The absence of SOX2 in the anterior foregut alters the esophagus into trachea and bronchi in both epithelial and mesenchymal components

In the anterior foregut (AFG) of mouse embryos, the transcription factor SOX2 is expressed in the epithelia of the esophagus and proximal branches of respiratory organs comprising the trachea and bronchi, whereas NKX2.1 is expressed only in the epithelia of respiratory organs. Previous studies using hypomorphic Sox2 alleles have indicated that reduced SOX2 expression causes the esophageal epithelium to display some respiratory organ characteristics. In the present study, we produced mouse embryos with AFG-specific SOX2 deficiency. In the absence of SOX2 expression, a single NKX2.1-expressing epithelial tube connected the pharynx and the stomach, and a pair of bronchi developed in the middle of the tube. Expression patterns of NKX2.1 and SOX9 revealed that the anterior and posterior halves of SOX2-deficient AFG epithelial tubes assumed the characteristics of the trachea and bronchus, respectively. In addition, we found that mesenchymal tissues surrounding the SOX2-deficient NKX2.1-expressing epithelial tube changed to those surrounding the trachea and bronchi in the anterior and posterior halves, as indicated by the arrangement of smooth muscle cells and SOX9-expressing cells and by the expression of Wnt4 (esophagus specific), Tbx4 (respiratory organ specific), and Hoxb6 (distal bronchus specific). The impact of mesenchyme-derived signaling on the early stage of AFG epithelial specification has been indicated. Our study demonstrated an opposite trend where epithelial tissue specification causes concordant changes in mesenchymal tissues, indicating a reciprocity of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions

Associations Between Patient-Reported Outcome Measures of Physical and Psychological Functioning and Willingness to Share Social Media Data for Research Among Adolescents With a Chronic Rheumatic Disease: Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: Social media data may augment understanding of the disease and treatment experiences and quality of life of youth with chronic medical conditions. Little is known about the willingness to share social media data for health research among youth with chronic medical conditions and the differences in health status between sharing and nonsharing youth with chronic medical conditions. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the associations between patient-reported measures of disease symptoms and functioning and the willingness to share social media data. METHODS: Between February 2018 and August 2019, during routine clinic visits, survey data about social media use and the willingness to share social media data (dependent variable) were collected from adolescents in a national rheumatic disease registry. Survey data were analyzed with patient-reported measures of disease symptoms and functioning and a clinical measure of disease activity, which were collected through a parent study. We used descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression to compare patient-reported outcomes between youth with chronic medical conditions who opted to share social media data and those who did not opt to share such data. RESULTS: Among 112 youths, (age: mean 16.1, SD 1.6 y; female: n=72, 64.3%), 83 (74.1%) agreed to share social media data. Female participants were more likely to share (P=.04). In all, 49 (43.8%) and 28 (25%) participants viewed and posted about rheumatic disease, respectively. Compared to nonsharers, sharers reported lower mobility (T-score: mean 49.0, SD 9.4 vs mean 53.9, SD 8.9; P=.02) and more pain interference (T-score: mean 45.7, SD 8.8 vs mean 40.4, SD 8.0; P=.005), fatigue (T-score: mean 49.1, SD 11.0 vs mean 39.7, SD 9.7; P<.001), depression (T-score: mean 48.1, SD 8.9 vs mean 42.2, SD 8.4; P=.003), and anxiety (T-score: mean 45.2, SD 9.3 vs mean 38.5, SD 7.0; P<.001). In regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, study site, and Physician Global Assessment score, each 1-unit increase in symptoms was associated with greater odds of willingness to share social media data, for measures of pain interference (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.07, 95% CI 1.001-1.14), fatigue (AOR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03-1.13), depression (AOR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01-1.13), and anxiety (AOR 1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: High percentages of youth with rheumatic diseases used and were willing to share their social media data for research. Sharers reported worse symptoms and functioning compared to those of nonsharers. Social media may offer a potent information source and engagement pathway for youth with rheumatic diseases, but differences between sharing and nonsharing youth merit consideration when designing studies and evaluating social media-derived findings

Association of screening and brief intervention with substance use in Massachusetts middle and high schools.

Importance: Screening and brief intervention (SBI) programs in schools have the potential to provide substance use prevention messages to large numbers of adolescents. This study evaluated the association between exposure to a school-based SBI program and reductions in substance use among youths after enactment of a law that required Massachusetts schools to provide SBI to all students. Question: Is exposure to a screening and brief intervention (SBI) program in schools associated with reductions in student substance use? Findings: In this quality improvement study involving 4587 students in grades 7 through 10 who were exposed to a school-based SBI program in Massachusetts, cannabis and e-cigarette use increased over time in all groups. Exposure to SBI was associated with a significantly smaller increase in the rate of cannabis use among middle school students and significantly smaller increases in the rates of cannabis and e-cigarette use among all female students; however, there was no significant difference in any comparison among all high school students. Meaning: This study’s findings suggest that school-based SBI programs, which are mandatory in Massachusetts, may help to reduce substance use among middle school and female students