Perceptions of Needs, Assets, and Priorities Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men With HIV: Community-Driven Actions and Impacts of a Participatory Photovoice Process.

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV experience significant health inequities and poorer health outcomes compared with other persons with HIV. The primary aims of this study were to describe the needs, assets, and priorities of Black MSM with HIV who live in the Southern United States and identify actions to improve their health using photovoice. Photovoice, a participatory, collaborative research methodology that combines documentary photography with group discussion, was conducted with six Black MSM with HIV. From the photographs and discussions, primary themes of discrimination and rejection, lack of mental health services, coping strategies to reduce stress, sources of acceptance and support, and future aspirations emerged. After the photographs were taken and discussed, the participants hosted a photo exhibition and community forum for the public. Here, 37 community attendees and influential advocates collaborated with the participants to identify 12 actions to address the men's identified needs, assets, and priorities. These included making structural changes in the legal and medical systems, encouraging dialogue to eliminate multiple forms of stigma and racism, and advocating for comprehensive care for persons with HIV. As a secondary aim, the impacts of photovoice were assessed. Participants reported enjoying photovoice and found it meaningful. Results suggest that in addition to cultivating rich community-based knowledge, photovoice may result in positive changes for Black MSM with HIV.

Dietary supplementation of L-arginine and conjugated linoleic acid reduces retroperitoneal fat mass and increases lean body mass in rats.

We hypothesized that l-arginine and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) would have additive effects in decreasing adiposity. Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to the following dietary groups (n = 6/group; 5 wk total): 1) control (2.55% l-alanine plus 1.5% canola oil); 2) arginine (1.25% l-arginine plus 1.5% canola oil); 3) CLA (2.55% l-alanine plus 1.5% CLA); and 4) arginine plus CLA (1.25% l-arginine plus 1.5% CLA). Supplemental amino acids were provided in drinking water and CLA was incorporated into the food pellets. Daily weight gain, food intake, arginine intake, and final body and eviscerated body weights were greater in rats fed supplemental CLA then in rats fed canola oil. The retroperitoneal adipose tissue:body weight ratio was less in rats fed supplemental CLA than in rats fed canola oil, but epididymal adipose tissue, liver, and soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscle weights were unaffected by arginine or CLA. CLA decreased epididymal adipose tissue concentrations of palmitoleic, oleic, and cis-vaccenic acid. CLA and arginine increased palmitate oxidation to CO(2) in epididymal adipose tissue in vitro relative to control rats. Glucose and palmitate incorporation into total lipids in epididymal adipose tissue was lower in rats fed supplemental arginine than in alanine-fed rats. Arginine increased plasma glycerol relative to alanine-fed rats and CLA and arginine independently decreased most serum essential amino acids and alanine, glutamate, glutamine, and ornithine. We conclude that CLA and arginine modulated adipose tissue metabolism by separate, but not additive, effects. Also, CLA and arginine may have depressed muscle protein turnover.