Factors influencing sexually transmissible infection disclosure to male partners by HIV-positive pregnant women in Pretoria townships, South Africa: a qualitative study.

Unlabelled: Background Sexually transmissible infections (STI) may increase the risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV. However, diagnostic testing and targeted treatment of STI (STI-TT) during pregnancy is not standard care in South Africa.

Methods: A qualitative study was nested in a STI-TT intervention to investigate motivating and enabling factors associated with STI test results disclosure to sexual partners.

Race/Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, and Polypharmacy among Older Americans.

Very few studies with nationally representative samples have investigated the combined effects of race/ethnicity and socioeconomic position (SEP) on polypharmacy (PP) among older Americans. For instance, we do not know if prevalence of PP differs between African Americans (AA) and white older adults, whether this difference is due to a racial gap in SEP, or whether racial and ethnic differences exist in the effects of SEP indicators on PP. We investigated joint effects of race/ethnicity and SEP on PP in a national household sample of American older adults.

Validity of Self-reported Hypertension and Factors Related to Discordance Between Self-reported and Objectively Measured Hypertension: Evidence From a Cohort Study in Iran.

Objectives: Self-reporting can be used to determine the incidence and prevalence of hypertension (HTN). The present study was conducted to determine the validity of self-reported HTN and to identify factors affecting discordance between self-reported and objectively measured HTN in participants in the Ravansar Non-Communicable Diseases (RaNCD) cohort.

Methods: The RaNCD cohort included permanent residents of Ravansar, Iran aged 35-65 years.

PARP Inhibitors as a Therapeutic Agent for Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Breast Cancers.

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) play an important role in various cellular processes, such as replication, recombination, chromatin remodeling, and DNA repair. Emphasizing PARP's role in facilitating DNA repair, the PARP pathway has been a target for cancer researchers in developing compounds which selectively target cancer cells and increase sensitivity of cancer cells to other anticancer agents, but which also leave normal cells unaffected. Since certain tumors ( mutants) have deficient homologous recombination repair pathways, they depend on PARP-mediated base excision repair for survival.

Dyslipidemia Is a Major Factor in Stem Cell Damage Induced by Uncontrolled Long-Term Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity in the Rat, as Suggested by the Effects on Stem Cell Culture.

Background: Previous work showed that muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) exposed long-term to the milieu of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (UC-T2D) in male obese Zucker (OZ) rats, were unable to correct the associated erectile dysfunction and the underlying histopathology when implanted into the corpora cavernosa, and were also imprinted with a noxious gene global transcriptional signature (gene-GTS), suggesting that this may interfere with their use as autografts in stem cell therapy.

Aim: To ascertain the respective contributions of dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia to this MDSC damage, clarify its mechanism, and design a bioassay to identify the damaged stem cells.

Methods: Early diabetes MDSCs and late diabetes MDSCs were respectively isolated from nearly normal young OZ rats and moderately hyperglycemic and severely dyslipidemic/obese aged rats with erectile dysfunction.

Condom use attitude and self-efficacy, and STIs risk perception among Iranian female sex workers: A psychometric study.

In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate psychometric properties of the Persian versions of condom use self-efficacy (CUSES), attitude toward condom use (ATCUS), and sexually transmitted infection risk perception (STIsRP) scales among Iranian female sex workers (FSWs). We translated original versions of the scales into Persian, and through census, recruited and interviewed 140 FSWs. Appropriate validity, reliability, functionality and simplicity were demonstrated for the scales.

Estrogen receptor-beta is a potential target for triple negative breast cancer treatment.

Triple Negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer that lacks the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. TNBC accounts for 15-20% of all breast cancer cases but accounts for over 50% of mortality. We propose that Estrogen receptor-beta (ERβ) and IGF2 play a significant role in the pathogenesis of TNBCs, and could be important targets for future therapy.

Inhibition of TRPV1 Channel Activity in Human CD4⁺ T Cells by Nanodiamond and Nanoplatinum Liquid, DPV576.

Transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels act as sensors of pain, temperature, and other external stimuli. We have recently shown that DPV576, an aqueous mixture of nanodiamond (ND) and nanoplatinum (NP), can modulate the activity of TRPV on human primary keratinocytes, suggesting their potential as a possible pain modulator. Here, we sought to examine the effect of DPV576 in modulating the functions of human CD4⁺ T lymphocytes and whether the modulation is mediated via TRPV channels.

Pleiotropic Effects of Statins: Untapped Potential for Statin Pharmacotherapy.

Background: Statins are effective for primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. They also have systemic anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating properties suggesting potential utility for improving clinical outcomes for a wide range of diseases. The literature provides data suggesting benefit in patients with comorbidities associated with contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, head injury, neurological disease (e.

Optimization Of Cancer Treatment Through Overcoming Drug Resistance.

Cancer Drug resistance is a medical concern that requires extensive research and a thorough understanding in order to overcome. Remarkable achievements related to this field have been accomplished and further work is needed in order to optimize the cure for cancer and serve as the basis for precise medicine with few or no side effects.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia: a case report.

Background: Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia is a benign neoplasm that includes blood vessel proliferation and a dense eosinophilic inflammatory infiltrate. Mostly, it affects middle-aged adults manifesting as flesh/plum-colored pruritic nodules and papules, most commonly affecting the ear and the periauricular area.

Case Presentation: In this case, we report a 13-year-old Caucasian girl with bilateral, huge, protruding, and yellowish nostril masses which were peculiar in location and of gross appearance.

An examination of consensual sex in a men's jail.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to use secondary data from qualitative interviews that examined the sexual behaviors, HIV attitudes, and condom use of 17 gay, bisexual, and transgender women housed in a protective custody unit in the Los Angeles County Jail (Harawa et al., 2010), to develop a better understanding of the consensual sexual behaviors of male prisoners. Design/methodology/approach Study eligibility included: report anal or oral sex with another male in the prior six months; speak and understand English; and incarcerated in the unit for at least two weeks.

ZB716, a steroidal selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), is orally efficacious in blocking tumor growth in mouse xenograft models.

Advances in oral SERDs development so far have been confined to nonsteroidal molecules such as those containing a cinnamic acid moiety, which are in earlystage clinical evaluation. ZB716 was previously reported as an orally bioavailable SERD structurally analogous to fulvestrant. In this study, we examined the binding details of ZB716 to the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) by computer modeling to reveal its interactions with the ligand binding domain as a steroidal molecule.

Evaluation of SNOMED CT as a Reference Terminology for Standardized Data Queries in the Arden Syntax.

Context: Arden Syntax is a standard that encodes knowledge as Medical Logic Modules (MLMs) but lacks a standard query data model and terminology.

Objective: Assess to what extent SNOMED CT can represent MLM query data elements.

Method: 340 MLMs containing 3268 queries were examined.

Baker's Yeast Induces Apoptotic Effects and Histopathological Changes on Skin Tumors in Mice.

The current study investigates the apoptotic effect of Baker's yeast () on chemically-induced skin cancer in mice. Intra-tumoral treatment with yeast caused: increases in Ca in skin homogenate, modulated the intrinsic/extrinsic pathways by downregulating Bcl-2 and FasL, upregulating Bax, and increased the expression of cytochrome-c and caspases 9, 8, and 3. Histopathological changes were detected, including mild dysplasia, atypia, tumor regression, and absence of basaloid cell proliferation.

HIV Acquisition and Transmission Potential Among African American Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women in Three U.S. Cities.

Black men who have sex with men and women (BMSMW) are at increased HIV risk, but few efficacious interventions meet their unique needs. Three HIV prevention interventions were evaluated with a common protocol. Baseline data were pooled to describe sexual behavior involving transmission risk with male, female, and male-to-female transgender partners and identify factors associated with transmission risk.

Receptors for Insulin-Like Growth Factor-2 and Androgens as Therapeutic Targets in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) occurs in 10-15% of all breast cancer patients, yet it accounts for about half of all breast cancer deaths. There is an urgent need to identify new antitumor targets to provide additional treatment options for patients afflicted with this aggressive disease. Preclinical evidence suggests a critical role for insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF2) and androgen receptor (AR) in regulating TNBC progression.

Elimination of Cancer Health Disparities through the Acceleration of HPV Vaccines and Vaccinations: A Simplified Version of the President's Cancer Panel Report on HPV Vaccinations.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major public health concern affecting both females and males. HPV is associated with cervical, anal, head and neck cancers. About 99% of all cervical cancers are related to HPV.

Prevalence and Years Lived with Disability of 310 Diseases and Injuries in Iran and its Neighboring Countries, 1990-2015: Findings from Global Burden of Disease Study 2015.

Background: Due to significant achievements in reducing mortality and increasing life expectancy, the issue of disability from diseases and injuries, and their related interventions, has become one of the most important concerns of health-related research.

Methods: Using data obtained from the GBD 2015 study, the present report provides prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) of 310 diseases and injuries by sex and age in Iran and neighboring countries over the period 1990-2015. Age-standardized rates of all causes of YLDs are presented for both males and females in 16 countries for 1990 and 2015.

EMP2 is a novel therapeutic target for endometrial cancer stem cells.

Previous studies have suggested that overexpression of the oncogenic protein epithelial membrane protein-2 (EMP2) correlates with endometrial carcinoma progression and ultimately poor survival from disease. To understand the role of EMP2 in the etiology of disease, gene analysis was performed to show transcripts that are reciprocally regulated by EMP2 levels. In particular, EMP2 expression correlates with and helps regulate the expression of several cancer stem cell associated markers including aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1).

Depression Symptoms, Acculturation, Needing Care, and Receiving Care: A Study of Adolescents Living in California.

Background: The objectives of this study are 1) to depict the prevalence of moderate depressive symptoms (MDS) in adolescents living in California, 2) to examine the role of acculturation in reported MDS, and 3) to identify any relationship between acculturation, "needing emotional help," and "receiving psychological or emotional counseling," as reported by adolescents with MDS.

Methods: We analyzed data from a cross-sectional population-based telephone survey for adolescents who completed the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) in 2007, 2009, and 2011-2012. The primary predictor variable was level of acculturation.

Myostatin, a profibrotic factor and the main inhibitor of striated muscle mass, is present in the penile and vascular smooth muscle.

Myostatin is present in striated myofibers but, except for myometrial cells, has not been reported within smooth muscle cells (SMC). We investigated in the rat whether myostatin is present in SMC within the penis and the vascular wall and, if so, whether it is transcriptionally expressed and associated with the loss of corporal SMC occurring in certain forms of erectile dysfunction (ED). Myostatin protein was detected by immunohistochemistry/fluorescence and western blots in the perineal striated muscles, and also in the SMC of the penile corpora, arteries and veins, and aorta.