Whites have an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) compared to Blacks. The mechanism underlying this association is unknown. Left atrial (LA) size is an important AF risk factor, and studies in older adults suggest Whites have larger LA diameters. However, because AF itself causes LA dilation, LA size differences may be due to greater subclinical AF among older Whites. We therefore asses...

Population health research on racial discrimination is hampered by a paucity of psychometrically validated instruments that can be feasibly used in large-scale studies. We therefore sought to investigate the validity and reliability of a short self-report instrument, the "Experiences of Discrimination" (EOD) measure, based on a prior instrument used in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Yo...

OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to determine the presence and correlates of change (Delta) in left ventricular (LV) mass by echocardiography in young adults. BACKGROUND Left ventricular mass is known to be a powerful independent predictor for cardiovascular disease events in adults. However, little is known about Delta in LV mass over time in young adults. METHODS Coronary Artery Risk ...

BACKGROUND Fatigue is highly prevalent and causes serious disruption in quality of life. Although the underlying biological mechanism is unknown, increases in inflammation have been implicated. This prospective study examined the association between C-reactive protein (CRP), a biomarker of systemic inflammation, and fatigue 5 years later. METHODS The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young ...

The gut of most insects is lined with a peritrophic matrix that facilitates the digestive process and protects insects from invasion by micro-organisms and parasites. It is widely accepted that the matrix is composed of chitin, proteins and proteoglycans. Here we critically re-examine the chitin content of the typical type 2 peritrophic matrix from the larvae of the fly Lucilia cuprina using a ...

BACKGROUND Better understanding about gastric cancer incidence patterns among Hispanics by birthplace, socioeconomic status (SES), and acculturation can improve preventive strategies and disease models. METHODS Incidence rates, rate ratios, and estimated annual percent change (EAPC) in rates of anatomic and histologic subtype-specific gastric cancer were calculated by age, sex, and nativity a...

CONTEXT Marijuana smoke contains many of the same constituents as tobacco smoke, but whether it has similar adverse effects on pulmonary function is unclear. OBJECTIVE To analyze associations between marijuana (both current and lifetime exposure) and pulmonary function. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a longitudinal stud...

The International Diabetes Federation estimates that approximately 0.4% of the Belgian population is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus, which is similar to other industrialized countries. The prevalence of transgenderism is estimated at 0.6% to 0.7% of all adults in Western populations. In this study, we evaluated whether there was an increased prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in tr...