[HIV self-testing and related factors in men who have sex with men in Shijiazhuang].

Objective: To understand HIV self-testing and related factors in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Shijiazhuang. Methods: From August to September 2020, convenient sampling was used to recruit MSM in Shijiazhuang. Online questionnaires were used to collect information about their demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors and HIV self-testing. logistic regression model was used to analyze the related factors associated with HIV self-testing. Results: In the 304 MSM respondents, 52.3% (159/304) had HIV self-testing in the past 6 months, and 95.0% (151/159) used fingertip blood HIV detection reagent. Self-purchase was the main way to obtain HIV testing reagents (45.9%, 73/159), followed by supply from MSM social organization (44.7%, 71/159). The reasons for having HIV self-testing were non-specific testing time (67.9%, 108/159) and privacy protection (62.9%,100/159), the reasons for having no HIV self-testing included inability of using (32.4%, 47/145), being unaware of HIV self-testing reagent (24.1%, 35/145), and worry about inaccurate self-testing results (19.3%, 28/145). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being 18-29 years old (aOR=2.68, 95%CI: 1.20-5.94), obtaining free HIV self-testing kits in recent 6 months (aOR=8.61, 95%CI: 4.09-18.11) and making friends through Internet and social software (aOR=2.68, 95%CI: 1.48-4.88) were positive factors for having HIV self-testing. Conclusion: HIV self-testing is a more flexible and convenient way to detect HIV in MSM, and the promotion of HIV self-testing in MSM should be strengthened to further increase the HIV detection rate in this population.

[Willingness on acceptance of peer-referral strategies for promoting HIV testing in men who have sex with men in Shijiazhuang].

Objective: To understand the willingness to accept peer-referral strategies for promoting HIV testing and related factors in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Shijiazhuang. Methods: A total of 544 MSM were recruited using convenient sampling and sharing two-dimensional code of online questionnaire througth MSM social organizations in Shijiazhuang from August to September in 2018. The anonymous online survey were taken by login through the website "jinshuju.com" (https://im.jinshuju.com/users/sign_in). The information collected included: the demographic and behavioral characteristics, the attitude to HIV testing for partners, and the willingness to accept peer-referral strategies for promoting HIV testing. The socio-demographic characteristics were analyzed by χ2 test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the related factors associated with willingness. The SAS 9.4 software was used for statistical analysis. Results: A total of 521 MSM completed the survey. Among them 59.50% (310/521) were willing to advise their partners to receive HIV testing, and 90.02% (469/521) were willing to accept the partners' advice of HIV testing. Higher HIV testing frequency for once a year (aOR=2.72,95%CI:1.42-5.20); for once a half year (aOR=5.72, 95%CI:2.97-11.02); for ≥1 time a quarter (aOR=8.76,95%CI:4.56-16.83), enquiring their partners' HIV status (aOR=1.94, 95%CI: 1.15-3.28) and STD history of their partners (aOR=1.83, 95%CI:1.06-3.14) before having sex were the factors positively associated with the willingness to advise partners to receive HIV testing. Discussing HIV testing with partners (aOR=4.43,95%CI:1.87-10.54) was the factor positively associated with the desire to accept the advice of HIV testing from partners, but feeling emotional hurt by the suggestion of HIV testing (aOR=0.35,95%CI:0.15-0.82) was the factor negatively associated with the willingness to accept the advice of HIV testing from partners. Conclusion: To improve the willingess of MSM to advise their partners to receive HIV testing and strengthen self-protection awareness and equal communication skills are essential for the success of peer-referral strategies for promoting HIV testing among MSM.

Microsatellite mapping of a Triticum urartu Tum. derived powdery mildew resistance gene transferred to common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

A powdery mildew resistance gene from Triticum urartu Tum. accession UR206 was successfully transferred into hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through crossing and backcrossing. The F1 plants, which had 28 chromosomes and an average of 5.32 bivalents and 17.36 univalents in meiotic pollen mother cells (PMC), were obtained through embryos rescued owing to shriveling of endosperm in hybrid seed of cross Chinese Spring (CS) x UR206. Hybrid seeds were produced through backcrossing F1 with common wheat parents. The derivative lines had normal chromosome numbers and powdery mildew resistance similar to the donor UR206, indicating that the powdery mildew resistance gene originating from T. urartu accession UR206 was successfully transferred and expressed in a hexaploid wheat background. Genetic analysis indicated that a single dominant gene controlled the powdery mildew resistance at the seedling stage. To map and tag the powdery mildew resistance gene, 143 F2 individuals derived from a cross UR206 x UR203 were used to construct a linkage map. The resistant gene was mapped on the chromosome 7AL based on the mapped microsatellite makers. The map spanned 52.1 cM and the order of these microsatellite loci agreed well with the established microsatellite map of chromosome arm 7AL. The resistance gene was flanked by the microsatellite loci Xwmc273 and Xpsp3003, with the genetic distances of 2.2 cM and 3.8 cM, respectively. On the basis of the origin and chromosomal location of the gene, it was temporarily designated PmU.

In vitro performance of venous valve prostheses. An experimental model study.

The performance of fresh and glutaraldehyde fixed bovine jugular vein valves (10 mm diameter) was investigated in an experimental flow loop that provides adjustable flow rates and a downstream oscillatory pressure. Three different venous valve (VV) conduit geometries (curved [C], straight [S], and tapered [T]), were tested. The flow loop consisted of two independently adjustable components, with the mean flow generated by adjusting the elevation difference between the head tank and outflow chamber. An adjustable sinusoidal pressure pulse was superimposed on the downstream of a VV to mimic the respiratory effects. Flow visualizations were made using 100 microns mica chip tracers in the laser illuminated flow fields. To assess VV performance under various flow conditions, the closure opening (CO), partial opening (PO), and leaflet fluttering (LF) were evaluated. At a given pulse pressure, the three conduits required different flow rates to reach CO mode. At 12 cm H2O pulse pressure, the fresh valve in C-conduit exhibited stable CO operation at a flow rate of 1.01 ml/sec. That in S and T conduits required 1.67 ml/sec and 2.25 ml/sec, respectively. At higher flow rates, PO and LF performances were observed in all three conduits. Different threshold values of pulse pressure were needed to reestablish the CO operation mode for the C, S, and T conduits, individually. These observations provide some insight into the role of conduit geometry and sinus configuration in the function of VV.