Perception of Power Dynamics and Risky Sexual Behavior in Indian Men

Background: Women account for about a third of all new cases of HIV in India. Based on research examining trends of HIV infection in women, male perception and behaviors have emerged as strong potential risk factors. However, there has been limited research examining the relationship between male’s attitudes toward women and their sexual risk-taking behaviors. This study examined the degree to which men’s beliefs about power dynamics in heterosexual relationships are related to risky sexual behaviors in Indian men. Methods: Data on Indian men from the 2005-2006 National Family Health Survey (NFHS-3) was analyzed (N= 44,727). The outcome variable, risky sexual behavior, was created using a composite variables characterized by multiple sexual partners, pay for sex, sexual relationships with individuals other than wife or girlfriend, or a history of sexually transmitted diseases in the past 12 months. Men’s beliefs about power dynamics in heterosexual relationships was examined using the following predictor variables: a) women’s role in decision-making, b) acceptability of domestic violence, and c) acceptability of refusing sex. Age, marital status, standard of living, education, religion, region, knowledge of HIV, alcohol use, and family history of domestic violence were examined as covariates. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association. Results: Men who believed that women should rarely OR=1.73 [CI 1.36, 2.20] or sometimes be involved with decision-making OR=1.33 [CI 1.13, 1.56] were more likely to report risky sexual behavior as compared to those who believed that women should be involved most of the time. Additionally, men who had favorable attitude towards perpetrating domestic violence were 56% more likely to report risky sexual behavior OR=1.56 [CI 1.37, 1.79]. Similarly, men who believed that it was never acceptable for a woman to refuse sex were 43% less likely to engage in risky sex OR=1.43 [CI 1.27, 1.69]. Conclusion: Men who expressed a preference for male-dominant decision making, acceptance of violence towards women, or the belief that women should not have autonomy in sexual matters are more likely to engage in behaviors that put themselves and their female partners at risk for HIV infection. Comprehensive HIV prevention programs should address power dynamics as a component of HIV risk

Impacts of viral infection by Ma-LMM01 on microcystin production by Microcystis aeruginosa

Increasing global temperatures and nutrient availability from anthropogenic sources have contributed to climate change and pollution in waterways. Environmental changes have promoted annual harmful algal blooms (HABs), which have the potential to lead to conditions that negatively affect aquatic ecosystems and organisms that depend on them. HABs can impact water quality through the release of soluble toxins (e.g., microcystin), produced by cyanobacteria that can bypass standard drinking water processing protocols. It has been suggested that viral infections of cyanobacteria may contribute to increased production and release of microcystins. In this project, two hypotheses were assessed: 1) virus-mediated lysis releases toxins from a filterable intracellular form within Microcystis aeruginosa cells to an extracellular soluble toxin, and 2) viral infection induces a greater accumulation of intracellular toxins when compared to the non-infected controls. To evaluate these hypotheses, laboratory cultures of M. aeruginosa NIES 298 were infected with cyanophage Ma-LMM01, and levels of microcystins were quantified using ADDA-ELISA. An additional analysis included water sampling for viral abundance and microcystin concentration in Ford Lake, Ypsilanti MI. ADDA-assay revealed that viral infection of M. aeruginosa is correlated with higher accumulations of extracellular and intracellular microcystins. This research contributes to an understanding of the impacts of phagehost interactions on microcystin production and release into the environment

Guidance on Compensation of Community Partners in Research at Virginia Commonwealth University

This document provides guidance on the compensation of community partners engaged in research with VCU faculty, staff and students. Because community partners can play many roles throughout a community-engaged research project, compensation and expense reimbursement may vary

Promoting Equity in Implementation Science: Researcher Readiness for Stakeholder Engagement, Patient-Centered Implementation, and Tracking Strategy Modification

The importance of social and contextual factors in health outcomes is clearly documented, particularly in their impact on health inequities. Implementation science has the potential to advance health equity through the study of integrating evidence-based practices in low-resource settings to improve outcomes for groups that have traditionally been marginalized. This dissertation addresses several research gaps in implementation science related to health equity including stakeholder engagement, patient preferences, and modifications to implementation processes. Aim one focused on developing a tool to assess researcher readiness to conduct stakeholder-engaged dissemination and implementation research. This aim used expert appraisal, cognitive interviews, and pilot usability testing to develop and refine a self-assessment tool to encourage researchers to reflect on their readiness to conduct engaged dissemination and implementation research. The results of this study suggest that participants found the assessment to be useful for self-reflection and perceived the results of the assessment to be valid and actionable. Aim two identified factors associated with patients’ willingness to accept assistance for health-related social needs. This aim used a generalized estimating equation to examine the impact of type of social risk, patient characteristics, and clinical encounter characteristics on acceptance of assistance to address social risks in community health centers. Our multivariate showed significant differences in wanting assistance by most social risk factors, number of risk factors for which the patient screened positive, patients’ race, ethnicity, and sex, Charlson score, and provider type. Aim three developed methods for tracking modifications to implementation strategies. This aim builds on existing methods for tracking implementation strategies to provide novel methods for tracking modifications to implementation strategies. These methods allowed us to document strategies planned as part of the study design, confirm when strategies were used as planned, and identify modification made to strategies. These three aims contribute to calls for research to promote equity in implementation science and have the potential to strengthen future research through their focus on patient-level implementation outcomes and the contribution of novel tools and methods in implementation science.Doctor of Philosoph

Reciprocal Inhibition of Adiponectin and Innate Lung Immune Responses to Chitin and Aspergillus fumigatus

Chitin is a structural biopolymer found in numerous organisms, including pathogenic fungi, and recognized as an immune-stimulating pathogen associated molecular pattern by pattern recognition molecules of the host immune system. However, programming and regulation of lung innate immunity to chitin inhalation in the context of inhalation of fungal pathogens such as Aspergillus fumigatus is complex and our understanding incomplete. Here we report that the systemic metabolism-regulating cytokine adiponectin is decreased in the lungs and serum of mice after chitin inhalation, with a concomitant decrease in surface expression of the adiponectin receptor AdipoR1 on lung leukocytes. Constitutive lung expression of acidic mammalian chitinase resulted in decreased inflammatory cytokine gene expression and neutrophil recruitment, but did not significantly affect lung adiponectin transcription. Exogenous recombinant adiponectin specifically dampened airway chitin-mediated eosinophil recruitment, while adiponectin deficiency resulted in increased airway eosinophils. The presence of adiponectin also resulted in decreased CCL11-mediated migration of bone marrow-derived eosinophils. In contrast to purified chitin, aspiration of viable conidia from the high chitin-expressing A. fumigatus isolate Af5517 resulted in increased neutrophil recruitment and inflammatory cytokine gene expression in adiponectin-deficient mice, while no significant changes were observed in response to the isolate Af293. Our results identify a novel role for the adiponectin pathway in inhibition of lung inflammatory responses to chitin and A. fumigatus inhalation

Day 3 - Creative Collaborations III: Community-Academic Collaborations

A community-engaged approach to research has been recognized as a powerful vehicle for strengthening the links between research and practice. Because of its potential benefits, many leading funding sources (NIH, NSF, & RWJ to name a few!) increasingly encourage researchers to utilize a community-engaged approach. However, community-engaged research requires partnership development, cooperation and negotiation, collaboration with non-academic partners and a commitment to address stakeholders’ issues—each warranting special attention in the proposal development and grant-writing process. This session is aimed at developing strategies for writing community-academic collaborations into successful grant proposals. Presenters will discuss their success strategies, as well as tips for finding community partners for research

Translating Research into Action: A Framework for Research That Supports Advances In Population Health

The research community faces a growing need to deliver useful data and actionable evidence to support health systems and policymakers on ways to optimize the health of populations. Translating science into policy has not been the traditional strong suit of investigators, who typically view a journal publication as the endpoint of their work. They are less accustomed to seeing their data as an input to the work of communities and policymakers to improve population health. This article offers four suggestions as potential solutions: (1) shaping a research portfolio around user needs, (2) understanding the decision-making environment, (3) engaging stakeholders, and (4) strategic communication

Lumateperone tosylate, A Selective and Concurrent Modulator of Serotonin, Dopamine, and Glutamate, in the Treatment of Schizophrenia

Purpose of Review This is a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the use of Lumateperone tosylate for schizophrenia. This review presents the background, evidence, and indications for the use of lumateperone tosylate in the treatment of schizophrenia. Recent Findings Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disorder that affects approximately 3.3 million people in the United States. Its symptoms, which must be present more than six months, are comprised of disorganized behavior and speech, a diminished capacity to comprehend reality, hearing voices unheard by others, seeing things unseen by others, delusions, decreased social commitment, and decreased motivation. The majority of these symptoms can be managed with antipsychotic medication. Lumateperone is a selective and concurrent modulator of serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate, which all mediate or modulate serious mental illness. Summary Schizophrenia is a complex, severe mental illness that affects how the brain processes information. There are many medications used to treat schizophrenia. One antipsychotic agent, lumateperone tosylate, is a newer agent that the FDA recently approved. The most common adverse effects are shown to be mild such as somnolence, constipation, sedation, and fatigue, with the 42 mg recommended dose. Lumateperone tosylate is an FDA-approved drug that can be given only at the 42mg dose once daily with no titration requirements

Aripiprazole lauroxil, a novel injectable long-acting antipsychotic treatment for adults with schizophrenia: A comprehensive review

Purpose of Review. This is a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the use of Aripiprazole lauroxil for schizophrenia. This review presents the background, evidence, and indications for using aripiprazole lauroxil to treat schizophrenia in the context of current theories on the development of schizophrenia. Recent Findings. Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disorder that currently affects approximately 3.3 million people in the United States. Its symptoms, which must be present for more than six months, are comprised of disorganized behavior and speech, a diminished capacity to comprehend reality, hearing voices unheard by others, seeing things unseen by others, delusions, decreased social commitment, and decreased motivation. The majority of these symptoms can be managed with antipsychotic medication. Aripiprazole lauroxil is a long-acting intramuscular injection that works as a combination of partial agonist activity at D2 and 5-HT1A receptors combined with antagonist activity at 5-HT2A receptors. It can be dosed as a 4-, 6-, or 8-week injection, depending on oral dosage. Aripiprazole lauroxil was FDA approved in October of 2015. Summary. Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder if left untreated. There are multiple medications to help treat schizophrenia. One antipsychotic agent, aripiprazole lauroxil, offers long duration injections that optimize and improve compliance. Known side effects include weight gain, akathisia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, tardive dyskinesia, and orthostatic hypotension. Aripiprazole lauroxil is an FDA-approved drug that can be administered monthly, every six weeks, or every two months and has been shown to be both safe and effective