Trinity Washington University

Neuron processes-axons and dendrites-have distinct branching patterns related to their biological function in the brain and body. Other non-neuronal cells in the nervous system, glia, also have characteristic branching morphologies. Our previous work has used biological scaling theory to connect branching patterns in neurons to biophysical function such as energy or conduction time minimization and material constrants in a compact, unifying mathematical model. Here, we use functionally relevant structural parameters related to asymmetric branching patterns extracted from our model as features in machine-learning classification methods to highlight differences between different types of neurons and glia as well as between healthy and diseased cells. Notably, we find that parameters related to information flow vary with position in the cell-that is, relative proximity of each branching junction to the soma (cell body) or synapses. We find that for some neuronal and glial cell type comparisons, such as comparisons between medium spiny neuron (MSN) dendrites, incorporating relative branching junction location significantly improves the performance of machine-learning classification methods. Our results imply that differences in information flow across cells drive specific morphological changes that correspond to localized regions of neuronal and glial cells. The promise of our methods and results lay foundation for future studies classifying neuronal and glial cells based on pathology, using our asymmetric scale factors and relative branching junction location as potential biomarkers to identify particular diseases based on both structural differences and the underlying differences in function.

BackgroundAlthough discriminatory experiences of transgender people seeking healthcare services have been well-documented in several studies, differentiating those experiences based on gender identity/expression and related factors has been limited. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics, experiences, attitude, and expectation toward accessing healthcare service and healthcare providers of transgender women and transgender men in Thailand.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2017 to March 2018. The data were collected from transgender women and transgender men aged ≥ 18 years old who lived in Thailand using online platform via different websites and Facebook pages of local transgender group. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the factors related to the study outcomes.ResultsOf 186 transgender people who responded to the questionnaire and were eligible for the study, 73.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 66.7–79.8) were transgender women and 26.3% (95% CI = 20.2–33.3) were transgender men. Transgender women were more likely to seek general healthcare from non-traditional healthcare services (crude odds ratio [cOR] = 4.28; 95% CI = 1.55–11.81; P = 0.005), buy hormone treatment from non-traditional healthcare services (cOR = 3.89; 95% CI = 1.18–12.83; P = 0.026), and receive healthcare counseling from non-traditional healthcare providers (cOR = 5.16; 95% CI = 1.42–18.75; P = 0.013) than transgender men. According to the results of applying a multivariable model, transgender respondents who did not know that gender-affirming healthcare services existed in Thailand were more unwilling to receive counseling from gender-affirming healthcare providers than those who did (adjusted odds ratio = 3.70; 95% CI = 1.11–12.36; P = 0.033).ConclusionsThe findings from this cross-sectional study indicate that transgender women are more likely than transgender men to receive general healthcare and hormone treatment from non-traditional healthcare services and buy hormone treatment without a physician’s supervision. We also found approximately 15% of transgender individuals who did not receive gender-affirming counseling services. Continuing to improve access to care for the transgender community, increasing public relations channels may encourage transgender people to access more healthcare services.

The function of ABC transporter proteins, such as ABCB1, is to transport substrates across cell membranes in many organs. ABCB1 can be found in multiple species, however, the sequence we annotated is derived from Equus caballus (horse). The objective of this research was to annotate and derive a structural homology model of the horse-derived P-glycoprotein. We classified the protein as a transmembrane ATP-binding cassette (ABC) protein ABCB1. Annotation of the sequence (which is not yet manually curated in NCBI) was carried out using various tools including BLAST, TMHMM, PFAM, HMM Logo, etc, and supports its designation as ABCB1 or P-glycoprotein of horse. The homology model was constructed using SWISS-MODEL based on the structure of human P-glycoprotein (PDB code: 6c0v). Three structures that share high sequence identity were chosen for analysis. Two homology models were prepared using the cryo-EM structures of human ABCB1 (PDB code: 6qex, % sequence identity) and human P-glycoprotein. The model using the structure of human P-glycoprotein as a template had the highest QMEAN score, Ramachandran favorability, and the most favorable Molprobity score. That model was evaluated using ProCheck and energy minimized using Chiron to give rise to the final model. Energy minimization resolved an unmodeled loop from Q625 to V691 and corrected other minor distortions. The clash ratio of the energy minimized model indicated that there are few clashes in the structure. Based on analysis of the structure validation parameters, the best homology model of equine P-glycoprotein was derived using the human P-glycoprotein as a template.

This study uses identity theory, social identity theory, and life course theory to investigate influences on five aspects of Blacks’ and Whites’ racial identity: importance, salience, pride in the identity, verification, and perceived public respect for the identity. Data were from the Identity Module of the 2014 General Social Survey. As predicted, Blacks score higher than Whites on racial identity importance and salience, and Blacks are prouder of their racial group. Blacks’ racial identity is more often verified than Whites’, but they perceive less public respect for their group than Whites do. Social relationships (marriage or cohabitation, parenthood, and religious attendance) only selectively enhanced racial identity. Unexpectedly, loneliness was related to greater racial identity importance, salience (for Whites), pride in one’s group, and verification. As life course theory would predict, racial identity was stronger among the civil rights and older cohort than the post-civil rights cohort. For Black compared to White millennials, racial identity was more important and salient, and a greater source of pride.

Aim: Perceived knowledge, useand perceptions of pharmacogenomics (PGx) testing were assessed among healthcare practitioners in North Carolina. Materials & methods: A validated survey was distributed to various healthcare professionals and analyzed for differences among the groups. Results: The majority of the 744 survey respondents acknowledged the perceived benefits of PGx testing, but indicated either never or rarely using it. A substantial percentage of practitioners reported educational experiences but the majority had received no training. Among groups reporting using PGx testing, barriers to implementation were cost and insufficient training. Conclusion: The perceived cost of PGx testing and insufficiency or lack of training are major contributing factors to the infrequent use of PGx testing by healthcare providers in North Carolina.

Abstract Visceral organs receive neural innervation from sensory ganglia located adjacent to multiple levels of the brainstem and spinal cord. Here we examined whether molecular profiling could be used to identify functional clusters of colon afferents from thoracolumbar (TL), lumbosacral (LS), and nodose ganglia (NG) in the mouse. Profiling of TL and LS bladder afferents was also done. Visceral afferents were back-labeled using retrograde tracers injected into proximal and distal regions of colon or bladder, followed by single cell RT-qPCR and analysis via an automated hierarchical clustering method. Genes were chosen for assay (32 for bladder; 48 for colon) based on their established role in stimulus detection, regulation of sensitivity/function or neuroimmune interaction. A total of 132 colon afferents (from NG, TL and LS) and 128 bladder afferents (from TL and LS) were analyzed. Retrograde labeling from the colon showed NG and TL afferents innervate proximal and distal regions of the colon whereas 98% of LS afferents only project to distal regions. There were clusters of colon and bladder afferents, defined by mRNA profiling, that localized to either TL or LS ganglia. Mixed TL/LS clustering also was found. In addition, transcriptionally, NG colon afferents were almost completely segregated from colon DRG (TL or LS) neurons. These results indicate that populations of primary visceral afferents are functionally “tuned” to detect and interact with the internal environment and that information from all levels is integrated at higher (CNS) levels, not only for regulation of homeostatic functions, but for conscious visceral sensations including pain.Significance StatementVisceral organs are innervated by sensory neurons whose cell bodies are located in multiple ganglia associated with the brainstem and spinal cord. For the colon, this overlapping innervation is proposed to facilitate visceral sensation and homeostasis, where sensation and pain is mediated by spinal afferents and fear and anxiety (the affective aspects of visceral pain) are the domain of nodose afferents. Transcriptomic analysis performed here reveals that genes implicated in both homeostatic regulation and pain are found in afferents across all ganglia types, suggesting that conscious sensation and homeostatic regulation is the result of convergence, and not segregation, of sensory input.

In the study on which this article is based, I examine the correlation between the number of Black girls in leadership programs and the number of Black female leaders in nonprofit organizations. I carried out research on Black girl leadership to understand the shortcomings of programs meant to teach Black girls appropriate leadership skills and I conducted interviews with female leaders to determine the hurdles faced by Black women trying to obtain leadership roles in the nonprofit sector. My findings show that there is a disconnect between Black and white women in leadership roles and that impediments for Black women affect leadership prospects for Black girls. This article is a call to create an activist model that supports the professional trajectories of Black girls.

Assess relationship among health services received and patients' digital health-care engagement. Quantitative cross-sectional survey study. Community health centers in Washington state and DC. N = 164 adult safety-net patients. Not applicable. Outcomes were knowledge and use of health apps. Predictors were health service access (access to specialists and health information); health service delivery (healthy eating and physical activity counsel); health service satisfaction; and perceived service value. Descriptive and multivariate regression analyses. Odds ratios (OR) reported for 95% confidence interval (CI). Response rate was 35%. Of all, 71% were knowledgeable of smartphone use for wellness and 48% used health apps. Physical activity (PA) counseling predicted knowledge and health apps use. Respondents receiving PA counseling were 2.61 times more likely to be knowledgeable about using smartphones for health promotion (OR = 2.61; P = .047; 95% CI: 1.01-6.73). Respondents receiving PA counseling were 2.89 times more likely to use health apps (OR = 2.89; P = .022; 95% CI: 1.17-7.17). Health information access predicted health apps use; respondents with easy access to general health information were 0.29 times as likely to use health apps (OR = 0.29; P = .043; 95% CI: 0.09-0.96). Targeted preventive care support encourages digital health-care engagement. mHealth may supplement health-care needs outside clinics.