Modeling Transmission Dynamics of Tuberculosis-HIV Co-Infection in South Africa.

South Africa has the highest number of people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the world, accounting for nearly one in five people living with HIV globally. As of 2021, 8 million people in South Africa were infected with HIV, which is 13% of the country's total population. Approximately 450,000 people in the country develop tuberculosis (TB) disease every year, and 270,000 of those are HIV positive.

The efficacy of a telemedicine-based weight loss program with video conference health coaching support.

Introduction: Clinically significant weight loss is defined as a ≥5% of initial body weight loss within a 6-month period. The purpose of this study was to assess body weight change from a 12-week telehealth-based weight loss program that integrated health coaching via video conferencing.

Methods: A total of 25 obese participants (12 males, 13 females) were recruited for this fully online 12-week weight loss program.

Feasibility of Training Frontline Therapists in Prolonged Exposure: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of Treatment of Complex Trauma in Diverse Victims of Crime and Violence.

The study aims were to determine whether prolonged exposure (PE) improved mental health and was feasible to implement by frontline clinicians in a culturally diverse sample with complex trauma. Seventy-one individuals were randomly assigned to PE or person-centered therapy (PCT). Outcome measures were administered at baseline and sessions 3, 6, 9, and 12.

A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study of a Single-Session Psychoeducation Treatment for Urban, Culturally Diverse, Trauma-Exposed Adults.

This randomized pilot study aimed to determine whether a single session of psychoeducation improved mental health outcomes, attitudes toward treatment, and service engagement among urban, impoverished, culturally diverse, trauma-exposed adults. Sixty-seven individuals were randomly assigned to a single-session psychoeducation treatment or a delayed treatment comparison control group. The control group was found to be superior to the treatment group at posttest with respect to symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and occupational and family disability.

Therapeutic ultrasound for glaucoma: clinical use of a low-frequency low-power ultrasound device for lowering intraocular pressure.

Background: This is a first-in-human study to determine the efficacy and tolerability of a new method of treating glaucoma using a low-power, low-frequency, focused therapeutic ultrasound for glaucoma (TUG) device designed to trigger an inflammatory reaction in the anterior chamber angle and trabecular meshwork to enhance outflow. The use of the device is anticipated for mild or moderate open-angle glaucoma as an enhancement to outflow.

Methods: In a two-branch clinical trial, a total of 26 primary open-angle glaucoma patients underwent a procedure consisting of the external application of the TUG device.

Factors associated with condom use problems during vaginal sex with main and non-main partners.

Background: Incorrect condom use is a common problem that can undermine their prevention impact. We assessed the prevalence of 2 condom use problems, breakage/slippage and partial use, compared problems by partnership type, and examined associations with respondent, partner, and partnership characteristics.

Methods: Data were collected at 3-month intervals during a 12-month period (1999-2000) among urban sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic users.

Does extirpation of the primary breast tumor give boost to growth of metastases? Evidence revealed by mathematical modeling.

A comprehensive mechanistic model of cancer natural history was utilized to obtain an explicit formula for the distribution of volumes of detectable metastases in a given secondary site at any time post-diagnosis. This model provided an excellent fit to the volumes of n=31, 20 and 15 bone metastases observed in three breast cancer patients 8 years, 5.5 years and 9 months after primary diagnosis, respectively.