Evaluating the Role of Community Advisory Boards: with Persons Who Inject Drugs in Photovoice Research

Background: The use of community advisory boards (CABs) is a source of leadership in community-based participatory research (CBPR); however, not all researchers have incorporated CABs, and others have restricted CAB involvement for feasibility purposes. Although there is literature about utilizing CABs in a variety of CBPR studies, less is known about the challenges and successes of working with persons who inject drugs (PWIDs) as CAB members in photovoice methodology, as well as their perceptions throughout the process. Objectives: The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the role CABs play in photovoice research while determining PWIDs’ capacity to fulfill this role, and explore their feelings about being given a voice in the research partnership. Methods: This study involved a CAB made of 6 PWIDs who completed participation in a photovoice study. Participants were recruited, consented, enrolled, and trained. A semi-structured interview guide was developed in collaboration with key informants and pilot tested with the community. Interviews aimed to: (1) engage the CAB in thematic evaluation of the photo-based data, (2) elicit ideas for dissemination of results, and (3) evaluate participant feelings about the researcher-participant dynamic. Interviews were held in private mobile spaces, audio recorded, and transcribed. Interview transcripts were coded and analyzed for common themes using an open-coding system. Findings: All 6 CAB members (100%) were (1) capable of data analysis; and (2) able to articulate ideas for dissemination of the findings; (3) enjoyed their roles and desired ongoing involvement; and (4) brought meaningfulness to the participant-researcher partnership by representing the unique perspectives of the PWIDs community. Conclusions: It is evident through this study that PWIDs are not only fully capable of data analysis and generating ideas for dissemination of findings, but also empowered enough by CAB roles to desire ongoing involvement. Study findings reveal critical implications for inclusion of PWIDs in the research partnership because of the meaningfulness they bring and gaps they fill. Themes also highlight that researcher alignment with harm reduction and ongoing community involvement facilitates trust and motivation of PWID to play a vital role in advocating for positive change. Keywords: community advisory boards; community-based participatory research; persons who inject drugs; photovoice; meaningfulness; purpos

GLP-1 action in the mouse bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) injected into the brain reduces food intake. Similarly, activation of preproglucagon (PPG) cells in the hindbrain which synthesize GLP-1, reduces food intake. However, it is far from clear whether this happens because of satiety, nausea, reduced reward, or even stress. Here we explore the role of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), an area involved in feeding control as well as stress responses, in GLP-1 responses. Using cre-expressing mice we visualized projections of NTS PPG neurons and GLP-1R-expressing BNST cells with AAV-driven Channelrhodopsin-YFP expression. The BNST displayed many varicose YFP+ PPG axons in the ventral and less in the dorsal regions. Mice which express RFP in GLP-1R neurons had RFP+ cells throughout the BNST with the highest density in the dorsal part, suggesting that PPG neuron-derived GLP-1 acts in the BNST. Indeed, injection of GLP-1 into the BNST reduced chow intake during the dark phase, whereas injection of the GLP-1 receptor antagonist Ex9 increased feeding. BNST-specific GLP-1-induced food suppression was less effective in mice on high fat (HF, 60%) diet, and Ex9 had no effect. Restraint stress-induced hypophagia was attenuated by BNST Ex9 treatment, further supporting a role for endogenous brain GLP-1. Finally, whole-cell patch clamp recordings of RFP+ BNST neurons demonstrated that GLP-1 elicited either a depolarizing or hyperpolarizing reversible response that was of opposite polarity to that under dopamine. Our data support a physiological role for BNST GLP-1R in feeding, and suggest complex cellular responses to GLP-1 in this nucleus

2020 taxonomic update for phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales.

In March 2020, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum Negarnaviricota was amended and emended. At the genus rank, 20 new genera were added, two were deleted, one was moved, and three were renamed. At the species rank, 160 species were added, four were deleted, ten were moved and renamed, and 30 species were renamed. This article presents the updated taxonomy of Negarnaviricota as now accepted by the ICTV

Mitochondrial translation and dynamics synergistically extend lifespan in C. elegans through HLH-30

Mitochondrial form and function are closely interlinked in homeostasis and aging. Inhibiting mitochondrial translation is known to increase lifespan in C. elegans, and is accompanied by a fragmented mitochondrial network. However, whether this link between mitochondrial translation and morphology is causal in longevity remains uncharacterized. Here, we show in C. elegans that disrupting mitochondrial network homeostasis by blocking fission or fusion synergizes with reduced mitochondrial translation to prolong lifespan and stimulate stress response such as the mitochondrial unfolded protein response, UPRMT. Conversely, immobilizing the mitochondrial network through a simultaneous disruption of fission and fusion abrogates the lifespan increase induced by mitochondrial translation inhibition. Furthermore, we find that the synergistic effect of inhibiting both mitochondrial translation and dynamics on lifespan, despite stimulating UPRMT, does not require it. Instead, this lifespan-extending synergy is exclusively dependent on the lysosome biogenesis and autophagy transcription factor HLH-30/TFEB. Altogether, our study reveals the mechanistic crosstalk between mitochondrial translation, mitochondrial dynamics, and lysosomal signaling in regulating longevity.ISSN:0021-9525ISSN:1540-814