"Killing two birds with one stone" - a qualitative study on women's perspectives on the dual prevention pill in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Background: HIV incidence remains high in South Africa, with ~ 60% of all new HIV infections among adolescent girls and women (Country factsheets HIV and AIDS Estimates, 2022). Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), approved for HIV prevention in South Africa since 2015, is hampered by low uptake and adherence, particularly among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Combining oral PrEP with oral contraceptives could increase PrEP uptake, persistence and address unmet needs for contraception.

Computer-Assisted Implant Planning: A Review of Data Registration Techniques.

Computer-assisted implant planning allows for a comprehensive treatment plan by combining radiographic data provided by a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) with surface optical scan (IOs) data that includes patient intraoral situation and the intended restorative planning. Integrating a tailored restorative design with the patient's anatomical conditions through virtual implant planning allows for an ideal bio-restorative treatment planning to maximize biological, functional, and esthetic outcomes. This article discusses dataset registration techniques that combine radiographic CBCT data with restorative information as the main path to create a virtual patient.

The Role of Aging and Senescence in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Response and Toxicity.

Cellular senescence accumulates with age and has been shown to impact numerous physiological and pathological processes, including immune function. The role of cellular senescence in cancer is multifaceted, but the impact on immune checkpoint inhibitor response and toxicity has not been fully evaluated. In this review, we evaluate the impact of cellular senescence in various biological compartments, including the tumor, the tumor microenvironment, and the immune system, on immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy and toxicity.

Correlates of Adherence to Oral and Vaginal Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) Participating in the MTN-034/REACH Trial.

We evaluated correlates of adherence to PrEP, including daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in combination emtricitabine (oral FTC/TDF) and the monthly dapivirine ring (ring)among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in the MTN-034/REACH study. We enrolled 247 AGYW aged 16-21 years in South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03074786).

Merging Mandibular Virtual Data Sets in Partially Edentulous Patients with a High-level of Scattering on Cone-beam CT Scans: A Technical Report.

Digital implant planning, utilizing the convergence of digital surface scanners, cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) scans, and advanced planning software, has transformed dental implantology. The merging of these data sets through triangulation of landmarks provides a detailed digital model of the jaws, facilitating precise implant positioning in edentulous areas. A critical step in this digital workflow is the accurate merging of DICOM files with STL/PLY/OBJ files, which underpins the design and fabrication of surgical templates for accurate implant placement.