BACKGROUND: Fusarium head blight (FHB), caused by Fusarium graminearum, is a major disease of wheat in North America. FHB infection causes fusarium damaged kernels (FDKs), accumulation of deoxynivalenol (DON) in the grain, and a reduction in quality and grain yield. Inheritance of FHB resistance is complex and involves multiple genes. The objective of this research was to identify QTL associated with native FHB and DON resistance in a \'D8006W\'/\'Superior\', soft white winter wheat population.
RESULTS: Phenotyping was conducted in replicated FHB field disease nurseries across multiple environments and included assessments of morphological and FHB related traits. Parental lines had moderate FHB resistance, however, the population showed transgressive segregation. A 1913.2 cM linkage map for the population was developed with SNP markers from the wheat 90 K Infinium iSelect SNP array. QTL analysis detected major FHB resistance QTL on chromosomes 2D, 4B, 5A, and 7A across multiple environments, with resistance from both parents. Trait specific unique QTL were detected on chromosomes 1A (visual traits), 5D (FDK), 6B (FDK and DON), and 7D (DON). The plant height and days to anthesis QTL on chromosome 2D coincided with Ppd-D1 and were linked with FHB traits. The plant height QTL on chromosome 4B was also linked with FHB traits; however, the Rht-B1 locus did not segregate in the population.
CONCLUSIONS: This study identified several QTL, including on chromosome 2D linked with Ppd-D1, for FHB resistance in a native winter wheat germplasm.

The spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, is a popular game fish in the southeastern USA. It is estimated that nearly 90% of the adult population in South Carolina estuaries are infected in their skeletal muscle by the myxosporean, Kudoa inornata. However, little is known about this parasite\'s biology, including the distribution and densities of myxospores within tissues of infected fish, which we expect affect the physiology of their hosts. In order to correlate densities with physiological parameters in future studies, we quantified the myxospores density in muscle and characterized the variation among individual fish. Naïve juvenile seatrout was experimentally infected via presumed K. inornata actinospores exposure to raw seawater. A plug of muscle was extracted from two bilaterally symmetrical regions in the epaxial fillet from fresh and frozen carcasses. Variation in density data was calculated both within and among individuals. Within individuals, density counts were compared between left- and right-side biopsies. There was no significant difference between fresh and frozen plugs, and variation among individuals accounted for the greatest proportion of variation at 68.8%, while variation within individuals was substantial at 25.6%. Simulation and correlation tests confirmed that bilaterally symmetrical replicates varied significantly within individuals. When sampled from areas surrounding the initial biopsies, myxospore density estimates were more similar than between sides. Our findings have important implications for sampling design, particularly for studies investigating physiological parameters at the cellular or molecular level in association with parasite infection.

BACKGROUND: Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a non-obligate precursor to invasive breast cancer (IBC). Studies have indicated differences in DCIS outcome based on race or ethnicity, but molecular differences have not been investigated.
METHODS: We examined the molecular profile of DCIS by self-reported race (SRR) and outcome groups in Black (n = 99) and White (n = 191) women in a large DCIS case-control cohort study with longitudinal follow up.
RESULTS: Gene expression and pathway analyses suggested that different genes and pathways are involved in diagnosis and ipsilateral breast outcome (DCIS or IBC) after DCIS treatment in White versus Black women. We identified differences in ER and HER2 expression, tumor microenvironment composition, and copy number variations by SRR and outcome groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that different molecular mechanisms drive initiation and subsequent ipsilateral breast events in Black versus White women.

The emergence of white-nose syndrome (WNS) in North America has resulted in mass mortalities of hibernating bats and total extirpation of local populations. The need to mitigate this disease has stirred a significant body of research to understand its pathogenesis. Pseudogymnoascus destructans, the causative agent of WNS, is a psychrophilic (cold-loving) fungus that resides within the class Leotiomycetes, which contains mainly plant pathogens and is unrelated to other consequential pathogens of animals. In this review, we revisit the unique biology of hibernating bats and P. destructans and provide an updated analysis of the stages and mechanisms of WNS progression. The extreme life history of hibernating bats, the psychrophilic nature of P. destructans, and its evolutionary distance from other well-characterized animal-infecting fungi translate into unique host-pathogen interactions, many of them yet to be discovered.

High-proportion spliced-in titin truncating variants (hiPSI TTNtvs) have been associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and heart failure in individuals of European ancestry1. However, similar data in individuals of African ancestry are lacking. Here we examined the association of hiPSI TTNtvs with atrial fibrillation, DCM and heart failure in individuals of African ancestry using data from the All of Us Research Program. Among 38,154 individuals of African ancestry, 169 (0.4%) individuals carried a hiPSI TTNtv. hiPSI TTNtv carriers were at a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation (adjusted hazard ratio (HRadj) 2.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.52-3.85), DCM (HRadj 2.82, 95% CI 1.81-4.39) and heart failure (HRadj 2.07, 95% CI 1.43-3.00) compared with noncarriers. The association of hiPSI TTNtvs with atrial fibrillation, DCM and heart failure was similar in individuals of African ancestry and those of European ancestry. Therefore, genetic testing for hiPSI TTNtvs may permit early identification of carriers and support preventive measures to reduce the likelihood of heart failure development both in individuals of European ancestry and in individuals of African ancestry.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to project the cost-effectiveness of implementing the Healthy Weight Clinic (HWC), a primary care-based intervention for 6- to 12-year-old children with overweight or obesity, at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) nationally.
METHODS: We estimated intervention costs from a health care sector and societal perspective and used BMI change estimates from the HWC trial. Our microsimulation of national HWC implementation among all FQHCs from 2023 to 2032 estimated cost per child and per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained and projected impact on obesity prevalence by race and ethnicity. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses assessed uncertainty around estimates.
RESULTS: National implementation is projected to reach 888,000 children over 10 years, with a mean intervention cost of $456 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: $409-$506) per child to the health care sector and $211 (95% UI: $175-$251) to families (e.g., time participating). Assuming effect maintenance, national implementation could result in 2070 (95% UI: 859-3220) QALYs gained and save $14.6 million (95% UI: $5.6-$23.5 million) in health care costs over 10 years, yielding a net cost of $278,000 (95% CI: $177,000-$679,000) per QALY gained. We project greater reductions in obesity prevalence among Hispanic/Latino and Black versus White populations.
CONCLUSIONS: The HWC is relatively low-cost per child and projected to reduce obesity disparities if implemented nationally in FQHCs.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a fungal wildlife disease of bats that has caused precipitous declines in certain Nearctic bat species. A key driver of mortality is premature exhaustion of fat reserves, primarily white adipose tissue (WAT), that bats rely on to meet their metabolic needs during winter. However, the pathophysiological and metabolic effects of WNS have remained ill-defined. To elucidate metabolic mechanisms associated with WNS mortality, we infected a WNS susceptible species, the Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus), with Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) and collected WAT biopsies for histology and targeted lipidomics. These results were compared to the WNS-resistant Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus). A similar distribution in broad lipid class was observed in both species, with total WAT primarily consisting of triacylglycerides. Baseline differences in WAT chemical composition between species showed that higher glycerophospholipids (GPs) levels in E. fuscus were dominated by unsaturated or monounsaturated moieties and n-6 (18:2, 20:2, 20:3, 20:4) fatty acids. Conversely, higher GP levels in M. lucifugus WAT were primarily compounds containing n-3 (20:5 and 22:5) fatty acids. Following Pd-infection, we found that perturbation to WAT reserves occurs in M. lucifugus, but not in the resistant E. fuscus. A total of 66 GPs (primarily glycerophosphocholines and glycerophosphoethanolamines) were higher in Pd-infected M. lucifugus, indicating perturbation to the WAT structural component. In addition to changes in lipid chemistry, smaller adipocyte sizes and increased extracellular matrix deposition was observed in Pd-infected M. lucifugus. This is the first study to describe WAT GP composition of bats with different susceptibilities to WNS and highlights that recovery from WNS may require repair from adipose remodeling in addition to replenishing depot fat during spring emergence.

Rabbits are essential for commercial meat production due to their efficient growth and productivity, breeds like New Zealand White (NZW), Californian (CAL), and Gabali (GAB) rabbits offer unique genetic traits in litter, growth, and carcass traits. This study aimed to evaluate heritability (h2), genetic and phenotypic correlations (rg and rp) for litter size, body weight and carcass traits across California (CAL), New Zealand white (NZW) and Gabali (GA) rabbits. Along with exploring gene expression profiles of TBC1D1, NPY, AGRP, POMC, Leptin, GH, GHR, IGF-1, CAA, GPR, ACC, CPT1, FAS, and CART in the brain, liver, and meat tissues of different rabbit breeds. The breed genotype had a significant impact on litter size (LS), litter weight (LW), body weight at 12 weeks (BW12), and daily weight gain (DWG) traits. NZW rabbits displayed superior performance in terms of litter size and litter weight, while CAL rabbits recorded the highest values for BW12 and DWG. Heritability estimates (h2) were generally low for litter size (ranging from 0.05 to 0.12) and medium for body weight (ranging from 0.16 to 0.31). Both genetic (rg) and phenotypic (rp) correlations for litter size were positive and moderate (ranging from 0.08 to 0.48), while correlations for body weight ranged from 0.21 to 0.58. Additionally, CAL rabbits exhibited higher carcass traits compared to NZW and GA rabbits. In terms of breed-specific gene expression patterns, New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits displayed the highest expression levels of key genes related to energy metabolism (TBC1D1), appetite regulation (NPY, AGRP, POMC), nutrient transport (CAA), and G protein-coupled receptors (GPR) in both brain and liver tissues. Californian (CAL) rabbits exhibited superior gene expression of the ACC gene in brain tissue and GH, GHR, and IGF-1 genes in brain and meat tissues. Gabali (GAB) rabbits demonstrated the highest expression levels of TBC1D1, NPY, AGRP, GPR, and ACC genes in meat tissues. These breed-specific gene expression differences, combined with genetic evaluation efforts, have the potential to enhance reproductive and productive performance in rabbits, offering valuable insights for rabbit breeding programs and genetic selection.

BACKGROUND: Depression among older adults is a pressing public health concern, necessitating accurate assessment tools. The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) offers a brief and efficient means of screening depressive symptoms, yet its performance across ethno-racial groups remains understudied. This study aimed to compare the ability of various brief forms of the GDS to detect depressive symptoms and to assess potential ethno-racial differences in symptom endorsement among White, Black/African-American, and American Indian/Alaska Native older adults.
METHODS: Data were obtained from the Wisconsin Alzheimer\'s Disease Research Center (ADRC) clinical cohort, comprising 555 cognitively healthy individuals at risk for dementia. We used participants\' baseline data for this cross-sectional analysis. Depressive symptoms were assessed using multiple brief forms of the GDS, derived from a systematic review and meta-analysis. We examined internal consistency and correlations with global Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scores. We conducted Kruskal-Wallis tests and post hoc pairwise comparisons to assess ethno-racial group differences in symptom endorsement.
RESULTS: Descriptive statistics revealed a predominance of female and White participants, with notable representation from Black and American Indian/Alaska Native groups. All GDS versions demonstrated moderate to high internal consistency. Significant positive correlations were observed between GDS scores and global CDR scores. Ethno-racial group differences in depressive symptom endorsement were evident, with Black participants consistently reporting higher levels of symptoms across most GDS versions. However, American Indian/Alaska Native participants endorsed significantly fewer symptoms than Black participants in one GDS version.
CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the importance of considering ethno-racial differences in depressive symptomatology when assessing older adults. While the GDS demonstrates overall reliability, variations in symptom endorsement across different ethno-racial groups underscore the need for culturally sensitive assessment tools and interventions. Future research should further explore these group differences and develop tailored approaches to depression screening and treatment in diverse older adult populations.

Using 1998-2022 Women\'s Health Initiative (WHI) data, our study provides contemporary fracture data by race and ethnicity, specifically focusing on Hispanic and Asian women. Fractures of interest included any clinical, hip, and major osteoporotic fractures (MOFs). We utilized the updated race and ethnicity information collected in 2003, which included seven Asian and five Hispanic origin groups. We computed crude and age-standardized fracture incidence rates per 10 000 woman-years across race and ethnic categories and by Asian and Hispanic origin. We used Cox proportional hazards model, adjusting for age and WHI clinical trial arm, to evaluate the risk of fracture (1) by race compared to White women, (2) Asian origin compared to White women, (3) Hispanic compared to non-Hispanic women, and (4) Asian and Hispanic origins compared the most prevalent origin group. Over a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 19.4 (9.2-24.2) years, 44.2% of the 160 824 women experienced any clinical fracture, including 36 278 MOFs and 8962 hip fractures. Compared to White women, Black, Pacific Islander, Asian, and multiracial women had significantly lower risk of any clinical and MOFs, while only Black and Asian women had significantly lower hip fracture risk. Within Asian women, Filipina women had 24% lower risk of any clinical fracture compared to Japanese women. Hispanic women had significantly lower risk of any clinical, hip, and MOF fractures compared to non-Hispanic women, with no differences in fracture risk observed within Hispanic origin groups. In this diverse sample of postmenopausal women, we confirmed racial and ethnic differences in fracture rates and risk, with novel findings among within Asian and Hispanic subgroups. These data can aid in future longitudinal studies evaluate contributors to racial and ethnic differences in fractures.
We provided contemporary fracture rates by race and ethnicity, specifically focusing on multiple Hispanic and Asian subgroups, using 1998-2022 data from the Women’s Health Initiative. Over a median follow-up of 19.4 years, 43.4% of the 154 948 women experienced any clinical fracture, including 8679 hip and 34 546 major osteoporotic fractures. Compared to White women, Black, Pacific Islander, Asian, and multiracial women had significantly lower risk of any clinical and major osteoporotic fractures (MOFs); while only Black and Asian women had significantly lower hip fracture risk when compared to White women. Within Asian women, Filipina women had 24% lower risk of any clinical fracture compared to Japanese women. Hispanic women had significantly lower risk of any clinical, hip, and MOF fractures compared to non-Hispanic women, with no differences in fracture risk observed within Hispanic women. In this diverse sample of postmenopausal women, we confirmed racial and ethnic differences in fracture rates and risk, with novel findings among Pacific Islander women and within Asian and Hispanic subgroups.