Enhancing Cervical Cancer Screening with 7-Type HPV mRNA E6/E7 Testing on Self-Collected Samples: Multicentric Insights from Mexico.

Cervical cancer remains a significant public health issue, particularly in regions with low screening uptake. This study evaluates the effectiveness of self-sampling and the 7-type HPV mRNA E6/E7 test in improving cervical cancer screening outcomes among a referral population in Mexico. A cohort of 418 Mexican women aged 25 to 65, referred for colposcopy and biopsy due to abnormal cytology results (ASC-US+), participated in this study. Self-samples were analyzed using both the 14-type HPV DNA test and the 7-type HPV mRNA E6/E7 test. The study assessed the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and the necessity of colposcopies to detect CIN3+ lesions. Participant acceptability of self-sampling was also evaluated through a questionnaire. The 7-type HPV mRNA E6/E7 test demonstrated equivalent sensitivity but significantly higher specificity (77.0%) and PPV for CIN3+ detection compared to the 14-type HPV DNA test (specificity: 45.8%, p < 0.001). The use of the HPV mRNA test as a triage tool reduced the number of colposcopies needed per CIN3+ case detected from 16.6 to 7.6 (p < 0.001). Self-sampling was highly accepted among participants, with the majority reporting confidence in performing the procedure, minimal discomfort, and willingness to undertake self-sampling at home. Self-sampling combined with the 7-type HPV mRNA E6/E7 testing offers a promising strategy to enhance cervical cancer screening by improving accessibility and ensuring precise diagnostics. Implementing these app roaches could lead to a significant reduction in cervical cancer morbidity and mortality, especially in underserved populations. Future research should focus on the long-term impact of integrating these methods into national screening programs and explore the cost-effectiveness of widespread implementation.

Identifying resources used by young people to overcome mental distress in three Latin American cities: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore which resources and activities help young people living in deprived urban environments in Latin America to recover from depression and/or anxiety. DESIGN: A multimethod, qualitative study with 18 online focus groups and 12 online structured group conversations embedded into arts workshops. SETTING: This study was conducted in Bogotá (Colombia), Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Lima (Peru). PARTICIPANTS: Adolescents (15-16 years old) and young adults (20-24 years old) with capacity to provide assent/consent and professionals (older than 18 years of age) that had experience of professionally working with young people were willing to share personal experience within a group, and had capacity to provide consent. RESULTS: A total of 185 participants took part in this study: 111 participants (36 adolescents, 35 young adults and 40 professionals) attended the 18 focus groups and 74 young people (29 adolescents and 45 young adults) took part in the 12 arts workshops. Eight categories captured the resources and activities that were reported by young people as helpful to overcome mental distress: (1) personal resources, (2) personal development, (3) spirituality and religion, (4) social resources, (5) social media, (6) community resources, (7) activities (subcategorised into artistic, leisure, sports and outdoor activities) and (8) mental health professionals. Personal and social resources as well as artistic activities and sports were the most common resources identified that help adolescents and young adults to overcome depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: Despite the different contexts of the three cities, young people appear to use similar resources to overcome mental distress. Policies to improve the mental health of young people in deprived urban settings should address the need of community spaces, where young people can play sports, meet and engage in groups, and support community organisations that can enable and facilitate a range of social activities.

Which resources help young people to prevent and overcome mental distress in deprived urban areas in Latin America? A protocol for a prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Improving the mental health of young people is a global public health priority. In Latin America, young people living in deprived urban areas face various risk factors for mental distress. However, most either do not develop mental distress in the form of depression and anxiety, or recover within a year without treatment from mental health services. This research programme seeks to identify the personal and social resources that help young people to prevent and recover from mental distress. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A cross-sectional study will compare personal and social resources used by 1020 young people (aged 15-16 and 20-24 years) with symptoms of depression and/or anxiety and 1020 without. A longitudinal cohort study will follow-up young people with mental distress after 6 months and 1 year and compare resource use in those who do and do not recover. An experience sampling method study will intensively assess activities, experiences and mental distress in subgroups over short time periods. Finally, we will develop case studies highlighting existing initiatives that effectively support young people to prevent and recover from mental distress. The analysis will assess differences between young people with and without distress at baseline using t-tests and χ2 tests. Within the groups with mental distress, multivariate logistic regression analyses using a random effects model will assess the relationship between predictor variables and recovery. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approvals are received from Ethics Committee in Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires; Faculty of Medicine-Research and Ethics Committee of the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá; Institutional Ethics Committee of Research of the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia and Queen Mary Ethics of Research Committee. Dissemination will include arts-based methods and target different audiences such as national stakeholders, researchers from different disciplines and the general public. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN72241383.

Resource-oriented interventions for patients with severe mental illnesses in low- and middle-income countries: trials in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colombia and Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Severe mental illness (SMI) presents a major burden to societies worldwide. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often do not have sufficient financial resources and qualified staff to provide extensive specialised services for outpatients with SMI. Our research therefore aims to explore and test low-cost interventions that use existing resources in routine patient-clinician meetings, families and communities. METHODS: In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Colombia and Uganda, three psychosocial interventions will be tested, i.e. making patient-clinician meetings therapeutically effective through DIALOG+, family involvement in multi-family group meetings, and support for patients in befriending schemes with volunteers. All interventions will be provided to patients with SMI, delivered over a six-month period and evaluated with assessments at baseline and after six and 12 months. We will conduct nine trials including non-controlled trials, non-randomised controlled trials and randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Core outcome criteria will be used across all studies. However, details of study delivery and additional outcome criteria vary to accommodate local contexts, interests and priorities. The studies will be analysed separately, but with the option to compare and combine findings. DISCUSSION: The approach provides the opportunity to learn from commonalities and differences in the results and experiences across the three resource-oriented approaches and the three countries. If successfully implemented the studies can lead to more extensive research and are expected to inform health policies and clinical practice of community care for patients with SMI in the three participating countries and other LMICs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: All RCTs were registered prospectively and non-randomised trials retrospectively within the ISRCTN Registry. DIALOG+ in Uganda: ISRCTN25146122 (Date of Registration: 20/11/2018, prospective); DIALOG+ in Colombia: ISRCTN83333181 (Date of Registration: 20/11/2018, prospective); DIALOG+ in Bosnia-Herzegovina: ISRCTN13347129 (Date of Registration: 20/11/2018, prospective); Volunteer Support in Uganda: ISRCTN86689958 (Date of Registration: 04/03/2019, retrospective); Volunteer Support in Colombia: ISRCTN72241383 (Date of Registration: 04/03/2019, retrospective);Volunteer Support in Bosnia-Herzegovina: ISRCTN51290984 (Date of Registration: 20/11/2018, prospective); Family Involvement in Uganda: ISRCTN78948497 (Date of Registration: 04/03/2019, retrospective); Family Involvement in Colombia: ISRCTN11440755 (Date of Registration: 04/03/2019, retrospective); Family Involvement in Bosnia-Herzegovina: ISRCTN13347355 (Date of Registration: 20/11/2018, prospective).

Validity and Reliability of the Abbreviated Barratt Impulsiveness Scale in Spanish (BIS-15S).

OBJECTIVE: This study determined the validity and reliability of a new, abbreviated version of the Spanish Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-15S) in Colombian subjects. METHOD: The BIS-15S was tested in non-clinical (n=283) and clinical (n=164) native Spanish-speakers. Intra-scale reliability was calculated using Cronbach's α, and test-retest reliability was measured with Pearson correlations. Psychometric properties were determined using standard statistics. A factor analysis was performed to determine BIS-15S factor structure. RESULTS: 447 subjects participated in the study. Clinical subjects were older and more educated compared to non-clinical subjects. Impulsivity scores were normally distributed in each group. BIS-15S total, motor, non-planning and attention scores were significantly lower in non-clinical vs. clinical subjects. Subjects with substance-related disorders had the highest BIS-15S total scores, followed by subjects with bipolar disorders and bulimia nervosa/binge eating. Internal consistency was 0.793 and test-retest reliability was 0.80. Factor analysis confirmed a three-factor structure (attention, motor, non-planning) accounting for 47.87% of the total variance in BIS-15S total scores. CONCLUSIONS: The BIS-15S is a valid and reliable self-report measure of impulsivity in this population. Further research is needed to determine additional components of impulsivity not investigated by this measure.

Validity and reliability of the abbreviated barratt impulsiveness scale in spanish (BIS-15S)

Introduction: This study determined the validity and reliability of a new, abbreviated version of the Spanish Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-15S) in Colombian subjects. Method: The BIS-15S was tested in non-clinical (n=283) and clinical (n=164) native Spanish-speakers. Intra-scale reliability was calculated using Cronbach’s , and test-retest reliability was measured with Pearson correlations. Psychometric properties were determined using standard statistics. A factor analysis was performed to determine BIS-15S factor structure. Results: 447 subjects participated in the study. Clinical subjects were older and more educated compared to non-clinical subjects. Impulsivity scores were normally distributed in each group. BIS-15S total, motor, non-planning and attention scores were significantly lower in non-clinical vs. clinical subjects. Subjects with substance related disorders had the highest BIS-15S total scores, followed by subjects with bipolar disorders and bulimia nervosa/binge eating. Internal consistency was 0.793 and test-retest reliability was 0.80. Factor analysis conformed a three-factor structure (attention, motor, non-planning) accounting for 47.87% of the total variance in BIS-15S total scores. Conclusions: The BIS-15S is a valid and reliable self-report measure of impulsivity in this population. Further research is needed to determine additional components of impulsivity not investigated by this measure...

Introducción: Determinar la validez y confiabilidad de una nueva versión abreviada de la Escala de Impulsividad de Barratt (BIS-15S) en la población colombiana. Método: El BIS-15S fue aplicado a sujetos hispanoparlantes no clínicos (n=283) y clínicos (n=164). Sus propiedades psicométricas se establecieron con pruebas estadísticas estandarizadas y sus factores principales se analizaron para determinar la estructura de los factores del instrumento. Resultados: 447 sujetos participaron en el estudio. Los sujetos clínicos fueron mayores y más educados que los sujetos no clínicos. Los puntajes estuvieron distribuidos normalmente en las dos poblaciones. Los puntajes total, motor, de no planeación y atención del BIS-15S fueron ignificativamente menores en sujetos no clínicos, comparados con sujetos clínicos. Los puntajes de los sujetos con abuso/dependencia a drogas fueron los más altos, seguidos de aquellos de sujetos con trastornos bipolares y bulimia nerviosa/trastorno por atracones. La consistencia interna del BIS-15S fue 0,793; su confiabilidad prueba-reprueba, 0,80. El análisis de factores conformó tres factores principales (motor, no planeación y atención) responsables de 47,87% de la varianza del puntaje total del BIS-15S. Conclusiones: El BIS-15S es una medida válida y confiable del rasgo impulsividad en la población colombiana. Son necesarios estudios adicionales para establecer otras dimensiones del rasgo no medidas por el instrumento...

Trastorno del estado de ánimo mixto con síntomas psicóticos asociado a Sibutramina / Mixed Mood Disorder with Psychotic Symptoms Associated to Sibutramine

Objetivos: describir un caso de una persona que en relación con el uso de Sibutramina presenta trastorno del estado de ánimo. Métodos: reporte de caso. Resultados: paciente de 28 años, quien presenta primer episodio maniaco con síntomas psicóticos y posterior asociación de sintomatología depresiva inducida probablemente por el uso de Sibutramina.Conclusiones: la Sibutramina puede estar relacionada con la presentación de cuadros afectivos y psicóticos en personas vulnerables, por lo que se recomienda la evaluación del estado mental y los antecedentes de la persona a quien se va a prescribir.