Jessica L. Fetterman

The present study finds that teaching methods from public health disciplines in the physiology classroom improve students’ understanding of how to develop ideas to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) inequities. Our data support the notion that a multidisciplinary approach on the part of the instructor, integrating disciplinary knowledge from outside of physiology, is an effective approach to enhance problem-solving skills regarding CVD in marginalized populations.

Each mitochondrion contains 2–10 copies of the mitochondrial genome. Multiple mitochondria in a cell allow for mitochondrial genomes carrying different variants to co-exist within a cell or tissue, termed heteroplasmy. The extent to which mitochondrial genetic variation differs across tissues of the human body and the origins of heteroplasmic variants is largely unknown. Using next-generation sequencing of 47 paired tissues from 947 donors in the Genotype-Tissue Expression dataset, we found that 39% of unique mitochondrial DNA variants identified were present in one tissue (tissue-specific) and 7% of unique variants were found in several but not all tissues of a donor. Tissue-specific variants were more likely to be transversions, nonsynonymous, deleterious, and present at lower variant allele fractions compared to variants shared across all tissues within a donor. Tissues primarily composed of proliferative cell types had the most tissue-specific variants, while highly energetic tissues had the least. The number of tissue-specific variants was associated with donor age for the tissues with the most tissue-specific variants. We determined that most of the heteroplasmic variants likely arise de novo after tissue differentiation. Our study suggests that mitochondrial DNA variants arise throughout an individual’s lifetime in a tissue-dependent manner, which may have disease implications.

Objectives: This systematic review examines eye-tracking experiments evaluating the effects of tobacco health warning labels (HWLs) on visual attention. We focus on eye-tracking metrics (dwell time, fixation counts and time to first fixation) to inform tobacco control strategies. Data sources: Controlled keyword searches were conducted in APA PsycINFO, ASSIA, CMMC, CINAHL, Embase, Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, PubMed and Web of Science from January 2018 to December 2023. Study selection: Eligible articles ( n =25) were peer-reviewed, written in English, involved human participants and included eye-tracking technology to assess attention to HWLs. Data extraction: Extracted data included article information, HWL characteristics (product type, context, format, source), study design, sample demographics and eye-tracking outcomes. Two trained reviewers collaboratively screened and extracted data following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Data synthesis: Across 31 experiments, dwell time was consistently longer for pictorial than textual HWLs, fixation counts increased when packs contained fewer visual distractions, and time to first fixation was shorter for more visually salient HWLs. Greater visual attention was also associated with lower liking of tobacco products and stronger negative emotional responses. Independent t-tests on summary data showed that participants (mostly adult males) spent more time viewing and less time locating pictorial HWLs than text-only HWLs, while fixation counts did not differ significantly. Conclusions: This review provides eye-tracking evidence aligned with WHO recommendations for pictorial HWLs and highlights key research gaps that future studies should address to strengthen global tobacco control efforts.

Hypertension affects 1 in 2 adults in the United States and is the leading risk factor for myocardial infarction and chronic kidney disease. While animal models have advanced our understanding of the effects of hypertension on the heart, molecular insight from human cardiovascular tissues is currently lacking. Building upon previous work describing a protocol for the systematic dissection and preservation of whole postmortem human hearts, we performed pilot multiomics analyses of postmortem human hearts from donors with ( n = 3) and without ( n = 2) hypertension. Using bulk RNA‐seq, we identified a higher abundance of transcripts associated with DNA helicase activity, NAD‐dependent deacetylase activity, and branched chain amino acid metabolism in hypertension compared to normotension. Using single‐nucleus RNA‐seq, we identified a loss of contractile vascular smooth muscle cells and greater endothelial cell proliferation associated with hypertension. Lastly, metabolomics revealed an abundance of metabolites upstream of NAD‐dependent metabolic steps in fatty acid oxidation and the Krebs cycle, consistent with reductive stress, and a likely funneling of glycolytic intermediates into the pentose phosphate pathway. Together, these methods demonstrate a powerful technique for the investigation of human cardiovascular disease and lend insight into the molecular signature of hypertension in adult cardiac tissue.

Our study extends the literature on cardiovascular risk factors in queer populations by identifying a critical time point when queer emerging adults have higher levels of stress and anxiety than their heterosexual peers, but no differences in brachial blood pressure. This points to a window of time for primary preventive interventions that may reduce the likelihood of stress and anxiety driving up blood pressure in these individuals.

Importance: Research biobanks of human cells and tissues, particularly tissues accessible only after death, are crucial for advancing the understanding of human pathophysiological function. Research biobanks are bereft of tissues from individuals of diverse races and ethnicities, thus limiting the generalizability of biobank findings.Objective: To evaluate the barriers and facilitators to participation in postmortem brain donation for research among individuals from historically marginalized races and ethnicities.Evidence Review: The published literature in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases was searched from 1973 to January 1, 2024. Studies that were written in English that involved adult participants (aged ≥18 years) and explored attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs on solid organ donation were included. Studies in which organ donation was for transplant and not for research, studies examining pediatric organ donation, narratives or perspectives, and studies that did not examine attitudes or beliefs toward organ donation were excluded. Two authors independently coded and performed a thematic analysis of eligible studies.Findings: Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, which involved 12 124 participants across multiple self-reported races and ethnicities (eg, Black or African American, Chinese, Hispanic or Latiné, and White). Most studies (16 [89%]) evaluated perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs among Black or African American and Hispanic or Latiné individuals toward postmortem brain donation. Five themes that informed the decision to donate were identified: information and misconceptions about the organ donation process (16 studies [89%]), mistrust of the research and medical communities (9 studies [50%]), family involvement (9 studies [50%]), religious and cultural beliefs (9 studies [50%]), and altruism (7 studies [39%]). Mistrust and religious and cultural beliefs were largely barriers to considering postmortem organ donation for research. Misconceptions were common, particularly regarding the donation process and purpose of biospecimens for research. Family involvement was both a barrier and a facilitator. Altruism, particularly understanding that organ donation would benefit the participants’ family, future generations, and community, was a facilitator.Conclusions and Relevance: This systematic review suggests that sharing culturally sensitive information about the organ donation process, engagement of participants and family members in shared decision-making, and addressing barriers and facilitators to donor recruitment practices may increase participation in research biobanks of individuals from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups.

Physiology education has historically lacked the inclusion of the social determinants of health and discussion of medically marginalized communities. Here, we show that discussion of cardiovascular disease and psychosocial stress in marginalized communities improves student understanding of the distribution of and causes of cardiovascular disease in marginalized groups. We conclude that more physiology instructors should include discussions on chronic diseases within multiple communities and programs should incorporate social determinants of health into their curricula.

Introduction: E-cigarette use is prevalent among US youth. Little is known about the association between engagement with e-cigarette-related social media posts, vaping norms, and intention to quit e-cigarettes among youth who exclusively use e-cigarettes. Methods: A cross-sectional national online survey was conducted among a sample of youth aged 13–18 who reported exclusive e-cigarette use in the past 30 days. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between engagement with e-cigarette-related posts on social media, vaping social norms, and intention to quit e-cigarettes. Two interaction terms were added between descriptive and injunctive norm variables and engagement with social media posts, respectively, to test the potential differential effect of social norms on intention to quit. Models were adjusted for demographic and e-cigarette use variables. Results: The sample (N = 143) was 62% females; 69% identified as White and 20% as Black. Engaging with e-cigarette-related posts on social media was associated with higher odds of an intention to quit e-cigarettes compared to those who never engaged with e-cigarette posts [adjusted aOR = 2.70, 95%CI (1.13,6.42)]. Intention to quit e-cigarettes was lower among youth who believed the use of e-cigarettes was common (descriptive norms) [0.71, (0.57,0.88)], and who described the views of people important to them as positive (vs. negative; injunctive norms) [0.26, (0.07,0.98)]. Youth who engaged with posts and had positive views from people important to them on e-cigarettes (injunctive norms) were less likely to express an intent to quit vaping (aOR = 0.10; p-value = .0394). Conclusions: Social media exposure and social norms may influence quit intentions among youth who exclusively use e-cigarettes. Targeted interventions on social media to address the potential of these factors in promoting cessation behaviors are needed. Implications: Our study highlights the interplay between social media engagement, descriptive and injunctive social norms of vaping, and intention to quit e-cigarette use among youth who exclusively use e-cigarettes. These insights are crucial for designing effective, targeted social media-based cessation interventions, promoting quitting intentions, and addressing misperceptions about vaping, thereby supporting youth cessation behaviors.

Diversity in academic medicine and research enhances the quality of the science produced and the efficacy of patient care. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) statements have recently been suggested or required by academic job postings as a way to measure candidate’s commitments to fostering DEIA in their role. In this perspective, we discuss steps to craft effective DEIA statements that convey your actions in, and commitment to, DEIA. We recognize that mandating DEIA statements may actually result in inauthentic or disingenuous statements and offer solutions to encouraging academics to arrive at a meaningful statement that represents their own perspectives on diversity. Last, we provide examples of DEIA statements from three academics at different career points.