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Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more severe form of non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD) that is characterized by inflammation and liver damage. Previous studies have identified a strong association between NAFLD and race/ethnicity, but there has been less investigation of a racial disparity specifically in NASH. We tested the association between NASH and race/ethnicity in the adult US population of NHANES 17-18 (n=5492). Hepatic steatosis (HS) was diagnosed by FibroScan® using controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) values (stages): S0 290. Participants with moderate/severe steatosis without the exclusion criteria (elevated transferrin level >50%, chronic hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis C, excessive alcohol use, or prescription medications that might cause HS) were considered to have NAFLD (n=3,292). Subjects with NAFLD and a HAIR score (defined by HOMA-IR, hypertension, and ALT) of ≥ 2 were considered to have NASH, as opposed to simple NAFLD. Data were analyzed using Chi square and multinomial regression adjusting for the other independent variables [demographics: (age, gender, education, poverty), physical activity, smoking, waist-hip ratio, body mass index, triglyceride, cholesterol, glucose, HbA1c, C-reactive protein (hsCRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and healthy eating index (HEI)] using SAS (Release V.9.1.3, 2002; SAS) and including sample weights and design. The overall prevalence of NASH was 7.6% and it varied by race/ethnicity. Mexican Americans had the highest prevalence (10.6%), followed by other Hispanics (9.1%); Non-Hispanic Whites had the lowest prevalence (6.8%) (p0.05). We concluded that the prevalence of NASH was highest among Mexican American males relative to the other groups. Targeted interventions for Mexican American males are needed to increase awareness, management and prevention related to NASH. Grants: R01MD012579, R24DA017298, U54MD007598, S21MD000103, UL1TR001881 Presentation: Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a serious condition whose prevalence differs by race/ethnicity. Studies have suggested that consumption of high-fructose corn syrup is likely a risk factor for NAFLD. We investigated the associations between fructose consumption and NAFLD, and its distribution by race/ethnicity in the adult US population using NHANES 2017-2018 data (n=3292). NAFLD was diagnosed by FibroScan® using controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) values of =>260 and no exclusion criteria. Fructose consumption was calculated from 24-hour dietary recall data in combination with USDA food nutritional content data files. Fructose consumption was categorized into tertiles (low= 0.95-2.1 g). We analyzed data in SAS 9.4 using Chi squared tests and multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for demographics, behavioral, and laboratory data, and including sample weights and design. Of the 3292 participants, 31.3% were in the middle tertile of the fructose consumption and 35.5% were in the high tertile. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of NAFLD by fructose consumption group [low=44%; middle=48%, and high=51%] (p=0.094). The highest percentage of participants in the high tertile of fructose consumption were in Mexican Americans (48%) and non-Hispanic Blacks (44%), with a much lower percentage of non-Hispanic Whites (33%) (p Presentation: Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:00 p.m. - 12:15 p.m.

Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a public health concern, especially given its increasing prevalence. The spectrum of NAFLD ranges from simple NAFLD to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), followed by fibrosis and cirrhosis. There is a known health disparity for NAFLD with Mexican-Americans having a higher prevalence and Blacks having a lower prevalence compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. The objective of this study is to examine the association between race/ethnicity and hepatic fibrosis. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017-2018) was used for the analysis. The analytic sample was restricted to participants who were at least 18 years of age (N=5492). Hepatic fibrosis was diagnosed by FibroScan®. Fibrosis stages were F0-F1 (14 kPa). Data were analyzed using Chi square and multinomial regression to determine the association between race/ethnicity and hepatic fibrosis adjusting for the other independent variables [demographics (age, gender, education, poverty), physical activity, smoking, waist-hip ratio, body mass index, triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, HbA1c, C-reactive protein (hsCRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and healthy eating index (HEI)] using SAS (Release V.9.1.3, 2002; SAS) and including sample weights and design. The overall prevalence of hepatic fibrosis was 20.8% (F2=12.7%, F3=4.6%, F4=3.5%). There was no statistically significant difference in hepatic fibrosis prevalence by race/ethnicity (p=0.817). F2 stage was highest among Blacks (14.9%) and other Hispanics (14.8%) and 13.0% in Non-Hispanic Whites. F3 stage was highest among Blacks (5.3%) and Whites (4.9%). F4 was highest among "other Hispanics (4.7%) but none of the differences was statistically significant. In the multinomial adjusted model, race/ethnicity was not associated with having F2 or F3 stages, but it was associated with F4 stage where "other race/ethnic" group were 3 times more likely than Non-Hispanic Whites to have F4 stage (adjusted odds ratio=3.2, 95% confidence interval=1.1-9.4, p=0.03). In the adjusted model, factors associated with high adjusted odds of F4 stage were high waist to hip ratio, low HDL (1 mg/dL, high AST (>40 U/L), HbA1c=>6.5% (diabetes mellitus) (p Presentation: Sunday, June 12, 2022 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Background Preliminary evidence indicates that acute and chronic psychological stress affect sexual arousal and satisfaction. African American women, in particular, are vulnerable to the impacts of gender- and race-related stress, given their socially constructed identities as African Americans and as women. Aim We examined associations between minority stress and sexual function using data from 248 African American women. Methods Surveys were conducted with 248 African American women in South LA with male partners at risk for acquiring HIV. We analyzed self-reports on (i) stress indicators: chronic burden, perceived racism/sexism, and histories of trauma/sexual abuse; (ii) Female Sexual Function Index domains: desire, arousal, and satisfaction; and (iii) potential moderators: social support and spirituality. We used multiple regression, adjusting for potential confounding factors, to examine the relationships between stress indictors, potential moderators, and sexual function domains. Outcomes: The outcomes were the female sexual function index domains of desire, arousal, and satisfaction. Results This largely low-income sample experienced significant chronic and acute stressors, was highly spiritual and reported strong social support. Moderate-high chronic burden and increasing sexism scores were independently associated with decreased arousal (B = -0.38, 95%CI = -0.75, -0.02) and satisfaction (B = -0.03, 95%CI = -0.06, 0.00) scores, respectively. Clinical Implications Providers may want to explore chronic burden in patients who complain about low sexual arousal. Additionally, to develop effective HIV- and other STI-related interventions that impact behaviors that can confer sexual risk, prevention strategies are needed that either reduce contextual stressors or mitigate their impact. Strengths Strengths of this research are that it focuses on sexual function among previously under-studied, low-income African American women and that it takes into account the unique set of stressors faced by these women. Limitations A limitation is that the sample size may have been too small to capture the effects of potential moderators. Conclusions Low-income African American women accumulate life stressors that may harm sexual function.

Aging leads to degeneration of the peripheral and central auditory systems, hearing loss, and difficulty understanding sounds in noise. Aging is also associated with changes in susceptibility to or recovery from damaging noise exposures, although the effects of the interaction between acute noise exposure and age on the perception of sounds are not well studied. We tested these effects in the CBA/CaJ mouse model of age-related hearing loss using operant conditioning procedures before and after noise exposure and longitudinally measured changes in their sensitivity for detecting tones in quiet or noise backgrounds. Cochleae from a subset of the behaviorally tested mice were immunolabeled to examine organ of Corti damage relative to what is expected based on aging alone. Mice tested in both quiet and noise background conditions experienced worse behavioral sensitivity immediately after noise exposure, but mice exposed at older ages generally showed greater threshold shifts and reduced recovery over time. Surprisingly, day-to-day stability in thresholds was markedly higher for mice detecting signals in the presence of a noise masker compared with detection in quiet conditions. Cochlear analysis revealed decreases in the total number of outer hair cells (OHCs) and the number of ribbons per inner cell in high-frequency regions in aged, noise-exposed mice relative to aging alone. Our findings build on previous work showing interactions between age and noise exposure and add that background noise can increase the stability of behavioral hearing sensitivity after noise damage.

Micro opioid receptor agonists are clinically valuable as analgesics; however, their use is limited by high abuse liability. Kappa opioid agonists also produce antinociception, but they do not produce micro agonist-like abuse-related effects, suggesting that they may enhance the antinociceptive effects and/or attenuate the abuse-related effects of micro agonists. To evaluate this hypothesis, the present study examined interactions between the micro agonist fentanyl and the kappa agonist U69,593 in three behavioral assays in rhesus monkeys. In an assay of schedule-controlled responding, monkeys responded under a fixed-ratio 30 (FR 30) schedule of food presentation. Fentanyl and U69,593 each produced rate-decreasing effects when administered alone, and mixtures of 0.22:1, 0.65:1, and 1.96:1 U69,593/fentanyl usually produced subadditive effects. In an assay of thermal nociception, tail withdrawal latencies were measured from water heated to 50 degrees C. Fentanyl and U69,593 each produced dose-dependent antinociception, and effects were additive for all mixtures. In an assay of drug self-administration, rhesus monkeys responded for intravenous drug injection, and both dose and FR values were manipulated. Fentanyl maintained self-administration, whereas U69,593 did not. Addition of U69,593 to fentanyl produced a proportion-dependent decrease in rates of fentanyl self-administration. Moreover, addition of U69,593 increased the sensitivity of fentanyl self-administration to increases in the FR value. Taken together, these results suggest that simultaneous activation of mu and kappa receptors, either with a mixture of selective drugs or with a single drug that targets both receptors, may reduce abuse liability without reducing analgesic effects relative to selective micro agonists administered alone.