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Associations of total testosterone (T) and calculated free T with cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain poorly understood. Particularly how these associations vary according to race and ethnicity in a nationally representative sample of men. Data included 7058 men (≥20 years) from NHANES. CVD was defined as any reported diagnosis of heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease (CAD), myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. Total T (ng/mL) was obtained among males who participated in the morning examination. Weighted multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models were conducted. We found associations of low T (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.17-2.11), low calculated free T (OR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.10-2.17), total T (Q1 vs Q5), and calculated free T (Q1 vs Q5) with CVD after adjusting for estradiol and SHBG. In disease specific analysis, low T increased prevalence of MI (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.08-2.75) and HF (OR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.08-2.82), but a continuous increment of total T reduced the prevalence of CAD. Similar inverse associations were identified among White and Mexican Americans, but not Blacks (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.49-1.76). Low levels of T and calculated free T were associated with an increased prevalence of overall CVD and among White and Mexican Americans. Associations remained in the same direction with specific CVD outcomes in the overall population.

Murine typhus is an acute febrile illness caused by fleaborne Rickettsia typhi bacteria (1). Associated with rats and their fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis) throughout much of the world, contemporary murine typhus [...]

Background: Blood metabolites have emerged as promising candidates in the search for biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD), as evidence shows that various metabolic derangements contribute to neurodegeneration in AD. Objective: We aim to identify metabolic biomarkers for AD diagnosis. Methods: We conducted an in-depth analysis of the serum metabolome of AD patients and age, sex-matched cognitively unimpaired older adults using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. The biomarkers associated with AD were identified using machine learning algorithms. Results: Using the discovery dataset and support vector machine (SVM) algorithm, we identified a panel of 14 metabolites predicting AD with a 1.00 area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC). The SVM model was tested against the verification dataset using an independent cohort and retained high predictive accuracy with a 0.97 AUC. Using the random forest (RF) algorithm, we identified a panel of 13 metabolites that predicted AD with a 0.96 AUC when tested against the verification dataset. Conclusions: These findings pave the way for an efficient, blood-based diagnostic test for AD, holding promise for clinical screenings and diagnostic procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The link between the pre‐diagnostic use of statins and testosterone replacement therapy and their impact on hormone‐related cancers, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and male breast cancer survival remains a topic of controversy. Further, there is a knowledge gap concerning the joint effects of statins and testosterone replacement therapy on hormone‐related cancer survival outcomes. Objective: To examine the independent and joint effects of pre‐diagnostic use of statins and testosterone replacement therapy on the risk of all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality among older men diagnosed with hormone‐related cancers, including prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and male breast cancer. Methods: In 41,707 men (≥65 years) of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results‐Medicare 2007–2015, we identified 31,097 prostate cancer, 10,315 colorectal cancer, and 295 male breast cancer cases. Pre‐diagnostic prescription of statins and testosterone replacement therapy was ascertained and categorized into four groups (Neither users, statins alone, testosterone replacement therapy alone, and Dual users). Multivariable‐adjusted Cox proportional hazards and competing‐risks (Fine‐Gray subdistribution hazard) models were conducted. Results: No significant associations were found in Cox‐proportional hazard models for hormone‐related cancers. However, in the Fine‐Gray competing risk models among high‐grade hormone‐related cancers, statins alone had an 11% reduced risk of hormone‐related cancer‐specific death (hazard ratio: 0.89; 95% confidence interval: 0.81–0.99; p 0.0451). In the prostate cancer cohort with both statistical models, the use of testosterone replacement therapy alone had a 24% lower risk of all‐cause death (hazard ratio: 0.76; 95% confidence interval: 0.59–0.97; p 0.0325) and a 57% lower risk of prostate cancer‐specific death (hazard ratio: 0.43; 95% confidence interval: 0.24–0.75; p 0.0029). Similar inverse associations were found among aggressive prostate cancer cases with testosterone replacement therapy alone and statins alone. No significant associations were found in the colorectal cancer and male breast cancer sub‐groups. Conclusion: Pre‐diagnostic use of statins and testosterone replacement therapy showed a survival benefit with reduced mortality in high‐grade hormone‐related cancer patients (only statins) and aggressive prostate cancer patients in both statistical models. Findings of testosterone replacement therapy use in aggressive prostate cancer settings could facilitate clinical trials. Further studies with extended follow‐up periods are needed to substantiate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aimed to compare microbial and inflammatory profiles in periodontally/systemically healthy African American (AA) and Caucasian (C) individuals. Materials and Methods: Thirty‐seven C and 46 AA aged from 5 to 25 years were evaluated regarding periodontal disease, caries, microbial subgingival profile via 16‐s sequencing, as well as salivary and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) inflammatory profile via multiplex assay. Results: Greater probing depth percentage was detected in AA (p =.0075), while a higher percentage of caries index (p =.0069) and decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index (p =.0089) was observed in C, after adjusting for number of teeth, sex and age. Salivary levels of IL‐6, IL‐8 and TNFα were higher for C, whereas GCF levels of eotaxin, IL‐12p40, IL‐12p70, IL‐2 and MIP‐1α were higher in AA (p <.05). Different microbial profiles were observed between the races (p =.02). AA presented higher abundance of periodontopathogens (such as Tanerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Filifactor alocis, among others), and C presented more caries‐associated bacteria (such as Streptococcus mutans and Prevotella species). Bacillaceae and Lactobacillus species were associated with higher DMFT index, whereas Fusobacterium and Tanerella species with periodontal disease parameters. Conclusions: A different inflammatory and bacterial profile was observed between healthy AA and C, which may predispose these races to higher susceptibility to specific oral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association between testosterone concentrations and sleep duration is poorly understood. Objective: To evaluate the association between sleep duration and quality with serum testosterone concentrations and its variation by sex and age. Methods: Data were analyzed for 8748 men and women (≥20 years old) who participated in the cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2016, a cross‐sectional study. Total testosterone (ng/dL) was measured and categorized (low, moderate, and high) based on established cut‐offs for men and its tertile distribution among women. Sleep duration was classified as ≤6, 7–8, and ≥9 h. Sleep quality was classified as poor or good based on the frequency of trouble falling or staying asleep or sleeping too much. Weighted multivariable adjusted and multinomial logistic regression models were conducted to assess these associations. Results: The association between sleep duration and testosterone concentrations, varied according to sex and age. Sleep deprivation (≤6 h) was associated with high testosterone (odds ratio = 3.62; 95% confidence interval: 1.37, 9.53) among young men (20–40 years old); meanwhile, middle‐aged men (41–64 years old) who reported more sleep duration had low testosterone (odds ratio = 2.03; 95% confidence interval: 1.10, 3.73). A J‐shaped association between sleep duration and low testosterone (odds ratio≤6 h = 1.57; 95% confidence interval: 1.10, 2.27; odds ratio≥9 h = 2.06; 95% confidence interval: 1.18, 3.59) was observed in women aged 41–64 years. We did not find any association with sleep quality. Conclusion: The association of sleep duration with serum testosterone concentrations varies with sex and age group. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm these sex and age group differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prevalence of Grade C molar incisor periodontitis (C/MIP) in females (F) and males (M) is controversial, although some studies suggest higher prevalence in females. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in clinical parameters, and levels of cyto/chemokines in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and peripheral blood response.Methods: GCF and blood were collected from 79 C/MIP African-American participants (53F and 26 M) and healthy controls (58F and 38 M), aged 5 to 23. Blood was stimulated with ultrapure LPS from Escherichia coli (Ec) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and we quantified levels of 14 cyto/chemokines. Clinical parameters were collected before and 12 months following treatment RESULTS: No clinical parameters or age differences were found between males and females, although age was negatively correlated with response to treatment. GCF levels of TNFα, IFNγ, MIP1α, and MCP1 from diseased and sites and healthy sites IFNγ levels were higher in M (P < 0.05). C/MIP females presented higher Pg and Ec LPS induced levels of Eotaxin, IFNγ, and GMCSF (P < 0.05), whereas healthy males presented higher Ec LPS induced levels of Eotaxin and IFNγ (P < 0.05). Inflammatory profiles were also different among genders in disease (P = 0.004).Conclusions: Although males seemed to present few elevated inflammatory markers in the GCF in disease and in health, females presented an elevated systemic inflammatory response to LPS in disease, which indicates a possible differential susceptibility to inflammation. Future studies need to determine if sex hormones have a role in the peripheral host response and in the pathogenesis of C/MIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]