San Francisco State University

About: San Francisco State University is a education organization based out in San Francisco, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Planet. The organization has 5669 authors who have published 11433 publications receiving 408075 citations. The organization is also known as: San Francisco State & San Francisco State Normal School.

Biomarkers of Mn exposure in humans

Abstract: Background Studies have reported associations between manganese (Mn) exposures and Mn levels in blood and urine, though the suitability of these biological measures as biomarkers of exposure is not well known. Methods We evaluated whether whole blood, plasma, and urine Mn levels reflect exposures in occupationally exposed humans. Results In active ferroalloy workers, blood Mn was associated with total air Mn levels in subjects currently exposed to low (median = 0.42 μg/m3, P = 0.009) and moderate (median = 4.2 μg/m3, P = 0.007) air Mn levels, but not in workers exposed to the highest Mn levels (median = 292 μg/m3, P = 0.31). In bridge welders blood Mn (P < 0.01), but not plasma or urine Mn was significantly associated with their cumulative respiratory exposure index. In welders, ∼6% (range ∼3–9%) of whole blood Mn was contained in the plasma fraction, though there was no association between whole blood and plasma Mn levels (Pearson's R = 0.258, P = 0.12). In contrast, in fresh whole blood samples spiked with Mn ex vivo ∼80% or more of added Mn partitioned in the plasma, while only ∼20% or less partitioned in the cellular fraction. Conclusions These data suggest a complex and limited relationship between exposure and blood Mn levels that may depend upon exposure attributes and the latency of blood sampling relative to exposure; plasma and urine Mn appear to be of little utility as exposure biomarkers. This underscores the need to fully characterize and validate these or other biomarkers for use in constructing appropriate exposure metrics and determining exposure–effect relationships. Am. J. Ind. Med. 50:801–811, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

'It's really a hard life': love, gender and HIV risk among male-to-female transgender persons.

Abstract: Scientific studies demonstrate high rates of HIV infection among male-to-female (MTF) transgender individuals and that stigma and discrimination place MTFs at increased risk for infection. However, there is little research examining how gender roles contribute to HIV risk. This paper reports on in-depth interviews with 20 MTFs attending a community clinic. Data reveal that stigma and discrimination create a heightened need for MTFs to feel safe and loved by a male companion and that in turn places them at a higher risk for acquiring HIV. Male-to-female transgender individuals appear to turn to men to feel loved and affirmed as women; their main HIV risk stems from their willingness to engage with sexual partners who provide a sense of love and acceptance but who also may also request unsafe sexual behaviours. A model illustrating how HIV risk is generated from stigma and discrimination is presented.

HIV prevention research for men who have sex with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract: A systematic review of HIV prevention reports published or distributed in the United States as of June 1998 yielded 9 rigorous controlled trials reporting intervention effects on unprotected sex for men who have sex with men. A summary measure of these effects was favorable (odds ratio,.69), statistically significant (95% confidence interval, 0.56-0.86), and very homogeneous. This summary value indicates a 26% reduction in the proportion of men engaging in unprotected anal intercourse. The most clearly favorable effects were observed among interventions that promoted interpersonal skills, were delivered in community-level formats, or focused on younger populations or those at higher behavioral risk. These studies demonstrate that interventions can promote risk reduction among men who have sex with men. Yet given the epidemiology of HIV in the United States, the small number of rigorous controlled intervention trials for this population is striking. Many more rigorous evaluations of HIV prevention efforts with men who have sex with men are needed to ascertain with confidence the effects of specific intervention components, population characteristics, and methodologic features.

Parenting a Child with a Disability: A Longitudinal Study of Parental Stress and Adaptation

Abstract: Mothers' experiences in parenting children with disabilities were examined in this 3-year longitudinal study. Thirty-five mother-child pairs participated in the study. Mothers and their children re...

Drug Abuse* in African American and Hispanic Adolescents: Culture, Development, and Behavior

Abstract: An understanding of African American and Hispanic adolescent drug abuse occurs at the intersection of context, development, and behavior. The focus of this review is on the impact of racial/ethnic culture as one of the important contexts that influence adolescent development toward or away from prosocial behaviors. Because family plays a major role in both African American and Hispanic cultures, it is also a centerpiece of any discussion of adolescent development in these groups. This review on the state of the science in drug abuse for African American and Hispanic adolescents focuses on epidemiology, culturally specific risk and protective processes, and prevention and treatment research. From the perspective of a broad lens, specific minority groups such as African Americans and Hispanics would appear to have more in common than not. However, each of these groups encompasses considerable genetic, historical, social, and cultural heterogeneity. Investigation across such diversity will yield a more complete picture of the human condition.