Contraband Hospital, Freedmen’s Hospital, and Alexander Augusta

The tens of thousands of enslaved Blacks liberated by union forces during the American Civil War were considered seized property and thus were referred to as contraband. As wartime refugees they sought protection in federal military installations, popularly known as contraband camps, located throughout the occupied South. One of the largest was Camp Baker in the rural northwestern sector of Washington, DC, where about 40,000 persons were sheltered. To provide basic medical care, the military outfitted, in 1863, an infirmary called the Contraband Hospital, later renamed Freedmen’s Hospital. From its founding in 1867 the medical department of Howard University was attached to Freemen’s Hospital, which in 1975 was renamed the Howard University Hospital, the two institutions establishing a long partnership of medical education and hospital care that continues to the present day.

Abstract MP28: UBR1 And BRCC36 Regulate ACE2 Ubiquitination And Deubiquitination In Ang-II Induced Hypertension.

UBR1 and BRCC36 regulate ACE2 Ubiquitination and Deubiquitination in Ang-II induced Hypertension. Navya Lakkappa 1 , Clara Berdasco 1 , Catalin Filipeanu 2 , Eric Lazartigues 1 1. Pharmacology, LSUHSC, New Orleans, LA; 2. Pharmacology, Howard University, Washington, DC. ACE2 is undergoing Ang-II-mediated internalization, ubiquitination and degradation, contributing to hypertension. Using proteomics and bioinformatic analysis, we identified UBR1 and BRCC36 and evaluated their role in ACE2 ubiquitination in hypertension. Following gonadectomy, blood pressure (BP, telemetry) was recorded in C57BL6/J mice (3-month-old, n=10/group) infused with Ang-II (490 ng/Kg/min/4 weeks sc). UBR1, BRCC36 and ACE2 expression was assessed in heart and kidneys (capillary western). Ang-II infusion induced a significant mean BP increase in all groups (sham males: 133 ±0.6; castrated: 141 ±0.6; sham females: 134 ±0.7; ovariectomized: 130 ±0.3 mmHg; n=6, one-way ANOVA, P<0.001). UBR1 levels were similar between sexes while cardiac BRCC36 was 2-fold higher in females (P<0.001). Ang-II-mediated hypertension led to a 4-fold increase in UBR1 in males heart and kidneys (P<0.001) and a 2-fold increase in females (P<0.01) while gonadectomy blunted this effect by 50%. Castration did not affect BRCC36 levels while ovariectomy reduced them by 5-fold. Males infused with Ang-II showed no significant change in BRCC36 expression while hypertensive females had a dramatic reduction (5-fold, P<0.001) in the heart. Overall, UBR1 was associated with a reduction and BRCC36 was associated with an increase of ACE2 levels. Endothelial cells (HAEC) exposed to Ang-II (100 nM for 4h) had a 2-fold increase in UBR1 and a 10-fold reduction in ACE2 (n=3: one-way ANOVA, P< 0.01). Complete knockdown of UBR1 resulted in a 10-fold increase in ACE2 levels (n=3: one-way ANOVA, P<0.05). In HEK293T cells transfection with BRCC36 reversed the Ang-II effects (72533.5 ±4432.2 vs. 42204.2 ±4338.7; FU/min/μg protein, n=3, one-way ANOVA, P<0.05). Together, we show that ACE2 expression in hypertension is differentially regulated by URB1 and BRCC36 and depends on sex hormones. Inhibition of UBR1 and upregulation of BRCC36 could be a new therapeutic strategy to prevent ACE2 ubiquitination in hypertension.

Urinary Kringle Domain-Containing Protein HGFL: A Validated Biomarker of Early Sickle Cell Anemia-Associated Kidney Disease

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent complication of sickle cell anemia (SCA). Hyperfiltration that delayed detection of CKD is common in SCA patients. Identification of novel urinary biomarkers correlating with glomerular filtration rates may help to detect and predict progression of renal disease. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Reanalysis of mass spectra of urinary samples obtained from University of Illinois at Chicago identified kringle domain-containing protein HGFL. <b><i>Results:</i></b> HGFL levels correlated with hyperfiltration, were significantly reduced at CKD stage 1 compared to stage 0, negatively correlated with progression of CKD and were suitable for differentiation of stage 1. Better prediction of CKD progression to stage 2 was observed for HGFL-based risk prediction compared to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)-based prediction. Results from a Howard University patient cohort supported the utility of HGFL-based test for the differentiation of stage 1 of CKD. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Urinary HGFL may contribute additional information beyond eGFR and improve diagnosis of early-stage CKD in SCA patients.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Personality Types of Ophthalmology Residents

Objective This study attempts to use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) to analyze personality types among current and recent ophthalmology residents. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence rates of each specific personality type in ophthalmology, and whether these changed by level of training, training program, or fellowship selection. The study aimed to evaluate whether certain personality types are more prevalent in ophthalmology as a unique medical specialty. This can help understand specialty choice and potentially predict trends in specialty selection. Study Design After obtaining institutional review board approval from Howard University Hospital, an electronic version of the MBTI questionnaire, form M, was sent to participants. In addition to the questionnaire, participants responded to four questions inquiring about home program, postgraduate training level, subspecialty interest, and work environment (if applicable). The anonymous responses of the surveys were automatically scored on google forms, and the results were analyzed by using StatView statistical analysis. Setting This study was conducted at Howard University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, and Kresge Eye Institute. Participants A total of 66 current residents and recent graduates of five residency programs were involved in this study. Main Outcomes and Measures This study evaluated four-letter personality type from each participant. Results Ophthalmology residents were statistically more likely to be identified in the categories of extroversion (E) than introversion (I) (p = 0.049), thinking (T) than feeling (F) (p = 0.027), and judging (J) than perceiving (P) (p = 0.007), with no statistically significant difference between sensing (S) and intuition (N). ENTP, ESTJ, and ISTJ were the most common personality types, each comprising 13.6% of the sample population. The ratio of J:P was found to increase as training level increased, beginning with postgraduate 2nd year until graduate level. Conclusion Certain personality types are more common among ophthalmology residents in our cohort from five different training programs. It is possible that individual types change over the course of residency training and career. Understanding that these findings exist can be used as a baseline for future research in terms of potential predictors for applicants, of resident knowledge base, and personality changes over the course of one's training.

Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts: Collaborating for Diversity

The Center for Accounting Education at Howard University partnered with public accounting firms, professional accounting associations, state CPA societies, and accounting academics to formulate recommendations to improve the advancement and retention of Black accounting professionals. Black accountants make up 9 percent of all U.S. accountants and auditors, but in public accounting firms they account for only 4 percent of professional staff and a mere 1 percent of partners (U.S. BLS 2019; AICPA 2019). An important indicator of the collaboration’s success is that public accounting firm leaders sought out its findings and are implementing its recommendations. This paper presents the formation, operation, and outcomes of the collaboration. It also describes the value each group gained from collaborating and provides recommendations for managing collaborations. Our descriptions are offered as a model for others to translate the results of academic research into industry action.