Changes in Stigma and Social Support among Participants in a Randomized Trial of a Novel Expanded Social Network-based HIV Testing Intervention in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

HIV-related stigma is a well-documented barrier to HIV testing in South Africa, and may be particularly likely to create reluctance to test among South African men, who have reported feeling blamed for HIV by their partners and communities. The present study presents a novel expanded social network recruitment to HIV testing (E-SNRHT) intervention explicitly designed to reduce stigma as a barrier to testing by asking people to recruit anyone they know to testing, thus allowing them to avoid the potential for increased stigma and/or blame associated with direct risk partner recruitment, and helping to normalize openly discussing HIV among social networks. We examined baseline and 6-10-week follow-up data from a 2022-2023 randomized trial in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that recruited 110 individuals who had been newly diagnosed with HIV and randomly assigned them to recruit people to HIV testing either via the E-SNRHT intervention or via risk network recruitment. Participants in the E-SNRHT intervention reported significant decreases in anticipated and enacted HIV-related stigma between baseline and follow-up; and the E-SNRHT intervention was more effective at decreasing enacted HIV-related stigma than was risk network recruitment. Individuals newly diagnosed with HIV by the E-SNRHT intervention reported significant increases in social support between intervention enrollment and follow-up, and all of these individuals reported participating in positive conversations about HIV services with peers in the 6-10 weeks after intervention enrollment. These findings suggest that E-SNRHT is a potentially important strategy to reduce HIV-related stigma as a barrier to HIV testing among peer networks in KwaZulu-Natal.

Cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity in the lens of social justice - Reporting on the disparities that exist.

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), heavily influenced by physical activity (PA), represents a strong and independent risk factor for a wide range of health conditions, most notably, cardiovascular disease. Substantial disparities in CRF have been identified between white and non-white populations. These disparities may partly account for group differences in susceptibility to poor health outcomes, including non-communicable disease. Race and ethnic differences in CRF may partly be explained by social injustices rooted in persistent structural and systemic racism. These forces contribute to environments that are unsupportive for opportunities to achieve optimal CRF levels. This review aims to examine, through the lens of social justice, the inequities in key social ecological factors, including socioeconomic status, the built environment, and structural racism, that underly the systemic differences in CRF and PA in vulnerable communities. Further, this review highlights current public health initiatives, as well as opportunities in future research, to address inequities and enhance CRF through the promotion of regular PA.

Comparison of a novel expanded social network recruitment intervention with risk network recruitment to HIV testing: locating undiagnosed cases in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether a novel expanded social network recruitment to HIV testing (E-SNRHT) intervention recruits men and individuals with previously-undiagnosed HIV at higher rates than risk network recruitment. DESIGN: Initial "seed" participants were prospectively randomly assigned to the E-SNRHT intervention or to risk network recruitment. Their network members were included in the study arm of their recruiter. SETTING: Three Department of Health clinics and two drug treatment centers (DTCs) in the Msunduzi municipality of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS: Clinics and DTCs referred 110 newly-HIV-diagnosed adult "seeds" to the study from June 2022-February 2023. E-SNRHT seeds were asked to recruit network members as described below; risk network recruitment arm seeds were asked to recruit recent sex and/or injection partners. Presenting a recruitment coupon (from clinic/DTC staff or another participant) was required for eligibility. INTERVENTION: E-SNRHT seeds were shown educational material about HIV transmission risks and then asked to recruit anyone they know (e.g., friends, family) whom they thought could benefit from HIV testing. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of recruiting men to HIV testing and locating individuals with previously-undiagnosed HIV. RESULTS: E-SNRHT recruited significantly higher proportions of men to HIV testing (70.3% vs. 40.4%; χ2 = 16.33; p < .0005) and located significantly more previously-undiagnosed cases of HIV per seed than risk network recruitment (rate ratio = 9.40; p < .0001). E-SNRHT also recruited significantly higher proportions of women with previously-undiagnosed HIV (29.0% vs. 10.7%; χ2 = 3.87; p = .049). CONCLUSIONS: E-SNRHT is an important strategy to expand the reach of HIV testing among men and undiagnosed cases of HIV in KwaZulu-Natal.

Inactivación del virus Zika con medio de transporte de ácidos nucleicos, potencialmente aplicable a muestras clínicas para el diagnóstico molecular de SARS-CoV-2 / Inactivation of Zika virus with nucleic acids transport media, potentially applicable to clinical samples for the molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2

RESUMEN Introducción: Los medios de colecta de muestras clínicas con capacidad de desnaturalizar virus reducen los riesgos de contagio durante el transporte y procesamiento. Objetivo: Emplear el medio de transporte de ácidos nucleicos (TAN) en muestras de exudado nasofaríngeo colectadas para el diagnóstico de SARS-CoV-2. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio experimental para demostrar la capacidad del medio de inactivar la infectividad viral. Se tomó como modelo de virus envuelto el virus Zika (VZk), cuyo nivel de bioseguridad es 2. Se evaluó el desempeño clínico del medio TAN para el diagnóstico de SARS-CoV-2. Se empleó una cepa del VZk propagada en la línea celular Vero y, previo a la infección de las células, el VZk se puso en contacto a intervalos de tiempo diferentes (2; 15 y 30 min) con el medio TAN puro; y luego se realizaron diluciones seriadas (10-1-10-4). La inactivación viral se evaluó por RT-PCR, en el sobrenadante y células colectadas, al culminar el periodo de propagación. El desempeño clínico del medio TAN se estimó tomando como referencia el CITOSWAB® VTM, en 30 exudados nasofaríngeos colectados para diagnóstico de la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Resultados: El VZk preservó su infectividad a diluciones del inóculo ≥ 10-2, independientemente del tiempo de contacto. La sensibilidad y especificidad clínica del medio TAN para el diagnóstico de SARS-CoV-2 fueron del 100 %, respectivamente. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que muestras clínicas positivas a VZk en diluciones ≤ 10-1 del medio TAN pueden ser manipuladas de forma segura, lo que pudiera aplicarse potencialmente al diagnóstico molecular del SARS-CoV-2.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Collection media of clinical samples with the capacity to denature viruses reduce the risk of contagion during transportation and processing. Objective: To use the nucleic acids transport media (NATM) in nasopharyngeal swab samples collected for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. Methods: An experimental study was conducted to demonstrate the medium capacity to inactivate viral infectivity. Zika virus (ZIKV), of biosafety level 2, was used as an enveloped virus model. The clinical performance of the NATM for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated. A ZIKV strain propagated in the Vero cell line was used and, prior to cells infection, ZIKV was in contact at different intervals (2; 15, and 30 min) with pure NATM; subsequently, serial dilutions (10-1-10-4) were performed. Viral inactivation was evaluated by RT-PCR in the supernatant and the collected cells when the propagation period was completed. CITOSWAB® VTM was used as reference to estimate the clinical performance of the NATM in 30 nasopharyngeal swabs collected for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: ZIKV remained infectious at inoculum dilutions of ≥ 10-2, regardless of contact time. Clinical specificity and sensitivity of the NATM for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 were 100%, respectively. Conclusions: Results suggest that ZIKV positive clinical samples at dilutions ≤ 10-1 of the NATM can be safely handled, which could potentially be applied to the molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2.

Dolor plantar calcáneo. Experiencias y opciones de tratamiento / Calcaneal plantar pain. Experiences and treatment options

La talalgia se define como la percepción de dolor localizado en el talón que anatómicamente corresponde al hueso calcáneo y a las partes blandas colaterales, constituye la causa más frecuente de consulta a los especialistas en pie y tobillo, identificando dos zonas de aparición del dolor, el dolor plantar y el dolor posterior, los que están directamente relacionados con la inervación de esa zona del pie, realizamos un análisis general para evaluar las opciones iniciales de tratamiento y las indicaciones fisioterapéuticas exponiendo nuestra opinión y experiencias(AU)

Talalgia is defined as the perception of localized pain in the heel that anatomically corresponds to the calcaneus bone and collateral soft tissue, is the most frequent cause of consultation with foot and ankle specialists, identifying two areas of pain appearance, pain plantar and subsequent pain, which are directly related to the innervation of that area of the foot, we perform a general analysis to evaluate the initial treatment options and physiotherapeutic indications exposing our opinion and experiences(AU)

Artritis reumatoide, diagnóstico, evolución y tratamiento / Rheumatoid arthritis, diagnosis, evolution and treatment

La artritis reumatoide es la enfermedad inflamatoria más común en adultos con una alta prevalencia en la población general, invocando para su diagnóstico la presencia de al menos cuatro criterios de los orientados por el Colegio Americano de Reumatología, teniendo un papel protagónico en los últimos años la presencia de anticuerpos anti proteína citrulinada, así como los estudios de imágenes, que ayudan al diagnóstico de la artritis reumatoide temprana en el curso de los dos primeros años de evolución y sus orientaciones terapéuticas adecuadas, aspecto fundamental en la actualidad para evitar las lesiones erosivas irreversibles, que resultan en un marcado compromiso de la calidad de vida de los pacientes que la sufren, elementos que revisamos en este artículo de opinión(AU)

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory disease in adults with a high prevalence in the general population, invoking for its diagnosis the presence of at least four criteria of those guided by the American College of Rheumatology, having a leading role in recent years the presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies, as well as imaging studies, which help the diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis in the course of the first two years of evolution and its appropriate therapeutic orientations, a fundamental aspect nowadays to avoid irreversible erosive lesions , which result in a marked commitment to the quality of life of patients who suffer from it, elements that we review in this opinion article(AU)

Influencia de la familia en la educación bucal: en el Policlínico Hermanos Cruz

Se aplicaron dos encuestas a un total de 60 personas, pertenecientes a diferentes núcleos familiares del consultorio 70 del policlínico Hermanos Cruz, de la provincia de Pinar del Río, durante el año 2004; una de ellas acerca de los aspectos de la educación bucal, y otra sobre el funcionamiento y estructura familiar, con el objetivo de relacionar el nivel educativo y otros aspectos de la Estomatología con la familia. Se realizó análisis de los datos obtenidos aplicando los métodos de la estadística descriptiva y se detectó un bajo nivel de educación para la salud bucal, al tiempo que pudo comprobarse que existen relaciones entre este aspecto y el tipo de familia, según su estructura y funcionamiento. También pudo comprobarse que no solo reviste importancia el conocimiento que se tenga sobre determinado aspecto, sino que lo que sí resulta fundamental es su aplicación en la práctica(AU)

Prevalencia del consumo de bebidas alcoholicas y problemas asociados en adolescentes (Quillacollo-Cochabamba) / s

El presente estudio se llevo a cabo motivado por la gran existencia de adolescentes consumidores de alcohol tanto varones como mujeres, observandose un incremento diario en especial en los estudiantes del nivel secundario y primeros cursos de la universidad. De acuerdo a los datos obtenidos en el estudio se pudo determinar que un 50 por ciento de los adolescentes de ambos sexos consumieron bebidas alcoholicas, mas en varones que en mujeres, y el consumo era esporadico, por lo que no llega a la clasificacion del abuso del alcohol. Los resultados de las encuestas muestran que tanto hombres y mujeres no tienen en su mayoria problemas relacionados al consumo, los problemas mas frecuentes son familiares y los escolares. El inicio del consumo de bebidas alcoholicas en mujeres es a los 15 años y en los hombres a los 16 años pero la diferencia es que los hombres tienen un consumo mas frecuente segun aumenta la edad y las mujeres mantienen el consumo esporadico en su mayoria