The State of Sexual Education: State Laws and Regulations Mandating Sexual Education in the United States.

To assess state laws and regulations mandating sexual education in US public schools in 2025. We identified and analyzed state statutes, administrative regulations, and state court decisions that mandated sexual education in public schools in every US state and the District of Columbia. We coded content requirements, attributes (e.

Experiences of Gender and Racial/Ethnic Discrimination in Sexual Healthcare Among Transgender and Nonbinary Young Adults of Color.

Purpose: Experiences of gender-based discrimination against transgender and nonbinary people and racial discrimination against people of color in sexual healthcare settings serve as significant barriers to care. However, the sexual healthcare experiences of transgender young adults of color (TNYAC), who face intersecting forms of discrimination, are poorly understood.

Methods: We conducted a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews (n = 20) with TNYAC ages 20-30 years, residing across the United States.

Experiences of gender-affirming practices in healthcare settings and HIV testing among transgender and nonbinary young adults in the United States.

Transgender and nonbinary young adults in the United States (U.S.) experience disproportionately high rates of HIV and face unique barriers to accessing HIV testing, a key component of HIV prevention.

An initial randomized controlled trial of a Combined Medication and Behavioral Activation Treatment (CoMBAT) for people with opioid use disorder.

Introduction: Opioid use disorder is a chronic, relapsing disease and a major source of morbidity and mortality in the U.S. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) have been shown to reduce opioid use; however, MOUD maintenance is often suboptimal.

The Synergistic Health Threats of State Laws Targeting Marginalized Groups in the United States.

Discriminatory state laws have deleterious effects on the health of socially marginalized groups. Health care clinicians, institutions, researchers, and research funders have tended to view different discriminatory laws in isolation, focusing on particular issues or groups. In contrast, intersectionality calls attention to the overlapping and synergistic systems of oppression that discriminatory legislation promotes or upholds, warranting an integrated analysis of these laws.

Mental Health Care Use among Adolescent Sexual Minority Males Before and During COVID-19.

Adolescent (cisgender) sexual minority males (ASMM) face multiple mental health disparities. Yet surprisingly little is known about use of mental health care among ASMM. The current study examined mental health care use among ASMM, both lifetime use and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Long-Acting Injectable Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Perceptions and Preferences Among Transgender and Nonbinary Young Adults in the United States.

Long-acting injectable pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention (LAI-PrEP) was approved for use in the United States in 2021, yet little is known about perceptions of LAI-PrEP among transgender and nonbinary young adults, a group that faces substantial barriers to HIV prevention. We investigated US transgender and nonbinary young adults' perceptions of and attitudes toward LAI-PrEP and how perceived advantages and disadvantages of LAI-PrEP related to the PrEP continuum of care. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 31 transgender and nonbinary young adults who reported oral PrEP use or were PrEP-eligible.

The Impact of Restricted Clinical Experiences During a Pandemic on Newly Graduated Nurses' Experiences: A Descriptive Study.

A multihospital study examined the impact of restricted clinical opportunities during COVID-19 on newly graduated nurses' experiences, self-reported competence, and self-reported errors upon entry into a nurse residency program and at 6 months. Newly graduated nurses' experiences (n = 2,005) were described using comparative data from cohorts before and during restricted experiences across 22 hospitals; minimal differences were observed. Nursing professional development specialists can utilize this information when creating and sustaining transition-to-practice programs.

Will all youth answer sexual orientation and gender-related survey questions? An analysis of missingness in a large U.S. survey of adolescents and young adults.

Some researchers and clinicians may feel hesitant to assess sexual orientation and gender-related characteristics in youth surveys because they are unsure if youth will respond to these questions or are concerned the questions will cause discomfort or offense. This can result in missed opportunities to identify LGBTQ+ youth and address health inequities among this population. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence and sociodemographic patterns of missingness among survey questions assessing current sexual orientation, gender identity and expression (SOGIE), and past change in sexual orientation (sexual fluidity) among a diverse sample of U.

Differences in the sexual health information parents/guardians give their adolescent sexual minority sons by outness.

Introduction: Parents and guardians are a potentially valuable source of sexual health information for adolescent sexual minority males (ASMM). The current study examines what sexual health topics ASMM report discussing with a parent/guardian and whether topics differ by outness about sexual attraction to other males.

Methods: ASMM (=154; ages 14-17) in the United States completed the baseline of an online sexual health intervention pilot in 2020.

"An escape from the isolation": Youth thoughts about the impact of COVID-19 on adolescent sexual behavior and alcohol use.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic likely affected adolescent sexual behaviors and alcohol use, although how is not well understood.

Method: Youth were sampled from the national, online longitudinal Growing up with Media study. They responded via text messaging to open-ended questions about how the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the sexual behavior and alcohol use of adolescents.

Hydrogen peroxide-dependent oxidation of ERK2 within its D-recruitment site alters its substrate selection.

Extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) are dysregulated in many pervasive diseases. Recently, we discovered that ERK1/2 is oxidized by signal-generated hydrogen peroxide in various cell types. Since the putative sites of oxidation lie within or near ERK1/2's ligand-binding surfaces, we investigated how oxidation of ERK2 regulates interactions with the model substrates Sub-D and Sub-F.

Preferred Characteristics for mHealth Interventions Among Young Sexual Minoritized Men to Support HIV Testing and PrEP Decision-Making: Focus Group Study.

Background: Epidemiological trends in the United States have shown an increase in HIV cases among young sexual minoritized men. Using mobile health (mHealth), which refers to health services and information delivered or enhanced through the internet and related technologies, is a crucial strategy to address HIV disparities. However, despite its potential, the practical implementation of mHealth remains limited.

"I wish I actually had known what the heck sex was:" What adolescent sexual minority males knew and wish they knew prior to sexual debut with a male partner.

Introduction: Understanding the sexual health needs of adolescent sexual minority males (ASMM) at the time of sexual debut will inform programs seeking to decrease sexual health inequities experienced by ASMM.

Methods: In 2020, sexually active, cisgender ASMM (=102, age 14-17) in the United States completed the baseline assessment of an online sexual health intervention pilot trial. Participants responded to closed- and open-ended questions about their sexual debut with a male partner, including sexual behavior, skills and knowledge they knew and wish they knew at the time of their debut, and sources of said skills and knowledge.

Sexual Fluidity in Identity and Behavior Among Cisgender Youth: Findings from the Longitudinal Growing up with Media Study.

Objectives: To examine fluidity in sexual orientation identity and behavior among cisgender youth.

Study Design: Data were analyzed from 5 survey waves of the longitudinal US Growing Up with Media Study (2010-2019). Participants were 989 cisgender youth, aged 13-20 years at baseline, who completed online surveys assessing sexual orientation identity and behavior (gender of sexual partners).

Minor Consent Laws for Sexually Transmitted Infection and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Services in the United States: A Comprehensive, Longitudinal Survey of US State Laws.

To assess changes in minor consent laws for sexually transmitted infection (STI) and HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services in all 50 US states and the District of Columbia from 1900 to 2021. We coded laws into minor consent for (1) health care generally; (2) STI testing, treatment, and prevention; (3) HIV testing, treatment, and prevention; and (4) pre- or postexposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention. We also coded confidentiality protections and required conditions (e.

Sociodemographic Patterns in Retrospective Sexual Orientation Identity and Attraction Change in the Sexual Orientation Fluidity in Youth Study.

Purpose: This study examined sociodemographic patterns of retrospective fluidity in sexual orientation identity (i.e., any change from one identity to another) and attractions (i.

#ChokeMeDaddy: A Content Analysis of Memes Related to Choking/Strangulation During Sex.

Recent research indicates that some young people initially learn about sexual choking through Internet memes. Thus, a qualitative content analysis was performed on 316 visual and textual memes collected from various social media websites and online searches to assess salient categories related to choking during sex. We identified nine main categories: communication, gendered dynamics, choking as dangerous, choking as sexy, sexualization of the nonsexual, shame and worry, romance/rough sex juxtaposition, choking and religious references, instructional/informational.

Minor Consent Laws for Sexually Transmitted Infection and HIV Services.

This study examines current minor consent laws for sexually transmitted infection/HIV services and related confidentiality protections in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Leading Nursing Excellence Through a System Magnet® Program Director Council.

American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet® designation is prestigious to healthcare institutions. Setting the expectation for all hospitals within a system to be Magnet designated is a lofty but achievable goal. Nursing leaders at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center set organization-wide designation as a goal in 2010.