ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Among ethnic groups, Asian-American women have the highest incidence of cervical cancer, low cervical cancer screening rates, and are more likely to state they have "never thought about" and/or "do not need" Pap testing. Through a Patient Advocacy grant awarded by the American Society of Cytopathology Foundation, we developed a culturally sensitive educational outreach program to encourage Pap screening among Asian-Americans in our community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Educational materials, translated into three languages, were shared at nine community events by undergraduate and medical student volunteers. Pre- and post-education surveys on awareness, knowledge, and attitudes towards screening were administered. Results were tallied and reported as raw percentages. RESULTS: A total of 328 surveys were completed; 80% were Asian respondents. Twenty percent of respondents were not up to date (NUTD) with Pap screening. Knowledge of Pap tests reported as "excellent"/"good" rose from 46% before to 85% after education. Those reporting "very likely"/"likely" to schedule a Pap test increased from 72% to 92% in the NUTD group and from 84% to 97% in the 21-29 age group. Those reporting "very likely"/"likely" to recommend a Pap test to others increased from 68% to 98% in the NUTD group and 77% to 97% in those aged 21-29. CONCLUSIONS: A student-led community-based culturally sensitive outreach approach improved Pap test knowledge and awareness among Asian-Americans. The largest increase in likelihood to obtain a Pap test and recommend the test to others was the NUTD and 21-29 age groups, suggesting influence on those in need of screening.
ABSTRACT
The organization of neurons and the maintenance of that arrangement are critical to brain function. Failure of these processes in humans can lead to severe birth defects, mental retardation, and epilepsy. Several kinesins have been shown to play important roles in cell migration in vertebrate systems, but few upstream and downstream pathway members have been identified. Here, we utilize the genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to elucidate the pathway by which the C. elegans Kinesin-1 Heavy Chain (KHC)/KIF5 ortholog UNC-116 functions to maintain neuronal cell body position in the PHB sensory neurons. We find that UNC-116/KHC acts in part with the cell and axon migration molecules UNC-6/Netrin and UNC-40/DCC in this process, but in parallel to SAX-3/Robo. We have also identified several potential adaptor, cargo, and regulatory proteins that may provide insight into the mechanism of UNC-116/KHC's function in this process. These include the cargo receptor UNC-33/CRMP2, the cargo adaptor protein UNC-76/FEZ and its regulator UNC-51/ULK, the cargo molecule UNC-69/SCOCO, and the actin regulators UNC-44/Ankyrin and UNC-34/Enabled. These genes also act in cell migration and axon outgrowth; however, many proteins that function in these processes do not affect PHB position. Our findings suggest an active posterior cell migration mediated by UNC-116/KHC occurs throughout development to maintain proper PHB cell body position and define a new pathway that mediates maintenance of neuronal cell body position.
