Interpersonal Violence and Hiv Sexual Risk Behaviors: The Influence of Alcohol Harm Reduction and Early Initiation of Sex Work Among Female Sex Workers in Mombasa, Kenya

Female sex workers (FSWs) are at high risk of interpersonal violence and HIV infection. The first paper investigated whether an alcohol harm reduction intervention was associated with reduced interpersonal violence or HIV sexual risk behaviors among FSWs in Mombasa, Kenya. The sample was comprised of 818 FSWs in Mombasa, Kenya who were 18 years or older, associated with HIV prevention drop-in centers and moderate risk drinkers. General linear mixed models examined associations between intervention assignment (alcohol harm reduction or nutrition intervention) and recent violence from paying and non-paying sex partners and HIV sexual risk behavior (engagement in sex work, total number of sex partners) at 6 and 12 months post-enrollment. The alcohol intervention was associated with statistically significant decreases in engagement in sex work and sexual violence from paying partners at 6 and 12 months post-enrollment and physical violence from paying sex partners at 12 months post-enrollment. Future research should explore mechanisms through which alcohol reduction leads to reduced violence among FSWs (i.e., reduced risk-taking, economic empowerment). More research is needed to understand whether alcohol reduction leads to reduced violence among FSWs who continue to engage in sex work or through discontinuation of sex work. Between 20-40% of FSWs worldwide began sex work before age 18. The second paper investigates whether early initiation of sex work (sex work at 17 or younger) was associated with recent interpersonal violence or HIV sexual risk behaviors. Logistic regression was performed, adjusting for drop-in center, current age, HIV status, and childhood abuse. Twenty percent of the sample reported early initiation of sex work. Early initiators were significantly more likely to experience recent physical and sexual violence from paying partners and less likely to report consistent condom use with paying partners. Early initiation was not associated with violence or HIV sexual risk with non-paying partners. FSWs who initiated sex work early are at particularly high risk of violence from paying partners. Interventions to prevent violence and reduce HIV sexual risk behaviors among adolescent FSWs and adult FSWs who initiated sex work early are needed. More work is needed to prevent early initiation of sex work.Doctor of Philosoph

The link between centrosome defects and cancer unveiled by CROCC deficiency in rhabdoid colorectal cancer

The century-old hypothesis on the role of centrosome in cancer remains unresolved. We show that reduced dosage of CROCC, a centrosomal-linker component required for centrosome cohesion and separation, due to mutation or allelic loss at 1p36.13 results in impaired centrosome phenotypes and monopolar mitotic forms characterizing a lethal subset of human colorectal cancers with rhabdoid phenotype. Interfering with CROCC in near-diploid colon cancer cells disrupts bipolar mitotic spindle architecture, and causes unequal DNA segregation errors to daughter cells resulting in a highly aggressive rhabdoid-like phenotype in vitro. Conversely, CROCC restoration in a metastatic cellular model harboring 1p36.13 deletion results in correction of centrosome segregation errors and cell death, revealing a mechanism of tolerance to gross mitotic errors and tetraploidization, two hallmarks of chromosomal instability. Together, our data shed light on a previously unknown link between centrosome cohesion apparatus and lethal cancer phenotypes providing new insight into pathways underlying genome instability

Engineering properties of geopolymer concrete: a review

Geopolymer concrete (GPC) could be a solution that uses a cementless binder and recycled materials for producing concrete, while reducing the carbon dioxide emission and the demand for raw materials. In addition to the environmental aspect, previous studies on GPC showed that it can achieve mechanical characteristics higher than those of ordinary Portland concrete (OPC) such as greater strength a few days after casting, and it can be suitable for structural applications. In this paper, the state-of-the-art review of GPC is presented through an extensive literature analysis to determine the most recent information regarding the engineering properties of geopolymer concrete and the critical issues that prevent its widespread use and to put forward suggestions for future research. In particular, the physical properties in both fresh and hardened states and the mechanical characteristics are investigated; the structural performance of geopolymer concrete elements is also outlined

Experimental characterization of tensile strength of steel and fibre rovings also under environmental conditioning

The efficiency of the strengthening techniques by externally applied materials can be improved enhancing the debonding strength of the reinforcement from the support by the use of connectors (anchor spikes) consisting of unidirectional bundles of fibres embedded in concrete or masonry by means of organic or inorganic matrices. The use of connectors is suggested in various codes and guidelines of strengthening techniques by composite materials and provisions for their application are given, but currently there are no details for the qualification of the material. In order to investigate anchor spikes made of glass, basalt, aramid, carbon, PBO and steel, a large experimental campaign was carried out at the Materials and Structures Laboratory of the University of Sannio. The tests allowed to evaluate the mechanical characteristics (tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, deformation at the maximum load) of the anchor spikes constituted by only dry fibres, not impregnated, also as a result of environmental conditioning such as freezing and thawing, controlled humidity, alkaline and saline environment

Aberrant BLM cytoplasmic expressionassociates with DNA damage stress and hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents in colorectal cancer

Background Bloom syndrome is a rare and recessive disorder characterized by loss-of-function mutations of the BLM gene, which encodes a RecQ 30–50 DNA helicase. Despite its putative tumor suppressor function, the contribution of BLM to human sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) remains poorly understood. Methods The transcriptional regulation mechanism underlying BLM and related DNA damage response regulation in independent CRC subsets and a panel of derived cell lines was investigated by bioinformatics analysis, the transcriptomic profile, a CpG island promoter methylation assay, Western blot, and an immunolocalization assay. Results In silico analysis of gene expression data sets revealed that BLM is overexpressed in poorly differentiated CRC and exhibits a close connection with shorter relapsefree survival even after adjustment for prognostic factors and pathways that respond to DNA damage response through ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) signaling. Functional characterization demonstrated that CpG island promoter hypomethylation increases BLM expression and associates with cytoplasmic BLM mislocalization and increased DNA damage response both in clinical CRC samples and in derived cancer cell lines. The DNA-damaging agent S-adenosylmethionine suppresses BLM expression, leading to the inhibition of cell growth following accumulation of DNA damage. In tumor specimens, cytoplasmic accumulation of BLM correlates with DNA damage and cH2AX and phosphorylated ATM foci and predicts long-term progression-free survival in metastatic patients treated with irinotecan. Conclusions Taken together, the findings of this study provide the first evidence that cancer-linked DNA hypomethylation and cytosolic BLM mislocalization might reflect compromised levels of DNA-repair activity and enhanced hypersensitivity to DNA-damaging agents in CRC patients

Mobile Phone Interventions for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT: Interventions for adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) are increasingly using mobile phones but may not effectively report evidence. OBJECTIVE: To assess strategies, findings, and quality of evidence on using mobile phones to improve ASRH by using the mHealth Evidence Reporting and Assessment (mERA) checklist recently published by the World Health Organization mHealth Technical Evidence Review Group. DATA SOURCES: Systematic searches of 8 databases for peer-reviewed studies published January 2000 through August 2014. STUDY SELECTION: Eligible studies targeted adolescents ages 10 to 24 and provided results from mobile phone interventions designed to improve ASRH. DATA EXTRACTION: Studies were evaluated according to the mERA checklist, covering essential mHealth criteria and methodological reporting criteria. RESULTS: Thirty-five articles met inclusion criteria. Studies reported on 28 programs operating at multiple levels of the health care system in 7 countries. Most programs (82%) used text messages. An average of 41% of essential mHealth criteria were met (range 14%-79%). An average of 82% of methodological reporting criteria were met (range 52%-100%). Evidence suggests that inclusion of text messaging in health promotion campaigns, sexually transmitted infection screening and follow-up, and medication adherence may lead to improved ASRH. LIMITATIONS: Only 3 articles reported evidence from lower- or middle-income countries, so it is difficult to draw conclusions for these settings. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence on mobile phone interventions for ASRH published in peer-reviewed journals reflects a high degree of quality in methods and reporting. In contrast, current reporting on essential mHealth criteria is insufficient for understanding, replicating, and scaling up mHealth interventions

Urothelial bladder carcinoma metastasizing to the eye: a systematic review and case report

The eye is a rare site for disseminated malignancies; nevertheless, several tumors may metastasize to ocular structures. Few cases of urothelial and bladder cancer with eye involvement have been described in the literature thus far. The rarity of metastatic ocular localization implies an accurate differential diagnosis among the possible primary tumor sites. However, a specific diagnostic algorithm is not currently available, nor a defined therapeutic approach. Eye metastases are associated with advanced disease and poor prognosis. Physicians should be made aware of the possibility of eye involvement in patients with a past medical history of urothelial bladder cancer associated with ocular symptoms. The present case reports discusses the first documented case, to the best of our knowledge, of an urothelial bladder cancer metastasizing to the retro bulbar region that infiltrates the lacrimal gland. Furthermore, the report provides a systematic qualitative review of the current literature on eye metastases from urothelial bladder cancer using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses

Early sex work initiation and condom use among alcohol-using female sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya: a cross-sectional analysis

Early initiation of sex work is prevalent among female sex workers (FSWs) worldwide. The objectives of this study were to investigate if early initiation of sex work was associated with: (1) consistent condom use, (2) condom negotiation self-efficacy or (3) condom use norms among alcohol-using FSWs in Mombasa, Kenya

Early Sex Work Initiation and Violence against Female Sex Workers in Mombasa, Kenya

Between 20 and 40 % of female sex workers (FSWs) began sex work before age 18. Little is known concerning whether early initiation of sex work impacts later experiences in adulthood, including violence victimization. This paper examines the relationship between early initiation of sex work and violence victimization during adulthood. The sample included 816 FSWs in Mombasa, Kenya, recruited from HIV prevention drop-in centers who were 18 years or older and moderate-risk drinkers. Early initiation was defined as beginning sex work at 17 or younger. Logistic regression modeled recent violence as a function of early initiation, adjusting for drop-in center, age, education, HIV status, supporting others, and childhood abuse. Twenty percent of the sample reported early initiation of sex work. Although both early initiators and other FSWs reported commonly experiencing recent violence, early initiators were significantly more likely to experience recent physical and sexual violence and verbal abuse from paying partners. Early initiation was not associated with physical or sexual violence from non-paying partners. Many FSWs begin sex work before age 18. Effective interventions focused on preventing this are needed. In addition, interventions are needed to prevent violence against all FSWs, in particular, those who initiated sex work during childhood or adolescence

Public Stigma of Mental Illness in the United States: A Systematic Literature Review

Public stigma is a pervasive barrier that prevents many individuals in the U.S. from engaging in mental health care. This systematic literature review aims to: (1) evaluate methods used to study the public’s stigma toward mental disorders, (2) summarize stigma findings focused on the public’s stigmatizing beliefs and actions and attitudes toward mental health treatment for children and adults with mental illness, and (3) draw recommendations for reducing stigma towards individuals with mental disorders and advance research in this area. Public stigma of mental illness in the U.S. was widespread. Findings can inform interventions to reduce the public’s stigma of mental illness