Internalized skin bias: validation study to explore the impact of the internalization of social stigma on those with hidradenitis suppurativa.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic auto-inflammatory disease that is highly associated with adverse psychopathology and impaired body image. Previous studies show that patients with HS are also impacted by social stigma associated with their skin disease. Over time, these experiences can influence the way in which patients feel about themselves, leading to internalized skin bias (ISB). OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Internalized Skin Bias Questionnaire (ISBQ) in an HS population and to determine the association of this instrument with markers of HS severity. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey with 72-h retest was sent to adult patients with HS from March to November 2021. Reliability for the ISBQ was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and the Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC). Construct validity was evaluated using Pearson Correlation Coefficients with similar measures. RESULTS: Internal consistency for the ISBQ instrument was 0.89 with a CCC of 0.88. The ISBQ had moderate correlation (r = 0.63) with the experienced skin stigma questionnaire as well as the BDI-II (r = 0.66) and the psychosocial subscale of the HiSQOL (r = 0.65). ISBQ scores differed significantly across different stages of disease severity (P = 0.04). There was no significant difference between those with different durations of disease (P = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the ISBQ is a valid and reliable instrument that can be used to assess the psychosocial construct of ISB especially in a population of HS patients. Further, ISB places a prevalent negative impact on the psychopathology of patients with HS.

Detection of correlated conformational fluctuations in intrinsically disordered proteins through paramagnetic relaxation interference.

Functionally relevant conformational states of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are typically concealed in a vast space of fast interconverting structures. Here we present a novel methodology, NMR-based paramagnetic relaxation interference (PRI), that allows for direct observation of concerted motions and cooperatively folded sub-states in IDPs. The proposed NMR technique is based on the exploitation of cross correlated electron-nuclear dipolar relaxation interferences in doubly spin-labeled proteins and probes the transient spatial encounter of electron-nucleus spin pairs.

Attitudinal barriers to participation in oncology clinical trials: factor analysis and correlates of barriers.

Patient participation in cancer clinical trials is low. Little is known about attitudinal barriers to participation, particularly among patients who may be offered a trial during an imminent initial oncology consult. The aims of the present study were to confirm the presence of proposed subscales of a recently developed cancer clinical trial attitudinal barriers measure, describe the most common cancer clinical trials attitudinal barriers, and evaluate socio-demographic, medical and financial factors associated with attitudinal barriers. A total of 1256 patients completed a survey assessing demographic factors, perceived financial burden, prior trial participation and attitudinal barriers to clinical trials participation. Results of a factor analysis did not confirm the presence of the proposed four attitudinal barriers subscale/factors. Rather, a single factor represented the best fit to the data. The most highly-rated barriers were fear of side-effects, worry about health insurance and efficacy concerns. Results suggested that less educated patients, patients with non-metastatic disease, patients with no previous oncology clinical trial participation, and patients reporting greater perceived financial burden from cancer care were associated with higher barriers. These patients may need extra attention in terms of decisional support. Overall, patients with fewer personal resources (education, financial issues) report more attitudinal barriers and should be targeted for additional decisional support.

Investigative approach to frog gastrocnemius laboratory: potential impact on animal use in teaching laboratories.

With growing concern over the use of animal experimentation in the teaching of physiology, many biology departments are reassessing the use of animal experiments in the teaching lab. However, it may be just as important to assess how animal experimentation is used in the undergraduate teaching laboratory rather than simply assessing if animal experimentation should be used at all. In our study, sophomore-level life science students enrolled in a core organismal biology course undertook a laboratory exercise designed to elucidate properties of muscles and neuromuscular communication following two protocols: 1) a standard demonstrational model wherein students were told to undertake the exercise as a means to understand physiological processes that they had been exposed to previously in lecture or 2) an investigative model wherein the use of the gastrocnemius preparation was a logical next step in an ongoing investigation, the content of which was driven by student-generated hypotheses. We have observed a significant decrease in a number of the negative comments concerning the use of animals in experimentation (25.6 vs. 3.6%) since the implementation of the investigative approach to the laboratory, suggesting that curricular approaches to the use of animals in the teaching laboratory may have an impact on student attitudes concerning animal experimentation.