Access to healthcare among sexual and gender minority youth at risk for HIV: barriers and experiences of discrimination.

This study examined experiences of healthcare inaccessibility and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus (LGBTQ+) discrimination among sexual and gender minority youth at elevated risk for HIV in the United States. Participants for this cross-sectional survey study (N = 3330) were cisgender men, transgender men and women, and nonbinary individuals ages 18-34 recruited for a larger study examining HIV risk behavior between December 2017 and December 2019. Results indicated that 41.1% of participants had at least one lifetime experience of LGBTQ + healthcare discrimination, and 44.1% reported past 6-month experiences of discrimination or problems accessing healthcare. Transgender men and women were more likely than cisgender men and nonbinary participants to report experiences of discrimination, and transgender men were more likely to report problems accessing healthcare. A majority of participants (72.8%) reported that their most recent healthcare provider was aware of their sexual or gender identity. These results indicate a high prevalence of structural barriers in healthcare access for sexual and gender minority youth at elevated risk for HIV, including finical and logistical barriers as well as anticipated and experienced discrimination. We discuss these findings and highlight the importance of easily accessible and culturally competent care for this community.

Changes in Sexual Behaviors Due to Mpox: a Cross-Sectional Study of Sexual and Gender Minority Individuals in Illinois.

The spread of the monkeypox virus (mpox) in 2022 primarily within the sexual networks of men who have sex with men (MSM) triggered a potentially stigmatizing public health response in the USA. Despite mpox being primarily spread through skin-to-skin contact, most messaging has promoted abstinence and/or reduction in sexual risk behaviors. More research is needed on decreases in sexual risk behaviors among sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth and young adults (YYA) related to the most recent mpox epidemic and whether there are factors associated with these decreases in sexual risk behavior. Participants within an ongoing cohort study of SGM YYA who reside in Illinois were offered the opportunity to participate in an mpox survey between September 10th and September 20th, 2022. Analyses looked at demographic factors associated with sexual activity since the start of the outbreak, as well as associations with two sexual risk reduction factors. Survey participation was 68.7% (322/469). Three-quarters of participants (82.6%) reported sexual activity since June 1st. Most sexually active participants (83.5%) adopted at least one sexual risk reduction behavior due to mpox. Black and Latinx individuals were less likely to be sexually active but more likely to report risk reduction behaviors (31.3% and 22.6%, respectively). Participants who received the mpox vaccine were more likely to report sexual activity. SGM YYA in Illinois reported that their sexual behaviors were impacted by the mpox outbreak. However, associations between vaccination and sexual behavior demonstrate that those who are vaccinated do adopt protective methods despite not decreasing sexual activity. Therefore, sex-positive communications and harm reduction messaging may be more appropriate as opposed to abstinence-only prevention, which can further stigmatize an already marginalized group.

Individual and structural-level Correlates of Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) lifetime and current use in a nationwide sample of young sexual and gender minorities.

The objective of this analysis was to describe individual and structural-level factors associated with pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among a sample of sexual and gender minorities (SGM) at risk for HIV recruited using limited interaction strategies. SGM (N = 3330), ages 15-34, without HIV enrolled in a nationwide limited interaction cohort study from 2017 to 2020. A baseline cross-sectional single-survey design examined individual and structural-level correlates of PrEP lifetime use and current use using logistic regression. PrEP lifetime use and current use were reported by 31.2% and 23.9%, respectively, of SGM with PrEP data (n = 3077). PrEP use outcomes (lifetime or current use) in cisgender MSM were associated with being over age 18, Black or other race, Hispanic/Latina/x/o ethnicity, being gay, being out to one's healthcare provider, having health insurance, being a college graduate, and having a greater number of PrEP peers. PrEP use outcomes (lifetime use or current use) in transgender/non-binary participants were associated with being over age 24, being Latinx, being transgender vs. non-binary, being assigned male at birth, being out to their healthcare provider, living in the western or northeastern United States, and having more peers on PrEP. More work is needed to address lower PrEP uptake in SGM under 18 and those whose sex risk may be more dynamic (e.g., non-binary, pansexual/queer, and bisexual SGM) and such strategies should consider utilizing peers to provide information and ameliorate structural barriers.

RESUMEN: Este análisis describe los determinantes sociales asociados con el uso de la PrEP entre una cohorte contemporánea de minorías sexuales y de género (MSG) en riesgo de contraer el VIH en los Estados Unidos. Los participantes incluyeron MSG (N = 3330), de 15 a 34 años, sin VIH reclutados por redes sociales entre 2017­2020. Usando los datos de inscripción, una regresión analizó la historia del uso de la PrEP. Los factores asociados con el uso de la PrEP entre este grupo indicaron que los mayores de edad, los abiertos sobre su sexualidad con sus médicos, y los que conocían compañeros que usaban la PrEP, todos eran más propensos a haber usado la PrEP. Más esfuerzo se requiere para abordar el uso de la PrEP entre aquellos cuyos su riesgo sexual puede ser más dinámico.

Capacity of underwater optical wireless communication systems over salinity-induced oceanic turbulence channels with ISI.

Point-to-point underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) links are mainly impaired by scattering due to impurities and turbidity in the open water, resulting in a significant inter-symbol interference (ISI) that limits seriously both channel capacity and the maximum practical information rate. This paper conducts, for the first time, the channel capacity analysis of UOWC systems in the presence of ISI and salinity-induced oceanic turbulence when the undersea optical channel is accurately modeled by linear discrete-time filtering of the input symbols. In this way, novel upper and lower bounds on channel capacity and mutual information are developed for non-uniform on-off keying (OOK) modulation when different constraints are imposed on the channel input. The results show that the capacity-achieving distribution, which is computed through numerical optimization, is discrete and depends on the optical signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR). Moreover, a non-uniform input distribution significantly improves the channel capacity of such systems affected by ISI and oceanic turbulence, especially at low optical SNR. Monte Carlo techniques are employed to test the developed bounds for different undersea optical channels with one, two and three casual ISI coefficients.

On the scattering-induced fading for optical wireless links through seawater: statistical characterization and its applications.

Recent research has shown that an accurate underwater channel characterization is necessary for underwater optical wireless communication (UOWC) in order to improve its current limitations related to the achievable data rate and the link distance, as required in undersea optical networks. This paper presents a new statistical model to characterize the scattering effect in terms of a fading never considered before. In this way, the probability density function of the scattering-induced fading channel is derived by means of a Gamma distribution by using only one degree of freedom in clear ocean and coastal waters. The developed fading model is employed to compute the performance of UOWC systems in terms of bit error rate and outage probability along with turbulence-induced fading modeled by a Weibull distribution. The results prove that smaller diversity order values are achieved when scattering-induced fading is the dominant effect, i.e., when the condition σ s2>1ß 1 is satisfied, where σ s2 and ß1 are parameters related to the Gamma and Weibull distributions, respectively. Moreover, the optical power penalty due to scattering-induced fading is analytically evaluated in several turbulence conditions to provide a deeper insight. Optical power penalty values of up to 6 dB and 9 dB are achieved when compared with no scattering scenarios at moderate distances for clear ocean and coastal waters. As a key feature, scattering should be always considered in terms of fading for future designs of advanced UOWC systems. The analytical results are verified by Monte Carlo simulations.

Emergency implementation of telemedicine for epilepsy in Spain: Results of a survey during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Teleneurology in Spain had not been implemented so far in clinical practice, except in urgent patients with stroke. Telemedicine was hardly used in epilepsy, and patients and neurologists usually preferred onsite visits. Our goal was to study impressions of adult and pediatric epileptologists about the use of telemedicine after emergent implementation during the new coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: An online survey was sent to the members of the Spanish Epilepsy Society and the members of the Epilepsy Study Group of the Catalan Neurological Society, inquiring about different aspects of telemedicine in epilepsy during the pandemic lockdown. RESULTS: A total of 66 neurologists responded, mostly adult neurologists (80.3%), the majority with a monographic epilepsy clinic (4 out of 5). Of all respondents, 59.1% reported to attend more than 20 patients with epilepsy (PWE) a week. During the pandemic, respondents handled their epilepsy clinics mainly with telephone calls (88%); only 4.5% used videoconference. Changes in antiseizure medications were performed less frequently than during onsite visits by 66.6% of the epileptologists. Scales were not administered during these visits, and certain types of information such as sudden expected unrelated death in epilepsy (SUDEP) were felt to be more appropriate to discuss in person. More than 4 out of 5 of the neurologists (84.8%) stated that they would be open to perform some telematic visits in the future. CONCLUSIONS: In Spain, emergent implantation of teleneurology has shown to be appropriate for the care of many PWE. Technical improvements, extended use of videoconference and patient selection may improve results and patient and physician satisfaction.

Molecular interactions connecting the function of the serine-arginine-rich protein SRSF1 to protein phosphatase 1.

Splicing generates many mRNA strands from a single precursor mRNA, expanding the proteome and enhancing intracellular diversity. Both initial assembly and activation of the spliceosome require an essential family of splicing factors called serine-arginine (SR) proteins. Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) regulates the SR proteins by controlling phosphorylation of a C-terminal arginine-serine-rich (RS) domain. These modifications are vital for the subcellular localization and mRNA splicing function of the SR protein. Although PP1 has been shown to dephosphorylate the prototype SR protein splicing factor 1 (SRSF1), the molecular nature of this interaction is not understood. Here, using NMR spectroscopy, we identified two electrostatic residues in helix α2 and a hydrophobic residue in helix α1 in the RNA recognition motif 1 (RRM1) of SRSF1 that constitute a binding surface for PP1. Substitution of these residues dissociated SRSF1 from PP1 and enhanced phosphatase activity, reducing phosphorylation in the RS domain. These effects lead to shifts in alternative splicing patterns that parallel increases in SRSF1 diffusion from speckles to the nucleoplasm brought on by regiospecific decreases in RS domain phosphorylation. Overall, these findings establish a molecular and biological connection between PP1-targeted amino acids in an RRM with the phosphorylation state and mRNA-processing function of an SR protein.

Randomized Controlled Trial of a Mobile Health Intervention to Promote Retention and Adherence to Preexposure Prophylaxis Among Young People at Risk for Human Immunodeficiency Virus: The EPIC Study.

BACKGROUND: Young men who have sex with men are among the most vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Although preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has demonstrated effectiveness, adherence and retention have been low among youth. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of a youth-tailored, bidirectional text-messaging intervention (PrEPmate) on study retention and PrEP adherence. Young individuals at risk for HIV initiating PrEP within Chicago's safety-net system were randomized 2:1 to receive PrEPmate or standard of care (SoC) for 36 weeks. The primary retention outcome was study-visit completion, and the primary adherence outcome was tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) concentrations ≥700 fmol/punch (consistent with ≥4 doses/week) assessed at 4, 12, 24, and 36 weeks. The impact of PrEPmate on retention and adherence was evaluated using generalized estimating equation logistic models with robust standard errors. RESULTS: From April 2015 to March 2016, 121 participants enrolled (mean age 24; 27% black, 36% Latino). Participants who received PrEPmate were more likely to attend study visits (86% PrEPmate vs. 71% SoC, odds ratio [OR] = 2.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-5.54) and have TFV-DP levels consistent with ≥4 doses/week (72% PrEPmate vs. 57% SoC, OR = 2.05, 95% CI 1.06-3.94). PrEPmate efficacy did not differ significantly by age, race/ethnicity, education, or insurance. Overall, 88% reported PrEPmate to be very/somewhat helpful, and 92% would recommend PrEPmate to others. CONCLUSIONS: An interactive text-messaging intervention had high acceptability and significantly increased study-visit retention and PrEP adherence among young individuals at risk for HIV acquisition. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT02371525.

Integrated Next Step Counseling (iNSC) for Sexual Health and PrEP Use Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: Implementation and Observations from ATN110/113.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for the prevention of HIV infection among young men who have sex with men is a critical part of the HIV prevention landscape in the US. Given the unique challenges and resources of young MSM negotiating safer sex practices, including PrEP, counseling and supportive discussions to optimize both PrEP use and sexual health protection more generally may facilitate reaching HIV prevention goals. Within the context of a large, open-label PrEP study (ATN110/113), support for sexual health promotion and PrEP use was provided through use of integrated Next Step Counseling (iNSC) as part of study visits. We detail iNSC and, using session documentation collected throughout this study, we characterize iNSC implementation and the content generated from these discussions. We detail features of iNSC, training of counselors and the implementation of iNSC in a multi-site PrEP study with young MSM in the US. Case report forms completed by iNSC counselors at study visits at weeks 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, and 48 were evaluated. Implementation of each intervention step for each discussion is summarized at and across timepoints, as well as features of specific steps (e.g., kinds of facilitators and barriers). Implementation differences by group (e.g., race/ethnicity, age) were examined. iNSC case report forms from 1000 sessions involving 178 unique participants ages 15-22 from sessions conducted between 2013 and 2015 were reviewed. High fidelity to iNSC steps in terms of inclusion in sessions was reported; 98-100% of sessions included critical steps for sexual health protection discussions and 96-98% for PrEP use discussions. The vast majority of sessions appeared to flow in line with iNSC's emphasis on exploration and open discussion prior to considering specific needs and related strategies. Nearly three-quarters of sessions noted 'commitment to staying negative' as a motivator towards sexual health protection (more commonly reported by those identifying as White), while 'assuming partner is negative' was the most common challenge (less common for the older cohort), and 'having access' to a sexual health protection tool or strategy (besides PrEP) was the most common "need" (more common for those identifying as White or Latino). Carrying dose(s) to have them on-hand when needed was the most common PrEP adherence facilitator, drug and alcohol use was the most common challenge noted, and access to a dose when needed was the most common "need" (more common for participants self-identified as White). iNSC was implemented consistently throughout ATN110/113, and patient-centered discussions about sexual health protection and PrEP-use appeared feasible to incorporate into clinical care visits.

Clinical outcomes of eslicarbazepine acetate monotherapy for focal-onset seizures: A multicenter audit.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and tolerability of eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) monotherapy in routine clinical practice for the treatment of focal-onset seizures. METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective, observational study conducted in patients older than 16 years treated with ESL as first-line monotherapy or converted to ESL monotherapy from polytherapy or other monotherapy. Outcomes included 1-year retention rate, seizure-free rates after 6 and 12 months of monotherapy treatment, and safety/tolerability issues. RESULTS: A total of 256 patients were included (106 first-line and 150 conversion to monotherapy; 56 patients aged >65 years). Overall, the 1-year retention rate was 79% (72.7% in the ≥65 years subgroup) and seizure-free rates at 6 and 12 months were 59.3% and 55.3% (72.2% and 67.3% in the ≥65 years subgroup), without significant differences when comparing first-line vs conversion-to-ESL monotherapy groups (P = .979). However, the conversion group was heterogeneous and included 43 (29.1%) patients that were seizure free the year prior ESL introduction. A substantially higher proportion of patients remained seizure free for the entire follow-up among those who initiated ESL due to tolerability problems compared with those treated due to inadequate seizure control (71.4% vs 37.3%). Overall, 62 of 256 (24.2%) patients reported AEs (39.3% in >65 years subgroup) and led to discontinuation in 20/256 (7.8%) patients (12.5% in >65 years subgroup). Commonly reported AEs were somnolence (6.6%), dizziness (6.3%), and headache (4.3%). Hyponatremia was recorded in five patients, the majority (4/5) of whom were older than 65 years. CONCLUSIONS: Eslicarbazepine acetate was effective and well-tolerated as first-line or conversion to monotherapy in a clinical setting in adult and elderly patients with focal-onset seizures.

Splicing Site Recognition by Synergy of Three Domains in Splicing Factor RBM10.

Splicing factor RBM10 and its close homologues RBM5 and RBM6 govern the splicing of oncogenes such as Fas, NUMB, and Bcl-X. The molecular architecture of these proteins includes zinc fingers (ZnFs) and RNA recognition motifs (RRMs). Three of these domains in RBM10 that constitute the RNA binding part of this splicing factor were found to individually bind RNAs with micromolar affinities. It was thus of interest to further investigate the structural basis of the well-documented high-affinity RNA recognition by RMB10. Here, we investigated RNA binding by combinations of two or three of these domains and discovered that a polypeptide containing RRM1, ZnF1, and RRM2 connected by their natural linkers recognizes a specific sequence of the Fas exon 6 mRNA with an affinity of 20 nM. Nuclear magnetic resonance structures of the RBM10 domains RRM1 and ZnF1 and the natural V354del isoform of RRM2 further confirmed that the interactions with RNA are driven by canonical RNA recognition elements. The well-known high-fidelity RNA splice site recognition by RBM10, and probably by RBM5 and RBM6, can thus be largely rationalized by a cooperative binding action of RRM and ZnF domains.

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by (meth)acrylates in nail cosmetic products in users and nail technicians - a 5-year study.

BACKGROUND: The increasing use of long-lasting nail aesthetic products has led to a growing number of cases of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) caused by (meth)acrylates in recent years. OBJECTIVES: To provide information on ACD caused by (meth)acrylates related to nail cosmetic products. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed files of patients with ACD caused by (meth)acrylates related to nail cosmetic products, who were patch tested between January 2011 and December 2015 in 13 departments of dermatology in Portugal. RESULTS: Two-hundred and thirty cases of ACD caused by (meth)acrylates (55 technicians, 56 consumers, and 119 with mixed exposure) had been documented, mostly as chronic hand eczema (93%). The most common sensitizers were: 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), which was positive in 90% of the tested patients, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate (HPMA), which was positive in 64.1%, and ethyleneglycol dimethacrylate, which was positive in 54.5%. CONCLUSION: HEMA and HPMA were the most frequent positive allergens. HEMA, which identified 90% of cases, can be considered to be a good screening allergen. The high number of cases of ACD caused by (meth)acrylates in nail cosmetic products certainly warrants better preventive measures at the occupational level, and specific regulation in the field of consumer safety.

J-UNIO protocol used for NMR structure determination of the 206-residue protein NP_346487.1 from Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4.

The NMR structure of the 206-residue protein NP_346487.1 was determined with the J-UNIO protocol, which includes extensive automation of the structure determination. With input from three APSY-NMR experiments, UNIO-MATCH automatically yielded 77 % of the backbone assignments, which were interactively validated and extended to 97 %. With an input of the near-complete backbone assignments and three 3D heteronuclear-resolved [(1)H,(1)H]-NOESY spectra, automated side chain assignment with UNIO-ATNOS/ASCAN resulted in 77 % of the expected assignments, which was extended interactively to about 90 %. Automated NOE assignment and structure calculation with UNIO-ATNOS/CANDID in combination with CYANA was used for the structure determination of this two-domain protein. The individual domains in the NMR structure coincide closely with the crystal structure, and the NMR studies further imply that the two domains undergo restricted hinge motions relative to each other in solution. NP_346487.1 is so far the largest polypeptide chain to which the J-UNIO structure determination protocol has successfully been applied.

APSY-NMR for protein backbone assignment in high-throughput structural biology.

A standard set of three APSY-NMR experiments has been used in daily practice to obtain polypeptide backbone NMR assignments in globular proteins with sizes up to about 150 residues, which had been identified as targets for structure determination by the Joint Center for Structural Genomics (JCSG) under the auspices of the Protein Structure Initiative (PSI). In a representative sample of 30 proteins, initial fully automated data analysis with the software UNIO-MATCH-2014 yielded complete or partial assignments for over 90 % of the residues. For most proteins the APSY data acquisition was completed in less than 30 h. The results of the automated procedure provided a basis for efficient interactive validation and extension to near-completion of the assignments by reference to the same 3D heteronuclear-resolved [(1)H,(1)H]-NOESY spectra that were subsequently used for the collection of conformational constraints. High-quality structures were obtained for all 30 proteins, using the J-UNIO protocol, which includes extensive automation of NMR structure determination.

Non-Uniform Sampling and J-UNIO Automation for Efficient Protein NMR Structure Determination.

High-resolution structure determination of small proteins in solution is one of the big assets of NMR spectroscopy in structural biology. Improvements in the efficiency of NMR structure determination by advances in NMR experiments and automation of data handling therefore attracts continued interest. Here, non-uniform sampling (NUS) of 3D heteronuclear-resolved [(1)H,(1)H]-NOESY data yielded two- to three-fold savings of instrument time for structure determinations of soluble proteins. With the 152-residue protein NP_372339.1 from Staphylococcus aureus and the 71-residue protein NP_346341.1 from Streptococcus pneumonia we show that high-quality structures can be obtained with NUS NMR data, which are equally well amenable to robust automated analysis as the corresponding uniformly sampled data.

Maculopapular rash of unsuspected cause: systemic contact dermatitis to cinchocaine.

Topical medications are frequently neglected as the potential cause of systemic drug reactions. In this case report, a patient with a maculopapular eruption attributed to a drug hypersensitivity reaction was submitted to skin patch tests in order to clarify the drug implicated. Incidentally, a positive reaction to cinchocaine was observed. With the ulterior confirmation of the application of an antihemorrhoidal ointment containing cinchocaine, which was omitted during the initial anamnesis, the diagnosis of systemic contact dermatitis to cinchocaine was made.

Allergic contact dermatitis caused by alkyl glucosides.

BACKGROUND: Alkyl glucosides were not expected to have a sensitizing potential at the concentrations to be used in finished consumer products; however, several contact allergy cases have been published. OBJECTIVES: To report on the patients suffering from allergic contact dermatitis caused by alkyl glucosides observed in our department. PATIENTS/METHODS: During a 19-year period (1993-2012), 11 842 patients with suspected contact dermatitis were patch tested with the European baseline series and, if relevant, also with other series and individual allergens. For this study, the clinical data and the sensitization sources in the alkyl glucoside-positive patients were analysed. RESULTS: In total, 30 patients (24 women and 6 men) presented with a positive reaction to one or more alkyl glucosides. The causal products were shampoos (in 12), skin-cleansing products (in 12, among which were wipes for intimate hygiene), sunscreen products (in 5), skin-care products (in 4), and a deodorant (in 1). Sixteen patients showed multiple sensitivities (defined as three or more contact allergies), not only to other glucosides, but also to non-related chemicals. CONCLUSIONS: Allergic contact dermatitis caused by alkyl glucosides in cosmetics does occur, and might be more frequent than suspected. In view of their common use, their identification as allergenic culprits is important.

Biphalangeal/triphalangeal fifth toe and impact in the pathology of the fifth ray.

BACKGROUND: Having reviewed the studies on the biphalangeal fifth toe, we have observed a great disparity of data depending on the research center. We have investigated the frequency of biphalangeal toes and also its handedness. We have also analyzed the relationship of pathological deviations of fifth toe with this feature and with the fifth metatarsal. METHODS: We performed a descriptive prospective study, which analyzed 2494 feet (1247 people) with bilateral dorsoplantar radiographs. We studied the number of phalanges of the fifth toe, the deviations in the sagittal and transverse plane, and the state of the fifth metatarsal phalangeal joint. RESULTS: After analyzing the data we found the presence of biphalangeal fifth toe in 46.3% of the feet, presenting this feature bilaterally in 97.4% of them. A statistically significant higher percentage of pathological toes was found in people with triphalangeal fifth toe (pathological in 29.91%) than in the biphalangeal toes (pathological in 15.60%). We found that these differences are accentuated in the alterations of the fifth toe in the sagittal plane. CONCLUSIONS: It is almost 4 times more likely to suffer a fifth hammer toe if the fifth toe is triphalangeal (OR = 3.98 to p = 0.000). Alterations in the coronal plane of the fifth toe are associated with tailor's bunion (p = 0.000). We did not find any significant differences regarding the need for surgery of the fifth toe of the biphalangeal (39.1%) versus triphalangeal toes (60.9%). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There may be an association between pathologic deviations and bigger mobility of the triphalangeal fifth toes. However, biphalangeal fifth toes show bigger rigidity leading to smaller accommodation inside the shoe, which may lead to less painful feet and decreased proportion of surgery.

Adaptation and Reach of a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Social Marketing Campaign for Latino, Latina, and Latinx Populations: Development Study.

BACKGROUND: Latino, Latina, and Latinx (Latino/a/x) individuals remain disproportionately impacted by HIV, particularly sexual minority men and transgender women. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective means of biomedical HIV prevention, but awareness and uptake remain low among marginalized Latino/a/x populations. Social marketing campaigns have demonstrated promise in promoting PrEP in other populations but are poorly studied in Latino/a/x sexual minority men and transgender women. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to (1) adapt and pilot a PrEP social marketing campaign tailored to Latino/a/x populations with a focus on sexual minority men and transgender women through community-based participatory research (CBPR) and (2) evaluate the reach and ad performance of the adapted PrEP social marketing campaign. METHODS: We used the ADAPT-ITT (assessment, decision, adaptation, production, topical experts-integration, training, and testing) framework for adapting evidence-based interventions for new settings or populations. This paper presents how each phase of the ADAPT-ITT framework was applied via CBPR to create the PrEPárate ("Be PrEPared") campaign. Key community engagement strategies included shared ownership with community partners, focus groups to guide content, crowdsourcing to name the campaign, design by local Latino/a/x artists, and featuring local influencers as the faces of PrEPárate. We evaluated campaign reach and advertisement performance using social media platform metrics (paid and organic reach, impressions, unique clicks, and click-through rates [CTR]) and website use statistics from Google Analytics. RESULTS: The PrEPárate campaign ran in Cook County, Illinois, from April to September 2022. The campaign reached over 118,750 people on social media (55,750 on Facebook and Instagram [Meta Platforms Inc] and 63,000 on TikTok [ByteDance Ltd]). The Meta ads performed over the industry benchmark with ads featuring local transgender women (2% CTR) and cisgender sexual minority men (1.4% CTR). Of the different Grindr (Grindr Inc) ad formats piloted, the interstitial Grindr ads were the highest performing (1183/55,479, 2.13% CTR). YouTube (Google) ads were low performing at 0.11% (153/138,337) CTR and were stopped prematurely, given limits on sexual education-related content. In the first year, there were 5006 visitors to the website. CONCLUSIONS: Adaptation of an existing evidence-based intervention served as an effective method for developing a PrEP social marketing campaign for Latino/a/x audiences. CBPR and strong community partnerships were essential to tailor materials and provide avenues to systematically address barriers to PrEP access. Social marketing is a promising strategy to promote PrEP among underserved Latino/a/x populations.

Commercial wine yeast nitrogen requirement influences the production of secondary metabolites (aroma, hydroxytyrosol, melatonin and other bioactives) during alcoholic fermentation.

During alcoholic fermentation, Saccharomyces cerevisiae synthesizes different compounds, which are crucial for product quality: volatile compounds with sensory impact, and bioactive compounds such as melatonin (MEL) and hydroxytyrosol (HT), linked to health benefits. As many of these compounds are related with yeast's nitrogen metabolism, their production have been studied in four different commercial strains with different nitrogen requirement (Red Fruit, Uvaferm VRB, Lalvin Rhone 2323 and Lalvin QA23) being, Uvaferm UVR the higher nitrogen demander strain. All strains produced the secondary metabolites, notably Uvaferm UVR produced the highest HT concentration, despite its low growth. Uvaferm UVR emerged also as a significant producer of MEL, indicating a potential role in fermentation related stress. Moreover, Uvaferm UVR shows the highest total concentrations of volatile compounds. Multivariate analysis revealed distinct clustering based on nitrogen requirements of the strains, highlighting the strain-dependent metabolic responses.