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The Effects of Adaptive Coping on the Relationship between Discrimination, Alcohol Use, and Substance Use in Black Women Living with HIV
No full textBlack women living with HIV (BWLWH) experience higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. They experience HIV stigma and discrimination, gender discrimination, and racial discrimination. These experiences of discrimination have been tied to negative physiological, biological, and psychological mental health outcomes. Alcohol and substance use are commonly associated with coping in BWLWH. Protective factors like religious coping, resilience, and social support have been reported to dampen discrimination, alcohol use, and substance use in BWLWH. To better understand factors that contribute to alcohol and substance use in BWLWH, using structural equation modeling the present study examined the relationships among discrimination, alcohol use, and substance use. The indirect effects of trauma and depression were evaluated in models that also included resilience, social support, and religious coping. Participants were 255 BWLWH enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study in South Florida. Results of direct effect analysis showed that discrimination was directly and positively associated with substance use disorder (SUD) and negatively associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Indirectly, PTSD symptoms were positively associated with heavy alcohol use, AUD symptoms, and AUD. This study also assessed resilience, religious coping, and social support as moderators and potential protective factors of the relationship between discrimination and alcohol or substance use. Religious coping, as an interaction, decreased the relationship between discrimination and heavy alcohol use as well as discrimination and AUD. The interaction effect of resilience also decreased the relationship between discrimination and heavy alcohol use. Understanding adversities contributing to alcohol and substance use among BWLWH as well as factors that reduce alcohol and substance use may help guide prevention and intervention strategies to minimize its effects, enhance mental health, and increase the quality of life for BWLWH.</p
Stressors and Coping Strategies of Venezuelan Migrant Parent-Child Dyads in Colombia: A Qualitative Secondary Analysis
No full textIntroduction: Since 2014, over 7.7 million Venezuelans have emigrated from Venezuela in a mass exodus prompted by economic crisis, political unrest, and severe resource scarcity. Colombia alone has been the recipient of nearly 3 million migrants. Throughout the pre-, during, and post-migration processes, families are impacted by a wide variety of mental health stressors, some of which continue through their lives post-migration. This study utilizes the Family Crisis Migration Stress Framework (FCMSF) to: (1) identify shared and divergent stressors between parents and adolescents, and (2) describe the coping strategies they employed post-migration.Methods: This secondary analysis analyzed a subset of 24 qualitative interviews, 12 adults and 12 adolescents, conducted with parent-child dyads in Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia. The sample included Venezuelan migrant youth aged 12-15, and one of their parents/caregivers who also was willing to participate in the study. The FCMSF was used to create five preliminary code groups: pre-migration stressors, migration journey stressors, post-migration stressors, familial context, and post-migration buffers. Interview transcripts were coded subsequently using a complete coding strategy with inductive codes added to cover necessary gaps.Results: Coding generated five themes related to shared and divergent stressors. These themes were long-term lack of resources, post-migration uncertainty, bullying due to being Venezuelan, separation from their life in Venezuela, and increased exposure to drug and alcohol use. Three additional themes were generated to describe the coping strategies employed by parents and adolescents, including parental sacrifice, seeking social support, and willingness to adapt.Conclusion: This study highlighted the need to further understand the impact of stressors and coping strategies on the short and long-term mental health of migrants post-migration and may allow researchers to expand interventions to target migrants at not just the individual level, but the family and policy levels as well
Defining the Role of Vitamin B12 in the Progression of Myeloid Malignancy
No full textClonal hematopoiesis (CH) is a pre-malignant condition that can progress to myeloid malignancy, yet the factors driving this transition remain poorly defined. Elevated serum vitamin B12 levels have been associated with increased risk of myeloid malignancy in otherwise healthy individuals and at the time of diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). However, the relationship between B12 levels and CH has not been previously established. Analysis of the All of Us research database revealed a significant association between elevated serum B12 and CH, suggesting a potential role for B12 in early myeloid disease evolution.Environmental stressors such as chronic inflammation and poor diet promote CH progression, and inflammation due to increased intestinal permeability stimulates the expansion of pre-malignant myeloid cells. Dietary one-carbon (1C) metabolites, including B12, regulate gut microbial production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) that strengthen gut mucosal integrity. In a Tet2-deficient mouse model of CH, high B12 supplementation either via dietary or parenteral administration elevated serum B12, induced a myeloid lineage bias, and increased circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and responsiveness to microbial stimuli. These changes were accompanied by loss of SCFA-producing microbiota, reduced SCFA levels, and increased gut permeability. Supplementation with SCFAs reversed the myeloid bias, implicating microbiome-mediated inflammation as a key mechanism by which B12 influences CH progression.In leukemic models, high B12 increased intracellular Met, SAM, and succinate, consistent with enhanced activity of B12-dependent enzymes methionine synthase and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. These metabolic alterations promoted DNA hypermethylation and reduced hydroxymethylation, hallmarks of myeloid transformation. Dietary supplementation with B12 and methionine accelerated leukemia development, while genetic ablation of the B12 transporter CD320 abrogated disease, highlighting B12 metabolism as a potential therapeutic vulnerability in AML.</p
Prognostic Awareness and Quality of Life in Patients with Advanced Cancer: Moderation by Anxiety, Age, and Cancer Type
No full textBackground: Prognostic awareness, the understanding of incurable illness, is essential for advanced cancer patients to make informed treatment and end-of-life decisions. Yet, no consensus exists on how to assess it. The Prognostic Awareness Impact Scale (PAIS) measures three domains: cognitive acknowledgment, emotional coping, and adaptive response. While prognostic awareness may cause distress and reduce quality of life (QOL), findings are inconsistent. Examining each domain separately may explain these mixed results.Aims: Guided by a multidimensional framework, this study investigates how different aspects of prognostic awareness affect patient-reported QOL and whether relationships vary by cancer type, anxiety, or age.Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis with a subsample (n = 395) from a cross-sectional study of 632 patients with metastatic solid tumors at Massachusetts General Hospital (2019–2022). Cancer types included breast (23%), gastrointestinal (27.6%), genitourinary (24.3%), and lung (25.1%). Patients completed surveys assessing prognostic awareness (PAIS), anxiety (HADS), and QOL (FACT-G). Analyses tested associations between prognostic awareness domains and QOL, with moderation by cancer type, anxiety, and age.Results: Emotional coping correlated strongly with QOL (r = .52, p Conclusion: Emotional coping and adaptive response, rather than cognitive acknowledgment, are linked to better QOL. These findings highlight the importance of integrating prognosis emotionally and behaviorally to support well-being.</p
Unveiling the Holistic Pain Experience: Integrating Neural Correlates, Pain Drawings, and Pain Distribution in Spinal Cord Injury Patients with Neuropathic Pain
No full textAnnually, a range of 250,000 to 500,000 new cases of spinal cord injuries (SCIs) have been documented, with approximately 60% of SCI patients experiencing the onset of neuropathic pain (NP) within the first year of injury. NP is a chronic and debilitating condition that impairs mental health and quality of life. NP has been demonstrated to disrupt the perception of body representation (BR). To investigate these BR deficits, I utilized neural correlates obtained from electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings during a laterality-judgment task. Specifically, event-related potentials (ERPs) were generated from the EEG recording to correspond to pertinent body-representation potentials. Furthermore, an exploration of the psychosocial impact of neuropathic pain was conducted, establishing associations between this impact and neural correlates. Additionally, the second aim investigated the role of pain location in BR in individuals with SCI and NP. This investigation aimed to not only shed light on the neural mechanisms underlying BR deficits but also to contribute valuable insights into how pain may change the way we see our own bodies. Moreover, by elucidating the intricate relationship between pain location and body representation in individuals with spinal cord injuries and neuropathic pain, this investigation holds the potential to inform tailored interventions aimed at alleviating both physical and psychological burdens, ultimately improving the quality of life for those affected by this challenging condition. To further investigate a holistic understanding of the pain experience, a comprehensive methodology for assessing pain drawings was developed and implemented at set time points. This method provides a quantifiable measure of intervention effectiveness, while also providing critical information about pain type, pain intensity, and pain interference.</p
The Role of Social Support, Neighborhood Cohesion, and Racism in Black American Mental Health
No full textThe experience of racism among Black people is associated with several negative mental health outcomes such as increased anxiety, depression, psychological distress, stress, and loneliness. Research has demonstrated the mechanistic role that social support plays in the relationship between perceived racism and mental health, a distinct and measurable aspect of social support, neighborhood cohesion, has yet to be explored in this context. The present analysis seeks to address the gap in research by examining how neighborhood cohesion, social support, and racial discrimination impact stress and loneliness in Black Americans. Using data from the All of Us research program, (i.e., a nationwide study based in the United States that studies the relationship of various environmental factors on health outcomes), a series of multiple regression models were conducted to examine how neighborhood cohesion, perceived social support, experiences of discrimination, and their interactions, impact loneliness and stress in Black Americans. Results indicated that there were significant main effects of racial discrimination (b = 0.24, p b = -0.09, p b = -0.12, p b = 0.16, p b = -0.10, p b = -0.28, p b = 0.01, p = .007) on stress. Similarly, there was a significant 2-way interaction effect of racial discrimination and neighborhood cohesion (b = -0.01, p = .017), and a significant 3-way interaction effect of racial discrimination, neighborhood cohesion, social support (b = -0.01, p = .002), on loneliness. These findings show that neighborhood cohesion plays an important role in several indicators of mental health among Black Americans, highlighting the importance of facilitating neighborhood cohesion which, in turn, could help ameliorate racism-driven mental health disparities in Black Americans. </p
Application of Theodor Leschetizky’s Teaching Principles to "Souvenirs d’Italie," Op. 39
No full textTheodor Leschetizky (1830–1915) was one of the most influential pianists and pedagogues during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Even though his legacy as a teacher is widely acknowledged, how his pedagogical principles and practical methods can be applied to music has not received sufficient attention. Through a focused study of his "Souvenirs d’Italie," Op. 39, a set of character pieces that combine lyrical artistry with technical challenges, this project will demonstrate how Leschetizky’s documented core teaching principles can be applied to specific musical contexts. This project aims to offer modern pianists and educators practical insights into the continued relevance of Leschetizky’s methods and the pedagogical value of his compositional output.</p
Мікроморфологічні особливості поверхні листка видів роду Sansevieriа Thunb. s.str. (Asparagaceae)
No full textThis study investigated the leaf surface micromorphology of 12 species of the genus Sansevieria using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The research focused on identifying micromorphological traits associated with plant stress tolerance, including epidermal cell shape, cuticle thickness, stomatal distribution and density, and cuticular characteristics with epicuticular wax deposits. In most of the studied Sansevieria species, the leaves are amphistomatic, whereas hypostomatic leaves are observed in S. cylindrica, S. canaliculata, and S. suffruticosa. In all studied taxa, the epidermis consists of a single layer of cells and lacks trichomes.The examined Sansevieria species are characterized by a well-developed cuticular layer and the presence of wax deposits that perform protective and water-conserving functions. The thickness of the cuticle and its ornamentation vary both among species and between leaf surfaces within the same species. The abaxial leaf surface generally exhibits a more developed cuticle than the adaxial surface, a feature particularly pronounced in S. cylindrica, S. canaliculata, S. kirkii, S. roxburghiana, S. gracilis, S. suffruticosa, and S. intermedia. All investigated species possess anomocytic stomata. Stomatal density on the abaxial leaf surface ranged from 9 to 27 mm2 among the studied species. These interspecific variations reflect distinct strategies for optimizing water balance under arid conditions.At the level of leaf micromorphology, amphistomaty, the spatial organization of epidermal cells, the presence of a cuticular layer with epicuticular wax deposits of various configurations, differences in stomatal sunkenness and density, and the occurrence of underdeveloped stomata can be considered markers of stress tolerance in this genus. The identified micromorphological markers provide insight into the adaptive xeromorphic traits of Sansevieria and have potential applications in applied research, including biotechnological projects and phytoremediation, including green infrastructure development.У дослідженні за допомогою світлової мікроскопії та сканувальної електронної мікроскопії вивчено мікроморфологію поверхні листків 12 видів роду Sansevieria. Основну увагу зосереджено на виявленні мікроморфологічних ознак, пов’язаних зі стійкістю рослин до стресових умов, зокрема форми клітин епідерми, товщини кутикули, розподілу та щільності продихів, а також особливостей кутикулярного покриву з епікутикулярними восковими відкладеннями. У більшості досліджених видів Sansevieria листки є амфістоматичними, тоді як гіпостоматичні листки виявлено у S. cylindrica, S. canaliculata та S. suffruticosa. У всіх досліджених таксонів епідерма представлена одним шаром клітин і позбавлена трихом.Рослини досліджених видів Sansevieria характеризуються добре розвиненим кутикулярним шаром і наявністю воскових відкладень, що виконують захисну та водозберігаючу функції. Ступінь розвитку кутикули та її структура варіює як між видами, так і між поверхнями листка в межах одного виду. Абаксіальна поверхня листкової пластинки зазвичай має більш розвинений кутикулярний покрив порівняно з адаксіальною, що особливо чітко проявляється у S. cylindrica, S. canaliculata, S. kirkii, S. roxburghiana, S. gracilis, S. suffruticosa та S. intermedia. Усі досліджені види мають аномоцитні продихи. Щільність продихів на абаксіальній поверхні листка коливалася в межах 9–27 мм2 залежно від виду. Виявлені міжвидові відмінності відображають різні стратегії оптимізації водного балансу за аридних умов.
На рівні мікроморфології листка амфістоматичність, просторова організація клітин епідерми, наявність кутикулярного покриву з епікутикулярними восковими відкладеннями різної конфігурації, різний ступінь занурення та щільності продихів, а також наявність недорозвинених продихів можуть розглядатися як маркери стійкості рослин цього роду до стресових факторів. Виявлені мікроморфологічні маркери поглиблюють уявлення про адаптивні ксероморфні ознаки Sansevieria та мають потенційне прикладне значення для біотехнологічних розробок і фіторемедіації, зокрема для розбудови зеленої інфраструктури
Positive Emotional Well-Being, Cardiovascular Risk, and Associated Biomarkers in a Nationwide Sample
No full textIntroduction: Positive emotional well-being (PEWB) is an aspect of emotional health that may be associated with cardiovascular health. The present study examines the relationship between PEWB and several cardiovascular biomarkers: blood pressure (BP), HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol (TC), ratio of TC to HDL cholesterol, and a composite measure of cardiovascular risk.Methods: Data were from a nationwide survey of adults (N= 2295, participants for whom BP was collected; N =1605 for whom HDL cholesterol were collected; N=1701 for whom TC was collected; N=1423 for whom TC divided by HDL cholesterol could be calculated; and N=1359 for whom a cardiovascular risk composite could be calculated.). Two aspects of PEWB were assessed: positive affect and life satisfaction. Blood pressure was collected during in-person sessions and cholesterol was analyzed via bloodspot from a finger-prick. The mediating role of health behaviors (smoking, alcohol, BMI, and moderate exercise) was also examined.Results: Both positive affect and life satisfaction were significantly, negatively related to the composite cardiovascular risk score and diastolic BP when controlling for demographic variables, BMI, depression, and Hemoglobin A1c. Additionally, positive affect (but not life satisfaction) was significantly related to higher levels of HDL cholesterol. No significant relationships were found between either PEWB variable and systolic BP, TC, or the ratio of TC divided by HDL. BMI most consistently mediated the significant relationships between PEWB and cardiovascular risk/biomarkers. Moderate exercise mediated the relationship between life satisfaction and cardiovascular risk.Discussion: This study adds to previous literature documenting a significant relationship between PEWB and cardiovascular risk and several related biomarkers. Assessing aspect of individuals’ emotional well-being such as positive affect and life satisfaction may be helpful in gaining a better understanding of an individuals’ mental health, quality of life, and cardiovascular risk.</p
Exploring the Impact of Cultural Identity on Mental Health Outcomes in Migrating Hispanic Parent-Child Dyads: A Study on Sociocultural Adaptation on Minority Stress
No full textIn our globalized world, the movement of people across borders has led to diverse multicultural societies. Immigrant populations, navigating challenges in cultural adaptation and mental well-being, particularly during crisis migration, face additional obstacles. This phenomenon, marked by forced displacement due to conflicts or disasters, significantly impacts families, exacerbating existing challenges. Adverse circumstances during crisis migration, such as loss of homes and exposure to violence, profoundly affect mental well-being and family dynamics. Families may struggle to maintain cultural identity amidst the crisis and the need to integrate into a new society, leading to psychological distress and adjustment difficulties.Understanding the interplay between cultural identity, mental health outcomes, and family dynamics in crisis-affected immigrant families is crucial. Recognizing and addressing their unique challenges allows for targeted interventions, promoting well-being and successful integration.Puerto Rican and Venezuelan communities, with distinct migration experiences, offer an opportunity to investigate the relationship between cultural identity and mental health outcomes, particularly in parent-child relationships. Three data sets, focusing on Puerto Rican parent-child relationships and Venezuelan parent-child relationships, all cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, provide a comprehensive overview. Although distinct populations, the common thread between these groups are that 1) they were both displaced through crisis, and 2) both are culturally different to their host country.</p