Exploring the Motivational Drivers of Young Adults with Diabetes for Participation in Kidney Research

Understanding motivational drivers and barriers to patient participation in diabetes research are important to ensure research is relevant and valuable. Young adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) completed a 31-question qualitative survey evaluating participant experience, understanding, and motivators and barriers to research involvement. A total of 35 participants, 19–28 years of age, 60% female, completed the survey. Motivating factors included personal benefit, relationship with the study team, curiosity, financial compensation, altruism, and nostalgia. Older participants (>22 years) reported higher levels of trust in the study team (p = 0.02) and their relationship with the study team positively influenced their decision to participate (p = 0.03). Financial compensation was a strong motivator for participants with higher education (p = 0.02). Age, sex, education level, and trust in the study team influenced participants’ understanding. Barriers included logistics and lack of familial support. Important motivational drivers and barriers to participation in research by young adults with T1D must be considered to increase research engagement and facilitate the discovery of new knowledge.

Specific labeling of rat brain substance P receptor with [3H]physalaemin

The binding of [3H]physalaemin [( 3H]PHY) to rat brain membranes is specific, saturable and reversible in the presence of monovalent cations and peptidase inhibitors. Monovalent cations increase the binding of [3H]PHY in an ionic strength (mu)-dependent manner with an optimal effect at mu higher than 0.3. Addition of 2.5 mM MnCl2 results in a 2-fold increase in the affinity (KD) and a 40% increase in the maximal receptor density (Bmax). Scatchard analysis under these conditions indicates the existence of a single population of noninteracting sites with KD of 3.6 nM and a Bmax of 76 fmol/mg of protein. Substance P (SP) and physalaemin are equipotent in inhibiting the binding of [3H]PHY, whereas the potency of SP(2-11), SP(3-11), and SP(4-11) decreased in inverse proportion to their length. The relative affinity of the different tachykinins, SP, and SP fragments in competing with [3H]PHY correlates with their potency to stimulate several bioassay systems, indicating that [3H]PHY labels a physiologically relevant binding site that correspond to the SP-P tachykinin receptor. Guanine nucleotides completely abolish the increase in the binding of [3H]PHY produced by 2.5 mM MnCl2, but in its absence, the nucleotides reduce binding only by 15%. Guanine nucleotides reduce binding to the same level regardless of the presence or absence of the divalent cation. Regional distribution studies confirm that the density of SP receptors is maximal in the olfactory bulb, followed by the hypothalamus, striatum, hippocampus, cortex, and cerebellum.

Effect of ovine luteinizing hormone and prolactin on progesterone secretion by goat granulose cells in culture

Effects of LH and prolactin on cultures of granulosa cells from the goat were analysed in terms of the secretion of progesterone. The cultures were maintained for 120 h during which time they were treated at 24 and 72 h after explantation with LH and prolactin. Progesterone secreted in the culture medium was determined by radioimmunoassay. The secretion of progesterone by the cultures in response to LH and prolactin was significantly increased (P less than 0.01) compared with that by control cultures. The pattern of steroid secretion in the two cases (LH-treated and prolactin-treated cultures) was, however, different. The secretion dropped appreciably when the concentration of hormones was increased to 100 mu./ml.