No Kākou, Na Kākou - For Us, By Us: Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders Informing Race Data Collection Standards for Hawai'i.

This article describes recommendations for standardized race data collection developed by the Hawai'i Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response, Recovery, and Resilience Team (NHPI 3R Team). These recommendations attempt to address the expressed desires of Native Hawaiians and the diverse Pacific Islander communities in Hawai'i who seek greater visibility in data and research. The Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) racial category is 1 of the 5 racial categories listed in the 1997 Statistical Policy Directive #15 issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Disaggregating Data to Measure Racial Disparities in COVID-19 Outcomes and Guide Community Response - Hawaii, March 1, 2020-February 28, 2021.

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 (1-3). Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian populations vary in language; cultural practices; and social, economic, and environmental experiences, which can affect health outcomes (4). However, data from these populations are often aggregated in analyses.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in COVID-19 Incidence by Age, Sex, and Period Among Persons Aged <25 Years - 16 U.S. Jurisdictions, January 1-December 31, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. Whereas racial and ethnic disparities in severe COVID-19-associated outcomes, including mortality, have been documented (1-3), less is known about population-based disparities in infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. In addition, although persons aged <30 years account for approximately one third of reported infections, there is limited information on racial and ethnic disparities in infection among young persons over time and by sex and age.

Decline in Frequency of Newborn Male Circumcision After Change in Medicaid Coverage Status in Selected States in the United States.

Objectives: Male circumcision is linked to a reduction in the risk of HIV infection, sexually transmitted infections, penile inflammatory skin disorders, cancers, urinary tract infections, and other complications. We examined the extent to which the change in circumcision recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 1999 and Medicaid coverage status in states affected the total number of procedures performed.

Methods: We used data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample for 1998-2011 collected annually by the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project.

Marijuana use and pneumonia risk in a cohort of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected men.

Background: The prevalence of marijuana use is increasing in the United States. Marijuana smoking has been shown to impair the microbicidal activity of alveolar macrophages and decrease the number of ciliated epithelial cells in the bronchi with a parallel increase in the number of mucus-secreting surface epithelial cells, which may increase the risk of pneumonia. However, it remains unclear whether there is an association between smoking marijuana and pneumonia.

Longitudinal Intra- and Inter-individual variation in T-cell subsets of HIV-infected and uninfected men participating in the LA Multi-Center AIDS Cohort Study.

To assess the intra-individual and inter-individuals biological variation and the effect of aging on lymphocyte T-cells subsets.We assessed lymphocyte phenotypes (CD3, CD4, and CD8 T-cells) in 89 HIV-1-infected and 88 uninfected white non-Hispanic men every 6 months, to examine the biological variation for those measurements, and the average change in lymphocyte phenotype over 34 years.The markers showed significant intra-individuality in HIV-infected and uninfected individuals with index of individuality of <1.

Biological variation of immunological blood biomarkers in healthy individuals and quality goals for biomarker tests.

Background: Cytokines, chemokines, adipocytokines, soluble cell receptors, and immune activation markers play an important role in immune responsiveness and can provide prognostic value since they reflect underlying conditions and disease states. This study was undertaken to investigate the components of biological variation for various laboratory tests of blood immunological biomarkers.

Results: Estimates of intra-individual coefficient of variation (CV) and inter-individual coefficient of variation (CV) were examined for blood immunological biomarkers.

30-Year Longitudinal Study of Hematological Parameters of HIV-1 Negative Men Participating in Los Angeles Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS).

Background: Clinicians often use population-based reference intervals (RIs) when interpreting patient results. However, this method can present problems if the analyte in question has wide variability from person to person.

Methods: We examined the biological variation of routine hematologic markers in 82 white non-Hispanic men every 6 months during a 30-year period, to determine the usefulness of population-based RIs and age-related decline of hematological markers.

Stability of cytokines, chemokines and soluble activation markers in unprocessed blood stored under different conditions.

Background: Biomarkers such as cytokines, chemokines, and soluble activation markers can be unstable when processing of blood is delayed. The stability of various biomarkers in serum and plasma was investigated when unprocessed blood samples were stored for up to 24h at room and refrigerator temperature.

Methods: Blood was collected from 16 healthy volunteers.

Association of Blood Biomarkers of Bone Turnover in HIV-1 Infected Individuals Receiving Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).

Objective: To evaluate the association of bone turnover biomarkers with blood levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin (OC), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and other blood markers in HIV-1 infected men receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Advances in the treatment of HIV-1 infection have extended the life span of HIV-1 infected individuals. However, these advances may come at the price of metabolic side effects and bone disorders, including premature osteopenia, osteoporosis and osteonecrosis.