Azithromycin resistance and its molecular characteristics in Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from a tertiary care centre in North India

Treatment guidelines for management of uncomplicated gonorrhoeae have been recently modified owing to alarming upsurge in azithromycin resistance. This study investigated the prevalence and genetic determinants of gonococcal azithromycin resistance in India. Four (5.7%) of 70 gonococcal isolates were resistant to azithromycin. Of 16 isolates investigated for molecular mechanisms of resistance, 13 (81.3%) and 6 (37.5%) isolates exhibited mutations in coding and promoter regions of mtrR gene, respectively. However, ermA, ermB and ermC genes or mutations in rrl gene were absent in all isolates. Azithromycin resistance is low in India posing no immediate threat to use of dual-therapy for syndromic management.     

Reducing sexual risk and promoting acceptance of men who have sex with men living with HIV in India: Outcomes and process evaluation of a pilot randomised multi-level intervention

ABSTRACT

HIV-positive men who have sex with men (HIV+MSM) in India need culturally-relevant interventions to promote safer sex. We tested a multi-level intervention among HIV+MSM that targeted individual, interpersonal, and community factors, based on the Social-Personal and Social Ecological Models. We conducted a 2?×?2 factorial RCT with 119 HIV+MSM randomised to receive either an individual-level intervention (ILI) using motivational interviewing to promote safer sex, a community-level intervention (CLI) to strengthen community norms toward safer sex and reduce stigma among MSM communities, a multi-level intervention combining the individual- and community-level interventions (ILI?+?CLI), or standard-of-care control. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention assessments of a composite sexual risk score and a process evaluation to assess fidelity and satisfaction. Out of the 119 HIV+MSM, 106 (89.0%) completed pre- and post-intervention assessments. Generalised Estimating Equation models showed that both CLI (Incidence Rate Ratio [IRR]?=?.67, 95% CI .47 to .96) and ILI?+?CLI (IRR?=?.66, 95% CI .48 to .91) groups had a statistically significant decrease in sexual risk compared to the standard-of-care. The interventions had high levels of fidelity and satisfaction. This pilot RCT demonstrated feasibility and potential effectiveness of a multi-level intervention that addresses individual, interpersonal and community-level contributors of sexual risk among HIV+MSM.     

The healing of femoral neck fractures in dogs

Summary This study evaluates healing fractures of the femoral neck in dogs by using standard radiography, intraosseous venography, India ink staining and histology.The 45 animals were divided into three groups, one of which was not treated, but in the other two the fracture was fixed with a screw or two Kirschner wires.Our results suggest that, when intraosseous venography was positive, India ink injection was also positive, and the late phase of fracture healing was reached.

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Résumé Etude de la consolidation des fractures du col fémoral chez le chien à l'aide des radiographies standard, de la phlébographie osseuse, de la coloration par l'encre de Chine et de l'examen anatomopathologique. Les animaux ont été divisés en trois groupes, dans l'un la fracture n'a pas été traitée, dans les deux autres elle a été fixée soit par une vis, soit par deux broches de Kirschner. Les résultats tendent à montrer que lorsque la phlébographie est positive, la coloration par l'encre de Chine l'est également et que la phase ultime de la consolidation est atteinte.

     

Can the process indicators for emergency obstetric care assess the progress of maternal mortality reduction programs? An examination of UNFPA Projects 2000-2004.

BACKGROUND: In view of the disappointing progress made in the last 20 years in reducing maternal mortality in low-income countries and before going to scale in implementing the new evidence-based strategies, it is crucial to review and assess the progress made in pilot countries where maternal mortality reduction programs focused on emergency obstetric care. OBJECTIVE: To review the process indicators recommended for monitoring emergency obstetric care and their application in field situations, examining the conditions under which they can be used to assess the progress of maternal mortality reduction programs. METHODS: Five of the six UN recommended process indicators were monitored annually for 5 years in selected districts of Morocco, Mozambique, India and Nicaragua. Trends are presented and discussed. RESULTS: With specific variations due to different local situations in the four countries and in spite of variations in quality of data collection, all indicators showed a consistent positive trend, in response to the inputs of the programs. CONCLUSIONS: The UN process indicators for emergency obstetric care should continue to be promoted, but with two important conditions: (1) data collection is carefully checked for quality and coverage; (2) efforts are made to match process and outcome indicators (maternal and perinatal mortality, incidence of complications).