Clinical and MRI responses to etanercept in early non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis : 48-week results from the EMBARK study

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept (ETN) after 48 weeks in patients with early active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). Methods: Patients meeting Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) classification criteria for axSpA, but not modified New York radiographic criteria, received double-blind ETN 50 mg/week or placebo (PBO) for 12 weeks, then open-label ETN (ETN/ETN or PBO/ETN). Clinical, health, productivity, MRI and safety outcomes were assessed and the 48-week data are presented here. Results: 208/225 patients (92%) entered the open-label phase at week 12 (ETN, n=102; PBO, n=106). The percentage of patients achieving ASAS40 increased from 33% to 52% between weeks 12 and 48 for ETN/ETN and from 15% to 53% for PBO/ETN (within-group p value <0.001 for both). For ETN/ETN and PBO/ETN, the EuroQol 5 Dimensions utility score improved by 0.14 and 0.08, respectively, between baseline and week 12 and by 0.23 and 0.22 between baseline and week 48. Between weeks 12 and 48, MRI Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada sacroiliac joint (SIJ) scores decreased by -1.1 for ETN/ETN and by -3.0 for PBO/ETN, p<0.001 for both. Decreases in MRI SIJ inflammation and C-reactive protein correlated with several clinical outcomes at weeks 12 and 48. Conclusions: Patients with early active nr-axSpA demonstrated improvement from week 12 in clinical, health, productivity and MRI outcomes that was sustained to 48 weeks

Embracing Interfaith Competency as a Part of Our Mission

This session will explore why developing interfaith competency on both staff and student levels is essential to the role of a student affairs practitioner in Catholic higher education. Participants will learn about the foundational document of the Catholic Church on interreligious dialogue (Nostra Aetate) and what it means for the work we do in student affairs and in promoting the common good. This session will explore how student affairs practitioners from various focus areas can benefit from developing programs and creating learning outcomes that incorporate an interfaith component. Lastly, this session will give participants time to develop one goal related to interfaith development and advocacy

CHANGE IN RAPE MYTH ACCEPTANCE AS A FUNCTION OF SEXUAL ASSAULT EXPERIENCES: A PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

In the United States, one in five women reports experiencing sexual assault while in college. Rape myths, or stereotypical beliefs that serve to blame survivors (i.e., “She Asked For It” and “She Lied”) and exonerate sexual assault perpetrators (“He Didn’t Mean To”), may influence how women conceptualize their own sexual assault experiences and relatedly, their post-assault functioning. Several demographic characteristics, including race and ethnicity, generational status, education level, sexual orientation, and religiosity, have been found to be associated with rape myth acceptance (RMA). Researchers have reported mixed findings, however, regarding the association between sexual assault history and RMA. This study aimed to prospectively examine the impact of new sexual assault experiences (i.e., acquiring new knowledge of a sexual assault survivor or having a personal experience of sexual assault) on change in RMA. The current study consisted of subsamples of college women. At baseline, 240 women were examined. At follow-up, a subsample consisting of 79 women was examined. Participants completed surveys on demographic characteristics, engagement in activities that promote women’s rights and sexual assault prevention, RMA, and sexual assault experiences. At baseline, cross-sectional design was employed to examine the interactive effect of knowing a sexual assault survivor and personal history of sexual assault on RMA. Qualitative methods were employed to further understand the nature of RMA among a subsample of sexual assault survivors. At follow-up, repeated measures were used to prospectively examine the impact of new sexual assault experiences as a moderator of change in RMA. At baseline, the interaction between knowing a sexual assault survivor and personal history of sexual assault contributed unique variance to the perception that “She Asked For It.” For sexual assault survivors, knowing another survivor was protective with regards to RMA, highlighting the importance of creating supportive environments for disclosure to occur among college women. Prospective, longitudinal examination revealed that although change occurred in the perception that “He Didn’t Mean To,” new sexual assault experiences were not associated with this change. Additional public health and clinical implications will be discussed

ASSOCIATIONS AMONG SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARACTERISTICS AND SOCIAL REACTIONS TO DISCLOSURE IN A SAMPLE OF UNDERGRADUATE WOMEN

Sexual assault is a public health crisis in the United States, with college women at an increased risk for experiencing unwanted sexual contact and rape. Following an experience of sexual assault, women are susceptible to negative outcomes including suicidality, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety. One of the factors that influences the development of psychopathology after a sexual assault is social reactions to disclosure. When women tell someone about their sexual assault, they may receive both positive and negative social reactions. Social reactions have been found to be associated with negative mental health outcomes for survivors. Several sexual assault characteristics, including the relationship between the survivor and perpetrator and the involvement of alcohol or other substances, have been found to be associated with social reactions. Previous researchers have examined the associations between sexual assault characteristics and social reactions to disclosure. There is a lack of understanding, however, about which of these assault characteristics have the greatest impact on negative social reactions to disclosure. This study aimed to directly compare a number of sexual assault characteristics to understand how each characteristic is uniquely associated with social reactions to disclosure. The current study examined 340 undergraduate female survivors of sexual assault (i.e., unwanted sexual contact and attempted/completed rape). Participants completed surveys on traumatic experiences, sexual assault experiences, and social reactions to disclosure. Hierarchical regressions were employed to understand the unique variance of sexual assault characteristics in association with social reactions to disclosure. Closeness of the survivor-perpetrator relationship contributed the most variance in relation to negative social reactions to disclosure. Involvement of alcohol, surprisingly, did not contribute unique variance to this association with negative social reactions to disclosure. Implications for university programming and interventions will be discussed

Vested Seniority Rights: A Conceptual Approach

Under contemporary jurisprudence, vested seniority rights are considered creatures of contract. As such, they generally are subject to divestiture with the termination of the collective-bargaining agreement. Relying upon Zdanok v. Glidden Co. and Locke\u27s labor theory of property, the author argues that seniority rights are property rights derived from the worker\u27s employment independent of the contract

Prescription for Failure: Public Nuisance Claims Against the Opioid Industry

Opioids have been used both medicinally and recreationally since ancient times. While their recreational functions have long since been denounced, their medicinal value remains legitimate. Yet, since the pain management revolution began in the mid-1990s, many Americans have become opioid-dependent—fueling an illicit drug market and costing many lives. The tragedy that is today’s opioid epidemic has prompted robust federal and state legislative and regulatory interventions in both the legal and illicit opioid markets—albeit with mixed success. As these initiatives have been slow to quell the opioid crisis, public nuisance claims have taken center stage. After the Big Tobacco litigation invoked the common law doctrine and ultimately resulted in the historic Master Settlement Agreement, public nuisance captured the attention of state governmental entities in the firearm and lead paint industries. Those litigations produced varying results among the states. While some courts properly rejected the novel application of public nuisance to the manufacture, sale, and distribution of lawful products, others permitted claims to survive past the motion to dismiss stage, prompting product manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to agree to exorbitant settlements. Perhaps unsurprisingly then, the legal theory has gained popularity in claims against deep-pocketed opioid industry actors. However, like the tobacco, firearm, and lead paint industries, public nuisance does not fit within the historically recognized definition of public nuisance, which has long been understood as being limited to unlawful activities and real property contexts. In addition to being, at best, unorthodox and novel, and at worst, legally deficient and unsupported by history and precedent, public nuisance is a poor vehicle to address a national, highly political problem—particularly in the legal prescription drug market, which touts many benefits and is already heavily regulated by the duly elected members of the legislative and executive branches of government