Addressing Perinatal Opioid Use at a Local Health Department in Florida.

Purpose: Perinatal substance use disorders (SUDs) remain an urgent public health concern in the United States and are associated with increased maternal and infant morbidity and mortality. Establishing holistic prenatal care among this population allows for engaging or re-engaging the pregnant population in appropriate medical care, including treatment for SUD.

Description: The Florida Department of Health in Citrus County (DOH-Citrus) noticed an increase in SUD among their pregnant population and developed a pilot program that incorporates Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and mental health services during routine prenatal care appointments.

Drosophila glutamate receptor mRNA expression and mRNP particles.

The processes controlling glutamate receptor expression early in synaptogenesis are poorly understood. Here, we examine glutamate receptor (GluR) subunit mRNA expression and localization in Drosophila embryonic/larval neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). We show that postsynaptic GluR subunit gene expression is triggered by contact from the presynaptic nerve, approximately halfway through embryogenesis.

Regulation of glutamate receptor subunit availability by microRNAs.

The efficacy of synaptic transmission depends, to a large extent, on postsynaptic receptor abundance. The molecular mechanisms controlling receptor abundance are poorly understood. We tested whether abundance of postsynaptic glutamate receptors (GluRs) in Drosophila neuromuscular junctions is controlled by microRNAs, and provide evidence that it is.

Genome-wide P-element screen for Drosophila synaptogenesis mutants.

A molecular understanding of synaptogenesis is a critical step toward the goal of understanding how brains "wire themselves up," and then "rewire" during development and experience. Recent genomic and molecular advances have made it possible to study synaptogenesis on a genomic scale. Here, we describe the results of a screen for genes involved in formation and development of the glutamatergic Drosophila neuromuscular junction (NMJ).

Increased synaptic microtubules and altered synapse development in Drosophila sec8 mutants.

Background: Sec8 is highly expressed in mammalian nervous systems and has been proposed to play a role in several aspects of neural development and function, including neurite outgrowth, calcium-dependent neurotransmitter secretion, trafficking of ionotropic glutamate receptors and regulation of neuronal microtubule assembly. However, these models have never been tested in vivo. Nervous system development and function have not been described after mutation of sec8 in any organism.

An essential Drosophila glutamate receptor subunit that functions in both central neuropil and neuromuscular junction.

A Drosophila forward genetic screen for mutants with defective synaptic development identified bad reception (brec). Homozygous brec mutants are embryonic lethal, paralyzed, and show no detectable synaptic transmission at the glutamatergic neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Genetic mapping, complementation tests, and genomic sequencing show that brec mutations disrupt a previously uncharacterized ionotropic glutamate receptor subunit, named here "GluRIID.

Epithelial differentiation promotes the adherence of type 1-piliated Escherichia coli to human vaginal cells.

Colonization of the vaginal introitus by fecal Escherichia coli is thought to be a key initial event leading to acute urinary tract infection, yet the mannosylated receptor for type 1 pili on the squamous epithelium of vaginal mucosa is unknown. E. coli expressing type 1 pili adhered to sections of normal human vaginal epithelium in a gradient with greatest binding in upper cell layers was observed, which suggests that epithelial differentiation influences bacterial binding.