Association of T-Cell Phenotypes With Peri-Coronary Inflammation in People With and Without HIV and Without Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Persistent immune activation is linked to elevated cardiovascular diseases in people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy. The fat attenuation index (FAI) is a measure of peri-coronary inflammation that independently predicts cardiovascular disease risk in people without HIV. Whether FAI is associated with immune activation is unknown.

Association of Lipoprotein(a) with peri-coronary inflammation in persons with and without HIV infection.

Background: Persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PWH) have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to persons without HIV (PWoH). Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a known atherosclerotic risk factor in PWoH, but there are no studies investigating Lp(a) and peri-coronary inflammation.

Objective: To investigate whether Lp(a) is associated with peri-coronary inflammation as assessed by the fat attenuation index (FAI) and activated monocytes and T lymphocytes in PWH and PWoH.

Black Americans' Diminished Return of Educational Attainment on Tobacco Use in Baltimore City.

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) indicators such as educational attainment are fundamental factors affecting health. One mechanism through which education affects health is by reducing the likelihood of engaging in high-risk behaviors such as smoking. However, according to the marginalization-related diminished returns (MDRs) theory, the association between education and health may be weaker for marginalized populations such as Black than White, primarily due to racism and discrimination.

Association of Soluble Markers of Inflammation With Peri-coronary Artery Inflammation in People With and Without HIV Infection and Without Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: Inflammation is linked to elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in people with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Fat attenuation index (FAI) is a measure of peri-coronary inflammation that independently predicts CVD risk in HIV-uninfected persons. Whether FAI is associated with soluble inflammatory markers is unknown.

Intimate Partner Violence, Partner Risk, and Depression as a Predictor for PrEP Uptake Among African-American Women in the United States.

African-Americans bear a disproportionate burden of HIV infections in the United States and African-American women make up 64% of new HIV infections. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the predictors of those who are more likely to use Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among women reporting IPV, depression, and partner risk. This study used secondary data analysis to explore IPV, depression, and increased partner risk as predictors of PrEP use among 768 women (506 African-American women and 262 White women in the United States) who responded to survey questions regarding potential PrEP use and barriers to uptake.

Young Same-Gender-Loving Men (SGLM) Living with HIV Continue to Experience Symptoms that May Impair Their Retention in Care.

Over half of HIV infections in the U.S. are among young gay, bisexual, and other same-gender-loving men (SGLM).

Mental Health History and DECIDE (Decision-Making Education for Choices in Diabetes Everyday) Diabetes Support Program Outcomes Among African Americans With Type 2 Diabetes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine behavioral and clinical outcomes of the DECIDE (Decision-Making Education for Choices in Diabetes Everyday) diabetes support program trial participants with and without a mental health (MH) history by treatment arm.

Methods: A secondary analysis was conducted of data from the DECIDE trial sample of urban African American adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM; N = 137) who received the DECIDE diabetes support program in 1 of 3 delivery formats: self-study (n = 46), individual (n = 45), and group (n = 46). Positive screen on the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and/or reported MH diagnosis were coded as MH history.

Predictors of same-admission cholecystectomy in mild, acute, biliary pancreatitis.

Background: Failure to perform same-admission cholecystectomy (SA-CCY) for mild, acute, biliary pancreatitis (MABP) is a recognized risk factor for recurrence and readmission. However, rates of SA-CCY are low and factors associated with these low rates require elucidation.

Methods: Primary MAPB admissions were pooled from NIS 2000-2014 (weighted n = 578 258).

Religious Beliefs, Treatment Seeking, and Treatment Completion among Persons with Substance Abuse Problems.

Background: Religious beliefs can assist with the success of treatment in persons with substance abuse problems by providing social support, confidence, and hope.

Methods: As such, a secondary analysis using 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), of 20219 participants with self-identified illicit substance use problems was conducted. Survey was weighted bivariate and multivariate regression analysis was used to adjust for potential confounders.

Trouble Sleeping and Depression Among US Women Aged 20 to 30 Years.

Introduction: Depression in women is common, and 1 woman in 4 is likely to have an episode of major depression at some point in her life. Sleep disturbances, which are significantly associated with depression, are increasingly recognized as a determinant of women's health and well-being. Although studies have examined the association between depression and sleep disorders, little research has explored this association among young women.

Examining the Health Belief Model Risk Factors on PrEP Use Among African-American Women Ages 20-44.

Truvada, also referred to as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), is the first medication approved for the purpose of preventing HIV infection. This study examined the odds of PrEP use solely among African-American women by comparing, by demographic profile, the relationship between risk taking behaviors of the Health Belief Model and the likelihood of PrEP use. A secondary data analysis from the 2013 National Survey on the potential adoption of PrEP was analyzed in this study.

Association between number of sexual partners and utilization of family planning and sexually transmitted infection services by men aged 15-44 in the United States.

Unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a huge public health problem in the United States. Efforts towards reducing unintended pregnancies have previously focused on women, but the role of men in family planning and preventing unwanted pregnancy is becoming clearer. The primary objective of the study was to fully examine the utilization of family planning services by men in the US, and to determine whether factors such as race, health insurance type and number of sexual partners influenced their utilization and receipt of family planning services and STI-related health services.

Socioeconomic Disparities and Self-reported Substance Abuse-related Problems.

Background: It is not well understood whether the self-reported experience of substance abuse-related problems differs by socioeconomic status.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis using the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) on participants who reported ever using illicit drugs or used illicit drugs in the past year.

Findings: Among those reporting ever using illicit drugs (n = 4701), 71% were Non-Hispanic White, 37% had a family income ≥ $75000, and 3% reported having substance abuse-related problems in the past year.

Association between spousal violence and the incidence of acute respiratory infection among children under five: random-effect modelling using data from Nigeria and Bangladesh.

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is a major cause of mortality among children under the age of five in developing countries. This paper examines Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data on maternal recall of episodes of ARI in the contrasting settings of Bangladesh and Nigeria, where about 11.1% and 3.

Association Between Socioeconomic Status and Tumor Grade Among Black Men with Prostate Cancer.

Background: Prostate cancer affects black men disproportionately. Black men have an increased incidence of prostate cancer diagnoses at earlier ages and higher grade as indicated by Gleason score, compared to other races. This study investigates the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on prostate cancer tumor grade among black men.

Factors associated with high cardiovascular risk in a primarily African American, urban HIV-infected population.

Objective: To determine factors associated with increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease in a high-risk patient population.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of a retrospective cohort study.

Methods: One-hundred patients at an inner city HIV clinic in 2008 were reviewed.

Maternal Intimate Partner Violence: Relationships with Language and Neurological Development of Infants and Toddlers.

Objectives This longitudinal study examined the influence of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) experience of pregnant women participating in the Domestic Violence Enhanced Home Visitation Program on the language and neurological development of infants and toddlers. Methods A total of 210 infants and toddlers born to women reporting low, moderate, and high levels of IPV were included in the analysis. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the bivariate association between maternal IPV and risk of language and neurological delay of infants and toddlers and between covariates and language and neurological delay.

Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Attained Size Among Children in the First 2 Years of Life.

Objective: To evaluate the relation of maternal depressive symptoms with attained size and whether it is stronger for young children in low-income families.

Methods: Secondary analysis was performed of longitudinal data from enrollment and parents surveys from the Healthy Steps for Young Children National Evaluation among 4745 children who made at least one visit to a Healthy Steps site. Length and weight data from medical records were converted to z scores and percentiles for length for age and weight for length at 6, 12, and 24 months using 2000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth standards.

The effect of depressive symptoms and CD4 count on adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Studies have identified several programmatic and nonprogrammatic indicators that affect adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Depression has been shown to impact adherence to HAART. This cross-sectional analysis of data collected from Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and Tanzania in 2008 examined the relationship between levels of depressive symptoms, clinical progression, and adherence to HAART.

Levels and determinants of low birth weight in infants delivered under the national health insurance scheme in Northern Ghana.

This research determined the levels and odds ratios for low birth weight (LBW) infants delivered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) compared to LBW infants delivered under the previous "Cash and Carry" system in Northern Ghana. Birth records of infants delivered before and after implementation of the NHIS in Northern Ghana were examined. Records of each day's births during the identified periods were abstracted.

Are female college students who are diagnosed with depression at greater risk of experiencing sexual violence on college campus?

We examined the association between depression and sexual violence among 18-24 year-old female college students using National College Health Assessment survey. Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 10,541 female students on 33 college campuses. Results showed that female students who were reportedly ever diagnosed with depression were 1.

African American male and female student perceptions of Pulvers Body Images: implications for obesity, health care, and prevention.

Differences in male and female perception response to the Pulvers Body Image Scale (PBIS) were examined among 356 freshmen African American students attending an urban historically Black college/university (HBCU). Participants completed a questionnaire identifying images that best represented their current, healthy, and ideal body image. Compared with males, more females selected the normal body image as their ideal (63.

Does a wife's education influence spousal agreement on approval of family planning?: Random-effects Modeling using data from two West African Countries.

Spousal approval of family planning is critical for contraceptive use. Both contraceptive use rates and women's education are low in many West-African countries and this study examines the role of wives' education in spousal agreement on approval of family planning in two sub-Saharan West African countries. We used couples' data from Demographic Health Surveys in Senegal and in Niger, conducted in 2005 and 2006, respectively.

The effect of depressive symptoms and CD4 count on adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: Studies have identified several programmatic and nonprogrammatic indicators that affect adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Depression has been shown to impact adherence to HAART. This cross-sectional analysis of data collected from Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, and Tanzania in 2008 examined the relationship between levels of depressive symptoms, clinical progression, and adherence to HAART.