Regular Testing Research Articles

Evaluation of the Safety Rate in the Diagnostic Radiology Departments in Alkhoms City, Libya

Diagnostic radiation such as X-rays and CT scans play a central role in the diagnosis of diseases. Excessive radiation exposure poses a high risk for healthcare providers as well as patients, which may cause serious diseases such as cancer. Providing protection requirements in the radiation departments and continuous inspection to prevent radiation leakage is the right way to provide human protection. The current study aimed to evaluate the safety rate in the diagnostic radiology departments in Alkhoms City. The questionnaire designed for the study in Arabic language, presented to experts for verification and review, then distributed to eleven medical centres in the Alkhoms region containing many relevant questions regarding the radiology department such as the name and address of a medical centre, in-formation about users and safety. Lead plates are present in 91% of health centres 36% of health centres installed lead plates for 1-5 years, 27% for 6-10 years, and 36% for 21 years or more. Lead plates are inspected once in 27%, three times in 9%, and four times or more in 9% of medical centres, on the other hand, 56% of medical centres didn’t inspect lead plates since installed. The lead plates last examined in 27% of medical centres a year ago, in 9% examined less than five years ago, and in 9% examined less than twenty years ago. On the other hand, 56% of medical centres have not performed any check-ups since installation. Protection glass and lead plates are present in 82% of medical centres, a radiation protection gown is present in 36%, and a dosimeter is present in 9% of medical centres only. Only 18% of health centres have organised a training programme for their radiology department staff. The safety rate in radiology departments in Alkhoms City- Libya is low because most medical centres lack protective equipment, and if they do, there is no regular inspection or testing of this equipment.

Children and adolescents’ experiences of mandatory SARS-CoV-2 testing in schools: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundPublic health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic had dramatic consequences for children and adolescents. However, policy-makers and healthcare researchers did not give sufficient weight to children’s perspectives. One common public...

Larval cyathostominosis in horses

Small strongyles are the most common parasites of horses, capable of surviving different climate conditions. Though the infection is usually asymptomatic, young horses are considered more prone to developing a parasitic syndrome called larval cyathostominosis. In most cases, gastrointestinal symptoms are most prevalent. Treatment is based on the use of fenbendazole and moxidectin. Diagnosis is difficult and serological methods are still under development. The main prevention methods include regular coprological testing, pasture rotation, co-grazing with ruminants, and regular removal of faeces from the pasture.

Prevalence of self-reported symptoms of diabetic autonomic dysfunction in the North Denmark Region: a population-based survey.

Diabetic autonomic neuropathy is a severe complication of diabetes, estimated to affect up to 44% in type 1 diabetes (T1D) and 73% in type 2 diabetes (T2D) based on clinical studies. Currently, the assessment of diabetic autonomic neuropathy is not implemented in Denmark's clinical guidelines, complicating the estimation of the true prevalence. Thus, this study investigated the prevalence of self-reported symptoms of autonomic dysfunction in people living with diabetes in the North Denmark Region using the Composite Autonomic Symptoms Score (COMPASS)-31 questionnaire. In 2022, all adults with T1D or T2D in the North Denmark Region (n = 29,155) were identified using The National Health Insurance Service Registry and invited to an online survey including the Danish version of COMPASS-31. The prevalence and associated 95% confidence intervals (CI) for symptomatic autonomic dysfunction were determined using a cut-off value of 16. In total, 7,377 completed COMPASS-31, of which 82.4% reported having T2D and 13.7% T1D. The prevalence of symptomatic autonomic dysfunction was 36.8% (95% CI: 34-40) after a median of 26 years with diabetes for T1D and 44.2% (95% CI: 43-45) after a median of 10 years for T2D. Pupillary and orthostatic intolerance were the most frequent moderate to severe symptoms, respectively (38.4% and 24.0% in T1D and 32.8% and 26.3% in T2D). Symptoms of autonomic dysfunction are very common in individuals with diabetes living in the North Denmark Region, emphasizing the unmet need for regular testing to increase awareness and allow for adequate management, ultimately reducing the morbidity of diabetes.

What role does antibiotic resistance play in secondary endodontic infections?

The systematic review utilised multiple electronic databases to gather relevant literature, including PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Medline. The search was conducted focusing on clinical studies where Enterococcus strains were isolated to assess their antimicrobial resistance. The search strategy was designed based on the PICO model, targeting patients with secondary/persistent endodontic infections (SPEI) and evaluating the resistance profiles of Enterococci to systemic antibiotics. A total of 584 studies were initially identified through database searches. After removing duplicates, 517 studies were excluded based on title and abstract screening, leading to the final inclusion of 11 clinical trials that met the eligibility criteria. The studies were conducted in various countries, including Brazil, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Sweden, the United States, and Japan. The focus was on permanent teeth with post-treatment apical periodontitis undergoing endodontic retreatment. Data extraction was performed independently by two reviewers, who compiled details such as authorship, year of publication, country of study, sample groups, bacterial strains tested, antibiotics used, and resistance outcomes. The risk of bias was assessed using the ROB-2 platform, and all studies were considered to have a low risk of bias, with occasional minor deficiencies noted. The analysis revealed fluctuating resistance profiles of Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) to various antibiotics over time. E. faecalis isolated from teeth with SPEI showed intermediate resistance to 16 antibiotics. The most effective antibiotics identified were the combination of amoxicillin and clavulanate, followed by amoxicillin and benzylpenicillin. In patients with penicillin allergies, moxifloxacin and azithromycin were suggested as alternatives, albeit with caution due to their varying resistance levels. The antibiotics demonstrating the highest resistance patterns against E. faecalis included clindamycin, gentamicin, metronidazole, and rifampicin, which are contraindicated in SPEI cases. Ongoing monitoring of antibiotic resistance patterns is crucial for effective endodontic treatment protocols. The emergence of resistance among Enterococci, particularly E. faecalis, necessitates regular susceptibility testing to inform clinical decisions and improve treatment outcomes. The findings underscore the need for health professionals to stay informed about the evolving resistance landscape to ensure safe and effective therapeutic regimens in endodontics.

Untargeted metabolomic profiling of small extracellular vesicles reveals potential new biomarkers for triple negative breast cancer.

Breast Cancer (BC) is one of the most diagnosed malignancies among women and the second leading cause of cancer related death in North America. Triple Negative BC (TNBC), one of the most severe subtypes of BC, is extremely aggressive and has a higher chance of occurrence in women under 50 years of age. Due to a lack of regular mammographic testing in women under 50, many individuals with TNBC are diagnosed late which can decrease their survival rate. Currently, liquid biopsy is being investigated as a potentially less-invasive alternative to traditional breast tissue biopsy, but this approach is not completely reliable. Blood contains extracellular vesicles (EVs), which carry biomolecular cargo and play a role in BC progression and metastasis. Examination of small EVs could potentially yield metabolite biomarkers for early BC diagnosis. We aim to study metabolites in small EVs to find biomarkers for BC diagnosis. In this work, an untargeted nano-LC MS/MS metabolomics approach was used to analyze metabolites from small EVs derived from metastatic MDA-MB-231 and compare it with a non-cancerous MCF10A cell line. Two metabolites, LysoPC 22:6/0:0 and N-acetyl-L-Phenylalanine, unique to sEVs of MDA-MB-231, were identified, validated, and proposed as potential BC biomarkers. Metabolites from sEVs may be used for BC diagnosis.

Initiation and continued use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis among pregnant and postpartum women in South Africa (PrEP-PP): a demonstration cohort study

When used effectively, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP; tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine) prevents maternal HIV acquisition and reduces the risk of vertical transmission. Our study aimed to better understand PrEP initiation, continued use, and adherence in pregnant and postpartum women. The PrEP in Pregnancy and Postpartum (PrEP-PP) study is a demonstration cohort study that enrolled pregnant women aged 16 years and older without HIV attending their first antenatal care visit in Cape Town, South Africa, between Aug 29, 2019, and Oct 10, 2021. Eligible, consenting women were followed up quarterly up to 12 months postpartum with regular HIV testing and offer of PrEP with ongoing adherence counselling. The primary outcome was distribution of women across the PrEP cascade (ie, initiation and continuation up to 12 months postpartum) with crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). We also report on HIV incidence by pregnancy and postpartum status. Overall, 1195 pregnant women were recruited and followed up (median age 26 years, IQR 23-31; median gestational age 21 weeks, IQR 15-31); 1009 (84·4%) started PrEP at enrolment. Among women who initiated PrEP at enrolment, 668 (67·5%) of 990 continued PrEP at the 1-month follow-up, 485 (49·9%) of 972 continued at 3 months, 392 (39·4%) of 994 at 6 months, and 275 (27·4%) of 1005 at 12 months. Of 186 women who did not accept PrEP at enrolment, 70 (37·6%) of 186 subsequently initiated PrEP. Overall, 200 (18·6%) of 1076 women continued PrEP at 12 months postpartum. Of 186 women who did not initiate PrEP at baseline, 70 (37·6%) subsequently initiated PrEP during the study. Factors associated with PrEP discontinuation up to 12 months postpartum included being married or cohabiting (adjusted HR 1·32, 95% CI 1·16-1·50), condomless sex since last visit (1·43, 1·23-1·65), reporting intimate partner violence (2·03, 1·59-2·59), or depression in the past 12 months (1·53, 1·14-2·05). Overall, 16 women seroconverted over 1673·8 woman-years (HIV incidence rate 0·96 per 100 woman-years, 95% CI 0·49-1·42); 14 discontinued PrEP use and two never initiated PrEP. HIV incidence was 0·28 per 100 woman-years during pregnancy (95% CI 0·22-0·33), and the incidence rate ratio was 1·77 per 100 woman-years (0·53-5·90) 0-6 months postpartum and 2·19 per 100 woman-years (0·61-7·83) 6-12 months postpartum compared with pregnant women. There is an urgent need for the integration of PrEP into antenatal and postnatal care and interventions that address barriers to continued use, including targeted counselling during pregnancy and postpartum to reduce PrEP discontinuation. National Institute of Mental Health and Fogarty International, US National Institutes of Health. For the French translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Evaluating the Importance of Practice-Level Factors on Adherence to Prostate Cancer Treatment Guidelines in Urology

ObjectiveTo evaluate adherence to treatment guideline recommendations across the continuum of prostate cancer care by US community urologists using several prostate cancer (PCa) specific performance indicators (PIs). Additionally, to determine which practice-related factors, such as having a designated PCa patient champion, active patient management in a patient portal, and in-office dispensing of medications, were associated with improved PI performance. MethodsElectronic medical record data was collected retrospectively from the PPS Analytics Patient Population Health Management Platform. The cohort consisted of adult patients with a PCa-related service visit during the period 7/1/2019 to 6/30/2022. Five PIs were reviewed: dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), systemic therapy in metastatic PCa, external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) concurrent with ADT, image monitoring, and regular testosterone testing and monitoring. ResultsA total of 101,186 patients were identified from 95 urology practices. PI adherence rates ranged from a low of 13.6% for a DEXA scan within 6-months of ADT initiation to a high of 72.3% for EBRT concurrent with ADT in intermediate/high risk localized PCa. The results also demonstrated that several practice-related features were associated with better PI adherence. ConclusionsThe findings suggest there exists a wide range in PI adherence rates for urologists in the delivery of community urology care in the Unites States compared to clinical guideline recommendations. Future research should examine the factors associated with PI nonadherence and promote implementation of interventions that enhance guideline concordant care.

Effects of HIV Self-Testing on Testing Promotion and Risk Behavior Reduction Among Transgender Women in China: Randomized Controlled Trial.

To date, no randomized controlled trials have specifically addressed behavior changes after HIV self-testing (HIVST) among transgender women. This study aims to evaluate the effects of HIVST on changes in HIV testing behavior, frequency of condomless sex, and partner numbers among transgender women in China. Participants were recruited from 2 Chinese cities using both online and offline methods. Transgender women were randomly assigned to receive an HIVST intervention. Data from the previous 3 months were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The primary outcome was the mean change in the number of HIV tests among transgender women during the 6-month follow-up. An intention-to-treat analysis was conducted. The statistical analysis used analysis of covariance and linear mixed-effects models. From February to June 2021, and 255 transgender women were recruited, of which only 36.5% (93/255) had a steady job, and 27.1% (69/255) earned less than US $414.9 of income per month. They were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=127) and control (n=128) groups. At 6 months, the mean number of HIV tests was 2.14 (95% CI 1.80-2.48) in the intervention group and 1.19 (95% CI 0.99-1.40) in the control group (P<.001), with increases of 0.84 (95% CI 0.54-1.14) and 0.11 (95% CI -0.19-0.41) over 6 months, respectively. The net increase was 0.73 (95% CI 0.31-1.15; P<.001), with a similar adjusted result. No significant differences in the frequency of condomless sex or partner numbers were observed between the 2 groups. HIVST is an effective strategy for enhancing regular HIV testing behavior among transgender women in China. This strategy should be combined with measures to address the financial vulnerability of the transgender women community to reduce subsequent risk behaviors, including condomless sex. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000039766; https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=61402.

Chinese Public Attitudes and Opinions on Health Policies During Public Health Emergencies: Sentiment and Topic Analysis.

By the end of 2021, the new wave of COVID-19 sparked by the Omicron variant spread rapidly due to its highly contagious nature, affecting more than 170 countries worldwide. Nucleic acid testing became the gold standard for diagnosing novel coronavirus infections. As of July 2022, numerous cities and regions in China have implemented regular nucleic acid testing policies, which have had a significant impact on socioeconomics and people's lives. This policy has garnered widespread attention on social media platforms. This study took the newly issued regular nucleic acid testing policy during the COVID-19 pandemic as an example to explore the sentiment responses and fluctuations of netizens toward new policies during public health emergencies. It aimed to propose strategies for managing public opinion on the internet and provide recommendations for policy making and public opinion control. We collected blog posts related to nucleic acid testing on Weibo from April 1, 2022, to July 31, 2022. We used the topic modeling technique latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) to identify the most common topics posted by users. We used Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) to calculate the sentiment score of each post. We used an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model to examine the relationship between sentiment scores and changes over time. We compared the differences in sentiment scores across various topics, as well as the changes in sentiment before and after the announcement of the nucleic acid price reduction policy (May 22) and the lifting of the lockdown policy in Shanghai (June 1). We collected a total of 463,566 Weibo posts, with an average of 3799.72 (SD 1296.06) posts published daily. The LDA topic extraction identified 8 topics, with the most numerous being the Shanghai outbreak, nucleic acid testing price, and transportation. The average sentiment score of the posts was 0.64 (SD 0.31), indicating a predominance of positive sentiment. For all topics, posts with positive sentiment consistently outnumbered those with negative sentiment (χ27=24,844.4, P<.001). The sentiment scores of posts related to "nucleic acid testing price" decreased after May 22 compared with before (t120=3.882, P<.001). Similarly, the sentiment scores of posts related to the "Shanghai outbreak" decreased after June 1 compared with before (t120=11.943, P<.001). During public health emergencies, the topics of public concern were diverse. Public sentiment toward the regular nucleic acid testing policy was generally positive, but fluctuations occurred following the announcement of key policies. To understand the primary concerns of the public, the government needs to monitor social media posts by citizens. By promptly sharing information on media platforms and engaging in effective communication, the government can bridge the information gap between the public and government agencies, fostering a positive public opinion environment.

Incentivization of Sexually Transmitted Infection Testing at a Large Public University

Abstract Background According to the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 2.5 million cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia were reported in 2022, with notable increases in gonorrhea and chlamydia. The highest rates of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were found in men and women of college age. This study compared free STI testing events to usual care with regard to patient socio-economic factors and testing positivity rates. Methods The Department of Student Health &amp; Wellness at a large, public university offers routine testing at a low cost, flat rate, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis C Ab, syphilis and HIV testing. Two weeks of free testing were held during calendar year 2023. Utilization and positivity rates between free testing and regular testing weeks were compared using Pearson’s chi squared and Fisher Exact tests. Results A total of 8705 tests were performed during routine testing weeks with associated cost averaging 174 tests per week as compared to 1177 tests for the free testing weeks averaging 589 tests per week. Testing uptake during free testing weeks was higher among females (65.6% (n = 772) vs. 55.1% (n = 4797); p &amp;lt; 0.001) and minorities such as, Black or African American [11.3% (n = 133) vs. 9.4% (n = 813); p = 0.02], Hispanic [11.4% (n = 134) vs. 9.2% (n = 798); p = 0.02] and Asian [13.1% (n = 154) vs. 8.8% (n = 763); p &amp;lt; 0.001] when compared to testing during regular weeks. Chlamydial infection positivity rate was lower during the free testing weeks [1.8% (n = 7)] vs. [3.9% (n = 123); p = 0.04]. Gonorrhea, hepatitis C, HIV, and Syphilis positivity rates did not differ between the two testing periods. Conclusions Free STI testing in the context of a large, public university Student Health Department shows increased utilization. The establishment of free testing weeks was associated with an increase in female students and minorities use of testing services at a large public university. Key messages • Incentivization can improve STI testing utilization among university students. • The establishment of STI free testing periods can increase the use of testing services among minority students and females.

Combined HIV prevention: knowledge and attitudes among higher education students in Portugal

Abstract Introduction Combined Prevention is a strategy that combines different methods of HIV prevention that can be used simultaneously or sequentially, depending on the characteristics and life stage of everyone. Among the methods are condom use, regular HIV testing, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Combined prevention is particularly important for more vulnerable groups, such as adolescents and young adults. Objectives To investigate the knowledge and attitudes related to combined HIV prevention among college students. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with college students from two institutions in a Portuguese city in the year 2022. Sampling was non-probabilistic, by convenience. Students aged 18 to 29 who had initiated sexual activity were included. The data collection instrument was a structured questionnaire sent to students online. Data were analyzed descriptively. Ethical aspects were respected. Results A total of 424 students participated in the study; majority were female (79.2%), white (92.9%), single (96.7%), Catholic (67.2%), with a mean age of 20.8 years (SD = 2.3). The number of sexual partners in the last semester ranged from none to 19, with an average of two partners (SD = 1.9). Nearly all students (94.3%) agreed that condoms are the main form of HIV prevention, however, 45.2% did not use condoms in their last casual sexual encounter. Only 15.5% and 13.9% of participants reported knowing about pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, respectively. The majority had never been tested for HIV (81.8%) and did not know where tests could be done for free (70.9%). Conclusions Despite higher education, students are vulnerable to HIV and have unsatisfactory knowledge about combined prevention measures. Key messages • College students are young individuals with high vulnerability to contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. • Universities should assume their role as promoters of health and develop strategies that contribute to students’ knowledge and reflection on HIV and its prevention methods.

Photovoltaic pumping tests: A novel supervision method for photovoltaic water pumping systems

Water pumps powered by photovoltaic energy, often named ‘photovoltaic water pumping systems’ (PVWPS), offer a promising solution for improving water access in developing regions. Regular pumping tests are essential for characterizing boreholes and ensuring sustainable groundwater extraction. Traditionally, these tests are conducted only at the time of PVWPS installation using diesel pumps. However, since PVWPS typically have a lifespan of around 20 years, the borehole's condition may change over time, necessitating ongoing testing. To overcome this challenge, this article presents a novel method for conducting pumping tests using the PVWPS's own photovoltaic modules as the power source, greatly simplifying regular borehole monitoring over the PVWPS's lifespan. This approach improves the long-term technical sustainability of PVWPS. By eliminating the need for diesel generators, it reduces also costs, emissions, and logistical complexity while ensuring continuous water supply during testing. The principle and protocol for these proposed tests are outlined, as well as the key indicators for analysis. Furthermore, the associated costs and benefits are thoroughly explored. The proposed method is applied to a PVWPS in a village in Burkina Faso. This PVWPS has 750 Wp of photovoltaic modules, a 10 m³ water tank, and a 56 m borehole. Results show that the photovoltaic pumping tests allow to accurately determine borehole parameters, achieving a model fit with an average R2 of 0.99. Additionally, a photovoltaic pumping test costs $43, which is significantly lower than standard pumping tests: a multiple step drawdown test costs $511 and a long pumping test costs $2050. Moreover, the proposed photovoltaic pumping tests can prevent premature replacements of PVWPS components, leading to significant savings. While demonstrated in a specific context, this method is transferable to other systems, offering potential benefits for companies, local authorities, governments, and NGOs involved in the development and maintenance of PVWPS in rural areas.

Very high HIV prevalence and incidence among men who have sex with men and transgender women in Indonesia: a retrospective observational cohort study in Bali and Jakarta, 2017-2020.

There are no longitudinal HIV incidence data among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in Indonesia. We aimed to estimate HIV prevalence and incidence and identify associated factors among clinic attendees in Jakarta and Bali. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using medical records from five clinics. We reviewed HIV tests among MSM/TGW aged ≥18 years who attended the clinics between 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020 in Jakarta and 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019 in Bali. HIV prevalence was measured at the first test. Those with an HIV-negative test and ≥1 follow-up test/s were included in the person-years (PY) at risk to determine HIV incidence. The PY at risk calculation started at the first negative test until the last recorded negative test or seroconversion. Multivariate Poisson regression was used to determine factors associated with HIV acquisition. Among 5203 and 2815 individuals with an HIV test result in Jakarta and Bali, respectively, at the first HIV test, 1205 and 616 were HIV positive (HIV prevalence 23.2% and 21.9%). The longitudinal sample included 1418 and 873 individuals, respectively. The median number of tests among repeat testers was 3 in Jakarta (interquartile range [IQR] = 2-4) and 3 in Bali (IQR = 2-5). At baseline, about one-quarter were aged <25 years, >90% were MSM and >35% had been tested for HIV previously. In Jakarta, there were 127 HIV seroconversions in 1353 PY (incidence 9.39/100 PY, 95% CI = 7.89-11.17), and in Bali, 71 seroconversions in 982 PY (incidence 7.24/100 PY, 95% CI = 5.73-9.13). Compared to those aged 18-24 years, the incidence rate was lower in older patients (Jakarta-30-39 years: aRR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.34-0.92; 40+ years: aRR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.14-0.81; Bali-25-29 years: aRR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.25-0.79; 30-39 years: aRR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.18-0.61; 40+ years: aRR = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.01-0.48). In Jakarta, incidence was lower in those with university education than in those without (aRR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.45-0.96). In Bali, those who had been referred by outreach workers had a higher incidence than those who self-presented for testing (aRR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.12-3.07). We observed very high HIV prevalence and incidence rate estimates. Measures to encourage regular testing and effective use of HIV prevention, including pre-exposure prophylaxis scale-up and demand creation, are needed.

The study of acceptability HIV self-testing among Iranian injecting drug users: a qualitative study

BackgroundIn 2016, The World Health Organization introduced HIV self-testing (HIVST) as an alternative to traditional HIV testing (1), the present study aims to study the acceptability of HIV self-testing among Iranian women injecting drug users (WIDUs). The results of this study are expected to provide valuable evidence for the proper implementation of this program in Iran. Methods: This study employed a content analysis approach to gather qualitative data. The investigation was conducted from April to July 2023. We have chosen the following five provinces, namely Mashhad, Tehran, Kurdistan, Mazandaran, and Kerman, as the designated areas for our study. A sample of Iranians (17–62 years) was selected by purposeful and snowball sampling methods to participate in the study, and 31 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The data collection tool was an interview guide, which was designed based on a review of the literature. The data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. The interviews continued until data saturation was reached. Results: Based on our findings, we distilled 2 main themes and 9 categories including Inhibiting factors (Access and Affordability, Accuracy Concerns, Low knowledge, linkage to HIV treatment, the window period, Ignoring the danger) and Focalizing factors (Empowerment and autonomy, Stigma and privacy.ConclusionIran’s HIV stigma may discourage regular testing, but self-testing can help overcome challenges. Support for counseling, care links, and accurate information dissemination are crucial.

HIV retesting among people living with HIV in Lesotho in 2022.

Despite widespread HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa, regular testing among at-risk populations is crucial for effective prevention. However, reports increasingly indicate retesting among people living with HIV (PLHIV), a group that would not require additional testing since they would already have received a confirmed diagnosis. We describe the demographic characteristics of PLHIV retesters in Lesotho, report the average number of HIV tests post-diagnosis among PLHIV, and share motivations for retesting. In August 2022, a nationally representative cohort in Lesotho participated in a cell phone survey about their HIV status and testing history. Study participants were recruited from a face-to-face survey conducted in 2020, Lesotho Population Based HIV Impact Assessment survey. Of the 1523 participants called, 1111 participants responded (72.9%) and 266 reported living with HIV. We found 18.8% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) reported retesting at least once for HIV, and 58% of PLHIV who reported retesting were likely or very likely to retest for HIV in the coming year. The main reason PLHIV reported retesting was because a health care worker offered the test (61.7%) followed by self-initiated testing to confirm their status (29.1%). Among male PLHIV who had a history of retesting, 92.0% were very likely or likely to retest, compared to only 30.6% of female PLHIV. We found almost a fifth of PLHIV in Lesotho reported a history of retesting for HIV, and 58% of PLHIV were likely or very likely to retest for HIV in the coming year. Educating providers and men living with HIV could reduce retesting among PLHIV.

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in Geriatric Dogs and Cats

The word “geriatric” refers to the medicine of the elderly and it is used in veterinary medicine for animals that have completed 75% of their lifespan. As the size of an animal increases, the age at which they become geriatric decreases, therefore; geriatric age varies amongst different species and breeds. Homeostatic changes occur with increasing age and some diseases such as obesity, tumor formation, orthopedic disorders, cardiovascular disorders and neurological disorders are frequently seen. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to such diseases. Thus, regular screening tests and clinical examinations are important for early diagnosis. Geriatric physiotherapy is a developing field that is noninvasive and, in some cases, can be used as a form of primary treatment or supportive treatment. Physiotherapy prevents muscle atrophy and reduces pain caused by inflammation all the while improving the patient’s quality of life. There is a wide range of different methods used in physiotherapy; TENS and NMES devices, passive and active movement exercises, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, massage, laser therapy, ECSWT and cryotherapy. However, treatment protocols are tailored by physicians to fit each patient’s needs depending on the disease and severity of the disease to be treated.

Design and Use of a Custom Phantom for Regular Tests of Radiography Apparatus: A Feasibility Study.

This study investigates the feasibility of employing an in-house-developed physical phantom dedicated to the weekly quality control testing of radiographic systems, performed by radiographers. For this purpose, a 3D phantom was fabricated, featuring test objects, including a model representing a lesion. Alongside this phantom, a commercial phantom, specifically, IBA's Primus L, was utilized. Weekly imaging of both phantoms was conducted over a span of four weeks, involving different imaging protocols and anode voltages. Subsequently, the obtained data underwent visual evaluation, as well as measurement of the intensity of selected regions of interest. The average values for three incident kilovoltages remained consistently stable over the four weeks, with the exception of the "low energy" case, which exhibited variability during the first week of measurements. Following experiments in "Week 1", the X-Ray unit was identified as malfunctioning and underwent necessary repairs. The in-house-developed phantom demonstrated its utility in assessing the performance of the X-Ray system.

Long-Term Reproducibility of BMD-Measurements with Clinical QCT Using Simultaneous and Asynchronous Calibration Methods and Different Measurement and Reconstruction Protocols.

Osteoporosis is underdiagnosed and undertreated. To improve timely fracture risk assessment optimized densitometry methods are required such as opportunistic spinal quantitative computed tomography (QCT). However, it is unclear how to best calibrate these scans and correct for potential scanner drift of QCT when used for monitoring bone mineral density (BMD) changes. We compared gold standard simultaneous calibration with asynchronous calibration methods, assessing mid-term (12weeks) and long-term (1.5years) reproducibility of BMD measurements. Cortical and trabecular compartments of the European Spine Phantom were studied with ten different protocols including low dose and high resolution (HR)-modes. Based on weekly phantom data, we compared simultaneous calibration to asynchronous single (termed global) or monthly calibration. The accuracy was better for trabecular measurements than for cortical measurements for all calibration methods. Reproducibility was excellent for all methods and slightly better for asynchronous than for simultaneous calibration both for trabecular and cortical bone. For HR protocols, reproducibility was better than for low dose measurements. In trabecular compartments averaged HR-BMD remained stable for global (- 0.1%/year, ns) but not for simultaneous calibration (- 1.5%/year, p < 0.001). No significant drifts could be detected for averaged low dose BMD (- 0.9 to + 0.8%/year) for either calibration method. Our data suggest that with regard to precision and accuracy measurements with asynchronous calibration are suitable for vertebral BMD assessment (no contrast agents) in clinical practice. Regular (e.g., monthly) stability tests using a calibration phantom could assure long term stability of at least 1year.

Update understanding on diagnosis and histopathological examination of atrophic gastritis: A review.

Chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) is a complex syndrome in which long-term chronic inflammatory stimulation causes gland atrophy in the gastric mucosa, reducing the stomach's ability to secrete gastric juice and pepsin, and interfering with its normal physiological function. Multiple pathogenic factors contribute to CAG incidence, the most common being Helicobacter pylori infection and the immune reactions resulting from gastric autoimmunity. Furthermore, CAG has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, including gastroenterology and extra-intestinal symptoms and signs, such as hematology, neurology, and oncology. Therefore, the initial CAG evaluation should involve the examination of clinical and serological indicators, as well as diagnosis confirmation via gastroscopy and histopathology if necessary. Depending on the severity and scope of atrophy affecting the gastric mucosa, a histologic staging system (Operative Link for Gastritis Assessment or Operative Link on Gastritis intestinal metaplasia) could also be employed. Moreover, chronic gastritis has a higher risk of progressing to gastric cancer (GC). In this regard, early diagnosis, treatment, and regular testing could reduce the risk of GC in CAG patients. However, the optimal interval for endoscopic monitoring in CAG patients remains uncertain, and it should ideally be tailored based on individual risk evaluations and shared decision-making processes. Although there have been many reports on CAG, the precise etiology and histopathological features of the disease, as well as the diagnosis of CAG patients, are yet to be fully elucidated. Consequently, this review offers a detailed account of CAG, including its key clinical aspects, aiming to enhance the overall understanding of the disease.