Aging, Weight, and Health Among Adult Lesbian and Bisexual Women: A Metasynthesis of the Multisite "Healthy Weight Initiative" Focus Groups.

Purpose: Adult lesbian and bisexual (LB) women are more likely to be obese than adult heterosexual women. Achieving a healthy weight reduces health risks and improves quality of life, but the evidence based on successful weight interventions is limited. To inform a national initiative, a metasynthesis (a form of qualitative meta-analysis) of focus group data was conducted to gather lesbian and bisexual womens' perspectives.

Satisfaction and Healthcare Utilization of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals in NYC: A Community-Based Participatory Study.

Purpose: Transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals face high levels of discrimination and mistreatment, including within social and medical service settings, which may lead to negative health and psychosocial sequelae. Given the many barriers to competent care, we sought to determine points of intervention by assessing the current needs, satisfaction, and health care utilization of TGNC individuals in New York City as reported by TGNC individuals.

Methods: In January 2013, fifty TGNC individuals were recruited via flyers and direct referrals from healthcare professionals within community spaces and pertinent venues.

HIV risk and preventive interventions in transgender women sex workers.

Worldwide, transgender women who engage in sex work have a disproportionate risk for HIV compared with natal male and female sex workers. We reviewed recent epidemiological research on HIV in transgender women and show that transgender women sex workers (TSW) face unique structural, interpersonal, and individual vulnerabilities that contribute to risk for HIV. Only six studies of evidence-based prevention interventions were identified, none of which focused exclusively on TSW.

Beyond the guidelines: challenges, controversies, and unanswered questions.

Transgender and gender-nonconforming youth have unique medical and psychosocial needs that frequently go unmet. For youth who wish to have their physical appearance congruent with their gender identity, treatment guidelines are available that advocate the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues (puberty blockers) and cross-sex hormone regimens. Although medical transition was once considered highly controversial, there is a mounting body of evidence that providing a supportive and affirming environment, as well as appropriate medical intervention, results in improved health outcomes.

A multicenter study of initiation of antiretroviral therapy and transmitted drug resistance in antiretroviral-naive adolescents and young adults with HIV in New York City.

Background: In December 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) changed to include patients with CD4 counts between 350 and 500 cells/µL. The aims of this study were to assess uptake of this recommendation in ART-naive youth with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to describe the epidemiology of transmitted genotypic drug resistance mutations (DRMs) in this population.

Methods: A multicenter, retrospective cohort study of ART initiation in ART-naive youth was performed.

HIV epidemics among transgender women.

Purpose Of Review: Recent data on the high burden of HIV among transgender women have stimulated interest in addressing HIV in this vulnerable population. This review situates the epidemiologic data on HIV among transgender women in the context of the social determinants of health and describes opportunities for effective interventions.

Recent Findings: Transgender women experience unique vulnerability to HIV that can be attributed to multilevel, intersecting factors that also influence the HIV treatment and care continuum.