Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents' Preferences for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Social Marketing Campaigns: Qualitative Preimplementation Study.

Background: Sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents in the United States are disproportionately affected by HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective biomedical HIV prevention method, but its awareness and uptake among SGM adolescents are low. There are no adolescent-centered PrEP social marketing campaigns in the United States that have the potential to increase awareness and interest in PrEP.

Natural hemozoin and β-hematin induce tissue damage and apoptosis in human placental explants.

Unlabelled: Hemozoin (HZ) is a waste product of hemoglobin digestion by and has been implicated in several pathological processes, including inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. Studying the effects of HZ on the human placenta is essential to understanding the impact of malaria infection during pregnancy. The present study explored the impact of HZ produced by and β-hematin, referred to here as natural HZ (nHZ) and synthetic HZ (sHZ), respectively, on human placental explants exposed .

Halogen Thermochemistry Assessed with Density Functional Theory: Systematic Errors, Swift Corrections and Effects on Electrochemistry.

Despite its sizable errors, density functional theory (DFT) is extensively used to evaluate thermochemical properties of gases, liquids and their interfaces with solids. As numerous halogen-containing compounds appear as reactants, products and/or electrolytes in electrochemical reactions, and ionic effects are currently an active area of research, it is important to evaluate the accuracy of DFT for halogen thermochemistry. Herein, we assess the formation energies of interhalogens, hydrogen halides, diatomic and atomic halogens and their ions using six widespread functionals at the GGA, meta-GGA and hybrid levels.

Harnessing Miniscope Imaging in Freely Moving Animals to Unveil Migraine Pathophysiology and Validate Novel Therapeutic Strategies.

Migraine is a debilitating neurological disorder that affects millions worldwide. Elucidating its underlying mechanisms is crucial for developing effective therapeutic interventions. In this editorial, we discuss the potential applications of one-photon miniscopes, which enable minimally invasive, high spatiotemporal resolution fluorescence imaging in freely moving animals.

Factors Associated With Quality of Life Among Colorectal Cancer Patients: Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is a chronic condition that affects a substantial proportion of the global population. Ensuring a satisfactory quality of life (QoL) for these patients is, therefore, of critical importance.

Objective: To examine the relationship between sociodemographic, economic, lifestyle, and health-related variables and quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer receiving treatment at a leading health institution in Medellín, Colombia.

Cytoprotective Effects of Antioxidant Peptides from Red Californian Worm () Hydrolysate on Differentiated Caco-2 Cells.

Background/objectives: When prooxidants outweigh antioxidants, oxidative stress can occur, causing an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This process can lead to cellular damage and plays a role in the development of numerous health conditions. This study aimed to investigate the cytoprotective effects on differentiated Caco-2 cells of hydrolysates derived from the red Californian worm (WH) and their fractions, identify the peptides responsible for this effect, and elucidate the mechanisms involved.

A Pilot Study of a Sibling-Based Online Intervention to Increase PrEP Uptake and Willingness Among Latino MSM.

This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of Entre Herman@s, a novel sibling-based intervention designed to engage siblings to increase PrEP utilization among Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM). Siblings were trained in rudimentary motivational interviewing skills to uncover, evoke, and strengthen their brother's motivation to use PrEP, using the constructs of the Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model for health behavior change. This pilot demonstrated high feasibility, meeting recruitment, retention, and intervention completion targets.

Refuting the hypothesis of Centinelan extinction at its place of origin.

Scientists' limited understanding of tropical plant communities obscures the true extent of species loss caused by habitat destruction. The Centinelan extinction hypothesis posits an extreme but widely referenced scenario wherein forest clearing causes the immediate extinction of species known only from a single geographic location. It remains unclear, however, whether the disappearance of such microendemics reflects their global extinction or insufficient collection effort at larger scales.

Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Keep It Up!, A Digital Health Intervention, in Community-Based Organizations.

Despite ongoing investments in the development and testing of new digital interventions for HIV prevention, the widespread use of interventions with proven effectiveness remains limited. This study assessed real-world implementation of a digital HIV prevention intervention, Keep It Up!. The study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to implementing Keep It Up! within community-based organizations (CBOs) serving racially diverse sexual and gender minoritized populations.

Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) implementation among latino MSM: a qualitative scoping review of implementation determinants and change methods.

Introduction: The increasing rates of HIV among Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) necessitate innovative and rigorous studies to evaluate prevention and treatment strategies. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective tool in preventing HIV acquisition and plays a crucial role in the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S.

Clinical and diagnostic evaluation of a wild ocelot () specimen.

Background: Monitoring the health of wild animals under the principles of one health contributes to the prevention of diseases and the preservation of human and animal health, thus contributing to the conservation of species.

Aim: The current study describes the clinical and paraclinical status of an ocelot () captured in Buriticá, Antioquia, Colombia, for research purposes with the aim of contributing to the construction of animal health reference values in the wild, considering the scarcity of published data for the country on capture, management, and paraclinical parameters related to this species.

Methods: For this, hematological parameters, blood chemistry, urine cytochemical analyses, and coprological examinations were carried out.

Impact of Alcalase Hydrolysis and Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion on the Release of Bioactive Peptides from (Chachafruto) Proteins.

Amidst increasing awareness of diet-health relationships, plant-derived bioactive peptides are recognized for their dual nutritional and health benefits. This study investigates bioactive peptides released after Alcalase hydrolysis of protein from chachafruto (), a nutrient-rich South American leguminous plant, focusing on their behavior during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Evaluating their ability to scavenge radicals, mitigate oxidative stress, and influence immune response biomarkers, this study underscores the importance of understanding peptide interactions in digestion.

Evaluation of Four Humanized NOD-Derived Mouse Models for Dengue Virus-2 Infection.

Dengue is a significant public health problem with no specific viral treatment. One of the main challenges in studying dengue is the lack of adequate animal models recapitulating human immune responses. Most studies on humanized mice use NOD-scid IL2R gamma null (NSG) mice, which exhibit poor hematopoiesis for some cell populations.

A Comparative Analysis of Cold Brew Coffee Aroma Using the Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry-Mass Spectrometry Technique: Headspace-Solid-Phase Extraction and Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction Methods for the Extraction of Sensory-Active Compounds.

Coffee, one of the most widely consumed commodities globally, embodies a sensory experience deeply rooted in social, cultural, and hedonic contexts. The cold brew (CB) method, characterized by cold extraction, is a refreshing and unique alternative to traditional coffee. Despite its growing popularity, CB lacks defined preparation parameters and comprehensive analysis of its aromatic composition.

Use of Wing Geometric Morphometric Analysis and mtDNA to Identify Africanization of in the Central Highlands of Ecuador.

Seventy-five samples were collected from 15 beehives in the central highlands of Ecuador (Tungurahua-Chimborazo) to assess Africanization in managed bee populations using wing geometric morphometric and mitochondrial DNA analyses. The results indicated that when grouping the apiaries based on altitudinal floors into 2600-2800, 2801-3000, and 3001-3274 m above sea level, differences ( < 0.001) were observed.

A mixed-methods approach to assessing implementers' readiness to adopt digital health interventions (RADHI).

Background: Despite being the primary setting for HIV prevention among men who have sex with men (MSM) since the start of the epidemic, community-based organizations (CBOs) struggle to reach this historically stigmatized and largely hidden population with face-to-face interventions. HIV researchers have readily turned to the internet to deliver critical HIV education to this group, with evidence of high effectiveness and acceptability across studies. However, implementation outside of research contexts has been limited and not well studied.

A Mixed Methods Investigation Examining the PrEP Cascade Among 13-18-Year-Old Latino Adolescent Sexual Minority Men.

Latino adolescent sexual minority men (ASMM) are at high risk of HIV. Limited research has explored the impact of parent-adolescent communication and beliefs on PrEP adoption among Latino ASMM. Our objective was to examine how parental support and beliefs influence decisions regarding PrEP use.

Connexin 30 locally controls actin cytoskeleton and mechanical remodeling in motile astrocytes.

During brain maturation, astrocytes establish complex morphologies unveiling intense structural plasticity. Connexin 30 (Cx30), a gap-junction channel-forming protein expressed postnatally, dynamically regulates during development astrocyte morphological properties by controlling ramification and extension of fine processes. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unexplored.

Patient-specific quality assurance of dynamically-collimated proton therapy treatment plans.

Background: The dynamic collimation system (DCS) provides energy layer-specific collimation for pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy using two pairs of orthogonal nickel trimmer blades. While excellent measurement-to-calculation agreement has been demonstrated for simple cube-shaped DCS-trimmed dose distributions, no comparison of measurement and dose calculation has been made for patient-specific treatment plans.

Purpose: To validate a patient-specific quality assurance (PSQA) process for DCS-trimmed PBS treatment plans and evaluate the agreement between measured and calculated dose distributions.