Community-academic partnerships to embrace and ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion in translational science: Evidence of successful community engagement.

Community-Research Advisory Councils (C-RAC) provide a unique mechanism for building sustainable community-academic partnership, fostering bidirectional understanding of complex research issues, disseminating timely research findings, and thereby improving public trust in science. Created in 2009, the Johns Hopkins C-RAC has a mission to achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) of stakeholders across the entire research continuum. It has nurtured over a decade of partnership among community and academic stakeholders toward addressing health disparity, health equity, structural racism, and discrimination.

Integrating community voices in the research continuum: Perspectives on a consultation service.

The Community Research Advisory Council (C-RAC) of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Clinical and Translational Research was established in 2009 to provide community-engaged research consultation services. In 2016-2017, C-RAC members and researchers were surveyed on their consultation experiences. Survey results and a 2019 stakeholder meeting proceeding helped redesign the consultation services.

The New Zealand white rabbit animal model of acute radiation syndrome: hematopoietic and coagulation-based parameters by radiation dose following supportive care.

Purpose: Animal models that accurately reflect human responses to radiation injury are needed for advanced mechanistic investigation and development of effective therapeutics. The rabbit is an established animal model accepted by the FDA for studies of cardiovascular disease, lipid metabolism, the development of anticoagulants, testing of bone implants, and the development of treatments for infectious diseases such as HIV. The purpose of this study was to investigate the New Zealand White (NZW) Rabbit model as a model of acute radiation exposure because of its established similarity to human vascular, immune, and coagulation responses.

Long-term effect of the self-management comprehensive coping strategy program on quality of life in patients with breast cancer treated with high-dose chemotherapy.

Background: This study aims to examine the effectiveness of a self-management multimodal comprehensive coping strategy program (CCSP) on quality of life (QOL) among breast cancer patients 1 year after treatment.

Methods: Patients (n = 110) with stage II, III, or IV breast cancer scheduled to receive high dose chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were randomized to either CCSP treatment or control group. The CCSP intervention was taught 2 week before hospital admission with reinforcement at specified times during treatment and 3 months after discharge.

Genital herpes testing among persons living with HIV.

This cross-sectional survey explored the frequency of genital herpes testing among 110 people living with HIV (PLWH) and reported barriers and facilitators related to testing. Forty-four percent of the respondents had not been tested for genital herpes since receiving an HIV diagnosis, 34% had been tested, and 22% preferred not to say. Respondents' most frequently cited factors affecting a decision to not be tested were: (a) testing not being recommended by a provider, (b) not having herpes symptoms, and (c) not thinking they had herpes.

Early postpartum: a critical period in setting the path for breastfeeding success.

Background: In the United States, most mothers who initiate breastfeeding will either stop or begin supplementing with formula before their infants are 3 months old. Routine breastfeeding education and support following hospital discharge are critical to breastfeeding success. The purpose of this article is to identify this critical period for supporting and reinforcing breastfeeding.

A randomized controlled community-based trial to improve breastfeeding rates among urban low-income mothers.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether providing a breastfeeding support team results in higher breastfeeding rates at 6, 12, and 24 weeks postpartum among urban low-income mothers.

Design: A randomized controlled trial with mother-infant dyads recruited from 2 urban hospitals.

Participants: Breastfeeding mothers of full-term infants who were eligible for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (n=328) were randomized to intervention (n=168) or usual-care group (n=160).

The differential impact of WIC peer counseling programs on breastfeeding initiation across the state of Maryland.

This cross-sectional study examines Maryland's women, infants, and children (WIC) breastfeeding initiation rates by program participation. The authors report on data regarding demographic and health characteristics and infant feeding practices for infants (n = 18,789) newly WIC-certified from January 1, 2007 to June 30, 2007. The authors compared self-reported, breastfeeding initiation rates for 3 groups: peer counselor (PC-treatment group) and two comparison groups, lactation consultant (LC), and standard care group (SCG).

Recruitment strategies and motivations for sexually transmitted disease testing among college students.

Objective: The authors evaluated procedures for recruiting college students for sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing as part of a research study examining the impact of HSV serologic testing.

Participants: A convenience sample of 100 students was drawn from students aged 18 to 35 years enrolled at one university in a mid- Atlantic state between September 2004 and March 2006.

Methods: Six strategies were used to recruit students for participation in the study.

Serologic screening for herpes simplex virus among university students: a pilot study.

Objective: The authors examined the feasibility of conducting serologic testing for the herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) among university students and assessed the psychosocial impact of an HSV-2 diagnosis.

Methods: The authors recruited a convenience sample of 100 students (aged 18-39 years) without a history of genital herpes from 1 university between September 2004 and March 2006. Participants received HSV-2 antibody testing by Focus ELISA and Western Blot assays and completed a questionnaire that addressed psychological functioning.

Performance of focus ELISA tests for HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies among university students with no history of genital herpes.

Objectives: To define the performance characteristics of the Focus ELISA HSV-1 and HSV-2 assay among 100 university students.

Study Design: HSV-1 and HSV-2 Focus ELISA and Western Blot assays were performed on sera from university students who reported no history of genital herpes.

Results: HSV-2 and HSV-1 seroprevalence by Western Blot were 3.

Examining the influence of coping with pain on depression, anxiety, and fatigue among women with breast cancer.

Breast cancer treatment can have a profound influence on a woman's physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. Anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue, and fear of recurrence are common responses to a diagnosis of breast cancer and undergoing breast cancer treatment. Women develop their own coping strategies for the pain and other effects of treatment.

A randomized comparison of A-CASI and phone interviews to assess STD/HIV-related risk behaviors in teens.

Purpose: To compare response bias associated with a telephone survey of sexually transmitted disease/human immunodeficiency virus (STD/HIV)-related risk behaviors and an in-home self-administered audio computer assisted self interview (A-CASI).

Methods: We randomly assigned an urban household sample of 223 African-American adolescents to a telephone interview or an A-CASI in their home. The sample was previously recruited by telephone for an earlier study regarding STDs and sexual behavior.