estimating equation model adjusted for complications. RESULTS: We studied 215 anterior uveitis patients: 66% were female, 53% had JIA, 23% were idiopathic, with a median age at diagnosis of eight (interquartile range (IQR) 5-12). CC was associated with a 60% higher hazard (HR = 1.6; p < 0.01) of reaching disease control, when controlling for time since diagnosis and anterior chamber cell counts at beginning of disease activity. CC was associated with starting biologic DMARDs faster than TC (p < 0.01). Compared to TC, CC had a 96% lower rate of corticosteroid use per appointment within the first year (p< 0.01). The visit rate was 64% lower for CC, when controlling for total complications per patient. CONCLUSION: Patients who received multidisciplinary care had better outcomes than patients who received traditional care. Limitations include different cohort-start times and absence of defined criteria for coordinated care referral.

Validity and reliability of a new whole room indirect calorimeter to assess metabolic response to small calorie loads.

We overview of our whole room indirect calorimeter (WRIC), demonstrate validity and reliability of our WRIC, and explore a novel application of Bayesian hierarchical modeling to assess responses to small carbohydrate loads. To assess WRIC validity seven gas infusion studies were performed using a gas blender and profiles designed to mimic resting and postprandial metabolic events. Sixteen participants underwent fasting and postprandial measurements, during which they consumed a 75-kcal drink containing sucrose, dextrose, or fructose in a crossover design. Linear mixed effects models were used to compare resting and postprandial metabolic rate (MR) and carbohydrate oxidation. Postprandial carbohydrate oxidation trajectories for each participant and condition were modeled using Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling. Mean total error in infusions were 1.27 ± 0.67% and 0.42 ± 0.70% for VO2 and VCO2 respectively, indicating a high level of validity. Mean resting MR was similar across conditions ([Formula: see text] = 1.05 ± 0.03 kcal/min, p = 0.82, ICC: 0.91). While MR increased similarly among all conditions (~13%, p = 0.29), postprandial carbohydrate oxidation parameters were significantly lower for dextrose compared with sucrose or fructose. We provide evidence validating our WRIC and a novel application of statistical methods useful for research using WRIC.

Neural and metabolic factors in carbohydrate reward: Rationale, design, and methods for a flavor-nutrient learning paradigm in humans.

Overconsumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which are linked with adverse health outcomes, is a growing public health concern. UPFs deliver highly bioavailable calories rapidly, which may contribute to their reinforcing potential and drive overconsumption. Our primary aim is to test the role of speed of nutrient availability on reward learning. We hypothesize that brain activity in reward related areas and behavioral preferences will be greater to a flavored drink predicting rapidly available calories (CS + Fast) compared with a flavored drink predicting more slowly available (CS + Slow) or no (CS-) calories. Participants (n = 64, aged 18-45 years, will consume 3 novel flavored, isosweet beverages containing 110 kcal of sucrose (CS + Fast), 110 kcal of maltodextrin (CS + Slow), or 0-kcal sucralose (CS-) 6 times in randomized, crossover order. Blood metabolites and indirect calorimetry measures, including metabolic rate and carbohydrate oxidation, will be assessed before and for 1 h after beverage consumption. Behavioral preference for beverages will be assessed in a pre- and post-test. Brain response to each flavor without calories will be assessed via functional magnetic resonance imaging in a post-test. Findings from this study will contribute to the understanding of basic mechanisms that may drive overconsumption of UPFs. Trial registration:clinicaltrials.gov registration #NCT06053294.

Association Between Time From Surgery to Radiation Therapy and Multimodality Treatment Outcomes in HPV+ Head and Neck Cancer: A Multi-Institutional Cohort Experience.

Purpose: Oropharyngeal squamous cell cancers (OPSCCs) are traditionally managed with surgery and, if indicated, adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) with or without chemotherapy. NCCN recommends keeping the time from surgery to the start of RT (TSRT) within 6 weeks to avoid possibly compromising patient outcomes. HPV+ OPSCCs behave more favorably than HPV- OPSCCs. We hypothesized that TSRT beyond 6 weeks may not portend poorer outcomes for the former. Methods: We identified nonmetastatic, high-risk HPV+ OPSCCs treated with multimodal therapy at 2 institutions. Prolonged TSRT was defined as >6 weeks and was evaluated for association with recurrence-free survival (RFS). Radiation treatment time (RTT; time from the first to the last day of RT), total treatment package time (TTPT; time from surgery to the end of adjuvant treatments), de-escalated RT (dose ≤56 Gy), concurrent chemotherapy, smoking history, and treatment institution were evaluated as possible confounders. Results: In total, 96 patients were included. The median follow-up time was 62 months (4-123 months); 69 patients underwent transoral robotic surgeries, and 27 received open surgeries. The median postoperative RT dose was 60 Gy (50-70.8 Gy). The median TSRT, RTT, and TTPT were 38 days (11-208), 43 days (26-56 days), and 81 days (40-255 days), respectively. Ten patients failed treatment at a median of 8 months (4-64 months). Two locoregional and 4 distant failures occurred in the group without prolonged TSRT, whereas 2 locoregional and 2 distant failures were recorded in the prolonged TSRT group. Prolonged TTPT, de-escalated RT, chemotherapy, smoking history, and treatment institution were not associated with treatment failure. RTT was dropped from our analyses as no events appeared in the prolonged RTT group, and no reliable hazard ratio could be computed. Conclusions: TSRT > 6 weeks was not significantly associated with inferior outcomes in the postoperative management of HPV+ OPSCCs. Longer TSRT may facilitate better recovery from surgical toxicity, as needed, without compromising oncologic outcomes. The TSRT goal for these cancers should be investigated in future studies.

The study protocol to evaluate implementation of the transitional care model in four U.S. healthcare systems during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This study protocol describes the conceptual framework, design, and methods being employed to evaluate the implementation of the Transitional Care Model (TCM) as part of a randomized controlled trial. The trial, designed to examine the health and cost outcomes of at-risk hospitalized older adults, is being conducted in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This parallel study is guided by the Practical, Robust, Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) and uses a fixed, mixed methods convergent parallel design to identify challenges encountered by participating hospitals and post-acute and community-based providers that impact the implementation of the TCM with fidelity, strategies implemented to address those challenges and the relationships between challenges, strategies, and rates of fidelity to TCM's core components over time. Prior to the study's launch and throughout its implementation, qualitative and quantitative data related to COVID and non-COVID challenges are being collected via surveys and meetings with healthcare system staff. Strategies implemented to address challenges and fidelity to TCM's core components are also being assessed. Analyses of quantitative (established metrics to evaluate TCM's core components) and qualitative data (barriers and facilitators to implementation) are being conducted independently. These datasets are then merged and interpreted together. General linear and mixed effects modeling using all merged data and patients' socio-demographic and social determinants of health characteristics, will be used to examine relationships between key variables and fidelity rates. Implications of study findings in the context of COVID-19 and future research opportunities are suggested. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04212962.

Validity and reliability of a new whole room indirect calorimeter to assess metabolic response to small-calorie loads.

Objective: To provide an overview of our whole room indirect calorimeter (WRIC), demonstrate validity and reliability of our WRIC, and explore a novel application of Bayesian hierarchical modeling to assess responses to small carbohydrate loads. Methods: Seven gas infusion studies were performed using a gas blender and profiles designed to mimic resting and postprandial metabolic events to assess WRIC validity. In a crossover design, 16 participants underwent fasting and postprandial measurements, during which they consumed a 75-kcal drink containing sucrose, dextrose, or fructose. Linear mixed effects models were used to compare resting and postprandial metabolic rate (MR) and CO (CO). Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling was also used to model postprandial CO trajectories for each participant and condition. Results: Mean total error in infusions were 1.27 ± 1.16% and 0.42 ± 1.21% for VO2 and VCO2 respectively, indicating a high level of validity. Mean resting MR was similar across conditions (x¯=1.05±0.03 kcal/min, p=0.82, ICC: 0.91). While MR increased similarly among all conditions (~13%, p=0.29), postprandial CO parameters were significantly lower for dextrose compared with sucrose or fructose. Conclusions: Our WRIC validation and novel application of statistical methods presented here provide important foundations for new research directions using WRIC.

Longitudinal Associations of Midlife Accelerometer Determined Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity With Cognitive Function: The CARDIA Study.

Background To determine if accelerometer measured sedentary behavior (SED), light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) in midlife is prospectively associated with cognitive function. Methods and Results Participants were 1970 adults enrolled in the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults) study who wore an accelerometer in 2005 to 2006 (ages 38-50 years) and had cognitive function assessments completed 5 and/or 10 years later. SED, LPA, and MVPA were measured by an ActiGraph 7164 accelerometer. Cognitive function tests included the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and Stroop Test. Compositional isotemporal substitution analysis examined associations of SED, LPA, and MVPA with repeated measures of the cognitive function standardized scores. In men, statistical reallocation of 30 minutes of LPA with 30 minutes of MVPA resulted in an estimated difference of SD 0.07 (95% CI, 0.01-0.14), SD 0.09 (95% CI, 0.02-0.17), and SD -0.11 (95% CI, -0.19 to -0.04) in the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and Stroop scores, respectively, indicating better performance. Associations were similar when reallocating time in SED with MVPA, but results were less robust. Reallocation of time in SED with LPA resulted in an estimated difference of SD -0.05 (95% CI, -0.06 to -0.03), SD -0.03 (95% CI, -0.05 to -0.01), and SD 0.05 (95% CI, 0.03- 0.07) in the Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, and Stroop scores, respectively, indicating worse performance. Associations were largely nonsignificant among women. Conclusions Our findings support the idea that for men, higher-intensity activities (MVPA) may be necessary in midlife to observe beneficial associations with cognition.