2024 Scholars' Research Symposium Abstract: Immunosuppressive Opioids are Associated with Longer Hospital Length of Stay in SARS-CoV-2 Patients.

Introduction: Since late 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 767 million people worldwide with over one million deaths in the United States alone. One risk factor identified for possible worse outcomes from the virus is medication-induced immune suppression. Some opioids have been associated with immunomodulatory effects.

Reduced Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Household Contacts with Recent Vaccination and Past COVID-19 Infection: Results from Two Multi-Site Case-Ascertained Household Transmission Studies.

Households are a primary setting for transmission of SARS-CoV-2. We examined the role of prior SARS-CoV-2 immunity on the risk of infection in household close contacts. Households in the United States with an individual who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during September 2021-May 2023 were enrolled if the index case's illness began ≤6 days prior.

Racial and ethnic socioenvironmental inequity and neuroimaging in psychiatry: a brief review of the past and recommendations for the future.

Neuroimaging is a major tool that holds immense translational potential for understanding psychiatric disorder phenomenology and treatment. However, although epidemiological and social research highlights the many ways inequity and representativeness influences mental health, there is a lack of consideration of how such issues may impact neuroimaging features in psychiatric research. More specifically, the potential extent to which racialized inequities may affect underlying neurobiology and impact the generalizability of neural models of disorders is unclear.

Improved outcomes and cost savings for patients with bleeding disorders: a quality improvement project.

Background: Providing optimal care for patients with bleeding disorders according to national standards remains a challenge at designated Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs). Improved care may reduce bleeds and costs.

Objectives: To improve care and demonstrate cost savings by 1) reducing preventable hospitalizations and emergency room visits (PHER) for bleeding, 2) increasing use of prophylaxis in severe hemophilia, and 3) improving patient-HTC communication and primary care engagement.

Adaptive, behavioral, and emotional outcomes following postoperative pediatric cerebellar mutism syndrome in survivors treated for medulloblastoma.

Objective: Patients who experience postoperative pediatric cerebellar mutism syndrome (CMS) during treatment for medulloblastoma have long-term deficits in neurocognitive functioning; however, the consequences on functional or adaptive outcomes are unknown. The purpose of the present study was to compare adaptive, behavioral, and emotional functioning between survivors with and those without a history of CMS.

Methods: The authors examined outcomes in 45 survivors (15 with CMS and 30 without CMS).

Age-dependent associations between RSA reactivity, affective and cognitive regulation, and psychopathology risk in young children exposed to varying levels of socioeconomic disadvantage.

This study examined autonomic nervous system activity (respiratory sinus arrhythmia [RSA]) as a biomarker of psychopathology in an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse sample (N = 57) of young children ages 4-7 years. RSA was measured at baseline and across four standardized tasks designed to assess self-regulation in both affective (i.e.

Daily yogurt consumption does not affect bone turnover markers in men and postmenopausal women of Caribbean Latino descent: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Caribbean Latino adults are at high risk for osteoporosis yet remain underrepresented in bone research. This increased risk is attributed to genetics, diet, and lifestyle known to drive inflammation and microbial dysbiosis.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to determine whether consuming 5 oz of yogurt daily for 8wks improves bone turnover markers (BTMs) among Caribbean Latino adults > 50 years; and secondarily to determine the impact on the gut microbiota and markers of intestinal integrity and inflammation.

Distance as a barrier to HIV testing among sexual and gender minority populations in the rural southern US: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Sexual and gender minority people who live in rural areas are less likely to have had a HIV test in the previous 12 months compared with those who live in non-rural areas. We assessed the independent contribution of distance and time required to travel to receive a HIV test on recent uptake of HIV testing.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of sexual and gender minority populations in the southern US.

Symptoms, Viral Loads, and Rebound Among COVID-19 Outpatients Treated With Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Compared With Propensity Score-Matched Untreated Individuals.

Background: Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (N/R) reduces severe outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, rebound after treatment has been reported. We compared symptom and viral dynamics in individuals with COVID-19 who completed N/R treatment and similar untreated individuals.

Methods: We identified symptomatic participants who tested severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-positive and were N/R eligible from a COVID-19 household transmission study.

A Case of Neurocysticercosis in Rural South Dakota.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a rare, potentially life-threatening parasitic infection endemic in many developing countries where pig farming and pork consumption are popular. The rates of neurocysticercosis could increase in the U.S.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Studies of the Gut Microbiome and Osteoporosis.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose of this review is to summarize the scientific evidence published in the past 5 years examining the epidemiology of bone health as it relates to the gut microbiome, across race and ethnicity groups.

Recent Findings: The link between the gut microbiome and bone health is well established and is supported by numerous biological mechanisms. However, human study research in this field is dominated by studies of older adults residing in Asian countries.

The longitudinal impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on participants from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study.

Objective: to investigate the impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on older Hispanic adults.

Methods: A total of 522 participants (or their family member, if deceased) from the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study were asked whether they had been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2, across 2 survey phases. In phase 1 (May - Aug 2020, n=497), participants answered survey questions related to SARS-CoV-2 exposure, diagnosis, and transmission and 5 family members reported deaths.

Lessons Learned From the Implementation of a Pilot Study on Self-collected Specimen Return by Sexual Minority Men (Project Caboodle!): Qualitative Exploration.

Background: Self-collection of specimens at home and their return by mail might help reduce some of the barriers to HIV and bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening encountered by gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). To evaluate the benefits and challenges of bringing this approach to scale, researchers are increasingly requesting GBMSM to return self-collected specimens as part of web-based sexual health studies. Testing self-collected hair samples for preexposure prophylaxis drug levels may also be a viable option to identify GBMSM who face adherence difficulties and offer them support.

Willingness to use and preferences for long-acting injectable PrEP among sexual and gender minority populations in the southern United States, 2021-2022: cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Long-acting injectable (LAI) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021.

Willingness to Participate in and Preferences for Studies of mHealth HIV Prevention Interventions: Cross-Sectional Study Among Sexual and Gender Minority Groups in the Southern United States.

A number of mobile HIV prevention interventions have been developed to increase uptake of HIV prevention services such as HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Most of these interventions have been tested among urban populations. However, sexual and gender minority (SGM) groups in rural areas might also benefit from mobile HIV prevention interventions.

Room-Temperature Pseudo-Solid-State Iron Fluoride Conversion Battery with High Ionic Conductivity.

Li-metal batteries (LMBs) employing conversion cathode materials (e.g., FeF) are a promising way to prepare inexpensive, environmentally friendly batteries with high energy density.

State-level metabolic comorbidity prevalence and control among adults age 50-plus with diabetes: estimates from electronic health records and survey data in five states.

Background: Although treatment and control of diabetes can prevent complications and reduce morbidity, few data sources exist at the state level for surveillance of diabetes comorbidities and control. Surveys and electronic health records (EHRs) offer different strengths and weaknesses for surveillance of diabetes and major metabolic comorbidities. Data from self-report surveys suffer from cognitive and recall biases, and generally cannot be used for surveillance of undiagnosed cases.

Perceptions and Experiences of Returning Self-collected Specimens for HIV, Bacterial STI and Potential PrEP Adherence Testing among Sexual Minority Men in the United States.

Few studies among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) have examined facilitators and barriers to self-collecting specimens for extragenital STI screening, and none have evaluated attitudes towards self-collecting hair samples that can be utilized for PrEP drug level testing to assess adherence. To address this gap, we interviewed 25 sexually active GBMSM who were offered a choice to self-collect and return finger-stick blood samples (for actual HIV testing), pharyngeal swabs, rectal swabs and urine specimens (for actual gonorrhea and chlamydia testing), and hair samples (to visually determine their adequacy for PrEP drug level testing): 11 who returned all, 4 who returned some, and 10 who did not return any. Participants found self-collecting finger-stick blood samples and rectal swabs more challenging than other specimens.

Study Evaluating Self-Collected Specimen Return for HIV, Bacterial STI, and Potential Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Adherence Testing Among Sexual Minority Men in the United States.

Web-based HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention studies are increasingly requesting gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) to return self-collected specimens for laboratory processing. Some studies have solicited self-collected extragenital swabs for gonorrhea and chlamydia testing, but to date, none have solicited self-collected hair samples for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence testing. Project Caboodle! offered 100 racially/ethnically diverse GBMSM aged 18 to 34 years residing across the United States a choice to self-collect at home and return by mail any of the following: a finger-stick blood sample (for HIV testing), a pharyngeal swab, a rectal swab and a urine specimen (for gonorrhea and chlamydia testing), and a hair sample (to visually assess its adequacy for PrEP drug level testing).

Interest in HIV Prevention Mobile Phone Apps: Focus Group Study With Sexual and Gender Minority Persons Living in the Rural Southern United States.

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) interventions, including smartphone apps, have been found to be an effective means of increasing the uptake of HIV prevention tools, including HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests and pre-exposure prophylaxis. However, most HIV prevention mHealth apps tested in the United States have been tested among populations living in areas surrounding urban centers. Owing to reduced access to broadband internet and reliable cellular data services, it remains unclear how accessible and effective these interventions will be in rural areas.

The Role of Electrolyte Composition in Enabling Li Metal-Iron Fluoride Full-Cell Batteries.

FeF conversion cathodes, paired with Li metal, are promising for use in next-generation secondary batteries and offer a remarkable theoretical energy density of 1947 Wh kg compared to 690 Wh kg for LiNi Mn O ; however, many successful studies on FeF cathodes are performed in cells with a large (>90-fold) excess of Li that disguises the effects of tested variables on the anode and decreases the practical energy density of the battery. Herein, it is demonstrated that for full-cell compatibility, the electrolyte must produce both a protective solid-electrolyte interphase and cathode-electrolyte interphase and that an electrolyte composed of 1:1.3:3 (m/m) LiFSI, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether fulfills both these requirements.

Cryogenic electron microscopy reveals that applied pressure promotes short circuits in Li batteries.

Li metal anodes are enticing for batteries due to high theoretical charge storage capacity, but commercialization is plagued by dendritic Li growth and short circuits when cycled at high currents. Applied pressure has been suggested to improve morphology, and therefore performance. We hypothesized that increasing pressure would suppress dendritic growth at high currents.