Inhibition and Thermodynamics of Escherichia coli Peptide Deformylase

Peptide deformylase (PDF) is a bacterial metalloenzyme responsible for cleaving the formyl group from nascent polypeptides, aiding in their maturation. Because it is essential for the survival of bacterial cells and does not appear to play a necessary role in humans, PDF is an attractive antibacterial target. Actinonin is a naturally occurring compound that acts as a substrate analog to bind PDF and inhibit the enzyme’s activity, therefore providing a potential template for developing new antibiotics. Described here are various dynamic features of PDF and the PDF-actinonin complex and thermodynamic properties of the binding event of actinonin to PDF. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments were performed to provide thermodynamic information (KA, ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS) about the binding of actinonin to PDF. First, because the identity of the bound divalent metal affects the catalytic activities of PDF, the thermodynamics of actinonin binding to Ni-, Co-, and Zn-PDF were explored. The association constant (KA) was found to be highest for Zn-PDF and similar for the Ni- and Co-bond protein. These data also showed a correlation between the efficiency of catalysis (kcat/KM) and the thermodynamics (ΔH, ΔS) of actinonin binding. To assess the degree to which changes in protein motions contribute to binding, the change in heat capacity (ΔCp) between the free and bound state was determined by measuring the temperature dependence of the enthalpy change, ΔH, upon binding. The effects of salt concentration and buffer on the ΔH were assessed to control for binding-linked processes that could contribute to the measured change in heat capacity. The value of ΔCp, -177.5 cal/mol∙K, is larger in magnitude than the value expected from changes in molecular surface hydration, consistent with the hypothesis that changes in molecular motion do contribute to the thermodynamics of actinonin binding. To characterize the effect of actinonin binding on the stability and motions in PDF, hydrogen-deuterium (H/D) exchange experiments using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy were performed on both free and actinonin-bound PDF. The binding of actinonin resulted in a large increase in protection of amide bonds in the binding pocket of PDF and entropically favored decreases of protection of amide bonds on the opposite side of the protein. These results are consistent with previous relaxation data

Athletic trainers\u27 or athletic training students\u27 perceptions of sexual harassment by student-athletes in the collegiate setting

Sexual harassment is an issue that occurs in healthcare professions and on college campuses nationwide. Athletic trainers employed at the collegiate setting are healthcare professionals who work in close conjunction with student-athletes, which may predispose a risk of a sexual harassment occurrence. A study was conducted to investigate the sexual harassment of athletic trainers and athletic training students by student athletes at the collegiate setting. A Qualtrics survey, containing closed- and open-ended questions, was sent out to 297 CAATE-accredited athletic training program directors; the athletic training staff at these institutions were also sent the survey as well. The program directors were asked to send the survey to the students currently enrolled in the program. Quantitative data were analyzed using Qualtrics and the qualitative data were analyzed using themes and coding. The study revealed that athletic trainers and athletic training students were sexually harassed by student-athletes on at least one occasion. 40% of the respondents stated being sexually harassed by a student-athlete, and 59% observed sexual harassment of a member of the athletic training staff on at least one instance

The Use of Faculty-Student Teams to Strengthen the Ethics Content in a DNP Program

Nurse practitioners are confronted with ethical dilemmas. Being able to identify these situations is essential to effective resolutions. Ethics content was introduced by a faculty-student team with subsequent survey regarding the usefulness of ethical frameworks in resolving dilemmas. One year later students were asked by another faculty-student team to define and identify ethically challenging situations they encountered. Those in clinical were better able to identify ethically challenging situations. Didactic portion only students do not seem to have the necessary skills to identify ethical dilemmas. Identifying the appropriate place to introduce and discuss ethical dilemmas is paramount for developing effective DNP curriculums

Strategies for Strengthening Ethics Education in a DNP Program

Nurse practitioners frequently encounter ethical dilemmas, and their identification is essential to effective resolution. An innovative approach involving collaboration between doctor of nursing practice (DNP) and doctor of philosophy (PhD) faculty was used to address this need in a graduate nursing program. The results included a broader understanding of the synergy of the two educational backgrounds in translating and delivering evidence-based practices. The development and use of realistic case studies was a teaching strategy for ethics education. The unique backgrounds of each faculty member promote ethical practice among DNP students, which is essential to the profession

The Effect of an Interprofessional Registered Nurse-Physical Therapist Team on Reducing Prescribed Opioid Dependence in Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain

Long-term prescribed opioid use for chronic pain is shown to reduce recovery potential and increase risk for dependence, which is contributing to the nationwide opioid crisis. There is a need for an innovative, multidisciplinary approach to address prescription opioid dependence. We propose implementation of a community-based interprofessional registered nurse-physical therapist team (IRNPTT) focused on reduction of opioid dependence in adult patients with chronic lower back pain

Association Between Domestic Violence and HIV Serostatus Among Married and Formerly Married Women in Kenya

The prevalence of both domestic violence (DV) and HIV among Kenyan women is known to be high, but the relationship between them is unknown. Nationally representative cross-sectional data from married and formerly married (MFM) women responding to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2008/2009 were analyzed adjusting for complex survey design. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to assess the covariate-adjusted associations between HIV serostatus and any reported DV as well as four constituent DV measures: physical, emotional, sexual, and aggravated bodily harm, adjusting for co-variates entered into each model using a forward stepwise selection process. Co-variates of a priori interest included those representing marriage history, risky sexual behavior, substance use, perceived HIV risk, and socio-demographic characteristics. The prevalence of HIV among MFM women was 10.7% (any DV: 13.1%, no DV: 8.6%); overall prevalence of DV was 43.4%. Among all DV measures, only physical DV was associated with HIV (11.9%; adjusted odds ratio: 2.01, p < 0.05). Efforts by the government and women's groups to monitor and improve policies to reduce DV, such as the Sexual Offences Act of 2006, are urgently needed to curb HIV, as are policies that seek to provide DV counseling and treatment to MFM women

Prospectus, November 20, 2013

COMMUNITY VETERANS HONORED; Illinois to legalize same sex marriage; Suppose JFK had served a second term; 5 study methods that actually work; If you see a crime happening, report it to Public Safety!; Freedom of Speech may not be so free anymore; The Gettysburg Address: Much noted and long remembered; How will Firearm Concealed Carry Act, passed in July 2013, affect yourself or other students?; A spike of success for Parkland volleyballhttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2013/1022/thumbnail.jp

Prospectus, December 4, 2013

TIPS FOR GETTING THROUGH FINAL EXAMS; Texting at stoplight an accident waiting to happen; Transfer tips for students; Tips to earn extra money for the holidays; Winter weather preparedness tips; Public Safety on kitchen safety tips; Gender discrimination in collegiate athletics; \u27Selfie\u27 as word of the year is a fitting self-portrait; Safety shifting to automatic; Volleyball team ends season stronghttps://spark.parkland.edu/prospectus_2013/1023/thumbnail.jp