PERCEIVED DISCRIMINATION FROM PROVIDERS ON LATINA MOTHERS’ DECISION-MAKING ON HPV VACCINATION INITIATION AND COMPLETION IN HOUSTON, TX

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the United States (US). Certain HPV strains have the potential to develop into cervical, anal, penile, vulvar, and throat cancers. Latinos in the U.S. have the highest rates of cervical and penile cancers compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Despite the availability of HPV9v, uptake of the vaccine is suboptimal in the Latino community. Previous research has found factors such as provider recommendation and communication are important in HPV vaccine series initiation and completion. Discrimination in the medical setting is linked to poorer health outcomes and delayed receipt of preventaive health services. Little is known about the effect of perceived discrimination in the medical setting and HPV vaccination uptake. Aims: (1) Assess factors associated with initiation and completion of the HPV vaccine series among Latino children using the Aday-Andersen model; (2) Determine whether maternal perceived discrimination plays a role in HPV vaccine initiation; (3) Determine whether maternal perceived discrimination plays a role in HPV vaccine completion. Methods: Data from parent study Por Amor a Ellos were used for binomial regression analysis. The sub-sample used for analysis included 166 Latina mothers with a child aged 10 17, who answered items pertaining to perceived discrimination, offer of HPV vaccine by medical provider, marital status, acculturation, self-efficacy to initiate the HPV vaccine series, and perceived child health. Results: Latina mothers who were married were more likely to initiate the HPV vaccine series at follow-up (odds ratio [OR]: 0.233, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.088-0.615). Perceived discrimination was not associated with HPV vaccine series initiation, but was associated with HPV vaccine series completion (OR: 1.120, 95% CI: 1.007-1.247). Having the HPV vaccine offered by a doctor or nurse was related to HPV vaccine series initiation, but did not reach significance. Conclusion: More information is needed to determine if perceived discrimination in the medical setting plays a role in HPV vaccination uptake. Further research should explore the relationship between perceived discrimination and mother’s relationship with their child’s provider

Integrating Evidence-Based Practices into Judicial Sentencing in the Wake of Realignment’s Split Sentencing

Part I of this comment discusses the Supreme Court cases that led to the passage of the Realignment Act, along with a review of some of the major reform changes. Part I also highlights the gaps in creating a fair and consistent process across counties for managing the effects of Realignment. Part II discusses split sentencing and some of the issues it was designed to address as well as investigating how judges have reacted to and used split sentencing. Part III introduces the RNR (Risk Needs Responsivity) model of risk assessments and argues why it should be a mandatory aspect in split sentencing procedures. Part IV shows how recidivism and incarceration rates have changed in San Francisco County as a result of incorporating RNR assessments into judicial split sentencing decisions

Development and analytical validation of a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for the assessment of gastrointestinal permeability and intestinal absorptive capacity in dogs

Assessment of gastrointestinal permeability in vivo is considered a suitable method for the evaluation of gastrointestinal mucosal integrity. Probes commonly used include lactulose (L) and rhamnose (R) for the assessment of intestinal permeability, xylose (X) and 3-O-methylglucose (M) for the evaluation of intestinal absorptive capacity, and sucrose (S) for the assessment of gastric permeability. Traditionally, various methods have been used to quantify these markers in the urine after orogastric administration. However, urine collection is difficult and uncomfortable. A protocol based on the analysis of blood samples would be easier to perform. Thus, the aim of the first part of this project was to develop and validate a new gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method for the quantification of five sugar probes in canine serum. The method was sensitive, accurate, precise, and reproducible for the simultaneous quantification of 5 sugar probes in serum. The aim of the second part of this project was to assess the kinetic profiles of these 5 sugar probes in serum after orogastric administration in dogs and to determine the optimal time point for sample collection. Dogs received a solution containing L (10 g/L), R (10 g/L), X (10 g/L), M (5 g/L), and S (40 g/L) by orogastric intubation. Baseline blood samples were collected. Subsequent timed blood samples were taken for a 24 hours period. Significant changes in serum concentrations of all 5 sugars were detected after administration of the test dose (p<0.0001 for all 5 probes). Serum concentrations of L and R were significantly different from baseline concentrations from 90 to 240 and from 60 to 300 min post dosing respectively, and those of X, M, and S were significantly different from 30 to 240 min after dosing (p<0.05 for all 5 probes). Variations of the mean sugar concentrations of all dogs at 90, 120, and 180 minutes were analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis test. Based on the results, only two blood samples, one taken at baseline and a second sample obtained between 90 and 180 after dosing, appear to be sufficient for assessment of intestinal permeability and mucosal absorptive capacity using these sugar probes

The Elder Economic Security Standard(TM) Index for California, 2007: County Amounts, Comparisons and Components

Provides county-by-county data on how much income retirees need to make ends meet, how it compares with the Federal Poverty Line, and by how much the maximum Supplemental Security Income payment and average Social Security payment each fall short

Narcocorridos

Corridos are songs that tell a true story about an event, these songs were written to express the importance of this hero or a heroic action. With time the music has evolved to include lyrics glorifying drug smuggling and extreme violence. Just like hip hop, Narcocorridos challenge the government by singing about their success in the drug business. I will utilize online newspapers, articles and lyrics compose and sung by corridistas themselves. Multiple artists have been ambushed and suffered terrible deaths resulting from the turf war the drug cartels have started and the songs and lyrics they compose. Factors leading to this violence are that cartels often sponsor the singers to sing songs about their own organization. The human and drug smuggling organization are the main industries for the Mexican cartels. These occurrences are what give the artist a story to sing about in his next song. My paper will show the form the cartels use the music to recruit other members and flaunt their power

Nearly Four Million California Adults Are Victims of Intimate Partner Violence

Based on 2007 California Health Interview Survey data, analyzes the incidence and nature of physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence by gender, race/ethnicity, nativity, marital status, and sexual orientation

Differential alphav integrin-mediated Ras-ERK signaling during two pathways of angiogenesis.

Antagonists of alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 disrupt angiogenesis in response to bFGF and VEGF, respectively. Here, we show that these alphav integrins differentially contribute to sustained Ras-extracellular signal-related kinase (Ras-ERK) signaling in blood vessels, a requirement for endothelial cell survival and angiogenesis. Inhibition of FAK or alphavbeta5 disrupted VEGF-mediated Ras and c-Raf activity on the chick chorioallantoic membrane, whereas blockade of FAK or integrin alphavbeta3 had no effect on bFGF-mediated Ras activity, but did suppress c-Raf activation. Furthermore, retroviral delivery of active Ras or c-Raf promoted ERK activity and angiogenesis, which anti-alphavbeta5 blocked upstream of Ras, whereas anti-alphavbeta3 blocked downstream of Ras, but upstream of c-Raf. The activation of c-Raf by bFGF/alphavbeta3 not only depended on FAK, but also required p21-activated kinase-dependent phosphorylation of serine 338 on c-Raf, whereas VEGF-mediated c-Raf phosphorylation/activation depended on Src, but not Pak. Thus, integrins alphavbeta3 and alphavbeta5 differentially regulate the Ras-ERK pathway, accounting for distinct vascular responses during two pathways of angiogenesis