Project THANKS: A Socio-Ecological Framework For An Intervention Involving HIV Positive African American Women With Comorbidities

HIV-positive individuals are living longer today as a result of continuing advances in treatment but are also facing an increased risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, and hypertension. These conditions result in a larger burden of hospitalization, outpatient, and emergency room visits. Impoverished African American women may represent an especially high-risk group due to disparities in health care, racial discrimination, and limited resources. This article describes an intervention that is based on the conceptual framework of the socio-ecological model. Project THANKS uses a community-based participatory, and empowerment building approach to target the unique personal, social, and environmental needs of African American women faced with the dual diagnosis of HIV and one or more chronic diseases. The long-term goal of this project is to identify features in the social and cultural milieu of these women that if integrated into existing harm reduction services can reduce poor health outcomes among them

Changing Food Habits in A South Indian Hindu Brahmin Community: A Case of Transitioning Gender Roles and Family Dynamics

This study was conducted to explore the perceptions of 20 South Indian Hindu Brahmin women on the factors influencing their food habits upon immigrating to America. The competing demands of juggling a new career and managing their family’s nutritional needs at the same time, all without the support of extended family members, played an important role in steering these women away from cooking traditional healthy meals, and resorting to fast foods instead. Intervention strategies should be directed toward improving the barriers to eating healthy that were specifically identified within the confines of shifting gender roles and limited family support networks

Phenotype of ribonuclease 1 deficiency in mice

Biological roles for extracellular RNA (eRNA) have become apparent. For example, eRNA can induce contact activation in blood via activation of the plasma proteases factor XII (FXII) and factor XI (FXI). We sought to reveal the biological role of the secretory enzyme ribonuclease 1 (RNase 1) in an organismal context by generating and analyzing RNase 1 knockout (Rnase1–/–) mice. We found that these mice are viable, healthy, and fertile, though larger than Rnase1+/+ mice. Rnase1–/–plasma contains more RNA than does the plasma of Rnase1+/+ mice. Moreover, the plasma of Rnase1–/– mice clots more rapidly than does wild-type plasma. This phenotype appeared to be due to increased levels of the active form of FXII (FXIIa) in the plasma of Rnase1–/– mice compared to Rnase1+/+ mice, and is consistent with the known effects of eRNA on FXII activation. The apparent activity of FXI in the plasma of Rnase1–/– mice was 1000-fold higher when measured in an assay triggered by a low concentration of tissue factor than in assays based on recalcification, consistent with eRNA enhancing FXI activation by thrombin. These findings suggest that one of the physiological functions of RNase 1 is to degrade eRNA in blood plasma. Loss of this function facilitates FXII and FXI activation, which could have effects on inflammation and blood coagulation. We anticipate that Rnase1–/– mice will be a useful tool for evaluating other hypotheses about the functions of RNase 1 and of eRNA in vivo.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant T32-GM008688

Changing Food Habits in a South Indian Hindu Brahmin Community: A Case of Transitioning Gender Roles and Family Dynamics

This study was conducted to explore the perceptions of 20 South Indian Hindu Brahmin women on the factors influencing their food habits upon immigrating to America. The competing demands of juggling a new career and managing their family’s nutritional needs at the same time, all without the support of extended family members, played an important role in steering these women away from cooking traditional healthy meals, and resorting to fast foods instead. Intervention strategies should be directed toward improving the barriers to eating healthy that were specifically identified within the confines of shifting gender roles and limited family support networks