Intimate Partner Violence Predicts Child Marriage and Pregnancy Among Adolescents in Malawi.

A sizeable literature has shown that child marriage is associated with an increased risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). However, this research has been cross-sectional, and the temporality of the association has not been investigated. Specifically, no study has yet examined whether IPV is a predictor of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy.

Prevalence and early-life predictors of adverse childhood experiences: Longitudinal insights from a low-income country.

Background: A sizeable literature shows that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with poor health outcomes in later life. However, most studies on the prevalence and predictors of ACEs have been carried out in high-income countries using cross-sectional approaches.

Objective: The present study explores the prevalence and predictors of ACEs in Malawi, a low-income country, using prospective longitudinal data collected on adolescents.

Drivers of child marriages for girls: A prospective study in a low-income African setting.

Child marriage has adverse consequences for young girls. Cross-sectional research has highlighted several potential drivers of early marriage. We analyse drivers of child marriage using longitudinal data from rural Malawi, where rates of child marriage are among the highest in the world despite being illegal.

[Retracted] SB-T-121205, a next-generation taxane, enhances apoptosis and inhibits migration/invasion in MCF-7/PTX cells.

Following the publication of this paper, and subsequently to a corrigendum that was published to take account of errors that had been made concerning the Transwell invasion assay data in Fig. 4B (doi: 10.3892/ijo.

Amplicon Contains Cyclic AMP Response Element-Driven Gene in Taxane-Resistant MCF-7 Breast Cancer Sublines.

A limited number of studies are devoted to regulating expression in cancer. Hence, we aimed to unveil the regulation of expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cells (with high expression) and taxane-resistant MCF-7 sublines (manifesting even higher expression). We found that transcription is regulated primarily by the cyclic AMP response element (CRE) in hypomethylated proximal promoters in both taxane-sensitive and taxane-resistant MCF-7 cells.

Longitudinal Associations Between Childhood Adversity and Adolescent Intimate Partner Violence in Malawi.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)-including child maltreatment, witnessing violence, and household dysfunction-have been robustly associated with poor health in later life. There is also increasing evidence that those who experience childhood adversity are more likely subsequently to be victims or perpetrators of intimate partner violence (IPV). Most evidence, however, is cross-sectional and concentrated in high-income settings, and cannot be generalized to more diverse contexts.

[Corrigendum] SB‑T‑121205, a next‑generation taxane, enhances apoptosis and inhibits migration/invasion in MCF‑7/PTX cells.

Subsequently to the publication of the above article, an interested reader drew to the authors' attention that Fig. 4B on p. 899, showing the results of Transwell invasion assay experiments, contained a pair of apparently overlapping panels, such that they may have been derived from the same original source, even though they were intended to show the results from differently performed experiments.

Global and regional estimates of orphans attributed to maternal cancer mortality in 2020.

Despite women being disproportionally affected by cancer deaths at young ages, there are no global estimates of the resulting maternal orphans, who experience health and education disadvantages throughout their lives. We estimated the number of children who became maternal orphans in 2020 due to their mother dying from cancer in that year, for 185 countries worldwide and by cause of cancer-related death. Female cancer deaths-by country, cancer type and age (derived from GLOBOCAN estimates)-were multiplied by each woman's estimated number of children under the age of 18 years at the time of her death (fertility data were derived from United Nations World Population Prospects for birth cohort), accounting for child mortality and parity-cancer risk associations.

Longitudinal consistency of self-reports of adverse childhood experiences among adolescents in a low-income setting.

A sizeable literature documents the associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and poor health in later life. By and large, ACEs are measured using retrospective self-reports. Little is known about the longitudinal consistency of these self-reports in panel data with multiple measurements.

A prospective study on adverse childhood experiences and HIV-related risk among adolescents in Malawi.

Objective: Adverse childhood experiences have been robustly associated with poor sexual health in later life. In low-income countries, there is growing evidence that children experience greater adversity than those in higher income countries. Research suggests this may contribute to later sexual risk taking and HIV infection, though most studies to date have been cross-sectional.

Returning to school after COVID-19 closures: Who is missing in Malawi?

During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, almost all countries implemented school closures to prevent disease transmission. However, prolonged closures can put children at risk of leaving school permanently, a decision that can reduce their long-term potential and income. This study investigated the extent to which the COVID-19 pandemic and associated school closures reduced school attendance in Malawi, a low-income African country.

The Role of TRIP6, ABCC3 and CPS1 Expression in Resistance of Ovarian Cancer to Taxanes.

The main problem precluding successful therapy with conventional taxanes is de novo or acquired resistance to taxanes. Therefore, novel experimental taxane derivatives (Stony Brook taxanes; SB-Ts) are synthesized and tested as potential drugs against resistant solid tumors. Recently, we reported alterations in , , and gene expression in a breast cancer cell line resistant to paclitaxel.

Accurate and robust feature description and dense point-wise matching based on feature fusion for endoscopic images.

Despite the rapid technical advancement of augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) in recent years, monocular-based 2D/3D reconstruction still remains technically challenging in AR/MR guided surgery navigation nowadays. In principle, soft tissue surface is smooth and watery with sparse texture, specular reflection, and frequent deformation. As a result, we frequently obtain only sparse feature points that give rise to incorrect matching results with conventional image processing methods.

Clouds and Convective Self-Aggregation in a Multimodel Ensemble of Radiative-Convective Equilibrium Simulations.

The Radiative-Convective Equilibrium Model Intercomparison Project (RCEMIP) is an intercomparison of multiple types of numerical models configured in radiative-convective equilibrium (RCE). RCE is an idealization of the tropical atmosphere that has long been used to study basic questions in climate science. Here, we employ RCE to investigate the role that clouds and convective activity play in determining cloud feedbacks, climate sensitivity, the state of convective aggregation, and the equilibrium climate.

Uptake of HIV testing among adolescents and associated adolescent-friendly services.

Background: HIV testing remains low among adolescents. Making public health services more adolescent-friendly is one strategy used to encourage testing. However, it remains unclear whether government-led initiatives have a meaningfully impact.

Interest in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among adolescents and their caregivers in Malawi.

Over a third of new HIV infections occur in adolescents aged 10-19 globally. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could be a powerful tool for prevention. Understanding more about the drivers of PrEP interest could inform implementation strategies among this age group.

Emerging partner violence among young adolescents in a low-income country: Perpetration, victimization and adversity.

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent in high- as well as low-income contexts. It results in a substantial public health burden and significant negative socioeconomic and health outcomes throughout the life-course. However, limited knowledge exists about IPV during early adolescence.

Recent progress in the strategic incorporation of fluorine into medicinally active compounds.

This account exemplifies our recent progress on the strategic incorporation of fluorine and organofluorine groups to (i) taxoid anticancer agents, (ii) acylhydrazone-based antifungal agents and (iii) inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) for medicinal chemistry and chemical biology studies. In the case study (i), a series of next-generation fluorotaxoids, bearing -OCF or -OCFH group in the C2-benzoate moiety was designed, synthesized and examined for their potencies. A number of these fluorotaxoids possess two orders of magnitude greater potency in different drug-resistant cancer cell lines as compared to paclitaxel.

Adverse childhood experiences, sexual debut and HIV testing among adolescents in a low-income high HIV-prevalence context.

Objectives: To investigate whether adverse childhood experiences are important determinants of sexual debut and HIV testing.

Design: Adolescents (age 10-16; N = 2089) from rural Malawi were interviewed in 2017-2018 for the baseline wave of a longitudinal study of childhood adversity and HIV risk.

Methods: Respondents were interviewed in their local language.

Psychometric evaluation of the Adverse Childhood Experience International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) in Malawian adolescents.

Background: Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can have lifelong adverse impacts on health and behavior. While this relationship has been extensively documented in high-income countries, evidence from lower-income contexts is largely missing. In order to stimulate greater research on the prevalence and consequences of ACEs in low-income countries, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed the ACE-International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ).

Quest for Efficacious Next-Generation Taxoid Anticancer Agents and Their Tumor-Targeted Delivery.

Paclitaxel and docetaxel are among the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs against various types of cancer. However, these drugs cause undesirable side effects as well as drug resistance. Therefore, it is essential to develop next-generation taxoid anticancer agents with better pharmacological properties and improved activity especially against drug-resistant and metastatic cancers.

Synthesis of a Next-Generation Taxoid by Rapid Methylation Amenable for C-Labeling.

Next-generation taxoids, such as SB-T-1214, are highly potent cytotoxic agents that exhibit remarkable efficacy against drug-resistant tumors in vivo, including those that overexpress the P-glycoprotein (Pgp) efflux pump. As SB-T-1214 is not a substrate for Pgp-mediated efflux, it may exhibit a markedly different biodistribution and tumor-accumulation profile than paclitaxel or docetaxel, which are both Pgp substrates. To investigate the biodistribution and tumor-accumulation levels of SB-T-1214 using positron emission tomography (PET), a new synthetic route has been developed to allow the incorporation of C, a commonly employed positron-emitting radionucleide, via methyl iodide at the last step of chemical synthesis.

Strategic incorporation of fluorine in the drug discovery of new-generation antitubercular agents targeting bacterial cell division protein FtsZ.

This article presents an account of our research on the discovery and development of new-generation fluorine-containing antibacterial agents against drug-resistant tuberculosis, targeting FtsZ. FtsZ is an essential protein for bacterial cell division and a highly promising therapeutic target for antibacterial drug discovery. Through design, synthesis and semi-HTP screening of libraries of novel benzimidazoles, followed by SAR studies, we identified highly potent lead compounds.

SB-T-121205, a next-generation taxane, enhances apoptosis and inhibits migration/invasion in MCF-7/PTX cells.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women. Paclitaxel, a mitotic inhibitor, is highly effective in the treatment of breast cancer. However, development of resistance to paclitaxel limits its clinical use.