Neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage and gestational weight gain and loss.

We explored the relationship between neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage (NSED) and gestational weight gain and loss and if the association differed by race. A census tract level NSED index (categorized as low, mid-low, mid-high, and high) was generated from 12 measures from the 2000 US Census data. Gestational weight gain and other individual-level characteristics were derived from vital birth records for Allegheny County, PA for 2003-2010 (n = 55,608).

Rates and correlates of health maintenance behaviors after living kidney donation.

Context And Objective: Donating a kidney may provide an opportunity for donors to reevaluate their health maintenance behaviors (eg, regular exercise, smoking cessation, medical checkups). Although the effect of donation on donors' health, quality of life, and financial outcomes has received growing attention, no studies have examined whether donation is related to changes in health maintenance behaviors. The study aims were to (1) describe and compare kidney donors' health maintenance behaviors before and after donation, and (2) determine the correlates of health maintenance behaviors after donation.

Unhealthy alcohol and illicit drug use are associated with decreased quality of HIV care.

Background: HIV-infected patients with substance use experience suboptimal health outcomes, possibly because of variations in care.

Objectives: To assess the association between substance use and the quality of HIV care (QOC) received.

Research Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Perceived discrimination predicts longer time to be accepted for kidney transplant.

Background: Although end-stage kidney disease in African Americans (AAs) is four times greater than in whites, AAs are less than one half as likely to undergo kidney transplantation (KT). This racial disparity has been found even after controlling for clinical factors such as comorbid conditions, dialysis vintage and type, and availability of potential living donors. Therefore, studying nonmedical factors is critical to understanding disparities in KT.