ABSTRACT
Background: Despite strengthened efforts on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention and control, new HIV infections continue to increase among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a highly effective HIV-prevention tool, has recently been included in China's Action Plan of HIV Prevention and Control. To promote future PrEP implementation, this study aims to identify the barriers and facilitators in PrEP use intention among MSM in China.Methods: In 2018, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300 MSM in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Questions on demographics, sexual behavior (including a seven-item high-risk behavior index), PrEP use intention, PrEP-related awareness and accessibility, and a seven-item public HIV stigma scale were included in the questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with PrEP use intention. Results: Overall, 44.67% of the participants had more than two male sexual partners and 5.56% had HIV-positive sexual partners. Only 57.00% had heard of PrEP and only four (1.33%) participants had used PrEP. However, 75.34% expressed the willingness to use oral PrEP if its efficacy was assured. The beliefs that "PrEP can prevent HIV if taken as prescribed" (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.84, P < 0.001) and "PrEP can be scaled up in the community" (AOR = 3.24, P < 0.001) were positively associated with oral PrEP use intention. Concerns of side effects were negatively associated with oral PrEP use intention (AOR = 0.32, P = 0.006). Further, 77.00% of the participants would choose injectable or implanted PrEP instead of oral PrEP. One of the PrEP stigma items, "Not certain if doctors can prescribe PrEP if I go to the clinic" was positively associated with the intention to use injectable or implanted PrEP (AOR = 3.03). The items "Heard of PrEP" (AOR = 2.74) and "PrEP can prevent HIV if taken as prescribed" (AOR = 2.65) were also positively related to the intention to use injectable or implanted PrEP. The most common concerns regarding PrEP use were efficacy (44.67%) and side effects (38.67%). The most common reasons for using injectable and implanted PrEP were adherence (81.94% and 77.86%, respectively) and privacy concerns (56.48% and 55.00%, respectively). Affordable price and coverage by health insurance were the driving factors for PrEP use. Conclusion: Given the low level of awareness of PrEP-related information in China, it's necessary to provide interventions for high-risk individuals and communities, in order to increase their awareness and knowledge of PrEP. Furthermore, additional alternatives to HIV prevention, such as long-acting injectable or implanted PrEP, should be investigated to reduce the risk of HIV infection in at-risk MSM. Even if this programme could be approved by the National Medical Products Administration of China and implemented, a supportive social environment for MSM is essential during its implementing.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the relationship of clinicopathological characteristics with neoadjuvant chemotherapeutic efficacy and prognosis of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) patients. Methods: Medical records of 81 patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy for IBC in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital between January 2010 and December 2013, were retrospectively analyzed. Clinicopathological features, response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and prognostic factors were studied by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The 3-year overall survival rate (OS) and disease-free survival rate (DFS) of patients were 53.1% and 37.0%, respectively. The pathologic complete response (pCR) rate of patients after accepting neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 13.6% (11/81). Statistically significant association was observed between pCR and pathological types in IBC (P0.05). Preoperative lymph node stage was an independent prognostic factor of overall survival (OS) and disease- free survival (DFS) in IBC patients (P<0.05). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and lymph vessel tumor emboli were independent factors of DFS (all P<0.05). Conclusion: Clinicopathological characteristics of IBC patients affected chemosensitivity. We could predict the prognosis of these patients by preoperative lymph node stage and lymph vessel tumor emboli and select chemotherapy to achieve the best curative effect.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the present state of mineral metabolism and its related factors in elderly patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD),in order to improve the quality of life and survival rate in elderly patients with MHD in Xinxiang.Methods Clinical data of 466 patients with treatment of MHD for over 3 months in 4 hospitals in Xinxiang district were enrolled from January 2012 to August 2013 in this study,and the patients were divided into the elderly group (n=159,aged ≥ 60 years) and the non-elderly group (n =307,aged < 60 years).The evaluation indexes for mineral metabolism were determinated,such as serum levels of calcium,phosphorus,intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).The present state of mineral metabolism and its relationships with anemia,dialysis ages,adequacy of dialysis,malnutrition and inflammatory factors were analyzed in elderly patients with MHD.Results Among 466 patients,the serum levels of calcium,phosphorus and iPTH in MHD patients were (1.95 ± 0.34) mmol/L,(2.54±1.38) mmol/L and (409.5±345.6) ng/L respectively,and their control rates were 34.3%,20.4% and 25.5% respectively.And in patients with hemodialysis three times a week,the control rates were 50.8%,31.4% and 32.2% respectively.The serum levels of phosphorus,iPTH,ALP,albumin and transferrin saturation were lower in elderly group than in non-elderly group (all P<0.01),and the serum levels of pre-albumin,hemoglobin and feritin were lower in elderly group than in non-elderly group (all P<0.05).But the serum levels of calcium and C-reactive protein (CRP)were higher in elderly group than in non-elderly group (all P<0.05).Conclusions The elderly patients with MHD exhibit unique clinical manifestations of abnormal mineral metabolism,and low bone transformation osteopathy is the main manifestation.The micro-inflammation,malnutrition and anemia are more severe in elderly patients than in non elderly patients.