The Men's Safer Sex (MenSS) trial: protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial of an interactive digital intervention to increase condom use in men

Sexually transmitted infections (STI) are a major public health problem. Condoms provide effective protection but there are many barriers to use. Face-to-face health promotion interventions are resource-intensive and show mixed results. Interactive digital interventions may provide a suitable alternative, allowing private access to personally tailored behaviour change support. We have developed an interactive digital intervention (the Men's Safer Sex (MenSS) website) which aims to increase condom use in men. We describe the protocol for a pilot trial to assess the feasibility of a full-scale randomised controlled trial of the MenSS website in addition to usual sexual health clinical care

An Intervention to Increase Condom Use Among Users of Chlamydia Self-Sampling Websites (Wrapped): Intervention Mapping and Think-Aloud Study.

BACKGROUND: Young people aged 16-24 years are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs). STIs can have serious health consequences for affected individuals and the estimated annual cost of treatment to the National Health Service is £620 million. Accordingly, the UK government has made reducing the rates of STIs among this group a priority. A missed opportunity to intervene to increase condom use is when young people obtain self-sampling kits for STIs via the internet. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to develop a theory-based tailored intervention to increase condom use for 16-24-years-olds accessing chlamydia self-sampling websites. METHODS: The intervention, Wrapped, was developed using Intervention Mapping and was co-designed with young people. The following steps were performed: (1) identification of important determinants of condom use and evidence of their changeability using computer and digital interventions; (2) setting the intervention goal, performance objectives, and change objectives; (3) identification of Behavior Change Principles (BCPs) and practical strategies to target these determinants; and (4) development of intervention materials able to deliver the BCPs and practical strategies. RESULTS: Users of existing chlamydia self-sampling websites are signposted to Wrapped after placing an order for a sampling kit. Salient barriers to condom use are identified by each user and relevant intervention components are allocated to target these. The components include the following: (1) a sample box of condoms, (2) an online condom distribution service, (3) a product for carrying condoms, (4) a condom demonstration video, (5) a series of videos on communication about condom use, and (6) erotic films of real couples discussing and demonstrating condom use. CONCLUSIONS: This intervention will be directed at young people who may be particularly receptive to messages and support for behavior change due to their testing status

KSU Student Anxiety around Mass Shootings

This research will examine the relationships among generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and fear of mass shootings, particularly for members of minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) groups. Previous research has examined the various types of mass public shootings and which ones receive more media attention. Previous research has also examined potential causes of mass shootings, ways to prevent them, and areas where mass shootings are common. There is little research on different types of anxiety (generalized and social) and how those correlate to fear of mass shootings, especially for minority groups in college. To examine this relationship, we will administer an online questionnaire with demographic questions, questions that examine generalized and social anxiety levels, and questions on fears of mass shootings on campus and off campus. We hypothesize that stronger correlations among generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and fear of mass shootings will emerge amongst participants who belong to minority groups rather than majority groups. Through this research we hope to find trends in anxiety levels amongst these student groups and use the findings to implement effective intervention programs at KSU. The purpose of this study is ultimately to ease anxiety levels among all students, especially those of minority status.This research will examine the relationships among generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and fear of mass shootings, particularly for members of minority and low socioeconomic status (SES) groups. Previous research has examined the various types of mass public shootings and which ones receive more media attention. Previous research has also examined potential causes of mass shootings, ways to prevent them, and areas where mass shootings are common. There is little research on different types of anxiety (generalized and social) and how those correlate to fear of mass shootings, especially for minority groups in college. To examine this relationship, we will administer an online questionnaire with demographic questions, questions that examine generalized and social anxiety levels, and questions on fears of mass shootings on campus and off campus. We hypothesize that stronger correlations among generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and fear of mass shootings will emerge amongst participants who belong to minority groups rather than majority groups. Through this research we hope to find trends in anxiety levels amongst these student groups and use the findings to implement effective intervention programs at KSU. The purpose of this study is ultimately to ease anxiety levels among all students, especially those of minority status

Examining trends in nonâ fatal strangulation among sexual assault survivors seeking Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner care from 2002 to 2017

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154499/1/ijgo13058_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154499/2/ijgo13058.pd

Type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer screening: Findings from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Objectives: Type 2 diabetes has been identified as a risk factor for colorectal cancer, but little is known about whether it influences participation in colorectal cancer screening programmes. This study tested the extent to which Type 2 diabetes is negatively associated with colorectal cancer screening uptake. Methods: We analysed individual data of screening eligible men and women aged 60–75 without cancer diagnosis from wave 6 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (collected 2012–2013), to investigate whether Type 2 Diabetes influences colorectal cancer screening behaviour independently of demographic characteristics, body mass index, socio-economic status and other chronic diseases. Results: Individuals who reported to have Type 2 diabetes or had glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels of 48 mmol/mol or higher were less likely to have ever completed a screening test (faecal occult blood test; 62.8% vs. 75.8%, p < 0.01) or to be up-to-date with their biennial screening invitation (60.2% vs. 72.0%, p < 0.05). The negative associations of Type 2 diabetes on colorectal cancer screening were found both in unadjusted and adjusted regression models. Conclusions: Future qualitative and quantitative research should identify reasons for this discrepancy, to inform interventions to increase screening uptake in this high-risk population

Studies on the antiobesity effect of zinc-α2-glycoprotein in the ob/ob mouse

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of the lipid depletion by zinc-a(2)-glycoprotein (ZAG). DESIGN: Studies were conducted in the ob/ob mouse, or on isolated adipocytes from these animals or their lean counterparts. RESULTS: Treatment of these animals for 15 days with ZAG (100? µg, intravenously, daily) resulted in a reduction of body weight of 6.55? g compared with phosphate-buffered saline-treated controls, without a change in food or water intake, but with a 0.4?°C rise in rectal temperature. ZAG-treated mice had a 30% reduction in carcass fat mass and a twofold increase in weight of brown adipose tissue. Epididymal adipocytes from ZAG-treated mice showed an increased expression of ZAG and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), and this was maintained for a further 3 days in the absence of ZAG. There was an increased lipolytic response to isoproterenol, which was retained for 3 days in vitro in the absence of ZAG. Expression of HSL was also increased in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue, as was also adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL). There was a rapid loss of labelled lipid from epididymal adipose tissue of ZAG-treated mice, but not from the other depots, reflecting the difference in sensitivity to lipolytic stimuli. The increased expression of HSL and ATGL may involve the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, as the active (phospho) form was upregulated in all adipose depots after ZAG administration, whereas in vitro studies showed induction of HSL and ATGL by ZAG to be attenuated by PD98059, an inhibitor of the ERK pathway. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ZAG not only induces direct lipolysis, but also sensitizes adipose tissue to other lipolytic stimuli

Growth performance, feed utilisation and body composition of advanced nursing Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fed diets containing Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae meal

A 32-day experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects on the performance, feed utilisation efficiency and body composition of a strategic inclusion of Black Soldier Fly larvae meal (MM) in a commercially formulated diet for advance nursing Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were commercially formulated and manufactured as a control and 3 test diets with strategic inclusions of MM inclusions (0, 30, 50 and 80 g kg-1) and poultry byproduct meal substituting gradually three conventional expensive feedstuffs: fish meal, fish oil and soybean meal. Fish (5.7&plusmn;0.5 g fish-1) were nursed in a cage-in-lake system (Volta Lake, Ghana), under conditions similar to commercial farming practices. Control and experimental diets were fed to triplicate cages by hand to visual satiety, 6 times day-1. Growth performance (final weight; weight gain and SGR); feed utilisation efficiency indices (FCR and PER) and feed intake were not significantly different (P&ge;0.05) between treatments. Survival was significantly different (P&lt;0.05) but more likely explained by the stress related to frequent handling on the smaller fish. Fish whole body composition (dry matter, crude protein, lipid, ash and fibre) was unaffected by the treatment (P&ge;0.05), except for the fatty acid compositions which mirrored that of the diets