Gynecologic care utilization in asylum-seeking women in New York City.

Introduction: Over 25,000 individuals are granted asylum status in the United States annually. Gender-based violence (GBV) has historically been supported as a claim for persecution to apply for asylum. In women, GBV is a known risk factor for sexually transmitted infections, poor mental health, and worse perinatal outcomes.

Genome Sequences of 14 Escherichia coli O157:H7 Strains Isolated before and during the Time Frame of the 2018 Multistate Outbreak Associated with Romaine Lettuce.

Several outbreaks of O157:H7 associated with contaminated leafy green vegetables have been documented. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of 14 strains isolated from human patients in the state of Wisconsin during a multistate outbreak in early 2018 that was linked to consumption of romaine lettuce.

Depressive Symptom Prevalence and Predictors in the First Half of Pregnancy.

Introduction: Major depression during the peripartum (MDP) period carries significant public health impact due to the potential adverse effects on maternal, infant, and family outcomes.

Methods: As part of a larger longitudinal study, this cross-sectional observational study sought to build upon the current literature on the prevalence and predictors of depression in the early second trimester of pregnancy, as related to generally accepted risk factors and other less explored risk factors.

Results: The findings from this study suggest that in this sample of 230 black and white women at ∼14 weeks gestation, ∼19% endorsed depressive symptoms and that the most important predictors of depression in pregnancy were a preconception history of a mental health issue (e.

Complaints as starting point for vicious cycles in customer-employee-interactions.

A ring-model of vicious cycles in customer-employee-interaction is proposed: service employees perceive complaints as a threat to their self-esteem resulting in defense responses such as an increased need for cognitive closure, a devaluation of the customer and their information and degrading service behavior. Confronted with such degrading service behavior, customers react defensively as well, by devaluing the employee for example with regard to his/her competence and by reducing repurchase and positive word-of-mouth (WOM). Three studies investigated each link in this ring-model.

Controlled assembly of artificial protein-protein complexes via DNA duplex formation.

DNA-protein conjugates have found a wide range of applications. This study demonstrates the formation of defined, non-native protein-protein complexes via the site specific labeling of two proteins of interest with complementary strands of single-stranded DNA in vitro. This study demonstrates that the affinity of two DNA-protein conjugates for one another may be tuned by the use of variable lengths of DNA allowing reversible control of complex formation.

A case-referent study: light at night and breast cancer risk in Georgia.

Background: Literature has identified detrimental health effects from the indiscriminate use of artificial nighttime light. We examined the co-distribution of light at night (LAN) and breast cancer (BC) incidence in Georgia, with the goal to contribute to the accumulating evidence that exposure to LAN increases risk of BC.

Methods: Using Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry data (2000-2007), we conducted a case-referent study among 34,053 BC cases and 14,458 lung cancer referents.

Prostate cancer incidence and tumor severity in Georgia: descriptive epidemiology, racial disparity, and geographic trends.

Purpose: Limited research has been conducted to describe the geographical clustering and distribution of prostate cancer (PrCA) incidence in Georgia (GA). This study describes and compares the temporal and geographic trends of PrCA incidence in GA with a specific focus on racial disparities.

Methods: GA Comprehensive Cancer Registry PrCA incidence data were obtained for 1998-2008.

Complement regulator C4BP binds to Staphylococcus aureus and decreases opsonization.

Staphylococcus aureus is the major cause of human skin and soft-tissue infections as well as invasive infections like post-operative wound infections, septic arthritis, and osteomyelitis. The complement system plays an important role in the immunological control of many bacteria, but can be inhibited by a variety of strategies including recruitment of complement regulatory proteins like C4b-binding protein (C4BP). These experiments demonstrate that S.

Cancer mortality-to-incidence ratios in Georgia: describing racial cancer disparities and potential geographic determinants.

Background: The objective of this study was to evaluate racial cancer disparities in Georgia by calculating and comparing mortality-to-incidence ratios (MIRs) by health district and in relation to geographic factors.

Methods: Data sources included cancer incidence (Georgia Comprehensive Cancer Registry), cancer mortality (Georgia Vital Records), and health factor (County Health Rankings) data. Age-adjusted incidence and mortality rates were calculated by cancer site (all sites combined, lung, colorectal, prostate, breast, oral, and cervical) for 2003-2007.

Social and clinical predictors of prostate cancer treatment decisions among men in South Carolina.

Objective: To assess social and clinical influences of prostate cancer treatment decisions among white and black men in the Midlands of South Carolina.

Methods: We linked data collected on treatment decision making in men diagnosed with prostate cancer from 1996 through 2002 with clinical and sociodemographic factors collected routinely by the South Carolina Central Cancer Registry (SCCCR). Unconditional logistic regression was used to assess social and clinical influences on treatment decision.

Self-perceived lactose intolerance results in lower intakes of calcium and dairy foods and is associated with hypertension and diabetes in adults.

Background: Self-perceived lactose intolerance may result in adverse dietary modifications; thus, more studies are needed to understand the prevalence of self-perceived lactose intolerance and how it relates to calcium intake and selected health conditions.

Objective: The objective was to examine the effects of self-perceived lactose intolerance as it relates to calcium intake and specific health problems that have been attributed to reduced intakes of calcium and dairy foods in a nationally representative multiethnic sample of adults.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study in a national sample of 3452 adults.

Groundwater uranium and cancer incidence in South Carolina.

Objective: This ecologic study tested the hypothesis that census tracts with elevated groundwater uranium and more frequent groundwater use have increased cancer incidence.

Methods: Data sources included: incident total, leukemia, prostate, breast, colorectal, lung, kidney, and bladder cancers (1996-2005, SC Central Cancer Registry); demographic and groundwater use (1990 US Census); and groundwater uranium concentrations (n = 4,600, from existing federal and state databases). Kriging was used to predict average uranium concentrations within tracts.

Hypertension and hematologic parameters in a community near a uranium processing facility.

Background: Environmental uranium exposure originating as a byproduct of uranium processing can impact human health. The Fernald Feed Materials Production Center functioned as a uranium processing facility from 1951 to 1989, and potential health effects among residents living near this plant were investigated via the Fernald Medical Monitoring Program (FMMP).

Methods: Data from 8216 adult FMMP participants were used to test the hypothesis that elevated uranium exposure was associated with indicators of hypertension or changes in hematologic parameters at entry into the program.

Nanoparticle-induced folding and fibril formation of coiled-coil-based model peptides.

Nanomedicine is a rapidly growing field that has the potential to deliver treatments for many illnesses. However, relatively little is known about the biological risks of nanoparticles. Some studies have shown that nanoparticles can have an impact on the aggregation properties of proteins, including fibril formation.

How post-translational modifications influence amyloid formation: a systematic study of phosphorylation and glycosylation in model peptides.

A reciprocal relationship between phosphorylation and O-glycosylation has been reported for many cellular processes and human diseases. The accumulated evidence points to the significant role these post-translational modifications play in aggregation and fibril formation. Simplified peptide model systems provide a means for investigating the molecular changes associated with protein aggregation.

Towards understanding secondary structure transitions: phosphorylation and metal coordination in model peptides.

Secondary structure transitions are important modulators of signal transduction and protein aggregation. Phosphorylation is a well known post-translational modification capable of dramatic alteration of protein secondary structure. Additionally, phosphorylated residues can induce structural changes through metal binding.

Enzymatically triggered amyloid formation: an approach for studying peptide aggregation.

A strategy has been demonstrated that utilizes a phosphatase as a natural tool for the triggering and control of amyloid formation in a coiled coil peptide model under conditions that closely approximate a physiological environment.

Endotoxin exposure and inflammation markers among agricultural workers in Colorado and Nebraska.

The adverse respiratory effects of agricultural dust inhalation are mediated in part by endotoxin, a constituent of gram-negative bacterial cell walls. This study quantified personal work-shift exposures to inhalable dust, endotoxin, and its reactive 3-hydroxy fatty acid (3-OHFA) constituents among workers in grain elevators, cattle feedlots, dairies, and on corn farms. Exposures were compared with post-work-shift nasal lavage fluid inflammation markers and respiratory symptoms.

Circadian disruption, Per3, and human cytokine secretion.

Circadian disruption has been linked with inflammation, an established cancer risk factor. Per3 clock gene polymorphisms have also been associated with circadian disruption and with increased cancer risk. Patients completed a questionnaire and provided a blood sample prior to undergoing a colonoscopy (n = 70).

Switchable electrostatic interactions between gold nanoparticles and coiled coil peptides direct colloid assembly.

The nanoparticle-peptide interaction described here is based on electrostatic forces and the pH value can act as a trigger to direct the organization of functionalized nanoparticles in a reversible and repeatable manner. The ability of the peptide to interact with the charged gold nanoparticles is directly related to its helical structure and was not found for a random coil peptide with the same net charge. Interestingly, the interaction with nanoparticles seems to induce a fibrillation of the coiled coil peptide.

Soil zinc content, groundwater usage, and prostate cancer incidence in South Carolina.

Background: Prostate cancer (PrCA) incidence in South Carolina (SC) exceeds the national average, particularly among African Americans (AAs). Though data are limited, low environmental zinc exposures and down-regulation of prostatic zinc transporter proteins among AAs may explain, in part, the racial PrCA disparity.

Methods: Age-adjusted PrCA rates were calculated by census tract.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating-factor increases interferon-tau protein secretion in bovine trophectoderm cells.

Problem: Uterine-derived factors are required for optimal conceptus development and secretion of the maternal recognition of pregnancy factor, interferon-tau (IFN-tau). Identifying these factors may lead to the development of schemes for increasing pregnancy success in cattle.

Method Of Study: The objectives were to examine the effects of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating-factor (GM-CSF) on trophectoderm proliferation rates and IFN-tau production, and verify the appropriateness of using an in vitro model of bovine trophectoderm (CT-1 cell).

Random coils, beta-sheet ribbons, and alpha-helical fibers: one peptide adopting three different secondary structures at will.

To potentially cure neurodegenerative diseases, we need to understand on a molecular level what triggers the complex folding mechanisms and shifts the equilibrium from functional to pathological isoforms of proteins. The development of small peptide models that can serve as tools for such studies is of paramount importance. We describe the de novo design and characterization of an alpha-helical coiled coil based model peptide that contains structural elements of both alpha-helical folding and beta-sheet formation.