Phenotypic Basis for Matrix Stiffness-Dependent Chemoresistance of Breast Cancer Cells to Doxorubicin.

The persistence of drug resistant cell populations following chemotherapeutic treatment is a significant challenge in the clinical management of cancer. Resistant subpopulations arise via both cell intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. Extrinsic factors in the microenvironment, including neighboring cells, glycosaminoglycans, and fibrous proteins impact therapy response.

The Michigan Peer-to-Peer Depression Awareness Program: School-Based Prevention to Address Depression Among Teens.

Objective: The Peer-to-Peer Depression Awareness Program (P2P) is a school-based program that aims to decrease mental illness and promote well-being among students by empowering high school students as both learners and educators. Specific goals include improving the school climate around mental health, directing students to resources, and encouraging help-seeking behavior.

Methods: In the 2015-2016 academic year, 121 students across 10 high schools organized into teams and were trained to develop and implement peer-to-peer depression awareness campaigns.

Perceptions of Nursing Students Regarding Usage of Art Therapy in Mental Health.

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of baccalaureate nursing students regarding the use of art therapy to promote a therapeutic relationship and communication with mental health patients. A literature review revealed a lack of research on this topic.

Method: This was a qualitative study using principles of thematic analysis.

Development of competencies for the use of bedside ultrasound for assessment and cannulation of hemodialysis vascular access.

Use of ultrasound for hemodialysis vascular access assessment and real-time cannulation requires specialized training. In order to obtain basic hand-eye coordination, theoretical sessions on ultrasound use, as well as practical sessions using phantom models are recommended prior to its use in the clinical setting with patients. New users of this technology need to consider that all competencies can be achieved with daily use of ultrasound at the bedside.

Supercath Safety Clampcath buttonhole creation: complication of catheter breakage.

The creation of buttonhole tracks with Supercath Safety Clampcath is a novel and simple technique that allows dull fistula needle insertions with relative ease and diminished pain. As greater experience with this procedure develops, new issues arise for consideration. We report an unexpected complication of Supercath Safety Clampcath catheter breakage that may be due to physical distortions as a result of its location in the antecubital fossa just proximal to the elbow joint.

A randomized controlled trial to evaluate a structural intervention to promote the female condom in New York state.

We conducted a structural intervention to promote the female condom (FC), comparing 44 agencies randomized to a Minimal Intervention (MI) [developing action plans for promotion and free access] or an Enhanced Intervention (EI) [with the addition of counselor training]. Intervention effects were evaluated via surveys with agency directors, counselors and clients at baseline and 12 months. Agency-level outcomes of the FC did not differ between the two interventions at follow-up.

Risk Factors for Homelessness Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths: A Developmental Milestone Approach.

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths are over-represented in the homeless population. To examine why some LGB youths become homeless, this report compares homeless and non-homeless LGB youths. Of the 156 LGB youths, 48% reported ever being homeless (i.

Homelessness among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth: implications for subsequent internalizing and externalizing symptoms.

Although lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth with a history of homelessness (running away or being evicted from their homes by parents) report more psychological symptoms than homeless heterosexual peers, it is unclear whether symptoms are due to homelessness, given the absence of a non-homeless comparison group. This study longitudinally investigates whether LGB youth with a history of homelessness report more subsequent psychological symptoms than non-homeless LGB youth and examines potential mediators of any such relationships. Of the 156 LGB youth interviewed (49% female; 78% non-White), 48% reported past homeless experiences.

Use of the BioHole™ device for the creation of tunnel tracks for buttonhole cannulation of fistula for hemodialysis.

Buttonhole cannulation is a method of cannulation of native arteriovenous fistulae traditionally practiced by self-cannulators. At St Michael's Hospital, this method has been modified to allow its use in problematic fistulae by multiple cannulators. In a busy dialysis unit, the need for a few specific cannulators to establish the tunnel tracks in combination with the variable dialysis schedules creates logistical challenges.

A Practical Framework for Navigating Ethical Challenges in Collaborative Community Research.

To effectively mobilize community-based organizations (CBOs) and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in research, important ethical issues must be addressed. A memorandum of understanding (MOU), providing a framework and a tool to be used for establishing effective community-research partnerships, was developed by the Community Collaboration Core (CCC) of the HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies. Aims of the CCC include: (1) Initiating and sustaining successful partnerships in HIV prevention research in areas of sexuality, gender, mental health, and of mutual benefit to communities; (2) Advancing the science of collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and government in HIV prevention.

Cigarette smoking as a coping strategy: negative implications for subsequent psychological distress among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths.

Objective: The heightened risk of cigarette smoking found among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths may be because smoking serves as a coping strategy used to adapt to the greater stress experienced by LGB youths. The current report examines whether smoking moderates the relation between stress and subsequent psychological distress, and whether alternative coping resources (i.e.

Different patterns of sexual identity development over time: implications for the psychological adjustment of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths.

Despite research documenting variability in the sexual identity development of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths, it remains unclear whether different developmental patterns have implications for the psychological adjustment of LGB youths. This report longitudinally examines whether different patterns of LGB identity formation and integration are associated with indicators of psychological adjustment among an ethnically diverse sample of 156 LGB youths (ages 14-21) in New York City. Although differences in the timing of identity formation were not associated with psychological adjustment, greater identity integration was related to less depressive and anxious symptoms, fewer conduct problems, and higher self-esteem both cross-sectionally and longitudinally.

A simple method to create buttonhole cannulation tracks in a busy hemodialysis unit.

The preference for fistulae as the hemodialysis access of choice has led to a significant number of accesses that are less than ideal for cannulation. Buttonhole cannulation is ideal for such accesses, but the technique for creation provides major challenges. In 12 patients, buttonhole tunnel tracks were created by leaving the polyurethane catheter of a Clampcath hemodialysis needle indwelling for 10 days after the initial cannulation.

Disclosure of sexual orientation and subsequent substance use and abuse among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths: critical role of disclosure reactions.

Research on whether disclosure of sexual orientation promotes lower substance use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals has been inconsistent. One reason for this may be that disclosure results in accepting and rejecting reactions. The current report longitudinally examines whether the types of reactions to disclosure are associated with substance use and abuse among 156 LGB youths (ages 14-21).

Predicting different patterns of sexual identity development over time among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths: a cluster analytic approach.

Recent research has suggested that the sexual identity development of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths may not follow a single pattern, but may follow a variety of pathways. Although some research documenting variability in identity development exists, unclear are the potential individual and social contexts that predict these different patterns, as well as the contexts that predict changes in identity integration over time. This report longitudinally examined these issues in an ethnically diverse sample of 156 LGB youths (ages 14-21) in New York City.

Butch/Femme differences in substance use and abuse among young lesbian and bisexual women: examination and potential explanations.

The current study examined the role of gender atypical self-presentation on the alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use, as well as symptoms of substance abuse/misuse, of an ethnically diverse sample of 76 young (ages 14-21 years) lesbian and bisexual women who were interviewed between 1993 and 1995 in New York City. Even after controlling for age, sexual identity, and social desirability, young butch women reported drinking alcohol more frequently and in greater quantity, smoking more cigarettes, and using marijuana more frequently than young femme women. Experiences of gay-related stressful events, internalized homophobia, and emotional distress were found to largely account for the butch/femme differences in tobacco and marijuana use, but not in higher levels of alcohol use.

Keeping the spirit of community partnerships alive in the scale up of HIV/AIDS prevention: critical reflections on the roll out of DEBI (Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions).

DEBI, or the Diffusion of Effective Behavioral Interventions is the largest centralized effort to diffuse evidence-based prevention science to fight HIV/AIDS in the United States. DEBI seeks to ensure that the most effective science-based prevention interventions are widely implemented across the country in community-based organizations. Thus, this is a particularly timely juncture in which to critically reflect on the extent to which known principles of community collaboration have guided key processes associated with the DEBI rollout.

The coming-out process of young lesbian and bisexual women: are there butch/femme differences in sexual identity development?

Research on lesbian and bisexual women has documented various biological and behavioral differences between butch and femme women. However, little research has examined whether differences exist in sexual identity development (i.e.

Role of oral iron in the management of long-term hemodialysis patients.

Background: The literature contends that oral iron supplementation is relatively ineffective in patients who are on long-term hemodialysis (HD), and intravenous iron is the superior form of supplementation.

Design, Setting, Participants, And Measurements: Data were prospectively abstracted from a cross-sectional cohort of all patients in the long-term in-center HD program at St. Michael's Hospital (SMH) from April 1, 2003, to April 1, 2004.

A model of sexual risk behaviors among young gay and bisexual men: longitudinal associations of mental health, substance abuse, sexual abuse, and the coming-out process.

Sexual risk behaviors of young gay and bisexual men must be understood within the context of other health concerns (e.g., anxiety, substance abuse), population specific factors (i.

Spouses of Persian Gulf War I veterans: medical evaluation of a U.S. cohort.

Ten years after the 1991 Persian Gulf War (GW I), a comprehensive evaluation of a national cohort of deployed veterans (DV) demonstrated a higher prevalence of several medical conditions, in comparison to a similarly identified cohort of nondeployed veterans (NDV). The present study determined the prevalence of medical conditions among nonveteran spouses of these GW I DV and NDV. A cohort of 490 spouses of GW I DV and 537 spouses of GW I NDV underwent comprehensive face-to-face examinations.

Sexual identity development among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths: consistency and change over time.

A longitudinal report of 156 gay, lesbian, and bisexual youths examined changes in sexual identity over time. Fifty-seven percent of the youths remained consistently self-identified as gay/lesbian, 18% transited from bisexual to gay/lesbian, and 15% consistently identified as bisexual over time. Although youths who consistently identified as gay/lesbian did not differ from other youths on time since experiencing sexual developmental milestones, they reported current sexual orientation and sexual behaviors that were more same-sex centered and they scored higher on aspects of the identity integration process (e.

The salvage of aneurysmal fistulae utilizing a modified buttonhole cannulation technique and multiple cannulators.

We describe the St Michael's Hospital (SMH) modified buttonhole (BH) cannulation technique as a method that offers a solution for fistulae with aneurysmal dilatation due to repetitive cannulation in a restricted area. This is a prospective cohort study of 14 chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients with problematic fistulae (marked aneurysmal formation and thinning of the overlying skin, bleeding during treatment, and prolonged hemostasis post-HD) because of repetitive, localized cannulation. Each patient was followed for 12 months.

Gulf War veterans' health: medical evaluation of a U.S. cohort.

Background: United States military personnel reported various symptoms after deployment to the Persian Gulf during the 1991 Gulf War. However, the symptoms' long-term prevalence and association with deployment remain controversial.

Objective: To assess and compare the prevalence of selected medical conditions in a national cohort of deployed and nondeployed Gulf War veterans who were evaluated by direct medical and teledermatologic examinations.