A randomized controlled study on the efficacy and safety of zinc oxide 20% ointment versus salicylic acid 15% + lactic acid 15% ointment in the treatment of patients with Verruca vulgaris in a tertiary hospital

Background@#Verruca vulgaris are scaly, rough papules or nodules caused by the human papilloma virus.@*Objective@#To determine the efficacy and safety of topical zinc oxide ointment versus topical salicylic acid + lactic acid ointment as treatment among patients with verruca vulgaris.@*Methods@#This randomized, double-blind, 6-week study involved 29 patients with verruca vulgaris in a tertiary center who received zinc oxide 20% ointment or salicylic acid 15% + lactic acid 15% ointment applied daily and occluded with LeukoplastTM tape. Evaluation was done every two weeks.@*Results@#There was significant decrease in number of warts in the zinc oxide group (p=0.004), while it was not significant in the salicylic acid+lactic acid group (p=0.392). Comparison between the two groups was not significant (p>0.05). Both zinc oxide (P=0.000) and salicylic acid+lactic acid groups (P=0.025) had significant decrease in size of warts from baseline to 6th week of observation. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of adverse events such as erythema (P>0.05), edema (P>0.05), tenderness (P>0.05), and scaling (P>0.05); however, itching was significantly higher at 4th week in the salicylic acid+lactic acid group B (16.7%). Among the zinc oxide group, 100% would recommend the treatment, while only 71.4% would recommend salicylic acid+lactic acid. The satisfaction levels of zinc oxide group were also statistically higher than salicylic acid+lactic acid group (p=0.000).@*Conclusion@#Zinc oxide 20% ointment is a safe and effective option for the treatment of verruca vulgaris especially among patients that would prefer non-traumatic measures in the removal of their warts.

Impact of the 90-90-90 goal and pre-exposure prophylaxis on HIV transmission and elimination in men who have sex with men in China: A mathematical modeling study / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To establish a dynamic compartmental model to predict the impact of HIV testing and treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) on the annual incidence of HIV infection in men who have sex with men (MSM) in China from 2018 to 2037. Methods: A dynamic compartmental model was developed to describe the HIV epidemic in MSM in China. The model was parameterized using data from the literature available. We used MATLAB 7.0 software for data simulation and graphics rendering. We analyzed HIV transmission among MSM and estimated the impact of expanded HIV testing and treatment and PrEP on HIV elimination in MSM. Results: Under the current policy, the number of new HIV infections would reach 770 000, the infection rate would reach 11.1% and the incidence rate would reach 0.72/100 person years in MSM in the next 20 years. Under the 90%-90%-90% goal, 440 000 new infections (57.7%) would be reduced, the HIV infection rate would decline to 5.7% and the incidence rate would decline to 0.24/100 person years in the next 20 years, but it is still unlikely to achieve the goal of HIV elimination. With 100% PrEP compliance, the required PrEP coverage rates for achieving HIV elimination in the next 10, 15 and 20 years would be 65%, 32% and 19%, respectively. Conclusion: It is necessary to strengthen the comprehensive intervention in MSM, continue to expand HIV testing and treatment, and improve PrEP adherence and coverage to further control and eliminate the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in MSM.

Establishment of a rat model of radiation-induced lung injury

Radiation-induced lung injury is a refractory side effect in lung cancer radiotherapy, the mechanism still remains unclear, hence an appropriate animal mode may become useful to investigate it. 50 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, average 10 rats/cage: A. control group; B. 3Gy×10f; C. 6Gy×5f; D. 12.5Gy×1f; E.15.3Gy×1f. By different doses of radiation to the right lung of rats under American Varian linear accelerator, all the rats were executed at 30days after irradiation, lung tissues were collected to observe the pathological changes by HE staining, and additional lung tissues were extracted mRNA to measure gene expression of TNF-a and IL-18 by qRT-PCR. In contrast to the control group, congestion, gore, edema, broadening alveolar interval and the bulla can be observed after irradiation. 3Gy×10f radiation led to most rat death because of frequent anaesthesia. 12.5Gy×1f radiation induced mild lung injury. 6Gy×5f and 15.3Gy×1f radiation induced remarkable lung injury. However, 15.3Gy×1f was seldom adopted in clinical settings. The measurement of cytokine variation by qRT-PCR also indicated that 6Gy×5f radiation stimulated the most obvious elevation of IL-18, while 15.3Gy×1f radiation elevated TNF-a most. A rat model of radiation-induced lung injury was appropriately established, 6Gy×5f radiation was the most suitable radiation method for establishing this rat model