Economic evaluation of antimicrobial resistance in curable sexually transmitted infections; a systematic review and a case study.

Objective: To provide a summary of the economic and methodological evidence on capturing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) associated costs for curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To explore approaches for incorporating the cost of AMR within an economic model evaluating different treatment strategies for gonorrhoea, as a case study.

Methods: A systematic review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022298232).

The frequency and duration of side-effects associated with the use of oral metronidazole; A prospective study of VITA trial participants.

Background: The tolerability of metronidazole is often perceived as being poor and in particular as being a cause of gastrointestinal side effects, but the frequency, severity and duration of adverse effects (AE) is not well characterised. This study assessed the frequency and type of metronidazole associated AEs in women treated for bacterial vaginosis.

Methods: An exploratory study of participants from the lactic acid gel versus metronidazole for treating bacterial vaginosis (VITA) randomised controlled trial.

The association between symptom or microscopy based diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and response to treatment in women with recurrent BV.

Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common condition, yet accurate diagnosis remains a challenge. We explored symptom and microscopy-based diagnosis of BV and assessed the influence of these diagnostic approaches on treatment response.

Methods: BV diagnosis based on patient-reported symptoms, and vaginal swab gram stain microscopy at local laboratories and a central laboratory were compared for women recruited into the VITA trial in England.

STI testing and subsequent clinic attendance amongst test negative asymptomatic users of an internet STI testing service; one-year retrospective study.

Aim: To explore the characteristics of online STI test users, and assess the frequency and factors associated with subsequent service use following a negative online STI test screen in individuals without symptoms.

Methods: One-year retrospective study of online and clinic STI testing within a large integrated sexual health service (Umbrella in Birmingham and Solihull, England) between January and December 2017. A multivariable analysis of sociodemographic and behavioural characteristics of patients was conducted.

An exploration of patient satisfaction with and experience of a sexual abuse survivors clinic.

Background: The scale and extent of sexual violence perpetrated in the United Kingdom is being increasingly acknowledged. Support after the initial disclosure is often sought in NHS sexual health clinics. The purpose of this service evaluation was to explore patient satisfaction and experience amongst sexual health clinic attendees who disclosed sexual violence and were subsequently managed in a specialist sexual abuse survivors clinic.

Sexual exposure and sexual behaviour in the interval between gonorrhoea treatment and test of cure: a cross-sectional cohort study.

Objectives: We explored sexual contact in the interval between the treatment for gonorrhoea and attending for a test of cure (ToC) and identified factors associated with sexual contact in this period.

Methods: Multivariable analysis of demographic, behavioural and clinical data with self-reported sexual contact prior to attending for a gonorrhoea ToC evaluation among participants recruited into the 'Gentamicin for the Treatment of Gonorrhoea' trial in England, between October 2014 and November 2016. Associations with sexual contact were expressed as prevalence ratios (PR) and their corresponding 95% CI.

The effect of intramuscular injection technique on injection associated pain; a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To review the effect of different intramuscular injection (IMI) techniques on injection associated pain, in adults.

Methods: The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42019136097). MEDLINE, EMBASE, British Nursing Index and CINAHL were searched up to June 2020.

Time to resolution of genital symptoms for uncomplicated gonorrhoea: a prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To determine the time to resolution of symptoms (TTR) following treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea and to identify factors associated with TTR in a cohort of sexual health clinic attendees.

Methods: Participants were recruited from 14 clinics across England into the 'Gentamicin for the Treatment of Gonorrhoea (GToG)' trial between October 2014 and November 2016. We analysed demographic, behavioural and clinical data in a subset of the GToG study cohort presenting with genital discharge and/or dysuria, who subsequently experienced microbiological clearance of 2 weeks after treatment.

Spontaneous clearance of genital and extragenital : data from GToG.

Objectives: (NG) infection can resolve without antibiotic treatment, however the literature describing the frequency of clearance at individual sites, how rapidly it occurs and potential predictive factors is limited. In this analysis of a subpopulation identified from a large multicentre UK cohort, we describe the overall rate of spontaneous clearance of infection and explore factors associated with this.

Methods: Data from the Gentamicin compared with Ceftriaxone for the Treatment of Gonorrhoea randomised controlled trial consisting of 720 patients with NG were analysed.

Factors associated with severity and resolution of intramuscular injection site pain following treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhoea: a prospective cohort study of GToG trial participants.

Intramuscular injection (IMI) pain reduces the acceptability of treatment, but data identifying those at highest risk of severe pain following an injection are limited. This study identified factors associated with the severity, duration and resolution of IMI pain following treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhoea. Data from a subset of participants (aged 16-70 years) recruited between October 2014 and November 2016 into the 'Gentamicin for the treatment of gonorrhoea' trial in England were analysed.

Factors associated with time to presentation for individuals with symptomatic uncomplicated genital gonorrhoea: a cross sectional cohort study of GToG trial participants.

Objectives: To determine the variation in the time from onset of symptoms to clinical presentation (time to presentation [TTP]) in a cohort of sexual health attendees with symptomatic uncomplicated genital gonorrhoea and to identify factors associated with TTP.

Methods: Participants were recruited from 14 clinics across England into the 'Gentamicin for the Treatment of Gonorrhoea (GToG)' trial between October 2014 and November 2016. Multivariable analysis was performed using prospectively collected demographic, behavioural and clinical data in a subset of the GToG study cohort presenting with genital discharge and/or dysuria who tested positive for using a nucleic acid amplification test.

Transglutaminase 2 maintains a colorectal cancer stem phenotype by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2), a multifunctional protein, is reported in regulating the cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype in various cancers. Our previous work suggested the link between TG2 and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in colorectal cancer (CRC). Here we demonstrate the importance of TG2 in CSC development in human CRC cell lines HCT116 and SW620.

Tissue transglutaminase induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition and the acquisition of stem cell like characteristics in colorectal cancer cells.

Human colon cancer cell lines (CRCs) RKO, SW480 and SW620 were investigated for TG2 involvement in tumour advancement and aggression. TG2 expression correlated with tumour advancement and expression of markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The metastatic cell line SW620 showed high TG2 expression compared to the primary tumour cell lines SW480 and RKO and could form tumour spheroids under non- adherent conditions.

A novel regulatory role for tissue transglutaminase in epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder caused by mutation of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) for which there is no overall effective treatment. Recent work indicates tissue transglutaminase (TG2) plays a pivotal intracellular role in proteostasis in CF epithelia and that the pan TG inhibitor cysteamine improves CFTR stability. Here we show TG2 has another role in CF pathology linked with TGFβ1 activation and signalling, induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), CFTR stability and induction of matrix deposition.

Influence of Vitamin C and Vitamin E on testicular zinc content and testicular toxicity in lead exposed albino rats.

Background: Occupational and environmental exposures to lead remain a public health problem as lead alters physiological processes by inducing oxidative stress and mimicking divalent cations. This study was designed to investigate the effects of Vitamin C (VC) and Vitamin E (VE) on the reproductive function of lead exposed male rats. Experimental animals were exposed to oral doses of lead, VC and VE at 60 mg/kg body weight, 40 mg/kg body weight, and 150 mg/kg body weight respectively, while control animals received 0.

Neurobehavioural and neurotoxic effects of L-ascorbic acid and L-tryptophan in lead exposed rats.

Background: Lead is an environmental toxicant, occupational and environmental exposures remain a serious problem in developing and industrializing countries.

Objective: This study is designed to investigate the effects of L-ascorbic acid and L-tryptophan on the neurotoxicity and neurobehavioural alterations in lead exposed male Sprague Dawley rats.

Methods: Experimental animals were exposed to oral doses of lead (Pb), L-ascorbic acid, and L-tryptophan at 75 mg/kg body weight, 40 mg/kg body weight, and 20 mg/kg body weight respectively, while control animals received 0.