Identification and functional analysis of recent IS transposition events in rhizobia.

Rhizobia are alpha- and beta- Proteobacteria that, through the establishment of symbiotic interactions with leguminous plants, are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen as ammonium. The successful establishment of a symbiotic interaction is highly dependent on the availability of nitrogen sources in the soil, and on the specific rhizobia strain. Insertion sequences (ISs) are simple transposable genetic elements that can move to different locations within the host genome and are known to play an important evolutionary role, contributing to genome plasticity by acting as recombination hot-spots, and disrupting coding and regulatory sequences. Disruption of coding sequences may have occurred either in a common ancestor of the species or more recently. By means of ISComapare, we identified Differentially Located ISs (DLISs) in nearly related rhizobial strains of the genera Bradyrhizobium, Mesorhizobium, Rhizobium and Sinorhizobium. Our results revealed that recent IS transposition could have a role in adaptation by enabling the activation and inactivation of genes that could dynamically affect the competition and survival of rhizobia in the rhizosphere.

Are the Positions in the Word Ranking of Competitive Alpine Skiers Explainable by Prominent Polymorphisms in Regulatory Genes of Mechanical and Metabolic Muscle Functioning?

Background: The success of competitive alpine skiers with respective to their world ranking (WR) positions might be associated with prominent gene polymorphisms. Methods: Twenty-six competitive alpine skiers were followed from 2015 to 2019 for their WR positions (FIS-ranking). Using PCR, the genotypes of ACE-I/D, TNC, ACTN3, and PTK2 were identified. The correlations between the discipline-specific WR position (slalom-SL, giant slalom-GS, super G-SG, downhill-DH, and alpine combined-AC) and gene polymorphisms were analyzed concerning an influence with multivariate regression models. Results: The WR position and the ACE gene as well as the copy number of the ACE I-allele exhibited reciprocal relationships for speed specialists (SG and DH) but not for technical specialists (SL and GS). Similarly, the gene polymorphisms ACTN3 and (partly) PTK2 were associated with the WR position in disciplines characterized by a high number of turns (technical specialists-SL and GS) and speed (speed-specialists-SG and DH), respectively. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the contributions of aerobic and cardiovascular metabolism in fueling muscle work and recovering from muscle fatigue for competitive success in slalom-driven skiing disciplines and highlight the contributions of sequence variants in the genes ACE, TNC, and ACTN3.

Provider Factors Likely to Impact Access and Uptake of Long-Acting Injectable Cabotegravir for Transgender Women in the United States: Results of a Qualitative Study.

ABSTRACT: Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) was US Food and Drug Administration-approved in 2021. However, little is known about providers' CAB-LA knowledge, attitudes, challenges, and prescribing preferences for transgender women patients. Understanding this is critical to developing new pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) interventions tailored to transgender women. We conducted 45-min, in-depth Zoom interviews (IDIs) with United States-based health care providers who prescribe PrEP to transgender women. IDIs focused on providers' CAB-LA knowledge/acceptability, willingness to prescribe CAB-LA to transgender women, potential challenges, and solutions to mitigate challenges. Providers ( N = 17) had a mean age of 43 years, and 35.4% ( n = 6) identified as people of color. Most ( n = 12) had basic knowledge of CAB-LA but wanted additional training. All participants found CAB-LA acceptable and were willing to prescribe. Most ( n = 11) anticipated minimal challenges to implementation. Others ( n = 4) reported potential issues, including logistical/scheduling concerns that impede CAB-LA integration and staffing concerns. Many providers expressed support for self-injection ( n = 13) and injections at "drop-in" clinics ( n = 8) to overcome challenges.

Changes in patellar tendon complaints and shear wave velocity patterns among competitive alpine skiers during a 4-year post-growth spurt follow-up.

Patellar tendon (PT) complaints are frequent in competitive alpine skiers and such complaints are characterized by a long-lasting affection. Since PTs are subject to maturation up to 1-2 years after growth spurt, this early career stage may be decisive for the further course of complaints. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution of PT complaints and shear wave velocity patterns among competitive alpine skiers during a 4-year post-growth spurt follow-up. The PT complaints and SWV patterns of forty-seven skiers were analysed at baseline (i.e., immediately after their peak height growth at 13-15 years of age) and were re-analysed at 4-year follow-up. The PTs were scanned via three-dimensional SWE. Symptomatic skiers were identified based on pain sensation under loading and pressure-induced pain around the PT. The prevalence of PT complaints decreased from 29.8% at baseline to 12.8% at follow-up (Pearson's χ2 = 9.429; p = 0.002). SWV decreased from the baseline assessment to the follow-up in the proximal and distal regions (p < 0.05). SWV coefficient of variation (CV) in the distal and mid-portion regions was greater at baseline than at follow-up (p < 0.05). At the follow-up assessment, compared to "healthy" skiers, "healed" skiers who recovered from PT complaints had lower SWVs in the proximal region (p = 0.020) and greater SWV CVs in the proximal region (p = 0.028). Moreover, symptomatic skiers had significantly greater SWV CVs in the mid-portion region than did "healthy" subjects with no history of PT complaints (p = 0.020). The average SWV was negatively correlated with the SWV (proximal: r = -0.74, p < 0.001; mid-portion: r = -0.37 p = 0.011; and distal: r = -0.58, p < 0.001). The occurrence of PT complaints decreased over a 4-year post-growth spurt follow-up. "Healed" skiers who were symptomatic at baseline had an even greater average decrease in the proximal and mid-portion SWV than "healthy" skiers with no history of PT complaints. This may lead to the hypothesis that PT complaints in adolescent skiers are not self-eliminating towards the end of adolescence, as at least structural irregularities appear to persist for several years after the onset of initial symptoms. Furthermore, "healed" and symptomatic tendons exhibited increased SWV variability, supporting the hypothesis that SWV CV may provide additional valuable information on the mechanical properties of PTs affected by overuse-related complaints.

Clinical, functional and radiological outcome after osteosynthesis of ankle fractures using a specific provocation test.

BACKGROUND: Ankle fractures are frequent, and despite numerous publications on their treatment and outcome, there is a lack of precise data on the functional results in young, healthy and physically active patients. We hypothesized that patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for simple ankle fractures would have similar function compared to a healthy control group, whereas patients with complex fractures will have significant functional deficits. Furthermore, we postulate that there is a discrepancy between the radiological and the functional outcomes. METHODS: A set of specific provocation tests was developed to evaluate the postoperative possibility of weight bearing, stop-and-go activities and range of motion. In combination with three questionnaires and a radiographic evaluation, the true functional outcome and the possibility of participating in sporting activities were investigated and compared with those of an age- and sex-matched control group. RESULTS: A significant impairment was found in unilateral and simple ankle fractures. This impairment increased in tests including stop-and-go activities in combination with load bearing and with the complexity of the fractures. Concerning the subjective outcome, there was a significant adverse effect for daily activities without any difference in preoperative or postoperative sporting activity between the groups. No difference was found in the radiological assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Both simple and complex ankle fractures treated with ORIF have a significant and long-lasting impact on functional outcome in young and active patients. The radiological result is not associated with a good functional outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION: BASEC-Nr. 2018 - 01124.

Jump performance and movement quality in 7- to 15-year-old competitive alpine skiers: a cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Injury rates in competitive alpine skiing are high. With current methods, identifying people at risk is expensive and thus often not feasible at the youth level. The aims of this study were (1) to describe the jump performance and movement quality of youth competitive alpine skiers according to age and sex, (2) to compare the jump distance among skiers of different sexes and movement quality grades, and (3) to assess the inter-rater grading reliability of the qualitative visual movement quality classification of such jumps and the agreement between live and video-based post-exercise grading. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study is based on an anonymized dataset of 301 7- to 15-year-old competitive alpine skiers. The skiers performed two-legged forward triple jumps, whereby the jump distance was measured, and grades were assigned by experienced raters from the frontal and sagittal perspectives depending on the execution quality of the jumps. Furthermore, jumps were filmed and ultimately rated post-exercise. Differences in jump distance between various groups were assessed by multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs). Reliability was determined using Kendall's coefficient of concordance. RESULTS: The jump distance was significantly greater in U16 skiers than in U11 skiers of both sexes and in skiers with good execution quality than in those with reduced or poor execution quality. Overall, jump distance in U16 skiers significantly differed between female (5.37 m with 95% CI [5.21, 5.53]) and male skiers (5.90 m with 95%CI [5.69, 6.10]). Slightly better inter-rater grading reliability was observed for video-based post-exercise (strong agreement) ratings than for live ratings (moderate agreement). CONCLUSION: In competitive alpine skiers aged 7 to 15 years, jump performance increases with age, and around puberty, sex differences start to manifest. Our results highlight the importance of evaluating both jump distance and movement quality in youth skiers. To improve test-retest reliability, however, a video-based post-exercise evaluation is recommended.

In youth competitive alpine skiers, jump performance and movement quality matter, and both should be trained and tested.A qualitative assessment of movement quality while jumping by experts is a highly scalable and cost-effective approach; however, to ensure sufficient test-retest reliability, the assessment criteria need to be standardised and an additional video-based post-exercise assessment is recommended.

Unveiling antibiofilm potential: proteins from Priestia sp. targeting Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation.

Staphylococcus aureus is the etiologic agent of many nosocomial infections, and its biofilm is frequently isolated from medical devices. Moreover, the dissemination of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains from this pathogen, such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, is a worldwide public health issue. The inhibition of biofilm formation can be used as a strategy to weaken bacterial resistance. Taking that into account, we analysed the ability of marine sponge-associated bacteria to produce antibiofilm molecules, and we found that marine Priestia sp., isolated from marine sponge Scopalina sp. collected on the Brazilian coast, secretes proteins that impair biofilm development from S. aureus. Partially purified proteins (PPP) secreted after 24 hours of bacterial growth promoted a 92% biofilm mass reduction and 4.0 µg/dL was the minimum concentration to significantly inhibit biofilm formation. This reduction was visually confirmed by light microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, biochemical assays showed that the antibiofilm activity of PPP was reduced by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and 1,10 phenanthroline (PHEN), while it was stimulated by zinc ions, suggesting an active metallopeptidase in PPP. This result agrees with mass spectrometry (MS) identification, which indicated the presence of a metallopeptidase from the M28 family. Additionally, whole-genome sequencing analysis of Priestia sp. shows that gene ywad, a metallopeptidase-encoding gene, was present. Therefore, the results presented herein indicate that PPP secreted by the marine Priestia sp. can be explored as a potential antibiofilm agent and help to treat chronic infections.

Day-to-day associations of intersectional minority stressors with sleep health in sexual and gender minority people of color.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the day-to-day associations between minority stressors (i.e., anticipated and experienced discrimination) and sleep health outcomes (i.e., total sleep time (TST), sleep disturbances, and sleep-related impairment) among sexual and gender minority (SGM) people of color. METHOD: An online sample of SGM people of color living in the United States participated in a 30-day daily diary study. Daily anticipated and experienced discrimination as well as subjective sleep outcomes were assessed via electronic diaries using validated measures. Wrist-worn actigraphy was used to objectively assess TST. Multilevel linear models (MLMs) were used to estimate the independent associations of daily intersectional minority stressors with subsequent sleep outcomes, adjusted for demographic factors and lifetime discrimination. RESULTS: The sample included 43 SGM people of color with a mean age of 27.0 years (± 7.7) of which 84% were Latinx, 47% were multiracial, and 37% were bisexual. Results of MLMs indicated that greater report of daily experienced discrimination was positively associated with same-night sleep disturbances, B (SE) = 0.45 (0.10), p < .001. Daily anticipated discrimination was positively associated with sleep-related impairment on the following day, B (SE) = 0.77 (0.17), p < .001. However, daily anticipated and experienced discrimination were not associated with same-night TST. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the importance of considering the differential effects of daily intersectional minority stressors on the sleep health of SGM people of color. Further research is needed to identify factors driving the link between daily minority stressors and sleep outcomes to inform sleep health interventions tailored to this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Latent Constructs of Economic Marginality Associated with Sexual Behavior, Healthcare Access and HIV Outcomes Among Transgender and Nonbinary People in Three U.S. Cities.

Transgender and nonbinary people (TNB) in the U.S. experience high HIV prevalence and diverse economic hardships. Yet a comprehensive understanding of how multiple, simultaneously occurring hardships-termed economic marginality-are together associated with healthcare and HIV outcomes is needed. Leveraging survey data from a sample of 330 TNB people in three U.S. cities, we conducted an exploratory mixed-source principal component analysis of latent factors of economic experience, then estimated their associations with sexual behavior, access to healthcare, HIV status, and HIV testing frequency. Two factors emerged: a traditional socioeconomic factor related to income, education, and employment (SES), and one related to housing precarity and (lack of) assets (Precarity). Higher Precarity scores were associated with sexual behavior, cost-based healthcare avoidance, discrimination-based healthcare avoidance, and more frequent HIV testing. Findings highlight the importance of understanding profiles of economic marginalization among trans and nonbinary people and can inform efforts to address upstream, structural factors shaping healthcare access and HIV outcomes in this key population.

Exploring colorant production by amazonian filamentous fungi: Stability and applications.

The aim of this study was to investigate the production, stability and applicability of colorants produced by filamentous fungi isolated from soil samples from the Amazon. Initially, the isolates were evaluated in a screening for the production of colorants. The influences of cultivation and nutritional conditions on the production of colorants by fungal isolates were investigated. The colorants produced by selected fungal isolates were chemically characterized using the Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry technique. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, stability evaluation and applicability of the colorants were investigated. As results, we observed that the isolates Penicillium sclerotiorum P3SO224, Clonostachys rosea P2SO329 and Penicillium gravinicasei P3SO332 stood out since they produced the most intense colorants. Compounds produced by Penicillium sclerotiorum P3SO224 and Clonostachys rosea P2SO329 were identified as sclerotiorin and penicillic acid. The colorant fraction (EtOAc) produced by these species has antimicrobial activity, stability at temperature and at different pHs, stability when exposure to light and UV, and when exposed to different concentrations of salts, as well as being nontoxic and having the ability to dye fabrics and be used as a pigment in creams and soap. Considering the results found in this study, it was concluded that fungi from the soil in the Amazon have the potential to produce colorants with applications in the textile and pharmaceutical industries.

General self-efficacy as a mediator of the association between adverse childhood experiences and psychological distress in gender-minority individuals.

PURPOSE: To investigate the mediating role of general self-efficacy (i.e., belief in one's competence to cope with a broad range of stressful or challenging demands) in the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and psychological distress (i.e., symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression) in gender minority individuals, which include people with a gender identity that is not aligned with their sex assigned at birth. DESIGN AND METHODS: The study sample included gender minority participants who participated in Waves 4 and 5 of Project AFFIRM, a multi-site longitudinal study of gender minority health. ACEs, general self-efficacy, and psychological distress were measured using the Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System ACE Module at Wave 4, the PROMIS General self-efficacy measure at Wave 4, and the Brief Symptoms Inventory Global Severity Index (GSI) at Wave 5, respectively. After adjustment for covariates, including age, race, sex assigned at birth, and income, multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to assess each component of the proposed mediation model. Next, mediation analyses were used to determine whether general self-efficacy mediated the association between ACEs and psychological distress. FINDINGS: The sample for this study consisted of 166 gender minority adults with a mean age of 38.6 ± 12.2 years. Most were non-Hispanic White (46.4%) and female assigned at birth (59.6%). Mean ACEs score was 3.2 ± 2.1 (range 0-8), mean general self-efficacy score was 13.9 ± 3.6 (range 4-20), and mean raw-score GSI was 17.3 ± 13.7 (range 0-64). Participants who reported experiencing more ACEs had greater psychological distress (B 1.60; 95% CI = 0.66, 2.54) and lower general self-efficacy (B -0.41; 95% CI = -0.67, -0.15). In addition, lower general self-efficacy was associated with higher psychological distress (B -1.06; 95% CI = -1.61, -0.51). Bootstrap estimation of the indirect effect was significant (95% CI = 0.14, 0.90) and explained 27.1% (95% CI = 7.76, 69.76) of the total effect of ACEs on psychological distress in gender minority adults. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that general self-efficacy partially mediated the positive association between ACEs and psychological distress in gender minority adults. Interventions that aim to improve general self-efficacy may be beneficial in alleviating psychological distress in gender minority adults. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nurses can play an important role in reducing the health risks associated with ACEs by screening gender minority individuals using a trauma-informed approach to care and offering resources and referrals, as appropriate.

Proteomic profile of Cryptococcus gattii biofilm: Metabolic shift and the potential activation of electron chain transport.

Cryptococcus gattii is a primary pathogenic fungus that causes pneumonia. This species is also responsible for an outbreak in Vancouver, Canada, and spreading to the mainland and United States. The use of medical devices is often complicated by infections with biofilm-forming microbes with increased resistance to antimicrobial agents and host defense mechanisms. This study investigated the comparative proteome of C. gattii R265 (VGIIa) grown under planktonic and biofilm conditions. A brief comparison with C. neoformans H99 biofilm and the use of different culture medium and surface were also evaluated. Using Multidimensional Protein Identification Technology (MudPIT), 1819 proteins were identified for both conditions, where 150 (8.2%) were considered differentially regulated (up- or down-regulated and unique in biofilm cells). Overall, the proteomic approach suggests that C. gattii R265 biofilm cells are maintained by the induction of electron transport chain for reoxidation, and by alternative energy metabolites, such as succinate and acetate. SIGNIFICANCE: Since C. gattii is considered a primary pathogen and is one of the most virulent and less susceptible to antifungals, understanding how biofilms are maintained is fundamental to search for new targets to control this important mode of growth that is difficult to eradicate.

Reliability of panoramic ultrasound imaging and agreement with magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of lumbar multifidus anatomical cross-sectional area.

The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability of panoramic ultrasound (US) imaging and agreement with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for assessing the average lumbar multifidus anatomical cross-sectional area between the lumbar vertebral bodies L3-L5 (i.e., LMF ACSAL3-L5). US and MRI scans of 20 male youth competitive alpine skiers were collected. To test the intra- and interrater reliability of US, transversal panoramic scans were analyzed on two different days by the same rater and the analysis of the first day was compared with the analysis of a second rater. To examine the agreement between US and MRI, Bland-Altman analysis was performed. Intrarater reliability was excellent, and interrater reliability was weak to good for both sides. The bias between MRI and US was - 0.19 ± 0.90 cm2 (2.68 ± 12.30%) for the left side and - 0.04 ± 0.98 cm2 (- 1.11 ± 12.93%) for the right side (i.e., for both sides US slightly overestimated LMF ACSAL3-L5 on average). The limits of agreement were - 1.95 to 1.57 cm2 (- 26.70 to 21.30%) for the left side and - 1.95 to 1.88 cm2 (- 26.46 to 24.24%) for the right side. Panoramic US imaging may be considered a method with excellent intrarater and weak to good interrater reliability for assessing LMF ACSAL3-L5. Comparison with MRI showed large individual differences in some cases, but an acceptable bias between the two imaging modalities.

Prevalence of substance use and mental health problems among transgender and cisgender U.S. adults: Results from a national probability sample.

Transgender individuals experience numerous health disparities relative to cisgender individuals. However, most transgender-health studies have focused on convenience samples with limited generalizability. This study utilized data from the 2016-2018 TransPop Study, the first national probability sample of transgender adults (n=274) with a cisgender comparison sample (n=1162). Using multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for demographics, we compared the prevalence of hazardous drinking, problematic drug use, serious psychological distress, suicidality, and non-suicidal self-injury between transgender and cisgender individuals and among transgender men (n=78), transgender women (n=120), and transgender nonbinary individuals (n=76). Among transgender individuals, 28.2% (95%CI 21.2-35.2) and 31.2% (95%CI 23.8-38.7) reported hazardous drinking and problematic drug use, respectively; 44.4% (95% CI 35.8-53.0) reported recent suicidal ideation, 6.9% (95% CI 2.3-11.5) reported a recent suicide attempt, and 21.4% (95% CI 14.5%-28.4%) reported recent non-suicidal self-injury. In their lifetime, 81.3% (95%CI 75.1-87.5) of transgender respondents had suicidal ideation, 42.0% (95%CI 34.2-49.8) had attempted suicide, and 56.0% (95% CI 48.2-63.8) reported non-suicidal self-injury. Most (81.5%; 95%CI 75.5-87.5) had utilized formal mental health care and 25.5% (95%CI 18.5-32.4) had sought informal mental health support. There were no differences in alcohol or drug-use outcomes between transgender and cisgender adults. Compared to cisgender adults, transgender adults had higher odds of serious psychological distress (aOR=3.1; 95%CI 1.7-5.7), suicidal ideation (recent: aOR=5.1, 95%CI 2.7-9.6); lifetime: aOR=6.7, 95%CI 3.8-11.7), lifetime suicide attempts (aOR=4.4, 95%CI 2.4-8.0), and non-suicidal self-injury (recent: aOR=13.0, 95%CI 4.8-35.1); lifetime: aOR=7.6, 95%CI 4.1-14.3). Transgender nonbinary adults had the highest odds for all outcomes, including substance use outcomes. Findings from these national probability samples support those of earlier convenience-sample studies showing mental health disparities among transgender adults relative to cisgender adults, with nonbinary individuals at highest risk. These findings also highlight variations in risk across sub-groups of transgender individuals.

Association of Gene Variants with Seasonal Variation in Muscle Strength and Aerobic Capacity in Elite Skiers.

Background: The training of elite skiers follows a systematic seasonal periodization with a preparation period, when anaerobic muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and cardio-metabolic recovery are specifically conditioned to provide extra capacity for developing ski-specific physical fitness in the subsequent competition period. We hypothesized that periodization-induced alterations in muscle and metabolic performance demonstrate important variability, which in part is explained by gene-associated factors in association with sex and age. Methods: A total of 34 elite skiers (20.4 ± 3.1 years, 19 women, 15 men) underwent exhaustive cardiopulmonary exercise and isokinetic strength testing before and after the preparation and subsequent competition periods of the World Cup skiing seasons 2015-2018. Biometric data were recorded, and frequent polymorphisms in five fitness genes, ACE-I/D (rs1799752), TNC (rs2104772), ACTN3 (rs1815739), and PTK2 (rs7460, rs7843014), were determined with specific PCR reactions on collected DNA. Relative percentage changes of cardio-pulmonary and skeletal muscle metabolism and performance over the two seasonal periods were calculated for 160 data points and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify hypothesized and novel associations between performance alterations and the five respective genotypes and determine the influence of age × sex. A threshold of 0.1 for the effect size (h2) was deemed appropriate to identify relevant associations and motivate a post hoc test to localize effects. Results: The preparation and competition periods produced antidromic functional changes, the extent of which varied with increasing importance for anaerobic strength, aerobic performance, cardio-metabolic efficiency, and cardio-metabolic/muscle recovery. Only peak RER (-14%), but not anaerobic strength and peak aerobic performance, and parameters characterizing cardio-metabolic efficiency, differed between the first and last studied skiing seasons because improvements over the preparation period were mostly lost over the competition period. A number of functional parameters demonstrated associations of variability in periodic changes with a given genotype, and this was considerably influenced by athlete "age", but not "sex". This concerned age-dependent associations between periodic changes in muscle-related parameters, such as anaerobic strength for low and high angular velocities of extension and flexion and blood lactate concentration, with rs1799752 and rs2104772, whose gene products relate to sarcopenia. By contrast, the variance in period-dependent changes in body mass and peak VO2 with rs1799752 and rs2104772, respectively, was independent of age. Likely, the variance in periodic changes in the reliance of aerobic performance on lactate, oxygen uptake, and heart rate was associated with rs1815739 independent of age. These associations manifested at the post hoc level in genotype-associated differences in critical performance parameters. ACTN3 T-allele carriers demonstrated, compared to non-carriers, largely different periodic changes in the muscle-associated parameters of aerobic metabolism during exhaustive exercise, including blood lactate and respiration exchange ratio. The homozygous T-allele carriers of rs2104772 demonstrated the largest changes in extension strength at low angular velocity during the preparation period. Conclusions: Physiological characteristics of performance in skiing athletes undergo training period-dependent seasonal alterations the extent of which is largest for muscle metabolism-related parameters. Genotype associations for the variability in changes of aerobic metabolism-associated power output during exhaustive exercise and anaerobic peak power over the preparation and competition period motivate personalized training regimes. This may help to predict and maximize the benefit of physical conditioning of elite skiers based on chronological characteristics and the polymorphisms of the ACTN3, ACE, and TNC genes investigated here.

A qualitative study of alcohol use disorder psychotherapies for transgender and nonbinary individuals: Opportunities for cultural adaptation.

BACKGROUND: Transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) populations experience high rates of hazardous drinking (HD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) as well as unique treatment barriers. This is due, in-part, to discrimination and stigma within and outside of the healthcare system. Cultural adaptation of clinical interventions can improve outcomes for marginalized populations, but no such adapted interventions exist for AUD among TGNB individuals. This study sought to understand how TGNB individuals perceive currently available AUD psychotherapies and to generate knowledge about potential areas for cultural adaptation. METHODS: As part of a qualitative study of HD among TGNB individuals (N=27), participants were asked to imagine that they were clients in psychotherapy vignettes corresponding to cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational enhancement therapy, and twelve step facilitation. Interviews were audio-recorded and professionally transcribed. A coding team used an iterative codebook to guide coding. Categories emerged from this process that reflected participants' perceptions and allowed for the identification of potential cultural-adaptation targets. RESULTS: Across all three psychotherapies, participants wanted therapists to explicitly discuss gender identity and culturally salient HD risk factors for TGNB individuals (e.g., discrimination, stigma, gender dysphoria). There were also modality-specific recommendations to incorporate principles of trauma-informed care into cognitive behavioral therapy, avoid motivational enhancement therapy exercises that oversimplify decision-making, and recognize that the twelve-step-facilitation concept of "powerlessness" may conflict with how many TGNB people see themselves. CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight areas for cultural adaptation that can be evaluated in future intervention trials in an effort to improve psychotherapy acceptability and efficacy for TGNB individuals.

ACE-I/D Allele Modulates Improvements of Cardiorespiratory Function and Muscle Performance with Interval-Type Exercise.

Background: The prominent insertion/deletion polymorphism in the gene for the major modulator of tissue perfusion, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE-I/D) is associated with variability in adjustments in cardiac and skeletal muscle performance with standard forms of endurance and strength type training. Here, we tested whether the ACE-I/D genotype would be associated with variability in the effects of interval-type training on peak and aerobic performance of peripheral muscle and cardio-vasculature and post-exercise recovery. Methods: Nine healthy subjects (39.0 ± 14.7 years of age; 64.6 ± 16.1 kg, 173.6 ± 9.9) completed eight weeks of interval training on a soft robotic device based on repeated sets of a pedaling exercise at a matched intensity relative to their peak aerobic power output. Prior to and post-training, peak anaerobic and aerobic power output was assessed, mechanical work and metabolic stress (oxygen saturation and hemoglobin concentrations of Musculus vastus lateralis (VAS) and Musculus gastrocnemius (GAS), blood lactate and factors setting cardiac output such as heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were monitored during ramp-incremental exercise and interval exercise with the calculation of areas under the curve (AUC), which were put in relation to the produced muscle work. Genotyping was performed based on I- and D-allele-specific polymerase chain reactions on genomic DNA from mucosal swaps. The significance of interaction effects between training and ACE I-allele on absolute and work-related values was assessed with repeated measures ANOVA. Results: Subjects delivered 87% more muscle work/power, 106% more cardiac output, and muscles experienced ~72% more of a deficit in oxygen saturation and a ~35% higher passage of total hemoglobin during single interval exercise after the eight weeks of training. Interval training affected aspects of skeletal muscle metabolism and performance, whose variability was associated with the ACE I-allele. This concerned the economically favorable alterations in the work-related AUC for the deficit of SmO2 in the VAS and GAS muscles during the ramp exercise for the I-allele carriers and opposing deteriorations in non-carriers. Conversely, oxygen saturation in the VAS and GAS at rest and during interval exercise was selectively improved after training for the non-carriers of the I-allele when the AUC of tHb per work during interval exercise deteriorated in the carriers. Training also improved aerobic peak power output by 4% in the carriers but not the non-carriers (p = 0.772) of the ACE I-allele while reducing negative peak power (-27.0%) to a lesser extent in the ACE I-allele carriers than the non-carriers. Variability in cardiac parameters (i.e., the AUC of heart rate and glucose during ramp exercise, was similar to the time to recovery of maximal tHb in both muscles after cessation of ramp exercise, only associated with the ACE I-allele but not training per se. Diastolic blood pressure and cardiac output during recovery from exhaustive ramp exercise demonstrated a trend for training-associated differences in association with the ACE I-allele. Discussion: The exercise-type dependent manifestation of antidromic adjustments in leg muscle perfusion and associated local aerobic metabolism between carriers and non-carriers of the ACE I-allele with the interval-training highlight that non-carriers of the I-allele do not present an essential handicap to improve perfusion-related aerobic muscle metabolism but that the manifestation of responsiveness depends on the produced work. Conclusions: The deployed interval-type of exercise produced ACE I-allele-related differences in the alterations of negative anaerobic performance and perfusion-related aerobic muscle metabolism, which manifestation is exercise specific. The training-invariant ACE I-allele-associated differences in heart rate and blood glucose concentration emphasize that the repeated impact of the interval stimulus, despite a near doubling of the initial metabolic load, was insufficient to overturn ACE-related genetic influences on cardiovascular function.