Mi Puente (My Bridge) Care Transitions Program for Hispanic/Latino Adults with Multimorbidity: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Multimorbidity frequently co-occurs with behavioral health concerns and leads to increased healthcare costs and reduced quality and quantity of life. Unplanned readmissions are a primary driver of high healthcare costs. OBJECTIVE: We tested the effectiveness of a culturally appropriate care transitions program for Latino adults with multiple cardiometabolic conditions and behavioral health concerns in reducing hospital utilization and improving patient-reported outcomes. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, single-blind parallel-groups. PARTICIPANTS: Hispanic/Latino adults (N=536; 75% of those screened and eligible; M=62.3 years (SD=13.9); 48% women; 73% born in Mexico) with multiple chronic cardiometabolic conditions and at least one behavioral health concern (e.g., depression symptoms, alcohol misuse) hospitalized at a hospital that serves a large, mostly Hispanic/Latino, low-income population. INTERVENTIONS: Usual care (UC) involved best-practice discharge processes (e.g., discharge instructions, assistance with appointments). Mi Puente ("My Bridge"; MP) was a culturally appropriate program of UC plus inpatient and telephone encounters with a behavioral health nurse and community mentor team who addressed participants' social, medical, and behavioral health needs. MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcome was 30- and 180-day readmissions (inpatient, emergency, and observation visits). Patient-reported outcomes (quality of life, patient activation) and healthcare use were also examined. KEY RESULTS: In intention-to-treat models, the MP group evidenced a higher rate of recurrent hospitalization (15.9%) versus UC (9.4%) (OR=1.91 (95% CI 1.09, 3.33)), and a greater number of recurrent hospitalizations (M=0.20 (SD=0.49) MP versus 0.12 (SD=0.45) UC; P=0.02) at 30 days. Similar trends were observed at 180 days. Both groups showed improved patient-reported outcomes, with no advantage in the Mi Puente group. Results were similar in per protocol analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In this at-risk population, the MP group experienced increased hospital utilization and did not demonstrate an advantage in improved patient-reported outcomes, relative to UC. Possible reasons for these unexpected findings are discussed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02723019. Registered on 30 March 2016.

The Effect of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) on Cardiometabolic Health Biomarkers: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) on cardiometabolic health biomarkers. METHOD: Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase, Medline, and PsycINFO were searched, and records were screened by two independent reviewers. Inclusion criteria were adult population, delivery of CBT-I, randomized controlled trial design, ≥1 cardiometabolic health outcome, and peer-review. Hedge's g effect sizes were calculated, and the quality of the evidence was appraised using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. RESULTS: After screening 1649 records, 15 studies were included (total N = 2067). Inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-α), blood pressure (SBP, DBP), and glycemic regulation (HbA1c) were most frequently reported (in ≥3 studies each). HbA1c and CRP were reduced in the CBT-I group compared to the control group (in 3 studies each). Effects varied or were null for IL-6, TNF-α, SBP, and DBP. Six studies were judged as low, four as moderate, and five as high risk of bias. CONCLUSION: CBT-I was most consistently associated with improved HbA1c and CRP, which are relatively temporally stable, suggesting influences on enduring habits rather than short-term behavior changes. High risk of bias limits the interpretation of findings. Methodologically adequate studies are needed to better understand cardiometabolic effects of CBT-I.

Current Family Functioning and Youth Cardiometabolic Health in the SOL Youth Study.

BACKGROUND: Family functioning may impact children's cardiometabolic health; however, few studies have examined multiple cardiometabolic markers among a diverse racial/ethnic cohort. The relationship between child- and caregiver-reported family functioning and the cardiometabolic health of Hispanic/Latino youth was examined. METHOD: Data were from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth) (2012-2014), a population-based cohort study of children and adolescents whose parents participated in the HCHS/SOL (2008-2011). The relationship between youth- and caregiver-rated family functioning, and concordance of ratings is modeled, utilizing the general functioning subscale of the McMaster Family Assessment Device with youth objective cardiometabolic health markers (obesity, central adiposity, prediabetes/diabetes, prehypertension/hypertension, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol) adjusting for sociodemographic factors. RESULTS: Among boys, child/caregiver concordant ineffective family functioning rating was associated with higher cumulative cardiometabolic risk (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.30 (0.04, 0.56)), but no association was observed among girls (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.04 (-0.13, 0.21)). Among girls, ineffective child rating/effective caregiver rating was associated with higher cumulative cardiometabolic risk (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.27 (0.06, 0.48)), but no association was observed among boys (adjusted B (95% CI): 0.02 (-0.23, 0.27). CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that family functioning among this Hispanic/Latino population may influence cardiometabolic risk among youth. Observed differences in the associations by youth sex and concordant/discordant reports of family functioning suggest interventions at the family level, targeting both caregivers and youth, that consider differential sex effects are warranted.

Invasive grass indirectly alters seasonal patterns in seed predation.

Invasive species threaten ecosystems globally, but their impacts can be cryptic when they occur indirectly. Invader phenology can also differ from that of native species, potentially causing seasonality in invader impacts. Yet, it is unclear if invader phenology can drive seasonal patterns in indirect effects. We used a field experiment to test if an invasive grass (Imperata cylindrica) caused seasonal indirect effects by altering rodent foraging and seed predation patterns through time. Using seeds from native longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), we found seed predation was 25% greater, on average, in invaded than control plots, but this effect varied by season. Seed predation was 24-157% greater in invaded plots during spring and autumn months, but invasion had no effect on seed predation in other months. One of the largest effects occurred in October when longleaf pine seeds are dispersed, suggesting potential effects on tree regeneration. Thus, seasonal patterns in indirect effects from invaders may cause underappreciated impacts on ecological communities.

Diet quality comparisons in Hispanic/Latino siblings: Results from the Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth).

The objective of this study was to determine how well Hispanic/Latino siblings' diet quality correlate with each other and whether social and environmental factors explained potential differences. Hispanic/Latino 8-16-year-olds from the cross-sectional Hispanic Community Children's Health Study/Study of Latino Youth (SOL Youth) with at least one sibling enrolled in the study were examined (n = 740). Diet quality was assessed with the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010), calculated from two 24-h recalls. Mixed effects models were used with HEI-2010 score as the outcome, and correlations in siblings' diet quality were assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). All models were examined stratified by age and sex. Diet-related social and environmental measures were added as fixed effects in a secondary analysis. Mean (standard deviation) overall HEI-2010 score was 53.8 (13.0). The ICC for siblings' HEI-2010 score was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.25, 0.38). Siblings who were born <3 vs. ≥3 years apart had stronger correlations in overall diet quality (0.47 [95% CI: 0.37, 0.58] vs. 0.21 [95% CI: 0.13, 0.30]), but no differences were observed in overall HEI-2010 score according to sex. Greater peer support for fruit and vegetable intake (ß = 1.42 [95% CI: 0.62, 2.21]) and greater away-from-home food consumption (ß = -1.24 [95% CI: -2.15, -0.32]) were associated with differences in siblings' diet quality. Overall diet quality scores of Hispanic/Latino siblings in this study were slightly correlated, with stronger correlations among siblings closer in age. Differences in peer support and foods consumed outside the home may explain differences in siblings' diet quality. Future research should investigate additional determinants of differences in siblings' diets.

The genetic architecture of sexual dimorphism in the moss Ceratodon purpureus.

A central problem in evolutionary biology is to identify the forces that maintain genetic variation for fitness in natural populations. Sexual antagonism, in which selection favours different variants in males and females, can slow the transit of a polymorphism through a population or can actively maintain fitness variation. The amount of sexually antagonistic variation to be expected depends in part on the genetic architecture of sexual dimorphism, about which we know relatively little. Here, we used a multivariate quantitative genetic approach to examine the genetic architecture of sexual dimorphism in a scent-based fertilization syndrome of the moss Ceratodon purpureus. We found sexual dimorphism in numerous traits, consistent with a history of sexually antagonistic selection. The cross-sex genetic correlations (rmf) were generally heterogeneous with many values indistinguishable from zero, which typically suggests that genetic constraints do not limit the response to sexually antagonistic selection. However, we detected no differentiation between the female- and male-specific trait (co)variance matrices (Gf and Gm, respectively), meaning the evolution of sexual dimorphism may be constrained. The cross-sex cross-trait covariance matrix B contained both symmetric and asymmetric elements, indicating that the response to sexually antagonistic or sexually concordant selection, and the constraint to sexual dimorphism, are highly dependent on the traits experiencing selection. The patterns of genetic variances and covariances among these fitness components is consistent with partly sex-specific genetic architectures having evolved in order to partially resolve multivariate genetic constraints (i.e. sexual conflict), enabling the sexes to evolve towards their sex-specific multivariate trait optima.

Relationships of Sleep Duration, Midpoint, and Variability with Physical Activity in the HCHS/SOL Sueño Ancillary Study.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Short and long sleep duration, later sleep midpoint, and greater intra-individual sleep variability are associated with lower physical activity, but previous research lacks objective and concurrent assessment of sleep and physical activity. This cross-sectional study examined whether sleep duration, midpoint, and variability in duration and midpoint were related to wrist actigraphy-measured physical activity. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were 2156 Hispanics/Latinos in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sueño Ancillary Study. METHODS: Participants wore Actiwatch devices to measure sleep and physical activity via the wrist for ≥5 days. Physical activity was defined as minutes/day in the upper quartile of the sampling distribution's non-sleep activity, capturing light to vigorous physical activity. RESULTS: An inverse linear relationship between sleep duration and physical activity was found such that each additional sleep hour related to 29 fewer minutes of physical activity (B = -28.7, SE = 3.8), p < .01). Variability in sleep midpoint was also associated with physical activity; with each 1-hr increase in variability there were 24 more minutes of physical activity (B = 24.2, SE = 5.6, p < .01). In contrast, sleep midpoint and variability in duration were not associated with physical activity. Sensitivity analyses identified an association of short sleep duration and greater variability in sleep duration with greater accelerometry-derived moderate-to-vigorous physical activity measured at the HCHS/SOL baseline (M = 2.1 years before the sleep assessment). CONCLUSIONS: Findings help clarify inconsistent prior research associating short sleep duration and sleep variability with greater health risks but also contribute novel information with simultaneous objective assessments.

Rehabilitative Training Interacts with Ischemia-Instigated Spine Dynamics to Promote a Lasting Population of New Synapses in Peri-Infarct Motor Cortex.

After subtotal infarcts of primary motor cortex (M1), motor rehabilitative training (RT) promotes improvements in paretic forelimb function that have been linked with its promotion of structural and functional reorganization of peri-infarct cortex, but how the reorganization unfolds is scantly understood. Cortical infarcts also instigate a prolonged period of dendritic spine turnover in peri-infarct cortex. Here we investigated the possibility that synaptic structural responses to RT in peri-infarct cortex reflect, in part, interactions with ischemia-instigated spine turnover. This was tested after artery-targeted photothrombotic M1 infarcts or Sham procedures in adult (4 months) C57BL/6 male and female GFP-M line (n = 24) and male yellow fluorescent protein-H line (n = 5) mice undergoing RT in skilled reaching or no-training control procedures. Regardless of training condition, spine turnover was increased out to 5 weeks postinfarct relative to Sham, as was the persistence of new spines formed within a week postinfarct. However, compared with no-training controls, new spines formed during postinfarct weeks 2-4 in mice undergoing RT persisted in much greater proportions to later time points, by a magnitude that predicted behavioral improvements in the RT group. These results indicate that RT interacts with ischemia-instigated spine turnover to promote preferential stabilization of newly formed spines, which is likely to yield a new population of mature synapses in peri-infarct cortex that could contribute to cortical functional reorganization and behavioral improvement. The findings newly implicate ischemia-instigated spine turnover as a mediator of cortical synaptic structural responses to RT and newly establish the experience dependency of new spine fates in the postischemic turnover context.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Motor rehabilitation, the main treatment for motor impairments after stroke, is far from sufficient to normalize function. A better understanding of neural substrates of rehabilitation-induced behavioral improvements could be useful for understanding how to optimize it. Here, we investigated the nature and time course of synaptic responses to motor rehabilitative training in vivo Focal ischemia instigated a period of synapse turnover in peri-infarct motor cortex of mice. Rehabilitative training increased the stability of new synapses formed during the initial weeks after the infarct, the magnitude of which was correlated with improvements in skilled motor performance. Therefore, the maintenance of new synapses formed after ischemia could represent a structural mechanism of rehabilitative training efficacy.

Making Inroads in Addressing Population Health in Underserved Communities With Type 2 Diabetes.

IN BRIEF Diabetes continues to represent a substantial individual and societal burden for those affected by the disease and its complications in the United States, and especially for racial/ethnic minorities, the socioeconomically disadvantaged, and the underinsured. Although tools and strategies are now available to manage the condition and its associated comorbidities at the patient level, we continue to struggle to gain control of this health burden at the population health level. Most patients are not achieving desired clinical goals and thus continue to be exposed to preventable risks and complications. As the U.S. health system moves toward a more value-based system of reimbursement, there are opportunities to rethink our approaches to patient and population health management and to harness the available tools and technologies to better understand the disease burden, stratify our patient populations by risk, redirect finite resources to high-impact initiatives, and facilitate better diabetes care management for patients and providers alike.

Innovative Diabetes Interventions in the U.S. Hispanic Population.

IN BRIEF In the United States, Hispanics have a 66% greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and, once diagnosed, exhibit worse outcomes than non-Hispanic whites. It is therefore imperative to ensure that interventions meet the specific needs of this at-risk group. This article provides a selective review of the evidence on innovative, real-world approaches (both live and technology-based) to improving behavioral, psychosocial, and clinical outcomes in underserved Hispanics with type 2 diabetes. Key aspects of successful live interventions have included multimodal delivery, greater dosage/attendance, and at least some in-person delivery; effective technology-based approaches involved frequent but intermittent communication, bi-directional messaging, tailored feedback, multimodal delivery, and some human interaction. Across modalities, cultural tailoring also improved outcomes. Additional research is needed to address methodological limitations of studies to date and pinpoint the most efficacious components and optimal duration of interventions. Future efforts should also attend to variability within the U.S. Hispanic population to ensure acceptability and sustainability of interventions in this diverse group.

Preferential stabilization of newly formed dendritic spines in motor cortex during manual skill learning predicts performance gains, but not memory endurance.

Previous findings that skill learning is associated with the formation and preferential stabilization of new dendritic spines in cortex have raised the possibility that this preferential stabilization is a mechanism for lasting skill memory. We investigated this possibility in adult mice using in vivo two-photon imaging to monitor spine dynamics on superficial apical dendrites of layer V pyramidal neurons in motor cortex during manual skill learning. Spine formation increased over the first 3 days of training on a skilled reaching task, followed by increased spine elimination. A greater proportion of spines formed during the first 3 training days were lost if training stopped after 3, compared with 15 days. However, performance gains achieved in 3 training days persisted, indicating that preferential new spine stabilization was non-essential for skill retention. Consistent with a role in ongoing skill refinement, the persistence of spines formed early in training strongly predicted performance improvements. Finally, while we observed no net spine density change on superficial dendrites, the density of spines on deeper apical branches of the same neuronal population was increased regardless of training duration, suggestive of a potential role in the retention of the initial skill memory. Together, these results indicate dendritic subpopulation-dependent variation in spine structural responses to skill learning, which potentially reflect distinct contributions to the refinement and retention of newly acquired motor skills.

In the blink of an eye: relating positive-feedback sensitivity to striatal dopamine D2-like receptors through blink rate.

For >30 years, positron emission tomography (PET) has proven to be a powerful approach for measuring aspects of dopaminergic transmission in the living human brain; this technique has revealed important relationships between dopamine D2-like receptors and dimensions of normal behavior, such as human impulsivity, and psychopathology, particularly behavioral addictions. Nevertheless, PET is an indirect estimate that lacks cellular and functional resolution and, in some cases, is not entirely pharmacologically specific. To identify the relationships between PET estimates of D2-like receptor availability and direct in vitro measures of receptor number, affinity, and function, we conducted neuroimaging and behavioral and molecular pharmacological assessments in a group of adult male vervet monkeys. Data gathered from these studies indicate that variation in D2-like receptor PET measurements is related to reversal-learning performance and sensitivity to positive feedback and is associated with in vitro estimates of the density of functional dopamine D2-like receptors. Furthermore, we report that a simple behavioral measure, eyeblink rate, reveals novel and crucial links between neuroimaging assessments and in vitro measures of dopamine D2 receptors.

The Potential Impact of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Use on Diabetes-Related Attitudes and Behaviors in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Qualitative Investigation of the Patient Experience.

Background: Despite the known glycemic benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the attitudinal and behavioral changes underlying these glycemic improvements remain understudied. This study aimed to qualitatively explore these changes among a sample of adults with T2D. Methods: In-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with adults with T2D who had been using CGM for 3-6 months as part of a larger community project in Ohio. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes across participants' experiences. Results: A total of 34 participants provided insights into their experiences with CGM. Six primary themes emerged: (1) Making the Invisible Visible, highlighting the newfound awareness of T2D in daily life. (2) Effective Decision-Making, emphasizing the use of real-time glucose data for immediate and long-term choices. (3) Enhanced Self-Efficacy, describing a renewed sense of control and motivation. (4) Diabetes-Related Diet Modifications. (5) Changes in Physical Activity. (6) Changes in Medication Taking. Conclusions: Participants reported a far-reaching impact of CGM on their daily lives, with many stating that CGM fostered a greater understanding of diabetes and prompted positive behavior changes. The observed attitudinal and behavioral shifts likely contributed synergistically to the significant glycemic benefits observed over the study period. This study highlights the technology's potential to bring about meaningful attitudinal and behavioral changes.

Medical Assistant Health Coaching for Type 2 Diabetes in Primary Care: Results From a Pragmatic Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: This cluster (clinic-level) randomized controlled trial (RCT) compared medical assistant (MA) health coaching (MAC) with usual care (UC) among at-risk adults with type 2 diabetes in two diverse real-world primary care environments: a federally qualified health center (FQHC; Neighborhood Healthcare) and a large nonprofit private insurance-based health system (Scripps Health). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 600 adults with type 2 diabetes who met one or more of the following criteria in the last 90 days were enrolled: HbA1c ≥8% and/or LDL cholesterol ≥100 mg/dL and/or systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg. Participants at MAC clinics received in-person and telephone self-management support from a specially trained MA health coach for 12 months. Electronic medical records were used to examine clinical outcomes in the overall sample. Behavioral and psychosocial outcomes were evaluated in a subsample (n = 300). RESULTS: All clinical outcomes improved significantly over 1 year in the overall sample (P < 0.001). The reduction in HbA1c was significantly greater in the MAC versus UC group (unstandardized Binteraction = -0.06; P = 0.002). A significant time by group by site interaction also showed that MAC resulted in greater improvements in LDL cholesterol than UC at Neighborhood Healthcare relative to Scripps Health (Binteraction = -1.78 vs. 1.49; P < 0.05). No other statistically significant effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This was the first large-scale pragmatic RCT supporting the real-world effectiveness of MAC for type 2 diabetes in U.S. primary care settings. Findings suggest that this team-based approach may be particularly effective in improving diabetes outcomes in FQHC settings.

eHealth weight loss interventions for adults with low income: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: There is a tremendous opportunity for electronic health services (eHealth) to reach adults with low income who want to participate in weight loss interventions, but face barriers in access. This review (a) synthesizes and presents results from all studies evaluating the effectiveness of eHealth weight loss interventions for adults with low income and (b) describes the strategies used to tailor them to these groups. METHOD: Electronic databases were searched for studies examining the effectiveness of eHealth weight loss interventions designed for adults with low income and screened for eligibility by two independent reviewers. All experimental study designs were included. Data were extracted, results were qualitatively synthesized, and studies were assessed for quality. RESULTS: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria (N = 1,606 total participants). Four studies reported significant reductions in weight of small to moderate magnitude among participants in eHealth interventions (M weight loss = -2.2 kg; SD = 1.6). Many studies did not describe how they tailored the intervention for adults with low income; however, studies that achieved significant results tended to use more tailoring strategies. Most studies reported high retention rates. Three studies were rated as strong quality, four as moderate, and two as weak. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence is limited that eHealth weight loss interventions for this population are effective in achieving clinically and statistically significant weight reductions. While interventions that used more tailoring strategies tended to be more effective, studies that use the rigorous methodology and describe interventions in more depth could better elucidate whether eHealth interventions are an effective approach in this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Process evaluation of Dulce Digital-Me: an adaptive mobile health (mHealth) intervention for underserved Hispanics with diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes disproportionately impacts ethnic minorities and individuals from low socioeconomic status. Diabetes self-management education and support has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in these populations, and mobile health (mHealth) interventions can reduce barriers to access. Dulce Digital-Me (DD-Me) was developed to integrate adaptive mHealth technologies to enhance self-management and reduce disparities in the high-risk, underserved Hispanic population. The objective of the present study was to evaluate reach, adoption, and implementation of an mHealth diabetes self-management education and support intervention in this underrepresented population. The present analysis is a multimethod process evaluation using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. The study was effective in reaching a sample that was representative of the intended population; only modest but significant differences were observed in sex and age. The DD-Me health coach (HC) cited several important facilitators of intervention adoption, including outreach frequency and personalization, and the automated HC report. Implementation fidelity was high, with participants receiving >90% of intended interventions. Participants who received DD-Me with support from a HC were most engaged, suggesting utility and acceptability of integrating HCs with mHealth interventions. Perceptions of implementation among study participants were positive and consistent across study arms. This evaluation revealed the target population was successfully reached and engaged in the digital health interventions, which was implemented with high fidelity. Further studies should evaluate the efficacy and maintenance of the study following the RE-AIM model to determine whether this intervention warrants expansion to additional settings and populations.

Type 2 diabetes disproportionately impacts ethnic minorities, including Hispanic individuals; however, these populations are often underrepresented in clinical research, especially in studies using digital technologies. The Dulce Digital-Me study was developed to provide diabetes self-management education and support using mobile health technologies with the goal of improving clinical outcomes by reducing barriers to accessing support. This analysis revealed that the Dulce Digital-Me study was successful at reaching the target population and engaging them with the intervention, while also delivering the study intervention with high fidelity. This process evaluation provides critical context for understanding the study's clinical outcomes and the potential for further dissemination.

Methamphetamine use, transmission risk behavior and internet use among HIV-infected patients in medical care, San Francisco, 2008.

Methamphetamine use is associated with adverse health outcomes and HIV incidence. Few studies have assessed methamphetamine use, sexual behavior and Internet use among HIV-infected patients. Surveys were administered to a sample of HIV-infected patients seeking medical care in a San Francisco county hospital and university-based clinic. In 2008, 35% of homosexual participants, 26% of heterosexual participants and 11% of female participants reported methamphetamine use in the past year. Of participants, 29% reported using the Internet to find sex partners; Internet-users versus non-Internet-users reported a higher median number of sex partners in 6 months (4 vs. 1), were more likely to report unprotected sex (32 vs. 10%), and higher rates of methamphetamine use in the past 12 months (48 vs. 24%). Given the association among methamphetamine use, increased sex partners and Internet use, the Internet may present a new and effective medium for interventions to reduce methamphetamine-associated sexual risk behavior.

Process evaluation of a medical assistant health coaching intervention for type 2 diabetes in diverse primary care settings.

Team-based models that use medical assistants (MAs) to provide self-management support for adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have not been pragmatically tested in diverse samples. This cluster-randomized controlled trial compares MA health coaching with usual care in adults with T2D and poor clinical control ("MAC Trial"). The purpose was to conduct a multi-method process evaluation of the MAC Trial using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework. Reach was assessed by calculating the proportion of enrolled participants out of the eligible pool and examining representativeness of those enrolled. Key informant interviews documented adoption by MA Health Coaches. We examined implementation from the research and patient perspectives by evaluating protocol adherence and the Patient Perceptions of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC-SF) measure, respectively. Findings indicate that the MAC Trial was efficient and effective in reaching patients who were representative of the target population. The acceptance rate among those approached for health coaching was high (87%). Both MA Health Coaches reported high satisfaction with the program and high levels of confidence in their role. The intervention was well-implemented, as evidenced by the protocol adherence rate of 79%; however, statistically significant changes in PACIC-SF scores were not observed. Overall, if found to be effective in improving clinical and patient-reported outcomes, the MAC model holds potential for wider-scale implementation given its successful adoption and implementation and demonstrated ability to reach patients with poorly controlled T2D who are at-risk for diabetes complications in diverse primary care settings.

Dulce Digital-Me: protocol for a randomized controlled trial of an adaptive mHealth intervention for underserved Hispanics with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: By 2034, the number of US individuals with diabetes is predicted to increase from 23.7 to 44.1 million, and annual diabetes-related spending is expected to grow from $113 to $336 billion. Up to 55% of US Hispanics born in the year 2000 are expected to develop diabetes during their lifetime. Poor healthcare access and cultural barriers prevent optimal care, adherence, and clinical benefit, placing Hispanics at disproportionate risk for costly diabetes complications. Mobile technology is increasingly prevalent in all populations and can circumvent such barriers. Our group developed Dulce Digital, an educational text messaging program that improved glycemic control relative to usual care. Dulce Digital-Me (DD-Me) has been tailored to a participant's individual needs with a greater focus on health behavior change. METHODS: This is a three-arm, parallel group, randomized trial with equal allocation ratio enrolling Hispanic adults with low income and poorly managed type 2 diabetes (N = 414) from a San Diego County Federally Qualified Health Center. Participants are randomized to receive Dulce Digital, Dulce Digital-Me-Automated, or Dulce Digital-Me-Telephonic. The DD-Me groups include Dulce Digital components plus personalized goal-setting and feedback delivered via algorithm-driven automated text messaging (DD-Me-Automated) or by the care team health coach (DD-Me-Telephonic) over a 12-month follow-up period. The study will examine the comparative effectiveness of the three groups in improving diabetes clinical control [HbA1c, primary outcome; low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and systolic blood pressure (SBP)] and patient-provider communication and patient adherence (i.e., medication, self-management tasks) over 12 months and will examine cost-effectiveness of the three interventions. DISCUSSION: Our comparative evaluation of three mHealth approaches will elucidate how technology can be integrated most effectively and efficiently within primary care-based chronic care model approaches to reduce diabetes disparities in Hispanics and will assess two modes of personalized messaging delivery (i.e., automated messaging vs. telephonic by health coach) to inform cost and acceptability. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03130699-All items from the WHO Trial Registration data set are available in https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT03130699 .

Acquisition and evolution of enhanced mutualism-an underappreciated mechanism for invasive success?

Soil biota can determine plant invasiveness, yet biogeographical comparisons of microbial community composition and function across ranges are rare. We compared interactions between Conyza canadensis, a global plant invader, and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in 17 plant populations in each native and non-native range spanning similar climate and soil fertility gradients. We then grew seedlings in the greenhouse inoculated with AM fungi from the native range. In the field, Conyza plants were larger, more fecund, and associated with a richer community of more closely related AM fungal taxa in the non-native range. Fungal taxa that were more abundant in the non-native range also correlated positively with plant biomass, whereas taxa that were more abundant in the native range appeared parasitic. These patterns persisted when populations from both ranges were grown together in a greenhouse; non-native populations cultured a richer and more diverse AM fungal community and selected AM fungi that appeared to be more mutualistic. Our results provide experimental support for evolution toward enhanced mutualism in non-native ranges. Such novel relationships and the rapid evolution of mutualisms may contribute to the disproportionate abundance and impact of some non-native plant species.