Although research on the associations between COVID-19 and social relationships has garnered attention, there has been less of a focus on how COVID-19 was discussed within relationships themselves. The present study deepens the understanding of the wide reach of the pandemic by using quantitative surveys and open-ended responses to explore how individuals discussed and reacted to COVID-19 and related health guidelines in the context of their family and peer relationships. Data were collected from 132 young adults in the U.S. (age = 18.9 years, SD = 0.85; 50% female; 14% ethnically racially minoritized students) using standard procedures established by the university’s undergraduate research pool. Results suggest that young adults talked about COVID-19 more with their families than with their peers. They also reported sharing similar opinions about the pandemic with both their family and their peers. Young adults described COVID-19, overall, as having positive net effects within their family relationships but straining their peer relationships. Qualitative data provide additional, detailed insight on how the pandemic shifted interpersonal dynamics and family and peer relationships.

Opioid use disorder is a public health problem with disastrous effects for young people and their families. Opioid use shares risk factors with other substances; there may be additional unique motives and experiences associated with opioid use with potential implications for improving prevention. The present study used surveys and interviews to elicit retrospective accounts of 30 young adults (19 female) in recovery from opioid use disorder to examine (1) self-reported motives for opioid use, and (2) experiences and factors that participants associate with opioid use as compared to other substances. Motives reported for past opioid use on surveys were enhancement (i.e., fun or excitement) and coping (i.e., to forget worries or cheer up when in a bad mood), followed by conformity and social motives. Through analysis of interview data, we found that: experiences of opioid use differed from experiences associated with other substances, with effects described in terms of escape and numbing (theme 1); and the ability (early in use) to remain/appear functional (theme 2). Participants reported perceptions of lower risk of harm compared to other substances (theme 3). For some, access was the main factor reported to contribute to opioid use (theme 4). Evidence-based prevention approaches focused on environmental strategies (such as prescription regulation policies) and individual strategies (such as coping skills and prevention education) are relevant for opioid use prevention. Additional supplemental approaches are needed to focus on misperceptions among young people that prescription medications confer lower risk than other substances.

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of endometrial scratching on in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates in women undergoing frozen embryo transfer with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). Methods: Biopsy was performed at oocyte retrieval in cases and compared to those who did not undergo scratching (controls). Endpoints included pregnancy loss, total pregnancy, clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), ongoing pregnancy rate/live birth rate (OPR), and the incidence of chronic endometritis (CE). Results: Women in case and control groups had similar characteristics, such as age, body mass index, and parity. Overall total pregnancy rate was 82.43% following single euploid embryo transfer in cases compared to 85.7% in controls (p = 0.57; OR = 1.27; 95% CI = 0.565 to 2.78). CPR was 73.3% and 76.2% (p = 0.62; OR = 1.18; 95% CI = 0.594 to 2.29), and OPR between groups was 64.8% and 72.3% (p = 0.28; OR = 1.42; 95% CI = 0.74 to 2.7). First trimester loss rate was similar at 16.9%% and 15.5%%, respectively (p = 0.82). Subjects who underwent scratching closer to their frozen embryo transfer (≤ 3 months) had a similar overall pregnancy rate to those with a longer delay between retrieval and frozen embryo transfer (> 3 months 81.4% vs.87.5%; p = 0.56). CE incidence was 10.8% (8 out of 74; 95% CI = 5.5% to 19.9%). The odds of having a second trimester loss were significantly higher in the scratch group compared to controls (p = 0.03; OR = infinity; 95% CI = 1.3 to infinity). Conclusions: Endometrial scratching before frozen euploid embryo transfer did not influence pregnancy outcome but increased the chances of second trimester loss. CE was a frequent finding in those undergoing endometrial scratching at the time of retrieval.

Background/Objectives: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric and young adult (YA) patients can lead to endotheliopathy, such as thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). Natriuretic peptides have been studied as markers of endotheliopathy and critical illness. We hypothesized that elevation in NT-proBNP was associated with development of endotheliopathy (DAH, SOS, or TMA) in the first 100 days following HSCT in pediatric and YA patients. Methods: IRB exempt status was obtained. This retrospective case-control study reviewed HSCT at our institution from 2016-2020. Cases were selected based on an endotheliopathy diagnosis in the first 100 days after HSCT. Cases were matched with controls. Baseline and near-event NT-proBNP levels were compared between cases and matched controls. Effect of NT-proBNP levels on developing endotheliopathy was estimated using conditional logistic regression. Results: Sixty-two patients were included (31 cases, 31 controls). Near-event NT-proBNP was significantly higher in cases compared to controls (Median: 473 vs. 187 pg/mL, p = 0.03, Wilcoxon rank-sum test), in contrast to comparison in baseline NT-proBNP (Median: 86 vs. 86 pg/mL, p = 0.51). After adjusting for co-variates, association between near-event NT-proBNP and odds of developing endotheliopathy did not achieve statistical significance. However, trends from most common transplant indications suggested an association between elevated near-event NT-proBNP level and endotheliopathy, particularly in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. Conclusions: NT-proBNP should be studied further as a biomarker for endotheliopathy in pediatric and YA patients undergoing HSCT. This may be particularly relevant for patients undergoing HSCT for ALL.

Background/Objectives: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric and young adult (YA) patients can lead to endotheliopathy, such as thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). Natriuretic peptides have been studied as markers of endotheliopathy and critical illness. We hypothesized that an elevation in NT-proBNP was associated with the development of endotheliopathy (DAH, SOS, or TMA) in the first 100 days following HSCT in pediatric and YA patients. Methods: IRB-exempt status was obtained. This retrospective case–control study reviewed HSCT at our institution from 2016 to 2020. Cases were selected based on an endotheliopathy diagnosis in the first 100 days after HSCT. Cases were matched with controls. Baseline and near-event NT-proBNP levels were compared between cases and matched controls. The effect of NT-proBNP levels on developing endotheliopathy was estimated using conditional logistic regression. Results: Sixty-two patients were included (31 cases, 31 controls). Near-event NT-proBNP was significantly higher in cases compared to controls (median: 473 vs. 187 pg/mL, p = 0.03, Wilcoxon rank–sum test), in contrast to comparison in baseline NT-proBNP (median: 86 vs. 86 pg/mL, p = 0.51). After adjusting for covariates, an association between near-event NT-proBNP and odds of developing endotheliopathy did not achieve statistical significance. However, trends from most common transplant indications suggested an association between an elevated near-event NT-proBNP level and endotheliopathy, particularly in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients. Conclusions: NT-proBNP should be studied further as a biomarker for endotheliopathy in pediatric and YA patients undergoing HSCT. This may be particularly relevant for patients undergoing HSCT for ALL.