Significant Difference In Frequency Research Articles

Gram-negative postpasteurization contamination patterns of single-serve fluid milk produced in 4 different processing facilities

An analysis of historic data on high temperature, short time (HTST) fluid milk quality showed higher total bacterial counts and lower sensory defect judging scores at d 14 post-processing for milk packaged in single-serve containers as compared with milk packaged in half-gallon containers from the same processing facilities. As post-pasteurization contamination with gram-negative bacteria is likely a major contributor to an increased spoilage risk associated with milk packaged in single-serve containers, we performed a comprehensive assessment of the microbial quality and shelf-life of 265 commingled single-serve HTST fluid milk samples (including white (unflavored) skim, white (unflavored) 1%, chocolate skim, and chocolate 1%) collected over 2 visits to 4 commercial fluid milk processing facilities. Over 2 initial sampling visits, the frequency of gram-negative spoilage ranged from 14 to 79% of the product collected from the 4 facilities, with significant differences of gram-negative spoilage frequency between sampling visits, facilities (sampling visit 1, sampling visit 2, and both sampling visits combined), milk types (sampling visit 2), and filler lanes (sampling visit 2). There were no significant differences in the frequency of gram-negative spoilage between sampling time points (e.g., beginning, middle, and end of production run). Across facilities, single-serve containers of milk with gram-negative contamination showed significantly higher bacterial counts on d 7 and 14 and significantly lower sensory scores as compared with those without gram-negative contamination. Follow-up investigations, based on in-facility surveys that identified carton forming mandrels as filler components that frequently failed quality assurance ATP swab checks, found that bacterial genera, including Pseudomonas and Bacillus, isolated from single-serve milk samples were also frequently isolated from mandrels. While interventions aimed at improving cleaning and sanitation of mandrels did not lead to significant reduction of gram-negative spoilage frequency in a comparison of 398 control and 400 intervention samples, our data still suggest that the unhygienic design of single-serve fillers is likely a root-cause of gram-negative contamination of single-serve milk.

Comparative Analysis of Concrete Strength Control in China, USA and Europe

This paper compares and analyses the differences in concrete strength control regulations in China, the United States and Europe. By comparing the inspection and acceptance standards of different countries' regulations, the differences in curing and solidification of standard specimens and statistical acceptance are analyzed. The principles and mechanisms of concrete strength control regulations in different countries are studied, and the similarities and differences in concrete strength control between China, the United States and Europe are compared. The results show that although there are some similarities, there are still significant differences in sampling frequency, acceptance standards, inspection effectiveness and strength control among different countries. Through comparing and analyzing the regulations of different countries, this paper better grasps the principles and experiences of different countries in concrete strength control, providing a global perspective and promoting the reasonable formulation of concrete strength inspection regulations in various regions for researchers and practitioners in the concrete industry.

Lifestyle and Quality of Life of Women with Diagnosed Hypothyroidism in the Context of Metabolic Disorders.

The lifestyle causes of metabolic disorders in patients with hypothyroidism should be investigated. We aimed to assess the lifestyle and quality of life of women diagnosed with hypothyroidism and search for the presence of differences between the lifestyle and quality of life of women with and without diagnosed lipid metabolism disorders. This study included 311 women. To assess the differences between the groups with and without metabolic disorders, a non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was performed. Of the products that were potentially beneficial for health, statistically significant differences in the average frequency of consumption were observed for legume seeds (p = 0.014), and of the products potentially unbeneficial for health, the frequencies of consumption of fried dishes (p = 0.016) and fast-food products (p = 0.001) were significant. Only 11.9% rated their free-time physical activity as high. The quality of life was significantly different between the groups. The lifestyle was moderately appropriate. Compared with women with lipid metabolism disorders, women without them exhibited a higher frequency of correct dietary behaviors regarding the consumption of products with a potentially beneficial effect and sleeping duration. Women without lipid metabolism disorders had a better quality of life. Women with hypothyroidism should be educated about the beneficial aspects of the regular consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, and fish and sleeping for the optimal amount of time.

Genetic diversity, tissue-specific expression, and functional analysis of the ATP7A gene in sheep.

In humans, variation of the ATP7A gene may cause cranial exostosis, which is similar to "human horn," but the function of the ATP7A gene in sheep is still unknown. Tissue expression patterns and potential functional loci analysis of the ATP7A gene could help understand its function in sheep horn. In this study, we first identified tissue, sex, breed, and species-specific expression of the ATP7A gene in sheep based on the RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data. Second, the potential functional sites of the ATP7A gene were analyzed by using the whole genome sequencing (WGS) data of 99 sheep from 10 breeds. Last, the allele-specific expression of the ATP7A gene was explored. Our result showed the ATP7A gene has significantly higher expression in the big horn than in the small horn, and the ATP7A gene has high expression in the horn and skin, suggesting that this gene may be related to the horn. The PCA results show that the region around the ATP7A can distinguish horned and hornless groups to some extent, further indicating that the ATP7A may be related to horns. When compared with other species, we find seven ruminate specific amino acid sites of the ATP7A protein, which can be important to the ruminate horn. By analyzing WGS, we found 6 SNP sites with significant differences in frequency in horned and hornless populations, and most of these variants are present in the intron. But we still find some potential functional sites, including three missenses, three synonymous mutations, and four Indels. Finally, by combining the RNA-seq and WGS functional loci results, we find three mutations that showed allele-specific expression between big and small horns. This study shows that the ATP7A gene in sheep may be related to horn size, and several potential functional sites we identified here can be useful molecular markers for sheep horn breeding.

A Case-Control Study of the Fokl Polymorphism of the Vitamin D Receptor Gene in Bulgarians With Lumbar Disc Herniation.

The present study investigates whether vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms play a role in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD), a common cause of low back pain (LBP) and reduced quality of life. Specifically, we examined the FokI VDR polymorphism and its potential association with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) in patients from Bulgaria. Previous studies have suggested a link between mutations in the VDR gene and IDD. We investigated whether a potential connection between VDR polymorphisms and LDH was present by comparing the FokI polymorphism of 60 selected patients (25 to 60) with LDH and 60 healthy volunteers within the same age range. We used polymerase chain reaction to assess the phenotype of the examined subjects and statistical tests to evaluate whether the obtained results were statistically significant. The performed genetic and statistical analyses reviewed significant differences in genotypic frequencies between the patient group and healthy volunteers. The frequency of the F allele is notably higher in patients with LDH (80%) compared to volunteers (52%), while the fallele is more common among patients (86.6%) than volunteers (100%). This study strongly suggests that expression of the F allele of the VDR gene may increase the susceptibility of developing LDH, while having the f allele could potentially have a protective effect. Our results shed light on the underlying complex mechanisms contributing to the development of LDH.

Noninvasive approach to indicate risk factors of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis overlapping autoimmune hepatitis based on peripheral lymphocyte pattern

BackgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) clinically includes autoimmunity as indicated by antinuclear antibody (ANA) positivity and overlap of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Discriminating AIH-overlap NASH from NAFLD/NASH is required for proper treatment, and typically involves pathological diagnosis by invasive liver biopsy. Differential patterns of peripheral lymphocytes in NAFLD and AIH were assessed to noninvasively indicate risk factors of AIH-overlap NASH by flow cytometry (FCM).MethodsWe assessed the differential frequencies of peripheral lymphocytes in 115 patients: 70 NASH (ANA negative:positive:AIH-overlap = 36:20:14), 18 NAFL, and 27 AIH (acute:chronic = 12:15) patients diagnosed by FCM. We focused on the following populations of lymphocytes: T cells, B cells, natural killer (NK) cells, NKT cells, helper T cell (Th) subsets (Th1, Th2, and Th17), and regulatory T cells; we also examined programmed cell death (PD) 1 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen levels.ResultsSeveral significant differences in laboratory parameters and peripheral lymphocyte frequencies were found among the NAFLD and AIH subgroups. In univariate and multivariate analyses, hyaluronic acid level, liver stiffness, and the frequencies of Th17 and CD8+ PD1+ T cells were independent risk factors of NASH in NAFLD. Regarding overlap of AIH, only the frequency of CD8+ PD1+ T cells (odds ratio, 0.01; 95% CI 0.00–38.9, p = 0.004) was an independent risk factor in NASH and significantly decreased in AIH.ConclusionsThe decreased frequency of peripheral CD8+ PD1+ T cells is an independent risk factor of NASH overlapping with AIH in the present cohort. Our findings will facilitate development of a new noninvasive FCM method for indicating risk factors of NASH, including autoimmunity.

Long-term dance training modifies eye-head coordination in response to passive head impulse.

Long-term dance training is known to improve postural control, especially in challenging postural tasks. However, the effect of dance training on the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) has yet to be properly assessed. This study directly investigated whether VOR parameters are influenced by long-term dance training by testing dancers and controls using the video head impulse test. VOR gains using two of the most common methods (area ratio and instantaneous gains), latency and amplitude of the first saccade, if applicable, were computed. Results revealed a larger VOR gain as measured by area gain and instantaneous gain at 40 ms specifically for left-head impulses, but not right-head impulses. No significant differences in saccade frequency, amplitude, or latency were observed between groups. These differences appear to stem from a modified eye-to-head relationship during high-velocity head impulses in dancers. More specifically, the dancers' eyes lead head movement during passively applied head impulses, which result in higher VOR gain.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study demonstrates, for the first time, that long-term dance training results in a nonlinear relationship between eye and head velocity within the first milliseconds following passive head impulse. The data also suggest a larger VOR gain in dancers. This finding suggests that dance training may modify eye-head relationship in passive high-frequency head movements. This is of particular interest for vestibular rehabilitation.

Articles in Zimbabwean English: A corpus-based analysis

This study investigated the usage frequency of articles in the Zimbabwean English (ZE) corpus and the International corpus of English Great Britain (ICE-GB) for British English (BrE) to determine whether there are variations between the two corpora. A log-likelihood test was used to determine whether the observed variations were statistically significant. In addition, eight morphosyntactic features that are reported to show variation by Kortmann, Lunkenheimer and Ehret (2020) were used to determine whether innovation and nativisation occur in ZE and to ascertain the stage of ZE in the dynamic model (DM). A comparative analysis revealed statistically significant variations in the normalised frequency (per 10 000 words) of the indefinite article, with the ICE-GB recording a higher normalised frequency. Regarding the zero article, the normalised frequency was higher in the ZE corpus compared to the ICE-GB. There were no significant differences in the usage frequencies of the definite article in the two corpora. The findings indicate that the eight features belong to different categories from A to D. Data analysis showed that ZE is at stage 2 of the DM because features 62, 63 and 65 existed, but were extremely rare, and at stage 3 since feature 67 was neither pervasive nor extremely rare.

Relationship between Prolactin rs1341239 Gene Polymorphism and Prolactin Serum Level in Iranian Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as an inflammatory autoimmune disease, originates from the production of autoantibodies against several cellular components, especially nuclear components such as DNA. Prolactin consists of 199 amino acids and due to the structural similarity with cytokines, this polypeptide has the ability to modulate the immune system, which is characterized by the observation of hyperprolactinemia in autoimmune disorders. The rs1341239 polymorphism of the prolactin gene is associated with several autoimmune diseases. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between this polymorphism and prolactin serum level in SLE patients in a population from Iran.
 Methods: Genotype analysis of prolactin rs1341239 gene polymorphism was performed using blood samples of 90 SLE patients as patients’ group and 90 control samples as the control group through RFLP-PCR method. Also, serum prolactin concentration was measured using ELISA method.
 Results: Our results showed a significantly higher serum level of prolactin in patients group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in alleles and genotypes frequencies of rs1341239 polymorphism in patients group compared to the control group. However, a significant correlation was found between the frequency of GG genotype and the reduction of platelets in the blood of patients group.
 Conclusion: Our results did not show a significant difference in the frequency of prolactin rs1341239 gene polymorphism in patients and control groups, while we observed the relationship between this polymorphism and platelet count in patients group.

A comparative evaluation of fracture resistance of tooth restoration complex restored with PEEK and lithium disilicate endocrowns.

This in vitro study was conducted to compare the fracture resistance of tooth restoration complex restored with polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and lithium disilicate endocrowns. A total of 46 extracted premolars were collected and treated endodontically. The teeth were mounted in cylindrical molds using autopolymerizing resin and were prepared for endocrown restoration. Specimens were divided into two groups (n = 23) to receive endocrowns made with two different materials (polyetheretherketone and lithium disilicate). All the specimens were subjected to thermal cycling. The fracture resistance test was carried out using a Universal Testing Machine. Fractographic analysis was carried out using stereomicroscope and scanning electron microscope after load test. The values obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Intergroup comparison (two groups) was performed using a t-test. Comparison of frequencies of categories of variables with groups was performed using chi-square test. Fracture resistance tests showed a statistically significant difference in values between the two groups (p<0.01). High fracture resistance values were seen with lithium disilicate endocrowns. Failure mode analysis showed that both groups exhibited mainly catastrophic failure. There were no significant differences in frequencies of the type of fracture between the groups. The fracture resistance of endocrowns fabricated with lithium disilicate material was found to be significantly higher than polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material. Hence, lithium disilicate material is superior for endocrowns.

Evaluating the efficacy of single-shot versus prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis in alveolar cleft osteoplasty – A retrospective cohort study

This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the outcomes of alveolar cleft osteoplasty using single-shot antibiotic prophylaxis versus a prolonged antibiotic regimen. The primary endpoints assessed were the incidence of infection, failure of surgical correction, and antibiotic-related side effects. Patients with orofacial clefts affecting the alveolar ridge who underwent alveolar cleft osteoplasty at a tertiary care center between 2015 and 2021 were included. The prolonged antibiotic group received extended antibiotic treatment, while the single-shot group received preoperative antibiotics only. Among 83 patients (mean age 12.8 years), 51 interventions were performed under prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis (mean duration 5.82 days) whereas in 40 interventions only single-shot prophylaxis was administered. There were no significant differences in infection frequency, surgical correction failure, implant loss, or adverse events between the groups. However, after single-shot antibiotic regimen, patients had significantly shorter hospital stays, being discharged on average one day earlier. The study suggests that single-shot antibiotic prophylaxis does not have drawbacks compared to prolonged antibiotic treatment in alveolar cleft osteoplasty. Considering increasing antibiotic resistance and potential side effects, omitting prolonged antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for patients undergoing alveolar cleft osteoplasty.

Association between MTHFR c.677C>T variant and erectile dysfunction among males attending fertility clinic.

Genetic risk factors have been shown to contribute to the development of sexual dysfunction. However, the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase ( MTHFR ) gene variants in the risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) remains unclear. In this study, we recruited 1254 participants who underwent ED assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-5. The MTHFR c.677C>T variant was also measured by fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR). No significant difference in the genotypic frequency of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism (CC, CT, and TT) was observed between men from the ED and non-ED groups. In addition, on binary logistic regression analysis, both crude and adjusted models showed that the risk of ED was not significantly associated with the C677T polymorphism. Interestingly, a significantly higher frequency of the 677TT polymorphism was found in severe and moderate ED (P = 0.02). The positive correlation between the MTHFR 677TT polymorphism and severe ED was confirmed by logistic regression analysis, even after adjusting for potential confounders (odds ratio [OR] = 2.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-5.50, P = 0.02). These findings suggest a positive correlation between the MTHFR 677TT polymorphism and the risk of severe ED. Identification of MTHFR gene polymorphisms may provide complementary information for ED patients during routine clinical diagnosis.

Efficacy analysis of a novel dose-adjusting regimen for prolonged delayed injection allergen- specific immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of a novel dose adjustment schedule based on subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) after a 16 weeks delayed injection during the maintenance period. Methods: Sixty-eight patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) who received dust mite cluster SCIT and had interrupted treatment for more than 16 weeks during the maintenance period were recruited at Beijing TongRen Hospital, from July to September 2020. They were randomly divided into the novel schedule group (n=34) and the guideline recommended schedule group (n=34). In addition, 34 patients who received dust mite SCIT at the same period were selected as the continuous treatment group (n=34). When receiving treatment again after delayed injection, the novel schedule group was injected directly with the initial dose of maintenance period (10 000 SQ), and the guideline recommended schedule group started the dosage accumulation again from the lowest dose (10 SQ), while the continuous treatment group was injected according to the original schedule. Changes in the combined symptom and medication score (CSMS) from baseline after 3 years of SCIT were used as the primary efficacy evaluation index. Local and systemic adverse events were recorded to evaluate safety. SPSS 23.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: At the end of 3 years, CSMS in all three groups decreased significantly from baseline, and there was no significant difference in the 3-year change value of CSMS from baseline between the novel schedule group and the guideline recommended schedule group (-1.0±0.3 vs -1.3±0.4, P=0.655). There was also no significant difference in the change of CSMS between the two dose-adjusted groups and the continuous treatment groups (-0.8±0.3 vs -1.3±0.3, P=0.156). No systemic adverse events occurred between the novel schedule group and the guideline recommended schedule group after restarting treatment, and there was no significant difference in frequency of adverse events (0.5% vs 0.5%, P=0.698). Conclusion: There is no significant difference in efficacy and safety between the novel dose adjustment schedule and the recommended dose adjustment schedule when SCIT interrupted injection for more than 16 weeks. Furthermore, SCIT discontinuation of injection for more than 16 weeks doesn't significantly impact on 3-year efficacy.

Nuclear sperm integrity and ICSI prognosis in Tunisian patients with MMAF syndrome (multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella)

Multiple Morphological Abnormalities of the Sperm Flagella (MMAF) is a severe form of teratozoospermia associated with several sperm flagellar abnormalities. The study included 52 patients with MMAF syndrome and a control group of 25 fertile men. The impact of nuclear sperm quality on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) results was studied in 20 couples. TUNEL assay was used to assess sperm DNA fragmentation and aniline-blue staining was used to assess chromatin condensation. To investigate chromosomal meiotic segregation, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Semen morphology analysis revealed a mosaic of multiple flagella morphological abnormalities, including 46.73% short flagella, 16.22% bent flagella, 22.07% coiled flagella, and 10.90% absent flagella, all of which were associated with a high percentage of sperm head abnormalities. The mean DNA fragmentation index was substantially higher in patients compared to controls (p = 0.001), whereas the rate of aniline blue-reacted spermatozoa was not significantly different. There was a significant difference in aneuploidy frequencies between the two groups (p < 0.05). Infertile males with MMAF syndrome had lower sperm nuclear quality, which affected ICSI results. As a result, better sperm selection procedures are being employed to increase the success rate of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Efficacy evaluation of a commercially available MCT enriched therapeutic diet on dogs with idiopathic epilepsy treated with zonisamide: a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover dietary preliminary study

BackgroundIdiopathic epilepsy (IE) is a common, chronic brain dysfunction in dogs. Recently, the effect of feeding a diet enriched with medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) on seizure frequency has been evaluated in several studies in dogs with IE. However, most dogs with IE in previous studies were treated with phenobarbital as the main antiseizure medication (ASM). In Japan, zonisamide (ZNS) is the most prescribed ASM for dogs with IE. The interaction between ZNS and various nutrients including MCTs and the potential effects on treatment efficacy resulting from combining these therapies have not been previously studied. A prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover dietary study was conducted. Dogs (n = 7) treated with ZNS were fed either a placebo diet (PL) or Purina ProPlan Veterinary Diet NeuroCare (NC) for 3 months, after which treatments were crossed over and continued for another 3 months. Seizure frequency (seizures/month; sz/m), blood tests including concentrations of ZNS and β-hydroxybutyric acid, and owner’s visual analogue scale score were collected from all dogs for both treatment periods.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the seizure frequency between PL (2.95 ± 0.80 sz/m) and NC (1.90 ± 0.57 sz/m) during the 6 months of trial. Three of 7 dogs showed ≥ 50% seizure reduction, and 1 of those 3 dogs achieved seizure freedom in NC period. However, 2 of 7 dogs had no changes in epileptic seizure frequency, 2 of 7 dogs had a deterioration in seizure frequency in the NC period. Feeding the MCT diet concurrent with ZNS showed no apparent adverse effects and did not affect ZNS concentration.ConclusionsThis study indicated that the commercially available MCT-enriched diet (NC) can be safely used concurrently with ZNS for dogs with IE.

Regulatory T cell frequency in peripheral blood of women with advanced cervical Cancer including women living with HIV

BackgroundPersistent high-risk Human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infections are the main cause of cervical cancer. Cumulative evidence implicates regulatory T cells (Tregs) as a critical factor in the failure to eliminate HPV-induced cancers leading to their persistence and progression to cancer. Also, the WHO recognised cervical cancer as 100% attributable to persistent HR-HPV infection. The province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) in South Africa has a high prevalence of cervical cancer and HIV infection.Materials and methodsWe evaluated Treg frequency in dual infection of HR HPV and HIV coinfection using phenotypic markers, CD4, CD25 and intracellular Foxp3, in the peripheral blood of 51 cervical cancer and 46 non-cervical cancer participants and evaluated the effect of HIV on regulatory T cell proportion. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were surface stained with a cocktail fluorescent labelled CD4 and CD25 and subsequently with APC anti-human FoxP3 (eBioscience). Flow cytometry was performed with FACS analysis. Statistical analysis of results was done using Instat 3 program (GraphpadR). Tregs results were expressed as median ± interquartile range (IQR). Associations of cervical cancer with demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis using SPSS version 27 (IBM).ResultsTregs frequency was significantly higher in individuals with cervical cancer (11.00 ± 19.79%) compared to controls (1.71 ± 8.91%) (p < 0.0001). HIV infection was associated with an increase in Tregs frequency. In controls a significant difference in Tregs frequency was noted between women living with HIV (6.00 ± 10.57%, n = 9) and those without HIV (1.30 ± 6.10%, n = 37), p = 0.0023. In multivariate logistic regression, Tregs frequency was significantly associated with cervical cancer after controlling for age, smoking, weight loss, presence of STI, HIV and HPV genotype.Discussion/ConclusionHigher Tregs frequency was significantly associated with cervical cancer highlighting the immunosuppressive role of Tregs in cervical cancer. Treg frequency was more strongly associated with cervical cancer than HIV infection. We provide baseline data for monitoring Treg frequencies in response to new preventive and therapeutic strategies in the management of cervical cancer.

Home-based HIV testing strategies for middle-aged and older adults in rural South Africa: a randomized controlled trial.

More than one in four adults over 40 with HIV in South Africa are unaware of their status and not receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). HIV self-testing may offer a powerful approach to closing this gap for aging adults. Here, we report the results of a randomized comparative effectiveness trial of three different home-based HIV testing strategies for middle-aged and older adults in rural South Africa. 2,963 individuals in the 'Health and Ageing in Africa: a Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community in South Africa (HAALSI)' cohort study were randomized 1:1:1 to one of three types of home-based and home-delivered HIV testing modalities: (1) rapid testing with counseling; (2) self-testing, and (3) both rapid testing with counselling and self-testing. In modified Poisson and OLS regression analyses, we estimated the treatment effects on HIV testing and HIV testing frequency at about one year after delivery. Finally, we assessed the potential adverse effects of these strategies on the secondary outcomes of depressive symptom as assessed by the CESD-20, linkage to care, and risky sexual behavior. There were no significant differences in HIV testing uptake or testing frequency across groups. However, respondents in the self-testing treatment arms were more likely to shift from testing at home and a facility (ST: RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.76 - 0.97; ST+RT+C: RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75 - 0.95) to testing only at home (ST: RR 1.67, 95% CI 1.17 - 2.39; ST+RT+C: RR 1.62, 95% CI 1.13 - 2.32) - suggesting a revealed preference for self-testing in this population. We also found no adverse effects of this strategy on linkage to care for HIV and common comorbidities, recent sexual partners, or condom use. Finally, those in the self-testing only arm had significantly decreased depressive symptom scores by 0.58 points (95% CI: -1.16 - -0.01). We find HIV self-testing to be a safe and seemingly preferred home-based testing option for middle-aged and older adults in rural South Africa. This approach should be expanded to achieve the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets.

Significance of pharmacist intervention to oral antithrombotic therapy in the pharmaceutical outpatient clinic of cardiovascular internal medicine: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundOptimised antithrombotic therapy requires clinical experience and an understanding of the current guidelines. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate whether pharmacist interviews and interventions with patients taking oral antithrombotic drugs in the pharmaceutical outpatient cardiology clinic had favourable clinical outcomes including decreased bleeding.MethodsThe participants included patients visiting the outpatient clinic of cardiovascular internal medicine at the Kobe University Hospital from January–December 2017, and were taking oral antithrombotic medication. The observation period was from the first visit to the outpatient clinic to October 2021 or death. Patients who received pharmacist intervention more than twice were defined as the pharmacist intervention group. Two control patients per one pharmacist intervention group individual were selected from the non-intervention pool matched for age, gender and antithrombotic medication type.ResultsOf the 895 eligible patients, 132 were in the pharmacist intervention group and 264 were selected for the matched non-intervention group. Bleeding events according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium criteria over type 2 were significantly lower in the pharmacist intervention group compared with the non-intervention group (17.4% versus 28.4%, P = 0.019). There were no significant differences in mortality and heart failure hospitalisation frequency, stroke, or cardiovascular events between the groups. Multivariate analysis identified age (≥ 65 years) and pharmacist intervention as factors associated with bleeding (odds ratio = 2.29 and 0.51, respectively).ConclusionPharmacist intervention in the outpatient clinic of cardiovascular internal medicine was effective in reducing the risk of bleeding in patients undergoing antithrombotic therapy.

Morphologic variants of Meibomian glands: age-wise distribution and differences between upper and lower eyelids.

To evaluate the distribution of various Meibomian gland morphologies across different age groups in healthy individuals. The infrared meibographic morphologies of the Meibomian glands from the upper and lower eyelids of 236 healthy individuals (472 eyes; mean age 38.4 ± 17.5 years; 80 female participants: 156 male participants) were evaluated for their prevalence and differences across six decades of life, from 10 to 80 years. A linear mixed-effects modeling test was performed for statistical analysis. Of 14,452 glands, 8,830 (61%) glands were located in the upper eyelid. No significant differences in frequency were noted between different age groups for distorted, tortuous, hooked, overlapping, abnormal gap, fluffy areas, dropout (except for 51-60 vs. 10-20 years, P = 0.023), and thick and thin morphologies. Short glands were significantly more common in individuals aged over 30 years (P = 0.015), whereas moderately short and severely short glands were more common in the upper eyelids of individuals older than 50 years compared to those aged 10-20 years (P = 0.035). The frequency of distorted, hooked, tortuous, overlapping, and tadpole-shaped Meibomian glands was significantly higher in the upper eyelids than in the lower eyelids for all age groups. Dropout glands were more common in the lower eyelids of individuals younger than 50 years, but no difference was observed in the upper and lower eyelids of individuals over 50 years. Dropout (P = 0.006) and severely short glands (0.026) of the lower eyelid were associated with low non-invasive tear break-up time (NIBUT) values. Various morphologic characteristics of the Meibomian glands that are considered abnormal can be present in healthy individuals, and only moderate to severely short glands display an increase in abnormal morphologic characteristics of the Meibomian glands with age.

Genotype variation of ACE and ACE2 genes affects the severity of COVID-19 patients

ObjectiveGenetic polymorphisms in ACE and ACE2 genes are involved in the RAS regulation of blood pressure and their activity may confer susceptibility to hypertension. In addition, they may play a role in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and the severity of COVID-19. This study aims to determine the effect of genetic variations in the ACE (rs4331) and ACE2 (rs2074192) genes with hypertension comorbidity on the severity of COVID-19 in the Indonesian population.Result186 patients were enrolled and assigned into the COVID-19 group (n = 95) and non-COVID-19 group (n = 91) in this cross-sectional study. GG genotype frequency was dominant in ACE gene, but there were no significant differences between the groups (p = 0.163). The two groups had a significant difference (p = 0.000) for the CC genotype frequency (0,37 vs. 0.01) in the ACE2 gene. The proportion of women with COVID-19 is higher (51%), but men with hypertension had more severe symptoms (44%). Men with hypertension comorbidity, GG (ACE), and TT (ACE2) genotypes tended to have moderate-to-severe symptoms (25%). Similarly, women with hypertension as well as GG and CT genotypes tended to have moderate-to-severe symptoms (21%). We conclude that hypertension and mutations in the ACE (rs4331) and ACE2 (rs2074192) genes affect the severity of COVID-19.