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J Mens Health 2015 May;11(5):14-21

Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA, US.

Objective: To examine if the use of general preventive services were diminished in a cohort of men following their diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Patients And Methods: 16,604 men enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Southern California who were newly diagnosed with prostate cancer from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2009 were passively followed through electronic medical records to determine the use of preventive services, including screening for colorectal cancer (colonoscopy and/or fecal occult blood tests (FOBT)), tests for diabetes (glucose and hemoglobin A1c) and heart disease (serum cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglycerides) and vaccinations (influenza and pneumococcal). Preventive service use was compared in the two years prior to and following prostate cancer diagnosis using matched odds ratios (MOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) in 2013. Read More

J Mens Health 2014 Dec;11(4):157-162

Veterans Health Administration-Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center (GRECC), HSR&D Center, Nashville, TN ; Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN ; Department of Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.

Background: Chronic inflammation is important in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and certain oral antidiabetic medications have anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to determine if use of thiazolidinediones or metformin was associated with a reduced risk of requiring medical or surgical treatment for BPH compared to sulfonylureas among diabetic men.

Methods: We constructed a retrospective cohort of 192,457 male veterans newly prescribed either rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, metformin, or a sulfonylurea. Read More

J Mens Health 2012 Jun;9(2):79-88

Objective: To gain a greater understanding of masculinity and its potential influence on health-improving behavior in midlife and older African American (AA) men.

Methods: Forty-nine AA men aged 45-88 years completed in-depth interviews to ascertain their perspectives on masculinity, how masculine identity in this population might be influenced by age and physical activity level, or how it might impact health. Taped interviews were transcribed and organized for analysis with common themes identified by multiple researchers. Read More

J Mens Health 2013 Mar 12;10(1):14-21. Epub 2013 Nov 12.

Minority Men's Health Center, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio.

Background: African-American men are disproportionately burdened with colorectal cancer (CRC). Research is scarce on the social determinants that may influence CRC screening as the primary strategy for early detection among African-American males.

Methods: African-American men over the age of 18 years ( = 558) were recruited from a community health fair and anonymously surveyed about their health and cancer screening behaviors. Read More

J Mens Health 2012 Sep;9(3):176-181

BACKGROUND: Sexual behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM) that occur in sexually charged venues (e.g., bathhouse, sex club, public park) are a target for research and intervention due to concerns about the role these venues may have in the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Read More

J Mens Health 2012 Sep;9(3):182-189

Background: The aim of the study was to measure plasma levels of the vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) A and D in serially collected blood specimens from non-localized prostate cancer (PCa) subjects.

Methods: Plasma VEGF A and D levels were measured in two serial specimens 3-6 months apart in two groups of non-localized stage PCa patients. Group 1 was comprised of patients with biochemical relapse after localized PCa treatments and/or patients with clinically metastatic hormone-sensitive stage PCa prior to receiving hormonal therapy. Read More

J Mens Health 2012 Sep;9(3)

Background: Low testosterone (T) has been associated with insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus (DM) among men in population-based studies. These studies included racially diverse men, but did not target for inclusion individuals with opiate use, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection, which disproportionately affect inner-city populations and may alter the relationship between T and DM.

Methods: We studied the association between free T (FT) and abnormal glucose metabolism among male participants in he Study of HIV, Injection Drug Use, Nutrition, and Endocrinology (SHINE). Read More

J Mens Health 2012 Jun;9(2):63-69

The social determinants unique to African-American men's health contribute to limited access and utilization of health and mental health care services and can have a deleterious effect on their overall health and well-being. There is a need to examine the complex issues concerning African-American men's help-seeking behaviors relative to mental health concerns. Current research estimates that African-American men are approximately 30% more likely to report having a mental illness compared to non-Hispanic Whites and are less likely to receive proper diagnosis and treatment. Read More

J Mens Health 2012 Jun;9(2):120-126

BACKGROUND: Social determinants of health are increasingly being addressed as a causal factor for disparities in health. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of specified social determinants of health on cardiovascular disease (CVD) clinical risk factors in Black and White men residing in rural and urban Georgia. METHODS: Self-report data were collected on a total of 548 Black and White men aged >18 years from 2004-2005. Read More

J Mens Health 2012 Jun 26;9(2):127-136. Epub 2012 Apr 26.

BACKGROUND: conventional wisdom suggests that increased socioeconomic resources should be related to better health. Considering the body of evidence demonstrating the significant association between racial discrimination and depression, we examined whether exposure to racial discrimination could attenuate the positive effects of increased levels of socioeconomic position (SEP) among African Americans. Specifically, this paper investigated the joint interactive effects of SEP and racial discrimination on the odds of depression among African Americans. Read More

J Mens Health 2011 Oct;8(3):185-191

BACKGROUND: There is clear evidence that men suffer from osteoporosis (OP) in increasing numbers, but that men commonly remain underdiagnosed, undertreated and experience poorer outcomes than do women. The widespread sociocultural association of OP with postmenopausal women reflects their greater risk for developing the disorder, but the sexing of OP as a women's disease disadvantages at-risk men. METHODS: This paper reports on qualitative data gathered from 23 community-residing men who have an OP diagnosis. Read More

J Mens Health 2011 Oct;8(3):175-184

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. With the U.S. Read More

J Mens Health 2011 May;8(2):140-151

BACKGROUND: African-American men bear a disproportionate burden for disease compared to other ethnic and racial groups. Due to gender differences in socialization and lifestyle practices, men are more likely to adopt attitudes and beliefs that undermine their health and well-being, including beliefs related to masculinity. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the contextual factors in the attitudes and beliefs of African-American men's view of health in general, and as related to prostate cancer in particular. Read More

J Mens Health 2011 Mar;8(1):50-55

BACKGROUND: Almost half (49%) of the people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the United States (US) are African-Americans. Although African-Americans represent only about 13% of the overall population, they continue to account for a higher proportion of cases at all stages of HIV/AIDS. Most documented interventions targeting the African-American population have focused on women, children, men who have sex with men or drug addicts. Read More