RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Globally, the incidence of HIV and syphilis can be reduced by the use of validated point of care tests (POCTs). As part of the WHO PRoSPeRo Network, we aimed to evaluate the performance, acceptability, and operational characteristics of two dual HIV/syphilis POCTs (Bioline HIV/Syphilis Duo (Abbott) and DPP® HIV-Syphilis assay (Chembio) for the screening of HIV and syphilis amongst men who have sex with men (MSM). METHOD AND ANALYSES: A cross sectional study of 2,577 MSM in Italy, Malta, Peru, and the United Kingdom (UK) presenting to seven clinic sites, were enrolled. Finger prick blood was collected to perform POCTs and results compared with standard laboratory investigations on venepuncture blood. Acceptability and operational characteristics were assessed using questionnaires. Diagnostic meta-analysis was used to combine data from the evaluation sites. RESULTS: Based on laboratory tests, 23.46% (n = 598/2549) of participants were confirmed HIV positive, and 35.88% of participants (n = 901/2511) were positive on treponemal reference testing. Of all participants showing evidence of antibodies to Treponema pallidum, 50.56% (n = 455/900) were Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) test reactive. Of HIV positive individuals, 60.62% (n = 354/584) had evidence of antibodies to T. pallidum, and of these 60.45% (n = 214/354) exhibited reactive RPR tests indicating probable (co)infection. For Bioline POCT, pooled sensitivities and specificities for HIV were 98.95% and 99.89% respectively, and for syphilis were 73.79% and 99.57%. For Chembio pooled sensitivities and specificities for HIV were 98.66% and 99.55%, and for syphilis were 78.60% and 99.48%. Both tests can detect greater than 90% of probable active syphilis cases, as defined by reactive RPR and treponemal test results. These dual POCTs were preferred by 74.77% (n = 1,926) of participants, due to their convenience, and the operational characteristics made them acceptable to health care providers (HCPs). CONCLUSIONS: Both the Bioline and the Chembio dual POCT for syphilis and HIV had acceptable performance, acceptability and operational characteristics amongst MSM in the PRoSPeRo network. These dual POCTs could serve as a strategic, more cost effective, patient and healthcare provider (HCP) friendly alternative to conventional testing; in clinical and other field settings, especially those in resource-limited settings.
Assuntos
Infecções por HIV , Minorias Sexuais e de Gênero , Sífilis , Masculino , Humanos , Sífilis/diagnóstico , Sífilis/epidemiologia , Homossexualidade Masculina , Peru/epidemiologia , Malta , Estudos Transversais , Treponema pallidum , Testes Imediatos , Sorodiagnóstico da Sífilis/métodos , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Anticorpos Antibacterianos , Infecções por HIV/diagnóstico , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Background: Brewer Ìs spent grain (BSG) is a biomass by-product generated in large volumes during industrial beer production. BSG has become a growing environmental problem, as most breweries discard it inappropriately, negatively impacting the environment. Alternatives for the exploitation of this by-product have consisted of elaborating food supplements for farm animals, obtaining biofuels, developing adsorbents, and obtaining substances for the food industry. However, the high moisture content in BSG (approximately 70%), poses a significant challenge in exploring various reuse alternatives. Therefore, the implementation of a pre-drying process becomes essential. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the BSG drying kinetics at different temperatures and the effect of the drying temperature on the physical properties and the content of bioactive compounds. Methods: BSG samples were dried at different temperatures (50, 60, 70, 80, 90, and 105°C) and analyzed for their moisture ratio, water activity, total polyphenol content (TPC), and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil) radical scavenging activity. Also, four kinetics models were fitted to the drying data. Results:It was determined that the effective diffusivity was between 5.23x10
Antecedentes: El Bagazo residual de malta (BSG por sus siglas en inglés) es un subproducto biomásico generado en grandes volúmenes durante la producción industrial de cerveza. El BSG se ha convertido en un creciente problema para el medio ambiente, debido a que la mayoría de las cervecerías descartan inapropiadamente este residuo generando un impacto negativo al ambiente. Las alternativas para el aprovechamiento de este subproducto han consistido especialmente en la elaboración de suplementos alimenticios para animales de granja, obtención de biocombustibles, desarrollo de adsorbentes y obtención de productos para la industria alimentaria. Sin embargo, el alto contenido de humedad (~70%) del BSG representa un reto para el desarrollo de diferentes alternativas de reutilización, por lo que se hace necesario un proceso de secado previo. Objetivos: En este estudio se analizó la cinética de secado del BSG a diferentes temperaturas y el efecto de la temperatura de secado sobre sus propiedades físicas y contenido de compuestos bioactivos. Métodos: Las muestras de BSG fueron secadas a diferentes temperaturas (50, 60, 70, 80, 90 y 105°C) y analizadas en términos de razón de humedad, actividad acuosa, contenido de polifenoles totales (TPC) y actividad secuestradora del radical DPPH. Además, se ajustaron 4 modelos cinéticos a los datos de secado. Resultados: Se determinó que la difusividad efectiva del BSG varió entre 5.23x10
Assuntos
Humanos , Malta , Temperatura , Cerveja , Cinética , BiomassaAssuntos
Vacinas contra COVID-19/administração & dosagem , Vacinas contra COVID-19/provisão & distribuição , COVID-19/epidemiologia , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Programas de Imunização/organização & administração , Pediatria/métodos , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , COVID-19/complicações , COVID-19/transmissão , Vacinas contra COVID-19/efeitos adversos , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Chile/epidemiologia , China/epidemiologia , Ensaios Clínicos como Assunto , Suscetibilidade a Doenças/epidemiologia , Transmissão de Doença Infecciosa/prevenção & controle , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Israel/epidemiologia , Masculino , Malta/epidemiologia , Pediatria/normas , Distanciamento Físico , Infecções por Vírus Respiratório Sincicial/epidemiologia , Reino Unido/epidemiologia , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Síndrome de COVID-19 Pós-AgudaRESUMO
The cases of stomach cancer (SC) incidence are increasing per year and the SC burden has remained very high in some countries. We aimed to evaluate the global geographical variation in SC incidence and temporal trends from 1978 to 2007, with an emphasis on the effect of birth cohort. Joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort model were applied. From 2003 to 2007, male rate were 1.5- to 3-fold higher than female in all countries. Rates were highest in Eastern Asian and South American countries. Except for Uganda, all countries showed favorable trends. Pronounced cohort-specific increases in risk for recent birth cohorts were seen in Brazil, Colombia, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Uganda and US white people for males and in Australia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Iceland, India, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uganda, US black and white people for females. The cohort-specific ratio for male significantly decreased in Japan, Malta and Spain for cohorts born since 1950 and in Austria, China, Croatia, Ecuador, Russia, Switzerland and Thailand for cohorts born since 1960 and for female in Japan for cohorts born since 1950 and in Canada, China, Croatia, Latvia, Russia and Thailand for cohorts born since 1960. Disparities in incidence and carcinogenic risk persist worldwide. The favorable trends may be due to changes in environmental exposure and lifestyle, including decreased Helicobacter pylori prevalence, increased intake of fresh fruits and vegetables, the availability of refrigeration and decreased intake of salted and preserved food and smoking prevalence.
Assuntos
Saúde Global/estatística & dados numéricos , Neoplasias Gástricas/epidemiologia , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Ásia/epidemiologia , População Negra/estatística & dados numéricos , Canadá/epidemiologia , Estudos de Coortes , Europa (Continente)/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Malta/epidemiologia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Oceania/epidemiologia , Distribuição por Sexo , América do Sul/epidemiologia , Fatores de Tempo , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , População Branca/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
El presente trabajo fue inspirado en una investigación de la autora, con motivo de un viaje que realizó al archipiélago Maltés, que le hizo recordar la obra de los Caballeros Hospitalarios de San Juan, también conocidos como los Caballeros de Malta. Desde su origen, en Jerusalén, hasta la ubicación definitiva en las islas maltesas.
Assuntos
História Antiga , História da Medicina , Hospitais/história , Sociedades Médicas/história , Cristianismo/história , MaltaRESUMO
El presente trabajo fue inspirado en una investigación de la autora, con motivo de un viaje que realizó al archipiélago Maltés, que le hizo recordar la obra de los Caballeros Hospitalarios de San Juan, también conocidos como los Caballeros de Malta. Desde su origen, en Jerusalén, hasta la ubicación definitiva en las islas maltesas.(AU)
Assuntos
História Antiga , História da Medicina , Hospitais/história , Sociedades Médicas/história , Malta , Cristianismo/históriaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: International variation in homicide rates may be attributable to cultural differences in acceptance of moral justifications for killing. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between measures of attitudes towards the justification of killing and homicide rates in diverse international populations. METHODS: Four studies assessed variations in acceptance of killing among adults and young people in nineteen nations and four areas in the USA. Study 1 (1996-1997) assessed adult attitudes in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Spain, and Venezuela with personal interviews in major cities. Study 2 (1999-2001) assessed attitudes among high school students in Denmark, Finland, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, and the UK with paper surveys administered in classrooms. Study 3 (2001) used telephone interviews to measure the equivalent attitudes among the US samples nationally and from regions in Texas. Study 4 (2002-2003) used paper surveys in classrooms to measure attitudes among high school students in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, and the Russian Federation. RESULTS: The acceptance of killing varied significantly among genders and national/regional groups. The mean attitude scores in the four studies combined were significantly correlated with national/regional homicide rates and the amount of variance explained was similar to that for social inequality (GINI). Together the attitude scores and GINI explained 65% of the variance in homicide rates. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that variations in attitudes toward the justification of killing may be related to international differences in homicide rates.
Assuntos
Atitude , Homicídio/estatística & dados numéricos , Adulto , Análise de Variância , Armênia , Brasil , Chile , Intervalos de Confiança , Costa Rica , Comparação Transcultural , Coleta de Dados , Dinamarca , Feminino , Finlândia , Homicídio/psicologia , Humanos , Entrevistas como Assunto , Masculino , Malta , México , Países Baixos , República de Belarus , Federação Russa , Fatores Sexuais , Eslovênia , Espanha , Suécia , Taiwan , Texas , Reino Unido , Estados Unidos , VenezuelaRESUMO
En la actualidad las industrias productoras de alimentos se ven en la necesidad de implementar metodologías que faciliten la obtención de resultados en un tiempo corto. Es por esto que esta investigación se buscó validar la técnica de Bioluminiscencia como alternativa de control microbiológico que proporcione resultados rápidos y sensibles basados en la reacción por ATP con la enzima luciferasa presente en todos los organismos vivos. Para llevar a cabo dicha validación se enfrentó la técnica de Bioluminiscencia con la de recuento estándar en placa ya que esta última es la prueba estándar utilizada en la planta para el control microbiológico de los refrescos de fruta y la bebida de malta. El procedimiento realizado consistió en la inoculación de los productos en estudios con microorganismos (bacterias, mohos y levaduras) identificados en estudios anteriores, para garantizar que los resultados obtenidos se acomodaran a la situación real de los productos en la planta. A partir de la inoculación se procedio a tomar muestras paralelas para dos técnicas con un intervalo de dos horas para cada toma en condiciones controladas durante un período de 12 horas. De acuerdo a los resultados obtenidos se establecieron rangos de medición, sensibilidades y especificidades de las técnicas con el fin de conocer cual es la más precisa y más confiable para la detección de microorganismos en producto alterado. Finalmente se pudo concluir que la técnica de recuento estándar en placa es más sensible y especifica obteniendo resultados cuantitativamente confiables en un periodo más largo de tiempo.