Effective prolonged suppression of HIV-1 viral load using tenofovir alafenamide, emtricitabine and efavirenz in an adult with BMI >59 kg/m.

Limited information is available regarding the efficacy of antiretrovirals in people with HIV-1 and high or very high Body Mass Index (BMI). This is especially the case for the alafenamide salt of tenofovir as clinical trials have only enrolled patients with BMI ≤30 kg/m. Lower concentrations of some antiretrovirals are expected in patients with BMI >30 kg/m due to potential changes in clearance and distribution of medication.

HIV-related Merkel cell carcinoma: A report of three cases from the UK.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) of the skin is a rare, aggressive and often fatal neuroendocrine skin cancer. The incidence of MCC has significantly increased in the last decades. Factors that have been associated with the development of MCC include infection with Merkel Cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), ultraviolet exposure, hematologic malignancies and immunosuppression.

The dark art of syphilis serology - an analysis of testing algorithms at a UK reference laboratory.

Due to the complex nature of treponemal serology interpretation, testing algorithms vary across the UK. There is currently no gold standard method for interpretation of discordant serology results. To analyse serological response in early infection and to determine the best approach for discordant total antibody EIA and TPPA samples.

Smart sensor tights: Movement tracking of the lower limbs in football.

This article presents a novel smart sensor garment with integrated miniaturized inertial measurements units (IMUs) that can be used to monitor lower body kinematics during daily training activities, without the need of extensive technical assistance throughout the measurements. The smart sensor tights enclose five ultra-light sensor modules that measure linear accelerations, angular velocities, and the earth magnetic field in three directions. The modules are located at the pelvis, thighs, and shanks.

A wearable fluidic collection patch and ion chromatography method for sweat electrolyte monitoring during exercise.

This paper presents a method to continuously collect and reliably measure sweat analyte concentrations during exercise. The method can be used to validate newly developed sweat sensors and to obtain insight into intraindividual variations of sweat analytes in athletes. First, a novel design of a sweat collection system is created.

Genomic epidemiology of syphilis reveals independent emergence of macrolide resistance across multiple circulating lineages.

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum and may lead to severe complications. Recent years have seen striking increases in syphilis in many countries. Previous analyses have suggested one lineage of syphilis, SS14, may have expanded recently, indicating emergence of a single pandemic azithromycin-resistant cluster.

Substantial underdiagnosis of lymphogranuloma venereum in men who have sex with men in Europe: preliminary findings from a multicentre surveillance pilot.

Objectives: Understanding the public health impact of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) in Europe is hampered by inadequate diagnostics and surveillance systems in many European countries. We developed and piloted LGV surveillance in three European countries without existing systems and performed a preliminary investigation of LGV epidemiology, where little evidence currently exists.

Methods: We recruited STI or dermatovenereology clinics and associated laboratories serving men who have sex with men (MSM) in Austria, Croatia and Slovenia, using the UK for comparison.

Enhanced surveillance of syphilis cases among men who have sex with men in London, October 2016-January 2017.

Syphilis rates have been increasing in men who have sex with men (MSM) in London. To describe risk behaviour and refine public health interventions, we conducted prospective enhanced surveillance of new syphilis cases in MSM attending selected London sexual health clinics (SHCs) between October 2016 and January 2017. Sexual health advisors (SHAs) completed 107 questionnaires.

A brief recent history of the epidemiology of congenital syphilis in the United Kingdom.

Within a century, congenital syphilis has been reduced from a major cause of morbidity and mortality to a condition rarely seen in the UK. Here, newly-derived literature and information searches were used to create a contemporary overview of the epidemic, including its epidemiology. Although constrained by high-quality healthcare services and with an incidence below the World Health Organization elimination threshold, congenital syphilis still has the potential to cause major consequences for the health and life chances of affected infants.

Observed Treatment Responses to Short-Course Doxycycline Therapy for Rectal Lymphogranuloma Venereum in Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Background: Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) has reestablished itself as an endemic sexually transmitted infection in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe and North America over the last decade. Current guidelines suggest treatment with 21 days of doxycycline; however, the evidence base for LGV treatment including its duration is very limited.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review in 2 central London genitourinary medicine clinics of men who have sex with men (MSM) with LGV in whom less than 21 days of doxycycline was used initially.

Origin of modern syphilis and emergence of a pandemic Treponema pallidum cluster.

The abrupt onslaught of the syphilis pandemic that started in the late fifteenth century established this devastating infectious disease as one of the most feared in human history. Surprisingly, despite the availability of effective antibiotic treatment since the mid-twentieth century, this bacterial infection, which is caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum (TPA), has been re-emerging globally in the last few decades with an estimated 10.

HIV test offers and acceptance: New York State findings from the behavioral risk factor surveillance system and the National HIV behavioral surveillance, 2011-2012.

Background: The New York State HIV testing law requires that patients aged 13-64 years be offered HIV testing in health care settings. We investigated the extent to which HIV testing was offered and accepted during the 24 months after law enactment.

Methods: We added local questions to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) surveys asking respondents aged 18-64 years whether they were offered an HIV test in health care settings, and whether they had accepted testing.

[Streamlining of medical orders in an intensive care unit].

Objectives: To We assessed whether intensivists ICU physician acceptance of a system designed to would accept to optimise e their orders for ings of biological samplesings, X-rays and target drugs, and to assess the consequences of this rationalization for on patient's outcome.

Study Design: Monocentric evaluation of medical economic procedure. The medical ordering process started to be assessed in our ICU in late 2006,

Methods: Mat meetings of consultants, registrars and residents, held started on Dec.

Lymphogranuloma venereum presenting as perianal ulceration: an emerging clinical presentation?

An outbreak of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) infection has been recognised in the UK since 2004, predominantly affecting HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). Patients typically present with proctitis symptoms. The prevalence of rectal LGV in MSM attending sexually transmitted infection clinics in London is estimated at 1%.

Miniature 10 kHz thermo-optic delay line in silicon.

The scanning delay line is a key component of time-domain optical coherence tomography systems. It has evolved since its inception toward higher scan rates and simpler implementation. However, existing approaches still suffer from drawbacks in terms of size, cost, and complexity, and they are not suitable for implementation using integrated optics.

Time-domain Optical Coherence Tomography system with integrated delay line for surgical guidance applications.

Optical Coherence Tomography is a high resolution imaging technique able to provide in-depth information about living tissue. Among all its applications, it can be argued that surgical guidance is one of the most demanding in terms of system reliability, footprint and cost. In order to enable faster adoption of this technology in that field, we had already developed and demonstrated a new type of scanning delay line based on the thermo-optic effect of silicon.

A telemetric light delivery system for metronomic photodynamic therapy (mPDT) in rats.

Light delivery and monitoring during photodynamic therapy (PDT) is often limited by the need for a physical link between the light source, detectors and the treatment volume. This paper reports on the first in vivo experiments performed with a fully implantable telemetric system, designed for a rat glioblastoma model. In this system, light delivery is performed using a solid state optode containing 2 LEDs, and 4 photodiodes which will be used to monitor light delivery in future experiments.

Shape based Monte Carlo code for light transport in complex heterogeneous Tissues.

A Monte Carlo code for the calculation of light transport in heterogeneous scattering media is presented together with its validation. Triangle meshes are used to define the interfaces between different materials, in contrast with techniques based on individual volume elements. This approach allows to address realistic problems in a flexible way.