Defining Diagnosis: A Reflexive Account of a Chronic Dis-ease Process

This is an autoethnographic account of the experience of living with chronic illness and a liminal status. This reflexive study is divided into three parts: 1) Lupus, the defining diagnosis, 2) Dis-ease, identity and reevaluation 3) Dis-identification, chronic dis-ease, and liminality. Throughout, music lyrics and my own poetry are used to represent my fluctuating identity. Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a rare yet complex disease. The etiology is constantly questioned by doctors and not readily seen; it is both contested and invisible. Patients with this illness are highly stigmatized, and their psychological welfare can become neglected in a biomedical system that does not account for the overall well-being of patients. This case study addresses some potential consequences for an identity tarnished in this way. Misdiagnosis is sorely understudied throughout the literature and fails to account for the lived experience of the patient. This study seeks to fill these gaps

Compulsive comorbidities: links between generalized anxiety disorder and substance use disorders among African American women

This study proposed to examine the impact of substance use and abuse on the treatment and coping mechanisms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in African American women. Comorbid mental health problems such as depression and anxiety are common in individuals with alcohol and other drug problems. The co-occurrence of substance use disorders (SUDs) and anxiety disorders has now been well documented (Vorspan, Mehtelli, Dupuy, Bloch, & Lépine, 2015). Research has shown that up to 80% of clients with alcohol or drug issues have comorbid mental health issues. However, little is known about the occurrence of this association in African American women. The findings of this research would have great implications for treatment and prevention in this underserved population. The approach to data analysis involved two levels of examination: 1) univariate statistics (descriptive statistics will be used to provide simple summaries about the sample and all of the study measures) and 2) bivariate analysis for descriptive purposes (depending on the variable type), correlations, and survival analysis were performed to document the association between the independent variables and outcome variables. The present study examined the link between mental (anxiety disorders and the severity of anxiety symptoms) and drug use disorders in a sample of African American females (N = 537, aged 19 to 56 years old). Preliminary analysis indicated that only high (and not low or moderate) perceived family support was shown to be a protective factor in terms of the mixed-effects regression analysis of GAD as well as the severity of anxiety/fear symptoms. Additionally, the following factors proved to be significant in increasing the likelihood of GAD prevalence or having more severe anxiety/fear symptoms: being dually diagnosed across all models, some level of moderate to severe drug and alcohol composite scores, criminal justice charges, and having some type of insurance that did not include Medicaid. Findings from the current study are discussed in terms of their implications for prevention and treatment of comorbid drug use and mental health disorders among minority populations

Absence of the ER Cation Channel TMEM38B/TRIC-B Disrupts Intracellular Calcium Homeostasis and Dysregulates Collagen Synthesis in Recessive Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Recessive osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is caused by defects in proteins involved in post-translational interactions with type I collagen. Recently, a novel form of moderately severe OI caused by null mutations in TMEM38B was identified. TMEM38B encodes the ER membrane monovalent cation channel, TRIC-B, proposed to counterbalance IP3R-mediated Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. The molecular mechanisms by which TMEM38B mutations cause OI are unknown. We identified 3 probands with recessive defects in TMEM38B. TRIC-B protein is undetectable in proband fibroblasts and osteoblasts, although reduced TMEM38B transcripts are present. TRIC-B deficiency causes impaired release of ER luminal Ca2+, associated with deficient store-operated calcium entry, although SERCA and IP3R have normal stability. Notably, steady state ER Ca2+ is unchanged in TRIC-B deficiency, supporting a role for TRIC-B in the kinetics of ER calcium depletion and recovery. The disturbed Ca2+ flux causes ER stress and increased BiP, and dysregulates synthesis of proband type I collagen at multiple steps. Collagen helical lysine hydroxylation is reduced, while telopeptide hydroxylation is increased, despite increased LH1 and decreased Ca2+-dependent FKBP65, respectively. Although PDI levels are maintained, procollagen chain assembly is delayed in proband cells. The resulting misfolded collagen is substantially retained in TRIC-B null cells, consistent with a 50-70% reduction in secreted collagen. Lower-stability forms of collagen that elude proteasomal degradation are not incorporated into extracellular matrix, which contains only normal stability collagen, resulting in matrix insufficiency. These data support a role for TRIC-B in intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, and demonstrate that absence of TMEM38B causes OI by dysregulation of calcium flux kinetics in the ER, impacting multiple collagen-specific chaperones and modifying enzymes

Materials in particulate form for tissue engineering. 2 Applications in bone

Materials in particulate form have been the subjects of intensive research in view of their use as drug delivery systems. While within this application there are still issues to be addressed, these systems are now being regarded as having a great potential for tissue engineering applications. Bone repair is a very demanding task, due to the specific characteristics of skeletal tissues, and the design of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering presents several difficulties. Materials in particulate form are now seen as a means of achieving higher control over parameters such as porosity, pore size, surface area and the mechanical properties of the scaffold. These materials also have the potential to incorporate biologically active molecules for release and to serve as carriers for cells. It is believed that the combination of these features would create a more efficient approach towards regeneration. This review focuses on the application ofmaterials in particulate formfor bone tissue engineering. A brief overview of bone biology and the healing process is also provided in order to place the application in its broader context. An original compilation of molecules with a documented role in bone tissue biology is listed, as they have the potential to be used in bone tissue engineering strategies. To sum up this review, examples of works addressing the above aspects are presented

Autoethnography as a methodology in researching social problems

In this chapter, we will tell the reader about autoethnography as a research methodology and show its usefulness for researching social problems. In what follows we pedagogically define autoethnography, discuss its theoretical orientation, and the politics that underpin it. We also discuss varieties of autoethnography in the study of social problems, as well as some of its advantages and limitations. Then we reflexively examine autoethnography, providing a few examples. Finally, we close with an argument regarding the appropriateness of autoethnography as a method for showcasing social problems as lived, emotional experiences and as socially constructed realities

Presence of microplastics in Salish Sea Nearshore sediments

Plastic pollution is a well-recognized issue afflicting water bodies worldwide. Recently, there is an increased focus on understanding the fate and distribution of microplastics, synthetic polymers less than 5 mm in diameter. These small plastics pose a potential danger to biota through ingestion and as a possible vector for contaminant transfer. Currently, we know little about the distribution of microplastics in sediments in the Salish Sea. Additionally, methods to efficiently and reproducibly quantify plastics in sediments need improvement. The US Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Washington State Department of Ecology and Washington State Department of Natural Resources, sampled 26 nearshore sediment locations in the fall of 2016 as part of the Regional Stormwater Monitoring Program. USGS analyzed microplastics in the samples, and results indicate the widespread presence of microplastics in marine sediments. Densities ranged from 2-65 pieces per 100 grams of sediment, and plastic fibers were 270% more abundant than other plastic material. Additionally, we found that small fibers, between 355 and 1000 µm, were 300% more abundant. This talk focuses on these results with consideration of how sediment drift relates to microplastic occurrence, steps taken to improve reproducible microplastic laboratory methods, and future directions for microplastic research in the Salish Sea