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Objective: to compare brief screening instruments for alcohol use disorders, the RAPS4, RAPS4-QF, and AUDIT, against DSM-IV criteria for alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse among African Americans and Hispanics in a sample of inner city emergency department (ED) patients.Method: a probability sample of 395 African American and Hispanic patients seeking care at King Drew Medical Center Emergency Department were interviewed regarding items related to the screening and diagnostic instruments, quantity and frequency of drinking and demographic characteristics.Results: no difference was found between the RAPS4 and AUDIT for alcohol dependence. Sensitivity of the RAPS4-QF (the RAPS4 plus a quantity item and a frequency item) was significantly better than the AUDIT for African Americans and Hispanics, and for males, but not for females, although the RAPS4-QF identified all of those women positive for alcohol abuse criteria, compared to 93% identified by the AUDIT.Conclusion: the data suggest the RAPS4 and the RAPS4-QF perform well for identifying alcohol dependence and alcohol abuse, respectively, among minority ED patients. Additional research is needed to evaluate the RAPS4-QF as a stand-alone instrument and to evaluate both instruments across gender and ethnic subgroups in other populations and in other cultural settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a cross-sectional study we investigated the correlates of gambling habits among a sample of 80 independently living African- Results of this study point to an urgent need for: (1) publicizing the potentially lethal physical and mental consequences of gambling among elderly persons; (2) developing educational programs and interventions to prevent gambling addiction from developing among the elderly; and (3) providing primary care practitioners with training to facilitate early detection and treatment of gambling problems among at-risk aged persons. American elderly persons. The participants were selected from two Senior Citizen Centers that provide inexpensive or free pleasure trips from Los Angeles, California to gambling sites in Nevada. The data for this study were collected through face-to-face interviews conducted by three trained female middle-aged African-American interviewers in October and November 1998. Our data identified 64% of this sample as non- or occasional gamblers, 19% as light to moderate gamblers and 17% as heavy to pathological gamblers. Our data document a statistically significant relationship between gambling behaviors and psychological well-being, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, perceived health status, health locus of control, religiousness, and stressful life-event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our investigation, rabbit hyper-immune serum to V.cholerae ogawa was absorbed with V.cholerae inaba whole-cells and vice versa. Applying ammonium sulphate precipitation method, mono-specific g globulins were purified and concentrated from the absorbed whole serum. These antibodies were fixed on staphylococcus cowan 1 NCTC-8325 whole-cells, using different chemical fixatives. It was observed that maximum fixation of g globulin to protein-A was achieved by 1-propanol 50% at 3 hours, which revealed through single radial immuno-diffusion techniqe. The rectal swab samples were cultured in an enrichment bile-peptons broth. After 5 hours 37°C while agitations, one drop of each sample was mixed with one drop of vibrio-cholerae bivalent mono-specific coagglutination reagent (VBCR). The results were read after 2 to 3 minutes. Finally though statistical analysis sensitivity and specificity of coagglutination test were calculated to be 95.1% and 99.2% respectively, when compared to positive & negative controls and conventional culture methods. Using VBCR, coagglutination test can be therefore considered as a simple, reliable and rapid method to detect V.cholerae O1 in the stool of patients in endemic area and less equipped laboratories

Abstract Background Extensive body of the literature reveals that proper use of helmets is an effective way to reduce the severity of injuries and fatalities among motorcyclists. However, many motorcyclists do not use safety helmet properly. This study aimed to empirically explore reactions of motorcyclists to the safety helmet laws, in Iran. Methods Qualitative data were collected via four focus groups and 11 in-depth interviews. Participants were 28 male motorcyclists who never used a safety helmet during rides, and 4 male police officers. All transcripts, codes and categories were read for several times to exhaust identifiable major themes. During this process data were reduced from text to codes and themes. Results Five major themes emerged from the data analyses, including themes related to the following: (1) circumventing or dodging police officers; (2) simulating a helmet wearing behavior; (3) accepting the probability of receiving a ticket; (4) taking advantage of the police neglect and carelessness; and (5) using a cheap or convenient helmet. Conclusion Our findings suggest certain levels of reckless driving among the participating motorcyclists in this study. They also point to a system of law enforcement that operates haphazardly and fails to consistently penalize those who deviate from it. Further studies are needed to investigate how "risks" are perceived and relate to "reactions", and how a 'culture of masculinity' may encourage risk tolerance and a disposition toward lawlessness and carelessness among male motorcyclists. Also, there is a need for the development and implementation of multidimensional interventions that would offer socio-culturally sensitive educational and motivational messages to the motorcyclists and the in-service traffic-enforcement officers in Iran.

We report the first implementation of ion mobility mass spectrometry combined with an ultrahigh throughput sample introduction technology for high-throughput screening (HTS). The system integrates differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) with acoustic ejection mass spectrometry (AEMS), termed DAEMS, enabling the simultaneous quantitation of structural isomers that are the substrates and products of isomerase-mediated reactions in intermediary metabolism. We demonstrate this potential by comparing DAEMS to a luminescence assay for the isoform of phosphoglycerate mutase (iPGM) distinctively present in pathogens, offering an opportunity as a drug target for a variety of microbial and parasite borne diseases. The metabolome consists of many structural isomers that require for separation a mobility resolving power of more than 300. Resolving powers measured in collision cross-section space of 1588 and 1948 for 2- and 3-phosphoglycerate and the citrate/isocitrate isomeric pairs, respectively, are shown. These are the highest reported ion mobility resolving powers for molecules from the metabolome reported to date. The potential for DAEMS as a generalized screening tool is demonstrated with the separation of the substrates and products of two additional isomerases that present as potential therapeutic targets, chorismate mutase and triosephosphate isomerase. The separations are achieved at speeds compatible with the sample introduction rates of AEMS providing sufficient data points to integrate the peaks for quantitation without the use of internal standards. DMS hyphenated with acoustic sample ejection MS provides a unique solution to high-throughput mass spectrometry applications where separation of isomers and other types of isobaric overlaps are required.

Background: Hygiene-based practices of lubrication, genital cleansing, postcoital urination, and rectal douching are common behaviors among populations at higher risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infections (STI). Yet, the role these behaviors have on HIV/STI risk has not been well elucidated, especially among transgender women (TW) and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). Additionally, advances in biomedical strategies have heralded a new era of HIV/AIDS prevention that may be accompanied by behavioral changes that lead to decreases in condom usage and subsequent changes to STI sequelae. Nevertheless, many people at higher risk are not benefiting equally from these options, strengthening the need for more sustainable, evidence-based methods., Objectives: This study explored the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of hygiene-based practices, proven preventative methods, and preferred learning methods among Peruvian TW and GBMSM., Methods: 30 interviews and 50 questionnaires were conducted with TW (N=35), GBMSM (N=35), healthcare providers (N=5), and key community informants (N=5)., Results: Most participants perceived hygiene-based practices to be common behaviors and a significant aspect of sexual wellbeing. Educational materials utilizing social media and hosting in-person events were also viewed favorably, with value to enhancing HIV/STI knowledge., Conclusions: Several barriers to autonomy surfaced in the data, including systemic disparities to adequate HIV/STI services, top vs. bottom social dynamics, and PrEP accessibility issues. Continued work is needed to address the barriers to the acceptability, feasibility, and potential efficacy of hygiene-based practices, biomedical/barrier strategies, and L 3 +., Competing Interests: COMPETING INTERESTS The authors have no competing interests.

A hybrid off-lattice agent-based model has been developed to reconstruct the tumor tissue oxygenation landscape based on histology images and simulated interactions between vasculature and cells with microenvironment metabolites. Here, we performed a robustness sensitivity analysis of that model's physical and computational parameters. We found that changes in the domain boundary conditions, the initial conditions, and the Michaelis constant are negligible and, thus, do not affect the model outputs. The model is also not sensitive to small perturbations of the vascular influx or the maximum consumption rate of oxygen. However, the model is sensitive to large perturbations of these parameters and changes in the tissue boundary condition, emphasizing an imperative aim to measure these parameters experimentally.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected older adults, particularly those with pre-existing chronic health conditions. To address the health disparity and challenges faced by under-resourced African American older adults in South Los Angeles during this period, we implemented a hybrid (virtual/in-person), pre-post, community-based participatory intervention research project utilizing a faith-based lay health advisor model (COVID-19 Health Ambassador Program (CHAP)). We recruited COVID-19 Health Ambassadors (CHAs) and African American older adults (participants) from faith-based organizations who partook in CHA-led meetings and follow-ups that educated and supported the participants. This paper seeks to evaluate this intervention's implementation using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) as a reporting tool with an emphasis on fidelity, challenges, and adaptations based on data collected via stakeholder interviews and surveys., Results: CHAP was delivered to 152 participants by 19 CHAs from 17 faith-based organizations. CHAs assisted with chronic disease management, resolved medication-related challenges, encouraged COVID-19 vaccination, reduced psychological stress and addressed healthcare avoidance behaviors such as COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the participants. Challenges encountered include ensuring participant engagement and retention in the virtual format and addressing technological barriers for CHAs and participants. Adaptations made to better suit the needs of participants included providing communication tools and additional training to CHAs to improve their proficiency in using virtual platforms in addition to adapting scientific/educational materials to suit our participants' diverse cultural and linguistic needs., Conclusion: The community-centered hybrid approach in addition to our partnership with faith-based organizations and their respective COVID-19 health ambassadors proved to be essential in assisting underserved African American older adults manage chronic health conditions and address community-wide health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and teamwork are key to implementing health interventions especially in underserved populations., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Adinkrah et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: New therapeutics in development for bladder cancer need to address the recalcitrant nature of the disease. Intravesical adoptive cell therapy (ACT) with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) can potentially induce durable responses in bladder cancer while maximizing T cells at the tumor site. T cells infused into the bladder directly encounter immunosuppressive populations, such as myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), that can attenuate T cell responses. Intravesical instillation of gemcitabine can be used as a lymphodepleting agent to precondition the bladder microenvironment for infused T cell products., Methods: Urine samples from bladder cancer patients and healthy donors were analyzed by flow cytometry and cytometric bead array for immune profiling and cytokine quantification. MDSCs were isolated from the urine and cocultured with stimulated T cells to assess effects on proliferation. An orthotopic murine model of bladder cancer was established using the MB49-OVA cell line and immune profiling was performed. MDSCs from tumor-bearing mice were cocultured with OT-I splenocytes to assess T cell proliferation. Mice received intravesical instillation of gemcitabine and depletion of immune cells was measured via flow cytometry. Bladder tumor growth of mice treated with intravesical gemcitabine, OT-I transgenic T cells, or combination was monitored via ultrasound measurement., Results: In comparison to healthy donors, urine specimen from bladder cancer patients show high levels of MDSCs and cytokines associated with myeloid chemotaxis, T cell chemotaxis, and inflammation. T cells isolated from healthy donors were less proliferative when cocultured with MDSCs from the urine. Orthotopic murine bladder tumors also presented with high levels of MDSCs along with enrichment of cytokines found in the patient urine samples. MDSCs isolated from spleens of tumor-bearing mice exerted suppressive effects on the proliferation of OT-I T cells. Intravesical instillation of gemcitabine reduced overall immune cells, MDSCs, and T cells in orthotopic bladder tumors. Combination treatment with gemcitabine and OT-I T cells resulted in sustained anti-tumor responses in comparison to monotherapy treatments., Conclusion: MDSCs are enriched within the microenvironment of bladder tumors and are suppressive to T cells. Gemcitabine can be used to lymphodeplete bladder tumors and precondition the microenvironment for intravesical ACT., Competing Interests: BB is currently employed at Iovance Biotherapeutics. AH reports common stock holdings in AbbVie, Inc., Amgen, Inc., BioHaven Pharmaceuticals, and Bristol Myers Squibb. KR has received research support that is not related to this research from NIH-NCI R01CA272601 and R01CA230610. SP-T receives salary support on sponsored research agreements between Moffitt Cancer Center and Iovance Biotherapeutics, Turnstone Biologics, Intellia Therapeutics, and Dyve Biosciences. SP-T is a member of the SAB for KSQ Therapeutics, Inc. SP-T and MB are consultants for Morphogenesis, Inc. Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute has licensed intellectual property related to the proliferation and expansion of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes TIL to Iovance Biotherapeutics. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The author(s) declared that they were an editorial board member of Frontiers, at the time of submission. This had no impact on the peer review process and the final decision., (Copyright © 2023 Bazargan, Bunch, Ojwang‘, Blauvelt, Landin, Ali, Abrahams, Cox, Hall, Beatty, Poch, Rejniak and Pilon-Thomas.)

Abstract: Genitourinary (GU) cancers have greatly benefited from immunotherapy treatments, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, the durable clinical response rate for these agents remains relatively low, calling for more innovative immunotherapy approaches. Adoptive cell therapy has shown a significant advancement in the treatment of cancer in recent years and represents a great potential for the treatment of GU cancers. This review summarizes the current advancements in cellular therapy strategies for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, and prostate and penile cancers. Further, current and past clinical trials of adoptive cell therapy in GU tumors are reviewed. Finally, a perspective on the future of cell therapy in GU tumors is discussed., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: J.C. discloses advisory board consultation for Pfizer, Aveo, and Exelixis. Moffitt Cancer Center has licensed Intellectual Property (IP) related to the proliferation and expansion of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes to Iovance Biotherapeutics. Moffitt has also licensed IP to Tuhura Biopharma. S.P.-T. is an inventor on such Intellectual Property. She is listed as a co-inventor on a patent application with Provectus Biopharmaceuticals. She participates in sponsored research agreements with Provectus Biopharmaceuticals, Iovance Biotherapeutics, Intellia Therapeutics, Dyve Biosciences, and Turnstone Biologics that are not related to this research. She has received research support that is not related to this research from the following entities: National Institutes of Health–National Cancer Institute (U01 CA244100-01, R01 CA259387, R43 CA257552-01A1, and R01 CA239219-01A1), Swim Across America and V Foundation. She has received ad hoc consulting fees from Seagen Inc. and serves as an advisor for KSQ Therapeutics. For the remaining authors, none were declared., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing-3 (TIM-3) blocking antibodies are currently being evaluated in clinical trials for solid and hematological malignancies. Despite its identification on T cells, TIM-3 is predominantly expressed by myeloid cells, including XCR1 + type I conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s). We have recently shown that TIM-3 blockade promotes expression of CXCR3 chemokine ligands by tumor cDCs, but how this drives a CD8 + T cell-dependent response to therapy is unclear., Methods: T cell infiltration, effector function, and spatial localization in relation to XCR1 + cDC1s were evaluated in a murine orthotopic mammary carcinoma model during response to TIM-3 blockade and paclitaxel chemotherapy. Mixed bone marrow chimeras and diphtheria toxin depletion were used to determine the role of specific genes in cDC1s during therapeutic responses., Results: TIM-3 blockade increased interferon-γ expression by CD8 + T cells without altering immune infiltration. cDC1 expression of CXCL9, but not CXCL10, was required for response to TIM-3 blockade. CXCL9 was also necessary for the increased proximity observed between CD8 + T cells and XCR1 + cDC1s during therapy. Tumor responses were dependent on cDC1 expression of interleukin-12, but not MHCI., Conclusions: TIM-3 blockade increases exposure of intratumoral CD8 + T cells to cDC1-derived cytokines, with implications for the design of therapeutic strategies using antibodies against TIM-3., Competing Interests: Competing interests: BR has received payments from Merck & Co and Roche Farma SA for consulting. BR has previously had a sponsored research agreement with Tesaro: A GSK Company. JRC-G, KAR and BR have courtesy faculty appointment at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

We report a method for sensing analytes in tear-fluid using commercial contact lenses (CLs) as sample collectors for subsequent analysis with a cost-effective and field-portable reader. In this study we quantify lysozyme, the most prevalent protein in tear fluid, non-specifically bound to CLs worn by human participants. Our mobile reader uses time-lapse imaging to capture an increasing fluorescent signal in a standard well-plate, the rate-of-change of which is used to indirectly infer lysozyme concentration through the use of a standard curve. We empirically determined the best-suited CL material for our sampling procedure and assay, and subsequently monitored the lysozyme levels of nine healthy human participants over a two-week period. Of these participants who were regular CL wearers (6 out of 9), we observed an increase in lysozyme levels from 6.89 ± 2.02 μg mL -1 to 10.72 ± 3.22 μg mL -1 (mean ± SD) when inducing an instance of digital eye-strain by asking them to play a game on their mobile-phones during the CL wear-duration. We also observed a lower mean lysozyme concentration (2.43 ± 1.66 μg mL -1 ) in a patient cohort with dry eye disease (DED) as compared to the average monitoring level of healthy (no DED) human participants (6.89 ± 2.02 μg mL -1 ). Taken together, this study demonstrates tear-fluid analysis with simple and non-invasive sampling steps along with a rapid, easy-to-use, and cost-effective measurement system, ultimately indicating physiological differences in human participants. We believe this method could be used in future tear-fluid studies, even supporting multiplexed detection of a panel of tear biomarkers toward improved diagnostics and prognostics as well as personalized mobile-health applications.

In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate psychometric properties of the Persian versions of condom use self-efficacy (CUSES), attitude toward condom use (ATCUS), and sexually transmitted infection risk perception (STIsRP) scales among Iranian female sex workers (FSWs). We translated original versions of the scales into Persian, and through census, recruited and interviewed 140 FSWs. Appropriate validity, reliability, functionality and simplicity were demonstrated for the scales. We found the measurement model with a good fit to the data ( χ 2 [104] = 89.537, p  < .01, CFI = 0.978, NFI = 0.931, TLI = 0.981, RMSEA = 0.055 [0.023-0.081]). Our findings supported the applicability of the Persian CUSES, ATCUS, and STIsRP in the Iranian and other Persian-speaking FSW populations.

Plasmonic sensors have been used for a wide range of biological and chemical sensing applications. Emerging nanofabrication techniques have enabled these sensors to be cost-effectively mass manufactured onto various types of substrates. To accompany these advances, major improvements in sensor read-out devices must also be achieved to fully realize the broad impact of plasmonic nanosensors. Here, we propose a machine learning framework which can be used to design low-cost and mobile multispectral plasmonic readers that do not use traditionally employed bulky and expensive stabilized light sources or high-resolution spectrometers. By training a feature selection model over a large set of fabricated plasmonic nanosensors, we select the optimal set of illumination light-emitting diodes needed to create a minimum-error refractive index prediction model, which statistically takes into account the varied spectral responses and fabrication-induced variability of a given sensor design. This computational sensing approach was experimentally validated using a modular mobile plasmonic reader. We tested different plasmonic sensors with hexagonal and square periodicity nanohole arrays and revealed that the optimal illumination bands differ from those that are "intuitively" selected based on the spectral features of the sensor, e.g., transmission peaks or valleys. This framework provides a universal tool for the plasmonics community to design low-cost and mobile multispectral readers, helping the translation of nanosensing technologies to various emerging applications such as wearable sensing, personalized medicine, and point-of-care diagnostics. Beyond plasmonics, other types of sensors that operate based on spectral changes can broadly benefit from this approach, including e.g., aptamer-enabled nanoparticle assays and graphene-based sensors, among others.

Introduction and Aims: The positive relationship between alcohol use, gender and violence-related injury is well established. However, less is known about injuries when alcohol is used in combination with other drugs., Design and Methods: Self-report information was collected on alcohol and illicit drug use in the 6 h before a violence-related injury in probability samples of patients presenting to emergency departments (n=9686)., Results: Patients with violence-related injuries reported the highest rates of alcohol use (49% of men; 23% of women) and alcohol use combined with illicit drugs (8% of men; 4% of women) whereas non-violent injury patients reported lower rates of alcohol use (17% of men; 8% of women) and alcohol use combined with drugs (2% for men; 1% for women). Marijuana/hashish was the most commonly reported drug. The odds of a violent injury were increased when alcohol was used [men: odds ratio (OR)=5.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.6-6.3; women: OR=4.0, 95% CI 3.0-5.5] or when alcohol was combined with illicit drug use before the injury (men: OR=6.6, 95% CI 4.7-9.3; women: OR=5.7, 95% CI=2.7-12.2) compared with non-users. No significant change in the odds of a violent injury was observed for men or women when alcohol users were compared with alcohol and drug users., Discussion and Conclusions: The positive association between alcohol and violent injury does not appear to be altered by the added use of drugs. Additional work is needed to understand the interpersonal, contextual and cultural factors related to substance use to identify best prevention practices and develop appropriate policies., (© 2013 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.)

One-dimensional nanobelts of tin (IV) oxide are synthesized by using a newly introduced catalyst-assisted pulsed laser deposition method along two growth directions of [010] and [101]. An ex situ mask-induced growth gradient technique is employed to investigate the growth evolution of the nanobelts on oxidized-Si, H-terminated Si, and Al2O3(0001) substrates by helium ion microscopy, which reveals four stages of growth including catalyst detachment, horizontal nanorod growth, deflection, and the final nanobelt growth. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy studies show that in spite of the deflections and changes in the growth direction, the nanobelts have, remarkably, maintained their single-crystalline structure throughout the growth by only changing their crystalline growth axis. This has enabled us to influence the preferred growth axis by establishing a crystalline relation between the nanobelts and an appropriate substrate that pins the nanobelts in the initial growth stage. This growth control provides an important means to selectively promote growth of the predominant side planes of the nanobelts, which can then be separated for appropriate applications based on the different growth kinetics of [010] and [101] growth direction.

Nanocrystalline tin (IV) oxide thin films doped with Eu(3+) ions are synthesized using a simple spin-coating method followed by postannealing in an O(2) flow at 700 °C. Transmission electron microscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies illustrate the incorporation of Eu(3+) ions in the films with a high atomic percentage of 2.7%-7.7%, which is found to be linearly dependent on the initial concentration of Eu(3+) in the precursor solution. Glancing incidence x-ray diffraction results show that the crystalline grain sizes decrease with increasing the Eu(3+) concentration and decreasing the postannealing temperature with the emergence of the Eu(2)Sn(2)O(7) phase at high Eu(3+) concentrations (≥5.3 at.%). Luminescence spectra of these doped samples show the characteristic narrow-band magnetic dipole emission at 593 nm and electric dipole emission at 614 nm of the Eu(3+) ions, arising from UV absorption at the SnO(2) band-edge followed by energy transfer to the emission centers. Manipulating the crystallite size, composition, and defect density of the samples greatly affects the absorption edge, energy transfer, and therefore the emission spectra. These modifications in the environment of the Eu(3+) ions allow the emission to be tuned from pure orange characteristic Eu(3+) emission to the broadband emission corresponding to the combination of strong characteristic Eu(3+) emission with the intense defect emissions.

The Preventive Health Education and Medical Home Project (PHEMHP) is a predictive and contextual model intended to reduce low levels of health services utilization and improve preventive health techniques and disease self-management for low-income families in South Central Los Angeles, with the ultimate goal of attaching each child to a medical home. The model is designed to be implemented through educational and case management strategies. This paper presents the conceptual framework, critical intervention activities, and the different implementation variations the PHEMHP has already assumed. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.

Few studies have evaluated sex differences in the adequacy of pain management in cancer. Existing studies have been marked by methodological limitations and results have been mixed. The present study sought to determine whether sex was associated with pain severity and pain management in cancer patients newly referred by their primary oncology team to a multidisciplinary cancer pain clinic. One hundred thirty-one cancer patients completed the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form and medical chart review was conducted to obtain patients' clinical characteristics and pain treatment data. There were no differences between males and females in ratings of worst pain in the last week. Females were significantly less likely to have been prescribed high potency opioids by their primary oncology team and significantly more likely to report inadequate pain management as measured by Pain Management Index scores. These results suggest a sex bias in the treatment of cancer pain and support the routine examination of the effect of sex in cancer pain research.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess the role of alcohol use and depression in intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization and perpetration among Blacks and Hispanics in an underserved urban emergency department population., Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed male and female patients presenting to an urban emergency department. The outcome measures were physical or sexual IPV victimization and perpetration in the previous 12 months. The independent predictors included demographic variables, alcohol and drug use, and depressive symptoms. Logistic regression analyses calculated the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for predictors of IPV victimization and perpetration in separate models., Results: The prevalence of IPV victimization among Blacks and Hispanics were similar (14% and 10%, respectively) but blacks were nearly twice as likely to report IPV perpetration (17% vs. 9%, respectively). Predictors of IPV perpetration were Black race, married or living with a partner, heavy drinking, illicit drug use, and current depression. Depression, but not substance use, also predicted IPV victimization, in addition to Black race, married or living with a partner, and younger age. Screening for substance abuse and depression in an inner city emergency department population may help to identify individuals at high risk of IPV, particularly IPV perpetration.

Background: To facilitate the identification of ED patients at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV), we assessed the relationship of acute violence-related injury and history of IPV victimization or perpetration., Methods: : This cross-sectional study systematically sampled patients presenting to an urban ED. Reason for visit, past year history of IPV victimization and perpetration, alcohol and drug use and abuse, and sociodemographic factors were assessed. We hypothesized that violence-related injury would be positively associated with a history of IPV victimization and with IPV perpetration., Results: The odds of violence-related injury was increased three-fold among persons with a history of IPV victimization and nearly two-fold (although not statistically significant) among those with IPV perpetration history. Male gender, younger age, and problem drinking were independent risk factors in both models., Conclusion: Screening for IPV among individuals presenting with a violence-related injury may be helpful in identifying individuals at risk of partner violence.

This exploratory study examined the impact of physician recommendations and other factors on mammography screening and breast-self examination (BSE) among African American and Hispanic women in public housing communities. We surveyed a randomly selected sample of low-income households from three low-income communities (n = 291), which included both African Americans and Hispanic women. Data for this paper are reported only on women who were 40 years and older head of the households (n = 120 women, including 74 Hispanics and 46 African Americans), since they meet the age criterion for mammography screening. Our analyses indicated that only 46% of women obtained mammography in the previous 12 months, with no significant differences between the Hispanic and African American women in mammography rates. Physicians' recommendations were among the most significant and substantial predictors of obtaining a mammogram or performing BSE. Further, odds were also higher for those who had insurance coverage. In addition, our data also indicated that almost one out of four women, aged 40 and older participants in this study, claimed that their health care providers never told them they needed a mammogram or never told them that they should perform BSE, with no significant differences between Hispanic and African Americans. Our analyses points to an urgent need for intervention to inform and motivate the service providers in underserved communities to motivate breast cancer screening (BCS) among minority women. Additionally, our examination points to the need for urgent interventions targeting minority women, particularly women with no medical insurance for breast cancer screening.

This study was conducted to determine the predictors of screening mammography among women 40 years old and older residing in South Central Los Angeles, California. The population is predominately African American and Hispanic. Using Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI) software and the Random Digit Dialing (RDD) method, a 54-item, 20-min questionnaire was administered to 505 women. All interviews were conducted in English or Spanish. The Health Belief Model provided the conceptual framework for the design of the questionnaire. A majority (81.8%) of the participants reported having at least one mammogram in their lifetime, with African Americans reporting the lowest rate (74.7%). Multiple logistic regression analyses found that 4 of the 23 independent variables assessed were predictive of ever users of mammography (p < 0.05), while 6 independent variables were predictive of never users of mammography (p < 0.05). A significant finding of this study is the lower rate of screening mammography utilization in this sample compared to estimates for the general population. The results of this study also suggest that substantial improvements in the rate of screening mammography could be achieved if women in their 40s, who are without health insurance, were referred by their physicians to have affordable mammograms every year or two.

Purpose: The prevalence and correlates of paranoid ideation were investigated., Design and Methods: On the basis of a sample of 998 independently living elderly African American persons in a cross-sectional study, the study used the Brief Symptom Inventory to measure paranoid ideation and 14 independent variables, including demographic characteristics, cognitive deficit, depression, self-reported memory functioning, emotional and instrumental support, stressful life events, limitation of daily activities, self-rated health status, and self-rated hearing and vision., Results and Implications: Paranoid ideation (symptoms of paranoia) was found in 10% of this sample. A multiple regression analysis of the data revealed that of the 14 independent variables used in this study, 6 (income, instrumental support, hearing, stressful life events, self-reported memory deficit, and depression) showed a significant relationship with paranoid ideation.