Perceptions and knowledge about the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome among students in university residences

Using an anonymous questionnaire to obtain baseline data on sexual behaviour and knowledge of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among students in university residences, the following information was obtained: Knowledge of AIDS was found to be high, although misconceptions regarding transmission of the virus were prevalent. Mosquito bites (15%) and the donating of blood (31%) were incorrectly identified as methods of transmission of the virus. Deep kissing was recognised by only 27% of the students as a possible method of transmission while 22% and 13% of the students, respectively, failed to identify the sharing of razor blades and blood transfusions as possible means of contracting HIV infection. The students' knowledge had not greatly affected sexual behaviour. Two-thirds of the respondents had previously had sexual contact; 38% .were sexually active at the time of the study, and of these 74% had engaged in unprotected intercourse with casual partners in the previous 6 months. There was a negative attitude towards condom use and over 80% of sexually active students did not perceive themselves to be at risk of contracting AIDS. Campus Health (82%), State health services (51%), and public advertisements (60%) were preferred sources of AIDS information. Newspapers/ magazines (80%) and leaflets (69%) were identified as the preferred media. In reality, significantly fewer students obtained their information from Campus Health (15%; P < 0,05), State health services (19%; P < 0,05) and leaflets (44%; P < 0,05). It can be concluded that education programmes should be developed by credible organisations to ensure that an awareness of AIDS results in appropriate sexual behaviour

Non-AIDS defining cancers in the D:A:D Study-time trends and predictors of survival : a cohort study

BACKGROUND:Non-AIDS defining cancers (NADC) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-positive individuals. Using data from a large international cohort of HIV-positive individuals, we described the incidence of NADC from 2004-2010, and described subsequent mortality and predictors of these.METHODS:Individuals were followed from 1st January 2004/enrolment in study, until the earliest of a new NADC, 1st February 2010, death or six months after the patient's last visit. Incidence rates were estimated for each year of follow-up, overall and stratified by gender, age and mode of HIV acquisition. Cumulative risk of mortality following NADC diagnosis was summarised using Kaplan-Meier methods, with follow-up for these analyses from the date of NADC diagnosis until the patient's death, 1st February 2010 or 6 months after the patient's last visit. Factors associated with mortality following NADC diagnosis were identified using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression.RESULTS:Over 176,775 person-years (PY), 880 (2.1%) patients developed a new NADC (incidence: 4.98/1000PY [95% confidence interval 4.65, 5.31]). Over a third of these patients (327, 37.2%) had died by 1st February 2010. Time trends for lung cancer, anal cancer and Hodgkin's lymphoma were broadly consistent. Kaplan-Meier cumulative mortality estimates at 1, 3 and 5 years after NADC diagnosis were 28.2% [95% CI 25.1-31.2], 42.0% [38.2-45.8] and 47.3% [42.4-52.2], respectively. Significant predictors of poorer survival after diagnosis of NADC were lung cancer (compared to other cancer types), male gender, non-white ethnicity, and smoking status. Later year of diagnosis and higher CD4 count at NADC diagnosis were associated with improved survival. The incidence of NADC remained stable over the period 2004-2010 in this large observational cohort.CONCLUSIONS:The prognosis after diagnosis of NADC, in particular lung cancer and disseminated cancer, is poor but has improved somewhat over time. Modifiable risk factors, such as smoking and low CD4 counts, were associated with mortality following a diagnosis of NADC

Uncertainty in the ingestion dose calculation.

This paper focuses on the uncertainty due to parameter variabilities in the food chain model and the ingestion dose calculation of the radioecological model ECOSYS, which is the basis of the food chain and the dose module in the European decision support system RODOS. Investigations on parameter sensitivity and model uncertainty are performed by applying a Monte Carlo method with Latin Hypercube sampling. The uncertainties of predicted contamination of foodstuffs as well as the uncertainties of dose predictions are estimated taking into account the correlations between parameters. Both, the sensitivity of model parameters and the uncertainties of model results are dependent on the actual radioecological situation; important factors are especially the type of radionuclide and the time of year when the deposition occurs

A novel study on association between untreated hearing loss and cognitive functions of older adults: Baseline non-verbal cognitive assessment results

Background Age‐related hearing loss (ARHL) is highly prevalent in older adults, and more than two‐thirds above age of 70 years suffer from ARHL. Recent studies have established a link between ARHL and cognitive impairment; however, most of the studies have used verbally loaded cognitive measures to investigate the association between ARHL and cognition. It is possible that due to hearing impairment, the elderly may experience difficulty in following verbal instructions or completing tasks that heavily rely on hearing during cognitive assessments. This may result in overestimation of cognitive impairment in such individuals. This baseline cross‐sectional study investigated the associations between untreated hearing loss and a number of cognitive functions using a battery of non‐verbal cognitive tests. Further, association between hearing loss and psychological status of older adults was examined. Study design Prospective case‐controlled study. Methods A total of 119 participants (54 males, M=66.33±10.50 years; 65 females M=61.51±11.46 years) were recruited. All participants completed a hearing assessment, a computerised test battery of non‐verbal cognitive functions and the depression, anxiety and stress scale. Results Hierarchical multiple regression analysis results revealed that hearing thresholds significantly associated with the working memory (P<0.05), paired associative learning scores (P<0.05), depression (P<0.001), and anxiety (P<0.001) and stress (P<0.001) scores. Analysis of covariance results revealed that participants with moderately‐severe hearing loss performed significantly poorer in paired associative learning and working memory tasks and psychological function tests compared to those with normal hearing. Conclusion Results of the current study suggest a significant relationship between ARHL and both cognition and psychological status. Our results also have some implications for using non‐verbal cognitive tests to evaluate cognitive functions in post‐lingually hearing impaired ageing adults, at least for those with more than moderately‐severe levels of hearing loss

Comparisons of calculations with PARTRAC and NOREC: Transport of electrons in liquid water.

Monte Carlo computer models that simulate the detailed, event-by-event transport of electrons in liquid water are valuable for the interpretation and understanding of findings in radiation chemistry and radiation biology. Because of the paucity of experimental data, such efforts must rely on theoretical principles and considerable judgment in their development. Experimental verification of numerical input is possible to only a limited extent. Indirect support for model validity can be gained from a comparison of details between two independently developed computer codes as well as the observable results calculated with them. In this study, we compare the transport properties of electrons in liquid water using two such models, PARTRAC and NOREC. Both use interaction cross sections based on plane-wave Born approximations and a numerical parameterization of the complex dielectric response function for the liquid. The models are described and compared, and their similarities and differences are highlighted. Recent developments in the field are discussed and taken into account. The calculated stopping powers, W values, and slab penetration characteristics are in good agreement with one another and with other independent sources