The Use of HIV Prevention Strategies and Services Reported by Black Women with a Risk for and with HIV in the United States.

Black women are disproportionately affected by HIV. We analyzed data from two Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's HIV surveillance systems to better understand HIV prevention strategies used by Black women at risk for and with HIV to help inform efforts to end HIV. Among sexually active Black women, we analyzed 2019 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance data on women without HIV (n = 4,033) and 2018-2020 Medical Monitoring Project data on women with HIV (n = 967).

Team Approach to Delayed Pediatric Vestibular Diagnosis: A Case Study.

Background And Purpose: This report highlights the challenges of diagnosing pediatric vestibular neuritis following dental treatment and addressing fear avoidance behaviors.

Case Description: An 11-year-old boy came to physical therapy with vestibular dysfunction following dental treatment that was unable to be diagnosed by emergency department staff. The participant received multispecialty treatment for 6 weeks.

Recruitment process that attracts underrepresented students in graduate science and medical education programs.

While the population of minorities is increasing in the USA, the numbers obtaining advanced degrees in science/engineering and medicine are minimal. Underrepresented groups make up 19% of the USA labor pool, but less than 6% of science (engineering and medicine) Ph.D.

Improving Tribal Nation-Specific Mortality Numerators in the South and Eastern Tribes.

: The United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc, Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC) has been conducting a Tribal Nation-specific mortality surveillance project for approximately 13 years. Coded death records are received from states via one of 3 data release methods (open, closed, direct) and matched to Tribal Nation electronic health records. Data quality varies depending on the method of data release.

CD47 and TLR-2 cross-talk regulates neutrophil transmigration.

Neutrophil (PMN) infiltration into tissues is a hallmark of acute inflammation and is crucial for the rapid removal of microbial pathogens. Previous studies have shown that PMN transmigration is regulated by the cell surface protein CD47. However this phenomenon in the context of microbial invasion and subsequent TLR signaling is poorly understood.

Response to genistein: assaying the activation status and chemotaxis efficacy of isolated neutrophils.

Neutrophil (PMN) activation and chemotaxis toward inflammatory stimuli play critical roles in host defense and tissue inflammation. To determine the molecular mechanisms that regulate PMN function, many studies currently employ in vitro PMN activation and transmigration assays using freshly isolated peripheral PMN or PMN isolated from bone marrow. However, due to the highly sensitive nature of PMN, cell activation or priming can occur during isolation, which demands assay(s) that ensure the consistency of isolated PMN prior to using them in subsequent experiments.

Neutrophil transepithelial migration: role of toll-like receptors in mucosal inflammation.

The symptomatic phases of many inflammatory diseases are characterized by migration of large numbers of neutrophils (PMN) across a polarized epithelium and accumulation within a lumen. For example, acute PMN influx is common in diseases of the gastrointestinal system (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, bacterial enterocolitis, gastritis), hepatobiliary system (cholangitis, acute cholecystitis), respiratory tract (bronchial pneumonia, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis), and urinary tract (pyelonephritis, cystitis). Despite these observations, the molecular basis of leukocyte interactions with epithelial cells is incompletely understood.

Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin in ocular histoplasmosis: uncontrolled, open-label 2-year study.

Objective: To evaluate the safety, effect on visual function, and fluorescein angiographic appearance of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) through 2 years after photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (Visudyne; Novartis AG, Basel, Switzerland) in patients with ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS).

Design: Open-label, 3-center, uncontrolled clinical study.

Participants: Ocular histoplasmosis syndrome patients with subfoveal CNV (N = 26) with a greatest linear dimension no larger than 5400 microm with classic or occult CNV extending under the geometric center of the fovea, and best-corrected visual acuity letter score of approximately 20/40 to 20/200.

Photodynamic therapy of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization with verteporfin in the ocular histoplasmosis syndrome: one-year results of an uncontrolled, prospective case series.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and effect on visual acuity of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (Visudyne, Novartis AG) in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) secondary to the ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (OHS).

Design: Open-label, three-center, noncomparative prospective case series.

Participants: OHS patients with subfoveal CNV lesions no larger than 5400 micro m in greatest linear dimension (GLD) with classic or occult CNV extending under the geometric center of the foveal avascular zone and best-corrected visual acuity letter score of 73 to 34 (approximate Snellen equivalent 20/40-20/200).

Neutrophil transepithelial migration: evidence for sequential, contact-dependent signaling events and enhanced paracellular permeability independent of transjunctional migration.

Active migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) through the intestinal crypt epithelium is a hallmark of inflammatory bowel disease and correlates with patient symptoms. Previous in vitro studies have shown that PMN transepithelial migration results in increased epithelial permeability. In this study, we modeled PMN transepithelial migration across T84 monolayers and demonstrated that enhanced paracellular permeability to small solutes occurred in the absence of transepithelial migration but required both PMN contact with the epithelial cell basolateral membrane and a transepithelial chemotactic gradient.

Neutrophil transepithelial migration: regulation at the apical epithelial surface by Fc-mediated events.

Neutrophil (PMN) transepithelial migration is a major effector of epithelial defense in inflammatory diseases involving mucosal surfaces. However, major receptor-ligand interactions between epithelial cells and PMN remain incompletely characterized. To better define the molecular events involved in PMN interactions with epithelial cells, we produced a monoclonal antibody called g82 that inhibited PMN transepithelial migration in the physiological basolateral-to-apical direction.

Human junction adhesion molecule regulates tight junction resealing in epithelia.

Epithelial cells form a highly selective barrier and line many organs. The epithelial barrier is maintained by closely apposed cell-cell contacts containing tight junctions, the regulation of which is incompletely understood. Here we report the cloning, tissue localization and evidence for a role in epithelial barrier regulation of an immunoglobulin superfamily member that likely represents the human homolog of murine junction adhesion molecule (JAM).

Cardiac integrins the ties that bind.

An elaborate series of morphogenetic events must be precisely coordinated during development to promote the formation of the elaborate three-dimensional structure of the normal heart. In this study we focus on discussing how interconnections between the cardiac myocyte and its surrounding environment regulate cardiac form and function. In vitro experiments from our laboratories provide direct evidence that cardiac cell shape is regulated by a dynamic interaction between constituents of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and by specific members of the integrin family of matrix receptors.

Effect of tear lubricating solutions on in vivo corneal epithelial permeability.

Purpose: The rabbit corneal epithelial permeability was measured noninvasively following exposure to commercially available tear lubricating solutions.

Methods: The normal unanesthetized rabbit's corneal surface was either bathed in the tear lubricating solution for 5 min or received multiple applications of 2 drops per 30 min for 6 h for one or five days. The corneal epithelial permeability to carboxyfluorescein after a 5-min bath was measured with the Fluorotron Master.

Role of the alpha 1 beta 1 integrin complex in collagen gel contraction in vitro by fibroblasts.

Matrix remodeling, critical to embryonic morphogenesis and wound healing, is dependent on the expression of matrix components, their receptors, and matrix proteases. The collagen gel assay has provided an effective model for the examination of the functional role(s) of each of these groups of molecules in matrix remodeling. Previous investigations have indicated that collagen gel contraction involves the beta 1 integrin family of matrix receptors and is stimulated by several growth factors, including TGF-beta, PDGF, and angiotensin II.

Noninvasive measurement of corneal epithelial permeability.

The Fluorotron Master fluorophotometer was used to measure the corneal epithelial permeability to carboxyfluorescein in the normal unanesthetized rabbit. This was related to the epithelial fluorescein staining grade as assessed with a slit lamp. The carboxyfluorescein concentration in the cornea was measured at 3, 60 and 120 min after bathing the cornea in 2.

Corneal wound healing strength with topical antiinflammatory drugs.

The objective of this study was to compare the force required to separate corneal wounds after topical applications of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids. Bilateral central 8-mm long corneal full-thickness incisions in 50 NZW rabbits were closed with five interrupted 10-0 nylon sutures. There were four paired-eye groups: (a) control/control, (b) control/diclofenac sodium (0.

Effect of diclofenac on corneal haze after photorefractive keratectomy in rabbits.

Purpose: To evaluate the ability of topical diclofenac to decrease corneal opacity after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

Methods: Twenty New Zealand white rabbits underwent a unilateral 193-nm excimer laser myopic photorefractive keratectomy to correct 5 diopters. There were four groups of five rabbits each.

Safety and efficacy of diclofenac sodium 0.1% ophthalmic solution in acute seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

A randomized clinical trial was conducted to compare diclofenac sodium 0.1% ophthalmic solution to placebo in relieving ocular signs and symptoms in patients with acute seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Twenty patients (10 per treatment) qualified for this two week, double-masked study with moderate itching, bulbar conjunctival injection and a positive skin test.

A limited comparison of apraclonidine's dose response in subjects with normal or increased intraocular pressure.

We performed a multicentered, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study comparing the efficacy of 0.5% and 1.0% apraclonidine hydrochloride in 15 normal volunteers and 17 subjects with increased intraocular pressure.

Suprofen treatment of contact lens-associated giant papillary conjunctivitis.

This multicenter study of patients with contact lens-associated giant papillary conjunctivitis (GPC) was a randomized, double-masked comparison of a 1.0% suprofen solution versus the suprofen vehicle solution (placebo). Patients were given two drops of medication four times daily for up to 28 days and were clinically examined on days 0, 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28.

Reduction of pupillary constriction during cataract surgery using suprofen.

The efficacy of a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, suprofen, for reducing pupillary constriction during cataract surgery was ascertained in a double-masked, multicenter, clinical study. Prior to surgery 1.0% suprofen or a placebo was instilled; the surgeon's normal regimen of mydriatics and cycloplegics was used.

Supraoptic neurons in the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial explant: double-labeling with Lucifer Yellow injection and immunocytochemical identification of vasopressin- and neurophysin-containing neuroendocrine cells.

By combining intracellular electrophysiology with double-labeled intracellular dye-marking and immunocytochemical identification of the same magnocellular neuroendocrine cell, we studied supraoptic neurons in the rat hypothalamo-neurohypophysial explant in vitro. This report examines neurophysiological and light microscopical features of vasopressin- and neurophysin-immunoreactive, pituitary-projecting supraoptic neurons.

Thermosensitive characteristics of a preoptic area neuron recorded over a 20 day period in the rabbit.

The thermosensitive characteristics of a single preoptic area neuron were monitored over a period of twenty days from a rabbit fitted with chronic recording electrodes. No demonstrable daily changes were detected in either the basal firing rate or the mean interspike interval during control recordings. Only minor daily variations were observed in thermosensitivity (impulses-second/degree C) and in the interspike interval coefficient of variation for this neuron in response to preoptic heating and cooling with a water-perfused thermode.