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Purpose HIV disproportionately impacts young black men who have sex with men (YBMSM). Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective strategy that can avert new HIV infections in YBMSM. Barriers exist for YBMSM to access PrEP. Methods We sought to determine factors associated with awareness of and willingness to take PrEP in a sample of YBMSM. Results Only 8% were currently on PrEP despite many (66%) reporting condomless anal sex, a recent provider visit (54%), disclosing their sexual orientation to their regular medical provider (62%), or a willingness to take PrEP (62%). In bivariate analysis, increased number of lifetime partners, current PrEP use, and disclosure of sexual orientation to a doctor were associated with awareness of PrEP, while condomless anal sex and higher perceived risk was associated with willingness to take PrEP. Sex with females was associated with lower willingness. Conclusions Providers may be missing key opportunities to educate YBMSM about PrEP and incorporate PrEP into comprehensive sexual health care.

Young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) are often underrepresented in sexual health research because of concerns about safety, privacy, and the potential for research harms. Empirical data are needed to understand YBMSM experience of participating in research, benefits and harms (discomfort), to inform policy and regulatory decisions. Using qualitative methods, this article examines 50 YBMSM, aged 15-19 years, experiences of benefits/harms, challenges of participating in sexual health research, and contextual factors impacting research experiences. Participants were asked about benefits and harms experienced in answering questions about sexual orientation, first same-sex attraction, and same-sex sexual experiences after completing an in-depth interview. Interviews were transcribed and coded. Inductive open coding was used to identify themes within and between interviews. Participants were able to describe perceived direct benefits resulting from research interview participation, including awareness of risky sexual behaviors, a safe space to share early coming out stories and same-sex sexual experiences, and a sense of empowerment and comfort with one's sexual orientation. Indirect benefits described by participants included perceptions of helping others and the larger gay community. Few participants described harms (discomfort recalling experiences). Our data suggest that participating in qualitative sexual health research focused on sexual orientation, sexual attraction, and early same-sex sexual experiences may result in minimal harms for YBMSM and multiple benefits, including feeling more comfortable than in a general medical visit.

Despite high human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) rates among young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM), there are limited data about condom use during first same-sex (FSS). This study sought to understand socio-contextual factors of 50 YBMSM aged 15-19 years that influenced condom use during FSS. Condom use was influenced by individual, partner, and community factors. Individual factors-recent illness or sexually transmitted infections (STI)-prompted condom use, while frequent HIV testing prompted nonuse. Partner factors-proactive encouragement from partners-prompted condom use, while trust and condom discomfort prompted nonuse. Larger community factors-such as presence of females-were key for use, while limited sexual health information combined with peers who discouraged condoms prompted nonuse. A multilevel approach may be useful in developing sexual health programming for these young men.

Neovascularization is required for solid tumor maintenance, progression, and metastasis. The most described contribution of cancer cells in tumor neovascularization is the secretion of factors, which attract various cell types to establish a microenvironment that promotes blood vessel formation. The cancer stem cell hypothesis suggests that tumors are composed of cells that may share the differentiation capacity of normal stem cells. Similar to normal stem cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have the capacity to acquire different phenotypes. Thus, it is possible that CSCs have a bigger role in the process of tumor neovascularization. In this study, we show the capacity of a specific population of ovarian cancer cells with stem-like properties to give rise to xenograft tumors containing blood vessels, which are lined by human CD34+ cells. In addition, when cultured in high-density Matrigel, these cells mimic the behavior of normal endothelial cells and can form vessel-like structures in 24 hours. Microscopic analysis showed extensive branching and maturation of vessel-like structures in 7 days. Western blot and flow cytometry analysis showed that this process is accompanied by the acquisition of classic endothelial markers, CD34 and VE-cadherin. More importantly, we show that this process is vascular endothelial growth factor–independent, but IKKβ-dependent. Our findings suggest that anti-angiogenic therapies should take into consideration the inherent capacity of these cells to serve as vascular progenitors.

First sex may be a sentinel event crucial to understanding sexual health trajectories of young Black same-sex attracted men (YBSSAM). We sought to understand whether satisfaction, condomless anal sex, and contextual factors during first sex were associated with sexual risk and recent condom use in YBSSAM. A total of 201 YBSSAM aged 15–24 years completed an Internet survey exploring first sex, current condom use, and sexual risk. High risk was defined as ≥3 of the following: new/concurrent sex partners, STI history, and no/inconsistent condom use. Multivariate logistic regression assessed the association between predictor (satisfaction and first condomless anal sex) and outcome (sexual risk and condomless sex in the past 3 months) variables. Mean age at first sex was 15.2 (SD = 2.9) years, and emotional satisfaction (51.7 %), physical satisfaction (63.7 %), and condomless first anal sex (55.2 %) were common. YBSSAM describing high levels of satisfaction were no more likely to be at high risk or engage in recent condomless sex. Condomless first sex (AOR = 4.57, p = .001), younger age (AOR = 3.43, p = .02), and having a partner >5 years older (AOR = 2.78, p = .03) at first sex were significantly associated with increased risk. Only condomless first sex (AOR = 4.28, p

Introduction Social support is key to the development of young gay and bisexual men’s positive health outcomes. Little work has explored how contextual factors of social support during first same-sex promote sexual health behaviours in young Black gay and bisexual men (YBGBM). Methods 50 YBGM aged 15–19 were recruited to complete an ACASI survey, baseline in-depth and 3 follow up qualitative interviews over the course of 1 year about the context of lived experiences (Black and gay), social support, recent sex, and sexual health experiences. 42 (84%) YBGBM completed all 4 interviews. Data were analysed to explore constructs and definitions that emerged from the data over multiple time points and then categorised into themes that emerged. Results At baseline, participant’s mean age was 17.6 years (SD = 1.3). Participants mostly self-identified as gay (62%, N = 31) or bisexual (34%, N = 17) bisexual, and reported a mean number of lifetime sexual partners at time of baseline interview as 13.3 (SD = 14.5, Median 8.5) and mean age at first sex of 13.9 (SD = 2.6). Participants reported an average number of partners in the last 4 months of 4.4 (SD = 5.7), 2.1 (SD = 2.0), and 1.4 (SD = 1.7) partners at first, second, and third follow-up, respectively. All participants were able to describe some level of social support; but experiences of social support were inconsistent. Social support varied within economic, geographic, and racial contexts. Participants with consistent social support over follow-up were more likely to report: 1) recent STI/HIV screening; 2) condom-use with partner; and 3) overall fewer partners than youth experiencing inconsistent social support. Conclusions Intersecting social contexts impact social support during sexual development and this may be critical to promoting positive sexual health in YBGBM. Disclosure of interest statement The study is funded by ASTDA and NICHD K-23 HD074470–02, USA. No pharmaceutical grants were received in the development of this study.

IMPACT OF PARTICIPATING IN QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ON YOUNG BLACK MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN Renata Arrington-Sanders, MD, MPH , Thu (Ann) Dao, BS , Jessica Oidtman, BS , Anthony Morgan , Margaret Moon, MD, MPH , J. Dennis Fortenberry, MD , Mary Ott, MD . Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Philadelphia College of Pharmacy; Indiana University; Section of Adolescent Medicine Indiana University School of Medicine.

1572 Background: Bilateral prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy (BPSO) is the current standard of care for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and women with a strong family history of ovarian cancer. We have previously demonstrated an association between early oophorectomy, adiposity and mortality in the general population. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted between November 2009 and January 2013 in 87 women with a family history of breast and ovarian cancer and/or BRCA1/2 mutation to identify the effect of early BPSO on multiple health outcomes. Twenty-two women who underwent BPSO within 1 to 5 years of enrollment while premenopausal and not on hormone therapy were compared to 44 premenopausal women with intact ovaries and the same age distribution and 21 postmenopausal women with intact ovaries and not on hormone therapy. Multiple anthropometric measures were taken and % body fat assessed by DEXA scan. Linear regression was used to estimate differences in these measures between the three groups. Results: The mean ages were 47, 47, and 54 years in the BPSO, premenopausal and postmenopausal groups respectively. Parity, alcohol intake, smoking and race did not significantly differ between groups. Fewer BPSO women had ever used oral contraceptives (OCP) compared to the premenopausal group (p =0.05). The BPSO group had lower mean physical activity (p = 0.05) compared to the two other groups. BMI was increased in the BPSO group but was not statistically different across groups. However, mean waist and abdominal circumference and trunk % body fat were significantly higher among women who underwent BPSO compared to both groups. In multivariate analyses adjusting for age, physical activity, and OCP use, the average waist circumference was 7.92 cm (95% CI 1.46, 14.37) higher and 8.98 cm (95% CI 0.40, 17.46) higher in the BPSO group compared to the postmenopausal and premenopausal groups, respectively. A similar pattern was seen for abdominal circumference. Association with % body fat were not statistically significant. Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that increased central adiposity, is a sequelae of BPSO in young women. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm results and evaluate the efficacy of interventions.