by Weiyong Chen, Qiaoqin Ma, Xiaohong Pan, Lin Chen, Hui Wang, Xin Zhou, Tingting Jiang, Wanjun Chen
ObjectivesThe characteristics of men who have sex with men (either exclusively or with both men and women; MSM) who engaged in casual sex among Chinese male university students have not been compared with the characteristics of men who have sex with only women (MSW). This information is important for tailoring targeted behavioral interventions to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission in this subgroup of MSM.
MethodsData were derived from a large cross-sectional electronic questionnaire survey conducted at 13 universities in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2018. Bivariate analyses were used to compare demographic, HIV-related psychosocial, and behavioral characteristics between MSM and MSW students who engaged in casual sex during the previous year. Proportion differences between the two groups and their 95% confidence intervals were analyzed.
ResultsAmong the 583 sexually active male students who engaged in casual sex during the previous year, 128 and 455 were MSM and MSW, respectively. Compared with MSW students, larger proportions of MSM students reported knowing that male-to-male sexual behavior was the main mode of HIV transmission among Chinese students (62.5% vs. 45.5%), consenting to commercial sex (67.2% vs. 53.4%), wanting to know the HIV serostatus of partners before casual sex (65.8% vs. 51.3%), feeling at risk of HIV infection (40.5% vs. 11.8%), high condom-decision scale scores (55.3% vs. 42.6%), engaging in sex with ≥ 5 casual sex partners (44.6% vs. 25.9%), searching for casual partners online (89.2% vs. 51.3%), consuming alcohol before casual sex (64.8% vs. 45.0%), engaging in sex with regular partners (83.1% vs. 67.0%), engaging in commercial sex (54.2% vs. 26.4%), and visiting a clinic for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) (16.4% vs. 8.4%). However, compared with MSW students, smaller proportions of MSM students reported knowing that consistent condom use could prevent HIV transmission (80.5% vs. 95.2%) and that VCT should be actively sought after risky sexual behavior (78.9% vs. 93.8%), using condoms sometimes/often (26.4% vs. 44.3%), and consistently using condoms (28.9% vs. 40.1%) while engaging in sex with casual partners.
ConclusionsMSM students who engaged in casual sex were at a greater risk of HIV/STI transmission, compared with MSW students. Comprehensive interventions to address the risks of unprotected male-to-male sex, searching for casual sex partners online, and non-use of HIV testing services are needed to reduce the burden of HIV/STI transmission among this subgroup of MSM.
To identify the contaminated areas of the hand collection and analyse the distribution characteristics of bacteria in the hand after swab collection.
This study used a cross-sectional design.
A cross-sectional study sampling 50 pairs of hands (sampling hand and auxiliary hand) of healthcare workers was performed. Ten samples were collected from each participant. The optimal hand hygiene rates and bacterial colony counts of the whole hand and different hand sections without hand hygiene were identified as the primary outcomes.
The optimal hand hygiene rates of the sampling hand and auxiliary hand were 88.8% (222/250) and 91.6% (229/250), respectively. The lowest optimal hand hygiene rates for the sampling hand and the auxiliary hand were both on the dorsal side of the finger and the dorsum of the hand (86.0%, 86.0% vs. 90.0%, 86.0%); the optimal hand hygiene rates for both sites of the sampling hand were 86.0% (43/50), and the optimal hand hygiene rates for the auxiliary hand were 90.0% (45/50) and 86.0% (43/50). The bacteria colony counts did not differ between the sampling hands and auxiliary hand.
The dorsal side of the finger and dorsum of the hand were the most likely to be contaminated during oropharyngeal swab collection. Therefore, it is essential to pay extra attention to hand hygiene care of these two sites during the collection process to minimize the risk of cross-contamination.
The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines were adopted in this study.
Diabetes has been indicated to be a risk factor for suicide. We aim to estimate the prevalence of suicide in patients with diabetes.
A meta-analysis using PRISMA methodology was adopted to examine the incidence of suicide in diabetic patients.
From inception to October 2022, three online databases (PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Web of Science) were used to search studies.
We used random-effects model to analysis. And our primary outcome was the incidence of suicide death per 100 person-years, and other outcomes were prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. To explore the sources of heterogeneity in our study, we performed subgroup and meta-regression analyses.
The suicide death rate in diabetic patients was 0.027 per 100 person-years, with a higher rate for Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus compared to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The prevalence of suicidal ideation in diabetes patients was 0.175, with a higher prevalence in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus compared to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. The prevalence of suicide attempts in diabetes patients was 0.033, indicating a higher rate for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus compared to Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
The results indicate a high rate of suicide among people with diabetes, and this study identifies populations and regions at high risk for suicide. Our review emphasizes interventions in mental health and the improvement of suicide prevention programmes.
The study investigated suicide death, suicidal ideation and suicide attempt in diabetic individuals. Suicide rates are elevated among diabetic patients, and various patient groups face distinct suicide risks. It is important to prioritize the mental well-being of diabetic individuals and enhance interventions, including personalized approaches, to inform public health efforts aimed at preventing and addressing suicide among diabetic patients.
No patient or public involvement.
To evaluate the efficacy of one-step acellular dermis combined with autologous split thickness skin grafting in the treatment of burn or trauma wounds by a multicenter controlled study. In patients with extensive burns, it is even difficult to repair the wounds due to the shortage of autologous skin. The traditional skin grafting method has the disadvantages of large damage to the donor site, insufficient skin source and unsatisfactory appearance, wear resistance and elasticity of the wound tissue after skin grafting. One-step acellular dermis combined with autologous ultra-thin split thickness skin graft can achieve better healing effect in the treatment of burn and trauma wounds. A total of 1208 patients who underwent single-layer skin grafting and one-step composite skin grafting in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College, Wuhan Third People's Hospital and Lu ‘an People's Hospital from 2019 to 2022 were retrospectively analysed. The total hospitalization cost, total operation cost, hospitalization days after surgery, wound healing rate after 1 week of skin grafting and scar follow-up at 6 months after discharge were compared and studied. The total cost of hospitalization and operation in the composite skin grafting group was significantly higher than those in the single-layer autologous skin grafting group. The wound healing rate after 1 week of skin grafting and the VSS score of scar in the follow-up of 6 months after discharge were better than those in the single-layer skin grafting group. One-step acellular dermis combined with autologous ultra-thin split thickness skin graft has high wound healing rate, less scar, smooth appearance and good elasticity in repairing burn and trauma wounds, which can provide an ideal repair method for wounds.
by Weilin Chen, Joyce Oi Kwan Chung, Katherine Ka Wai Lam, Alex Molassiotis
BackgroundPerspectives of key stakeholders should be fully considered to enhance culturally appropriate strategies in end-of-life communication and strengthen healthcare service delivery. So far, little research evidence is available on Chinese patients’, families’, and healthcare professionals’ experiences with and perspectives of end-of-life communication in hospital settings.
AimThe current study aims to explore experiences, perceptions and suggestions of end-of-life communication among Chinese terminally ill patients, their families and healthcare providers.
MethodsThe phenomenology qualitative approach will be adopted. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions will be used to collect relevant data. Eligible terminally ill patients, family caregivers and healthcare providers will be recruited in two hospitals in Mainland China via purposive sampling. Thematic analysis will be performed to analyse data. The Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist will be followed for reporting. This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05734781).
DiscussionThis qualitative study is, as far as we are aware, the first to specifically address patient/family-provider end-of-life communication in the Chinese social-cultural context. The results hold the potential to enrich current knowledge of end-of-life communication, navigate culturally appropriate communication strategies, and inform the development of related training programs for healthcare providers in hospital settings.
Hypertrophic scar (HS) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, and the mechanisms underlying their formation remain poorly understood. We analysed scRNA-seq data from samples of normal skin and HS. Using the hdWGCNA method, key gene modules of fibroblasts in HS were identified. Non-negative matrix factorization was employed to perform subtype analysis of HS patients using these gene modules. Multiple machine learning algorithms were applied to screen and validate accurate gene signatures for identifying and predicting HS, and a convolutional neural network (CNN) based on deep learning was established and validated. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blotting were performed to measure mRNA and protein expression. Immunofluorescence was used for gene localization analysis, and biological features were assessed through CCK8 and wound healing assay. Single-cell sequencing revealed distinct subpopulations of fibroblasts in HS. HdWGCNA identified key gene characteristics of this population, and pseudotime analysis was conducted to investigate gene variation during fibroblast differentiation. By employing various machine learning algorithms, the gene range was narrowed down to three key genes. A CNN was trained using the expression of these key genes and immune cell infiltration, enabling diagnosis and prediction of HS. Functional experiments demonstrated that THBS2 is associated with fibroblast proliferation and migration in HS and affects the formation and development of HS through the TGFβ1/P-Smad2/3 pathway. Our study identifies unique fibroblast subpopulations closely associated with HS and provides biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of HS.