Introducing Biospecimen Science to Communities: Tools from Two Cities.

BACKGROUND: This article describes community-engaged processes employed by two Community Network Program Center (CNPC) sites located in Tampa, Florida, and Buffalo, New York, toward the development of Spanish/English educational products about biobanking and biospecimen research. METHODS: Each CNPC carried out a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach that underscored six essential components that moved concepts to a final educational product in a highly participatory fashion. The similar CBPR processes at the two locations focused on the same topic, resulted in different engagement approaches and tools for their respective communities: 1) DVD and brochure toolkit and 2) PowerPoint, group program with audience response system (ARS). RESULTS: We detail a comparison of methods and applications for using these tools among diverse community groups to advance understandings about genetic and biomedical research technologies. CONCLUSION: Ultimately, these tools and associated educational efforts emphasize the critical value of co-learning among academic and community members in biobanking and biospecimen research.

Intact negative feedback of four cardiac hormones in congestive heart failure.

In 30 individuals with class III congestive heart failure (CHF), negative feedback of 4 cardiac peptide hormones, ie, long-acting natriuretic peptide (LANP), vessel dilator, kaliuretic peptide, and atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) from the same 126-amino acid (aa) prohormone were studied with the infusion of 100 ng/kg body weight (BW) for 60 minutes of each of the 4 cardiac hormones and a saline control (n = 6 for each). LANP decreased the circulating concentrations of vessel dilator, kaliuretic peptide, and ANF by 24%, 55%, and 30%, respectively. Vessel dilator decreased the circulating concentrations of ANF, kaliuretic peptide, and LANP 27%, 12%, and 62%, respectively. Kaliuretic peptide decreased the circulating concentrations of LANP, ANF, and vessel dilator 89%, 67%, and 70%, respectively. ANF decreased the circulating concentrations of LANP, vessel dilator, and kaliuretic peptide 88%, 59%, and 98%, respectively. Infusion of each of these 4 cardiac hormones decreased the excretion of the other 3 hormones into the urine by 11% to 92%. These results suggest that the respective cardiac hormones inhibit the release of each other rather than their breakdown, which would have increased their urinary concentrations. The feedback regulation of these hormones found previously in healthy humans is, thus, preserved in persons with CHF despite their increased endogenous circulating concentrations.

Combined treatment with vessel dilator and kaliuretic hormone in persons with congestive heart failure.

Vessel dilator and kaliuretic hormone, two cardiovascular peptide hormones, enhance urine flow 2- to 13-fold and 4-fold, respectively, in persons with class III New York Heart Association congestive heart failure (CHF). The natriuresis and diuresis secondary to vessel dilator and kaliuretic hormone are not blunted as are atrial natriuretic peptide and brain natriuretic peptide effects in persons with CHF compared with healthy individuals. The present investigation determined if the two peptide hormones that do not have blunted effects in persons with CHF may have added beneficial effects when given simultaneously to individuals with class III CHF. Together with each at 100 ng/kg of body weight per minute, vessel dilator and kaliuretic hormone increased urine flow rate 3.5-fold (P < 0.05) compared with their 60-min baseline and control CHF subjects' urine flow rates. Combined, they enhanced the excretion rate of sodium a maximum of 3.6-fold (P < 0.05) with 2.5- and 2-fold enhancement 2 and 3 hrs after infusion. These data indicate that vessel dilator and kaliuretic hormone have diuretic and natriuretic effects when used in combination, but these effects are not additive over their individual effects in persons with CHF.

Development and validation of the biobanking attitudes and knowledge survey (BANKS).

BACKGROUND: No validated multiscale instruments exist that measure community members' views on biobanking and biospecimen donation. This study describes the development and psychometric properties of the English-language BANKS (Biobanking Attitudes and Knowledge Survey). METHODS: The BANKS was created by item generation through review of scientific literature, focus groups with community members, and input from a community advisory board. Items were refined through cognitive interviews. Content validity was assessed through an expert panel review. Psychometric properties of the BANKS were assessed in a sample of 85 community members. RESULTS: The final BANKS includes three scales: attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy; as well as three single items, which evaluated receptivity and intention to donate a biospecimen for research. Cronbach α coefficients for two scales that use Likert response format indicated high internal consistency (attitudes: α, 0.88; self-efficacy: α, 0.95). Content validity indices were moderate, ranging from 0.69 to 0.89. Intention to donate blood and intention to donate urine were positively correlated with attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, and receptivity to learning more about biobanking (P values range from 0.029 to <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The final BANKS shows evidence of satisfactory reliability and validity, is easy to administer, and is a promising tool to inform biospecimen research. Additional studies should be conducted with larger samples considering biospecimen donation to further assess the reliability and validity of the instrument. IMPACT: A valid and reliable instrument measuring community members' views about biobanking may help researchers evaluate relevant communication interventions to enhance understanding, intention, and actual biospecimen donation. A Spanish-language BANKS is under development.

Atrial natriuretic hormone prohormone gene expression in cardiac and extra-cardiac tissues of diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats.

The present investigation was designed to determine if the mechanism for the increased atrial natriuretic peptides within the circulation of diabetic animals involves atrial natriuretic hormone prohormone (proANH) gene expression upregulation. The tissue specificity of this potential upregulation of the proANH gene was investigated in a spontaneous model of type 2 diabetes, i.e. the Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat with comparison to age-matched non-diabetic Wistar rats from which the GK colony was originally derived. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that proANH gene expression was increased 3.1-fold in the left heart ventricle, 5-fold in lung, 2-fold in kidney, 3-fold within mucosa and 1.8-fold within muscle of gastric antrum (p < 0.05 for each) of GK rats compared to Wistar rats. There was no significant increase in proANH gene expression in atria and right ventricle of the heart of GK rats compared to Wistars. These results indicate that steady-state ANH prohormone mRNA levels increase within the left ventricle and extracardiac tissues in type 2 diabetic animals. This enhanced gene expression is a functional increase with its expressed proteins (4 peptide hormones; ANPs) increasing 2-6 fold within the circulation of GKs. The greater increase in proANH messenger RNA in the extracardiac tissues compared to the amount of increase within the heart and the greater tissue mass of these combined extra cardiac tissues suggests the majority of the increase in ANPs within the circulation of diabetics is secondary to increased synthesis in extracardiac tissues. This also suggests that there is a systemic regulatory mechanism of proANH gene expression not only within the heart but also within the lung, gastrointestinal tract and kidney. Diabetes is the first disease in which there is more upregulation of ANH prohormone in extracardiac tissues compared to upregulation within the heart itself.

Four cardiac hormones increase circulating concentrations of luteinizing hormone and testosterone.

This study was designed to determine whether four peptide hormones consisting of amino acids 1-30-long-acting natriuretic hormone (LANH), 31-67 (vessel dilator), 79-98 (kaliuretic hormone), and 99-126 (atrial natriuretic hormone [ANH])-of the 126 amino acid atrial natriuretic prohormone increase the circulating concentration of testosterone in healthy humans (n = 30). Vessel dilator, kaliuretic hormone, LANH, and ANH increased the circulating concentration of testosterone 3.8, 2.6, 3.9, and 3.4-fold, respectively (p < 0.01 for each), when infused at 100 ng/(kg of body wt . min) for 60 min. The increases in testosterone lasted 2.5-3 h after cessation of the respective atrial natriuretic peptides' infusions. ANH, vessel dilator, LANH, and kaliuretic hormone increased luteinizing hormone (LH) 3-to 8.4-fold (p < 0.001) during infusion, with the maximal increase in LH being 6.7- to 11.7-fold (p < 0.001) secondary to these cardiac hormones. Vessel dilator and kaliuretic hormone increased LH before increasing testosterone in a sequential fashion. These data suggest that four peptide hormones-ANH, LANH, vessel dilator, and kaliuretic hormone-increase the circulating con-centrations of LH and testosterone in humans.