Perceptions on circumcision for HIV prevention: an application of the health belief model in a qualitative enquiry among young men in Eswatini.

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) was identified as an effective strategy in HIV prevention. Although circumcision reduces heterosexual acquisition of HIV by 60%, there is low uptake of VMMC services in Eswatini. This study applies the health belief model (HBM) in understanding perceptions of young men in Eswatini towards VMMC for HIV prevention to upscale its adoption.

Exploring frailty prevalence among adults in Indian healthcare settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Frailty is an age-associated state of increased vulnerability due to declines in physiologic systems, leading to compromised ability to withstand stressors. Given India's rapidly aging population, our study aims to estimate the pooled prevalence of frailty and its associated factors in hospital settings. An extensive search was conducted across four databases, up to January 2024.

Anticipating Urgency: Predictive Factors for Early Intervention in Appendicular Perforation.

Background: Appendicular perforation is a severe complication of acute appendicitis, leading to increased morbidity and complex post-surgical outcomes. Early identification of patients at risk of perforation is crucial to improve clinical management and reduce complications. This study aims to review and summarize the predictive value of clinical, biochemical, and radiological factors in determining the likelihood of appendicular perforation.

Role of artificial intelligence in treatment planning and outcome prediction of jaw corrective surgeries by using 3-D imaging-a systematic review.

Objective: Artificial intelligence (AI) has been increasingly utilized in diagnosis of skeletal deformities, while its role in treatment planning and outcome prediction of jaw corrective surgeries with 3-dimensional (3D) imaging remains underexplored.

Methods: The comprehensive search was done in PubMed, Google scholar, Semantic scholar and Cochrane Library between January 2000 and May 2024. Inclusion criteria encompassed studies on AI applications in treatment planning and outcome prediction for jaw corrective surgeries using 3D imaging.

Ethics of Mathematical Modeling in Public Health: The Case of Medical Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention in Africa.

Mathematical modelling has played an increasingly prominent role in public health responses, for example by offering estimates of how infectious disease incidence over time may be affected by the adoption of certain policies and interventions. In this paper, we call for greater research and reflection into the ethics of mathematical modeling in public health. First, we present some promising ways of framing the ethics of mathematical modeling that have been offered in the very few publications specifically devoted to this subject.

Strengthening evidence for text-based telehealth in post-operative care: A pragmatic study of the reach and effectiveness of two-way, text-based follow-up after voluntary medical male circumcision in South Africa.

Building upon evidence of safety and efficiency gains from a randomized control trial (RCT) in South Africa, we further scaled implementation of two-way, short message service (SMS), text-based (2wT) follow-up after voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC). We aimed to determine if gains in adverse event (AE) identification and reduced follow-up visits could be maintained when 2wT was implemented in routine VMMC settings. A pragmatic, stepped wedge design (SWD) study was implemented across three districts in South Africa.

Fetomaternal outcome in preeclampsia and eclampsia with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.

Introduction: Preeclampsia and eclampsia are hypertensive disorders of pregnancy associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a neurological complication observed in these conditions, yet its impact on fetomaternal outcomes remains underexplored. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between PRES and fetomaternal outcomes in women with preeclampsia and eclampsia.

What does it cost to expand two-way texting for post-operative follow-up? A cost analysis in routine voluntary medical male circumcision settings in South Africa.

Up to 98% of adult voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) clients heal without adverse events (AEs) in South Africa and in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, yet all clients in South Africa (SA) are still required to attend in-person reviews, creating added work for providers and barriers for clients. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) using our fee-free, open-source, two-way texting (2wT) approach showed that males could independently monitor their healing with support from VMMC nurse-led telehealth and that 2wT was more cost-effective than routine visits for quality post-operative monitoring. The objectives of this costing activity were to assess the additive cost of 2wT vs.

PreVenTB trial: protocol for evaluation of efficacy and safety of two vaccines VPM1002 and Immuvac (Mw) in preventing tuberculosis (TB) in healthy household contacts of newly diagnosed sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB patients: phase III, randomised, double-blind, three-arm placebo-controlled trial.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be one of the deadliest infectious diseases over the centuries, killing more people worldwide than any other single infectious disease. There is an urgent need for additional strategies which can expedite efforts to combat TB including a preventive vaccine. In this endeavour, we have developed a protocol for a multisite, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in India that aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two TB vaccines; namely, VPM1002 and Immuvac () () (MIP) among healthy household contacts (HHCs) of sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB) patients.

DETECTION OF NEW HIV CASES UNDER EPIDEMIC CONTROL - WHEN IS IT THE RIGHT TIME TO REVIEW HIV TESTING ALGORITHMS FOR COUNTRIES NEARING THE 95-95-95 MILESTONES? CASE STUDY -BOTSWANA.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is dependent on using established national HIV testing algorithm. The purpose of this study was to review published articles to identify, and apply lessons learned to determine factors affecting transition of HIV testing algorithm for countries that have attained HIV epidemic control.

Materials And Methods: We systematically searched peer-reviewed articles from online scientific databases; PubMed and Google Scholar from January 2019 to March 2024, using defined search phrases to extract articles.

Comparison of the Analgesic Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Transperineal Approach Using Pudendal Nerve Block Versus Caudal Block in Children Undergoing Urological Surgeries: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Caudal block is an effective regional anesthesia technique for perineal surgeries but is associated with various adverse effects. Recently, pudendal nerve block has emerged as a promising alternative for these procedures. This study assessed the effectiveness of a novel transperineal technique for ultrasound-guided pudendal nerve block and compares it with ultrasound-guided caudal block for perineal surgeries in pediatric patients.

Effects of Revascularization on Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients With Chronic Stable Angina.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) leads to cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN), affecting blood flow and heart rate regulation eventually causing chronic stable angina (CSA). Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can correct autonomic dysfunctions and improve myocardial perfusion. This study aimed to assess CAN using heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiovascular reflex tests in T2DM patients with CSA before and after PCI.

Comprehensive Analysis of Thyroidectomy-Related Complications: A Single-Center Perspective.

Background Thyroid surgeries have become so common that they are performed for both benign and malignant conditions of the thyroid. However, hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury may turn out to be a nightmare, complicating the surgical outcome. This study will, therefore, attempt to assess the complications related to different types of thyroid surgeries in order to identify the risk factors involved.

Profiling CARD14 gene expression in Indian Psoriasis patients.

Several Genome Wide linkage Studies on psoriasis performed to gain insight of genetic architecture of the disease. Caspase Recruitment Domain-containing family 14 (CARD14) also known as CARMA2 or BIMP2; cytogenic location: 17q25.3, is a scaffold protein that primarily controls the skin epidermis's nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) signaling pathway activity in skin epidermis, a master gene for inflammation, has been shown to be linked with rare, heritable form of psoriasis.

The role of cannabis on total hip and knee surgeries outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Cannabis refers to medications derived from the Cannabis plant. Cannabis has long been used to treat a wide range of conditions. The widespread legalization of cannabis has increased its use.

Assessment of Gustatory Function in Patients of Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Case Control Study.

Unlabelled: Gustation is affected in patients of Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) depending on severity of diseases. This study aimed to find the prevalence of gustatory dysfunction in patients with CRS. This case-control study included 61 patients with CRS and 61 healthy controls.

Uptake and perceptions of voluntary medical male circumcision among HIV-negative men in serodiscordant relationships in Zambia (2012-2015).

Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) is a recommended HIV prevention strategy that few studies have promoted to HIV-negative men in serodiscordant relationships. We conducted a cross-sectional study on uptake and perceptions of VMMC among serodiscordant couples between 2012 and 2015. Heterosexual couples attending couples voluntary counselling and testing for HIV who had discordant results (M-, F+) were referred for VMMC.

Technique for Spacer Adaptation and Custom Tray Fabrication in Impression Making for Fixed Prosthodontics.

The objective is to minimize the inaccuracies in two-step impressions by homogenizing the polymerization shrinkage of elastomeric impression material in fixed prosthesis fabrication. The objective is accomplished by the technique of spacer adaptation and custom tray fabrication for two-step impressions. The technique makes the use of two vacuum-adapted spacers, selected based on the viscosity of elastomeric impression, and a vacuum-adapted custom tray.

Evaluation of Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes as Predictors of Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Breast Cancer.

Background This study aimed to evaluate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as predictors of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Methods Overall, 35 patients with LABC were included in the study. Information on demographic profile, medical history, and signs and symptoms was collected for each patient, and a complete clinical evaluation was conducted, which involved physical examination, imaging studies (mammogram/ultrasound imaging), biopsy of each patient, and a metastatic workup.