A Qualitative Analysis of Shared Values and Motivation for Change Expressed by Sexual Minority Men in Relationships: Use of the Personal Values Card Sort Activity During Motivational Interviewing Sessions Addressing Drug Use and Sexual Health.

The development of tailored interventions that address drug use and sexual risk taking among sexual minority men (SMM) in relationships has garnered increasing interest over the past 20 years. Motivational interviewing (MI) has demonstrated promise in both individual and couples-based applications. The Personal Values Card Sort activity is commonly employed in these interventions; however, relatively little is known about the content of client responses evoked by this intervention task. This study examined how SMM in relationships characterize their values; how their relationship partners influence value attainment; and how they situated drug use and sexual risk taking in the context of their values and primary relationships. A qualitative analysis of intervention transcripts from sessions with 47 SMM aged 18 to 34 was conducted. All respondents were HIV negative and indicated recent (past 30 days) drug use and sexual risk behavior. Participants' high priority values reflected a focus on clarifying personal identity and interpersonal relationships. Values manifested as realized, aspirational, or transformed. Participants described their partners as supporting goal attainment and as a companion with whom they cope with goal-related stressors. Consistent with interdependence theory, participants' responses indicated consideration of their partner and relationship when these aligned with and supported goal-attainment. Conversely, when partners were described as a barrier to realizing their values, participants characterized their relationship as being of lower quality. Implications of this content for the activation of motivation for health behavior are discussed with specific emphasis on applications with SMM in relationships.

Regulation of Serotonin 1A Receptor SUMOylation by SENP2 and PIASxα.

Serotonin 1A receptors (5-HT1ARs) are implicated in the control of mood, cognition, and memory and in various neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety. As such, understanding the regulation of 5-HT1ARs will inform the development of better treatment approaches. We previously demonstrated 5-HT1ARs are SUMOylated by SUMO1 in the rat brain. Agonist stimulation increased SUMOylation and was further enhanced when combined with 17ß-estradiol-3-benzoate (EB), which are treatments that cause the transient and prolonged desensitization of 5-HT1AR signaling, respectively. In the current study, we identified the protein inhibitor of activated STAT (PIAS)xα as the enzyme that facilitates SUMOylation, and SENP2 as the protein that catalyzes the deSUMOylation of 5-HT1ARs. We demonstrated that PIASxα significantly increased in the membrane fraction of rats co-treated with EB and an agonist, compared to either the EB-treated or vehicle-treated groups. The acute treatment with an agonist alone shifted the location of SENP2 from the membrane to the cytoplasmic fraction, but it has little effect on PIASxα. Hence, two separate mechanisms regulate SUMOylation and the activity of 5-HT1ARs by an agonist and EB. The effects of EB on 5-HT1AR SUMOylation and signaling may be related to the higher incidence of mood disorders in women during times with large fluctuations in estrogens. Targeting the SUMOylation of 5-HT1ARs could have important clinical relevance for the therapy for several neuropsychiatric disorders in which 5-HT1ARs are implicated.

The experience of financial stress among emerging adult cancer survivors.

Objective: The experience of cancer-related financial stress was examined within the developmental context of emerging adulthood.Methodological approach: This study is a secondary analysis of data drawn from two samples of testicular or hematologic cancer survivors. In-depth interviews from 52 emerging adult (EA) cancer survivors, ages 18-29, were coded by combining thematic analysis with an abductive approach.Findings: Emergent themes included some common to most age groups, including worries about medical costs and availability of health insurance, as well as specific age-related concerns, such as fertility preservation. Financial stress appeared to interrupt developmental tasks of emerging adulthood, including completing an education, establishing independence, and managing relationships. Surprisingly, financial stress was experienced as a benefit for some participants.Conclusion: Financial stress affects EA cancer survivors in unique ways. To provide support, health professionals should consider survivors' developmental life stage to understand their financial stress, and ultimately, to improve quality of life.

A Pilot Randomized Trial of Intervention Components Addressing Drug Use in Couples HIV Testing and Counseling (CHTC) with Male Couples.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) experience high rates of substance use and HIV infection. Main partners are the source of many (35-68%) of these new HIV infections. This study developed and examined the efficacy of two adjunct components to couples HIV testing and counseling (CHTC)-communication training (CT) videos and a substance use module (SUM)-to reduce drug use and sexual HIV transmission risk in MSM couples. Participants included 70 male couples randomized into one of four conditions: CHTC, CHTC + CT videos, CHTC + SUM, and CHTC + CT videos + SUM. Participants completed a survey pre-intervention and 1-, 3-, and 6-months later. Completion of the SUM in the absence of CT videos was associated with significant immediate decreases in drug use and related problems; however, at 3- and 6-month follow ups, the SUM was only associated with reductions in drug use and related problems among men who also viewed the CT videos. There were no between-condition differences in sexual behavior. CHTC may serve as a vehicle for the delivery of brief substance use intervention for MSM couples.ClinicalTrails.gov NCT # 03125915.

Relationships among illness representations and depressive symptom severity in predominantly African-American and Caribbean-American people with epilepsy.

Objective: Depression is the most common psychiatric comorbidity among people with epilepsy (PWE) and tends to be more prevalent among people of color (POC) and those with intractable seizures. However, the extent to which illness-related perceptions are associated with depressive symptom severity among POC with intractable seizures is unclear. Method: This cross-sectional study examined relationships among illness representations and self-rated depressive symptoms in 55 PWE (M Age = 41; 61.8% female) with intractable seizures (M seizures per month = 2) who identified as Black/African-American (52.7%), Black/Caribbean-American (27.3%), and/or Hispanic/Latino (21.8%). Epilepsy-related illness perceptions were assessed with the Illness Perception Questionnaire-Revised and depression was measured via the Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI-E). Results: Nearly half of the sample (41.8%) scored above the NDDI-E depression cut-off. PWE endorsing more severe depressive symptoms indicated that their epilepsy had more negative consequences, was hard to comprehend, was insufficiently controlled by treatment, and had a negative emotional impact (p's ≤ 0.02). Controlling for sex, these four illness representations accounted for 48% of the variance in depression severity. Interestingly, participants with probable major depressive episodes were more likely to endorse several psychological causes of seizures compared to non-depressed PWE. Conclusions: Worse depression symptom severity was associated with negative illness perceptions and a tendency to attribute one's epilepsy to psychological causes. Future research is needed to understand how the relationship between negative illness perceptions and depression symptoms unfold over time and whether interventions aimed at modifying illness representations reduce psychological distress in diverse PWE.

Identity and Relationship-Based Discrimination, and Mental Health in a Sample of Sexual Minority Male Couples.

PURPOSE: The study explored the unique associations of individual identity-based discrimination and relationship-based discrimination with mental health among sexual minority male couples. It also examined whether couples' relationship functioning moderated associations between relationship-based discrimination, the experience of one's romantic relationship being devalued, and mental health outcomes. METHODS: Baseline dyadic data drawn from a clinical trial involving 70 couples (N= 140) were analyzed using Actor-Partner Interdependence Modeling. The sample consisted of sexual minority men, of which 54.3% identified as a person of color. Each partner completed the computerized survey independently. Data were collected using the Relationship Marginalization Scale, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised scales. RESULTS: Dyadic adjustment moderated (i.e., buffered against) the association between relationship-based discrimination and depressive symptoms. The effects appeared to follow an intra-individual pattern (B ACTOR = -0.06, p = .048 and B PARTNER = -0.07, p = .030) indicating the lack of evidence for crossover effects. The interaction terms predicting anxiety yielded non-significant results. CONCLUSIONS: The current research suggests that dyadic functioning buffers against the effects of stigma. These findings point to the potential utility of interventions to improve relationship functioning into interventions addressing stigma among partnered sexual minority men.

Perceived Risk, Optimistic Bias, and United Action: A socio-ecological examination of COVID-19 prevention behaviors among sexual minority men.

Sexual minority men (SMM) disproportionately experience psychosocial risk factors and comorbid health concerns (e.g., HIV infection) that increase their vulnerability to COVID-19 infection and distress. The current study applied a socioecological approach to the Health Belief model to understand associations among perceived risk, optimistic bias (a perceived lower risk relative to similar others), united action (perceived community capacity for collective action) and COVID-19 behavioral prevention strategies among COVID-19-negative adult cisgender SMM. Participants (n = 859), recruited via a geo-location-based dating app in May 2020, completed an online survey. Results indicated significant interactions between perceived risk and optimistic bias on social distancing (B = -.03, p < .05), and between perceived risk and united action on number of preventive precautions (B = -.01, p < .01) and number of casual sex partners (B= -.20, p < .05). At low and average levels of perceived risk, socioecological constructs were positively associated with behavioral prevention strategies. At average levels of perceived risk and above, united action was negatively associated with number of casual sex partners, demonstrating evidence of the interaction between perception of interpersonal and community factors and perceptions of one's own risk. These findings may help to inform how to mobilize increased engagement in COVID-19 behavioral prevention strategies among cisgender SMM.

Taurine: A potential mediator for periodontal therapy.

Taurine or 2-aminoethanesulfonic has many fundamental biological roles such as conjugation of bile acids, antioxidation, osmoregulation, membrane stabilization, and modulation of calcium signaling. It is essential for cardiovascular function and development and function of the skeletal muscle, the retina, and the central nervous system. Functions of taurine include osmoregulation; membrane stabilization; modulation of calcium levels; and antioxidation, antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antilipid activities. Taurine was first discovered as a component of ox (Bos taurus, from which its name is derived) bile in 1827; it had taken over a century before insights into its physiological functions were made. The present review throws light on the multifactorial properties of taurine and its potential to be used in periodontal therapy.

Evaluation of Gengigel® Application in the Management of Furcation with Coronally Advanced Flap through Surgical Re-Entry-A Split Mouth Clinical Study.

INTRODUCTION: One of the challenging and unique periodontal problem of Grade II furcation defect has been managed through different treatment modalities in the past. A successful approach is based on complete closure of the defect. Different regenerative approaches have been tried. AIM: This study was carried out with an aim to evaluate the role of Gengigel® (0.8% hyaluronic acid) as a potential material for regeneration of lost attachment apparatus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 sites with Grade II furcation defects from 10 patients were selected using random sampling technique. These were divided into Group A (placement of hyaluronic acid) and Group B (without placement of hyaluronic acid) according to treatment modality. Furcation defect assessment was done in vertical and horizontal depth preoperatively and postoperatively at six months through surgical re-entry. Recorded data was subjected to the statistical analysis unpaired and paired t-tests for intergroup and intragroup comparisons respectively. RESULTS: Mean plaque index, gingival index and bleeding index score showed statistically highly significant and significant results respectively, for both the groups at baseline and six months. Mean difference in probing pocket depth and Relative Attachment Level (RAL) were statistically highly significant, whereas, mean difference of gingival position margin was non significant for both the groups, at baseline and six months. Mean difference in horizontal component at baseline and six months was statistically highly significant for both the groups. Mean difference in vertical component at baseline and six months was statistically significant for both the groups. On comparison, the mean difference in vertical and horizontal component of Group A and Group B at six months was statistically not significant. CONCLUSION: Both Gengigel® with coronally positioned flap and coronally positioned flap alone are effective in the treatment of Grade II furcation defects. The combination of Gengigel® with coronally positioned flap leads to better results in hard tissue measurement as compared to coronally positioned flap alone.