Publications by authors named "M Pho"
Background: Restrictive Medicaid policies regarding hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment may exacerbate rural health care disparities for people who use drugs (PWUD). We assessed associations between Medicaid restrictions and HCV treatment among rural PWUD.
Methods: We compiled state-specific Medicaid treatment policies across 8 US rural sites in 10 states and merged these with participant survey data.
The nucleus must maintain stiffness to preserve its shape and integrity to ensure proper function. Defects in nuclear stiffness caused from chromatin and lamin perturbations produce abnormal nuclear shapes common in aging, heart disease, and cancer. Loss of nuclear shape via protrusions called blebs lead to nuclear rupture that is well-established to cause nuclear dysfunction, including DNA damage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Methamphetamine use is disproportionately high in rural settings, with rates increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. While syringe service programs reduce disease transmission among people who inject drugs, limited research exists around the value of smoking equipment, specifically pipes, in minimizing harms associated with rural methamphetamine use.
Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with people who use methamphetamine in rural southern Illinois.
Article Synopsis
- In recent rural U.S. studies, individuals who use drugs (PWUD) are increasingly combining opioids with stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine.
- Among 2,705 PWUD surveyed, 74% reported using both opioids and stimulants, with 76% having undergone hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing.
- Those who used opioids alone had lower rates of HCV testing, and those using both opioids and stimulants were less likely to have received anti-HCV medication compared to those using other drugs.