The effects of social networks on HIV risk behaviors among Vietnamese female sex workers: a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION: Female sex workers (FSWs) experience heightened vulnerability to HIV and other health harms, and cross-border FSWs face additional challenges due to language issues, higher mobility, and weaker negotiation skills. Given the critical role of social network factors in HIV transmission, it is imperative to explore the social network characteristics of Vietnamese cross-border FSWs in China to enhance AIDS prevention and control. METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 Vietnamese FSWs in Hekou County, Yunnan Province from May to July 2018. The samples were selected using a purposive sampling strategy and stopped when reached theoretical saturation. Data collection and analysis were conducted iteratively to identify themes within the data. Participants reported their social relationships and how these relationships affected their HIV risk behaviours. All the interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and reviewed. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Among 22 Vietnamese FSWs, the median age was 23.5. Concerning social networks, interviews revealed that their social networks were composed of three components: Workplace networks (customer, boss, colleague), Hometown networks (spouse or boyfriend, family member, fellow villager), and Social institutions networks (Chinese social institutions network, Vietnamese social institutions network). None of these networks can simply support or hinder Vietnamese FSWs' preventive high-risk HIV behaviours, and the impact is achieved through each network's ways. Within the workplace network, the predominant influence is the ascendancy-submissiveness dynamic that exists among customers, bosses, and VFSWs. In the hometown network, familial responsibilities emerge as the principal factor impacting VFSWs. Meanwhile, within the social institution network, pivotal roles are played by the Chinese CDC and the Vietnamese government in the dissemination of HIV knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: The social networks of Vietnamese female sex workers exert a dual impact on high-risk HIV behaviors. Interventions should be designed and tailored to address the specific contextual factors and challenges associated with social networks among cross-border FSWs in China and other similar settings.

Releasing of Herpes Simplex Virus Carrying NGF in Subarachnoid Space Promotes the Functional Repair in Spinal Cord Injured Rats.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious disease which can lead to bad consequence in patients. Gene therapies, as an effective strategy, have been developed for the treatment of several diseases. But the effect for the treatment of SCI is also waiting to be practiced. OBJECTIVE: Here, we explored the effect of NGF administration carried by herpes simplex virus (HSV) in the injured spinal cord. METHODS: Transgenic recombinant containing human NGF was constructed by using pSP72 plasmid, then enveloped by non-replication HSV vector with deleted ICP27, ICP4 and ICP34.5 genes. Next, HSV recombinant carrying NGF was injected into cerebrospinal fluid in the lumbar cord to detect the effect of NGF for the improvement of motor function, indicated by BBB score. Meanwhile, IHC, QPCR and WB were used to confirm the NGF transduction. RESULTS: After SCT, BBB score was largely decreased, followed by a gradual limit recovery with time going on. Q-PCR confirmed that the mRNA expression of NGF was increased in the spinal cord at 28 days post-operation, compared with that in the sham group, which suggests endogenous NGF may be available to the limit repair of motor function. Moreover, HSV carried NGF was injected into subarachnoid space of the spinal cord, which results in a significant functional improvement in hindlimbs from 7dpo to 49dpo. The level of NGF in HSV-NGF administrated group was obviously higher than that in the empty vector group and SCT group, only. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that releasing of HSV-NGF-recombinant in subarachnoid space, can effectively improve the motor function in hindlimbs of rats subjected to SCT, which supports that strategy of HSV carrying NGF may be used for the treatment of SCI in future clinic practice.