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- Chong, Hui, et al.
(författare)
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Organo-ptii complexes for potent photodynamic inactivation of multi-drug resistant bacteria and the influence of configuration
- 2024
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Ingår i: Advanced Science. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 2198-3844.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PtII based organometallic photosensitizers (PSs) have emerged as novel potent photodynamic inactivation (PDI) reagents through their enhanced intersystem crossing (ISC) processes. Currently, few PtII PSs have been investigated as antibacterial materials, with relatively poor performances reported and with structure-activity relationships not well described. Herein, a pair of configurational isomers are reported of Bis-BODIPY (4,4-difluoro-boradizaindacene) embedded PtII PSs. The cis-isomer (cis-BBP) displayed enhanced 1O2 generation and better bacterial membrane anchoring capability as compared to the trans-isomer (trans-BBP). The effective PDI concentrations (efficiency > 99.9%) for cis-BBP in Acinetobacter baumannii (multi-drug resistant (MDR)) and Staphylococcus aureus are 400 nM (12 J cm−2) and 100 nM (18 J cm−2), respectively; corresponding concentrations and light doses for trans-BBP in the two bacteria are 2.50 µM (30 J cm−2) and 1.50 µM (18 J cm−2), respectively. The 50% and 90% minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50 and MIC90) ratio of trans-BBP to cis-BBP is 22.22 and 24.02 in A. baumannii (MDR); 21.29 and 22.36 in methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), respectively. Furthermore, cis-BBP displays superior in vivo antibacterial performance, with acceptable dark and photoinduced cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate cis-BBP is a robust light-assisted antibacterial reagent at sub-micromolecular concentrations. More importantly, configuration of PtII PSs should be an important issue to be considered in further PDI reagents design.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Ogbodum, Molly, et al.
(författare)
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Sexual health and rights advocacy among marginalized young women during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Global South
- 2023
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Ingår i: IAS 2023 Abstract Book. ; , s. 603-604
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Young women and adolescent girls (15-30years) are disproportionately affected by discrimination, sexual violence, unplanned pregnancy, and gender-based violence; even more so when they are at the intersection of multiple stigmatized identities. Nevertheless, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRH-R) services are often inaccessible due to costs, as well as lack of awareness and sensitivity by service providers. This study explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and how civil society organizations and communities adapted to provide SRHR services to young women in Lebanon, Guatemala, Mozambique, Uganda and Nigeria.Methods: Data was collected electronically by a team of 11 young female researchers and advocates from 5 different countries using the KoboCollect toolkit between October and December, 2022. A mixed methods approach with surveys and interviews was used to investigate the lived experiences and perspectives of 227 young women identified primarily from existing networks and through chain-referral sampling. Targeted populations were young women and girls: living with HIV; identifying as lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and/or intersex (LBTI); affected by displacement; and/or living with disabilities. Both in-person and virtual interviews due to COVID-19 disruptions were conducted.Results: Several respondents (35%) were directly involved in implementing SRHR advocacy actions in their communities. A third (33%) of respondents described barriers inaccessing SRHR services, including stigmatization for being sexually active. In particular, young women with disabilities and young LBTI women faced discriminatory attitudes from health care professionals. The fear of contracting COVID-19 coupled with lockdown measures (including lack of transportation and diversion of resources) kept young women away from seeking SRHR services and left nearly half (46%) feeling the pandemic worsened accessing healthcare. Difficulty access-ing contraceptives during the pandemic and associated unplanned pregnancies was identified as a key barrier among 65% of respondents. Notably, sensitive counselling and cervical cancer screening was the least accessed SRHR services in all the included countries.Conclusions: Our findings show that there is an ongoing need for joint initiatives to address a range of issues surrounding the current advocacy efforts around SRHR in order to attain high standards of health, and ensure equality, non-discrimination, privacy, and confidentiality for young women and girls.
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| 4. |
- Plymoth, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Socio-economic condition and lack of virological suppression among adults and adolescents receiving antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia
- 2020
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Ingår i: PLoS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 15:12 December
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction The potential impact of socio-economic condition on virological suppression during antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa is largely unknown. In this case-control study, we compared socio-economic factors among Ethiopian ART recipients with lack of virological suppression to those with undetectable viral load (VL). Methods Cases (VL>1000 copies/ml) and controls (VL<150 copies/ml) aged ≥15years, with ART for >6 months and with available VL results within the last 3 months, were identified from registries at public ART clinics in Central Ethiopia. Questionnaire-based interviews on socio-economic characteristics, health condition and transmission risk behavior were conducted. Univariate variables associated with VL>1000 copies/ml (p<0.25) were added to a multivariable logistic regression model. Results Among 307 participants (155 cases, 152 controls), 61.2% were female, and the median age was 38 years (IQR 32-46). Median HIV-RNA load among cases was 6, 904 copies/ml (IQR 2, 843-26, 789). Compared to controls, cases were younger (median 36 vs. 39 years; p = 0.004), more likely to be male (46.5% vs. 30.9%; p = 0.005) and had lower pre-ART CD4 cell counts (170 vs. 220 cells/μl; p = 0.009). In multivariable analysis of urban residents (94.8%), VL>1000 copies/ml was associated with lower relative wealth (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.98; 95% CI 1.49-5.94; p = 0.016), geographic work mobility (aOR 6.27, 95% CI 1.82-21.6; p = 0.016), younger age (aOR 0.94 [year], 95% CI 0.91-0.98; p = 0.011), longer duration of ART (aOR 1.19 [year], 95% CI 1.07-1.33; p = 0.020), and suboptimal (aOR 3.83, 95% CI 1.33-10.2; p = 0.048) or poor self-perceived wellbeing (aOR 9.75, 95% CI 2.85-33.4; p = 0.012), after correction for multiple comparisons. High-risk sexual behavior and substance use was not associated with lack of virological suppression. Conclusion Geographic work mobility and lower relative wealth were associated with lack of virological suppression among Ethiopian ART recipients in this predominantly urban population. These characteristics indicate increased risk of treatment failure and the need for targeted interventions for persons with these risk factors.
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| 5. |
- Plymoth, Martin, et al.
(författare)
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Targeting tularemia : clinical, laboratory, and treatment outcomes from an 11-year retrospective observational cohort in northern sweden
- 2024
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Ingår i: Clinical Infectious Diseases. - : Oxford University Press. - 1058-4838 .- 1537-6591. ; 78:5, s. 1222-1231
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Tularemia is an important re-emerging disease with a multimodal transmission-pattern. Treatment outcomes of current recommended antibiotic regimens (including ciprofloxacin and doxycycline) remain unclear. In this retrospective cohort study, we report clinical, laboratory, geographical, and treatment outcomes of laboratory-confirmed tularemia cases over an 11-year period in Northern Sweden.Methods: Data from reported tularemia cases (aged >10 years at time of study) in Norrbotten county between 2011-2021 were collected through review of electronic medical records and participant questionnaires; with 415 out of 784 accepting participation (52.9%). Of these, 327 were laboratory-confirmed cases (serology and/or PCR). A multivariable logistic regression model was used to investigate variables associated with re-treatment.Results: Median age of participants was 54 years (IQR 41.5-65) and 49.2% were female. While ulceroglandular tularemia was the predominant form (n=215, 65.7%), there were several cases of pulmonary tularemia (n=40; 12.2%). Inflammatory markers were largely non-specific, with monocytosis frequently observed (n=36/75; 48%). Tularemia was often misdiagnosed upon presentation (n=158, 48.3%), with 65 (19.9%) receiving initial inappropriate antibiotics, and 102 (31.2%) re-treated. Persistent lymphadenopathy was infrequent (n=22, 6.7%), with 10 undergoing surgical interventions. In multivariable analysis of variables associated with re-treatment, we highlight differences in time until receiving appropriate antibiotics (8 [IQR 3.25-20.75] vs. 7 [IQR 4-11.25] days; adjusted p=0.076), and doxycycline-based treatment regimen (vs. ciprofloxacin; adjusted p=0.084), although not significant after correction for multiple comparisons.Conclusion: We comprehensively summarize clinical, laboratory, and treatment outcomes of type B tularemia. Targeting tularemia requires clinical awareness, early diagnosis and timely commencement of treatment for an appropriate duration.
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| 6. |
- Vitelli-Storelli, F, et al.
(författare)
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Family History and Gastric Cancer Risk: A Pooled Investigation in the Stomach Cancer Pooling (STOP) Project Consortium
- 2021
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 13:15
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although there is a clear relationship between family history (FH) and the risk of gastric cancer (GC), quantification is still needed in relation to different histological types and anatomical sites, and in strata of covariates. The objective was to analyze the risk of GC according to first-degree FH in a uniquely large epidemiological consortium of GC. This investigation includes 5946 cases and 12,776 controls from 17 studies of the Stomach Cancer Pooling (StoP) Project consortium. Summary odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by pooling study-specific ORs using fixed-effect model meta-analysis techniques. Stratified analyses were carried out by sex, age, tumor location and histological type, smoking habit, socioeconomic status, alcohol intake and fruit consumption. The pooled OR for GC was 1.84 (95% CI: 1.64–2.04; I2 = 6.1%, P heterogeneity = 0.383) in subjects with vs. those without first-degree relatives with GC. No significant differences were observed among subgroups of sex, age, geographic area or study period. Associations tended to be stronger for non-cardia (OR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.59–2.05 for subjects with FH) than for cardia GC (OR = 1.38; 95% CI: 0.98–1.77), and for the intestinal (OR = 1.92; 95% CI: 1.62–2.23) than for the diffuse histotype (OR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.28–1.96). This analysis confirms the effect of FH on the risk of GC, reporting an approximately doubled risk, and provides further quantification of the risk of GC according to the subsite and histotype. Considering these findings, accounting for the presence of FH to carry out correct prevention and diagnosis measures is of the utmost importance.
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