Southern Care: A Rapid Response to Supporting Southern CBOs at the onset of COVID-19.

Southern community-based and HIV/AIDS service organizations (CBOs) were particularly vulnerable to the onset of COVID-19 due to already fragile infrastructures and underfunded budgets. At the height of the pandemic, the Gilead COMPASS Coordinating Centers launched the Southern CARE Grant, awarding 41 grants to provide supplemental operational support funds.

Menstrual cycle affects bladder pain sensation in subjects with interstitial cystitis.

PURPOSE: Using psychophysical methods we compared the effect of the menstrual cycle on bladder sensation in subjects with the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis (IC) and in controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Female participants with normal menstrual cycles, including 7 with IC and 8 healthy controls, were recruited into this study. They completed daily diaries related to bladder pain and other body pain, and tracked daily micturition frequency. In a subset formal psychophysical testing of thermal and ischemic pain was performed at 2 times of the menstrual cycle, corresponding to the luteal and follicular phases. Cystometrograms were performed at the same time. RESULTS: Subjects with IC had higher pain scores and frequency than controls throughout the entire menstrual cycle. Pain scores were highest in the perimenstrual period in subjects with IC and controls. Micturition frequency was highest in the perimenstrual period in subjects with IC. Cystometric evaluation of a first need to void and the evocation of bladder pain demonstrated that lower intravesical volume and pressure were necessary to evoke bladder pain during the follicular period than during the luteal period in subjects with IC, although there was no effect on the first need to void. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with clinical lore that suggests a perimenstrual flare in pain in subjects with IC. To our knowledge it also demonstrates for the first time a menstrual cycle effect on bladder sensory function in subjects with IC. This suggests a potential role of gonadal hormones on bladder sensory processing and, therefore, a potential role for hormonal modulation as a therapeutic modality in this patient population.

Psychophysical evidence of hypersensitivity in subjects with interstitial cystitis.

PURPOSE: We quantified differences in somatic and visceral sensation in healthy subjects and subjects with interstitial cystitis (IC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 13 subjects with IC and 13 healthy subjects answered psychological questionnaires and underwent psychophysical testing of thermal and pressure thresholds for sensation as well as the ischemic forearm test of pain tolerance. A subset of subjects also underwent bladder sensory testing with the determination of 3 consecutive cystometrograms. Ratings of intensity and unpleasantness were determined. RESULTS: Subjects with IC were significantly more sensitive to deep tissue measures of sensation related to pressure, ischemia and bladder than healthy subjects. Cutaneous thermal pain measures were similar in the 2 groups. Psychological measures indicated higher reactivity in subjects with IC. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to other visceral pain disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, hypersensitivity to somatic stimuli was noted in subjects with IC. This suggests altered central mechanisms in the processing of sensory events from the bladder.