A qualitative exploration of the impacts of COVID-19 in two rural Southwestern Alaska communities

This manuscript presents a qualitative exploration of the experiences of people in two Southwestern Alaska communities during the emergence of COVID-19 and subsequent pandemic response. The project used principles of community based participatory research and honoured Indigenous ways of knowing throughout the study design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination. Data was collected in 2022 through group and individual conversations with community members, exploring impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants included Elders, community health workers, Tribal council members, government employees, school personnel, and emergency response personnel. Notes and written responses were coded using thematic qualitative analysis. The most frequently identified themes were 1) feeling disconnected from family, friends, and other relationships, 2) death, 3) the Tribal councils did a good job, and 4) loss of celebrations and ceremonies. While the findings highlighted grief and a loss of social cohesion due to the pandemic, they also included indicators of resilience and thriving, such as appropriate and responsive local governance, revitalisation of traditional medicines, and coming together as a community to survive. This case study was conducted as part of an international collaboration to identify community-driven, evidence-based recommendations to inform pan-Arctic collaboration and decision making in public health during global emergencies.

Reproductive justice for Black, Indigenous, Women of Color: Uprooting race and colonialism

Historically, atrocities against Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color's (BIWoC) reproductive rights have been committed and continue to take place in contemporary society. The atrocities against BIWoC have been fueled by White supremacy ideology of the "desirable race" and colonial views toward controlling poverty and population growth, particularly that of "undesirable" races and ethnicities. Grounded in Critical Race Theory, this paper aims to provide a critical analysis of historical and contemporary violations of BIWoC reproductive rights; discuss interventions based on empowerment and advocacy principles designed to promote women's reproductive justice; and discuss implications for future research, action, and policy from the lenses of Critical Race Theory and Community Psychology. This paper contributes to the special issue by critically analyzing historical and contemporary racism and colonialism against BIWoC, discussing implications for future research and practice, and making policy recommendations.

Public health restrictions, directives, and measures in Arctic countries in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic

Beginning January of 2020, COVID-19 cases detected in Arctic countries triggered government policy responses to stop transmission and limit caseloads beneath levels that would overwhelm existing healthcare systems. This review details the various restrictions, health mandates, and transmission mitigation strategies imposed by governments in eight Arctic countries (the United States, Canada, Greenland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, and Russia) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, through 31 January 2021s31 January 2021. We highlight formal protocols and informal initiatives adopted by local communities in each country, beyond what was mandated by regional or national governments. This review documents travel restrictions, communications, testing strategies, and use of health technology to track and monitor COVID-19 cases. We provide geographical and sociocultural background and draw on local media and communications to contextualise the impact of COVID-19 emergence and prevention measures in Indigenous communities in the Arctic. Countries saw varied case rates associated with local protocols, governance, and population. Still, almost all regions maintained low COVID-19 case rates until November of 2020. This review was produced as part of an international collaboration to identify community-driven, evidence-based promising practices and recommendations to inform pan-Arctic collaboration and decision making in public health during global emergencies.

Prophylactic treatment of endotoxic shock with monophosphoryl lipid A in newborn rats

Mortality due to gram-negative septic shock remains high despite advances in medical care. Induction of endotoxin tolerance might be a new treatment strategy to prevent septic shock in the newborn. The present study was performed to show that an injection in pregnant rats of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), a nontoxic derivative of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), induces tolerance to Salmonella enteritidis LPS and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in their offspring. MPL at a dose of 2 mg/kg was injected into pregnant rats on the 19th day of gestation. Their 0-day-old offspring later received an intraperitoneal injection of S. enteritidis LPS or TNF-alpha. Newborn rats of MPL-treated dams exhibited a higher survival rate, absence of lactacidemia and lower plasma TNF-alpha concentration in response to S. enteritidis LPS when compared to the newborn rats of saline-treated dams. Newborn rats of MPL-treated dams were more tolerant to TNF-alpha than those of saline-treated dams. MPL injection into pregnant rats did not increase plasma endotoxin concentration in the fetuses, suggesting no placental passage took place, but it did increase plasma TNF-alpha concentration. We concluded that an injection of MPL into pregnant rats induced tolerance to LPS in their offspring, which might be due to TNF-alpha-induced TNF-alpha tolerance.

A sublethal dose of LPS to pregnant rats induces TNF-alpha tolerance in their 0-day-old offspring

The newborn has high mortality in septic shock. Induction of endotoxin tolerance may prevent endotoxic shock in the newborn. The present study showed that a small dose of Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (S. ent. LPS), Rc mutant Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (J5 LPS), or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) given to pregnant rats on the 19th day of gestation induced endotoxin tolerance in their 0-day-old offspring. S. ent. LPS or J5 LPS injected into pregnant rats increased plasma endotoxin-like activity in dams, although not in their fetuses, and increased plasma TNF-alpha concentration in both dams and their fetuses. The endotoxin-tolerant newborn rats were also resistant to TNF-alpha. In those newborn rats, an LPS injection increased plasma TNF-alpha concentration and liver TNF-alpha mRNA abundance. These experiments showed that the endotoxin tolerance could be due to TNF-alpha tolerance. In conclusion, prenatal treatment of dams with a small dose of S. ent. LPS, J5 LPS, or TNF-alpha was beneficial in preventing endotoxic shock in the newborn.

Endotoxemia following enteral refeeding in children

Plasma endotoxin-like activity, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) concentrations, core body temperature, and liver functions were measured before and after enteral feeding in children who had been deprived of enteral feeding for 5 days because of their illness. Transient endotoxemia and elevations in plasma TNFalpha concentrations occurred. Core body temperature, aspartate aminotransferase, alamine aminotransferase, and bilirubin concentrations were normal in patients who had elevated plasma endotoxin-like activity. Transient endotoxemia following enteral feeding may be due to the translocation from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract as a result of increased mesenteric circulation and peristalsis. No clinical consequences were noted despite transient endotoxemia. The transient endotoxemia is not due to the immature GI tract; instead, it results from enteral feeding following the deprivation of enteral feeds.

Hadamard transforms of images by use of inexpensive liquid-crystal spatial light modulators

Incoherent light imaging by Hadamard transformations by use of an inexpensive spatial light modulator from a liquid-crystal display television is demonstrated. The transforms are implemented by means of S matrices. Good-fidelity 31 x 33 pixel images are obtained. The image distortions caused by the limitations of the spatial light modulator are discussed.

Phase II trial of rhIL-6 (interleukin-6) prior to and concurrently with VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone) chemotherapy for patients with multiple myeloma

We examined the tolerability and safety of interleukin-6 (rhIL-6) when administered prior to and concurrent with vincristine, doxorubicin and dexamethasone (VAD) in patients with progressive multiple myeloma previously treated with VAD alone. Typical rhIL-6-related effects such as fever, chills, acute phase reactions and reversible abnormalities in liver function tests were observed. The study examined whether rhIL-6 predictably modulated indices of myeloma activity. No consistent, predictable change in myeloma-related parameters was documented upon rhIL-6 administration for either 8 days or 11 days prior to and concurrent with VAD. Two patients showed improved sensitivity to VAD chemotherapy when this was administered with rhIL-6. The overall response rate to rhIL-6 and VAD therapy in this study of relapsed and refractory patients was 50%, comparable to our previous experience with VAD alone in this cohort of patients.

LPS injected into the pregnant rat late in gestation does not induce fetal endotoxemia

Endotoxin is abortifacient. Abortion may be due to maternal, fetal or combined endotoxemia. The present study was performed to evaluate if fetal rat endotoxemia was induced by maternal endotoxemia in late gestation. An intraperitoneal injection of smooth lipopolysaccharide (Escherichia coli LPS and Shigella flexneri LPS) or rough LPS (Rc mutant Escherichia coli LPS) induced Limulus activity in maternal plasma, but not fetal plasma. These results suggest that fetal rat endotoxemia is not induced during maternal endotoxemia. Thus, the abortion may not be due to fetal endotoxemia.