Comparison of Different Sexual Behaviors According to Sexual Orientation and the Mediating Role of Attitudes toward Sexual Behaviors between Sexual Orientation and Sexual Behaviors in Young Adults.

Objectives: To explore the relationship between sexual orientation and specific sexual and risk behaviors, compare the number of sexual behaviors and attitudes among people of different sexual orientations, and test the mediating effect of attitudes toward sexual behaviors in the relationship between sexual orientation and the number of sexual behaviors. Methods: A total of 2288 participants completed a checklist of sexual behaviors, indicators of sexual risk behaviors, and a scale of attitudes toward sexual behaviors. Results: Bisexual women engaged in a greater number of sexual behaviors and had more positive attitudes toward sexual behaviors than heterosexual women. Homosexual men engaged in a greater number of sexual behaviors than heterosexual men, and homosexual and bisexual men had more positive attitudes toward sexual behaviors than heterosexuals. Finally, we show the mediating role of attitudes toward sexual behaviors in the relationship between sexual orientation and the number of sexual behaviors engaged in. Conclusions: The importance of considering sexual orientation when analyzing sexual behaviors and attitudes is highlighted.

The importance of family in acculturation process of adolescents of Moroccan origin in Spain.

The objective of this study was to analyse the relationship between variables of the family context (perceived family support, quality of parent-adolescent communication and family ethnic socialisation) and the acculturation process (perceptions and preferences of cultural maintenance and adoption) among adolescents of Moroccan origin living in Spain. The sample consisted of 360 Moroccan adolescents (58.7% females) between 12 and 19 years old, enrolled in different schools, who filled out a self-report questionnaire. Results showed positive and significant relationships between family variables and acculturation, especially for cultural maintenance. Mediation models showed that perceived family support predicts cultural maintenance (perceptions), with quality of communication with the mother, family ethnic socialisation and preferences of cultural maintenance acting as serial mediators (in the first model), and with quality of communication with the father and preferences of cultural maintenance acting as serial mediators (in the second model). These results evidence the importance of family variables in the acculturation process of Moroccan adolescents, especially in the maintenance of their origin culture.

[The mediating role of attitudes between the sexual behaviours of men and women]. / El papel mediador de las actitudes entre los comportamientos sexuales de hombres y mujeres.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to verify the mediating effect of attitudes toward sexual behaviours in the relationship between sex and the number of sexual behaviours performed. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 763 Spanish people (42.2% men and 57.8% women) ranging in age from 18 to 65 years (M=25.60; SD=9.23) identified as heterosexual participated. At the time of the study, 56.9% had a steady partner, 10.1% had a casual partner and 33.0% did not have partner. In addition to sociodemographic questions, the Attitudes toward Sexual Behaviours Scale and a Checklist of Sexual Behaviours were administered online. RESULTS: The results show that attitudes toward sexual behaviours correlate positively with the number of sexual behaviours performed (r=.481; P<.001) and that men have more positive attitudes toward sexual behaviours (t=10.273; P<.001; d=.75) and they engage in a greater number of sexual behaviours (t=6.412; P<.001; d=.47) than women. Finally, there is total mediation of attitudes toward sexual behaviours between sex and the number of sexual behaviours performed in the 3subsamples (steady partner, casual partner, without a partner). CONCLUSIONS: Men engage in a greater number of different sexual behaviours than women because their attitudes toward sexual behaviours are more positive. Therefore, if we want to influence certain sexual behaviours, we should focus on the attitudes toward these behaviours.

Use of Rasch person-item maps to validate a theoretical model for measuring Attitudes toward Sexual Behaviors.

In general, the Attitudes toward Sexual Behaviors (ASB) or Sexual Attitudes measures have not been focused in the conjoint measurement of persons and items in the same construct, and have not reflected the new sexual behaviors neither the context where sexual behaviors take place. The purpose of this study was to provide evidence of the validity of a theoretical model for the measurement of ASB using the person-item map provided by a Rasch model. The theoretical model explicitly defines the ASB construct and makes a proposal where the items are intensity-ordered. It also considers the context in which sexual behaviors take place and their new ways of expression. ASB measurement was applied to two samples of 300 and 584 young people aged 18 to 30. Content of the ASB test administered includes the operative definition proposed. The results showed a good fit of the data to the model, and adequate measurement accuracy. The person-item maps showed that the items are distributed according to the theoretical model proposed in both samples. The easiest items for participants to endorse are those reflecting frequent dyadic sexual behaviors with a steady partner, and the hardest items for participants to endorse are those reflecting sexual behaviors via Information and Communication Technologies. The obtained results permit to conclude that there is favorable validity evidence for the theoretical model proposed for measuring ASB in heterosexual young people.

Surgical site infection reporting: more than meets the agar.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Surgical site infection (SSI) rate in pediatric appendicitis is a commonly used hospital quality metric. We hypothesized that surveillance of organ-space SSI (OSI) using cultures alone would fail to capture many clinically-important events. METHODS: A prospective, multidisciplinary surveillance program recorded 30-day SSI and hospital length of stay (LOS) for patients <18years undergoing appendectomy for perforated appendicitis from 2012 to 2015. Standardized treatment pathways were utilized, and OSI was identified by imaging and/or bacterial cultures. RESULTS: Four hundred ten appendectomies for perforated appendicitis were performed, and a total of 84 OSIs (20.5%) were diagnosed with imaging. Positive cultures were obtained for 39 (46%) OSIs, whereas 45 (54%) had imaging only. Compared to the mean LOS for patients without OSI (5.2±2.9days), LOS for patients with OSI and positive cultures (13.7±5.4days) or with OSI without cultures (10.4±3.7days) was significantly longer (both p<0.001). The OSI rate identified by positive cultures alone was 9.5%, whereas the clinically-relevant OSI rate was 20.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Using positive cultures alone to capture OSI would have identified less than half of clinically-important infections. Utilizing clinically-relevant SSI is an appropriate metric for comparing hospital quality but requires agreed upon standards for diagnosis and reporting. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II. TYPE OF STUDY: Diagnostic study.

Induction of humoral responses to BHV-1 glycoprotein D expressed by HSV-1 amplicon vectors.

Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) amplicon vectors are versatile and useful tools for transferring genes into cells that are capable of stimulating a specific immune response to their expressed antigens. In this work, two HSV-1-derived amplicon vectors were generated. One of these expressed the full-length glycoprotein D (gD) of bovine herpesvirus 1 while the second expressed the truncated form of gD (gDtr) which lacked the trans-membrane region. After evaluating gD expression in the infected cells, the ability of both vectors to induce a specific gD immune response was tested in BALB/c mice that were intramuscularly immunized. Specific serum antibody responses were detected in mice inoculated with both vectors, and the response against truncated gD was higher than the response against full-length gD. These results reinforce previous findings that HSV-1 amplicon vectors can potentially deliver antigens to animals and highlight the prospective use of these vectors for treating infectious bovine rhinotracheitis disease.

Serologic evidence of influenza A and B viruses in South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis).

The aim of this work was to detect serologic evidence of influenza virus infections in South American fur seals (Arctocephalus australis) that inhabit the Uruguayan coast. In 29 of 37 serum samples that were analyzed, we identified antibodies to at least one of the following antigens: H1N1 (A/NewCaledonia/20/99), B/Beijing/184/93-like viruses, B/Hong Kong/330/01, and B/Sichuan/379/99 by means of the hemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI). Results confirmed that influenza A viruses circulate in marine mammals and also showed, for the first time, indirect evidence of influenza B infections in Arctocephalus australis.

Serologic evidence of human metapneumovirus circulation in Uruguay

First identified in 2001, the human metapneumovirus (hMPV), is a respiratory tract pathogen that affects young children, elderly, and immunocompromised patients. The present work represents the first serologic study carried out in Uruguay. It was performed with the purpose of obtaining serological evidence of hMPV circulation in Uruguay and to contribute to the few serologic reports described until now. Sixty nine serum samples collected between 1998 and 2001 by vein puncture from patients without respiratory symptoms or underlying pathology aged 6 days to 60 years were examined using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The global seropositivity rate of the samples was 80 percent (55/69). Rates of 60 percent (15/25) and 91 percent (40/44) were observed for the pediatric and adult cohorts, respectively. Results obtained from a longitudinal analysis of 6 children aged 6 days to 18 months are discussed. These results are a clear evidence of hMPV circulation in Uruguay, at least since 1998, and reinforce the previous data on worldwide circulation of this virus.

Serologic evidence of human metapneumovirus circulation in Uruguay.

First identified in 2001, the human metapneumovirus (hMPV), is a respiratory tract pathogen that affects young children, elderly, and immunocompromised patients. The present work represents the first serologic study carried out in Uruguay. It was performed with the purpose of obtaining serological evidence of hMPV circulation in Uruguay and to contribute to the few serologic reports described until now. Sixty nine serum samples collected between 1998 and 2001 by vein puncture from patients without respiratory symptoms or underlying pathology aged 6 days to 60 years were examined using an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA). The global seropositivity rate of the samples was 80% (55/69). Rates of 60% (15/25) and 91% (40/44) were observed for the pediatric and adult cohorts, respectively. Results obtained from a longitudinal analysis of 6 children aged 6 days to 18 months are discussed. These results are a clear evidence of hMPV circulation in Uruguay, at least since 1998, and reinforce the previous data on worldwide circulation of this virus.

Genetic diversity of respiratory syncytial virus isolated during an epidemic period from children of northeastern Brazil.

Outbreaks of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) are the leading cause of serious acute lower respiratory viral disease in many countries in different continents. Data on clinical and epidemiological aspects of HRSV infections in this country have been reported, but there is lack of data regarding the molecular epidemiology of this virus in Salvador. The genetic variability of HRSV isolated during an outbreak in Salvador, Brazil (1999) has been analysed. Partial sequences of the G protein gene of 13 isolates from antigenic group A and 4 isolates from antigenic group B of HRSV were determined. Nucleotide sequences of C-terminal G gene were compared to sequences of HRSV isolates from countries of South America and from the rest of the world available at the GenBank. Brazilian group A and B isolates were clustered into previously characterised genotypes: GA5, GA2, GA7, and GB3, SAB3, respectively. This is the first study of GA7 and SAB3 genotypes circulation in South American countries. It is interesting to point out that viruses isolated in Salvador appear to be closer related with those from Montevideo-Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina strains, suggesting circulation of similar strains among different South American countries in different seasons. Moreover, viruses closely related genetically circulated in the same year in Salvador and distant places such as Mozambique, supporting the previous suggestion on the complexity of HRSV strain circulation patterns, and the high capability of HRSV spreading world-wide.