A Qualitative Exploration of the Potential Role of Using Online Social Media Support Communities to Increase Initiation of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD).

Objectives: This study sought to explore the potential role of peer-led online communities to increase use of medications for opioid use disorder.

Methods: From January through March 2020, participants with opioid use disorder and their family members/friends were recruited from paid Facebook ads; public health key stakeholders were recruited from referrals from the study team and opioid experts. Thirty participants from California were interviewed; 23 persons reporting opioid misuse, 3 family members/friends of persons misusing opioids, and 4 public health key stakeholders.

Factors Associated with COVID-19 Testing, Vaccination, and Use of Digital Contact Tracing Apps among Black and Latinx MSM (BLMSM) in Los Angeles.

This study examines the factors associated with COVID-19 testing, vaccination intent (both individually and jointly), and willingness to use contact tracing digital apps among a cohort of Black and Latinx men who have sex with men (BLMSM) living in Los Angeles during the initial peak (July 2020) of the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire detailing participants COVID-19 experiences was sent to 300 primarily BLMSM after the first state-wide COVID-19 lockdown. Logistic regression models with random cluster effects were used for analyses.

The role of perceived health in retention disparity: A HIV-testing-related behavioral intervention among African American and Latinx men who have sex with men in the United States.

Retention in healthcare and health behavior remains a critical issue, contributing to inequitable distribution of intervention benefits. In diseases such as HIV, where half of the new infections occur among racial and sexual minorities, it is important that interventions do not enlarge pre-existing health disparities. To effectively combat this public health issue, it is crucial that we quantify the magnitude of racial/ethnic disparity in retention.

Feasibility and Acceptability of Online Recruitment and an Online Brief Mindfulness Intervention Among Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.

Background Pain among young adult patients with sickle cell disease (PWSCD) is a highly significant public health problem associated with reduced quality of life. Due to issues uniquely affecting PWSCD, including distrust of research, challenging life situations, debilitating pain, stigma, and logistical challenges (e.g.

A HOPE Online Community Peer Support Intervention for Help Seeking: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: A 6-week study was conducted to test the effectiveness of the Harnessing Online Peer Education (HOPE) intervention on anxiety, help seeking (requests for electronic resources [e-resources] on anxiety reduction), and online engagement.

Methods: Three hundred participants with moderate to severe anxiety (i.e.

Mental Health among African American and Latinx Men who have sex with men after the COVID-19 Lockdown in Los Angeles - Findings from the HOPE cohort.

This study aimed to examine the depression and anxiety among men of color (primarily African American and Latinx) who have sex with men after the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Outcomes included 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), and a 10-item COVID-related anxiety measure using a modified H1N1-related anxiety question. Independent variables were food insecurity and belief in government efficiency.

A Peer-Led Online Community to Increase HIV Self-Testing Among African American and Latinx MSM: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: We sought to assess the effectiveness of using a peer-led online community to increase HIV self-testing among Latinx and African American men who have sex with men (MSM).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Throughout 6 waves, between February 18, 2017, and January 8, 2021, 900 HIV negative and/or serostatus unknown Los Angeles-based MSM (68.

Public Attitudes About COVID-19 in Response to President Trump's Social Media Posts.

This cross-sectional study examines public beliefs about the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in response to President Trump’s social media posts during and after his infection with the virus.

Association Between Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scores and Online Activity Among US Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Background: Evidence from past pandemics suggests that fear, uncertainty, and loss of control during large-scale public health crises may lead to increased pandemic-related information seeking, particularly among persons predisposed to high anxiety. In such groups, a greater consumption of information pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic may increase anxiety.

Objective: In this study, we examine the association between online activity and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scores in the United States.

A Breast Cancer Education Program for D/deaf Women.

Barriers to obtaining breast cancer prevention knowledge and breast cancer screening have been noted among D/deaf women. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is described that tested a culturally and linguistically tailored breast cancer education program conducted among a racially/ethnically diverse sample of 209 D/deaf women age 40 years or older. The study focused on D/deaf women with no more than a secondary education, a population at relatively high risk for incomplete breast health knowledge and services.

A prospective study of serum microbial translocation biomarkers and risk of AIDS-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Background: Chronic immune activation is a harbinger of AIDS-associated non-Hodgkin lymphoma (AIDS-NHL), yet the underlying basis is unclear. Microbial translocation, the passage of microbial components from the gastrointestinal tract into the systemic circulation, is a source of systemic immune activation in HIV infection and may be an important contributor to chronic B-cell activation and subsequent AIDS-NHL development.

Method: We measured biomarkers of microbial translocation including bacterial receptors/antibodies, intestinal barrier proteins, and macrophage activation-associated cytokines/chemokines, in serum from 200 HIV-infected men from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study prior to their AIDS-NHL diagnosis (mean = 3.

D/deaf Breast Cancer Survivors: Their Experiences and Knowledge.

D/deaf cancer patients and survivors, including D/deaf women diagnosed with breast cancer, have been largely overlooked in the research literature. To gain preliminary information we included 29 D/deaf breast cancer survivors in a larger program of community-academic research aimed at evaluating and addressing the breast cancer educational needs of D/deaf women. Seven D/deaf breast cancer survivors completed in-depth signed (American Sign Language) interviews and another 22 survivors completed a written/signed survey.

HIV-1 epitopes presented by MHC class I types associated with superior immune containment of viremia have highly constrained fitness landscapes.

Certain Major Histocompatibility-I (MHC-I) types are associated with superior immune containment of HIV-1 infection by CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), but the mechanisms mediating this containment are difficult to elucidate in vivo. Here we provide controlled assessments of fitness landscapes and CTL-imposed constraints for immunodominant epitopes presented by two protective (B*57 and B*27) and one non-protective (A*02) MHC-I types. Libraries of HIV-1 with saturation mutagenesis of CTL epitopes are propagated with and without CTL selective pressure to define the fitness landscapes for epitope mutation and escape from CTLs via deep sequencing.

Demographics and natural history of HIV-1-infected spontaneous controllers of viremia.

Objectives: HIV-1-infected persons spontaneously controlling viremia without treatment (SCV) are rare. Sex and race effects on prevalence and outcome are poorly defined, and it is unclear whether SCV qualitatively or quantitatively differs from typical infection. These issues are examined in this article.

The HOPE social media intervention for global HIV prevention in Peru: a cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: Social media technologies offer new approaches to HIV prevention and promotion of testing. We examined the efficacy of the Harnessing Online Peer Education (HOPE) social media intervention to increase HIV testing among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Peru.

Methods: In this cluster randomised controlled trial, Peruvian MSM from Greater Lima (including Callao) who had sex with a man in the past 12 months, were 18 years of age or older, were HIV negative or serostatus unknown, and had a Facebook account or were willing to create one (N=556) were randomly assigned (1:1) by concealed allocation to join intervention or control groups on Facebook for 12 weeks.

Nonlinear Calibration Model Choice between the Four and Five-Parameter Logistic Models.

Both the four-parameter logistic (4PL) and the five-parameter logistic (5PL) models are widely used in nonlinear calibration. In this paper, we study the choice between 5PL and 4PL both by the accuracy and precision of the estimated concentrations and by the power to detect an association between a binary disease outcome and the estimated concentrations. Our results show that when the true curve is symmetric around its inflection point, the efficiency loss from using 5PL is negligible under the prevalent experimental design.

The project connect health systems intervention: linking sexually experienced youth to sexual and reproductive health care.

Purpose: To evaluate a health systems intervention to increase adolescents' receipt of high-quality sexual and reproductive health care services.

Methods: Quasi experimental design. Twelve high schools in a large public school district were matched into pairs.

A stochastic multi-scale model of HIV-1 transmission for decision-making: application to a MSM population.

Background: In the absence of an effective vaccine against HIV-1, the scientific community is presented with the challenge of developing alternative methods to curb its spread. Due to the complexity of the disease, however, our ability to predict the impact of various prevention and treatment strategies is limited. While ART has been widely accepted as the gold standard of modern care, its timing is debated.

Breast cancer knowledge and practices among D/deaf women.

Background: Limited scientific evidence is available regarding D/deaf women's breast cancer knowledge and early detection practices, as well as about how to increase D/deaf women's breast cancer control practices.

Objective/hypothesis: To assess baseline breast cancer knowledge and practices among a sample of D/deaf women recruited into a randomized controlled trial of a breast cancer education program developed for this population.

Methods: A written and signed (American Sign Language) survey was administered to a racially/ethnically diverse sample of 209 D/deaf women, 40+ years old, with lower levels of education, recruited in California between October 2008 and May 2009.

Social networking technologies as an emerging tool for HIV prevention: a cluster randomized trial.

Background: Social networking technologies are an emerging tool for HIV prevention.

Objective: To determine whether social networking communities can increase HIV testing among African American and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM).

Design: Randomized, controlled trial with concealed allocation.

Improving the implementation of a condom availability program in urban high schools.

Purpose: We conducted an intervention to improve the implementation of a high school condom availability program, and evaluated its effect on students' awareness of the program and acquisition of condoms.

Methods: Twelve public high schools in the Los Angeles, CA area participated, half each in the intervention and control conditions. Project staff facilitated intervention schools' self-assessment of compliance with the school district's condom availability policy, creating an action plan by determining which mandatory program elements were lacking and identifying steps to improve compliance.

RMP-02/MTN-006: A phase 1 rectal safety, acceptability, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic study of tenofovir 1% gel compared with oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.

This study was designed to assess the safety, acceptability, pharmacokinetic (PK), and pharmacodynamic (PD) responses to rectal administration of tenofovir (TFV) 1% vaginally formulated gel and oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). This study was designed as a phase 1, randomized, two-site (United States), double-blind, placebo-controlled study of sexually abstinent men and women. Eighteen participants received a single 300-mg exposure of oral TDF and were then randomized 2:1 to receive a single and then seven daily exposures of rectal TFV or hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) placebo gel.

Pediatric overweight prevention through a parent training program for 2-4 year old Latino children.

Background: Latino preschool children in the United States are at high risk for obesity. The objective of this study was to measure over a one-year period whether a parent training based on social learning theory combined with evidence-based interventions to promote optimal nutrition and physical activity will reduce the upward trend of BMI z-scores in groups of 2–4 year old Latino children living in low-income households.

Methods: Seven weekly classes with 2 booster classes were delivered to low-income Latino parents with 2–4 year old children.

Using aggregate data to estimate the standard error of a treatment-covariate interaction in an individual patient data meta-analysis.

Subgroup analyses are important to medical research because they shed light on the heterogeneity of treatment effectts. A treatment-covariate interaction in an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis is the most reliable means to estimate how a subgroup factor modifies a treatment's effectiveness. However, owing to the challenges in collecting participant data, an approach based on aggregate data might be the only option.