A positive affect intervention alters leukocyte DNA methylation in sexual minority men with HIV who use methamphetamine.

Objective: This epigenomics sub-study embedded within a randomized controlled trial examined whether an evidenced-based behavioral intervention model that decreased stimulant use altered leukocyte DNA methylation (DNAm).

Methods: Sexual minority men with HIV who use methamphetamine were randomized to a five-session positive affect intervention (n = 32) or an attention-control condition (n = 21), both delivered during three months of contingency management for stimulant abstinence. All participants exhibited sustained HIV virologic control - an HIV viral load less than 40 copies/mL at baseline and six months post-randomization.

The central executive network moderates the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptom severity and gastrointestinal related issues.

Although most adults experience at least one traumatic event in their lifetime, a smaller proportion will go on to be clinically diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Persons diagnosed with PTSD have a greater likelihood of developing gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. However, the extent to which subclinical levels of post-traumatic stress (PTS) correspond with the incidence of GI issues in a normative sample is unclear.

I was like sh*t this is gonna hurt': Implementing Self-Sampling of Dried Blood Spots to Measure HIV Viral Load.

Background: Sexual minority men (SMM) with HIV who use stimulants may experience greater difficulties with antiretroviral therapy adherence which amplifies risk for unsuppressed HIV viral load (VL). Remote monitoring of VL could support efforts to rapidly respond to sub-optimal adherence.

Methods: This qualitative study enrolled 24 SMM with HIV who use stimulants to examine experiences with two different dried blood spots (DBS) self-sampling devices (i.

Stimulant use, HIV, and immune dysregulation among sexual minority men.

Background: Sexual minority men (SMM) report high rates of stimulant use (e.g., crystal methamphetamine, cocaine) and HIV infection.

Latinas and Maternal and Child Health: Research, Policy, and Representation.

Over the last 50 years, the Latino population in the US has grown and changed. Latinos are the nation's largest minority group and among this group, there is incredible diversity. Much of Latino health research and outcomes have been treated interchangeably with immigrant health, but as the US Latino population evolves so should the focus of Latino health research.

Methodologies used in studies examining substance abuse, violence and HIV/AIDS (SAVA) constructs using a syndemic framework: a scoping review.

The syndemic theoretical framework has been used in health disparities research to explain several co-occurring epidemics, particularly in populations facing disparate health conditions. A prominent example of this is seen in Singer's Substance Abuse, Violence and HIV/AIDS (SAVA) syndemic theory. However, even though numerous studies support some of the theoretical underpinnings of the SAVA syndemic, the empirical applications of the theory remain methodologically underdeveloped.

Helping the science speak for itself: lessons learned developing video summaries for a precision medicine and health disparities collaborative.

Skills to effectively communicate research findings are important to expand meaningful inclusion of the public in research, but attempts to summarize findings may be challenging given increasing reliance on succinct communications. Led by our Ethics Advisory Board and within the context of this work with the Precision Medicine and Health Disparities Collaborative, the authors decided to engage in the iterative process of developing video summaries. Our stakeholders taught us to incorporate novel strategies to engage broader audiences, leading to the production of two video summaries, a public summary toolbox and an adapted process for developing video summaries.

Through the Looking-Glass: Psychoneuroimmunology and the Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis in the Modern Antiretroviral Therapy Era.

Objective: Depression, substance use disorders, and other neuropsychiatric comorbidities are common in people with HIV (PWH), but the underlying mechanisms are not sufficiently understood. HIV-induced damage to the gastrointestinal tract potentiates residual immune dysregulation in PWH receiving effective antiretroviral therapy. However, few studies among PWH have examined the relevance of microbiome-gut-brain axis: bidirectional crosstalk between the gastrointestinal tract, immune system, and central nervous system.

Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 Social Distancing and Social Vulnerability on Family Functioning in an International Sample of Households with and without Children.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide event that has exacerbated stress and caused significant disruptions in the day-to-day living of families. Of particular concern are socially vulnerable families, which have felt the impacts of the pandemic most acutely. Because stress can alter family dynamics, it is important to understand which stressors impact families the most, and what resources can be leveraged to strengthen family functioning.

Family functioning in an international sample of households reporting adult caregiving during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered the functioning of households. Because of the vulnerability of high-risk groups, such as older adults and people with compromised immune systems, households caring for these vulnerable adults may be facing elevated levels of caregiving-related stress and burden. The current study sought to examine the impact of the pandemic on conflict and cohesion in households with adults requiring caregiving versus noncaregiving households.

The COVID-19 cannabis health study: Results from an epidemiologic assessment of adults who use cannabis for medicinal reasons in the United States.

: Clinical indications for medicinal cannabis include chronic conditions; thus users (MCUs) are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). The study aimed to provide data on cannabis use and self-reported behavioral changes among MCUs with preexisting chronic conditions in response to the pandemic. An internet-based questionnaire was administered to adults ≥18 who self-reported medicinal cannabis use within the past year.

Developing a Measure of the Impact of COVID-19 Social Distancing on Household Conflict and Cohesion.

This report introduces the COVID-19 Family Environment Scale (CHES), which aims to measure the impact of social distancing due to COVID-19 on household conflict and cohesion. Existing measures do not capture household experiences relevant to the pandemic, in which families are largely confined to their homes while sharing a life-threatening situation. Using best practice guidelines, we developed a pool of items and revised them with review by a panel of experts, and cognitive interviewing with community respondents.