Indiana CTSI Research Recruitment Office

poster abstractThe Indiana CTSI Research Recruitment Office was designed to engage and empower the public in health research. We also work to inform Health Care Providers about research opportunities for their patients, develop collaborative relationships with industry and organizational partners and provide support through infrastructure, services, and opportunities to the research community at the various institutions associated with the Indiana CTSI. By working from within the Indiana CTSI, we can help link people with the best resources for research recruitment. Whether you are an Indiana resident looking to participate in a study, a Health Care Provider trying to identify a research study for a patient, a researcher trying to find participants, or an industry partner trying to build collaborations, we can help

INresearch.org

poster abstractThe purpose of developing INresearch.org is to engage the public in research by giving them the opportunity to take a more proactive role in research while also allowing them to gain a better understanding of the types of research available through the universities and our clinical partners. Parents, legal guardians and caregivers have the ability to register themselves and/or their children or other dependent individuals. Users are also able to modify any of their personal information entered and/or the information about their dependents whenever it is convenient for them, making the amount of information shared by the individual completely customizable. Finally, users have the ability to remove themselves, and/or their constituents at any time and for any reason. INresearch.org allows the users to be connected to investigators by allowing investigators to contact volunteers about studies that are occurring locally. It is our hope that INresearch.org will be a valuable recruitment tool and help increase research participation for all institutions associated with the Indiana CTSI

Senior Recital: Ashley Hudson, soprano

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Ms. Hudson studies voice with Nathan Munson.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/2148/thumbnail.jp

How to Request and Obtain Feasibility Numbers and Data for Research through the Regenstrief Data Core and the Indiana CTSI Informatics and Data Analysis Core (CIDAC)

poster abstractThis poster presents a one-page, high-level summary view targeted at investigators and other individuals who have need to request numbers for research, explaining the process wherein requests can be made for feasibility and/or research data. Individuals seeking data for feasibility and/or research projects may utilize web based forms to make requests. Requests are tracked and managed by the Regenstrief Data Core. There are separate forms for Feasibility/Preliminary requests and Research Data requests. The purpose of this poster is to familiarize researchers with: Where to locate these forms on the Indiana CTSI website The steps needed to fill out and submit the appropriate request form The events that transpire between making the request and receiving data In addition, a description of available services through CIDAC and the Regenstrief Data Core is provided, included but not limited to expertise in study planning and implementation, assistance with subject recruitment and management and prospective descriptive clinical and demographic data

Ethanol suppression of peripheral blood mononuclear cell trafficking across brain endothelial cells in immunodeficiency virus infection

Earlier studies suggested that the combination of alcohol use and immunodeficiency virus infection resulted in more severe neurologic disease than either condition individually. These deleterious interactions could be due to increased immune cell and virus trafficking or may result from interactions between ethanol and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated toxicity within the brain. To determine the extent to which increased trafficking played a role, we examined the effect of ethanol on the migration of different peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMCs) subsets across a brain endothelial cell monolayer. We utilized combinations of feline brain endothelial cells with astrocytes, and/or microglia with either acute exposure to 0.08 g/dL ethanol, a combination of ethanol and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), or FIV alone. Adherence of PBMCs to endothelium was increased in all combinations of cells with the addition of ethanol. Despite increased PBMC adhesion with ethanol treatment, transmigration of B cells, monocytes, CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells was not increased and was actually decreased in the presence of astrocytes. Expression of three common adhesion molecules, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1), ICAM2, and vascular cell adhesion molecule, was unchanged or slightly decreased by ethanol. This indicated that although adherence is increased by ethanol it is not due to an increased expression of adhesion molecules. RANTES, MIP1α, MIP1β, and MCP-1 mRNA expression was also studied in brain endothelial cells, astrocytes and microglia by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Ethanol treatment of astrocytes resulted in modest changes of message while FIV caused 7–92-fold increases. The combination of ethanol and FIV reversed the large increase in RANTES and MIP1α message in astrocytes but increased MIP1β and MCP to 20–38-fold over control cells. Thus, modest concentrations of alcohol do not directly influence immune cell trafficking at the endothelium but may exert more complex effects on chemokine expression from astrocytes when combined with FIV

COVID-19s Impact on the Hispanic Community: How Understanding Culture Can Improve Outcomes

Background: A disproportionate burden of SARS-Cov-2 infection, or coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), and death are highest among racial and ethnic minority groups. Based on data available on June 12, 2020, Hispanic people are more likely to acquire COVID-19 and have higher incidence of hospitalization and death compared to their white, non-Hispanic counterparts. While this issue is complex, many have hypothesized that the difference is due to societal factors and communication methods. The aim of this project was to evaluate information related to how the Hispanic population is affected by COVID-19 and how communications about the disease should be designed based on past research, physician input, and cultural sensitivities. Methods: We conducted a thorough literature search on COVID-19 articles, both peer reviewed and grey literature, evaluating race and ethnic differences in disease prevalence and severity. Additionally, we conducted interviews with a small number of Indiana doctors who treat Hispanic patients to obtain a doctor’s perspective on the Hispanic community’s needs during the pandemic and ways to help reduce prevalence. Results: Physicians in Indiana believe the main approach to help the Hispanic community is by utilizing trusted community resources to communicate information and build relationships with patients over time. It is recommended to develop new methods to deliver essential information about COVID-19 through multiple mediums, in a clear way, and in Spanish with focus on the collective good of the family. In addition, it is important not to just translate resources from English to Spanish but to design materials addressing barriers specific to the Hispanic community. Conclusion: More culturally tailored information should be released to educate the Hispanic community about COVID-19. This information will assist in the design of materials and initiatives for the Hispanic community that we hope will improve methods of communication and care delivery related to COVID-19

New Tricks (1995)

You are looking at the latest issue of New Tricks, a literary magazine published by Sigma Tau Delta of Dakota State University. Sigma Tau Delta is an international honor society for English majors. The DSU chapter was started in 1993 with six charter members. Since then, it has grown into an organization of ten. We organize many activities each semester; the largest activity is publishing the literary magazine. We would like to thank the students and faculty who submitted art work and manuscripts, Jan Hedley for helping with the cover design, and our sponsors for making this magazine financially possible. A very special thank you goes to John Laflin, the advisor for Sigma Tau Delta and James Swanson, the advisor for New Tricks. Without your efforts, this magazine would not have been possible

Prevalence of Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children and Adults in Marion County, Indiana

Background and Objectives: Two community studies outside the US showed asymptomatic infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in adults, but not in children <10 years of age. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adults in Marion County, Indiana. Methods: Individuals living in Marion County with no symptoms of coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) within seven days of enrollment were eligible for this cross-sectional household study. Study kits were delivered to the participant’s residence for self-swabbing, picked up by the study team, and tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for SAR-CoV-2 infection. Results: Five hundred eleven nasal swabs were collected from 119 children and 392 adults ≥18 years of age. One participant (seven years of age) tested positive, for an overall study prevalence of 0.2% (95% CI 0, 0.6%). The participant had no known contact with a person with SARS-CoV-2 infection, and five family members tested negative for infection. The child and family members all tested negative for infection 10 and 20 days after the first test, and none developed symptoms of COVID-19 for 20 days after testing. Conclusions: Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection can occur in children <10 years with no known COVID-19 exposure. Large cohort studies should be conducted to determine prevalence of asymptomatic infection and risk of transmission from asymptomatic infection in children and adults over time

The effect of the systemic inflammatory response on plasma vitamin 25 (OH) D concentrations adjusted for albumin

&lt;b&gt;Aim&lt;/b&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; To examine the relationship between plasma 25(OH)D, CRP and albumin concentrations in two patient cohorts.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methods&lt;/b&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; 5327 patients referred for nutritional assessment and 117 patients with critical illness were examined. Plasma 25 (OH) D concentrations were measured using standard methods. Intra and between assay imprecision was &#60;10%.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Result&lt;/b&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; In the large cohort, plasma 25 (OH) D was significantly associated with CRP (rs = −0.113, p&#60;0.001) and albumin (rs = 0.192, p&#60;0.001). 3711 patients had CRP concentrations ≤10 mg/L; with decreasing albumin concentrations ≥35, 25–34 and &#60;25 g/l, median concentrations of 25 (OH) D were significantly lower from 35 to 28 to 14 nmol/l (p&#60;0.001). This decrease was significant when albumin concentrations were reduced between 25–34 g/L (p&#60;0.001) and when albumin &#60;25 g/L (p&#60;0.001). 1271 patients had CRP concentrations between 11–80 mg/L; with decreasing albumin concentrations ≥35, 25–34 and &#60;25 g/l, median concentrations of 25 (OH) D were significantly lower from 31 to 24 to 19 nmol/l (p&#60;0.001). This decrease was significant when albumin concentration were 25–34 g/L (p&#60;0.001) and when albumin &#60;25 g/L (p&#60;0.001). 345 patients had CRP concentrations &#62;80 mg/L; with decreasing albumin concentrations ≥35, 25–34 and &#60;25 g/l, median concentrations of 25 (OH) D were not significantly altered varying from 19 to 23 to 23 nmol/l. Similar relationships were also obtained in the cohort of patients with critical illness.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusion&lt;/b&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Plasma concentrations of 25(OH) D were independently associated with both CRP and albumin and consistent with the systemic inflammatory response as a major confounding factor in determining vitamin D status.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt

Cerebrospinal fluid is an efficient route for establishing brain infection with feline immunodeficiency virus and transfering infectious virus to the periphery

Like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) invades and infects the central nervous system (CNS) soon after peripheral infection. The appearance of viral RNA is particularly prominent in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), suggesting an efficient route of virus transfer across the blood-CSF barrier. This raises the concern whether this route can establish a stable viral reservoir and also be a source of virus capable of reseeding peripheral systems. To examine this possibility, 200 μl of cell-free NCSU1 FIV or FIV-infected choroid plexus macrophages (ChP-Mac) was directly injected into the right lateral ventricle of the brain. Negative controls were sham inoculated with uninfected ChP-Mac or virus-free culture supernatant and positive controls were infected systemically by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) inoculation with cell-free FIV resulted in high levels of plasma FIV RNA detected as early as 1 to 2 weeks post inoculation in all cats. In each case, the plasma viremia preceded the detection of CSF viral RNA. Compared to i.p. cats, i.c.v. cats had 32-fold higher CSF viral loads, 8-fold higher ratios of CSF to plasma viral load, and a 23-fold greater content of FIV proviral DNA in the brain. No FIV RNA was detected in plasma or CSF from the cats inoculated with FIV-infected ChP-Mac but an acute inflammatory response and a slight suppression of the CD4+:CD8+ ratio were observed. These results indicate that free FIV circulating in the CSF promotes infection of the CNS and provides a highly efficient pathway for the transfer of infectious virus to the periphery