Disparities In Uptake Of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among California Medicaid Enrollees.

One of the pillars of efforts in the US to curb HIV incidence is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). We examined racial/ethnic and sex disparities in PrEP uptake among California Medicaid enrollees. Claims data from 2019 identified enrollees and PrEP users in each racial/ethnic, sex, and age group, yielding crude uptake rates.

Informing California's Plan to Enhance HIV Screening in the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative.

The CDC recommends that everyone have at least one HIV test in their lifetime. However, analyses of California Health Interview Survey data showed that in 2017 only half of Californians had ever received an HIV test. Non-Hispanic Black (64.

Associations Between Physical Distancing and Mental Health, Sexual Health and Technology Use Among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Physical distancing measures, designed to limit the spread of COVID-19, have been implemented globally. We sought to understand how physical distancing impacts gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM), a group disproportionately affected by poor health outcomes. A cross-sectional online survey on Hornet, a networking application (N = 10,079), measured sociodemographics, physical distancing, mental health outcomes, and sexual behavior.

Social networks and condomless intercourse with female partners among male sex workers in the Dominican Republic.

Male sex workers (MSW) in the Dominican Republic (DR) have multiple sexual partners, including personal and client-relationships, and are disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We examined the prevalence of condomless anal and/or vaginal intercourse (CI) among MSW in the DR as a function of social network factors. Self-report surveys and social network interviews were administered to MSW recruited through venue-based sampling (N = 220).

The Effect of Hospice on End-of-Life Costs for Terminal Medicare Patients With HIV.

One-quarter of annual Medicare expenses in the traditional program (non-Medicare Advantage) are expended for 5% of Medicare enrollees, with much of this expenditure occurring in the last year of life. Hospice use may reduce end-of-life costs. However, evidence has been inconclusive due to sample selection and differences in insurance coverage for hospice.

Concomitant Utilization of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Meningococcal Vaccine (MenACWY) Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Los Angeles County, California.

Recent outbreaks of serogroup C meningococcal disease in Southern California have led the California Department of Public Health to recommend the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Southern California. High-risk GBMSM have also been advised to utilize pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. Data collected from a community-based sample of HIV-negative GBMSM in Los Angeles County (N = 476) were used in a multinomial logit regression analysis to identify patterns in MenACWY and PrEP usage and evaluate factors associated with use of both, one, or neither of these prevention methods.

Development of a measure to assess vaccine confidence among men who have sex with men.

Background: Recent serogroup C meningococcal disease outbreaks led to meningococcal vaccine recommendations for Southern California men who have sex with men (MSM). Assessment of vaccine confidence is critical to improving vaccine coverage in the context of disease outbreaks wherein immunization(s) are recommended.

Methods: We surveyed MSM using venue-based sampling and began development of the vaccine confidence index (VCI) with 30 survey items corresponding to trust- and safety-related perceptions.

Quadrivalent Meningococcal Vaccine Uptake Among Men Who Have Sex With Men During a Meningococcal Outbreak in Los Angeles County, California, 2016-2017.

Objective: The objective of our study was to assess meningococcal ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine uptake among men who have sex with men (MSM) during an ongoing, invasive meningococcal disease outbreak in Southern California. This research was important to inform future vaccination uptake interventions for this high-priority population.

Methods: We conducted venue-based sampling to recruit and enroll MSM living in Los Angeles County, California, from December 2016 through February 2017.

Factors Associated with Immunization Opinion Leadership among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Los Angeles, California.

We sought to identify the characteristics of men who have sex with men (MSM) who are opinion leaders on immunization issues and to identify potential opportunities to leverage their influence for vaccine promotion within MSM communities. Using venue-based sampling, we recruited and enrolled MSM living in Los Angeles ( = 520) from December 2016 to February 2017 and evaluated characteristic differences in sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and technology use among those classified as opinion leaders versus those who were not. We also asked respondents about their past receipt of meningococcal serogroups A, C, W, and Y (MenACWY) and meningococcal B (MenB) vaccines, as well as their opinions on the importance of 13 additional vaccines.

Facilitators and Barriers to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Willingness Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Use Geosocial Networking Applications in California.

While correlates of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake have been explored among older men who have sex with men (MSM), less is known about the facilitators and barriers that encourage uptake among younger MSM (YMSM). This study explores the association between willingness to take PrEP and demographic characteristics, sexual risk, and substance use, and attitudinal factors among YMSM in California who use geosocial networking applications (GSN apps). Based on survey data from YMSM recruited through GSN apps (n = 687), PrEP willingness was positively associated with Hispanic ethnicity [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.

Psychological distress, health protection, and sexual practices among young men who have sex with men: Using social action theory to guide HIV prevention efforts.

The present study addresses gaps in the literature related to theory development for young men who have sex with men (YMSM) sexual practices through the application and modification of Social Action Theory. Data come from the Healthy Young Men study (N = 526), which longitudinally tracked a diverse cohort of YMSM ages 18-24 to characterize risk and protective factors associated with drug use and sexual practices. Structural equation modeling examined the applicability of, and any necessary modifications to a YMSM-focused version of Social Action Theory.

Alcohol Use and HIV Risk Within Social Networks of MSM Sex Workers in the Dominican Republic.

To examine how alcohol-related HIV risk behaviors within MSM sex workers' social networks (SN) may be associated with individual risk behaviors, respondent-driven and venue-based sampling were used to collect demographic, behavioral and SN characteristics among MSM sex workers in Santo Domingo and Boca Chica (N = 220). The majority of participants reported problem drinking (71.0%) or alcohol use at their last sexual encounter (71.

Technology Use and Preferences for Mobile Phone-Based HIV Prevention and Treatment Among Black Young Men Who Have Sex With Men: Exploratory Research.

Background: Black young men who have sex with men (BYMSM) experience higher human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence than their white and Latino counterparts.

Objective: The aim of our study was to understand BYMSM's preferences for mobile phone-based HIV prevention and treatment in order to inform culturally tailored interventions to reduce the spread of HIV and improve HIV treatment outcomes in this population.

Methods: Qualitative focus groups (N=6) with BYMSM aged 18-29 years (N=41; 46%, 19/41 HIV-positive) were conducted to elucidate their preferences for the design and delivery of mobile phone-based HIV prevention and treatment interventions.

Neighborhood, family and individual characteristics related to adolescent park-based physical activity.

Background: Local parks are an important community resource that may influence levels of physical activity among youth. However, few population-based studies have investigated park-based physical activity among youth.

Purpose: This study examines sociodemographic, family, and neighborhood characteristics associated with park-based physical activity among adolescents.

Defining the expression hierarchy of latent T-cell epitopes in Epstein-Barr virus infection with TCR-like antibodies.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a gamma herpesvirus that causes a life-long latent infection in human hosts. The latent gene products LMP1, LMP2A and EBNA1 are expressed by EBV-associated tumors and peptide epitopes derived from these can be targeted by CD8 Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte (CTL) lines. Whilst CTL-based methodologies can be utilized to infer the presence of specific latent epitopes, they do not allow a direct visualization or quantitation of these epitopes.

Genomewide clonal analysis of lethal mutations in the Drosophila melanogaster eye: comparison of the X chromosome and autosomes.

Using a large consortium of undergraduate students in an organized program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), we have undertaken a functional genomic screen in the Drosophila eye. In addition to the educational value of discovery-based learning, this article presents the first comprehensive genomewide analysis of essential genes involved in eye development. The data reveal the surprising result that the X chromosome has almost twice the frequency of essential genes involved in eye development as that found on the autosomes.