Gluten free (GF) products have been reported to be more expensive and less available than their gluten containing counterparts. We examined the current U.S. cost and availability of GF products and made comparisons to the marketplace over a decade ago. Cost, determined by price per ounce and availability of a “market basket” of regular and GF products across four venues and five geographic regions was compared using a student’s t test. GF products were more expensive (overall 183%), and in all regions and venues (p < 0.001). GF products from mass-market producers were 139% more expensive than the wheat-based version of the same product. Availability of GF products was greatest (66%) in the health food and upscale venues. In contrast to the results of the 2006 study, the cost of GF products has declined from 240% to 183% (adjusted for inflation). The introduction of mass-market production of GF products may have influenced the increase in availability and overall reduction of cost since 2006. The extent to which the cost of GF products impacts dietary adherence and quality of life for those on a GFD warrants exploration.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and accounts for substantial morbidity and mortality. Recently, we created a mouse model with spontaneous and sustained AF caused by a mutation in the Na _V 1.5 channel (F1759A) that enhances persistent Na ⁺ current, thereby enabling the investigation of molecular mechanisms that cause AF and the identification of potentially novel treatment strategies. The mice have regional heterogeneity of action potential duration of the atria similar to observations in patients with AF. In these mice, we found that the initiation and persistence of the rotational reentrant AF arrhythmias, known as spiral waves or rotors, were dependent upon action potential duration heterogeneity. The centers of the rotors were localized to regions of greatest heterogeneity of the action potential duration. Pharmacologically attenuating the action potential duration heterogeneity reduced both spontaneous and pacing-induced AF. Computer-based simulations also demonstrated that the action potential duration heterogeneity is required to generate rotors that manifest as AF. Taken together, these findings suggest that action potential duration heterogeneity in mice and humans is one mechanism by which AF is initiated and that reducing action potential duration heterogeneity can lessen the burden of AF.

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine in genetically predisposed individuals. Previous studies have investigated the potential link between CD and cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, the findings have been inconsistent. We aimed to provide an updated review of the literature on the association between CD and CVD. PubMed was searched from inception to January 2023 using keywords including CD, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmia, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and myocarditis. We summarized the results of the studies, including meta-analyses and original investigations, and presented them according to the different forms of CVD. Meta-analyses published in 2015 provided mixed results regarding the relationship between CD and CVD. However, subsequent original investigations have shed new light on this association. Recent studies indicate that individuals with CD are at a higher risk of developing overall CVD, including an increased risk of myocardial infarction and atrial fibrillation. However, the link between CD and stroke is less established. Further research is needed to determine the link between CD and other cardiac arrhythmias, such as ventricular arrhythmia. Moreover, the relationship between CD and cardiomyopathy or heart failure, as well as myopericarditis, remains ambiguous. CD patients have a lower prevalence of traditional cardiac risk factors, such as smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. Therefore, it is important to discover strategies to identify patients at risk and reduce the risk of CVD in CD populations. Lastly, it is unclear whether adherence to a gluten-free diet can diminish or increase the risk of CVD among individuals with CD, necessitating further research in this area. To fully comprehend the correlation between CD and CVD and to determine the optimal prevention strategies for CVD in individuals with CD, additional research is necessary.

A gluten-free diet (GFD), which is the only treatment for celiac disease (CeD), is challenging and associated with higher levels of anxiety, disordered eating, and lower quality of life (QOL). We examined various demographic and health factors associated with social anxiety, eating attitudes and behaviors, and QOL. Demographics and health characteristics, QOL, eating attitudes and behaviors, and social anxiety of adults with CeD were acquired using validated measures. The mean scores for QOL, SAQ, and CDFAB were compared across various demographic groups using the Z statistical test. The mean QOL score was 57.8, which is in the moderate range. The social anxiety mean scores were high: 78.82, with 9% meeting the clinical cutoff for social anxiety disorder. Those on a GFD for a short duration had significantly higher SAQ scores (worse anxiety), higher CDFAB scores (worse eating attitudes and behavior), and lower QOL scores. Those aged 23–35 years had lower QOL scores (p < 0.003) and higher SAQ scores (p < 0.003). Being single (p < 0.001) and female (p = 0.026) were associated with higher SAQ scores. These findings suggest that the development of targeted interventions to maximize QOL and healthy eating behaviors as well as to minimize anxiety is imperative for some adults with CeD.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition that affects approximately 1% of the worldwide community. Originally thought to be confined mostly to the small intestine, resulting in villous atrophy and nutrient malabsorption, it has more recently been implicated in systemic manifestations as well, particularly when undiagnosed or left untreated. Herein, the physical and psychological symptoms of celiac disease are described and explored. An emphasis is placed on efforts to query prospective and confirmed celiac disease patients via the use of surveys. Suggestions are made regarding the development of efficacious surveys for the purpose of screening for celiac disease in undiagnosed persons, and monitoring efficacy of the gluten-free diet in persons diagnosed with celiac disease. There are broad categories of physical and psychological symptoms associated with celiac disease. There is also an essential interaction between such physical and the psychological symptoms. It is important to capture the association between symptoms, via queries directed toward suspected and confirmed persons with celiac disease. The use of anonymous online surveys can be helpful to determine the qualities and characteristics which may be associated with this condition. It is suggested that personal surveys should be given a greater role in screening and to lessen the time for diagnosis. Querying the subject directly via a survey can provide clues as to the types of symptoms being experienced by those with celiac disease currently, as well as to determine the salient aspects of the symptomatology, which will be useful for rapid screening and monitoring in future work.