Social Network Organization, Structure, and Patterns of Influence Within a Community of Transgender Women in Lima, Peru: Implications for Biomedical HIV Prevention.

Understanding social network structures can contribute to the introduction of new HIV prevention strategies with socially marginalized populations like transgender women (TW). We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews and four focus groups (n = 32) with TW from selected social networks in Lima, Peru between May and July, 2015. Participants described layers of social influence from diverse actors in their social networks. The majority identified a close relative as their primary social support, with whom they confided secrets but avoided issues of transgender identity, sexuality, and sex work. Participants described close circles of TW friends with whom they shared information about gender identity, body modification, and sexual partners, but avoided issues like HIV. Community leadership included political leaders (who advocated for transgender rights) as well as social leaders (who introduced TW to hormone therapy, body modification, and commercial sex). Detailed analysis of TW social networks can contribute to implementation and acceptability of new HIV prevention technologies.

Sistemas de evaluación y registro de la halitosis / Systems of evaluation and registry of the halitosis

La halitosis, también conocida como mal olor de la boca, es una condición común que afecta millones de personas. Este término describe una gama de olores desagradables emitidos en el aliento, con una variedad de causas que usualmente resultan de la putrefacción bacteriana dentro de la cavidad bucal. Miyazaki y cols.1 publicaron una clasificación de los diferentes tipos de halitosis en tres categorías: pseudohalitosis, halitofobia y halitosis genuina. Frecuentemente las personas que sufren de mal aliento lo desconocen, mientras que otros están convencidos que sufren de mal olor de la boca aunque no exista tal evidencia, es decir, muchas personas emiten mal aliento por años sin percatarse y otras sobreestiman su propio mal olor, teniendo actitudes obsesivas y evitando las interacciones sociales. Existen varios métodos para evaluar la halitosis y muchos investigadores usan métodos combinados para identificar sujetos con halitosis. Este artículo está basado en la revisión bibliográfica de las técnicas y estrategias utilizadas en el análisis clínico del mal olor de la boca, en razón que los pacientes con halitosis, frecuentemente no tienen una base objetiva y esperan un diagnóstico por parte del odontólogo.

Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is a common condition concern for millions of people. It is a broad term describing a range of unpleasant or offensive odors emitted in the breath, which can have a variety of causes, usually by result of microbial putrefaction within the oral cavity. Miyazaki et al.1 were published a classification system for different types of halitosis in three categories: pseudohalitosis, halitophobia and genuine halitosis. Often, people suffering from bad breath remain unaware of it, whereas others remain convinced that they suffer from foul oral malodor, although there is no evidence for such. Many people emit bad breath for years without being at all aware of it and others greatly overestimate their own oral malodor and are consequently prone to obsessive behavior, avoid social interactions. Several methods are available in the market for the measurement of halitosis. Most clinicians and researchers have used a combination methods assessment to identify subjects with halitosis. In this article, we focus on the clinical techniques and strategies used for the clinical analysis of oral malodor, because, the patient's complaint of bad breath does not appear to have an objective basis and expect effective diagnosis from dental practitioner.

Condiciones bucales y sistémicas asociadas a la halitosis genuina / Oral and systemic conditions associated with genuine halitosis

La Halitosis es definida como un olor desagradable u ofensivo que emite la cavidad bucal, usualmente tiene una causa bucal, particularmente derivada del metabolismo bacteriano sobre los sustratos y aminoácidos que contienen azufre. Durante mucho tiempo, fue concebida como una consecuencia de la enfermedad periodontal, hoy en día se sabe que, ocasionalmente el consumo de ciertos medicamentos, disfunciones metabólicas, respiratorias, hormonales y otras alteraciones sistémicas pudieran ser el factor etiológico del mal olor de la boca, por lo que el propósito de esta investigación es analizar las condiciones bucales y sistémicas asociadas a la halitosis genuina en los pacientes que acuden a los postgrado de Periodoncia, Prótesis y Endodoncia de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad Central de Venezuela (FdeOUCV) partir del sistema de registro organoléptico. 38 pacientes diagnosticados con halitosis, durante el período Marzo-Octubre 2010, fueron evaluados a partir de un consentimiento informado admitiendo su participación en el estudio, por medio de un cuestionario con una escala de medición de actitudes y respuestas, una historia de halitosis, un examen clínico para establecer la presencia o no de enfermedad periodontal, la valoración organoléptica en diversos lugares de la cavidad bucal (Rosenberg y Mc Culloch, 1992) y el índice de cubierta lingual (Winkel, 2003). El criterio de exclusión estaba determinado por la ingesta de antibióticos durante tres semanas previas al examen, no obstante ningún paciente fue excluido por esta situación. Se realizó el análisis cualitativo y cuantitativo respectivo. Se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa p<0,1 en el grupo con salud periodontal con respecto al grupo con enfermedad periodontal, en los aspectos relacionados con la sensación de hambre, sequedad y mal gusto en la boca y en relación con actitudes específicas asociadas a eructos, alejarse de otras personas...

The halitosis usually has a oral cause, particularly derived from the bacterial metabolism on the substrates and amino acids that contain sulfur. During long time, it was conceived like a consequence of the periodontal disease, nowadays knows that, occasionally the metabolic, respiratory, hormonal medicine consumption certain, dysfunctions and other systemic alterations could badly be the etiological factor of the scent of the mouth, reason why the intention of this investigation is to analyze the oral and systemic conditions associated to the genuine halitosis in the patients who go to the Periodoncia, Prosthesis and Endodontic of the Faculty of Dentistry of the Central University of Venezuela (FDOUCV) from the system of organoleptic registry. 38 patients diagnosed with halitosis, during the period March-October 2010, were evaluated from an informed consent admitting their participation in the study, by means of a questionnaire with a scale of measurement of attitudes and answers, a history of halitosis, a clinical examination to establish the presence or not of periodontal disease, the organoleptic valuation in diverse places of the oral cavity (Rosenberg and Mc Culloch, 1992) and the index of lingual cover (Winkel, 2003). The exclusion criterion was determined by the antibiotic ingestion during three weeks previous to the examination, despite no patient was excluded by this situation. The qualitative and quantitative analysis was made. Was a statistically significant difference p< 0.1 in the group with respect to the group with periodontal disease, in the aspects related to the sensation of hunger, dryness and badly taste in the mouth and in relation to specific attitudes associated to belches, to move away of other people, oral breathing and ingestion of liquids and candies, as well as in the index of lingual cover degree eight (8)....

Acceptability of pre-exposure prophylaxis as an HIV prevention strategy: barriers and facilitators to pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among at-risk Peruvian populations.

This study examined pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) acceptability among female sex workers, male-to-female transgendered persons and men who have sex with men in Lima, Peru. Focus groups explored social issues associated with PrEP acceptability and conjoint analysis assessed preferences among eight hypothetical PrEP scenarios with varying attribute profiles and their relative impact on acceptability. Conjoint analysis revealed that PrEP acceptability ranged from 19.8 to 82.5 out of a possible score of 100 across the eight hypothetical PrEP scenarios. Out-of-pocket cost had the greatest impact on PrEP acceptability (25.2, P < 0.001), followed by efficacy (21.4, P < 0.001) and potential side-effects (14.7, P < 0.001). Focus group data supported these findings, and also revealed that potential sexual risk disinhibition, stigma and discrimination associated with PrEP use, and mistrust of health-care professionals were also concerns. These issues will require careful attention when planning for PrEP roll-out.

Platelet count, antiplatelet therapy and pulmonary embolism--a prospective study in patients with hip surgery.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a serious complication following hip surgery. Trials of antiplatelet thromboprophylaxis indicated a substantial reduction in PE rate, and we prospectively studied the effect of a combination of low-dose heparin and two different antiplatelets. Furthermore, our experience in previous studies suggested that platelet count (PC) levels could be useful to reliably suspect PE at a very early stage, and we prospectively tried to confirm our previous findings. Ours is a prospective study in 459 consecutive patients operated on because of hip fracture (265) or elective hip replacement (194), aimed to determine: 1) whether the benefits of antiplatelets plus heparin on PE outweigh the risks; 2) to assess the clinical usefulness of PC monitoring in these patients, so as to confirm whether PE could be recognized early. It was a prospective, randomized, double-blind study. All patients received unfractioned heparin (7500 IU sc twice daily, starting 2 h before operation). In addition, they received aspirin (200 mg thrice daily, with meals), Triflusal (300 mg thrice daily, with meals), or placebo. Real time B-mode ultrasonography (US) was performed on all patients on the 8-9th day after surgery. Venography was performed in patients with normal US, if clinical symptoms suggested venous thrombosis. Twelve out of the 459 patients (2.6%) had to discontinue prophylaxis, because of major bleeding (6 patients), or gastric intolerance (6 patients). There were no significant differences between groups in either deep vein thrombosis (26 patients (18%) with aspirin, 18 (12%) with Triflusal, 26 (17%) with placebo), or PE development (7 patients (5%) with aspirin, 3 (2%) with Triflusal, 8 (5%) taking placebo).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)