Draft Genome Sequence of Nereida sp. Strain MMG025, Isolated from Giant Kelp.

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Nereida sp. strain MMG025, isolated from the surface of giant kelp and assembled and analyzed by undergraduate students participating in a marine microbial genomics course. A genomic comparison suggests that MMG025 is a novel species, providing a resource for future microbiology and biotechnology investigations.

Experiences of patients undergoing dialysis who are from ethnic and racial minorities.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 500,000 people in the United States are affected by end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), 53% of whom are Black or Latino. ESKD significantly impacts psychosocial health and quality of life. However, few studies address the psychosocial aspects of ESKD, especially among black and Latino adults. This study sought to understand the psychosocial context of living with ESKD among black and Latino adults who reside in a medically underserved community. STUDY DESIGN: A qualitative study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants were recruited from a dialysis centre in East New York, Brooklyn, a medically underserved community. METHODOLOGY: Descriptive phenomenology was used as a qualitative approach for capturing the experiences of patients who received dialysis in this community. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Open-ended interviews were audio-taped, transcribed, coded and analysed using standard qualitative techniques. RESULTS: Data saturation was achieved at 36 participants. The following five themes emerged: the transition to dialysis is abrupt and unexpected; denial is often an initial response; dialysis is the new normal and in order to survive one must forget the past and press forward; dialysis changes everything and impacts the entire family; strength was often found in faith and family. LIMITATIONS: This study was conducted in one setting and may need to be expanded to other sites to capture the experiences of patients cared for in other settings. CONCLUSION: These findings have practical implications for informing patient-centered models of care that are more responsive to the psychosocial needs of patients with ESKD living in medically underserved communities.

Ethical considerations for conducting health disparities research in community health centers: a social-ecological perspective.

Community health centers (CHCs) provide optimal research settings. They serve a high-risk, medically underserved population in the greatest need of intervention. Low socioeconomic status renders this population particularly vulnerable to research misconduct. Traditional principles of research ethics are often applied to participants only. The social-ecological model offers a comprehensive framework for applying these principles across multiple levels (participants, providers, organizations, communities, and policy). Our experience with the Trial Using Motivational Interviewing, Positive Affect and Self-Affirmation in African-Americans with Hypertension, a randomized trial conducted in CHCs, led us to propose a new platform for discussing research ethics; examine the social, community, and political factors surrounding research conducted in CHCs; and recommend how future research should be conducted in such settings.