The Effects of Breeding Protocol in C57BL/6J Mice on Adult Offspring Behaviour

Animal experiments have demonstrated that a wide range of prenatal exposures can impact on the behaviour of the offspring. However, there is a lack of evidence as to whether the duration of sire exposure could affect such outcomes. We compared two widely used methods for breeding offspring for behavioural studies. The first involved housing male and female C57Bl/6J mice together for a period of time (usually 10–12 days) and checking for pregnancy by the presence of a distended abdomen (Pair-housed; PH). The second involved daily introduction of female breeders to the male homecage followed by daily checks for pregnancy by the presence of vaginal plugs (Time-mated; TM). Male and female offspring were tested at 10 weeks of age on a behavioural test battery including the elevated plus-maze, hole board, light/dark emergence, forced swim test, novelty-suppressed feeding, active avoidance and extinction, tests for nociception and for prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response. We found that length of sire exposure (LSE) had no significant effects on offspring behaviour, suggesting that the two breeding protocols do not differentially affect the behavioural outcomes of interest. The absence of LSE effects on the selected variables examined does not detract from the relevance of this study. Information regarding the potential influences of breeding protocol is not only absent from the literature, but also likely to be of particular interest to researchers studying the influence of prenatal manipulations on adult behaviour

Quantification of ETS exposure in hospitality workers who have never smoked

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) was classified as human carcinogen (K1) by the German Research Council in 1998. According to epidemiological studies, the relative risk especially for lung cancer might be twice as high in persons who have never smoked but who are in the highest exposure category, for example hospitality workers. In order to implement these results in the German regulations on occupational illnesses, a valid method is needed to retrospectively assess the cumulative ETS exposure in the hospitality environment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A literature-based review was carried out to locate a method that can be used for the German hospitality sector. Studies assessing ETS exposure using biological markers (for example urinary cotinine, DNA adducts) or questionnaires were excluded. Biological markers are not considered relevant as they assess exposure only over the last hours, weeks or months. Self-reported exposure based on questionnaires also does not seem adequate for medico-legal purposes. Therefore, retrospective exposure assessment should be based on mathematical models to approximate past exposure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For this purpose a validated model developed by Repace and Lowrey was considered appropriate. It offers the possibility of retrospectively assessing exposure with existing parameters (such as environmental dimensions, average number of smokers, ventilation characteristics and duration of exposure). The relative risk of lung cancer can then be estimated based on the individual cumulative exposure of the worker.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In conclusion, having adapted it to the German hospitality sector, an existing mathematical model appears to be capable of approximating the cumulative exposure. However, the level of uncertainty of these approximations has to be taken into account, especially for diseases with a long latency period such as lung cancer.</p

Functional impairment and health care utilization among HIV-infected men who have sex with men: the relationship with depression and post-traumatic stress

This study examined the relationship of post-traumatic and depressive symptom severity with measures of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and health care utilization in a sample of 503 HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited in their primary HIV care setting. Participants completed computer assisted assessments of mood and anxiety, HRQOL, and HIV treatment. Peripheral blood CD4 (T helper) lymphocyte count, plasma HIV RNA concentration, and number of medical appointments were extracted from an electronic medical record. Controlling for demographics, disease stage, and antiretroviral medication, post-traumatic stress and depression symptoms accounted for significant variation in general health estimates, and in pain, role, and work-related impairment. Additionally, in multivariable models, post-traumatic stress and depression severity accounted for significant variation in health care utilization whereas symptoms and indices of HIV disease progression did not. These results extend the current research by providing evidence of the relationship between post-traumatic stress and depression symptom severity with measures of functional impairment and health care utilization in a relatively healthy, urban cohort of HIV-infected MSM

Study participation as a social group influencing sexual behaviours in an HIV-prevention trial for men who have sex with men

Perceived group membership, perceptions about accompanying group norms and the degree to which a person identifies with a social group are predictive of a wide range of human behaviours. Behavioural clinical trials in general, and HIV-prevention intervention trials in particular, however, have not examined the degree to which individuals who join a large behavioural study (and hence, a group) may, in an unanticipated way, develop a sense of social identity related to the study, and how this identity or associated group norms may influence participants' behaviours and, potentially, study outcomes. Project EXPLORE was a large-scale behavioural intervention trial in six US cities to prevent HIV seroconversion among men who have sex with men (MSM) (EXPLORE Study Team, 2004 ). We previously found that participants (examined at one study site) were more likely to engage in high-risk sexual activities with other MSM who were EXPLORE participants than other partners. The present ancillary study (n=271) sought to examine the degree to which perceived group membership, group identity and group norms among EXPLORE study participants was associated with sexual behaviour with other EXPLORE participants, high-risk sexual behaviours with other EXPLORE participants and intentions to engage in high-risk sex with other EXPLORE participants. A principal components analysis of a 14-item scale assessing perceived group membership and norms regarding being part of EXPLORE yielded six principal components (PCs): PC1: perception that EXPLORE participants engage in safer sex; PC2: social comfort with EXPLORE participants; PC3: perceived group identity with EXPLORE; PC4: trust of other EXPLORE participants; PC5: perception that EXPLORE participants are cunning; and PC6: feeling detached from EXPLORE. Social comfort with other EXPLORE participants (OR = 1.24; p = 0.013) and trust of other EXPLORE participants (OR = 1.44; p=0.003) was significantly associated with a higher odds of having sex with another EXPLORE participant. Feeling detached from EXPLORE (OR = 0.56; p=0.020) was significantly associated with a lower odds of engaging in high-risk sexual behaviour with other EXPLORE participants. Regarding intentions to engage in high-risk sexual behaviour with other EXPLORE participants, social comfort with EXPLORE participants (OR = 1.39; p<0.001) and trust of other EXPLORE participants (OR = 1.30; p<0.027) were significantly associated with higher odds of this outcome and the perception that EXPLORE participants are cunning (OR = 0.66; p<0.004) and feeling detached from EXPLORE (OR = 0.68; p<0.007) were significantly associated with lower odds of this outcome. Final models controlled for potential confounders found to be statistically significant in the bivariate analyses. These findings suggest that large-scale studies such as EXPLORE may result in participant's perceptions about group membership, identity and norms, and that these perceptions can influence study outcomes

Risk factors for missed HIV primary care visits among men who have sex with men

Benefits of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) depend on consistent HIV care attendance. However, appointment non-adherence (i.e. missed appointments) is common even in programs that reduce financial barriers. Demographic, health/treatment, and psychosocial contributors to appointment non-adherence were examined among men who have sex with men (MSM) attending HIV primary care. Participants (n = 503) completed questionnaires, and HIV biomarker data were extracted from medical records. At 12 months, records were reviewed to assess HIV primary care appointment non-adherence. Among MSM, 31.2% missed without cancellation at least one appointment during 12-month study period. Independent predictors (P < 0.05) were: low income (OR = 1.87); African American (OR = 3.00) and Hispanic/Latino (OR = 4.31) relative to non-Hispanic White; depression (OR = 2.01); and low expectancy for appointments to prevent/treat infection (OR = 2.38), whereas private insurance (OR = 0.48) and older age (OR = 0.94) predicted lower risk. Low self-efficacy predicted marginal risk (OR = 2.74, P = 0.10). The following did not independently predict risk for non-adherence: education, relationship status, general health, time since HIV diagnosis, ART history, post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV stigma, or supportive clinic staff. Appointment non-adherence is prevalent, particularly among younger and racial/ethnic minority MSM. Socioeconomic barriers, depression and low appointment expectancy and self-efficacy may be targets to increase care engagement

Project enhance: A randomized controlled trial of an individualized HIV prevention intervention for HIV-infected men who have sex with men conducted in a primary care setting.

OBJECTIVE: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are the largest group of individuals in the U.S. living with HIV and have the greatest number of new infections. This study was designed to test a brief, culturally relevant prevention intervention for HIV-infected MSM, which could be integrated into HIV care. METHOD: HIV-infected MSM who received HIV care in a community health center (N = 201), and who reported HIV sexual transmission-risk behavior (TRB) in the prior 6 months, were randomized to receive the intervention or treatment as usual. The intervention, provided by a medical social worker, included proactive case management for psychosocial problems, counseling about living with HIV, and HIV TRB risk reduction. Participants were followed every 3 months for one year. RESULTS: Participants, regardless of study condition, reported reductions in HIV TRB, with no significant differential effect by condition in primary intent-to-treat analyses. When examining moderators, the intervention was differentially effective in reducing HIV TRB for those who screened in for baseline depression, but this was not the case for those who did not screen in for depression. CONCLUSIONS: The similar level of reduction in HIV TRB in the intervention and control groups, consistent with other recent secondary prevention interventions, speaks to the need for new, creative designs, or more potent interventions in secondary HIV prevention trials, as the control group seemed to benefit from risk assessment, study contact, and referrals provided by study staff. The differential finding for those with depression may suggest that those without depression could reap benefits from limited interventions, but those with a comorbid psychiatric diagnosis may require additional interventions to modify their sexual risk behaviors

Which HIV-infected men who have sex with men in care are engaging in risky sex and acquiring sexually transmitted infections: findings from a Boston community health centre

ObjectivesThe primary objective was to determine the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) in a cohort of HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) in their primary care setting, and to identify the demographic and behavioural characteristics of those infected with STI and the correlates of sexual transmission risk behaviour.MethodsAt study entry, participants (n = 398) were tested for STI and their medical charts were reviewed for STI results in the previous year. Data on demographics, substance use, sexual behaviour and HIV disease characteristics were collected through a computer-assisted self-assessment and medical record extraction. Logistic regression analyses assessed characteristics of those with recent STI and recent transmission risk behaviour.ResultsThe sample was predominantly white (74.6%) and college educated (51.7%). On average, participants were 41.5 years old (SD 8.4) and had been HIV infected for 8.6 years (SD 6.7); 9% of the sample had an STI, with 6.4% testing positive for syphilis, 3.1% for gonorrhoea and 0.25% for chlamydia. Age and years since HIV diagnosis were significantly associated with testing positive for an STI, as was engaging in transmission risk behaviour and using methamphetamine, ketamine and inhalants. Substance use, particularly methamphetamine use, and being more recently diagnosed with HIV were each uniquely associated with transmission risk behaviour in a multivariable model.ConclusionsThese results underscore the need to develop more effective secondary prevention interventions for HIV-infected MSM, tailored to more recently diagnosed patients, particularly those who are younger and substance users

Demonstration and evaluation of a peer-delivered, individually-tailored, HIV prevention intervention for HIV-infected MSM in their primary care setting

Employing HIV-infected peer counselors in secondary prevention interventions for MSM is appealing for scalable interventions. One-hundred-seventy-six HIV-infected MSM at their primary care facility participated in a secondary HIV-prevention study delivered by HIV-infected MSM peers. Of those who entered the intervention and completed the initial intake, 62% completed all four of the intervention sessions, and 93% completed at least one. While there was no overall change in transmission risk behavior (TRB) for the whole sample, among those who reported HIV TRB at baseline (n = 29), there were significant reductions in TRB over the next year. Themes that emerged in qualitative exit interviews conducted with a subset of participants centered on peer counselor quality, intervention implications, and intervention experience. This demonstration project provides initial evidence for the ability to recruit HIV-infected MSM in care into a peer-based intervention study, and shows how a peer-based intervention can be delivered in the context of HIV care