Will I? won't I? Why do men who have sex with men present for post-exposure prophylaxis for sexual exposures?

Background: Failures of post-exposure prophylaxis following sexual exposure (PEPSE) to prevent seroconversion have been reported and are often associated with ongoing risk exposure. Understanding why men who have sex with men (MSM) access PEPSE on some occasions and not others may lead to more effective health promotion and disease prevention strategies Methods: A qualitative study design using semi-structured interviews of 15 MSM within 6 months of them initiating PEPSE treatment at an HIV outpatient service in Brighton, UK. Results: PEPSE seeking was motivated by a number of factors: an episode that related to a particular sexual partner and their behaviour; the characteristics of the venue where the risk occurred; the respondent’s state of mind and influences of alcohol and recreational drug use; and their perceived beliefs on the effectiveness of PEPSE. Help was sought in the light of a “one-off” or “unusual” event. Many respondents felt they were less likely to behave in a risky manner following PEPSE. Conclusion: If PEPSE is to be effective as a public health measure, at risk individuals need to be empowered to make improved risk calculations from an increased perception that they could be exposed to HIV if they continue their current behaviour patterns. The concern is that PEPSE was sought by a low number of MSM implying that a greater number are not using the service based on failure to make accurate risk calculations or recognise high-risk scenario

Doppler velocimetry of umbilical, and middle cerebral arteries in the prediction of fetal outcome

Background: Doppler ultrasound offers a unique non-invasive technology for investigating fetal, feto placental and utero placental circulation Intrauterine growth restriction is associated with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality.Methods: A hospital based descriptive study of Doppler velocimetry of umbilical Artery and Middle cerebral Artery was carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Pariyaram Medical College over a period of 1 year – April 2016 to March 2017. A total of 180 patients with clinically IUGR were selected for the study. Close monitoring done with daily NST and repeated Doppler study.Results: The S/D ratio in Umbilical artery and RI ratio of MCA is valuable for monitoring growth retarded and small for gestational age fetuses and to take decision for early termination of pregnancy. In our study, perinatal outcome is very good, only 3 NND happened. i.e., due to extreme prematurity.Conclusions: Colour Doppler helps in detection of compromised fetuses in high risk pregnancies like PIH, IUGR and other risk factors likely to cause placental insufficiency.

Allometric relationships of the dentition of the great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, in forensic investigations of shark attacks

As a result of a systematic morphometric study of shark dentitions, a system of notation for describing the location of shark teeth has been developed and is proposed as a standard to be adopted for use in similar studies in the future. The macroscopic morphology of White Shark teeth has been characterised in order to gain quantitative data which might assist in identification of these sharks from bite marks on victims or objects or from shark carcasses. Using these data, a nomogram has been developed which can be used to estimate the body length of a White Shark from measurements of tooth or bite mark morphology. An example of the forensic application of such allometric data is provided as it applied to a recent fatal attack on a diver by a White Shark. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down

Quantitative forensic evaluation of bite marks with the aid of a shape analysis computer program: Part 1; the development of 'SCIP' and the Similarity Index

Bite marks left on human tissue and bitten material have become an important aspect of scientific evidence used for the conviction or acquittal of a suspect. Expert opinion has often been based on subjective comparisons rather than any objective metrical analysis and many experts will agree that there is a need to employ additional comparative tests to achieve unbiased objectivity in their investigation. In this study, an interactive shape analysis computer program ('SCIP' - Shape Comparison Interactive Program) has been employed in an attempt to derive experimentally a quantitative comparison, in the form of a Similarity Index (S.I.), between the 'offender's' teeth and the bite marks produced on a standard flat wax form. The S.I. values obtained using 'SCIP' were evaluated in a variety of experimental bite mark situations. It was found that in no case could the S.I. values produced by comparison of the bite mark with the dental casts from non-perpetrators be confused with the much lower S.I. from comparison of the bite mark with the dental cast of the perpetrator. The use of the Similarity Index derived using the 'SCIP' program is recommended as a simple, accurate and objective means of comparing bite marks in suitable forensic cases. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down

Forensic implications of the variation in morphology of marginal serrations on the teeth of the great white shark

The teeth of the Great White Shark have been examined to ascertain whether there is any commonality in the arrangement or number of the marginal serrations (peaks) or, indeed, whether individual sharks have a unique pattern of shapes or size of the peaks. The teeth of the White Shark are characteristic in size and shape with serrations along almost the entire mesial and distal margins. This study has revealed no consistent pattern of size or arrangement of the marginal serrations that was sufficiently characteristic within an individual shark to serve as a reliable index of identification of a tooth as originating from that particular shark. Nonetheless, the serrations are sufficiently distinctive to enable the potential identification of an individual tooth as having been the cause of a particular bitemark. This record was migrated from the OpenDepot repository service in June, 2017 before shutting down

Community-linked maternal death review (CLMDR) to measure and prevent maternal mortality: a pilot study in rural Malawi.

In Malawi, maternal mortality remains high. Existing maternal death reviews fail to adequately review most deaths, or capture those that occur outside the health system. We assessed the value of community involvement to improve capture and response to community maternal deaths

Cloning and sequencing of the depolymerase-like gene from Bacteriophage J25

Bacteriophage are viruses that infect, replicate and kill bacteria. Salmonella and EHEC food poisoning are caused by Salmonella and E. coli bacteria. Bacteriophage can be used to prevent food poisoning by application to food products or processing machinery. Bacteriophage J25 specifically infects Salmonella and E. coli bacteria. We cloned fragments of the J25 genome, sequence the DNA and used bioinformatics to identify J25. We used genome data from similar bacteriophage in Genbank to design primers to amplify the depolymerase-like gene. We amplified and cloned this gene. When expressed, the gene product will be test with bacteriophage food treatment where it should augment bacteriophage killing

Cloning, sequencing, and identification of Phage 16, an unknown salmonella or EHEC (enterohemorrhagic E. coli) bacteriophage

Bacteriophage are viruses that infect, replicate and kill bacteria. Salmonella and EHEC food poisoning are caused by Salmonella and E. coli bacteria. Bacteriophage can be used to prevent food poisoning by application to food products or processing machinery. Bacteriophage P16 specifically infects Salmonella and E. coli bacteria. We cloned fragments of the P16 genome, sequence the DNA and used bioinformatics to identify P16. Phage P16 is a Salmonella phage similar to Stitch. A phylogenetic tree inferring relationships of P16 and other bacteriophage was created