Search

The study of sexual exploitation of trafficked victims cannot be done without understanding their enforced isolation. To better understand the dynamics of isolation, this study examined how traffickers used different elements of isolation and how such tactics may have contributed to the traffickers' success in maintaining control over the victim(s). We examined in-depth narratives from 14 women between the ages of 20 to 53, primarily immigrants, who were recruited from an agency serving victims of sex trafficking in a large metropolitan city. The tactics used by traffickers varied and included not only the commonly defined structural isolation in which victims are restricted physically and socially, but also included a shrinking of safe social space and an elimination of privacy and social support. The latter, which we label as functional isolation, refers to instances when survivors are surrounded by peers who are either unreliable or aligned with the trafficker and thus are unable to give true social support. Survivors reported a combination of isolation tactics (i.e., both structural isolation and functional isolation). The different interwoven types and patterns of isolation reported by former victims of trafficking help address a dearth in the coercive control and abuse literature, providing a richer understanding of isolation in trafficking survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of sexual exploitation of trafficked victims cannot be done without understanding their enforced isolation. To better understand the dynamics of isolation, this study examined how traffickers used different elements of isolation and how such tactics may have contributed to the traffickers' success in maintaining control over the victim(s). We examined in-depth narratives from 14 women between the ages of 20 to 53, primarily immigrants, who were recruited from an agency serving victims of sex trafficking in a large metropolitan city. The tactics used by traffickers varied and included not only the commonly defined structural isolation in which victims are restricted physically and socially, but also included a shrinking of safe social space and an elimination of privacy and social support. The latter, which we label as functional isolation, refers to instances when survivors are surrounded by peers who are either unreliable or aligned with the trafficker and thus are unable to give true social support. Survivors reported a combination of isolation tactics (i.e., both structural isolation and functional isolation). The different interwoven types and patterns of isolation reported by former victims of trafficking help address a dearth in the coercive control and abuse literature, providing a richer understanding of isolation in trafficking survivors.

Introduction: The aim of this research was to achieve a deeper understanding of the experience of adults living with home parenteral nutrition (PN) and to define their quality of life (QOL)., Methods: The research design was qualitative, using content and interpretative phenomenological analysis. The sample included adults with intestinal failure, stratified by length of home PN dependency. Sampling continued until data saturation was achieved. A second reviewer independently coded a subset of narratives (kappa = 0.684)., Results: Participants included 24 adults receiving home PN because of short bowel syndrome (95.8%) and pseudo-obstruction (4.2%). Twenty-five percent received PN for < 2 years, 20.8% for 2-5 years, 25% for 5-10 years, and 29.2% for > 10 years. Respondents viewed home PN as a "lifeline" and "nutritional safety net." QOL was defined as "enjoying life"; "being happy, satisfied, or content with life"; and "being able to do what you want to do, when you want to do it." Participants described their QOL as "good" to "wonderful." Lifestyle was affected by health, stamina, diarrhea, having an ostomy, and the amount of flexibility there was with the infusion schedule. There was a strong desire to achieve normalcy in life among all participants., Conclusions: Qualitative methodology provides new insights and richness of data regarding adults receiving home PN. The positive description of QOL in this study contrasts with the published nutrition literature. It is important for healthcare practitioners to understand and discuss the realities of home PN and lifestyle adaptation.

Hexavalent chromium is a known inducer of DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs) that contribute to repression of inducible genes and genotoxicity of this metal. Lymphocytic DPCs have also shown potential utility as biomarkers of human exposure to Cr(VI). Here, we examined the mechanism of DPC formation by Cr(VI) and the impact of its main cellular reducers. In vitro reactions of Cr(VI) with one-electron reducing thiols (glutathione and cysteine) or two-electron donating ascorbate were all efficient at DPC production, indicating a dispensable role of Cr(V). No Cr(VI) reducer was able to generate DPC in the presence of Cr(III)-chelating EDTA or phosphate. A critical role of Cr(III) in DNA-protein linkages was further confirmed by dissociation of Cr(VI)-induced DPC by phosphate. EDTA was very inefficient in DPC dissociation, indicating its poor suitability for testing of Cr(III)-mediated bridging and reversal of complex DPC. Reactions containing only one Cr-modified component (protein or DNA) showed that Cr(III)-DNA adduction was the initial step in DPC formation. Cross-linking proceeded slowly after the rapid formation of Cr-DNA adducts, indicating that protein conjugation was the rate-limiting step in DPC generation. Experiments with depletion of glutathione and restoration of ascorbate levels in human lung A549 cells showed that high cellular reducing capacity promotes DPC yield. Overall, our data provide evidence for a three-step cross-linking mechanism involving (i) reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III), (ii) Cr(III)-DNA binding, and (iii) protein capture by DNA-bound Cr(III) generating protein-Cr(III)-DNA cross-links.