Field medicine (FM) delivers medical care to persons experiencing homelessness (PEH) where they reside (e.g., shelters, streets, etc). Research suggests that FM may reduce emergency room (ER) over-utilization and improve trust in brick-and-mortar institutions, but it is unclear if FM connects or replaces hospitals and clinics. This project assesses the relationship between FM engagement and healthcare utilization of PEH by 1) evaluating differences in the frequency of acute and non-acute brick-and-mortar care received by FM-engaged versus non-FM-engaged PEH and 2) examining how frequency of and satisfaction with FM determine the frequency of acute and non-acute brick-and-mortar care received by FM-engaged PEH. The project draws on data from the Periodic Assessment of Trajectories of Housing, Homelessness, and Health Study, which sends online monthly surveys to PEH (n = 1,338). Bivariate analyses indicate that FM-engaged PEH are more likely to report ER, hospital, and scheduled appointment visits. These associations persisted after controlling for socio-demographics and health status in negative binomial regression models. However, among the FM-engaged sample, increased FM visits were associated with lower frequency of ER and hospital visits and higher frequency of scheduled appointments. Associations with satisfaction scores showed similar directionality but were attenuated. Overall, these results suggest that FM may promote acute and non-acute care utilization and underscore the importance of patient follow-up within FM.

The Content Appealing to Youth (CAY) index, originally developed for alcohol and tobacco, identifies ad features that may attract youth. This study applied a modified CAY index to assess youth-appealing features in cannabis advertisements and examined differences across social and traditional media (TM). A random sample of 102 TM ads and 149 social media posts were coded using the CAY index. ANOVA tests assessed feature differences across media, with post hoc tests identifying specific group differences. Linear regressions examined CAY score trends over time. All cannabis advertisements contained at least one feature appealing to youth, with an average CAY score of 12.37. 100% included at least one production value element, 96.0% featured product appeals, and 71.3% incorporated reward appeals. Furthermore, 53.7% of ads featured illustrations, 33.5% included flavor/food references, and 31.4% depicted positive sensations. Facebook had significantly higher CAY scores than TM. Facebook also scored significantly higher in production elements, character appeals, youth-oriented themes, and risky content compared to Instagram and TM. In addition, CAY scores for TM significantly increased between 2018 and 2021. Our findings demonstrate a growing presence of youth-appealing features in cannabis advertising on TM. These findings can guide reasonably restrictive marketing policies to reduce youth-appealing cannabis advertising.

Since January 2025, at-large arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have scaled up to a decade-high rate within immigrant communities, with Los Angeles County being a focal point for ICE raids. Prior research, limited largely to cross-sectional analyses and convenience samples, has demonstrated that increased immigration enforcement is associated with poorer mental health outcomes and lower healthcare utilization. This study explores longitudinal associations between exposure to ICE activity and presence, healthcare avoidance, and psychological distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-4) in Los Angeles County, with a focus on Hispanic and foreign-born communities. We use panel data from the LABarometer Survey, which includes 1,182 respondents surveyed in both 2024 and 2025, with 94% year-to-year retention. ICE exposure is measured via self-reports of ICE presence and ICE-related disruptions. Preliminary analysis revealed that Hispanic identity (OR: 3.0, p < .001) and witnessing ICE operations (OR: 2.8, p<.001) independently predicted both ICE-related healthcare avoidance and withdrawal from five public domains. Bearing witness to ICE operations was associated with avoiding more than one additional public activity domain (b=+1.19, p<.001). Prior mental healthcare delay significantly predicted post-enforcement distress, indicating that ICE activity disproportionately harms those already vulnerable. ICE enforcement serves as a structural determinant of health, highlighting an urgent need for protective policies.

Introduction: Chronic exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the home is a known risk factor for suicide attempt (SA). The impact of ACEs occurring in the school environment remains under-researched. Methods: The 2023 Nevada High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey (N=4,513) assessed home ACEs (physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, witnessing intimate partner violence, food insecurity, housing instability, parent incarceration, parent mental illness, and parent substance abuse) and school ACEs (feeling unsafe on the way to and from school, threatened at school, physical fighting at school, dating violence, and bullying victimization). ACEs were summed into cumulative home and school scores. Past 12-month SA was documented. Weighted Poisson assessed ACE-SA relationships; population-attributable fractions determined the proportion of SA attributable to each environment. Results: Among Nevada high schoolers, 11.1% reported past-year SA. A graded relationship existed between cumulative home ACEs and SA: 1 ACE (aPR:1.74), 2 ACEs (aPR:2.45), 3 ACEs (aPR:3.44), 4+ ACEs (aPR:6.28). High home ACE exposure accounted for 50.6% of SA. Similarly, school ACEs showed a dose-dependent relationship: 1 ACE (aPR:2.55), 2 ACEs (aPR:4.16), 3 ACEs (aPR:5.01), 4+ ACEs (aPR:9.50). High school ACE exposure accounted for 45.77% of SA. Discussion: Cumulative exposure to ACEs in the school and home had a similar influence on SA. Trauma informed interventions in school environments may help reduce adolescent suicidal behaviors.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a marked decline in routine childhood vaccination rates, attributed to reduced healthcare access and increased vaccination hesitancy. Consequently, measles, which requires ~95% coverage to maintain herd immunity, has re-emerged in recent years. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program provides free vaccines to children with limited access to health insurance. However, it is unclear whether access to VFC providers is associated with MMR vaccination trends. To address this question, we extracted county-level data from California to examine the association between VFC provider density, (the number of providers per VFC-eligible children), and the direction of change in MMR vaccination coverage among school-aged children from 2021 to 2025. We fit an ordinal logistic regression model to evaluate this relationship. We adjusted for county-level covariates identified by gaps in the existing literature, including insurance rates, poverty rates, and political leanings. VFC provider density was not significantly associated with change in MMR vaccination coverage after adjusting for covariates (p=0.40). However, the percentage of individuals under 19 with insurance was associated with 62% higher odds of increased MMR coverage (p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that addressing post-pandemic changes in childhood MMR coverage may require interventions beyond bolstering VFC provider access, with greater attention to equitable insurance coverage as a determinant of immunization recovery.

Migraine is a disabling neurological disorder affecting about 15% of people worldwide and is more common in females. Cannabinoids that activate CB1 and CB2 receptors can reduce migraine symptoms, but CB1-related CNS side effects limit clinical use. To address this, we developed peripherally restricted cannabinoid receptor agonists (PRCBs) that do not cross the blood-brain barrier, including PrNMI, which shows strong analgesic effects with minimal CNS side effects or tolerance. Using a mouse model, migraine-like pain was induced by supradural injection of pH 6.0 saline, producing periorbital allodynia and later latent sensitization to normally subthreshold pH 7.0 saline. Co-administration of PrNMI with pH 6.0 saline completely prevented both allodynia and latent sensitization. These effects were blocked by either a CB1R-selective inverse agonist or a CB2R-selective inverse agonist, showing both receptors are required. In contrast, the CB2R-selective agonist RNB61 alone did not prevent allodynia or latent sensitization, and PrNMI given after sensitization was ineffective. Electrophysiology showed increased acid-evoked excitability in dural-projecting trigeminal neurons after pH 6.0 treatment. PrNMI reduced acid responses in control neurons but not sensitized neurons, suggesting loss of CB1R efficacy after sensitization. Overall, PrNMI prevents acid-induced migraine sensitization through combined activation of neuronal CB1Rs and non-neuronal CB2Rs.

Focusing on global health policy requires capturing not only average health outcomes but also the distribution of health across population subgroups. The Health Equity Metric (HEM), developed by Zimmerman (2018), addresses this limitation by quantifying total population health loss attributable to unequal health distributions. HEM measures health inequality by aggregating individual shortfalls from a reference level of potential health. These shortfalls are interpreted as health disutility, producing a single summary measure of population health loss due to unequal health distributions. While HEM has been applied mainly in the United States, its applicability in low- and middle-income settings remains underexplored. This study estimates HEM in Sub-Saharan Africa and evaluates its cross-country comparability. Using Demographic Health Surveys (DHS-8, 2019-2024), self-reported health is used as the primary health outcome with responses on a five-category scale ranging from “very bad” to “very good.” Responses are mapped to a numerical health index using the weighting scheme of Van Doorslaer and Jones (2003), which assigns monotonic values to ordered health categories and approximates a continuous health measure. Preliminary results suggest meaningful variation in health inequality across countries, with differences driven more strongly by education than wealth. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of extending HEM to Sub-Saharan African contexts.

This study examines the combined impact of a fiber-rich diet and regular exercise on gut microbiome health and overall well-being among young adults. Grounded in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020–2025), the study addresses the public health challenge of inadequate dietary fiber intake. Fiber is critical for gut microbiota diversity and function, which in turn supports digestive health, reduces inflammation, and lowers the risk of metabolic and chronic diseases. Additionally, the synergistic benefits of combining a microbiota-friendly diet with consistent physical activity have the potential to amplify health outcomes. The research involves undergraduate students at UCLA who already meet the criterion of engaging in at least 150 minutes of weekly exercise. This pre-existing level of physical activity ensures that participants begin the study with a consistent baseline of exercise. Over 10 weeks, participants modify their diet to include microbiota-supporting foods while maintaining their regular exercise and sleep routines. Data is collected at baseline and in three-week intervals, capturing height, weight, BMI, blood pressure, self-reported dietary habits, mood, and bowel movement metrics. The study aims to identify statistically significant changes in participants’ physical and mental health over time. Potential societal benefits could inform public health initiatives by demonstrating health-promoting effects of dietary fiber and highlighting the gut microbiome’s role in targeted interventions.