Abstract
Background
International guidelines recommend the systematic screening for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections in all men who have sex with men (MSM) who ...have engaged in unprotected sex. However, the optimal screening strategy remains unclear. We developed a modeling approach to optimize NG/CT screening strategy in MSM.
Methods
A compartmental model of NG/CT screening and infection was implemented. NG/CT anal, pharyngeal, and urine (APU) samples from MSM attending the sexually transmitted infections clinic were used to estimate the screening rate, prevalence, and incidence in a base case scenario. Different screening strategies (scenarios; S) were then evaluated: APU samples every 12 months (S1); APU samples every 3 months (S2); APU samples every 6 months (S3); anal and pharyngeal (AP) samples every 6 months (S4); and AP samples every 3 months (S5).
Results
We analyzed 2973 triplet APU samples from 1255 patients. We observed 485 NG and 379 CT diagnoses. NG/CT prevalence and incidence estimates were 12.0/11.1% and 40/29 per 100 person-years, respectively, in the base case scenario. As compared to S2, the reference strategy, the proportions of missed NG/CT diagnoses were 42.0/41.2% with S1, 21.8/22.5% with S3, 25.6/28.3% with S4, and 6.3/10.5% with S5, respectively. As compared to S2, S1 reduced the cost of the analysis by 74%, S3 by 50%, S4 by 66%, and S5 by 33%. The numbers needed to screen for catching up the missed NG/CT diagnoses were 49/67 with S1, 62/82 with S3, 71/87 with S4, and 143/118 with S5.
Conclusions
S5 appears to be the best strategy, missing only 6.3/10.5% of NG/CT diagnoses, for a cost reduction of 33%.
The optimal strategy for Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis screening in men having sex with men remains unclear. This modeling study using real-world data suggests that quarterly screening of anal and pharyngeal samples offers the best strategy.
Since the SARS-CoV-2 emergence in December 2019, one of the major concerns has been the duration of immune protection after a first episode. This question is of paramount importance for healthcare ...workers (HCWs), who are a highly exposed population and among the first targets of vaccination programmes. To date, the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in HCWs 6 months after disease onset (ADO) has not been studied with both a virus neutralisation btest and commercial assays.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
We conducted a prospective study about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) knowledge in different populations attending Lyon's University Hospitals in order to estimate awareness on STIs. ...Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)-users (PrEP group), persons living with HIV (PLWH group) and persons undergoing free STI screening (screening group) filled an anonymous questionnaire evaluating STI knowledge. A composite STI knowledge score was calculated and was correlated with patients’ characteristics. A total of 756 patients were enrolled in three groups: screening (n = 509), PrEP (n = 103) and PLWH (n = 144). STI transmission knowledge was better for HIV than for other STIs. The median STI knowledge score was significantly higher in PrEP-users than in the screening and PLWH groups. PrEP use and a previous STI diagnosis were independently associated with a higher score. PrEP-users have better STI knowledge than PLWH and persons undergoing free STI screening. Sexual health promotion interventions routinely reserved to PrEP-users in France seem to be effective in raising the awareness of this group for STIs. Continuous efforts are justified for PLWH and the younger layers of the population.
A comprehensive clinical and microbiological assessments of COVID-19 in front-line healthcare workers (HCWs) is needed. Between April 10th and May 28th, 2020, 319 HCWs with acute illness were ...reviewed. In addition to SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR screening, a multiplex molecular panel was used for testing other respiratory pathogens. For SARS-CoV-2 positive HCWs, the normalized viral load, viral culture, and virus neutralization assays were performed weekly. For SARS-CoV-2 negative HCWs, SARS-CoV-2 serological testing was performed one month after inclusion. Among the 319 HCWs included, 67 (21.0%) were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2; 65/67 (97.0%) developed mild form of COVID-19. Other respiratory pathogens were found in 6/66 (9.1%) SARS-CoV-2 positive and 47/241 (19.5%) SARS-Cov-2 negative HCWs ( p = 0.07). The proportion of HCWs with a viral load > 5.0 log 10 cp/mL (Ct value < 25) was less than 15% at 8 days after symptom onset; 12% of HCWs were positive after 40 days (Ct > 37). More than 90% of cultivable virus had a viral load > 4.5 log 10 cp/mL (Ct < 26) and were collected within 10 days after symptom onset. Among negative HCWs, 6/190 (3.2%) seroconverted. Our data suggest that the determination of viral load can be used for appreciating the infectiousness of infected HCWs. These data could be helpful for facilitating their return to work.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Modified vaccinia virus Ankara vaccine (MVA-BN; Bavarian Nordic) is recommended to contacts of mpox cases up to 14 days post-exposure but the effectiveness of this strategy is unknown. Among 108 ...adults (≥ 18 years old) who received one dose of MVA-BN after exposure to mpox, 11 (10%) cases of breakthrough mpox were observed. Sexual exposure was associated with the risk of breakthrough mpox (p = 0.0179). Samples taken from vaccinated breakthrough mpox cases had similar rates of infectious virus isolation than unvaccinated mpox cases.
The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of the addition of two antioxidants naturally present in olives, hydroxytyrosol (HT) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), to a pectin-fish ...gelatin edible film on the preservation of raw beef meat during refrigerated storage. A new composite film that included beeswax was also prepared, resulting in a reduction in the film's oxygen permeability. Results showed that the meat samples wrapped with film containing antioxidants reduced the formation of oxidation products in the form of thiobarbituric acid reaction substances (TBARS) compared with control film without antioxidants. HT added at 0.5% to the film with beeswax suppressed the lipid oxidation of beef meat during 7 days of storage at 4 °C, possibly by the combined effect of acting as an oxygen barrier and the specific antioxidant activity. The interference of plasticizer agents (glycerol and sorbitol) incorporated to the film on the TBARS method was showed for the first time.
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•Olive phenolic compounds, HT & DHPG, were incorporated into pectin-protein films.•The incorporation of beeswax to bioactive film improved the barrier oxygen.•The bioactive edible film was effective at delaying lipid oxidation of beef meat.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
•Olive phenolic compounds, HT & DHPG, were incorporated into pectin-protein films.•Mechanical and barrier properties of the pectin-protein films were studied.•The release behavior of the film in ...water at different pHs was also evaluated.•The incorporation of HT and DHPG to the film improved the antimicrobial properties.•The bioactive edible coating was effective at delaying mold growth on strawberries.
This study describes the development of a composite edible film based on pectin and fish skin protein capable of protecting food from microbial attack and oxidative degradation. The film was prepared with glycerol as plasticizer and the antioxidant and antimicrobial phenolic compounds hydroxytyrosol (HT) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG), extracted from olive fruit, as active agents. The influence of the concentration of plasticizer and active HT/DHPG on the mechanical and functional properties of the films was investigated, with values of water vapor permeability (WVP) between 0.13–0.22gmm/hm2kPa and oxygen permeability (OP) between 9.91–40.76cm3μm/m2dkPa. The release behavior in water at different pH values was also evaluated. The antimicrobial capacity of the novel food coating was tested on strawberries, a fruit with high perishability. The bioactive edible film containing HT/DHPG preserved the strawberries against mold during storage with a significant delay in visible decay.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Comselogoside (COM) is a secoiridoid, derivative of p-coumaric acid with a wide range of potential beneficial properties, although its poor aqueous solubility and low stability limit its study and ...application. The formation of an inclusion complex with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) could improve the solubility and photostability of COM. The complexation of COM with β-CD in an aqueous solution has been studied for the first time, using the freeze-drying method with high encapsulation yield and efficiency. The formation of the inclusion complex was confirmed by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Phase solubility studies provided an AN-type diagram with an increase in aqueous solubility by 100% and the formation of a high stoichiometric order complex COM: β-CD. The 1H NMR analysis with different COM/β-CD molar ratio established the formation of the 2:1 stoichiometric complex by Job ҆ s plot. In addition, the complexation of COM with β-CD improved the stability of COM against irradiation with UV light at 254 nm. Finally, combined docking and DFT calculations have been performed to study the formation and interactions of the COM: β-CD complexes. The computational results show excellent agreement with experimental observations.
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•Complexation of comselogoside with β-cyclodextrin was studied for first time.•Formation of inclusion complex was confirmed by HPLC-ESI-MS and 1HNMR spectroscopy.•The 2:1 stoichiometry of the complex was evidenced by Job ҆ s plot.•Phase solubility study showed an increase the solubility of comselogoside in water.•The complexation provided a photoprotection of comselogoside upon irradiation UV.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the most common human cancers. There is an interest in controlling and treating BC and other types of cancer via the use of natural substances and/or combination ...chemotherapy. Modified forms of pectin have been reported to possess anticancer bioactivity related to the interaction of galactosyl, a main component of pectin, with galectin-3, a carbohydrate-binding protein that is overexpressed on many types of cancer cells. In this study, the antiproliferative effect on BC of novel modified pectins extracted from olives was evaluated. Pectoliv extracts, with high polyphenol content associated to polysaccharides rich in pectin, exhibited an important antiproliferative capacity
against four human BC cells lines, RT112, T24, J82, and SCaBER. Pectoliv treatment reduced the expression of galectin-1 and galectin-3 and significantly inhibited the agglutination of erythrocytes. Thus, Pectoliv may have the potential for development as a novel galectin-3 inhibitor.
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