Glycine max polygalacturonase inhibiting protein 11 (GmPGIP11) functions in the root to suppress Heterodera glycines parasitism.

Pathogen-secreted polygalacturonases (PGs) alter plant cell wall structure by cleaving the α-(1 â†’ 4) linkages between D-galacturonic acid residues in homogalacturonan (HG), macerating the cell wall, facilitating infection. Plant PG inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) disengage pathogen PGs, impairing infection. The soybean cyst nematode, Heterodera glycines, obligate root parasite produces secretions, generating a multinucleate nurse cell called a syncytium, a byproduct of the merged cytoplasm of 200-250 root cells, occurring through cell wall maceration. The common cytoplasmic pool, surrounded by an intact plasma membrane, provides a source from which H. glycines derives nourishment but without killing the parasitized cell during a susceptible reaction. The syncytium is also the site of a naturally-occurring defense response that happens in specific G. max genotypes. Transcriptomic analyses of RNA isolated from the syncytium undergoing the process of defense have identified that one of the 11 G. max PGIPs, GmPGIP11, is expressed during defense. Functional transgenic analyses show roots undergoing GmPGIP11 overexpression (OE) experience an increase in its relative transcript abundance (RTA) as compared to the ribosomal protein 21 (GmRPS21) control, leading to a decrease in H. glycines parasitism as compared to the overexpression control. The GmPGIP11 undergoing RNAi experiences a decrease in its RTA as compared to the GmRPS21 control with transgenic roots experiencing an increase in H. glycines parasitism as compared to the RNAi control. Pathogen associated molecular pattern (PAMP) triggered immunity (PTI) and effector triggered immunity (ETI) components are shown to influence GmPGIP11 expression while numerous agricultural crops are shown to have homologs.

Data analysis of polygalacturonase inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) from agriculturally important proteomes.

The plant cell wall structure can be altered by pathogen-secreted polygalacturonases (PGs) that cleave the α-(1→4) linkages occurring between D-galacturonic acid residues in homogalacturonan. The activity of the PGs leads to cell wall maceration, facilitating infection. Plant PG inhibiting proteins (PGIPs) impede pathogen PGs, impairing infection and leading to the ability of the plant to resist infection. Analyses show the Glycine max PGIP11 (GmPGIP11) is expressed within a root cell that is parasitized by the pathogenic nematode Heterodera glycines, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN), but while undergoing a defence response that leads to its demise. Transgenic experiments show GmPGIP11 overexpression leads to a successful defence response, while the overexpression of a related G. max PGIP, GmPGIP1 does not, indicating a level of specificity. The analyses presented here have identified PGIPs from 51 additional studied proteomes, many of agricultural importance. The analyses include the computational identification of signal peptides and their cleavage sites, O-, and N-glycosylation. Artificial intelligence analyses determine the location where the processed protein localize. The identified PGIPs are presented as a tool base from which functional transgenics can be performed to determine whether they may have a role in plant-pathogen interactions.

Colorectal Cancer Screening and Access to Healthcare in New York City Taxi Drivers.

This study examined differences in colorectal cancer screening across sociodemographic, migration, occupational, and health-related factors in a sample of male taxi drivers. Male drivers eligible for colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) (≥ 50 years old) were recruited in 55 community-based health fairs conducted during November 2015 to February 2017 in 16 taxi garages or community locations located in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Bronx. Participants completed a survey that included sociodemographic, migration, occupational, health-related, and cancer screening practices. For this study 33 questions were analyzed. The sample consisted of 137 male drivers, 27% of them had undergone CRCS. Occupation-related factors, including night shifts and driving high numbers of weekly hours, were associated with lower CRCS rates; having a family history of cancer, health insurance, a regular source of primary care, and a routine check-up in the last year, were associated with higher CRCS rates. The findings suggest that drivers with health insurance and better access to primary care are more likely to be up-to-date with CRCS. The results provide important information that can inform occupation-based public health interventions.

South Asian Health. From Research to Practice and Policy: An Overview.

The US South Asian population has grown tremendously, and is now over 2.5 million. South Asians often face tremendous cultural, socioeconomic, linguistic and structural obstacles to good health, and face staggering cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer risk. Coupled with this is a paucity of detailed data on the population's unique CVD and cancer risk profiles, etiologic mechanisms, and effective interventions to address South Asian health disparities. This data gap compelled an initiative to develop more targeted research and evidence-based practice and policy approaches. The South Asian Health Initiative (SAHI), a community based participatory research partnership between the Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer and the South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS), and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute thus partnered to effect the first national South Asian translational research endeavor, South Asian Health: From Research to Practice and Policy, summarized in this paper.

Perception and reality of particulate matter exposure in New York City taxi drivers.

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and black carbon (BC) have been linked to negative health risks, but exposure among professional taxi drivers is understudied. This pilot study measured drivers' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs (KAB) about air pollution compared with direct measures of exposures. Roadside and in-vehicle levels of PM2.5 and BC were continuously measured over a single shift on each subject, and exposures compared with central site monitoring. One hundred drivers completed an air pollution KAB questionnaire, and seven taxicabs participated in preliminary in-cab air sampling. Taxicab PM2.5 and BC concentrations were elevated compared with nearby central monitoring. Average PM2.5 concentrations per 15-min interval were 4-49 µg/m3. BC levels were also elevated; reaching>10 µg/m3. Fifty-six of the 100 drivers surveyed believed they were more exposed than non-drivers; 81 believed air pollution causes health problems. Air pollution exposures recorded suggest that driver exposures would likely exceed EPA recommendations if experienced for 24 h. Surveys indicated that driver awareness of this was limited. Future studies should focus on reducing exposures and increasing awareness among taxi drivers.

Gutka and Tambaku Paan use among South Asian immigrants: a focus group study.

Smokeless tobacco use is prevalent among South Asian immigrants, particularly in the forms of gutka and tambaku paan. In this paper, we examined (a) gutka and tambaku paan initiation and use patterns among South Asian immigrants, and (b) perceptions related to quitting and tobacco control. Six focus groups were conducted with 39 South Asian adult gutka/tambaku paan users, in three different South Asian languages (Gujarati, Bengali, and Urdu). Participants reported easy availability of gutka and tambaku paan in neighborhood stores, and noted several factors that promoted initiation (including social networks, perceived benefits, and curiosity). Due to awareness of low social acceptance of gutka and tambaku paan in the US, some participants discussed changing patterns of use following immigration. Finally, participants proposed roles of various agencies (e.g., doctors'/dentists' role, government-led initiatives) for tobacco control in South Asian immigrant communities. This research provides implications for improving tobacco control efforts in the United States, particularly for South Asian immigrants.

Disengagement beliefs in South Asian immigrant smokeless tobacco users: A qualitative study.

Gutka and tambaku paan (smokeless tobacco products used by South Asian immigrants) are carcinogenic to humans (and perceived as such), yet, one-fourth of South Asian immigrants report current use. This study examined disengagement beliefs that perpetuate gutka/tambaku paan use among South Asians despite awareness of health risks. Six focus groups were conducted with immigrant South Asian adult gutka/tambaku paan users, in Gujarati, Bengali and Urdu languages in New York, USA. Participants included 39 South Asian adults residing in the New York City Metropolitan area, current (a minimum of weekly gutka or tambaku paan use in the last 12 months) or former (regular use prior to past 12 months) gutka or tambaku paan users and self-reported spoken fluency in Gujarati, Urdu or Bengali languages. Participants identified many health risks associated with gutka/tambaku paan use including locked jaw, high blood pressure and cancer. Five themes of disengagement beliefs emerged: (a) skepticism about the gutka/tambaku paan-cancer link, (b) perceived invulnerability to harm, (c) compensatory beliefs, (d) faith-based rationalization and (e) acknowledgment of addiction. To promote smokeless tobacco cessation among South Asians, interventions to counter disengagement beliefs and heighten the discomfort between the dissonant cognitions represent a promising area warranting further attention.

"Every disease man can get can start in this cab": focus groups to identify south Asian taxi drivers' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs about cardiovascular disease and its risks.

South Asian (SA) taxi drivers potentially possess a double epidemiologic risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to their ethnicity and occupation. This study investigates SA taxi drivers' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs about general health, CVD and approaches to reduce CVD risk. Five focus groups were conducted with 31 SA taxi drivers in the participants' primary language (Bengali, Hindi, Urdu or Punjabi). Audio-recordings of the sessions were transcribed, translated and entered into ATLAS.ti 6.2 for coding and analysis. SA drivers in an urban setting perceive themselves to be at high risk for CVD because of high work-related stress, physical inactivity, poor diet and poor health care access. Participants attributed their occupation to increasing risk for heart disease; none believed that being SA increased their risk. Interventions to lower CVD risk among SA taxi drivers should be multi-level and involve the individual drivers and the taxi industry.

Mentally ill inpatients' experiences and opinions on seeing medical students: a questionnaire study.

Research involving general patients suggests that most patients agree to be involved in medical education but prefer not to discuss personal or stress related issues with/in front of medical students. We explore the opinions and experiences of mentally ill in-patients of their involvement in undergraduate medical education in psychiatry. The study shows that patients attach importance to students seeing real patients and that the patients are happy to be seen by medical students. Most patients benefit from seeing a student and few suffer detriment. They experience anxiety prior to the student-patient interview which dissipates during the interview. Mentally ill patients agree to see medical students for similar reasons to other patients. It is important to obtain full consent from patients who see medical students.

Anorexia nervosa and gender identity disorder in biologic males: a report of two cases.

UNLABELLED: Gender identity disorder is a rare disorder of uncertain etiology. The emphasis on body shape in this disorder suggests that there may be an association with anorexia nervosa. METHOD: We report two cases of anorexia nervosa and gender identity disorder in biologic males who presented to an eating disorders service. RESULTS: One was treated successfully as an outpatient and subsequently underwent gender reassignment surgery. The other patient required admission and prolonged psychotherapy. DISCUSSION: Differences between the two cases are discussed. Issues of gender identity should be considered in the assessment of male patients presenting with anorexia nervosa.