Social Isolation, Religious Affiliation, and Mental Health in Adult Minnesotans

Problem or purpose: Social isolation involves an individuals’ social network (i.e., quantity, quality, and structure) and their appraisal of relationships (Wang et al., 2017). Social Isolation has been associated with an increase in mortality (Pantell et al., 2013) and a vulnerability for various mental-health issues (e.g., depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc.; Achterbergh et al., 2020; Ma et al., 2020), and decrease in cardiovascular health (Knox & Uvnas-Moberg, 1998). Although the psychological and physiological effects of social isolation have been known for some time, there is less known about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its effects on social isolation. Due to isolation and physical distancing recommendations during the pandemic, we are expecting there to be an increase in social isolation during the pandemic compared to previously collected data from a similar pre-pandemic survey. Religious affiliation often involves greater social involvement, while simultaneously being associated with an increase in a sense of belonging (Rote, Hill, & Ellison, 2013), and a decrease in negative emotions (Rosemarin, Pargament, & Mahoney, 2009). An additional goal of this study was to examine the association between religion affiliation and social isolation during COVID-19.Procedure: We measured social isolation with two items from the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6) and one measure of relationship satisfaction. Telephone surveys were used to collect data from a sample of adult Minnesotans generated through random digit dialing. Preliminary data includes surveys from 216 participants (51% women, 74% white, age mean = 53.01 years, SD = 18.23).Results: Preliminary analyses suggest that the prevalence of social isolation has increased since our last survey that measured that topic. In 2021, 17% of our sample was at risk for social isolation (i.e., had 2 or fewer people they could call on for help), compared to 6% of our sample in 2018. There was a marginally significant relationship between social isolation and mental health in 2021, chi-square = 3.64, p = .06, such that more participants at risk for social isolation reported having a diagnosable mental health condition than those who were not at risk for isolation. Preliminary analyses did not find an association between social isolation and religious affiliation, chi-square = .06, p = .80.Conclusions and implications: Results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the risk for social isolation, and that social isolation continues to be associated with poorer mental health, highlighting the importance of maintaining meaningful social contact through difficult times

Stress and Burnout During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Problem or purpose: Studies across different countries suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused stress and burnout (e.g., Queen & Harding, 2020; Taylor et al., 2020; Y. Wang et al., 2020; Xiong et al., 2020). Previous research has also found that women may be more likely to experience negative effects from the pandemic than men (e.g., Taylor et al., 2020; X. Wang et al., 2020 Y. Wang et al., 2020), and that the stress of the pandemic may differ by employment status (e.g., Joshi & Sharma, 2020; Kaur et al., 2020). As a result, we are predicting (1) participants to report stress and burnout, (2) women to report higher stress and burnout than men, (3) and that participants who are currently employed will report higher stress and burnout than those who are not employed/retired.Procedure: We measured stress with a single item that asked about stress during the past month and burnout with a single item that asked if participants are experiencing more burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic than usual. Telephone surveys were conducted in October 2021 via random digit dialing. Preliminary data includes surveys from 216 adult Minnesotans (51% women, 74% white, age mean = 53.01 years, SD = 18.23).Results: Preliminary results showed that 22% of participants reported feeling a lot or completely stressed during the past month, and 22% of participants reported that they felt a little or a lot more burnout than usual during the pandemic. We found gender differences in stress (chi-square = 10.84, p = .004) and burnout (chi-square = 5.72, p = .02), such that women reported significantly more stress and burnout than men. Finally, results suggested that participants who were employed part- or full-time did not report more stress than those who were not employed or retired (chi-square = 2.52, p = .28), but employed participants did report more burnout (chi-square = 12.45, p \u3c .001).Conclusions and implications: These findings highlight that many people are experiencing stress and burnout during the pandemic, and that these feelings are more likely for women. Burnout, but not stress, was more common for people who are employed, suggesting that the pandemic may be having prolonged effects on workers

Perceptions of Women and Men Leaders Following 360‐Degree Feedback Evaluations

In this study, researchers used a customized 360‐degree method to examine the frequency with which 1,546 men and 721 women leaders perceived themselves and were perceived by colleagues as using 10 relational and 10 task‐oriented leadership behaviors, as addressed in the Management‐Leadership Practices Inventory (MLPI). As hypothesized, men and women leaders, as well as their supervisors, employees, and peers, perceived women leaders to employ nine of the 10 relational leadership behaviors significantly more frequently than men leaders. Additionally, the employees' perceptions of their women leaders' use of task‐oriented behaviors were significantly higher when compared to similar assessments from the employees of men leaders. However, the leaders as well as their supervisors and peers perceived men and women leaders' use of task‐oriented behaviors as approximately equal. Broader implications of these findings are discussed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97470/1/21134_ftp.pd

IL-33 Mediates Pseudomonas Induced Airway Fibrogenesis and Is Associated with CLAD

BACKGROUND: Long term outcomes of lung transplantation are impacted by the occurrence of chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). Recent evidence suggests a role for the lung microbiome in the occurrence of CLAD, but the exact mechanisms are not well defined. We hypothesize that the lung microbiome inhibits epithelial autophagic clearance of pro-fibrotic proteins in an IL-33 dependent manner, thereby augmenting fibrogenesis and risk for CLAD. METHODS: Autopsy derived CLAD and non-CLAD lungs were collected. IL-33, P62 and LC3 immunofluorescence was performed and assessed using confocal microscopy. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA), Streptococcus Pneumoniae (SP), Prevotella Melaninogenica (PM), recombinant IL-33 or PsA-lipopolysaccharide was co-cultured with primary human bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) and lung fibroblasts in the presence or absence of IL-33 blockade. Western blot analysis and quantitative reverse transcription (qRT) PCR was performed to evaluate IL-33 expression, autophagy, cytokines and fibroblast differentiation markers. These experiments were repeated after siRNA silencing and upregulation (plasmid vector) of Beclin-1. RESULTS: Human CLAD lungs demonstrated markedly increased expression of IL-33 and reduced basal autophagy compared to non-CLAD lungs. Exposure of co-cultured PBECs to PsA, SP induced IL-33, and inhibited PBEC autophagy, while PM elicited no significant response. Further, PsA exposure increased myofibroblast differentiation and collagen formation. IL-33 blockade in these co-cultures recovered Beclin-1, cellular autophagy and attenuated myofibroblast activation in a Beclin-1 dependent manner. CONCLUSION: CLAD is associated with increased airway IL-33 expression and reduced basal autophagy. PsA induces a fibrogenic response by inhibiting airway epithelial autophagy in an IL-33 dependent manner

DNMT3B PWWP mutations cause hypermethylation of heterochromatin

The correct establishment of DNA methylation patterns is vital for mammalian development and is achieved by the de novo DNA methyltransferases DNMT3A and DNMT3B. DNMT3B localises to H3K36me3 at actively transcribing gene bodies via its PWWP domain. It also functions at heterochromatin through an unknown recruitment mechanism. Here we find that knockout of DNMT3B causes loss of methylation predominantly at H3K9me3-marked heterochromatin and that DNMT3B PWWP domain mutations or deletion result in striking increases of methylation in H3K9me3-marked heterochromatin. Removal of the N-terminal region of DNMT3B affects its ability to methylate H3K9me3-marked regions. This region of DNMT3B directly interacts with HP1 and facilitates the bridging of DNMT3B with H3K9me3-marked nucleosomes in vitro. Our results suggest that DNMT3B is recruited to H3K9me3 marked heterochromatin in a PWWP-independent mannerthat is facilitated by the protein’s N-terminal region through an interaction with a key heterochromatin protein. More generally, we suggest that DNMT3B plays a role in DNA methylation homeostasis at heterochromatin, a process which is disrupted in cancer, aging and Immunodeficiency, Centromeric Instability and Facial Anomalies (ICF) syndrome

DNMT3B PWWP mutations cause hypermethylation of heterochromatin

The correct establishment of DNA methylation patterns is vital for mammalian development and is achieved by the de novo DNA methyltransferases DNMT3A and DNMT3B. DNMT3B localises to H3K36me3 at actively transcribing gene bodies via its PWWP domain. It also functions at heterochromatin through an unknown recruitment mechanism. Here, we find that knockout of DNMT3B causes loss of methylation predominantly at H3K9me3-marked heterochromatin and that DNMT3B PWWP domain mutations or deletion result in striking increases of methylation in H3K9me3-marked heterochromatin. Removal of the N-terminal region of DNMT3B affects its ability to methylate H3K9me3-marked regions. This region of DNMT3B directly interacts with HP1α and facilitates the bridging of DNMT3B with H3K9me3-marked nucleosomes in vitro. Our results suggest that DNMT3B is recruited to H3K9me3-marked heterochromatin in a PWWP-independent manner that is facilitated by the protein’s N-terminal region through an interaction with a key heterochromatin protein. More generally, we suggest that DNMT3B plays a role in DNA methylation homeostasis at heterochromatin, a process which is disrupted in cancer, aging and Immunodeficiency, Centromeric Instability and Facial Anomalies (ICF) syndrome

Traditional Excluding Forces: A Review of the Quantitative Literature on the Economic Situation of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-Descendants, and People Living with Disability

Unequal income distribution in Latin America and the Caribbean is linked to unequal distributions of (human and physical) assets and differential access to markets and services. These circumstances, and the accompanying social tensions, need to be understood in terms of traditional fragmenting forces; the sectors of the population who experience unfavorable outcomes are also recognized by characteristics such as ethnicity, race, gender and physical disability. In addition to reviewing the general literature on social exclusion, this paper surveys several more specific topics: i) relative deprivation (in land and housing, physical infrastructure, health and income); ii) labor market issues, including access to labor markets in general, as well as informality, segregation and discrimination; iii) the transaction points of political representation, social protection and violence; and iv) areas where analysis remains weak and avenues for further research in the region

A genome-wide association study of anorexia nervosa

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex and heritable eating disorder characterized by dangerously low body weight. Neither candidate gene studies nor an initial genome wide association study (GWAS) have yielded significant and replicated results. We performed a GWAS in 2,907 cases with AN from 14 countries (15 sites) and 14,860 ancestrally matched controls as part of the Genetic Consortium for AN (GCAN) and the Wellcome Trust Case Control Consortium 3 (WTCCC3). Individual association analyses were conducted in each stratum and meta-analyzed across all 15 discovery datasets. Seventy-six (72 independent) SNPs were taken forward for in silico (two datasets) or de novo (13 datasets) replication genotyping in 2,677 independent AN cases and 8,629 European ancestry controls along with 458 AN cases and 421 controls from Japan. The final global meta-analysis across discovery and replication datasets comprised 5,551 AN cases and 21,080 controls. AN subtype analyses (1,606 AN restricting; 1,445 AN binge-purge) were performed. No findings reached genome-wide significance. Two intronic variants were suggestively associated: rs9839776 (P=3.01×10−7) in SOX2OT and rs17030795 (P=5.84×10−6) in PPP3CA. Two additional signals were specific to Europeans: rs1523921 (P=5.76×10−6) between CUL3 and FAM124B and rs1886797 (P=8.05×10−6) near SPATA13. Comparing discovery to replication results, 76% of the effects were in the same direction, an observation highly unlikely to be due to chance (P= 4×10−6), strongly suggesting that true findings exist but that our sample, the largest yet reported, was underpowered for their detection. The accrual of large genotyped AN case-control samples should be an immediate priority for the field