AIDS denialism

AIDS denialism is a growing issue in many parts the world. Through scholarly journal articles, book resources and other research tactics, further understanding how HIV/AIDS denialism is unethical can be distinguished. Discovering that AIDS is most prominent in South Africa explains why denialism is as critical as it is. However, the unethical aspect of AIDS denialism is in effect particularly amongst families. When a South African inhabitant realizes they have AIDS, they feel outcasted by their families due to shame. They fear as though they will be disowned because they have flaws that are unacceptable. These family values are significant because those who diagnosed or affected would rather be unaware of the disease to maintain social acceptance . However, the difference of ethics in society affects how AIDS denialism is perceived. In the United States, being unaware of AIDS diagnosis is considered a social faux pas. Thanks to advertisements, educational classes and overall social awareness, being conscience is implied to be important because of society’s openness with sexuality. As for South Africa’s social standards, lack of resources, poor government and unawareness impact the ethical value of AIDS because they have not been taught otherwise concerning the actual disease. Their knowledge about HIV/AIDS is limited; therefore they lack the understanding of the risks of the disease

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Coping strategies of immediate family members of cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy in Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

The study used a descriptive method of research. Using purposive sampling technique, a total of 51 immediate family members with cancer patients in Cardinal Santos Medical Center were the respondents of the study. The researchers used an adapted instrument from the study of Estomata, Retardo and Mesia (2004) entitled “Coping Strategies of Immediate Family Member with Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy at De La Salle University medical Center-Jose Sotto Tantiansu Cancer Institute.” The data gathered was treated with the following statistical tools: frequency distribution, percentage, mean, standard deviation, analysis of variance, and t-test for independent means. The results of the study revealed that the respondents have highly used coping strategy in terms of active-cognitive method, moderately used active-behavioral method and slightly used coping strategy in avoidance method. There are significant differences in the active-cognitive coping strategy of the respondents when grouped according to gender, age of cancer patients, and length of illness. Female respondents, respondents whose cancer patients that belong to 61 years old and above and respondents whose cancer patients have illness for 37 to 48 months have the better coping strategy than others. On the other hand, there are no significant differences in the said coping strategy when grouped according to age, civil status, educational attainment, religion, and monthly family income. There are significant differences in the active-behavioral coping strategy of the respondents when grouped according to gender and length of illness. Female respondents and respondents whose cancer patients have illness for 37 to 48 months have better coping strategy than others. However, there are no significant differences in the said coping strategy when grouped according to age, civil status, educational attainment, religion, monthly family income and age of cancer patient

First evaluation of the ASL of Lecce mammographic screening program results by using Surgical Pathology's indicators of quality in diagnosis and treatment

The aim is to highlight the progress of earliness and quality of diagnosis and breast cancer cure in the Province of Lecce by surveying a number of indicators obtainable from surgical pathologist's evaluation. The study, con-ducted with the software SQTM (www.qtweb.it), is based on breast cancer of women 50-69 years old residing in the Province of Lecce who undergone breast surgery in the years 2003, 2004, 2010, 2011 and 2012 at the "V. Fazzi" Hospital, which is reference center for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer within the Breast Cancer Screening Program of the ASL of Lecce, active since 2008. Compared to the prescreening period, results of all the indicators showed an almost progressive and significant improvement along the years, highlighting the first beneficial effects, primarily the improvement of early diagnosis, resulting from the impact of screening on the female target population. However, the study has emphasized some important problems arising from persistent and systematic deficiencies in the organizational and multidisciplinary approach, on which we must concentrate efforts to further improve the screening program results

Audit system on Quality of breast cancer diagnosis and Treatment (QT): results of quality indicators on screen-detected lesions in Italy, 2011-2012

This annual survey, conducted by the Italian group for mammography screening (GISMa), collects individual data on diagnosis and treatment of about 50% of screen-detected, operated lesions in Italy. The 2011-2012 results show good overall quality and an improving trend over time. A number of critical issues have been identified, including waiting times (which have had a worsening trend over the years) and compliance with the recommendation of not performing frozen section examination on small lesions. Pre-operative diagnosis improved constantly over time, but there is still a large variation between Regions and programmes. For almost 90% of screen-detected invasive cancers a sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy was performed on the axilla, avoiding a large number of potentially harmful dissections. On the other hand, potential overuse of SLN dissection for ductal carcinoma in situ, although apparently starting to decline, deserves further investigation. The detailed results have been distributed, among other ways by means of a web-based data-warehouse, to regional and local screening programmes, in order to allow multidisciplinary discussion and identification of the appropriate solutions to any issues documented by the data. The problem of waiting times should be assigned priority. Specialist Breast Units with adequate case volume and enough resources would provide the best setting for making monitoring effective in producing quality improvements with shorter waiting times

Identity Formation of Filipino Burlesque Performers: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Burlesque has seen a resurgence in the form of recreation and exists in different parts of the globe. This study uses the lens of interpretative phenomenological analysis in examining the identity formation of recreational Filipino burlesque performers. Results reveal that performers see burlesque as an art form where they are able to freely express themselves, tell a story, and create a persona distinct from their main self. In the process of improving their sense of self and confidence they seek to empower others and appreciate their sexuality. However, the influence of culture is evident in the identity formation process, as they report the prevalence of stigma with some performers needing to hide their identities from their parents and employers. However, support from family members, peers and their burlesque community offers a safe space as their identities continue to evolve

Fetal bovine serum impacts the observed N‐glycosylation defects in TMEM165 KO HEK cells

International audienc

Effect of SGLT2 Inhibitors on Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation in Diabetic Kidney Disease: Results From the CREDENCE Trial and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic kidney disease with reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate or elevated albuminuria increases risk for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. This study assessed the effects of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on stroke and atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL) from CREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation) and a meta-analysis of large cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOTs) of SGLT2i in type 2 diabetes mellitus.METHODS: CREDENCE randomized 4401 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease to canagliflozin or placebo. Post hoc, we estimated effects on fatal or nonfatal stroke, stroke subtypes, and intermediate markers of stroke risk including AF/AFL. Stroke and AF/AFL data from 3 other completed large CVOTs and CREDENCE were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis.RESULTS: In CREDENCE, 142 participants experienced a stroke during follow-up (10.9/1000 patient-years with canagliflozin, 14.2/1000 patient-years with placebo; hazard ratio [HR], 0.77 [95% CI, 0.55-1.08]). Effects by stroke subtypes were: ischemic (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.61-1.28]; n=111), hemorrhagic (HR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.19-1.32]; n=18), and undetermined (HR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.20-1.46]; n=17). There was no clear effect on AF/AFL (HR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.53-1.10]; n=115). The overall effects in the 4 CVOTs combined were: total stroke (HRpooled, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.82-1.12]), ischemic stroke (HRpooled, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.89-1.14]), hemorrhagic stroke (HRpooled, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.30-0.83]), undetermined stroke (HRpooled, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.49-1.51]), and AF/AFL (HRpooled, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.71-0.93]). There was evidence that SGLT2i effects on total stroke varied by baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (P=0.01), with protection in the lowest estimated glomerular filtration rate (<45 mL/min/1.73 m2]) subgroup (HRpooled, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.31-0.79]).CONCLUSIONS: Although we found no clear effect of SGLT2i on total stroke in CREDENCE or across trials combined, there was some evidence of benefit in preventing hemorrhagic stroke and AF/AFL, as well as total stroke for those with lowest estimated glomerular filtration rate. Future research should focus on confirming these data and exploring potential mechanisms. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02065791