Last data update: May 06, 2024. (Total: 46732 publications since 2009)
Records 1-7 (of 7 Records) |
Query Trace: Smith AK[original query] |
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Examining Individual and Synergistic Contributions of PTSD and Genetics to Blood Pressure: A Trans-Ethnic Meta-Analysis.
Sumner JA , Maihofer AX , Michopoulos V , Rothbaum AO , Almli LM , Andreassen OA , Ashley-Koch AE , Baker DG , Beckham JC , Bradley B , Breen G , Coleman JRI , Dale AM , Dennis MF , Feeny NC , Franz CE , Garrett ME , Gillespie CF , Guffanti G , Hauser MA , Hemmings SMJ , Jovanovic T , Kimbrel NA , Kremen WS , Lawford BR , Logue MW , Lori A , Lyons MJ , Maples-Keller J , Mavissakalian MR , McGlinchey RE , Mehta D , Mellor R , Milberg W , Miller MW , Morris CP , Panizzon MS , Ressler KJ , Risbrough VB , Rothbaum BO , Roy-Byrne P , Seedat S , Smith AK , Stevens JS , van den Heuvel LL , Voisey J , Young RM , Zoellner LA , Nievergelt CM , Wolf EJ . Front Neurosci 2021 15 678503 Growing research suggests that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be a risk factor for poor cardiovascular health, and yet our understanding of who might be at greatest risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes after trauma is limited. In this study, we conducted the first examination of the individual and synergistic contributions of PTSD symptoms and blood pressure genetics to continuous blood pressure levels. We harnessed the power of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium-PTSD Physical Health Working Group and investigated these associations across 11 studies of 72,224 trauma-exposed individuals of European (n = 70,870) and African (n = 1,354) ancestry. Genetic contributions to blood pressure were modeled via polygenic scores (PGS) for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) that were derived from a prior trans-ethnic blood pressure genome-wide association study (GWAS). Results of trans-ethnic meta-analyses revealed significant main effects of the PGS on blood pressure levels [SBP: β = 2.83, standard error (SE) = 0.06, p < 1E-20; DBP: β = 1.32, SE = 0.04, p < 1E-20]. Significant main effects of PTSD symptoms were also detected for SBP and DBP in trans-ethnic meta-analyses, though there was significant heterogeneity in these results. When including data from the largest contributing study - United Kingdom Biobank - PTSD symptoms were negatively associated with SBP levels (β = -1.46, SE = 0.44, p = 9.8E-4) and positively associated with DBP levels (β = 0.70, SE = 0.26, p = 8.1E-3). However, when excluding the United Kingdom Biobank cohort in trans-ethnic meta-analyses, there was a nominally significant positive association between PTSD symptoms and SBP levels (β = 2.81, SE = 1.13, p = 0.01); no significant association was observed for DBP (β = 0.43, SE = 0.78, p = 0.58). Blood pressure PGS did not significantly moderate the associations between PTSD symptoms and blood pressure levels in meta-analyses. Additional research is needed to better understand the extent to which PTSD is associated with high blood pressure and how genetic as well as contextual factors may play a role in influencing cardiovascular risk. |
Stability of the vaginal, oral, and gut microbiota across pregnancy among African American women: the effect of socioeconomic status and antibiotic exposure.
Dunlop AL , Knight AK , Satten GA , Cutler AJ , Wright ML , Mitchell RM , Read TD , Mulle J , Hertzberg VS , Hill CC , Smith AK , Corwin EJ . PeerJ 2019 7 e8004 Objective: A growing body of research has investigated the human microbiota and pregnancy outcomes, especially preterm birth. Most studies of the prenatal microbiota have focused on the vagina, with fewer investigating other body sites during pregnancy. Although pregnancy involves profound hormonal, immunological and metabolic changes, few studies have investigated either shifts in microbiota composition across pregnancy at different body sites or variation in composition at any site that may be explained by maternal characteristics. The purpose of this study was to investigate: (1) the stability of the vaginal, oral, and gut microbiota from early (8-14 weeks) through later (24-30 weeks) pregnancy among African American women according to measures of socioeconomic status, accounting for prenatal antibiotic use; (2) whether measures of socioeconomic status are associated with changes in microbiota composition over pregnancy; and (3) whether exposure to prenatal antibiotics mediate any observed associations between measures of socioeconomic status and stability of the vaginal, oral, and gut microbiota across pregnancy. Methods: We used paired vaginal, oral, or gut samples available for 16S rRNA gene sequencing from two time points in pregnancy (8-14 and 24-30 weeks) to compare within-woman changes in measures of alpha diversity (Shannon and Chao1) and beta-diversity (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity) among pregnant African American women (n = 110). Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the effect of level of education and prenatal health insurance as explanatory variables for changes in diversity, considering antibiotic exposure as a mediator, adjusting for age, obstetrical history, and weeks between sampling. Results: For the oral and gut microbiota, there were no significant associations between measures of socioeconomic status or prenatal antibiotic use and change in Shannon or Chao1 diversity. For the vaginal microbiota, low level of education (high school or less) was associated with an increase in Shannon and Chao1 diversity over pregnancy, with minimal attenuation when controlling for prenatal antibiotic use. Conversely, for within-woman Bray-Curtis dissimilarity for early compared to later pregnancy, low level of education and prenatal antibiotics were associated with greater dissimilarity for the oral and gut sites, with minimal attenuation when controlling for prenatal antibiotics, and no difference in dissimilarity for the vaginal site. Conclusions: Measures of maternal socioeconomic status are variably associated with changes in diversity across pregnancy for the vaginal, oral, and gut microbiota, with minimal attenuation by prenatal antibiotic exposure. Studies that evaluate stability of the microbiota across pregnancy in association with health outcomes themselves associated with socioeconomic status (such as preterm birth) should incorporate measures of socioeconomic status to avoid finding spurious relationships. |
Design of intelligent proximity detection zones to prevent striking and pinning fatalities around continuous mining machines
Bissert PT , Carr JL , DuCarme JP , Smith AK . Trans Soc Min Metall Explor Inc 2016 340 (1) 75-81 The continuous mining machine is a key piece of equipment used in underground coal mining operations. Over the past several decades these machines have been involved in a number of mine worker fatalities. Proximity detection systems have been developed to avert hazards associated with operating continuous mining machines. Incorporating intelligent design into proximity detection systems allows workers greater freedom to position themselves to see visual cues or avoid other hazards such as haulage equipment or unsupported roof or ribs. However, intelligent systems must be as safe as conventional proximity detection systems. An evaluation of the 39 fatal accidents for which the Mine Safety and Health Administration has published fatality investigation reports was conducted to determine whether the accident may have been prevented by conventional or intelligent proximity. Multiple zone configurations for the intelligent systems were studied to determine how system performance might be affected by the zone configuration. Researchers found that 32 of the 39 fatalities, or 82 percent, may have been prevented by both conventional and intelligent proximity systems. These results indicate that, by properly configuring the zones of an intelligent proximity detection system, equivalent protection to a conventional system is possible. |
Determining Underground Mining Work Postures Using Motion Capture and Digital Human Modeling
Lutz TJ , DuCarme JP , Smith AK , Ambrose D . J Environ Health Sci 2016 2 (6) 1-6 According to Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) data, during 2008-2012 in the U.S., there were, on average, 65 lost-time accidents per year during routine mining and maintenance activities involving remote-controlled continuous mining machines (CMMs). To address this problem, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is currently investigating the implementation and integration of existing and emerging technologies in underground mines to provide automated, intelligent proximity detection (iPD) devices on CMMs. One research goal of NIOSH is to enhance the proximity detection system by improving its capability to track and determine identity, position, and posture of multiple workers, and to selectively disable machine functions to keep workers and machine operators safe. Posture of the miner can determine the safe working distance from a CMM by way of the variation in the proximity detection magnetic field. NIOSH collected and analyzed motion capture data and calculated joint angles of the back, hips, and knees from various postures on 12 human subjects. The results of the analysis suggests that lower body postures can be identified by observing the changes in joint angles of the right hip, left hip, right knee, and left knee. |
Acoustic testing facilities at the Office of Mine Safety and Health Research
Peterson JS , Yantek D , Smith AK . Noise Control Eng J 2012 60 (1) 85-96 The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR) maintains a noise control program as part of its Hearing Loss Prevention Branch (HLPB). This program utilizes two large acoustic laboratories-a reverberation chamber and a hemi-anechoic chamber-to assist OMSHR engineers with the development and evaluation of noise controls. This paper discusses the design, instrumentation, and use of the NIOSH acoustics laboratories and the important role they play in noise control development and evaluation. The NIOSH reverberation chamber meets the absorption, reverberation time, and test room broadband qualification requirements specified in the ISO 3741/ANSI S12.51 acoustics standard for precision method sound power testing. As part of a qualification testing program, NIOSH conducted an uncertainty estimate for sound power level testing in the chamber. For an overall sound power measurement, this uncertainty estimate was 0.4 dB. The NIOSH hemi-anechoic chamber, which uses Eckel Industries SuperSoft Panels on the walls and ceiling, is used primarily for noise source identification to determine significant noise sources on equipment. Testing was completed to ensure that the chamber functions as a free-field. The SuperSoft panels met NIOSH requirements and the chamber was verified as a free-field per the test room qualification criteria set forth in ISO 3745. ((C) 2012 Institute of Noise Control Engineering.) |
Convergent genomic studies identify association of GRIK2 and NPAS2 with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Smith AK , Fang H , Whistler T , Unger ER , Rajeevan MS . Neuropsychobiology 2011 64 (4) 183-94 BACKGROUND: There is no consistent evidence of specific gene(s) or molecular pathways that contribute to the pathogenesis, therapeutic intervention or diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). While multiple studies support a role for genetic variation in CFS, genome-wide efforts to identify associated loci remain unexplored. We employed a novel convergent functional genomics approach that incorporates the findings from single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and mRNA expression studies to identify associations between CFS and novel candidate genes for further investigation. METHODS: We evaluated 116,204 SNPs in 40 CFS and 40 nonfatigued control subjects along with mRNA expression of 20,160 genes in a subset of these subjects (35 CFS subjects and 27 controls) derived from a population-based study. RESULTS: Sixty-five SNPs were nominally associated with CFS (p < 0.001), and 165 genes were differentially expressed (≥4-fold; p ≤ 0.05) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of CFS subjects. Two genes, glutamate receptor, ionotropic, kinase 2 (GRIK2) and neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (NPAS2), were identified by both SNP and gene expression analyses. Subjects with the G allele of rs2247215 (GRIK2) were more likely to have CFS (p = 0.0005), and CFS subjects showed decreased GRIK2 expression (10-fold; p = 0.015). Subjects with the T allele of rs356653 (NPAS2) were more likely to have CFS (p = 0.0007), and NPAS2 expression was increased (10-fold; p = 0.027) in those with CFS. CONCLUSION: Using an integrated genomic strategy, this study suggests a possible role for genes involved in glutamatergic neurotransmission and circadian rhythm in CFS and supports further study of novel candidate genes in independent populations of CFS subjects. |
Modified tail section reduces noise on a continuous mining machine
Zimmerman JJ , Smith AK , Michael R , Kovalchik PG . Min Eng 2011 63 (7) 83-85 Overexposure to noise remains a widespread, serious health hazard in the U.S. mining industries. Most other categories of illnesses and injuries associated with mining have improved, with the exception of hearing loss. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) coal noise data from 2000-2004 show that the continuous mining machine is first among all equipment with 35 percent of the noise overexposures. Joy Mining Machinery, in collaboration with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), is conducting research to reduce noise generated by continuous mining machines. This paper describes a "JOY-Designed for Noise Reduction" (JOY-DNR; Patent Pending) tail section as a noise control for reducing the noise overexposures of continuous mining machine operators. Underground results show a 45 percent and 65 percent noise exposure reduction for the operator when compared to a standard machine. Utilizing this newly developed noise control, along with previously proven controls, will provide continuous mining machine operators an opportunity to be within the MSHA-Permissible Exposure Limit (MSHA-PEL). |
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