Acceptance and utilization of HIV testing among the youth: a cross-sectional study in Techiman,Ghana

BackgroundIn Ghana, efforts including ‘Know Your Status’ campaign have been made to increase awareness and improve the uptake of HIV screening.ObjectiveThis study examined the acceptance and utilization of the HIV/AIDS ‘Know Your Status’ campaign and determine dthe differences in HIV testing by demographic characteristics among the youth in Techiman, Ghana.MethodThis study was a cross-sectional study conducted among the youth aged 15–24 years. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 200 purposively selected respondents.ResultsThe mean age of the respondents was 19.6±2.72 years. There was a universal awareness (100%) of HIV/AIDs, and were knowledgeable about the mode of transmission, symptoms and the prevention of HIV. A high proportion of the respondents (n=161, 80.5%) had heard about the ‘Know Your Status’ (KYS) campaign. Less than half of respondents (n=91, 45.5%) had tested for HIV, and only 16.5% (n=15/91) of respondents tested through the KYS campaign. Testing for HIV was associated with age (p<0.001) and marital status (p<0.001).ConclusionThe youth should therefore be targeted in the awareness and the ‘Know Your Status campaigns’, and in an effortsto promote screening for HIV.     

17β-Estradiol Inhibits Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Induced Human AGS Gastric Cancer Cell Mobility via Suppression of CCL5- Src/Cas/Paxillin Signaling Pathway

Gender differences in terms of mortality among many solid organ malignancies have been proved by epidemiological data. Estrogen has been suspected to cast a protective effect against cancer because of the lower mortality of gastric cancer in females and the benefits of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in gastric cancer. Hence, it suggests that 17β-estradiol (E2) may affect the behavior of cancer cells. One of the key features of cancer-related mortality is metastasis. Accumulating evidences suggest that human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HBMMSCs) and its secreted CCL-5 have a role in enhancing the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells. However, it is not clear whether E2 would affect HBMMSCs-induced mobility in gastric cancer cells. In this report, we show that CCL-5 secreted by HBMMSCs enhanced mobility in human AGS gastric cancer cells via activation of Src/Cas/Paxillin signaling pathway. Treatment with specific neutralizing antibody of CCL-5 significantly inhibited HBMMSCs-enhanced mobility in human AGS gastric cancer cells. We further observe that 17β-estradiol suppressed HBMMSCs-enhanced mobility by down-regulating CCL5-Src/Cas/paxillin signaling pathway in AGS cells. Collectively, these results suggest that 17β-estradiol treatment significantly inhibits HBMMSCS-induced mobility in human AGS gastric cancer cells.     

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in mill workers exposed to wood dust

This study surveyed wood dust exposure levels and pulmonary hazards among wood mill workers. Dust concentrations as measured by six-stage cascade impactors were high in work areas of grinding and screening. Total dust concentrations for these dusty activities ranged from 4.4 to 22.4 mg/m³, and the respirable proportions were between 2.4% and 50.2%. The dust level in the sawing work was 2.9 mg/m³. Although symptoms of cough and phlegm were higher in smoking workers than in nonsmoking workers, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the exposed workers was not significantly higher than in the controls. However, the incidence of symptoms such as chronic phlegm and chronic bronchitis in the nonsmoking high-exposure workers was significantly higher than in nonsmoking controls. The mean values of MMF, PEFR, and FEF25% were significantly lower in the exposed workers than in controls for both smokers and nonsmokers. The pulmonary function deficits, with the exception of FEV1.0/FVC, also showed a significant trend with increasing levels of wood dusts exposure classified by job titles for both smokers and nonsmokers. After adjustment for age, sex, height, and smoking status, all parameters of pulmonary function were significantly lower in exposed workers than in controls and showed a declining trend with increasing exposure levels classified by job titles. These results indicate that high level of wood dust exposure in the wood mill industries may lead to pulmonary hazards. Engineering control and industrial hygiene are mandatory for dusty activities. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

一起实验动物型肾综合征出血热流行的调查研究

目的对实验动物型肾综合征出血热疫情进行流行病学调查和病毒学研究,掌握流行特点、疫源范围并控制疫情。方法收集相关流行病学资料,采集大白鼠血清、肺脏组织和接触人群血清标本,用反向被动血凝抑制(RPH I)和间接免疫荧光试验(IFA)检测汉坦病毒抗体或抗原,用RT-PCR法对阳性鼠肺进行汉坦病毒分型。结果2003年5~6月,云南省3个单位的实验动物大白鼠群中发生汉坦病毒流行并导致1人发病,接触人群的平均隐性感染率为20%(15/75);用RPH I和IFA法检测大白鼠血清,汉坦病毒总抗体和IgG抗体阳性率分别为45.99%(63/137)和37.27%(41/110),抗体滴度在1∶20~1∶1 280之间,两种方法检测结果无显著性差异(χ2=1.33,P>0.05);两个疫点单位的大白鼠肺脏组织中汉坦病毒抗原阳性率分别为56.25%(9/16)和35.00%(7/20);用RT-PCR对病毒抗原阳性的大白鼠肺组织进行汉坦病毒分型,证实为汉城型病毒感染。对调查确定的疫点鼠群及饲养场所进行了疫源处理,彻底消灭了传染源,扑灭了疫情。结论本次实验动物型肾综合征出血热流行属汉城型汉坦病毒引起,主要发生在W istar大白鼠鼠群。大白鼠对汉坦病毒高度易感,具有较高的感染率并能产生高滴度的抗体。     

风池穴不同刺法对椎动脉型颈椎病的临床疗效评价

目的:探究风池穴不同刺法对椎动脉型颈椎病的临床疗效。方法:选择2018年4月—2019年1月北京中医药大学东直门医院针灸科门诊就诊的84例椎动脉型颈椎病患者作为研究对象,分为观察组43例、对照组41例。观察组采用短刺法针刺风池穴治疗,对照组采用平补平泻法针刺风池穴治疗,1个疗程后比较两组患者的ESCV、颈椎病症状分级量化表评分以及TCD相关指标,TCD指标观察基底动脉和双侧椎动脉的平均血流速度(Vm)、收缩期血流速度峰值(Vs)、血管搏动指数(PI)和血管阻力指数(RI)的变化。结果:治疗前后两组ESCV、颈椎病症状分级量化表评分比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),且椎动脉、基底动脉的Vs、Vm较治疗前明显减慢,且观察组治疗效果优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论:针刺风池穴治疗椎动脉型颈椎病临床效果显著,且短刺法优于平补平泻法。     

活性元素对生物活性陶瓷促成骨作用的影响研究

生物活性陶瓷已被广泛用于骨骼和牙齿的修复,文献回顾表明,一些离子能够诱导干细胞成骨分化,在骨再生医学中具有广阔的前景.鉴于这些离子从可生物降解的陶瓷材料中释放出来,与生长因子相比,更易实现控释.在生物陶瓷中添加生物活性离子,成为开发具有促血管生成和促成骨等功能的新方法.显然,生物陶瓷的生物反应取决于许多参数,例如化学成...     

经尿道等离子双极电切术治疗良性前列腺增生(附80例报告)

目的 探讨经尿道前列腺等离子双极电切术(PKRP)治疗前列腺增生(BPH)的疗效.方法 采用PKRP治疗BPH80例,随访1～10个月.结果 80例BPH患者均成功手术.术中止血效果满意,无前列腺电切综合征(TURS).国际前列症状评分(I-PSS)由(27.4±3.2)分降至(8.1±4.2)分.最大尿流率(Qmax)由(6.1±1.9)ml/s升至(23.7±3.1)ml/s.结论 PKRP治疗BPH具有创伤小、安全、恢复快、并发症少,是一种治疗BPH的理想方式.     

中国汉族成人正常（牙合）牙体舌侧形态的测量研究

对中国汉族年轻成人正常（牙合）牙齿的舌侧形态进行三维测量,为研发基于中国人牙体舌侧形态的舌侧直丝弓托槽提供数据参考。方法：采用上海正雅齿科科技有限公司开发的数字化正畸设计系统软件,对普查获得的64副中国汉族正常（牙合）个体的牙齿模型进行三维扫描,并对三维数字模型舌侧面进行计算机定点及测量分析。结果：获得正常（牙合）人群牙齿舌侧的轴倾度、转矩角、冠凸距和尖牙与磨牙补偿角指标的参考值,与国内相关研究结果相近。结论：本研究的测量结果可用于研发中国人舌侧直丝弓托槽标准型。     

两种手术方式治疗耳郭假性囊肿效果比较

【目的】比较两种手术方式治疗耳郭假性囊肿的效果。【方法】选取2009年7月至2014年7月本科收治的69例耳郭假性囊肿患者,随机分为两组,其中观察组39例,用囊肿前壁切除及贯穿缝合碘仿加压法治疗;对照组30例,以传统的囊肿前壁切开引流、局部加压包扎法治疗。比较两组患者的手术疗效、平均住院天数以及医疗费用。【结果】两组患者术后随访6个月,观察组有效率100％,观察组有效率76．67％;观察组平均住院日7．15 d ,观察组平均住院日13．30 d;观察组平均医疗费用4171．98元,观察组平均医疗费用5174．33元,两组比较差异均有统计学意义（ P ＜0．05）。【结论】囊肿前壁切除及贯穿缝合碘仿加压法是治疗耳郭假性囊肿的一种可靠方法,值得临床推广。