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Objective: To compare the school lunch consumption of Texas middle-school students with the 2009 Institute of Medicine's (IOM) school meal report recommendations. These new lunch menu patterns increase fruit to one serving and vegetables to two servings, with 50 % wholegrain food.Design: Lunch food records were collected from middle-school students from four schools in south-east Texas in the spring of 2008, and entered into the Nutrition Data System for Research software. Average intake was calculated for those consuming meals according to the National School Lunch Program (NSLP; n 5414) and for those consuming lunch from other sources (n 239). The percentage of students selecting each food group was calculated.Setting: Middle schools in south-east Texas.Subjects: Middle-school students in south-east Texas.Results: Students consuming NSLP meals reported consuming almost 1/2 serving of fruit, 3/4 serving of vegetables, 8 oz of milk and 1/3 serving of whole grains at lunch. Non-NSLP consumers reported almost no intake of fruit, vegetables or milk, and consumed 1/4 serving of whole grains at lunch. Among NSLP consumers, about 40% selected and consumed a fruit serving. About two-thirds of students selected a vegetable, consuming about 67 %. Less than 4% selected a dark green or orange vegetable.Conclusions: Students' lunch intake did not meet the new IOM recommendations. Few students selected dark green or orange vegetables, and only 40 % selected fruit. Whole grains consumption was low. Interventions with all stakeholders will be necessary to improve students' food and beverage selections overall when school meal patterns are revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives : To examine the relationships between food security, nutrition security, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation, and cardiometabolic outcomes, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes, among low-income U.S. individuals. Methods : A cross-sectional survey of 486 participants (April-June 2021) assessed food and nutrition security and cardiometabolic outcomes. Mixed-effects logistic regression models adjusted for covariates and included a random effect for state of residence. Moderation analyses evaluated SNAP participation's impact. Results : Very low food security was associated with higher odds of having at least one cardiometabolic condition, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes (AOR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.04-3.69; p = 0.04). SNAP moderated this relationship ( p -interaction = 0.007), with non-participants experiencing significantly higher risk. Non-SNAP participants with very low food security had 3.17 (95% CI = 1.17-8.61) times higher odds of having a cardiometabolic condition. Among SNAP participants, very low food security was not significantly associated with having a cardiometabolic condition (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 0.64-4.13). Higher nutrition security was associated with lower odds of having at least one cardiometabolic condition (AOR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.41-0.83; p = 0.002). Conclusions : Nutrition security and SNAP participation mitigate cardiometabolic risks, underscoring their importance in public health interventions.

Objectives: To examine the association between socioeconomic characteristics of school neighborhoods and the prevalence of hypertension in adolescents., Study Design: We performed a secondary data analysis of over 21,000 adolescents who participated in a school BP surveillance program between 2000 and 2017. BP status was confirmed by BP measurements on up to 3 occasions to diagnose sustained hypertension according to standard pediatric hypertension guidelines. We assessed school neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) via the area deprivation index (ADI), a composite measure of area-level socioeconomic deprivation and categorized into quartiles. Q1 represented schools in neighborhoods with the least social deprivation while Q4 represented neighborhood with the most socioeconomic deprivation. We performed a cross-sectional analysis using both univariate and multivariable regression analyses., Results: Of 21,392 children included in our analysis, the prevalence of sustained hypertension was 2.6%. Hispanics and African Americans were overrepresented in the schools in more deprived neighborhoods. The highest sustained hypertension rate was observed among students attending Q3 (5.5%) and Q4 (4.2%) schools compared to Q1 (2.7%) and Q2 (2.0%) schools (p < 0.001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that being male, obese, and attending school in a disadvantaged neighborhood were significantly associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that school neighborhood deprivation measured by ADI may be a risk factor for hypertension and may contribute to the racial/ ethnic disparities observed in hypertension prevalence in adolescents., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Targeted low-throughput studies have previously identified subcellular RNA localization as necessary for cellular functions including polarization, and translocation. Furthermore, these studies link localization to RNA isoform expression, especially 3' Untranslated Region (UTR) regulation. The recent introduction of genome-wide spatial transcriptomics techniques enables the potential to test if subcellular localization is regulated in situ pervasively. In order to do this, robust statistical measures of subcellular localization and alternative poly-adenylation (APA) at single-cell resolution are needed. Developing a new statistical framework called SPRAWL, we detect extensive cell-type specific subcellular RNA localization regulation in the mouse brain and to a lesser extent mouse liver. We integrated SPRAWL with a new approach to measure cell-type specific regulation of alternative 3' UTR processing and detected examples of significant correlations between 3' UTR length and subcellular localization. Included examples, Timp3 , Slc32a1 , Cxcl14 , and Nxph1 have subcellular localization in the mouse brain highly correlated with regulated 3' UTR processing that includes the use of unannotated, but highly conserved, 3' ends. Together, SPRAWL provides a statistical framework to integrate multi-omic single-cell resolved measurements of gene-isoform pairs to prioritize an otherwise impossibly large list of candidate functional 3' UTRs for functional prediction and study. In these studies of data from mice, SPRAWL predicts that 3' UTR regulation of subcellular localization may be more pervasive than currently known., Competing Interests: RB, JD, DG, JS No competing interests declared, (© 2023, Bierman et al.)

The rapid integration of Internet of Things (IoT) systems in various sectors has escalated security risks due to sophisticated multilayer attacks that compromise multiple security layers and lead to significant data loss, personal information theft, financial losses etc. Existing research on multilayer IoT attacks exhibits gaps in real-world applicability, due to reliance on outdated datasets with a limited focus on adaptive, dynamic approaches to address multilayer vulnerabilities. Additionally, the complete reliance on automated processes without integrating human expertise in feature selection and weighting processes may affect the reliability of detection models. Therefore, this research aims to develop a Semi-Automated Intrusion Detection System (SAIDS) that integrates efficient feature selection, feature weighting, normalisation, visualisation, and human-machine interaction to detect and identify multilayer attacks, enhancing mitigation strategies. The proposed framework managed to extract an optimal set of 13 significant features out of 64 in the Edge-IIoT dataset, which is crucial for the efficient detection and classification of multilayer attacks, and also outperforms the performance of the KNN model compared to other classifiers in binary classification. The KNN algorithm demonstrated an average accuracy exceeding 94% in detecting several multilayer attacks such as UDP, ICMP, HTTP flood, MITM, TCP SYN, XSS, SQL injection, etc.

Background: TGF (transforming growth factor)-β pathway is central to blood-brain barrier development as it regulates cross talk between pericytes and endothelial cells. Murine embryos lacking TGFβ receptor Alk5 (activin receptor-like kinase 5) in brain pericytes (mutants) display endothelial cell hyperproliferation, abnormal vessel morphology, and gross germinal matrix hemorrhage-intraventricular hemorrhage (GMH-IVH), leading to perinatal lethality. Mechanisms underlying how ALK5 signaling in pericytes noncell autonomously regulates endothelial cell behavior remain elusive., Methods: Transcriptomic analysis of human brain pericytes with ALK5 silencing identified differential gene expression. Brain vascular cells isolated from mutant embryonic mice with GMH-IVH and preterm human IVH brain samples were utilized for target validation. Finally, pharmacological and genetic inhibition was used to study the therapeutic effects on GMH-IVH pathology., Results: Herein, we establish that the TGFβ/ALK5 pathway robustly represses ANGPT2 (angiopoietin-2) in pericytes via epigenetic remodeling. TGFβ-driven SMAD (suppressor of mothers against decapentaplegic) 3/4 associates with TGIF1 (TGFβ-induced factor homeobox 1) and HDAC (histone deacetylase) 5 to form a corepressor complex at the Angpt2 promoter, resulting in promoter deacetylation and gene repression. Moreover, murine and human germinal matrix vessels display increased ANGPT2 expression during GMH-IVH. Isolation of vascular cells from murine germinal matrix identifies pericytes as a cellular source of excessive ANGPT2. In addition, mutant endothelial cells exhibit higher phosphorylated TIE2 (tyrosine protein kinase receptor). Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of ANGPT2 in mutants improves germinal matrix vessel morphology and attenuates GMH pathogenesis. Importantly, genetic ablation of Angpt2 in mutant pericytes prevents perinatal lethality, prolonging survival., Conclusions: This study demonstrates that TGFβ-mediated ANGPT2 repression in pericytes is critical for maintaining blood-brain barrier integrity and identifies pericyte-derived ANGPT2 as an important pathological target for GMH-IVH., Competing Interests: Dr Ballabh reports employment by Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Yeshiva University. Dr Martin reports grants from the National Institutes of Health Office of Director. The other authors report no conflicts.

Child obesity is a worldwide public health concern. In America, children from rural areas have greater odds of obesity in comparison to those from urban areas. Community-engaged research is important for all communities, particularly under-represented communities. This paper reports the results of a scoping review investigating community-engaged research in obesity prevention programs tested with school-aged children in rural America. A literature search of Medline Ovid was conducted to identify interventions reporting the results of obesity prevention interventions that promoted a healthy diet or physical activity (PA) behaviors to school-age children in rural communities of the United States (US). After title and abstract review, potentially relevant citations were further examined by assessing the full text. Each stage of review was conducted by two independent reviewers. Twelve studies met the inclusionary criteria and are included in this review. Most of the studies focused on elementary school participants (n = 7) and improving both diet and PA (n = 9). Out of the twelve studies, only five included the target audience in intervention development or implementation. The most popular type of community engagement was community participation (n = 4). This review revealed that community-engaged research is under-utilized in obesity prevention interventions tested with school-aged children in rural US communities.

Place of residence (urban versus rural) is a contextual determinant of health that has received less attention in the food insecurity literature. The purpose of this study was to assess the urban-rural disparity in the prevalence of food insecurity and weight status among US children. Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2016 with three age groups of children (2-5, 6-11, and 12-17 years old), the associations of weight status and child and household food security status by urban-rural residence were examined using Rao-Scott Chi-square tests. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Children living in urban areas were significantly more likely to experience household food insecurity (29.15%) compared to their rural counterparts (19.10%), among those aged 6-11 years. The associations between children's weight status and child and household food security status were significant for children living in urban areas overall and different age groups but not for children living in rural areas. These trends were more pronounced in older age groups. Given the link between food insecurity and higher obesity rates, particularly among urban children, this study highlights the importance of incorporating food security interventions into future obesity prevention programs.

Background: Inadequate nutrition and poor diet quality are associated with a heightened risk of diabetes. The connection between food insecurity measures and diabetes has been established, with evidence indicating that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation contributes to reductions in food insecurity. Recently developed nutrition security measures, defined as the ability to acquire healthful foods to prevent diseases, and their association with diabetes and SNAP participation are not yet understood., Objectives: This study aimed to assess the relationship between food security and nutrition security in relation to diabetes overall and by SNAP participation and nutrition security as potential modifiers., Methods: Secondary data analysis of cross-sectional pilot study data collected from adults in 5 US states (N = 517). Logistic regression mixed models included moderation analysis and clustering effects by state to address site-level confounding., Results: Higher nutrition security scores among adults, after adjusting for confounders, were significantly associated with lower odds of diabetes risk (adjusted odds ratio = 0.59; 95% confidence interval: 0.40, 0.87; P value = 0.008). Statistically significant interaction effect of differences according to SNAP participation was observed for nutrition security ( P homogeneity/interaction = 0.021), adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education, employment, National School Lunch Program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, food pantry use, household with children, survey mode, and food security. The association between food security and diabetes was not statistically significant overall. However, statistically significant interaction effect of differences according to SNAP participation was observed for food security ( P homogeneity/interaction = 0.047). Further, no interaction effect of differences in nutrition security was found between food security and self-reported diabetes/prediabetes ( P homogeneity/interaction = 0.250)., Conclusions: This study sheds light on the early exploration of the intricate relationship between nutrition security and diabetes. The findings suggest that a higher nutrition security score, after adjusting for confounders, was significantly associated with lower odds of diabetes risk. Notably, there were statistically significant interaction effects in these associations based on SNAP participation.

Background: Food insecurity (FIS), characterized by the lack of consistent access to nutritious food, is associated with hypertension and adverse health outcomes. Despite evidence of a higher prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in patients living with FIS, there is limited data exploring the underlying mechanism., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 17,015 adults aged 18-65 years, using dietary recall data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011-2018). Univariate and multivariable analyses were used to examine the association between FIS, HTN, and dietary sodium and potassium levels., Results: Individuals reporting FIS had a significantly lower mean intake of potassium (2.5±0.03 gm) compared to those in food-secure households (2.74±0.02 gm). No significant difference was found in the mean dietary sodium intake based on food security status. Non-Hispanic Black participants showed a high prevalence of HTN and FIS. While Non-Hispanic White and Hispanic participants had a high prevalence of FIS, it did not appear to influence their risk of HTN., Conclusions: Adults with FIS and HTN were more likely to report a lower dietary potassium intake. Increasing access to healthy foods, particularly potassium-rich foods, for individuals facing FIS, may contribute to reducing the HTN prevalence and improving cardiovascular outcomes.

Purpose: Describe the method for conducting community-engaged research to identify needed changes for an existing evidence-based intervention, and prepare it for implementation in a community setting within the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center catchment area in an effort to achieve more equitable outcomes in diet-related disease risk factors., Methods: The intervention, Family Eats, was developed over 10 years ago. It works directly with parents of Black/African American 9-12 year old children to create a healthy home food environment to support prevention of obesity and related cancers. Data collection with community stakeholders occurred through a series of  Community Advisory Board (CAB) meetings guided by the Delphi Technique, an iterative approach for gaining group consensus on a topic., Results: Key information on needed changes and potential implementation strategies were identified. Perceived level of engagement among CAB members was high overall and in terms of both quantity and quality., Conclusion: The Delphi Technique shows promise as a method for conducting community-engaged research that promotes engagement and identifies key information needed to adapt and implement an existing intervention in a community setting., (© 2023. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Understanding the association between food security status (FSS) and diet quality in children is crucial. This study investigated regional variability in FSS, participation in the federal nutrition assistance program (FNAP), and diet quality among US children. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2013 to 2016 were analyzed. The association between FSS, FNAP participation, and diet quality (Healthy Eating Index-HEI-2015) was assessed using multiple linear/logistic regression models. The sample included 6403 children (mean age: 7.5 years; 51% male; 33% Hispanic). Within the sample, 13% reported child food insecurity, and 30% reported household food insecurity. Additionally, 90% participated in the FNAP, and 88% were enrolled in school lunch programs. Children in urban areas were significantly more likely to report household food insecurity than those in rural areas (29.15% vs. 19.10%). The overall HEI-2015 score was 48.2. The associations between child/household FSS and FNAP participation as well as between child/household FSS and diet quality did not differ by urban/rural residence status, irrespective of the children's age groups. There is a need for improvement in children's diet quality, regardless of age or urban/rural residence. The findings suggest that improving children's diets requires broader action as well as the prioritizing of children in urban areas experiencing food insecurity in future dietary interventions.

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) accumulation is central to the pathogenesis of elastin-defective arterial diseases, including supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS). We previously demonstrated that elastin insufficiency activates Notch signaling in aortic SMCs. Activation of Notch is catalyzed by the enzyme gamma-secretase, but the role of catalytic subunits presenilin (PSEN)-1 or PSEN-2 in elastin aortopathy is not defined. Genetic approaches reveal that endothelial cell-specific Psen1 deletion does not improve elastin aortopathy whereas the deletion of either Psen1 in SMCs or Psen2 globally attenuates Notch pathway and SMC proliferation, mitigating aortic disease. With SMC-specific Psen1 deletion in elastin nulls, these rescue effects are more robust and in fact, survival is increased. SMC deletion of Psen1 also attenuates hypermuscularization in newborns heterozygous for the elastin null gene, which genetically mimics SVAS. Similarly, the pharmacological inhibition of PSEN-1 mitigates SMC accumulation in elastin aortopathy. These findings put forth SMC PSEN-1 as a potential therapeutic target in SVAS., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Teens in rural communities are at greater risk of obesity than teens in urban areas. Diet and physical activity influence obesity risk. Understanding their perspectives is an important step in intervention design. This qualitative investigation explored teen perspectives on how living in a rural community influenced their diet and physical activity choices. Forty parent-teen pairs were recruited. Data collection included surveys and telephone interviews. This paper reports teen perspectives identified in the first interview. Thematic analysis was used to code and analyze the data. Findings revealed that the primary factor driving teens' diet and physical activity behaviors was the teens themselves. They clearly understood their role in the choices they made, although they acknowledged not always making the healthiest choice. This belief was driven by their motivation to engage in healthy behaviors, which was influenced by the perceived benefits derived from making healthy choices and from the synergistic relationship between diet and physical activity. Diet and physical activity, in turn, were influenced by the environment, particularly the home, social, and community environments. Family and friends were particularly influential, as well as resource availability. These findings can serve as a foundation for designing interventions tailored to this population.

Consuming an unhealthy diet increases health risks. This study assessed the impact of a culturally adapted behaviorally innovative obesity prevention intervention ( The Butterfly Girls and the Quest for Founder's Rock ) on diet quality in pre-adolescent non-Hispanic Black/African American girls. The RCT consisted of three groups (experimental, comparison, and waitlist control); block randomization allocated participants to each group. The two treatment groups varied in terms of whether or not they set goals. Data were collected at baseline (prior to receiving the intervention), post 1 (3 months post-baseline), and post 2 (6 months post-baseline). Two dietitian-assisted 24 h dietary recalls were collected at each timepoint. Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) was used to determine diet quality. A total of 361 families were recruited; 342 completed baseline data collection. No significant differences in overall HEI score or component scores were observed. To attain more equitable health outcomes, future efforts to promote dietary intake change among at-risk children should explore other behavior change procedures and employ more child-friendly dietary assessment methods.

The objective of the present study was to examine associations between variables of COVID-19-related concerns and changes in fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption among a sample of participants from the Brighter Bites program at risk for food insecurity. Cross-sectional data were collected during April-June 2020 using a rapid-response survey to understand social needs, COVID-19-related concerns and diet-related behaviours among families with children participating in Brighter Bites ( n 1777) in the 2019-2020 school year at risk for food insecurity, within the surrounding Houston, Dallas, Austin, Texas area; Southwest Florida; Washington, D.C., United States. Of the 1777 respondents, 92 % of households reported being at risk for food insecurity. Among those from food insecure households, the majority were of Hispanic/Mexican-American/Latino (84⋅1 %) ethnic background, predominantly from Houston, Texas (71⋅4 %). During the pandemic, among individuals from food insecure households, 41 % ( n 672) reported a decrease in FV intake, 32 % ( n 527) reported an increase in FV intake, and 27 % ( n 439) reported no change in FV intake. Those who reported concerns about financial stability had a 40 % greater risk of decreased FV intake compared to those not concerned about financial stability (RR 1⋅4; 95 % CI 1⋅0, 2⋅0; P = 0⋅03). The present study adds to this current body of sparse literature on how the initial phase of the pandemic impacted FV consumption behaviours among food insecure households with children. Effective interventions are needed to diminish the negative impact of COVID-19 on the population's health., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), increased blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries, is a morbid and lethal disease. PH is classified into several groups based on etiology, but pathological remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature is a common feature. Endothelial cell dysfunction and excess smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration are central to the vascular pathogenesis. In addition, other cell types, including fibroblasts, pericytes, inflammatory cells and platelets contribute as well. Herein, we briefly note most of the main cell types active in PH and for each cell type, highlight select signaling pathway(s) highly implicated in that cell type in this disease. Among others, the role of hypoxia-inducible factors, growth factors (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factor-β and bone morphogenetic protein), vasoactive molecules, NOTCH3, Kruppel-like factor 4 and forkhead box proteins are discussed. Additionally, deregulated processes of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix remodeling and intercellular crosstalk are noted. This brief review touches upon select critical facets of PH pathobiology and aims to incite further investigation that will result in discoveries with much-needed clinical impact for this devastating disease., (Copyright © 2022 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Racial/ethnic and socioeconomic differences were shown to have an influence on child fruit and vegetable intake. This study examined the associations between parent and child fruit and vegetable intake and the home nutrition environment among Hispanic/Latino and African American families. Through a cross-sectional study design, self-reported surveys ( n = 6074) were obtained from adult-child dyad participants enrolled in Brighter Bites, an evidence-based health promotion program, in the fall of 2018. For every once/day increase in frequency of parent FV intake, there was an increase in child FV intake by 0.701 times/day (CI: 0.650, 0.751, p < 0.001) and 0.916 times/day (CI: 0.762, 1.07; p < 0.001) among Hispanic/Latinos and African Americans, respectively. In Hispanic/Latino participants, significant positive associations were found between fruits as well as vegetables served at mealtimes ≥3 times/week ( p < 0.001), family mealtimes 7 times/week ( p = 0.018), parent-child communication about healthy eating and nutrition at least sometimes during the past 6 months ( p < 0.05), and frequency of child FV intake, after adjusting for covariates. In African American participants, a significant positive association was found in fruits served at mealtimes ≥1 times/week ( p < 0.05), and vegetables served at mealtimes ≥5 times/week ( p < 0.05). Meals cooked from scratch a few times a day/all the time were significantly positively associated with frequency of child FV intake for both Hispanic/Latino ( p = 0.017) and African American ( p = 0.007) groups. The relationship between home nutrition environment and child FV intake varied by race and ethnicity. Future programs should consider designing culturally tailored interventions to address racial/ethnic-specific influences that match the child's race, culture, and ethnicity.

Aging is the predominant risk factor for atherosclerosis, the leading cause of death. Rare smooth muscle cell (SMC) progenitors clonally expand giving rise to up to ~70% of atherosclerotic plaque cells; however, the effect of age on SMC clonality is not known. Our results indicate that aged bone marrow (BM)-derived cells non-cell autonomously induce SMC polyclonality and worsen atherosclerosis. Indeed, in myeloid cells from aged mice and humans, TET2 levels are reduced which epigenetically silences integrin β3 resulting in increased tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α signaling. TNFα signals through TNF receptor 1 on SMCs to promote proliferation and induces recruitment and expansion of multiple SMC progenitors into the atherosclerotic plaque. Notably, integrin β3 overexpression in aged BM preserves dominance of the lineage of a single SMC progenitor and attenuates plaque burden. Our results demonstrate a molecular mechanism of aged macrophage-induced SMC polyclonality and atherogenesis and suggest novel therapeutic strategies., Competing Interests: Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests.

Low-income children and families do not meet the recommendations for fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. This study aimed to assess the association between FV shopping behavior and child FV intake through a cross-sectional study design analyzing self-reported surveys (n = 6074) from adult-child dyads of Hispanic/Latino and African American participants enrolled in the Brighter Bites co-op program. Through quantitative mixed effects linear regression models, accounting for school-level clustering and adjusting for covariates, child FV intake was positively associated with shopping for FV at large chain grocery stores (p < 0.001), natural/organic supermarkets (p < 0.001), warehouse club stores (p = 0.002), discount superstores (p < 0.001), small local stores/corner stores (p = 0.038), convenience stores (p = 0.022), ethnic markets (p = 0.002), farmers’ markets/co-op/school farm stands (p < 0.001), and gardens (p = 0.009) among Hispanic/Latinos participants. Among African American participants, there was significant positive association between child FV intake and shopping for FV at natural/organic supermarkets (p < 0.001), discount superstores (p = 0.005), and convenience stores (p = 0.031). The relationship between location and frequency of shopping for FV and child FV intake varied between races. Further research is needed to better understand the influence of cultural and physical environmental factors. Nutrition education programs are vital to encouraging families to make healthier food choices and purchases to improve child FV consumption.

Objective: To determine the impact of a new food scholarship program on nutrient intake and dietary quality. Participants: College students ( n  = 49), female (78%), single (76%), average age 28 years, and white (49%). Methods: Fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat products and nonperishable foods were distributed twice a month. A one-group pretest post-test intervention compared baseline and 10 weeks data. Food security was measured and three-day food records assessed nutrient intake, Health Eating Index (HEI)-2015 (total and component) scores, and food group servings. Paired t-test at baseline and 10 weeks were performed (SPSS v25) ( p  < 0.05). Results: Prevalence of food insecurity did not change (baseline 53%, 10 weeks 47%). Protein, ( p  = 0.001), niacin ( p  = 0.002), magnesium ( p  = 0.034), phosphorous ( p  = 0.039), potassium ( p  = 0.019), and vegetable servings ( p  = 0.034) intake increased. Total HEI-2015 scores remained unchanged but HEI-2015 vegetable scores increased ( p  = 0.023). Conclusion: Increased intake of some nutrients and vegetable servings were achieved with the food scholarship program.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a nutrition intervention on food insecurity among low-income households with children. Data were collected from 371 parent−child dyads in a quasi-experimental evaluation study of a 1-year intervention (n = 6 intervention schools receiving Brighter Bites, n = 6 wait-list control schools), and longitudinal follow-up of the intervention group 2 years post-intervention in Houston, Texas. Data were collected at three timepoints: at baseline and 1 year for all participants, and at 2 year follow-up for the intervention group (the wait-list control group received the intervention during that time). At baseline, most parents reported food insecurity (60.6%; 70% intervention group, 53.6% control). Food insecurity decreased significantly from 81.3% to 61.7% [(−0.32, −0.07) p = 0.002] among intervention participants immediately post-intervention. After adjusting for ethnicity, 2 years post-intervention the predicted percentage of participants reporting food insecurity decreased significantly by roughly 35.4% from 76.4% at baseline to 41.0% [(−0.49, −0.22), p < 0.001]. Between-group changes were not significant. The re-sults of this study demonstrated a significant positive impact of Brighter Bites on food security in the short and long-term among low-income households with children, albeit results should be in-terpreted with caution.

Through the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, USDA (US Department of Agriculture) made the first major changes in the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) meal and snack menu patterns. Childcare centers that serve low-income families qualify to participate and receive reimbursement for meals and snacks served. The purpose of this study was to assess what changes in children's dietary behaviors occurred as a result of the new CACFP meal pattern requirements. This study evaluated these changes at childcare centers operating in Houston and San Antonio, Texas, USA, areas enrolled in the CACFP, pre- (Spring 2016) and post-implementation (Fall 2016-Spring 2017) of the new meal patterns. Dietary intake was assessed via observations of children, 3-5 years old, conducted at breakfast, lunch, and snack times. Results showed improvements in adjusted means of several nutrients and food groups consumption, post-implementation of new CACFP meal guidelines compared to baseline, specifically intake of whole grains, milk, and juice. Additional studies are needed to confirm the impact of the revised CACFP meal patterns along with strategies to assist providers in meeting the new standards to increase the access to and intake of items in accordance with the CACFP meal pattern requirements in childcare settings.

Background: Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic switching contributes to cardiovascular diseases. Epigenetic regulation is emerging as a key regulatory mechanism, with the methylcytosine dioxygenase TET2 acting as a master regulator of smooth muscle cell phenotype. The histone acetyl-transferases p300 and CREB-binding protein (CBP) are highly homologous and often considered to be interchangeable, and their roles in smooth muscle cell phenotypic regulation are not known., Methods: We assessed the roles of p300 and CBP in human VSMC with knockdown, in inducible smooth muscle-specific knockout mice (inducible knockout [iKO]; p300 iKO or CBP iKO ), and in samples of human intimal hyperplasia., Results: P300, CBP, and histone acetylation were differently regulated in VSMCs undergoing phenotypic switching and in vessel remodeling after vascular injury. Medial p300 expression and activity were repressed by injury, but CBP and histone acetylation were induced in neointima. Knockdown experiments revealed opposing effects of p300 and CBP in the VSMC phenotype: p300 promoted contractile protein expression and inhibited migration, but CBP inhibited contractile genes and enhanced migration. p300 iKO mice exhibited severe intimal hyperplasia after arterial injury compared with controls, whereas CBP iKO mice were entirely protected. In normal aorta, p300 iKO reduced, but CBP iKO enhanced, contractile protein expression and contractility compared with controls. Mechanistically, we found that these histone acetyl-transferases oppositely regulate histone acetylation, DNA hydroxymethylation, and PolII (RNA polymerase II) binding to promoters of differentiation-specific contractile genes. Our data indicate that p300 and TET2 function together, because p300 was required for TET2-dependent hydroxymethylation of contractile promoters, and TET2 was required for p300-dependent acetylation of these loci. TET2 coimmunoprecipitated with p300, and this interaction was enhanced by rapamycin but repressed by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) treatment, with p300 promoting TET2 protein stability. CBP did not associate with TET2, but instead facilitated recruitment of histone deacetylases (HDAC2, HDAC5) to contractile protein promoters. Furthermore, CBP inhibited TET2 mRNA levels. Immunostaining of cardiac allograft vasculopathy samples revealed that p300 expression is repressed but CBP is induced in human intimal hyperplasia., Conclusions: This work reveals that p300 and CBP serve nonredundant and opposing functions in VSMC phenotypic switching and coordinately regulate chromatin modifications through distinct functional interactions with TET2 or HDACs. Targeting specific histone acetyl-transferases may hold therapeutic promise for cardiovascular diseases.

Background: A risk assessment tool has been developed for automated estimation of level of neuropathy based on the clinical characteristics of patients. The smart tool is based on risk factors for diabetic neuropathy, which utilizes vibration perception threshold (VPT) and a set of clinical variables as potential predictors., Methods: Significant risk factors included age, height, weight, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, and duration of diabetes. The continuous-scale VPT was recorded using a neurothesiometer and classified into three categories based on the clinical thresholds in volts (V): low risk (0-20.99 V), medium risk (21-30.99 V), and high risk (≥31 V)., Results: The initial study had shown that by just using patient data ( n = 5088) an accuracy of 54% was achievable. Having established the effectiveness of the "classical" method, a special Neural Network based on a Proportional Odds Model was developed, which provided the highest level of prediction accuracy (>70%) using the simulated patient data ( n = 4158)., Conclusion: In the absence of any assessment devices or trained personnel, it is possible to establish with reasonable accuracy a diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy by means of the clinical parameters of the patient alone.

Obstructive arterial diseases, including supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS), atherosclerosis, and restenosis, share 2 important features: an abnormal or disrupted elastic lamellae structure and excessive smooth muscle cells (SMCs). However, the relationship between these pathological features is poorly delineated. SVAS is caused by heterozygous loss-of-function, hypomorphic, or deletion mutations in the elastin gene (ELN), and SVAS patients and elastin-mutant mice display increased arterial wall cellularity and luminal obstructions. Pharmacological treatments for SVAS are lacking, as the underlying pathobiology is inadequately defined. Herein, using human aortic vascular cells, mouse models, and aortic samples and SMCs derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of ELN-deficient patients, we demonstrated that elastin insufficiency induced epigenetic changes, upregulating the NOTCH pathway in SMCs. Specifically, reduced elastin increased levels of γ-secretase, activated NOTCH3 intracellular domain, and downstream genes. Notch3 deletion or pharmacological inhibition of γ-secretase attenuated aortic hypermuscularization and stenosis in Eln-/- mutants. Eln-/- mice expressed higher levels of NOTCH ligand JAGGED1 (JAG1) in aortic SMCs and endothelial cells (ECs). Finally, Jag1 deletion in SMCs, but not ECs, mitigated the hypermuscular and stenotic phenotype in the aorta of Eln-/- mice. Our findings reveal that NOTCH3 pathway upregulation induced pathological aortic SMC accumulation during elastin insufficiency and provide potential therapeutic targets for SVAS.

Gender difference in the lunches brought from home to school and the amount consumed by elementary and intermediate school students were examined using data collected from 12 schools in Texas. The amount and nutritional quality of food items brought and consumed was evaluated, by comparing the results to the 2012 school meal standards, and Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Almost all lunches brought from home contained grain and meat/meat alternatives, and the amount brought and consumed exceeded the NSLP standards. The majority of students did not bring fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods, but those who brought consumed most of what they brought. Among elementary school students, only 9% of boys and 14% of girls brought vegetables and the amount brought and consumed did not meet the standards. Although carbohydrate and protein consumption were adequate for boys and girls, the intakes of micronutrients and fiber did not meet the requirements across both genders at both school levels. Overall, lunches brought from home were not well balanced and did not meet NSLP standards and DRIs. It is imperative to identify strategies to improve the nutritional quality of lunches brought from home considering gender difference in food choice and educating parents and children on what is a healthy well-balanced lunch.

This study aimed to identify changes in food distribution operations at emergency food assistance organizations (EFAOs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. EFAOs across the Houston metro area, TX (human service centers and food pantries) as well as the Houston Food Bank (HFB) participated in the qualitative study. Data were collected via individual semi-structured interviews and focus group (December 2020-February 2021), and coded using semi-structured thematic analysis. Categories were pre-identified based on the interview questions. Direct quotes supported subcategories. Directors from 18 EFAOs were interviewed; 8 HFB leadership staff participated in a focus group. Four major categories of change due to COVID-19 included new safety measures, changes in food distribution process, changes in volunteerism and staffing, and changes in amounts of food distributed. This study helps identify susceptibilities in EFAOs' food distribution chain should be addressed to manage future emergency food insecurity crises more effectively. An understanding of the changes/challenges incurred by EFAOs during the COVID-19 pandemic can inform policymakers to ensure local food distribution organizations are prepared to fill the needs during future a crisis of food insecurity.

Minority children living in under-resourced communities are at the greatest risk for obesity and poor diet quality. Child involvement in meal preparation may be a helpful strategy to improve diet quality. This paper explores minority children's perspectives regarding this. Eighteen children participated in a mixed methods study (online surveys, telephone interviews). Descriptive statistics were calculated for child demographic and psychosocial factors. Thematic analysis was used to code and analyze the interviews. Most children reported having cooking experience (83%) and cooking with family (94%) and exhibited high cooking self-efficacy (21.8 ± 2.9) and positive cooking attitudes (25.7 ± 4.4). Children reported helping with meal preparation (50%) and grocery shopping (41%) sometimes. The qualitative data further supported the results obtained from the children's psychosocial factors. Most children noted the importance of learning to cook with an emphasis on life skills. Children also shared their level of involvement in cooking and grocery shopping. Most children reported using technology when cooking to find demonstration videos and recipes. These findings highlight that minority children participate in meal preparation and grocery shopping. Their perspectives are important for the development of nutrition education programs to achieve equitable dietary outcomes in minority families living in under-resourced communities.

Nutrition assistance programs such as school meals and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are designed to provide a safety net for the dietary intake of children from low-income families. However, compared with eligible non-participants, the relationship of diet quality with school meals only and school meals + SNAP is not well understood. The objectives of the study include: (1) To explore whether and to what extent nutrition assistance program participation (school meals only and school meals + SNAP) is related to diet quality; and (2) to examine the differences of diet quality between participating in school meals only, school meals + SNAP, or non-participation among American children. Children aged 5 to 18 years old from income eligible households who participated in the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in this cross-sectional study ( n = 1425). Diet quality was measured using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015 and its 13 subcomponents. A Rao-Scott Chi-square test, propensity scores approach, and Analysis of Covariance were performed. Covariates included age, sex, race/ethnicity, weight status, and family monthly poverty index. SAS survey procedures were used to incorporate the appropriate sample design weights. Participation in school meals + SNAP was not associated with higher diet quality compared to eligible non-participants or school meals-only participants. Participation in school meals + SNAP improved the intake of total dairy, but not added sugars or total vegetables compared to school meals only. Overall, school meal + SNAP participation did not significantly improve the overall diet quality of children in low-income households relative to comparable non-participants.

This scoping review examined intervention and sample characteristics of family-based obesity prevention interventions among Hispanic youth. This review also examined the degree to which existing interventions were culturally-adapted, acknowledged social determinants of health (SDoH), and collaborated with community stakeholders. A comprehensive search across Medline Ovid, Embase, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Pubmed was used to identify 13 studies primarily based in the U.S. (92.3%). Data was extracted by two independent reviewers. Most used a randomized control trial design (69.2%), a behavior change theory (84.6%), and reported moderate to high (≥70%) retention (69.2%). Studies targeted improvements in physical activity (69.2%) and fruit and vegetable intake (92.3%) through nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and tastings. Younger children from low socioeconomic backgrounds (61.5%) were well represented. Most interventions were culturally-adapted (69.2%), all studies reported collaboration with stakeholders, yet only half used strategies that acknowledged SDoH (46.2%). To increase our understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which family-based approaches can reach and engage Hispanic youth and families, future studies should rigorously evaluate theoretical constructs, family processes, and SDoH that influence program participation and health behaviors. This information will guide the design and development of future interventions aimed at reducing obesity disparities among Hispanic youth.

Objective: The phenotypic plasticity of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is central to vessel growth and remodeling, but also contributes to cardiovascular pathologies. New technologies including fate mapping, single cell transcriptomics, and genetic and pharmacologic inhibitors have provided fundamental new insights into the biology of VSMC. The goal of this review is to summarize the mechanisms underlying VSMC phenotypic modulation and how these might be targeted for therapeutic benefit., Methods: We summarize findings from extensive literature searches to highlight recent discoveries in the mechanisms underlying VSMC phenotypic switching with particular relevance to intimal hyperplasia. PubMed was searched for publications between January 2001 and December 2020. Search terms included VSMCs, restenosis, intimal hyperplasia, phenotypic switching or modulation, and drug-eluting stents. We sought to highlight druggable pathways as well as recent landmark studies in phenotypic modulation., Results: Lineage tracing methods have determined that a small number of mature VSMCs dedifferentiate to give rise to oligoclonal lesions in intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis. In atherosclerosis and aneurysm, single cell transcriptomics reveal a striking diversity of phenotypes that can arise from these VSMCs. Mechanistic studies continue to identify new pathways that influence VSMC phenotypic plasticity. We review the mechanisms by which the current drug-eluting stent agents prevent restenosis and note remaining challenges in peripheral and diabetic revascularization for which new approaches would be beneficial. We summarize findings on new epigenetic (DNA methylation/TET methylcytosine dioxygenase 2, histone deacetylation, bromodomain proteins), transcriptional (Hippo/Yes-associated protein, peroxisome proliferator-activity receptor-gamma, Notch), and β3-integrin-mediated mechanisms that influence VSMC phenotypic modulation. Pharmacologic and genetic targeting of these pathways with agents including ascorbic acid, histone deacetylase or bromodomain inhibitors, thiazolidinediones, and integrin inhibitors suggests potential therapeutic value in the setting of intimal hyperplasia., Conclusions: Understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlie the remarkable plasticity of VSMCs may lead to novel approaches to treat and prevent cardiovascular disease and restenosis., (© 2021 by the Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Excess macrophages and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) characterize many cardiovascular diseases, but crosstalk between these cell types is poorly defined. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a lethal disease in which lung arteriole SMCs proliferate and migrate, coating the normally unmuscularized distal arteriole. We hypothesized that increased macrophage platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) induces pathological SMC burden in PH. Our results indicate that clodronate attenuates hypoxia-induced macrophage accumulation, distal muscularization, PH, and right ventricle hypertrophy (RVH). With hypoxia exposure, macrophage Pdgfb mRNA was upregulated in mice, and LysM‑Cre mice carrying floxed alleles for hypoxia-inducible factor 1a, hypoxia-inducible factor 2a, or Pdgfb had reduced macrophage Pdgfb and were protected against distal muscularization and PH. Conversely, LysM‑Cre von-Hippel Lindaufl/fl mice had increased macrophage Hifa and Pdgfb and developed distal muscularization, PH, and RVH in normoxia. Similarly, Pdgfb was upregulated in macrophages from human idiopathic or systemic sclerosis-induced pulmonary arterial hypertension patients, and macrophage-conditioned medium from these patients increased SMC proliferation and migration via PDGF-B. Finally, in mice, orotracheal administration of nanoparticles loaded with Pdgfb siRNA specifically reduced lung macrophage Pdgfb and prevented hypoxia-induced distal muscularization, PH, and RVH. Thus, macrophage-derived PDGF-B is critical for pathological SMC expansion in PH, and nanoparticle-mediated inhibition of lung macrophage PDGF-B has profound implications as an interventional strategy for PH.

Families living in under-resourced communities are at risk of obesity and obesity-related chronic diseases. To develop effective interventions, it is important to identify parent and child perspectives of factors that influence food-related choices and decisions. This paper reports qualitative findings from a larger mixed method study investigating this topic. Hybrid thematic analysis was used to code and analyze the interviews. Family-generated photographs of factors influencing food choices were discussed during the interviews. Qualitative findings were organized by the socio-ecological model. Verbatim quotes and photographs were used to support themes. Thirty-six interviews were conducted (18 parents, 18 children). Findings from parents revealed personal (e.g., culture, beliefs, time), family (e.g., mother, child, father, health, finances, cohesiveness), environmental (e.g., availability, convenience, cost), and other (e.g., school food) factors influenced food choices. Similarly, child-reported influences were personal (e.g., preferences, beliefs, taste), family (e.g., mother, family encouragement, father, family time), social (e.g., school, friends), environmental (e.g., availability), and other (e.g., media, sports). The socio-ecological model provided a useful framework for identifying factors that influence food choices and decisions of families living in under-resourced communities. A deeper understanding of these factors could enhance both responsiveness and effectiveness of interventions to enhance diet and reduce obesity risk in families living in under-resourced communities.

Minority children and children living in under-resourced households are at the greatest risk for obesity and diet-related disparities. Identifying effective strategies to reduce these risks is an important step in child obesity prevention. Parents influence the home environment and play a critical role in child obesity prevention. Eighteen parent-child dyads living in under-resourced Houston area communities participated in a mixed methods study (online surveys, telephone interviews). The purpose of the research reported here was to conduct a secondary analysis of the qualitative data to explore Black/African American and Hispanic parent and child perspectives of the ways in which parents could help their children make healthy food choices. Descriptive statistics were calculated for parent and child demographic characteristics; hybrid thematic analysis was used to code and analyze the interview transcripts. Frequencies were calculated for children's interview responses to rating scales and the grade they gave their eating habits. Mothers' responses were grouped into two broad categories: facilitators (modeling, availability, and teaching) as ways parents could help their child eat healthy, and barriers (lack of time, cost of healthy foods, and lack of knowledge) to helping their child eat healthy. Alternatively, child responses focused on ways in which parents could provide support: environmental support (home availability, home cooking, and introducing new foods) and personal support (providing child choice, teaching, and encouragement). Most children reported that eating healthy was easy, and most rated their personal eating habits as an A or B. These findings suggest that understanding the perspectives of Black/African American and Hispanic parent-child dyads can provide insight into the development of culturally and economically relevant healthy eating strategies and interventions for families living in under-resourced communities.

Child obesity in the United States is at an all-time high, particularly among underserved populations. Home-cooked meals are associated with lower rates of obesity. Helping children develop culinary skills has been associated with improved nutrition. The purpose of this study is to report results from a scoping review of culinary education interventions with children from low-income families. Three databases and hand searches of relevant articles were examined. Retained articles met inclusionary criteria. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed, as appropriate. A data extraction template was developed. Data were independently extracted and verified. Only nine out of 370 articles met the inclusionary criteria and were included in the review. Most interventions were school-based, used a quasi-experimental design, and recruited minority children. Children-only was the primary intervention focus. Primary outcomes were mostly psychosocial from child self-report. Most interventions focused on children only and were guided by Social Cognitive Theory. Most reported stakeholder involvement; however, type and degree varied. All had an in-person component; only one used technology. Few reported training program leaders. Culinary education programs for children from low-income families could benefit from a broader theoretical grounding, program leader training, and greater parental involvement.

Objective: To assess the agreement of posted menus with foods served to 3- to 5-year-old children attending federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)-enrolled facilities, and the degree to which the facilities met the new meal patterns and best practices., Design: On-site observations and menu coding., Participants/setting: Nine early care and education centers., Main Outcome Measures: Agreement of posted menus with foods served, and comparison of foods served and consumed with the new CACFP meal guidelines and best practices., Analysis: Data were compiled for each meal (breakfast, lunch, and snacks). Frequencies and percentages of agreement with the posted menu (coded matches, substitutions, additions, and omissions) were calculated for each food component in the CACFP menu guidelines. Menu total match was created by summing the menu match plus acceptable substitutions. Menus were compared with the new CACFP meal guidelines and best practices., Results: The match between the posted menus and foods actually served to children at breakfast, lunch, and snack was high when the acceptable menu substitutions were considered (approximately 94% to 100% total match). Comparing the menus with the new meal guidelines and best practices, the 1 guideline that was fully implemented was serving only unflavored, low-fat, or 1% milk; fruit and vegetable guidelines were partially met; fruit juice was not served often, nor were legumes; the guideline for 1 whole grain-rich serving/d was not met; and regular beef and full-fat cheese products were commonly served., Conclusions and Implications: Early care and education centers enrolled in CACFP provided meals that met the current CACFP guidelines. Some menu improvements are needed for the centers to meet the new guidelines and best practices., (Copyright © 2018 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

School environments influence student food choices. À la carte foods and beverages are often low nutrient and energy dense. This study assessed how much money students spent for these foods, and the total kilocalories purchased per student during the 2012-2013 school year. Six elementary and four intermediate schools in the Houston area provided daily food purchase transaction data, and the cost and the calories for each item. Chi-square analysis assessed differences in the number of students purchasing à la carte items by grade level and school free/reduced-price meal (FRP) eligibility. Analysis of covariance assessed grade level differences in cost and calories of weekly purchases, controlling for FRP eligibility. Intermediate grade students spent significantly more on à la carte food purchases and purchased more calories (both p < 0.001) than elementary school students. Lower socioeconomic status (SES) elementary and intermediate school students purchased fewer à la carte foods compared to those in higher SES schools (p < 0.001). Intermediate school students purchased more à la carte foods and calories from à la carte foods than elementary students. Whether the new competitive food rules in schools improve student food selection and purchase, and dietary intake habits across all grade levels remains unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the Kids Café Program (KCP) nutrition education and assess its impact on children's diet quality and body mass index (BMI) percentile., Design: An experimental design consisting of pretest-posttest comparison groups using mixed methods to evaluate a 6-session nutrition education intervention., Setting: Four Boys and Girls Club sites PARTICIPANTS: A total of 120 9- to 12-year-old children in the KCP (60 intervention and 60 comparison); 89% completed posttest evaluations., Intervention: Trained KCP site staff taught the nutrition education curriculum at intervention sites., Main Outcome Measures: Healthy Eating Index-2010 using 24-hour dietary recall data (primary) and BMI percentile (secondary) ANALYSIS: Repeated-measures mixed-effects modeling RESULTS: Mean age of children was 10.2 years; mean BMI percentile was about 79; 95% were from food-insecure households. The total Healthy Eating Index-2010 score for both groups at baseline and posttest ranged from 50 to 60. At posttest, compared with baseline scores, children from both groups scored significantly lower for total vegetables, and greens and beans; the intervention group children had significantly higher sodium scores. Process evaluation indicated that 60-minute lecture-based sessions were too long after children were in school all day., Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that the KCP nutrition education curriculum needs improvement. Further research based on behavioral constructs is needed to refine the curriculum to encourage healthier food choices among children and using the MyPlate and the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans., (Copyright © 2017 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior. All rights reserved.)

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006321.].

The term angiogenesis arose in the 18th century. Several studies over the next 100 years laid the groundwork for initial studies performed by the Folkman laboratory, which were at first met with some opposition. Once overcome, the angiogenesis field has flourished due to studies on tumor angiogenesis and various developmental models that can be genetically manipulated, including mice and zebrafish. In addition, new discoveries have been aided by the ability to isolate primary endothelial cells, which has allowed dissection of various steps within angiogenesis. This review will summarize the molecular events that control angiogenesis downstream of biochemical factors such as growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), and lipids. These and other stimuli have been linked to regulation of junctional molecules and cell surface receptors. In addition, the contribution of cytoskeletal elements and regulatory proteins has revealed an intricate role for mobilization of actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments in response to cues that activate the endothelium. Activating stimuli also affect various focal adhesion proteins, scaffold proteins, intracellular kinases, and second messengers. Finally, metalloproteinases, which facilitate matrix degradation and the formation of new blood vessels, are discussed, along with our knowledge of crosstalk between the various subclasses of these molecules throughout the text. Compr Physiol 8:153-235, 2018., (Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.)

The focus of this article is the development of a nutrition education intervention for food bank clients. Formative research using mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) and community-based participatory research principles was conducted to assess the nutrition education needs of clients obtaining service from the Houston Food Bank (HFB). Participants were HFB and pantry staff and clients. Interview data were coded and analyzed using grounded theory approach. Themes were then identified. Quantitative data were analyzed for frequencies and descriptives. Data were used to tailor the curriculum to the target population. Six HFB staff, 49 pantry staff from 17 pantries, and 54 clients from 10 pantries participated in interviews and focus groups and completed questionnaires. The participants provided opinion on the current nutrition education provided via the food bank and made suggestions on strategies for development of an intervention. Their feedback was used to develop the six-session intervention curriculum to be delivered over 6 months. This research provides evidence that it is critical for members of the target audience be included in formative research to develop behavior change programs that are relevant and appealing and target their needs and interests.

Objective: To explore perspectives on barriers of eating healthy among food pantry clients. Methods: Food pantry clients participated in focus groups/interviews. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed using content analyses and grounded theory approach. Themes were then identified. Quantitative data were analyzed for frequencies and descriptives. Results: Fifty-four clients from 10 pantries participated in interviews/focus groups and completed questionnaires. Two major themes emerged: concern over obesity and other chronic diseases, and barriers to healthy eating. Several subthemes for barriers to healthy eating were identified: financial uncertainty, cost of healthy foods, lack of time, rationing food within family, lack of transportation, lack of adequate kitchen equipment, lack of nutrition knowledge and skills, and social support network. Conclusions: Issues identified above and those identified by others working with low-income populations need to be systematically addressed and incorporated into programs and nutrition education interventions for this group., Competing Interests: No competing financial interests exist.

The vessel wall is composed of distinct cellular layers, yet communication among individual cells within and between layers results in a dynamic and versatile structure. The morphogenesis of the normal vascular wall involves a highly regulated process of cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. The use of modern developmental biological and genetic approaches has markedly enriched our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these developmental events. Additionally, the application of similar approaches to study diverse vascular diseases has resulted in paradigm-shifting insights into pathogenesis. Further investigations into the biology of vascular cells in development and disease promise to have major ramifications on therapeutic strategies to combat pathologies of the vasculature., (© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The active sites of multisubunit RNA polymerases have a "trigger loop" (TL) that multitasks in substrate selection, catalysis, and translocation. To dissect the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA polymerase II TL at individual-residue resolution, we quantitatively phenotyped nearly all TL single variants en masse. Three mutant classes, revealed by phenotypes linked to transcription defects or various stresses, have distinct distributions among TL residues. We find that mutations disrupting an intra-TL hydrophobic pocket, proposed to provide a mechanism for substrate-triggered TL folding through destabilization of a catalytically inactive TL state, confer phenotypes consistent with pocket disruption and increased catalysis. Furthermore, allele-specific genetic interactions among TL and TL-proximal domain residues support the contribution of the funnel and bridge helices (BH) to TL dynamics. Our structural genetics approach incorporates structural and phenotypic data for high-resolution dissection of transcription mechanisms and their evolution, and is readily applicable to other essential yeast proteins., Competing Interests: Authors JVdB and RS are employed by MorphoSys AG, which currently holds rights to the Slonomics DNA synthesis technology utilized in the manuscript.

During angiogenesis, endothelial cells must coordinate matrix proteolysis with migration. Here, we tested whether the focal adhesion scaffold protein Hic-5 (also known as TGFB1I1) regulated endothelial sprouting in three dimensions. Hic-5 silencing reduced endothelial sprouting and lumen formation, and sprouting defects were rescued by the return of Hic-5 expression. Pro-angiogenic factors enhanced colocalization and complex formation between membrane type-1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, also known as MMP14) and Hic-5, but not between paxillin and MT1-MMP. The LIM2 and LIM3 domains of Hic-5 were necessary and sufficient for Hic-5 to form a complex with MT1-MMP. The degree of interaction between MT1-MMP and Hic-5 and the localization of the complex within detergent-resistant membrane fractions were enhanced during endothelial sprouting, and Hic-5 depletion lowered the surface levels of MT1-MMP. In addition, we observed that loss of Hic-5 partially reduced complex formation between MT1-MMP and focal adhesion kinase (FAK, also known as PTK2), suggesting that Hic-5 bridges MT1-MMP and FAK. Finally, Hic-5 LIM2-LIM3 deletion mutants reduced sprout initiation. Hic-5, MT1-MMP and FAK colocalized in angiogenic vessels during porcine pregnancy, supporting that this complex assembles during angiogenesis in vivo. Collectively, Hic-5 appears to enhance complex formation between MT1-MMP and FAK in activated endothelial cells, which likely coordinates matrix proteolysis and cell motility., (© 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)