Association between self-reported race and ethnicity and myositis-specific autoantibodies in a diverse cohort of patients with inflammatory myopathy.

Myositis-specific autoantibodies (MSAs) are highly specific biomarkers for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). We investigated whether self-reported race and ethnicity were associated with the presence of specific MSAs. Charts of patients with IIM seen at 3 large healthcare systems in the same US city were reviewed.

A Social Cognitive Theory Approach to Understanding Parental Attitudes and Intentions to Vaccinate Children during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine represents a path towards global health after a worldwide pandemic. Yet, the U.S.

Family Communication Patterns and Parents' Intentions to Vaccinate Their Child Against COVID-19.

This study explored how family communication patterns relate to parental knowledge about COVID-19, vaccine confidence, and intentions to vaccinate their children. Parents from 4 states (Ohio, New York, Georgia, and Texas;  = 702) completed an online survey in March 2021. Results revealed that conversation orientation was positively associated with both COVID-19 knowledge and overall vaccine confidence, which were both positively associated with intentions to vaccinate one's child.

Effect of Message Format and Content on Attitude Accessibility Regarding Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are widespread in the United States among people ages 15-24 years and cost almost $16 billion yearly. It is therefore important to understand message design strategies that could help reduce these numbers. Guided by exemplification theory and the extended parallel process model (EPPM), this study examines the influence of message format and the presence versus absence of a graphic image on recipients' accessibility of STI attitudes regarding safe sex.

The spotted gar genome illuminates vertebrate evolution and facilitates human-teleost comparisons.

To connect human biology to fish biomedical models, we sequenced the genome of spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus), whose lineage diverged from teleosts before teleost genome duplication (TGD). The slowly evolving gar genome has conserved in content and size many entire chromosomes from bony vertebrate ancestors. Gar bridges teleosts to tetrapods by illuminating the evolution of immunity, mineralization and development (mediated, for example, by Hox, ParaHox and microRNA genes).

Expanding the annotation of zebrafish microRNAs based on small RNA sequencing.

MicroRNAs (miRs) are short non-coding RNAs that fine-tune the regulation of gene expression to coordinate a wide range of biological processes. Because of their role in the regulation of gene expression, miRs are essential players in development by acting on cell fate determination and progression towards cell differentiation and are increasingly relevant to human health and disease. Although the zebrafish Danio rerio is a major model for studies of development, genetics, physiology, evolution, and human biology, the annotation of zebrafish miR-producing genes remains limited.

Enhancing web-based kidney disease prevention messages for Hispanics using targeting and tailoring.

The goal of this experiment was to assess the effects of targeted and tailored web-based messages on Hispanics' perceived susceptibility to kidney disease, and on their intention to talk to a doctor about kidney disease (the recommended behavior). Two-hundred-seventeen English-speaking Hispanics age 40 and older were recruited using an online survey service, and they were assigned randomly to read one of four messages (i.e.