Community Research Initiative

Abstract Background Most current guidelines recommend hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV) vaccination for people living with hepatitis C (HCV) and lacking immunity to those viruses. We were interested in studying the prevalence of immunity to those 2 viruses in patients with chronic active HCV infection (CAH C) in NJ, to evaluate the resources needed to vaccinate those who are not immune. Methods We reviewed prospectively collected data in people with CAH C living in NJ, and retrieved their age, sex, race, ethnicity, HAV IgG, HBV surface antigen, HBV surface antibody, and HBV total core antibody. We calculated the prevalence of immunity to each virus, and specifically targeted the difference for HBV immunity in those born after 1991, when implementation of universal HBV vaccination of newborns started in the US. Results Between 09/01/2020 and 12/31/2023 we collected data on 1586 people living with HCV. The overall prevalence of HAV immunity was 46% (726/1586); for HBV, 36% (578/1586) were immune through vaccination (only HBV surface antibody positive), when divided by age group those born in 1991 and earlier had 34 % immunity compared to 52.5% for those born after 1991 (p< .0001). The prevalence of exposure to HBV was 24% (380/1586) with 7 having Hep B s Ag positive, and 126 only Hep B core antibody positive; when divided by the same age group categories, only 7 % of those < 32 years old had HBV exposure, as compared to 26% of those 33 years and older at a p value < .0001. Prevalence of people with all 3 markers negative for HBV (requiring vaccination) is 40% (628/1586); with no statistical difference between the two-age group, 40.5% for < 32 years old, and 39.5% for those 33 years and older. Conclusion Our study shows an urgent need to implement hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccinations in people living with HCV in NJ, almost half of them are not immune to either virus. On the other hand, it also highlights the success of universal vaccination of newborn for HBV, since we found a statistically significant number of those born after 1991 to be immune and have less HBV exposure. Disclosures Jihad Slim, MD, FACP, AbbVie: Grant/Research Support|AbbVie: Honoraria|AbbVie: Speaker Bureau|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Grant/Research Support|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Honoraria|Gilead Sciences, Inc.: Speaker Bureau|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Honoraria|Merck: Speaker Bureau|Theratechnologies: Advisor/Consultant|Theratechnologies: Honoraria|ViiV Healthcare: Advisor/Consultant|ViiV Healthcare: Grant/Research Support|ViiV Healthcare: Speaker Bureau

This intervention study uses community-based participatory research (CBPR) and longitudinal design to examine changes in COVID-19 prevention knowledge over time (3 time points) among racially minoritized participants (n = 38). The intervention comprised critical dialogues alongside an illustration used to engage participants in conversations about socioeconomic conditions affecting acquisition of COVID-19 knowledge. Quantitative data showed that COVID-19 prevention knowledge was higher for participants who completed the intervention. Qualitative data were used to illustrate the context under which participants experienced COVID-19 pandemic, how they received COVID-19 prevention information, and how they engaged in decision-making around COVID-19 protective behaviors. Contributions to mixed method research: The combination of CBPR, repeated measures, and critical dialogues (with and art form) in intervention research.

Tracking kinematic details of motor behaviors is a foundation to study the neuronal mechanism and biology of motor control. However, most of the physiological motor behaviors and movement disorders, such as gait, balance, tremor, dystonia, and myoclonus, are highly dependent on the overall momentum of the whole-body movements. Therefore, tracking the targeted movement and overall momentum simultaneously is critical for motor control research, but it remains an unmet need. Here, we introduce the intrinsic oscillatory property (IOP), a fundamental mechanical principle of physics, as a method for motion tracking in a force plate. The overall kinetic energy of animal motions can be transformed into the oscillatory amplitudes at the designed IOP frequency of the force plate, while the target movement has its own frequency features and can be tracked simultaneously. Using action tremor as an example, we reported that force plate-based IOP approach has superior performance and reliability in detecting both tremor severity and tremor frequency, showing a lower level of coefficient of variation (CV) compared with video- and accelerometer-based motion tracking methods and their combination. Under the locomotor suppression effect of medications, therapeutic effects on tremor severity can still be quantified by dynamically adjusting the overall locomotor activity detected by IOP. We further validated IOP method in optogenetic-induced movements and natural movements, confirming that IOP can represent the intensity of general rhythmic and nonrhythmic movements, thus it can be generalized as a common approach to study kinematics.

ABSTRACTBlack and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Investigating these histories is often confounded by underreporting and varied definitions of abuse. Unrecognized abuse may manifest in unhealthy ways, specifically psychological distress, substance use, and high-risk sexual behaviors. Black and Hispanic/Latino MSM in New York City discussed formative sexual experiences in in-person interviews. Eligible men reported a sexual experience occurring before age 16 with a man or woman 18 or older at the time. Among interviewees (n = 61), men living with HIV were significantly younger at the time of their first sexual experience with a male partner compared to HIV-negative men. Approximately half of interviewees (47.5%) scored at or above the diagnostic cutoff for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hispanic/Latino men had increased odds of scoring at or above the diagnostic cutoff for PTSD compared to Black non-Hispanic men. Further, nearly half of interviewees (46%) scored at or above the diagnostic cutoff for harmful drug use or possible drug dependence. Study findings have implications for future research using an indirect approach to uncovering potential sexual abuse during childhood, and associations with adult health outcomes.

Background: The 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act required the USDA to update the nutrition standards of the National School Lunch Program. New policies were implemented in the 2012–2013 school year. These changes were followed by anecdotal reports of increased food waste. Empirical research is needed to reliably measure student intake and plate waste before and after this policy change.Methods: Food consumption and waste was collected annually from a cohort of middle school students in 12 schools in an urban, low-income school district before (spring 2012) and after (spring 2013 and 2014) policy changes. Generalized linear regression was used to compare pre- versus postpolicy selection and consumption of entrées, fruits, vegetables, and milk.Results: Comparing 2012 to 2014, the percentage of students choosing fruit significantly increased from 54% to 66% and fruit consumption remained high at 74%. Student selection of fruit increased by 9% for each additional type of fruit offered with the meal. The proportion of students who chose a vegetable dropped from 68% to 52%, but students selecting vegetables ate nearly 20% more of them, effectively lowering vegetable waste. Entrée consumption increased significantly from 71% to 84%, thereby also decreasing waste.Conclusions: Students responded positively to the new lunches. They consumed more fruit, threw away less of the entrees and vegetables, and consumed the same amount of milk. Overall, the revised meal standards and policies appear to have significantly lowered plate waste in school cafeterias.

ObjectiveTo successfully address the challenges of age-related visual impairment in rehabilitation and health care settings, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of the psychological and behavioral adaptations that occur in these populations. The purpose of this study was to modify the Optimization in Primary Secondary Control Scale (OPS) (Heckhausen Schulz and Wrosch 1999) to assess the utilization of lifespan control strategies among older adults with visual impairment.MethodThe Optimization in Primary and Secondary Control Scale (OPS) (Heckhausen et al. 1999) was used to develop a vision-specific version of this measure (i.e., VIS-OPS). The VIS-OPS was administered to older adults with recent vision loss (N = 364; Mean age = 82.9 years). Theory-driven confirmatory factor analysis was used to help refine the instrument and confirm the scale’s four-factor structure.ResultsItems were removed from three of the four VIS-OPS subscales due to low squared-multiple correlations and poor model fit. Inter-item reliabilities for the resultant subscales ranged from 0.61 to 0.72. The final four-factor model fit the data well (RMSEA = .06, 90% CI .05--.06), with all items loading significantly on their associated factors (i.e. subscales). Correlational analyses provided criterion-related validity for the VIS-OPS with disability and psychosocial functioning measures in the expected directions.ConclusionsThe VIS-OPS will allow researchers to more systematically and precisely measure control strategy use in reference to specific challenges associated with visual impairment, and may serve as a model for examining control strategy use in the context of other disabilities.