Human Cytomegalovirus Enhances Placental Susceptibility and Replication of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), Which May Facilitate In Utero HIV-1 Transmission.

Several co-pathogens that pose threats to the fetus during gestation, including human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), may also contribute to mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Within endemic settings, associations between maternal HCMV viral load and increased incidence of MTCT of HIV-1 are documented; however, the mechanisms that promote transmission are poorly characterized. Here we demonstrate that HCMV coinfection enhances susceptibility and viral replication of HIV-1 in placental macrophages (Hofbauer cells) in vitro. Consistent with enhanced viral susceptibility, HCMV exposure upregulates CCR5 and CD80 expression on Hofbauer cells. HCMV also significantly induces type I interferon (IFN), proinflammatory cytokines, and antiviral gene expression. Interestingly, we found that HCMV diminishes type I IFN-mediated phosphorylation of STAT2. Collectively, our data suggest that HCMV-induced activation, local inflammation, and antagonism of type I IFN responses in placental Hofbauer cells promote in utero transmission of HIV-1.

Improving HIV Surveillance Data for Public Health Action in Washington, DC: A Novel Multiorganizational Data-Sharing Method.

BACKGROUND: The National HIV/AIDS Strategy calls for active surveillance programs for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to more accurately measure access to and retention in care across the HIV care continuum for persons living with HIV within their jurisdictions and to identify persons who may need public health services. However, traditional public health surveillance methods face substantial technological and privacy-related barriers to data sharing. OBJECTIVE: This study developed a novel data-sharing approach to improve the timeliness and quality of HIV surveillance data in three jurisdictions where persons may often travel across the borders of the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. METHODS: A deterministic algorithm of approximately 1000 lines was developed, including a person-matching system with Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System (eHARS) variables. Person matching was defined in categories (from strongest to weakest): exact, very high, high, medium high, medium, medium low, low, and very low. The algorithm was verified using conventional component testing methods, manual code inspection, and comprehensive output file examination. Results were validated by jurisdictions using internal review processes. RESULTS: Of 161,343 uploaded eHARS records from District of Columbia (N=49,326), Maryland (N=66,200), and Virginia (N=45,817), a total of 21,472 persons were matched across jurisdictions over various strengths in a matching process totaling 21 minutes and 58 seconds in the privacy device, leaving 139,871 uniquely identified with only one jurisdiction. No records matched as medium low or low. Over 80% of the matches were identified as either exact or very high matches. Three separate validation methods were conducted for this study, and they all found ≥90% accuracy between records matched by this novel method and traditional matching methods. CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrated a novel data-sharing approach that may facilitate timelier and better quality HIV surveillance data for public health action by reducing the effort needed for traditional person-matching reviews without compromising matching accuracy. Future analyses will examine the generalizability of these findings to other applications.

Results of a Community Randomized Study of a Faith-Based Education Program to Improve Clinical Trial Participation among African Americans.

This is a report of a cluster randomized clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of a church-based educational intervention aimed at improving African Americans' (AA) participation in clinical trials. Two hundred and twenty-one AA subjects ages ≥50 years from six predominantly AA churches were randomized to intervention or control condition. The intervention included three educational sessions about clinical trials and health disparities; control participants completed questionnaires. Primary endpoints of the study were differences in individual subjects' intentions to obtain clinical trial information and intention to join a clinical trial, as determined by 10 point scale items at baseline, three and six months. A statistically significant increase in the intention to obtain clinical trial information at the three and six month time points was observed in the intervention group, but not the control group. Older participants (65-95 years) were less likely than younger participants (50-64 years) to increase their motivation to seek clinical trial information by the three and six month time points. No significant increases were observed in intention to join clinical trials. This randomized trial shows that AA church-based educational interventions are likely to increase the motivation of AA subjects to obtain clinical trial information and are therefore potentially effective at ameliorating the underrepresentation of AA subjects in clinical trials.

Delivering a "dose of hope": a faith-based program to increase older african americans' participation in clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Underrepresentation of older-age racial and ethnic minorities in clinical research is a significant barrier to health in the United States, as it impedes medical research advancement of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to develop and test the feasibility of a community-developed faith-based intervention and evaluate its potential to increase the number of older African Americans in clinical research. METHODS: Using a cluster-randomized design, we worked with six matched churches to enroll at least 210 persons. We provided those in the intervention group churches with three educational sessions on the role of clinical trials in addressing health disparity topics, and those in the comparison group completed surveys at the same timepoints. All persons enrolled in the study received ongoing information via newsletters and direct outreach on an array of clinical studies seeking participants. We evaluated the short-, mid-, and longer-term effects of the interventional program on clinical trial-related outcomes (ie, screening and enrollment). RESULTS: From 2012 to 2013, we enrolled a balanced cohort of 221 persons in the program. At a 3-month follow-up, mean intention to seek information about clinical trials was higher than baseline in both treatment (mu=7.5/10; sigma=3.1) and control arms (mu=6.6/10; sigma=3.3), with the difference more pronounced in the treatment arm. The program demonstrated strong retention at 3-month (95.4%, 211/221) and 6-month timepoints (94.1%, 208/221). CONCLUSIONS: The "Dose of Hope" program addressed an unmet need to reach an often overlooked audience of older African Americans who are members of churches and stimulate their interest in clinical trial participation. The program demonstrated its appeal in the delivery of effective messages and information about health disparities, and the role of clinical research in addressing these challenges.

Factors associated with seasonal influenza immunization among church-going older African Americans.

OBJECTIVES: Churches and faith institutions can frequently influence health behaviors among older African Americans. The church is a centerpiece of spiritual and social life among African American congregants. We explored its influence on influenza immunization coverage during the 2012-2013 influenza season. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among congregation members ages 50-89 years from six churches in the Atlanta region in 2013-2014. We computed descriptive statistics, bivariate associations, and multivariable models to examine factors associated with immunization uptake among this population. RESULTS: Of 208 study participants, 95 (45.7%) reported receiving the influenza vaccine. Logistic regression showed that increased trust in their healthcare providers' vaccine recommendations was a positive predictor of vaccination among participants who had not experienced discrimination in a faith-based setting (OR: 14.8 [3.7, 59.8]), but was not associated with vaccination for participants who had experienced such discrimination (OR: 1.5 [0.2, 7.0]). Belief in vaccine-induced influenza illness (OR: 0.1 [0.05, 0.23]) was a negative predictor of influenza vaccination. CONCLUSION: Members of this older cohort of African Americans who expressed trust in their healthcare providers' vaccine recommendations and disbelief in vaccine-induced influenza were more likely to obtain seasonal influenza immunization. They were also more likely to act on their trust of healthcare provider's vaccine recommendations if they did not encounter negative influenza immunization attitudes within the church. Having healthcare providers address negative influenza immunization attitudes and disseminate vaccine information in a culturally appropriate manner within the church has the potential to enhance future uptake of influenza vaccination.