Incidence and spontaneous clearance of gonorrhea and chlamydia infections among men who have sex with men: a prospective cohort study in Zhuhai, China.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) face significant risks of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infection. Nevertheless, only limited studies have looked into the site-specific infection and clearance of CT/NG. In order to prevent transmission, it is essential to understand the underlying factors that drive infection and spontaneous clearance. Methods: A 12-week cohort study examined the association between CT/NG infection, self-clearance, and sexual behaviors among MSM. The Willingness Service recruited participants who completed weekly questionnaires and provided urine, throat, and rectal swab samples. Results: The study involved 151 men, in which 51 (33.8%) were diagnosed with CT/NG infection during the study period. HIV (OR = 11.31), kissing (OR = 1.59), receptive oral sex (OR = 36.64), and insertive anal sex (OR = 19.73) constituted significant risk factors. 100% condom use (OR = 5.78) and antibiotic (OR = 7.53) were more likely to cause spontaneous clearance. Discussion: MSM may engage in riskier sexual behaviors due to insufficient knowledge and awareness of STI prevention, leading to increased susceptibility to NG/CT. It is crucial to concentrate on enhancing health education for MSM. Conclusion: This study found that the rectum was the most prevalent site of CT/NG and sexual behavior can influence the infection. Additionally, the appropriate use of antibiotics and consistent condom use may contribute to clear spontaneously.

Factors Associated with First-Time HIV Testing Among MSM via Secondary Distribution of HIV Self-test Kits in Zhuhai, China.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) is an effective method to expand HIV testing coverage worldwide. We analyze the results of HIVST and sexual behaviors of first-time testers among Men who have sex with men (MSM) who participated in a secondary distribution of HIVST kits. A total of 589 participants were recruited, including 173 first-time testers and 416 non-first-time testers. The first-time testers were mainly of Han ethnicity (aOR 1.88, 95% CI 1.10, 3.24), more likely to be HIV positive (aOR 7.18, 95% CI 2.37, 21.72), and had higher income (aOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.10, 3.69). Both groups were less likely to have anal sex with male partners (χ2: 146.24, P < 0.01), (χ2: 582.72, P < 0.01) or have sex with female partners (χ2: 19.01, P < 0.01), (χ2: 35.74, P < 0.01) after HIVST. We should expand HIVST among MSM and other key populations to identify first-time testers.

Establishment and Validation of a Machine Learning Prediction Model Based on Big Data for Predicting the Risk of Bone Metastasis in Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients.

Purpose: Since the prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients with bone metastasis (BM) is poor, this study is aimed at using big data to build a machine learning (ML) model to predict the risk of BM in RCC patients. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 40,355 RCC patients in the SEER database from 2010 to 2017. LASSO regression and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine independent risk factors of RCC-BM. Six ML algorithm models, including LR, GBM, XGB, RF, DT, and NBC, were used to establish risk models for predicting RCC-BM. The prediction performance of ML models was weighed by 10-fold cross-validation. Results: The study investigated 40,355 patients diagnosed with RCC in the SEER database, where 1,811 (4.5%) were BM patients. Independent risk factors for BM were tumor grade, T stage, N stage, liver metastasis, lung metastasis, and brain metastasis. Among the RCC-BM risk prediction models established by six ML algorithms, the XGB model showed the best prediction performance (AUC = 0.891). Therefore, a network calculator based on the XGB model was established to individually assess the risk of BM in patients with RCC. Conclusion: The XGB risk prediction model based on the ML algorithm performed a good prediction effect on BM in RCC patients.

Comparison between HIV self-testing and facility-based HIV testing approach on HIV early detection among men who have sex with men: A cross-sectional study.

Background: To assess whether HIV self-testing (HIVST) has a better performance in identifying HIV-infected cases than the facility-based HIV testing (HIVFBT) approach. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among men who have sex with men (MSM) by using an online questionnaire (including information on sociodemographic, sexual biography, and HIV testing history) and blood samples (for limiting antigen avidity enzyme immunoassay, gene subtype testing, and taking confirmed HIV test). MSM who were firstly identified as HIV positive through HIVST and HIVFBT were compared. Chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used to explore any association between both groups and their subgroups. Results: In total, 124 MSM HIV cases were identified from 2017 to 2021 in Zhuhai, China, including 60 identified through HIVST and 64 through HIVFBT. Participants in the HIVST group were younger (≤30 years, 76.7% vs. 46.9%), were better educated (>high school, 61.7% vs. 39.1%), and had higher viral load (≥1,000 copies/ml, 71.7% vs. 50.0%) than MSM cases identified through HIVFBT. The proportion of early HIV infection in the HIVST group was higher than in the HIVFBT group, identified using four recent infection testing algorithms (RITAs) (RITA 1, 46.7% vs. 25.0%; RITA 2, 43.3% vs. 20.3%; RITA 3, 30.0% vs. 14.1%; RITA 4, 26.7% vs. 10.9%; all p < 0.05). Conclusions: The study showed that HIVST has better HIV early detection among MSM and that recent HIV infection cases mainly occur in younger and better-educated MSM. Compared with HIVFBT, HIVST is more accessible to the most at-risk population on time and tends to identify the case early. Further implementation studies are needed to fill the knowledge gap on this medical service model among MSM and other target populations.

Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Liver Fibrosis in People Living With HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: It is unclear if a high level of alcohol consumption is a risk factor for liver fibrosis for people living with HIV (PLWH). This study systematically summarizes the risk relationship between different alcohol consumption and the incidence of liver fibrosis among PLWH. Methods: We identified potential studies by searching the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Library, and CNKI databases up to September 26th, 2021. Observation studies in PLWH that evaluated the relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of liver fibrosis and estimated the effect of alcohol with pooled odds ratios (pooled ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were included. Results: There were total 15 studies included in data analysis. Three studies were set up as cohort studies and the other twelve were cross-sectional studies. Our study was based on 22,676 individuals and 2,729 liver fibrosis cases from 15 studies. Alcohol abuse is a significant risk factor of liver fibrosis (pooled OR = 2.25, 95% CI: 1.59-3.17, p < 0.05) among PLWH. Daily alcohol consumption > 50 g can elevate the risk of liver fibrosis (pooled OR = 3.10, 95% CI: 2.02-4.73, p < 0.05) among PLWH. However, high-risk alcohol consumption determined by AUDIT-C (AUDIT-C ≥ 4) had little or no effect on subsequent liver fibrosis risk. Further, alcohol consumption > 50 g is also a risk factor to liver fibrosis in PLWH co-infected with HCV (pooled OR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.62-3.80, p < 0.05) and in HIV mono-infected (pooled OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.00-3.43, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of liver fibrosis in PLWH. HCV co-infection with alcohol abuse could possibly induce a higher risk of liver fibrosis than HIV mono-infected patients. Systematic Review Registration: PROSPERO, identifier (CRD42021272604).

Enhanced active contraction of the transversus abdominis during walking / Aumento de la contracción activa del músculo transverso del abdomen durante la caminata / Aumento da contração ativa do músculo transverso do abdome durante a caminhada

ABSTRACT Introduction: We applied three-dimensional gait analysis to assess the effects of enhanced active contraction of the transversus abdominis (EACTA) during walking. We sought to evaluate the effect of EACTA during walking in order to improve walking quality. Methods: Thirty college students were recruited and trained to perform EACTA during walking. We examined gait parameters under different conditions, including EACTA and habitual ACTA (natural walking with mild contraction of the feedforward mechanism of ACTA, HACTA) during walking using three-dimensional gait analysis. We compared differences in gait parameters under the two walking conditions using SPSS 16.0 statistical software. Results: The following gait parameters were significantly lower under EACTA conditions than under HACTA conditions (P < 0.05): stance phase, 59.151% ± 1.903% vs. 59.825% ± 1.495%; stride time, 1.104 s ± 0.080 s vs. 1.134 s ± 0.073 s:; stance time, 0.656 s ± 0.057 s vs. 0.678 s ± 0.053 s; and swing time, 0.447 s ± 0.028 s vs. 0.454 s ± 0.031 s, respectively. Gait parameters single support phase and mean velocity were significantly higher for EACTA than for HACTA conditions (both P < 0.05). Conclusions: Overall, the results revealed that EACTA during walking can improve gait. This method is simple, and EACTA training during walking to improve gait quality in daily life could provide a positive basis for people to strengthen the transverse abdominal muscle. Level of evidence III; Retrospective comparative study .

RESUMEN Introducción: Aplicamos el análisis tridimensional de la marcha para evaluar los efectos del aumento de la contracción activa del músculo transverso del abdomen (EACTA) durante la caminata. Buscamos evaluar el efecto del EACTA durante la caminata para mejorar su calidad. Métodos: Treinta estudiantes universitarios fueron reclutados y entrenados para realizar el EACTA durante la caminata. Examinamos los parámetros de la marcha en diferentes condiciones, incluyendo EACTA y ACTA habitual (caminata natural con leve contracción del mecanismo de feedforward del ACTA, HACTA) durante la caminata usando análisis tridimensional de la marcha. Comparamos las diferencias en los parámetros de la marcha en las dos condiciones de caminata en el software estadístico SPSS 16.0. Resultados: Los siguientes parámetros de marcha fueron significativamente más bajos en la condición EACTA que en condiciones HACTA (P <0,05): fase de apoyo 59,151 ± 1,903% vs 59,825 ± 1,495%, tiempo de zancada 1,104 s ± 0,080 s vs 1,134 s ± 0,073 s, tiempo de apoyo 0,656 s ± 0,057 s vs 0,678 s ± 0,053 s y tiempo de balance 0,447 s ± 0,028 s vs 0,454 s ± 0,031 s, respectivamente. Los parámetros de la marcha, fase de apoyo simple y velocidad promedio fueron significativamente mayores en el EACTA que en las condiciones HACTA (ambos P <0,05). Conclusiones: En general, los resultados revelaron que el EACTA durante la caminata puede mejorar la marcha. Este método es simple, y el entrenamiento del EACTA durante la caminata para mejorar la calidad de la marcha en la vida diaria puede ser una base positiva para el fortalecimiento del músculo transverso del abdomen. Nivel de evidencia III; Estudio retrospectivo comparativo .

RESUMO Introdução: Aplicamos a análise tridimensional da marcha para avaliar os efeitos do aumento da contração ativa do músculo transverso do abdome (EACTA) durante a caminhada. Procuramos avaliar o efeito do EACTA durante a caminhada para melhorar sua qualidade. Métodos: Trinta estudantes universitários foram recrutados e treinados para realizar o EACTA durante a caminhada. Examinamos os parâmetros da marcha em diferentes condições, incluindo EACTA e ACTA habitual (caminhada natural com leve contração do mecanismo de feedforward do ACTA, HACTA) durante a caminhada usando análise tridimensional da marcha. Comparamos as diferenças nos parâmetros da marcha nas duas condições de caminhada no software estatístico SPSS 16.0. Resultados: Os seguintes parâmetros da marcha foram significativamente mais baixos na condição EACTA do que em condições HACTA (P < 0,05): fase de apoio 59,151 ± 1,903% vs. 59,825 ± 1,495%, tempo de passada 1,104 s ± 0,080 s vs. 1,134 s ± 0,073 s, tempo de apoio 0,656 s ± 0,057 s vs. 0,678 s ± 0,053 s e tempo de balanço 0,447 s ± 0,028 s vs. 0,454 s ± 0,031 s, respectivamente. Os parâmetros da marcha fase de apoio simples e velocidade média foram significativamente maiores no EACTA do que nas condições HACTA (ambos P < 0,05). Conclusões: No geral, os resultados revelaram que o EACTA durante a caminhada pode melhorar a marcha. Esse método é simples, e o treinamento do EACTA durante a caminhada para melhorar a qualidade da marcha na vida diária pode ser uma base positiva para o fortalecimento do músculo transverso do abdome. Nível de evidência III; Estudo retrospectivo comparativo .