Post-exposure prophylaxis, STI testing and factors associated with follow-up attendance: a review of 4159 cases of acute post-sexual assault medical care.

BACKGROUND: Sexual assault (SA) is a prevalent issue with enduring consequences. Post-SA medical care mainly focuses on injuries, sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and detection, as well as preventing unwanted pregnancies. Swift access to post-SA medical care is vital with sexual assault treatment units (SATUs) streamlining this care. The primary aim of our study is to report on post-SA care provided at the national SATU network in Ireland with a secondary aim of analysing factors associated with follow-up attendance for STI testing. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of all acute attendances (<7 days from incident) at the national SATU network between 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2022. RESULTS: A total of 4159 acute cases presented during the study period. Emergency contraception (EC) was administered to 53.8% (n=1899/3529) of cases, while postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) for chlamydia was given in 75.1% (n=3124/4159) and for HIV in 11.0% (n=304/3387). Hepatitis B vaccination was initiated in 53.7% (n=2233/4159) of cases. 1.4% (n=59/4159) of the attendees were referred to an emergency department for the treatment of injuries. Follow-up appointments were scheduled for 75.8% (3151/4159) of acute cases. 71.6% (n=2257/3151) attended follow-up.Certain factors were found to correlate with a higher likelihood of attending follow-up appointments: adolescents (p<0.0001), concern about drug-facilitated SA (DFSA) (p=0.01), no consumption of recreational drugs before the incident (p<0.0001), alcohol consumption prior to the incident (p=0.01), and not reporting the crime to the police (p<0.001). However, gender (p=0.06) and the presence of injury at time of primary attendance (p=0.97) were not predictive of likelihood of follow-up attendance. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that EC, chlamydia PEP, HIV PEP and hepatitis B vaccination were all administered at SATU. A small proportion of attenders required emergency injury care. Factors influencing attendance at follow-up include age, drug use, alcohol use and police involvement, highlighting the need for tailored patient-centred support.

Facilitating an International Research Experience Focused on Applied Nanotechnology and Surface Chemistry for American Undergraduate Students Collaborating with Mentors at a German Educational and Research Institution.

The "International Research Experience for Students (IRES)" at Doane University (DU) located in Crete, Nebraska, exposed undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students to international research at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany. The international collaboration team included three undergraduate researchers per year from DU, one faculty member and one postdoctoral fellow from DU, two faculty mentors at KIT, and several graduate, post-doctoral, and technical staff at KIT. Prior to departure to Germany, the students received extensive research training, as well as culture and language preparation from the mentors at DU. While in Germany, the students received an in-depth orientation to Karlsruhe, Germany, Europe, the research setting at KIT, and the international collaborators. The eight week summer projects over three years involved nanolithography, nano- to microsized array fabrication, organic synthesis using click chemistry, and surface modifications for sensing and other biomedical research applications. When the students returned from Germany, they continued to conduct research at DU and train other undergraduate students using the expertise acquired from KIT. The DU research students, including the IRES scholars, learned oral and written communication skills. They presented their KIT and DU research results at weekly seminars and at local and national meetings. An external assessment firm evaluated the program, the students, and mentors on a yearly basis before and after the summer research. This enabled all participants to continuously improve the learning objectives and the program execution including three program adjustments implemented in year 2 or 3. The survey data shows that the IRES program provided an enriching experience for the students in research and international culture and established a successful base of collaboration for mentors.

Printed Colorimetric Arrays for the Identification and Quantification of Acids and Bases.

Solid supported colorimetric sensing arrays have the advantage of portability and ease of use when deployed in the field, such as crime scenes, disaster zones, or in war zones, but many sensor arrays require complex fabrication methods. Here, we report a practical method for the fabrication of 4 × 4 colorimetric sensor arrays, which are printed on nylon membranes, using a commercially available inkjet printer. In order to test the efficacy of the printed arrays, they were exposed to 43 analytes at concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 3.0 M for a total of 559 samples of inorganic and organic acids or bases including hydrochloric, acetic, phthalic, malonic, picric, and trifluoroacetic acid, ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, lysine, and water as the control. Colorimetric data from the imaged arrays was analyzed with linear discriminant analysis and k-nearest neighbors to determine the analyte and concentration with ∼88-90% accuracy. Overall, the arrays have impressive analytical power to identify a variety of analytes at different concentrations while being simple to fabricate.

Comparative Chemometric Analysis for Classification of Acids and Bases via a Colorimetric Sensor Array.

With the increasing availability of digital imaging devices, colorimetric sensor arrays are rapidly becoming a simple, yet effective tool for the identification and quantification of various analytes. Colorimetric arrays utilize colorimetric data from many colorimetric sensors, with the multidimensional nature of the resulting data necessitating the use of chemometric analysis. Herein, an 8 sensor colorimetric array was used to analyze select acid and basic samples (0.5 - 10 M) to determine which chemometric methods are best suited for classification quantification of analytes within clusters. PCA, HCA, and LDA were used to visualize the data set. All three methods showed well-separated clusters for each of the acid or base analytes and moderate separation between analyte concentrations, indicating that the sensor array can be used to identify and quantify samples. Furthermore, PCA could be used to determine which sensors showed the most effective analyte identification. LDA, KNN, and HQI were used for identification of analyte and concentration. HQI and KNN could be used to correctly identify the analytes in all cases, while LDA correctly identified 95 of 96 analytes correctly. Additional studies demonstrated that controlling for solvent and image effects was unnecessary for all chemometric methods utilized in this study.

The Identification of Seven Chemical Warfare Mimics Using a Colorimetric Array.

Chemical warfare agents pose significant threats in the 21st century, especially for armed forces. A colorimetric detection array was developed to identify warfare mimics, including mustard gas and nerve agents. In total, 188 sensors were screened to determine the best sensor performance, in order to identify warfare mimics 2-chloro ethyl ethylsulfide, 2-2'-thiodiethanol, trifluoroacetic acid, methylphosphonic acid, dimethylphosphite, diethylcyanophosphonate, and diethyl (methylthiomethyl)phosphonate. The highest loadings in the principle component analysis (PCA) plots were used to identify the sensors that were most effective in analyzing the RGB data to classify the warfare mimics. The dataset was reduced to only twelve sensors, and PCA results gave comparable results as the large data did, demonstrating that only twelve sensors are needed to classify the warfare mimics.

Wild Plum: novel blue fluorescent compounds capable of luminosity restoration in sun-exposed skin.

BACKGROUND: Novel, blue fluorescent solids referred to as Wild Plum compounds can camouflage skin imperfections when incorporated into cosmetic products. We evaluated the relationship between sun exposure and skin fluorescence and determined if the application of Wild Plum formulations could restore lost fluorescence without harming the skin. METHODS: The forehead skin of two groups of volunteers of mixed gender and age was examined for fluorescence and redness. In addition, subjects answered questions describing any adverse sensations they experienced after their skin was exposed to Wild Plum formulations for extended periods of time. RESULTS: Fluorescence measurements of both solar and non-solar skin indicated that repeated sun exposure causes a loss of skin fluorescence. Application of Wild Plum formulations caused an increase in skin fluorescence at all concentrations, restoring solar skin fluorescence to values well beyond that of non-solar skin. Photo analysis and interview questions indicated that these formulations did not cause any symptoms of irritancy. CONCLUSION: Wild Plum compounds have the ability to restore fluorescence of solar skin to a level significantly higher than that associated with non-solar skin. Skin appears more luminous and therefore more youthful. This fluorescence restoration is achieved at relatively low concentrations, without any harmful side effects.

Plasma urea:creatinine ratio as a biomarker of gastrointestinal bleeding in dogs with anaemia.

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal bleeding is a cause of anaemia in dogs. A reliable, non-invasive biomarker to differentiate gastrointestinal bleeding from other causes of anaemia would be advantageous to direct clinical decisions in anaemic patients. Plasma urea:creatinine ratio is an accepted biomarker of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in human medicine. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to evaluate plasma urea:creatinine ratio as a biomarker of gastrointestinal bleeding in a population of dogs with anaemia. METHODS: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of dogs with anaemia presenting to referral centres for the investigation of anaemia. Cases were categorised as having overt gastrointestinal bleeding (melena on presentation), occult gastrointestinal bleeding (historical and diagnostic findings consistent with gastrointestinal bleeding without melena at presentation) or anaemia of other cause (confident diagnosis other than gastrointestinal bleeding reached, normal diagnostic imaging of gastrointestinal tract). Urea:creatinine ratio at presentation was calculated by dividing urea (mg/dL) by creatinine (mg/dL). RESULTS: Ninety-five dogs were included. Plasma urea:creatinine ratio was not significantly different between dogs with overt or occult gastrointestinal bleeding or those with anaemia of other cause (median urea:creatinine ratio 25.8, 20.7 and 22.5, respectively). No significant difference in urea:creatinine ratio was found between dogs with upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding (median urea:creatinine ratio 19.4 and 24.6, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma urea:creatinine ratio was not helpful in differentiating between dogs with anaemia resulting from gastrointestinal bleeding (overt or occult) and those with other causes of anaemia.

Generation and annotation of the DNA sequences of human chromosomes 2 and 4.

Human chromosome 2 is unique to the human lineage in being the product of a head-to-head fusion of two intermediate-sized ancestral chromosomes. Chromosome 4 has received attention primarily related to the search for the Huntington's disease gene, but also for genes associated with Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome, polycystic kidney disease and a form of muscular dystrophy. Here we present approximately 237 million base pairs of sequence for chromosome 2, and 186 million base pairs for chromosome 4, representing more than 99.6% of their euchromatic sequences. Our initial analyses have identified 1,346 protein-coding genes and 1,239 pseudogenes on chromosome 2, and 796 protein-coding genes and 778 pseudogenes on chromosome 4. Extensive analyses confirm the underlying construction of the sequence, and expand our understanding of the structure and evolution of mammalian chromosomes, including gene deserts, segmental duplications and highly variant regions.

3,3'-diethylthiatricarbocyanine iodide: a highly sensitive chiroptical reporter of DNA helicity and sequence.

Using UV-vis absorption and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies, we explored the binding interactions of 3,3'-diethylthiatricarbocyanine iodide (Cy7) with polynucleotides of different sequences and helicity. CD showed to be a very diagnostic tool giving different spectroscopic chiroptical signatures for all explored DNA sequences upon Cy7 binding. Cy7 was able to spectroscopically discriminate between the right handed B-DNA of poly(dG-dC)(2) and its left handed Z-DNA counterpart induced by spermine or Co(III)hexamine via nearly opposite induced circular dichroic signal.

Enzymatic Resolution of 1-Phenylethanol and Formation of a Diastereomer: An Undergraduate H NMR Experiment To Introduce Chiral Chemistry.

This organic laboratory experiment introduces students to stereoselective enzyme reactions, resolution of enantiomers, and NMR analysis of diastereomers. The reaction between racemic 1-phenylethanol and vinyl acetate in hexane to form an ester is catalyzed by acylase I. The unreacted alcohol is then treated with a chiral acid and the resulting ester diastereomer is analyzed by NMR. This experiment is suitable for group work in the laboratory as several diastereomers are synthesized and compared to determine which enantiomer of 1-phenylethanol reacts with the enzyme.

Minor Cannabinoids: Biosynthesis, Molecular Pharmacology and Potential Therapeutic Uses.

The medicinal use of Cannabis sativa L. can be traced back thousands of years to ancient China and Egypt. While marijuana has recently shown promise in managing chronic pain and nausea, scientific investigation of cannabis has been restricted due its classification as a schedule 1 controlled substance. A major breakthrough in understanding the pharmacology of cannabis came with the isolation and characterization of the phytocannabinoids trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). This was followed by the cloning of the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors in the 1990s and the subsequent discovery of the endocannabinoid system. In addition to the major phytocannabinoids, Δ9-THC and CBD, cannabis produces over 120 other cannabinoids that are referred to as minor and/or rare cannabinoids. These cannabinoids are produced in smaller amounts in the plant and are derived along with Δ9-THC and CBD from the parent cannabinoid cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). While our current knowledge of minor cannabinoid pharmacology is incomplete, studies demonstrate that they act as agonists and antagonists at multiple targets including CB1 and CB2 receptors, transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), serotonin 5-HT1a receptors and others. The resulting activation of multiple cell signaling pathways, combined with their putative synergistic activity, provides a mechanistic basis for their therapeutic actions. Initial clinical reports suggest that these cannabinoids may have potential benefits in the treatment of neuropathic pain, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, cancer and skin disorders. This review focuses on the molecular pharmacology of the minor cannabinoids and highlights some important therapeutic uses of the compounds.

The DNA sequence of human chromosome 7.

Human chromosome 7 has historically received prominent attention in the human genetics community, primarily related to the search for the cystic fibrosis gene and the frequent cytogenetic changes associated with various forms of cancer. Here we present more than 153 million base pairs representing 99.4% of the euchromatic sequence of chromosome 7, the first metacentric chromosome completed so far. The sequence has excellent concordance with previously established physical and genetic maps, and it exhibits an unusual amount of segmentally duplicated sequence (8.2%), with marked differences between the two arms. Our initial analyses have identified 1,150 protein-coding genes, 605 of which have been confirmed by complementary DNA sequences, and an additional 941 pseudogenes. Of genes confirmed by transcript sequences, some are polymorphic for mutations that disrupt the reading frame.

Enantiodiscrimination of methamphetamine by circular dichroism using a porphyrin tweezer.

Using exciton-coupled circular dichroism (ECCD) spectroscopy, our lab was able to differentiate between the two enantiomers of methamphetamine using a commercially available porphyrin tweezer as an achiral host. The host-guest complex formed with (+)-(S)-methamphetamine produced a negative bisignate-shaped ECCD spectrum, whereas the complex formed with (-)-(R)-methamphetamine produced a positive one. This sensitive technique could serve as an alternative method for the enantiodiscrimination of chiral methamphetamine, a commonly abused drug in the United States.

Wild Plum: novel particles of improved optical brightness and fluorescence.

A novel compound named Wild Plum fluoresces blue, and has been synthesized to camouflage skin imperfections, addressing the market demand for an anti-aging product. Wild Plum imparts optical brightness and fluorescence and can be used as an ingredient in cosmetic formulations. Skin appearance before and after application of Wild Plum compounds demonstrated an improved appearance of skin including a decreased number of wrinkles. When added to makeup, lotions, creams, and powders, Wild Plum conveys the glow of healthy youthful skin, replacing other costly or invasive alternatives such as cosmetic surgery.

Sun, sea and sex: a review of the sex tourism literature.

BACKGROUND: Sex tourism is defined as travel planned specifically for the purpose of sex, generally to a country where prostitution is legal. While much of the literature on sex tourism relates to the commercial sex worker industry, sex tourism also finds expression in non-transactional sexual encounters. This narrative review explores current concepts related to travel and sex, with a focus on trans-national sex tourism. METHODS: The PubMed database was accessed to source relevant literature, using combinations of pertinent search terms. Only articles published in the English language were selected. Reference lists of published articles were also examined for relevant articles. RESULTS: With regard to preferred destinations, South/Central America and the Caribbean were more likely to receive tourists looking for casual sex. Longer duration of travel, travelling alone or with friends, alcohol or drug use, being younger and being single were factors associated with higher levels of casual sex overseas. The majority of literature retrieved on sex workers focused on risk behaviours, sexually transmitted infections (STI), mobility of sex workers and how these factors affected their lives. Sex tourists require better access to effective methods of preventing HIV, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis, and better education on HIV prevention. Drugs and alcohol play a major role as risk factors for and cofactors in casual sexual behaviour while abroad. CONCLUSIONS: Travellers need to be informed of the increased risks of STI before travel. They should be aware of the local prevalence of STIs and the risks associated with their sexual practices when they travel, including engaging with commercial sex workers, having unprotected sexual intercourse and becoming victims of sexual violence.

Interactions of a tetraanionic porphyrin with DNA: from a Z-DNA sensor to a versatile supramolecular device.

The anionic nickel(II) porphyrin NiTPPS is able to selectively sense the spermine induced left-handed Z-form of DNA while it is completely silent in the presence of right-handed B-DNA. Interactions between the DNA and the porphyrin can be easily modulated by pH and temperature. The resulting Z-DNA-porphyrin-spermine complex behaves as a supramolecular reversible information storage system and as a reversible AND logic gate.

Automated image analysis with ImageJ of yeast colony forming units from cannabis flowers.

Currently, in the state of Colorado and all other states within the United States of America with legalized marijuana programs, testing is required for bacteria, yeast, and mold on marijuana products. The Code of Colorado Regulations, 1 CCR 212-1, considers a passing result when a 1 g sample contains <104 colony forming units (CFU) for the total yeast and mold count (TYMC). These measurements are usually obtained by manually counting colonies on petri-dishes or 3 M™ Petrifilms™, which is a time consuming and user subjective process. Therefore, an automated counting method utilizing ImageJ has been developed for CFU analysis of TYMC on Petrifilms. The performance of this colony counting method was demonstrated by comparing manual and automated counts from marijuana flower samples containing spikes of Candida albicans as well as samples that tested positive for the presence of yeast and mold. Fifteen images of Petrifilms showing various concentrations of colonies were studied by fifteen users at two institutions using both the automated and manual counting methods. All counts from the automated ImageJ procedure were within 12% of those obtained manually. In twelve out of fifteen Petrifilms, the average count of the automated method was statistically similar to the manual counts. The statistical differences of the other three samples were observed to be random and caused by user errors. The automated counting method could be used to quickly count numbers that are as high as 400 CFUs, reducing time of analysis with improved documentation because the images and the electronic colony counts can be saved on a computer or cloud for long term storage and data access.

Live Cell Analysis of Shear Stress on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Using an Automated Higher-Throughput Microfluidic System.

A higher-throughput microfluidic in vitro bioreactor coupled with fluorescence microscopy has been used to study bacterial biofilm growth and morphology, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Here, we will describe how the system can be used to study the growth kinetics and the morphological properties such as the surface roughness and textural entropy of P. aeruginosa strain PA01 that expresses an enhanced green fluorescent protein (PA01-EGFP). A detailed protocol will describe how to grow and seed PA01-EGFP cultures, how to set up the microscope and autorun, and conduct the image analysis to determine growth rate and morphological properties using a variety of shear forces that are controlled by the microfluidic device. This article will provide a detailed description of a technique to improve the study of PA01-EGFP biofilms which eventually can be applied towards other strains of bacteria, fungi, or algae biofilms using the microfluidic platform.

Imaging of pulmonary fusariosis in patients with hematologic malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the radiographic features of pulmonary fusariosis, an increasingly encountered cause of severe opportunistic mold pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary fusariosis has radiographic manifestations that are suggestive of an angioinvasive mold. Nodules or masses were the most common findings at CT, seen in 82% of patients compared with only 45% on chest radiography. The halo sign was not seen. Chest radiographs showed nonspecific findings in 30% of patients, and findings were normal at presentation in 25%. All of the patients had underlying hematologic malignancies. Thirteen of the 20 patients studied (65%) died within 1 month of diagnosis of pulmonary fusariosis. Because early initiation of intense antifungal therapy offers the best chance for survival in pulmonary fusariosis, early CT and appropriate microbiologic investigation should be obtained in severely immunocompromised patients.