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Black men who have sex with men (MSM) have disproportionate HIV disease burden in the United States. Black MSM have been underrepresented in biomedical research, including HIV clinical trials, due to a myriad of socio-structural, socio-cultural, and psychosocial factors. The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 061, a feasibility study of a multi-component HIV prevention intervention for Black MSM in six US cities, incorporated the development and implementation of a Black Caucus as a culturally grounded model for the integration of Black MSM in clinical trials and research in HPTN. Based on a qualitative methodological approach, we describe the formation and implementation of the Black Caucus from the perspective of Black MSM key community stakeholders. Three major themes emerged from the qualitative narratives: (1) the role of the Black Caucus in shaping the HPTN, (2) how the Black Caucus addresses the needs of Black MSM communities pertaining to the influence of race and sexual identity, and (3) socio-cultural needs of Black MSM. These findings have implications for the provision of culturally congruent expertise, community engagement, cultural mistrust, recruitment and retention of Black MSM in HIV clinical trials, culturally-relevant study design and implementation, and the role of developing Black MSM prevention researchers.

Purpose of Review RNA analysis is beginning to be integrated into clinical laboratory genomics, and a review of its current uses and limitations is warranted. Here, we summarize the scope and utility of RNA analysis in the context of clinical genetic testing, including considerations for genetic counseling. Recent Findings RNA analysis is a powerful approach for interpreting some variants of uncertain significance, for analyzing splicing alterations, for providing additional functional evidence for sequence and structural variants, and for discovering novel variants. However, a review of RNA sequencing methods has noted variability in both laboratory processes and findings. Genetic counseling related to RNA analysis has to take into account nonstandardized laboratory processes, sample-type limitations, and differences in variant-interpretation outcomes. Summary RNA analysis is an important complement to DNA testing, although limitations still exist. Maximizing the utility of RNA analysis will require appropriate patient referrals and standardization of laboratory processes as the practice continues to expand the ability to identify and resolve molecular diagnoses.

BACKGROUND Neonatal hypothermia is increasingly recognized as a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Warmth care is an essential component of newborn interventions to reduce neonatal mortality. The present study deals with the knowledge, attitude and neonatal warmth care practices among postnatal mothers/care givers in the postnatal ward and aims to assess the level of understanding, acceptance and implementation of warmth care practices among mothers/care givers. As ThermoSpot is proven to be useful in detecting hypothermia in newborn babies, mothers were taught to detect hypothermia and take necessary steps by observing the colour changes of ThermoSpot. We wanted to assess the knowledge, attitude and neonatal warmth care practices among postnatal mothers/care givers in the postnatal ward. We also wanted to educate the mothers to detect hypothermia in the newborn with a simple tool like ThermoSpot and to educate them regarding correct neonatal warmth care practices. METHODS This is a hospital based interventional study, conducted among 108 post-natal mothers for a period of 6 months. Sociodemographic details of mothers were collected in a proforma. Neonatal warmth care practices followed by mothers were noted. ThermoSpot was applied to all 108 babies and any change in the colour of ThermoSpot was recorded on day 1, at 48 hours and at 72 hours. All mothers were educated about interpretation of change in colour of the ThermoSpot in detecting hypothermia or fever in the newborn baby. Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS (Version 20) software. RESULTS Out of 108 mothers, majority were in 20-24 years age group. Literacy and multiparity of the mothers were found to have statistical significance (p<0.05) regarding the knowledge of drying the baby and wrapping with warm clothes. Mothers of nuclear family, higher socioeconomic status, higher parity, and who had normal vaginal delivery, had shown higher knowledge about skin to skin contact which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Knowledge about rooming in had shown statistical significance among educated mothers, mothers belonging to higher socioeconomic status, higher parity and who had normal vaginal delivery (p <0.05). There was no statistical significance between knowledge of mothers about timing of new-born's first bath and demographic profile of mothers. Out of 108 mothers, 86 (79.6%) had knowledge to initiate breast feeds immediately after delivery where as 20.4% of mothers thought that breast feeds can be fed only when baby cries. Out of 648 ThermoSpot readings, 4 mothers reported PALE GREEN once, and one mother reported RED colour once. Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS (Version 20) software. CONCLUSIONS In the present study, lack of maternal education on essential newborn care during antenatal (5%) and postnatal periods (13%) by health personnel was found to be one of the important factors contributing to poor knowledge and implementation of essential newborn warmth care practices. As ThermoSpot is not costly (Rs. 7 p...

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