Search

Background and Objectives: Recruitment of underrepresented minorities (URM) in medicine has risen to the forefront as a strategy to address health inequities, but the experiences of URM residents within their own programs are poorly understood. We describe the development and implementation of a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) climate survey at our residency program, the results of which have informed our DEI efforts.Methods: A resident-faculty work group collaboratively developed an 81-item questionnaire, informed by other institutional climate surveys. We administered the survey annually from 2018 through 2021 to all residents and faculty at our large academic family medicine residency program. The anonymous survey covered six key areas: general climate, climate for specific group, personal experience with discrimination and harassment, recruitment, burnout, and curriculum.Results: Average response rates were 84% and 50% for residents and faculty, respectively. Survey results show low satisfaction with resident and faculty diversity; higher rates of burnout for respondents who self-identify as URM, persons of color (POC), and/or LGBTQ; and racial and gender differences in experiences of workplace discrimination and sexual harassment.Conclusions: Instituting an annual internal climate survey at our residency has provided invaluable information regarding the perspectives and experiences of our residents and faculty that has informed our DEI initiatives. We envision that our survey will inform continual improvement and serve as a model for similar introspection leading to meaningful action at other programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytosolic calcium influx activates signaling pathways known to support pancreatic beta cell function and survival by modulating gene expression. Impaired calcium signaling leads to decreased beta cell mass and diabetes. To appreciate the causes of these cytotoxic perturbations, a more detailed understanding of the relevant signaling pathways and their respective gene targets is required. In this study, we examined the calcium-induced expression of the cytoprotective beta cell transcription factor Npas4. Pharmacological inhibition implicated the calcineurin, Akt/protein kinase B, and Ca2/ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase signaling pathways in the regulation of Npas4 transcription and translation. Both Npas4 mRNA and protein had high turnover rates, and, at the protein level, degradation was mediated via the ubiquitinproteasome pathway. Finally, beta cell cytotoxicity of the calcineurin inhibitor and immunosuppressant tacrolimus (FK-506) was prevented by Npas4 overexpression. These results delineate the pathways regulating Npas4 expression and stability and demonstrate its importance in clinical settings such as islet transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roundup herbicides, with glyphosate as their active ingredient, are used in agriculture, forestry management, horticulture and in urban settings. When exposed to Roundup formulations and glyphosate, worms endure a suite of sublethal changes, potentially impacting their ability to provide ecosystem services. Roundup applications also impact soil microbes, which aid soil in delivering ecosystem services. The experiment described here sought to establish the length of time needed between herbicide application and earthworm and soil microbe recovery. We found that exposing worms and soil microbes to a Roundup formulation commonly used in urban settings, at about twice the recommended dose, did not impact earthworm mortality or body mass. However, worms significantly decreased their stress-test survival time, and soil microbes significantly declined in biomass after exposure. While worms demonstrated the strongest decline one-week post exposure, and soil microbes demonstrated the strongest decline two-weeks post exposure, both worms and soil microbes recovered by the third week. Roundup applications can potentially be timed so as to maximize the probability that soil-dwelling organisms remain unharmed by contamination. Unlabelled Image • Roundup® contamination reduced worm stress test survival time at Weeks 1 and 2. • Roundup® contamination caused soil microbe biomass to drop significantly in Week 2. • Worms and microbes recovered from exposure to Roundup® contamination by Week 3. • Roundup® contamination at double the label dose did not cause worm mortality. • Roundup® contamination at double the label dose did not reduce worm body mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participation in cancer research trials by minority populations is imperative in reducing disparities in clinical outcomes. Even with increased awareness of the importance of minority patient inclusion in clinical research to improve cancer care and survival, significant barriers persist in accruing and retaining minority patients into clinical trials. This study sought to identify and address barriers to minority accrual to a minimal risk clinical research study in real-time., (© 2022 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)