In an open-label, randomized study involving men who have sex with men, doxycycline use after high-risk sexual exposure reduced the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, ...and syphilis).
There is an ongoing discussion if and how students and lecturers should interact with each other on social networks. In this article, we present an empirical study on the so-called netiquette for ...Facebook contacts between students and their lecturers (hereinafter called SL-contacts). In addition, we investigated the subjective perception of the majority’s behavior. This enabled a comparison between two different kinds of social norms: the injunctive norms (netiquette) and the descriptive norms (majority). Database was an online survey with 2,849 participants (2,550 students and 299 lecturers). SL-contacts were quite rare in our sample and usually initiated by students. Our results showed that the appropriateness of SL-contacts depends on the individual case. In addition, we found that injunctive and descriptive norms are in line with each other. Overall, our results indicate that there is a common ground of understanding, and SL-contacts are less critical than they might appear.
Pediatric CML is very rare. Before the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from a donor -if available- was the standard cure ...attempt. Data on the long-term outcome and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in former pediatric CML patients undergoing HSCT are lacking.
We investigated long-term survivors' self-reporting to a questionnaire sent out to patients formerly enrolled in pediatric CML-HSCT trials.
Individuals with CML transplanted at age <18 years were identified from the German Childhood Cancer Registry database. Long-term survivors received a questionnaire based on the SF-36 and FACT-BMT asking them to self-report HRQOL issues. (Ethical vote #541_20 B, Medical Faculty, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg).
111/171 (64.9%) individuals survived HSCT long-term and 86/111 (77.5%) fulfilled all inclusion criteria and received the questionnaire. 37/86 (43%) participants (24 female, 13 male, median age at HSCT 12 years range 2-18, median age at the time of the survey 29 years range 18-43) responded after a median follow-up period of 19 years (range 4-27) after HSCT. 10/37 (27%) participants underwent no regular medical follow-up examinations. Self-reported symptoms like chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGvHD)-associated organ impairments and conditioning regimen consequences could causatively not sharply be separated in each case. Complains comprised hypothyroidism (N=11, 30%), infertility (N=9, 24%), lung problems, dry eyes (each N=7, 19%), skin alterations (N=6, 17%), hair problems (N=4, 11%), and sexual dysfunction (N=3, 9%). 10 (27%) participants experienced 13 CML relapses after a median interval from HSCT of 31 months (range 2-93). Only one patient underwent 2nd SCT after failure of relapse treatment with TKIs. Six secondary malignancies (dysplastic melanocytic nevus and ALL, basal cell carcinoma (N=2), rhabdomyosarcoma, and thyroid carcinoma developed in 5 (13%) participants. As assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire, impaired physical health was mainly associated with cGvHD. The mental component summary score showed that also participants without cGvHD scored significantly lower than the general population. When assessed by the FACT-BMT, participants with cGvHD scored significantly lower while participants without cGvHD scored even 5 points higher than the data from controls. 18 (49%) participants considered the sequelae of HSCT an obstacle to education. Out of the total cohort, N=20 (54%), N=7 (19%), N=5 (14%), and N=4 (11%) participants worked full time, part-time, were unemployed, or had not yet finalized their education, respectively. 20 (54%) participants lived as singles, 8 (22%) lived in a partnership, 6 (16%) were married, and 3 (8%) had been divorced. Four (11%) participants reported a total number of 7 children.
This first assessment of HRQOL in former pediatric patients with CML surviving HSCT for more than two decades demonstrates self-reported satisfactory well-being only in the absence of cGvHD. Research-based on self-reported outcomes sheds light on former patients' perspectives and provides an additional layer of valuable knowledge for pediatric and adult hematologists. Regular follow-up examinations are mandatory helping to avoid that late secondary neoplasias, CML-relapse, and disorders forming the broad range of possible long-term consequences of HSCT are not detected too late.
The prevailing trend of increasing urbanization and habitat fragmentation makes knowledge of species’ habitat requirements and distribution a crucial factor in conservation and urban planning. ...Species distribution models (SDMs) offer powerful toolboxes for discriminating the underlying environmental factors driving habitat suitability. Nevertheless, challenges in SDMs emerge if multiple data sets - often sampled with different intention and therefore sampling scheme – can complement each other and increase predictive accuracy. Here, we investigate the potential of using recent data integration techniques to model potential habitat and movement corridors for Eurasian red squirrels (
Sciurus vulgaris
), in an urban area. We constructed hierarchical models integrating data sets of different quality stemming from unstructured on one side and semi-structured wildlife observation campaigns on the other side in a combined likelihood approach and compared the results to modeling techniques based on only one data source - wherein all models were fit with the same selection of environmental variables. Our study highlights the increasing importance of considering multiple data sets for SDMs to enhance their predictive performance. We finally used Circuitscape (version 4.0.5) on the most robust SDM to delineate suitable movement corridors for red squirrels as a basis for planning road mortality mitigation measures. Our results indicate that even though red squirrels are common, urban habitats are rather small and partially lack connectivity along natural connectivity corridors in Berlin. Thus, additional fragmentation could bring the species closer to its limit to persist in urban environments, where our results can act as a template for conservation and management implications.
Abstract
Background
M. genitalium (M. gen) is an under-recognized sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen that causes 15-25% of nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) in men. Asymptomatic M. gen may serve as ...a reservoir, lead to transmission to sexual contacts, and drive the development of drug resistance. M. gen may be associated with an increased risk of HIV acquisition, as seen in some studies. Data are limited on M. gen prevalence among U.S. men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV or HIV-uninfected and on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Methods
We analyzed baseline prevalence of urogenital and rectal M. gen using the Aptima Mycoplasma genitalium nucleic acid amplification test in participants enrolled in DoxyPEP, an ongoing randomized, open label trial of the effectiveness of doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) on incidence of gonorrhea, chlamydia, and early syphilis among MSM and transgender women living with HIV or on PrEP in San Francisco and Seattle (NCT03980223). Participants completing at least one follow up visit were also assessed for M. gen persistence, clearance, and incidence. Testing was at regular intervals and not symptom driven.
Results
This analysis included 122 men; 34% with HIV and 66% on PrEP. In the prior 12 months, 18.9% had a diagnosis of syphilis, 58.2% chlamydia, and 63.9% gonorrhea. At baseline, M. gen was present in at least one site in 24%; 9% in the urine and 16% in the rectum, with 1 testing positive at both sites. M. gen presence was not associated with age, ethnicity, race, HIV status, number of partners in the past 3 months, or bacterial STI in the past 3 months. 65 participants had follow up tests a median of 9.1 months after baseline (IQR 7.8-9.8); among 7 participants with urogenital M. gen at baseline, M. gen cleared in 6 and persisted in 1. Among 11 participants with rectal M. gen at baseline, M. gen cleared in 4 cleared and persisted in 7. At follow up, M. gen was detected in 2 urine and 9 rectal specimens in those previously negative at these sites.
Figure 1. Baseline prevalence of urogenital and rectal M. genitalium in MSM at high risk for STIs enrolled in DoxyPEP
Figure 2. Detection of urogenital and rectal M. genitalium among participants with baseline and follow up testing
Conclusion
In this cohort of MSM with a recent diagnosis of a bacterial STI, routine testing identified urogenital or rectal M. gen in 24% of participants at baseline and 31% at either baseline or follow-up. The association of persistent M. gen with the risk for subsequent symptomatic infection and drug resistance merits further investigation.
Disclosures
Emma D. Bainbridge, MD, MPH, Hologic (Grant/Research Support) Olusegun O. Soge, PhD, Hologic Inc. (Grant/Research Support)SpeeDx Inc. (Grant/Research Support) Annie Luetkemeyer, MD, Cepheid (Grant/Research Support)Hologic (Grant/Research Support)Mayne Pharma (Grant/Research Support)
Unter dem Titel »Transforming our World« verabschiedeten die Vereinten Nationen 2015 ihre Agenda 2030 mit 17 Nachhaltigkeitszielen. Diese Vision auf globaler Ebene gilt es vor allem auf regionaler ...Ebene zu realisieren. Verantwortung, Vernetzung und Vertrauen sind dabei wesentliche Prinzipien. Vor dem Hintergrund der Fridays for Future-Bewegung fokussieren die Zukunftsdiskurse der Beiträger*innen zentrale »Agents for Future«: Kommunen hinsichtlich politischer Maßnahmen und Änderungen, Bildung als Schlüssel für einen kulturellen Wandel, ein lebensdienliches, am Gemeinwohl orientiertes Wirtschaftsparadigma sowie nachhaltigkeitsbewusste Konsumierende - und zeigen Denkpfade in eine lebenswerte Zukunft auf.
Unter dem Titel »Transforming our World« verabschiedeten die Vereinten Nationen 2015 ihre Agenda 2030 mit 17 Nachhaltigkeitszielen. Diese Vision auf globaler Ebene gilt es vor allem auf regionaler ...Ebene zu realisieren. Verantwortung, Vernetzung und Vertrauen sind dabei wesentliche Prinzipien. Vor dem Hintergrund der Fridays for Future-Bewegung fokussieren die Zukunftsdiskurse der Beiträger*innen zentrale »Agents for Future«: Kommunen hinsichtlich politischer Maßnahmen und Änderungen, Bildung als Schlüssel für einen kulturellen Wandel, ein lebensdienliches, am Gemeinwohl orientiertes Wirtschaftsparadigma sowie nachhaltigkeitsbewusste Konsumierende - und zeigen Denkpfade in eine lebenswerte Zukunft auf.
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