Now showing items 1-20 of 12305

    • Association Between Cannabis Use and Subjective Cognitive Decline: Findings from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)

      Wong, Roger; Chen, Zhi (Bentham Science Publishers Ltd., 2024-02-23)
      Background: Cannabis consumption has rapidly increased in the United States due to more states legalizing non-medical and medical use. There is limited research, however, investigating whether cannabis may be associated with cognitive function, particularly across multiple dimensions of cannabis use. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine whether cannabis consumption reason, frequency, and method are associated with subjective cognitive decline (SCD). Methods: Data were obtained from 4,744 U.S. adults aged 45 and older in the 2021 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). SCD was a self-reported increase in confusion or memory loss in the past year. Odds of SCD by cannabis use reason, frequency, and methods (e.g., smoke, eat, vaporize) were examined using multiple logistic regression after imputing missing data, applying sampling weights, and adjusting for sociodemographic, health, and substance use covariates. Results: Compared to non-users, non-medical cannabis use was significantly associated with 96% decreased odds of SCD (aOR=0.04, 95% CI=0.01-0.44, p<.01). Medical (aOR=0.46, 95% CI=0.06-3.61, p=.46) and dual medical and non-medical use (aOR=0.30, 95% CI=0.03-2.92, p=.30) were also associated with decreased odds of SCD, although not significant. Cannabis consumption frequency and method were not significantly associated with SCD. Conclusion: The reason for cannabis use, but not frequency and method, is associated with SCD. Further research is needed to investigate the mechanisms that may contribute to the observed associations between non-medical cannabis use and decreased odds of SCD.
    • "The Plantation is Everywhere": African American Solidarity with Haitian Refugees, 1978-1995

      Edwards, Naiya (2024-03-27)
      From 1978 to 1995, tens of thousands of Haitians fled to the United States to escape the brutal dictatorships of François and Jean-Claude Duvalier, and the violence that ensued after the overthrow of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Hoping for safety and refuge, most Haitian refugees were instead punished and barred from receiving asylum and entrance by the American government. Many African Americans critiqued the mistreatment of the Haitian refugees as anti-Black and demonstrated solidarity in an array of ways. Drawing from a series of Black newspapers from this era, I present this history of solidarity, arguing that African Americans were motivated to stand with the thousands of Black Haitians because of their own dealings with anti-Blackness in the United States.
    • Circuit Breakers: α4βδ GABA-A Receptors Drive Adolescent Refinement of Neural Circuits in Prefrontal Cortex

      Evrard, Matthew (23-12-12)
      Adolescence is a time when synaptic connections are sculpted to prepare for the cognitive challenges of adulthood, a process known as synaptic pruning. Although this process was first reported over 30 years ago, the initial trigger and functional reason for pruning remain unknown. This thesis provides a multifaceted investigation of α4βδ GABA-A receptor regulation of dendritic spine pruning within pyramidal neurons of the prelimbic prefrontal cortex across adolescent development in mice. The prelimbic cortex projects to the amygdala and drives anxiety states, making precise pruning of juvenile connections critical for proper maturation. Using highresolution microscopic analysis of Golgi-stained samples, I report a dramatic developmental decrease in basilar dendritic spine density on layer 5 pyramidal neurons between early puberty (16.39 ± 1.55 spines/10μm) and young adulthood (6.10 ± 0.58 spines/10μm), reflecting a 63% reduction (p < 0.0001). This remodeling coincides with a transient 10-fold increase in α4 subunit expression precisely at puberty onset (p < 0.00001) within layer 5 pyramidal neuron dendrites, revealed by immunohistochemistry and amplified electrophysiological responses to a δ subunit-selective agonist (p = 0.00125). Convergent pharmacological, local knockdown (using viral shRNA knockdown and Cre-loxP deletion), and global knockout of α4βδ GABAARs prevented adolescent pruning, while augmenting α4βδ signaling via the selective agonist gaboxadol during early puberty significantly enhanced spine elimination (p<0.05). This demonstrates the causal role of this signaling pathway in mediating the extensive remodeling. The mechanism likely involves α4βδ receptor-mediated suppression of NMDA receptor activation of Kalirin-7 pathways which maintain the dendritic cytoskeleton. α4 knockout prevents the typical 50% decrease in Kalirin-7 levels at puberty (p<0.0001), suggesting dependence on α4βδ signaling. In contrast, increasing NMDAR expression prevents pruning. Critically, preventing pubertal pruning through localized α4βδ knockdown in the prelimbic cortex using AAV-Cre administration increases anxiety-like avoidance behaviors on the elevated plus maze test after an aversive stimulus by 60% in late adolescence (p<0.0001) and 40% in adulthood (p<0.05). This causally links excess prelimbic connectivity from disrupted juvenile synapse elimination to anxiety-related behavioral phenotypes. Furthermore, a similar developmental decrease in spine density occurs in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons in female mice, aligned with a key role for α4-containing receptors as evidenced by a lack of pruning in α4 knockout mice. Taken together, these results suggest a role for the extra-synaptic α4βδ GABAARs in triggering synaptic pruning and further demonstrate one pathological outcome which can result from dysregulated pruning.
    • A mechanism for deviance detection and contextual routing in the thalamus: a review and theoretical proposal

      Varela, Carmen; Moreira, Joao V. S.; Kocaoglu, Basak; Dura-Bernal, Salvador; Ahmad, Subutai (Frontiers Media SA, 2024-02-29)
      Predictive processing theories conceptualize neocortical feedback as conveying expectations and contextual attention signals derived from internal cortical models, playing an essential role in the perception and interpretation of sensory information. However, few predictive processing frameworks outline concrete mechanistic roles for the corticothalamic (CT) feedback from layer 6 (L6), despite the fact that the number of CT axons is an order of magnitude greater than that of feedforward thalamocortical (TC) axons. Here we review the functional architecture of CT circuits and propose a mechanism through which L6 could regulate thalamic firing modes (burst, tonic) to detect unexpected inputs. Using simulations in a model of a TC cell, we show how the CT feedback could support prediction-based input discrimination in TC cells by promoting burst firing. This type of CT control can enable the thalamic circuit to implement spatial and context selective attention mechanisms. The proposed mechanism generates specific experimentally testable hypotheses. We suggest that the L6 CT feedback allows the thalamus to detect deviance from predictions of internal cortical models, thereby supporting contextual attention and routing operations, a far more powerful role than traditionally assumed.
    • Generation of three myotonic dystrophy type 1 patient iPSC lines (CBRCULi018-A, CBRCULi019-A, CBRCULi020-A) derived from lymphoblastoid cell lines for disease modelling and therapeutic research

      Pierre, Marion; Jauvin, Dominic; Puymirat, Jack; Boutjdir, Mohamed; Chahine, Mohamed (Elsevier BV, 2024-04)
      Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most prevalent adult-onset muscular dystrophy affecting 1 in 8,000 individuals. It is characterized by multisystemic symptoms, primarily myopathy. The root cause of DM1 is a heterozygous CTG triplet expansion beyond the normal size threshold in the non-coding region of the DM1 protein kinase gene (DMPK). In our study, we generated and characterized three distinct DM1 induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines with CTG repeat expansions ranging from 900 to 2000 in the DMPK gene. These iPSC lines maintained normal karyotypes, exhibited distinctive colony morphology, robustly expressed pluripotency markers, differentiated into the three primary germ layers, and lacked residual viral vectors.
    • Exploiting Natural Language Processing to Unveil Topics and Trends of Traumatic Brain Injury Research

      Karabacak, Mert; Jain, Ankita; Jagtiani, Pemla; Hickman, Zachary L.; Dams-O'Connor, Kristen; Margetis, Konstantinos (Mary Ann Liebert Inc, 2024-03-01)
      Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has evolved from a topic of relative obscurity to one of widespread scientific and lay interest. The scope and focus of TBI research have shifted, and research trends have changed in response to public and scientific interest. This study has two primary goals: first, to identify the predominant themes in TBI research; and second, to delineate "hot" and "cold" areas of interest by evaluating the current popularity or decline of these topics. Hot topics may be dwarfed in absolute numbers by other, larger TBI research areas but are rapidly gaining interest. Likewise, cold topics may present opportunities for researchers to revisit unanswered questions. We utilized BERTopic, an advanced natural language processing (NLP)-based technique, to analyze TBI research articles published since 1990. This approach facilitated the identification of key topics by extracting sets of distinctive keywords representative of each article's core themes. Using these topics' probabilities, we trained linear regression models to detect trends over time, recognizing topics that were gaining (hot) or losing (cold) relevance. Additionally, we conducted a specific analysis focusing on the trends observed in TBI research in the current decade (the 2020s). Our topic modeling analysis categorized 42,422 articles into 27 distinct topics. The 10 most frequently occurring topics were: "Rehabilitation," "Molecular Mechanisms of TBI," "Concussion," "Repetitive Head Impacts," "Surgical Interventions," "Biomarkers," "Intracranial Pressure," "Posttraumatic Neurodegeneration," "Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy," and "Blast Induced TBI," while our trend analysis indicated that the hottest topics of the current decade were "Genomics," "Sex Hormones," and "Diffusion Tensor Imaging," while the cooling topics were "Posttraumatic Sleep," "Sensory Functions," and "Hyperosmolar Therapies." This study highlights the dynamic nature of TBI research and underscores the shifting emphasis within the field. The findings from our analysis can aid in the identification of emerging topics of interest and areas where there is little new research reported. By utilizing NLP to effectively synthesize and analyze an extensive collection of TBI-related scholarly literature, we demonstrate the potential of machine learning techniques in understanding and guiding future research prospects. This approach sets the stage for similar analyses in other medical disciplines, offering profound insights and opportunities for further exploration.
    • Exploring the roles of the connecting cilium in photoreceptor health

      Liu, Yu (2024-03-26)
      Defects in proteins functioning at the photoreceptor connecting cilium/transition zone (CC/TZ) have been linked to retinal degenerative disorders such as retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and cone-rod dystrophy (CRD). Mutations in eyes shut homolog (EYS, RP25), a secreted ciliary protein with laminin globular (LG) domains, have been linked to RP and CRD. Previously, some LG domains have been shown to interact with O-mannosyl glycans of α-dystroglycan (α-DG). Additionally, mutations in pomgnt1, an enzyme that plays a critical role in the synthesis of these glycans, have also been linked to RP (RP76). At the CC/TZ, the tectonic protein complex functions to maintain the unique biochemical environments of the inner segments (IS) and outer segments (OS) of photoreceptors. Mutations in tectonic complex proteins have been linked to ciliopathies that often include ocular abnormalities. The pathogenic mechanism underlying these mutations are poorly understood; thus, we hypothesized that EYS is an extracellular ciliary protein that interacts with α-DG and the tectonic complex. This project investigated the role of EYS, TMEM216, a member of the tectonic complex, and O-mannosyl glycans of α-DG in photoreceptor health. We determined that the C-terminal LG domains of EYS interacted with the O-mannosyl glycan epitope of α-DG. In pomgnt1 zebrafish mutants, EYS-glycan binding was reduced, and the secretion of EYS to the CC/TZ was significantly disrupted. Furthermore, in the pomgnt1 mutant retina, a substantial accumulation of EYS protein was observed in the soma of photoreceptors. Interestingly, deletion of pomgnt1 resulted in a pattern of photoreceptor degeneration similar to that previously observed in eys zebrafish mutants. By contrast, deletion of TMEM216 did not disrupt localization of EYS or of other tectonic complex proteins, yet photoreceptor degeneration was still observed in these animals. Our study has identified a previously unknown interaction between the LG domain-containing EYS and O-mannosyl glycans. These findings provide novel insight into the functional role of EYS around the CC/TZ and suggest the importance of O-mannosyl glycosylation in the regulation of protein secretion. Furthermore, our results suggest a mechanistic link between the disruption of glycosylation and photoreceptor degeneration, providing a new perspective on the underlying mechanisms behind RP25 and RP76.
    • The impact of corporate characteristics on climate governance disclosure

      Dilling, Petra F. A.; Harris, Peter; Caykoylu, Sinan (Sustainability, 2024-02-27)
      This study examines the impact of corporate characteristics on climate change governance among 100 of the world’s largest companies, with 1400 observations in the fiscal year 2020. We consider variables such as company location, size, profitability, female board representation, years of reporting using Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) guidelines, the inclusion of UN Global Compact and Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) information, Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) membership, MSCI ESG ratings, and the presence of a climate transition plan, a sustainability executive, and a sustainability board committee. Applying a multi-theoretical framework, we employ correlation analysis and univariate and multiple linear regressions to assess the relationships. Our findings reveal positive correlations between climate governance and the presence of a climate transition plan, MSCI ratings, DJSI membership, and the existence of a sustainability executive. Additionally, companies located in developed countries exhibit significantly higher levels of climate change governance. These results hold across various scenarios, offering valuable insights for researchers, academics, business leaders, practitioners, and regulators. With the growing importance of climate change reporting, understanding the key contributing factors for effective climate governance is crucial for organizations seeking to address this critical issue.
    • Modeling exposure to folate receptor antibodies during neural development to understand its clinical significance.

      Bobrowski-Khoury, Natasha
      Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a multifactorial neurodevelopmental disorder with defined core symptoms of impaired social communication, stereotyped or repetitive behaviors, and cognitive deficits. These core symptoms present early in childhood, which distinguishes this disorder from other neurological disorders that share similar characteristics. To our knowledge, there is currently no pharmacologic treatment for the core symptoms of ASD. A possible therapeutic strategy is supplementing folate, more specifically the reduced form, folinic acid, during pregnancy. Folate is the umbrella term for biological forms of vitamin B9. The well recognized role of folates as precursors of DNA synthesis, single carbon exchange reactions and in methylation reactions is a priori evidence of its requirement for cellular replication, metabolism, and epigenetic control of gene expression. This is especially important during the early stages of neural development. While the role of folate in cellular metabolism has been clearly defined, there has been no study, to our knowledge, that demonstrates the characteristics of folate uptake and distribution during gestation and early development. This is critical to understand because of the emerging findings that folate receptor alpha autoantibodies (FRAuAb) are linked to disruptions of neural development leading to ASD. Our lab has shown that a rat model of exposure to IgG antibodies specific to rat folate receptor alpha during gestation develops a behavioral phenotype comparable to the human ASD. This phenotype appears to be preventable with folinic acid and dexamethasone treatment. Preliminary observations in this model also suggest that the phenotype seen in rats directly exposed to FRAb is preserved in subsequent generations. Overall, this thesis provides new data on the uptake and distribution of folate and folate receptor antibodies in utero (Study 1, Part 1) and in juvenile stages of development (Study 1, Part 2) and observes an appearance of deficits to a subsequent generation of animals previously exposed to FRAb directly (Study 2)
    • Assessment of knowledge, practice and perception of menstruation among adult women in the reproductive age group, in Mangalore, India

      Kotian, Shashidhar M.; Chaudhary, Vyom K.; Mutya, Venkata S.; Sekhon, Anurag S.; Sriraman, Sheetal; Prasad, Prashasti (Medip Academy, 2017-09-23)
      Background: Women often lack knowledge regarding reproductive health including menstruation which can be due to socio-cultural barriers in which they grow up. The present study is aimed at assessing the level of knowledge regarding menstruation and hygienic practices and perceptions during menstruation. Methods: It was a cross sectional study, conducted among 110 adult women to assess their knowledge regarding menstruation, practices followed during menstruation and their perceptionof menstruation. The collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 17. 0. Chi square test was applied. P<0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: Only 52% of the study population has satisfactory knowledge regarding menstruation. Women between 15 to 20 years of age and those from the middle and higher socio-economic groups seem to possess maximum knowledge regarding menstruation. Women of the higher socio-economic group practice better sanitary measures during menstruation with 100% of them using pads, as compared to women of lower socio economic group who showed a trend of using cloth (87.5%). Women of the upper socio-economic class (42.78%) had better perception towards menstruation (p<0.05). Conclusions: It is very important that lower socio-economic group should be educated about the importance of maintaining hygiene during menstruation by proper health education and equip them with skills regarding safe and hygienic practices to prevent the risk for reproductive tract infections.
    • Knowledge, Utilization and Benefits of a Child Health Care Scheme

      Sriraman, Sheetal; Baliga, Shantharam; Unnikrishnan, Bhaskaran; Kamath, Nutan (JCDR Research and Publications, 2017-11-01)
      Introduction: Child health plays an essential role in shaping the future of a community. For this reason, governments worldwide have made child health care a priority. Studying the trends of utilization and benefits of child health care schemes is therefore, imperative to assess its impact on the community. Aim: This study was undertaken to assess the knowledge, utilization and benefits of a child health care scheme Bal Sanjeevani Program (BSP) in a Government District Hospital. Materials and Methods: Hundred children belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, between 0 to 6 years of age admitted for tertiary care were divided equally into cases and controls. The children who availed the BSP were enlisted as the case, whereas those who did not avail the benefits of the BSP were enrolled as the control. The study was conducted in March and April 2016. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection, after approval of the Institutional Ethics Committee. Data analysis was done using SPSS 16.0. Descriptive statistics as well as the Chi-square test were used for analysis. Results: Of the respondents, 61(61%) had heard of the BSP, of which 11(22%) chose not to register for the scheme. Of those not availing the scheme, 39(78%) stated lack of awareness as the main reason for non-utilization. The mean expenditure of those not utilizing the scheme was 12.87 times more than that of the mean expenditure of those utilizing the scheme. Conclusion: This program significantly alleviates the financial burden on families with children admitted in tertiary care centers. Increasing the awareness regarding the BSP and identifying eligible children at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level would enhance optimum utilization of this scheme.
    • Patient handling in India—Evidence from a pilot study

      Koshy, Nidhin; Sriraman, Sheetal; Kamat, YogeeshD (Medknow, 2020-03-26)
      Background: Manual handling forms an important part of a health care worker's daily routine. Faulty techniques may result in musculoskeletal injuries in health workers and further injury to patients. Objectives: In our study, we assessed the techniques of patient moving and handling by health care workers in our hospital. Our aim was to educate them on standard moving and handling techniques and assess the impact of the same. Methods: We carried out a time-bound prospective clinical audit wherein we observed workers in the emergency department for a period of 2 weeks to evaluate their moving and handling techniques. This was followed by a training session where the workers were trained in "best-practices," and a 2-week period of reevaluation to assess compliance with standard practices. Results: During bed-to-bed transfers, we found improvements in the following seven parameters after the training session: (a) the use of good posture, (b) the use of wheel stoppers, (c) adjustment of bed height, (d) positioning the receiving bed parallel to patient's bed, (e) general risk assessment before transferring a patient, (f) involvement of at least three carers, and (g) the use of a standard command like "GO" before the transfer. Conclusion: Apart from serving the purpose of an audit, our study has revealed that the training of health care providers in safe moving and handling of patients is a neglected subject in India.
    • Internalized stigma related to COVID-19 and its psychosocial and mental health correlates: a multicentric health facility based observational study from Nepal

      Shah, Bigya; Mahapatra, Ananya; Singh, Uday Narayan; Mishra, Vilok; Daha, Sunil Kumar; Pande, Rajan; Neupane, Madan Ratna; Banjade, Anita; Khatik, Chandra Bhal; K. C., Tej Bahadur; et al. (Frontiers Media SA, 2024-02-14)
      Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to physical and psychological complications and social consequences in the form of illness-related stigma. This study aimed (1) to assess the sociodemographic and clinical variable, as well as COVID-19 related knowledge and perception of persons admitted for COVID-19/Suspected COVID-19 in Nepal, (2) to determine their levels of COVID-19- related internalized stigma, depression, and anxiety symptoms, and (3) to evaluate the correlates of COVID-19- related internalized stigma. Materials and methods: It was a cross-sectional exploratory study with a convenience sample of 395 participants (306 confirmed cases, 89 suspected cases) conducted between July-October 2020 in four health facilities in Madhesh and Lumbini provinces of Nepal. We used a semi-structured questionnaire to assess sociodemographic details, clinical information, COVID-19-related knowledge, perception, COVID-19-related internalized stigma, and the Hamilton Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) in Nepali language. Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and linear regression analyses were performed. The level of statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. Results: Around 23.3% of the patients had anxiety symptoms, 32.9% had depressive symptoms, and 20.3% had high COVID-19-related internalized stigma (mean ISMI score: 2.51-4.00). Linear regression analyses showed a significant positive association of COVID-19-related internalized stigma total score, with the following eight factors, i.e., no income in the past one month (p = 0.013), below average socioeconomic status (p = 0.004), anxiety symptoms (p = <0.001), depressive symptoms (p = <0.001), recent testing positive for COVID-19 (p = <0.001), involuntary admission (p = <0.001), prior experience of being in isolation and quarantine (p = 0.045), and those who blame others for COVID-19 (p = 0.025). Conclusion: COVID-19 survivors and suspects are vulnerable to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and COVID-19-related internalized stigma. For the first time from Nepal, our data suggests that COVID-19-related internalized stigma is associated with anxiety and depression symptoms, perceived below-average socioeconomic status, involuntary admission, prior experience of being in isolation and quarantine, recent COVID-19 positive report, self-blame, below-average socioeconomic status and no income in the past one month. Mitigating and preventing internalized stigma associated with a public health crisis such as COVID-19 is imperative by diagnosing and treating such mental health issues early and designing interventions and policies especially targeting vulnerable populations focusing on their economic background and socio-cultural beliefs.
    • Lung lymphatic endothelial cells undergo inflammatory and prothrombotic changes in a model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

      Trivedi, Anjali; Lu, Tyler M.; Summers, Barbara; Kim, Kihwan; Rhee, Alexander J.; Houghton, Sean; Byers, Derek E.; Lis, Raphaël; Reed, Hasina Outtz (Frontiers Media SA, 2024-02-19)
      The lymphatic vasculature regulates lung homeostasis through drainage of fluid and trafficking of immune cells and plays a key role in the response to lung injury in several disease states. We have previously shown that lymphatic dysfunction occurs early in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) caused by cigarette smoke (CS) and that this is associated with increased thrombin and fibrin clots in lung lymph. However, the direct effects of CS and thrombin on lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in COPD are not entirely clear. Studies of the blood vasculature have shown that COPD is associated with increased thrombin after CS exposure that causes endothelial dysfunction characterized by changes in the expression of coagulation factors and leukocyte adhesion proteins. Here, we determined whether similar changes occur in LECs. We used an in vitro cell culture system and treated human lung microvascular lymphatic endothelial cells with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and/or thrombin. We found that CSE treatment led to decreased fibrinolytic activity in LECs, which was associated with increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1). LECs treated with both CSE and thrombin together had a decreased expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and increased expression of adhesion molecules. RNA sequencing of lung LECs isolated from mice exposed to CS also showed upregulation of prothrombotic and inflammatory pathways at both acute and chronic exposure time points. Analysis of publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing of LECs as well as immunohistochemical staining of lung tissue from COPD patients supported these data and showed increased expression of inflammatory markers in LECs from COPD patients compared to those from controls. These studies suggest that in parallel with blood vessels, the lymphatic endothelium undergoes inflammatory changes associated with CS exposure and increased thrombin in COPD. Further research is needed to unravel the mechanisms by which these changes affect lymphatic function and drive tissue injury in COPD.
    • Factors Influencing Social and Community Participation of People with Spinal Cord Injury in Karnataka, India

      Babu, Heavenna; Sriraman, Sheetal; Karthikbabu, Suruliraj; Sophia, P.; Kumar, Senthil N. S. (Medknow, 2024-01-12)
      Background: Social and community participation are major indicators to assess the adequacy of treatment and rehabilitation in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study examined the relationship between functional independence, level of disability, and social and community participation among people with SCI in India. Materials and method: In this cross sectional study, 110 persons with SCI, aged 18 years and above participated in a community setting, in Karnataka, India. Spinal Cord Independence Measure Version III-self-reporting (SCIM III-SR), Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART), and WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS) were the clinical outcome measures. Spearman's correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression were done to determine association and identify the factors determining the community participation of people with SCI. Results: CHART physical independence had a positive correlation with SCIM self-care (R = 0.446) and SCIM mobility (r = 0.434). CHART cognitive independence (R = -0.38) and CHART mobility (R = -0.396) had a weak correlation with WHODAS. SCIM self-care and SCIM mobility (R2 = 0.34) were determinants of CHART cognitive independence. SCIM respiratory and sphincter management and SCIM self-care (R2 = 0.327) were determinants of CHART mobility. Conclusion: Self-care and mobility of people with SCI determine their ability to successfully reintegrate into the community, warranting a comprehensive community rehabilitation program.
    • The New Urology Match: How Recent Innovations Including Virtual Interviews and Preference Signaling Have Changed Match Outcomes

      Heard, John; Rawal, Rushil Y; Amazan, Bradley; Jeune, Karl-Ray; Freedman, Andrew (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024-01-29)
      Objectives: To determine how recent changes in the urology match occurring from 2021 to 2023, including virtual interviews (VIs) and preference signals (PS), affected match outcomes. Methods: The American Urological Association (AUA) match data from 2021 to 2023 was compared to the 15 years prior. This was obtained from the AUA website and a previous study of public AUA match data. Self-reported applicant characteristics and outcomes from the Urology Residency Applicant Spreadsheet 2021-2023 were compared to the four years prior. Results: Between 2021 and 2023, residency programs offered 43 interviews each, compared to an average of 35 in the 15 years prior. Programs have been receiving more applications each year, from a low of 225 in 2019 to a peak of 347 in 2022. This resulted in an interview offer rate of 13% between 2021 and 2023, compared to 16% in the five years prior. Applicants applied to a mean of 88 programs in 2023, increasing each year since 40 in 2006. Applicants attended 12 interviews on average between 2021 and 2023, compared to 13 in the two years prior. Self-reported applicant data similarly demonstrated that, compared to the four years prior, applicants between 2021 and 2023 applied to more programs (81 vs. 70), had a lower interview offer rate (22% vs. 32%), and a higher interview acceptance rate (90% vs. 75%). Conclusions: During the years with VIs, programs offered more interviews and applicants attended fewer on average, indicating a larger applicant pool was interviewed. Despite the introduction of PS, applicants applied to more programs in 2022 and 2023 than ever before.
    • Gender and disease-inclusive nomenclature consolidation of theragnostic target, prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) to folate hydrolase-1 (FOLH1)

      Ramirez-Fort, Marigdalia K.; Gilman, Casey K.; Alexander, Jacob S.; Meier-Schiesser, Barbara; Gower, Arjan; Olyaie, Mojtaba; Vaidya, Neel; Vahidi, Kiarash; Li, Yuxin; Lange, Christopher S.; et al. (Frontiers Media SA, 2024-02-09)
    • IPSC-derived neurons as a model for studying the role of RELN in autism

      Mohktari, Ryan (2024-03-11)
      RELN is strongly associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Homozygous loss of the encoded protein REELIN is associated with severe neurodevelopmental phenotypes characterized by lissencephaly and cerebellar hypoplasia, yet the ASD linked variants are typically heterozygous and appear to require additional genetic risk to cause ASD. To functionally characterize a RELN variant in a patient with ASD, we used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a family of non-autistic parents and their son who had ASD (the proband). The proband has a maternally-inherited missense variant (R2457C) in the RXR motif of the REELIN protein. We differentiated the iPSCs into two types of neurons, inhibitory neurons which model the inhibitory forebrain neurons that secrete REELIN, and excitatory neurons which model the cortical pyramidal neurons that respond to REELIN. Immunoblotting revealed that the proband inhibitory neurons had a lower ratio of extracellular/intracellular REELIN compared to that of the parental neurons, suggesting a decreased REELIN secretion. Sholl analysis on the proband excitatory neurons showed reduced dendritic complexity and reduced total length compared to the parental neurons. REELIN treatment increased the dendritic length and complexity in proband neurons up to the level of parental neurons. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated RELN KO did not change the dendritic phenotype in the excitatory neurons, ruling out a cell autonomous role for REELIN in these neurons. The proband excitatory neurons also had lower mRNA expression of WNT target genes in response to WNT3a, suggesting an underactive WNT signaling, as well as higher total GSK3β protein and lower phosphorylation at the inhibitory S9 site, indicating an overactive GSK3β signaling. Inhibition of GSK3β improved the proband neurons dendritic complexity in the proximal parts of the dendritic arbor. However, inhibition of mTOR signaling, which has shown to regulate REELIN signaling, did not change the dendritic morphology. In conclusion, the pathophysiology of ASD in the proband likely consists of a reduced REELIN secretion from the inhibitory neurons and an additional vulnerability in the REELIN-responding excitatory neurons, the latter likely being an overactive GSK3β and an underactive WNT signaling, all of which result in reduced dendritic complexity.
    • Una Antígona para tiempos de supervivencia: lo heroico y lo sucio en Antígona del dramaturgo cubano Yerandy Fleites

      Rojo, Roseli (University of Kansas Libraries, 2023-05-01)
      This essay analyzes Antígona (2008) by Yerandy Fleites to show how the author tackles the current Cuban political situation by rewriting the Sophoclean tragedy. Fleites adjusts the Greek myth to the Cuban context by means of parody and an intertextual dialogue with both Jean Anouilh’s Antígona (1944) and Peruvian poet José Watanabe’s Antígona (2000). The study then unpacks the idea of dirtiness and Fleites’ depiction of the female heroine to demonstrate how the dramatist proposes hybris as the main psychological driver behind the Cuban Antigone (and that, to an extent, of the generation she represents) to suggest possible avenues for sociopolitical change. At the same time, this study considers the interpretations of Fleites’ Antígona that Cuban directors Pedro Franco and Julio César Ramírez respectively brought to the stage in 2013 and 2020. Ramírez’s reading in particular provides an understanding of Antígona in the context of the protests that occurred on November 27, 2020, when intellectuals, writers, and artists demanded that the Cuban Ministry of Culture recognize their rights and their freedom as citizens.
    • Interaction effect of race-ethnicity and dementia on COVID-19 diagnosis among a national US older adult sample

      Wong, Roger; Grullon, Jason Rafael (Cambridge University Press, 2024-03-14)
      Older racial and ethnic minorities and older adults with dementia have an elevated COVID-19 risk, warranting research into the intersection between these two high-risk groups. We examined whether race-ethnicity moderates the association between dementia and COVID-19 diagnosis. Data were retrieved for 3189 respondents from a nationally representative prospective cohort sample of US older adults aged 65+ years. We analysed the effects of the interaction between race-ethnicity and dementia on COVID-19 diagnosis, after adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health and COVID-19 mitigation behaviours. The odds of COVID-19 diagnosis were significantly lower for Black older adults with dementia (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.07, 95% CI = 0.01-0.78, = 0.03). In addition, dementia increased the odds of COVID-19 diagnosis among Hispanic older adults (aOR = 1.59, 95% CI = 0.12-21.29, = 0.72), although this increase was not statistically significant. The interaction between race-ethnicity and dementia should be considered when assessing COVID-19 risk among older adults. Future research is needed to examine pathways through which dementia may interact with race and ethnicity to influence COVID-19 risk.