Knowledge Regarding HIV/AIDS among Nepalese Army

Introduction: A global pandemic threat HIV/AIDS is also matter of concern of developing countries like Nepal where the first case was identified in July 1988 and later became epidemic and then concentrated epidemic among risk group for HIV. Several studies reflected HIV is associated to many factors, Literacy and Socio-economic conditions being at the highest rank. Members of Nepal army are generally with less educational background and few with higher educational status are at higher post. Thus knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS among this group need to be assessed. Aims: The overall objective of our study was to assess knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS among Nepal army in Banke district. Methods: A Cross-sectional descriptive study with population size of 146 Army was performed which covered the entire population of Shree Shreemehar Army Camp in Banke, starting from 18th June to 27th August, 2018. A pre-tested questionnaire containing structural, semi-structural and open ended questions were made as data collection tool. All the soldiers in Army camp were interviewed after receiving consent as an ethical clearance. Results: All 146 Army of our study were aware about HIV/AIDS mainly via mass media (83.56%). 33 respondents still didn’t know about availability of its treatment. Misconception about its complete cure and vaccination was seen in 12 and 39 respondents respectively. 58 respondents were found knowing about the free health services by government. 141 respondents knew certain things about prevention. 28 respondents admitted of having multiple sex partners and only 24 among them used preventive measure. Conclusion: Though all the respondents of our study had known about HIV/AIDS still they had misconception regarding its treatment and prevention. Many respondents do not even know about the free health services of government. Few of them still don’t use preventive measure.

How nature nurtures: Amygdala activity decreases as the result of a one-hour walk in nature

Since living in cities is associated with an increased risk for mental disorders such as anxiety disorders, depression and schizophrenia, it is essential to understand how exposure to urban and natural environments affects mental health and the brain. It has been shown that the amygdala is more activated during a stress task in urban compared to rural dwellers. However, no study so far has examined the causal effects of natural and urban environments on stress-related brain mechanisms. To address this question, we conducted an intervention study to investigate changes in stress-related brain regions as an effect of a one-hour walk in an urban (busy street) vs. natural environment (forest). Brain activation was measured in 63 healthy participants, before and after the walk, using a fearful faces task. Our findings reveal that amygdala activation decreases after the walk in nature, whereas it remains stable after the walk in an urban environment. These results suggest that going for a nature walk can have salutogenic effects for stress-related brain regions, and consequently, it may act as a preventive measure against mental strain and potentially disease. Given the rapidly increasing urbanization, the present results aim to influence urban planning to create more accessible green areas and to adapt urban environments in a way that will be beneficial for citizens’ mental health.

Exploring barriers and facilitators to PrEP use among transgender women in two urban areas: implications for messaging and communication

Background Trans women are at increased risk for HIV infection yet are less likely to use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication as a preventive measure. PrEP messaging and marketing has focused on men who have sex with men (MSM) or included trans women as a subset of MSM, ignoring the potential barriers to PrEP use unique to trans women. Little is known about how this group conceptualizes PrEP, what knowledge gaps still exist, and how trans women believe PrEP should be communicated to increase use. Methods This qualitative study conducted focus groups (n = 5) in Philadelphia and Sacramento with trans women to assess these issues. Results Twelve sub-themes were found related to five main domains, including PrEP knowledge, benefits, barriers, community-related considerations, and messaging/marketing. Findings indicate that knowledge of PrEP is still low and beliefs about PrEP’s effects on hormone use persist. Most importantly, participants voiced a demand for culturally appropriate trans-specific messages in HIV prevention interventions and communication. Conclusions Without acknowledging specific barriers to PrEP uptake among transgender women separate from those of MSM and incorporating gender affirmation into PrEP education, simply knowing PrEP is available may not motivate trans women to use PrEP. This has important implications for future efforts to communicate about PrEP with trans women.

Prognostic Value of Exercise Capacity In Incidence Diabetes: A Country With High Prevalence of Diabetes

Background: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a fast-growing health problem that imposes an enormous economic burden. Several studies demonstrated the association between physical inactivity and predicting the incidence of diabetes. However, these prediction models have limited validation locally. Therefore, we aim to explore the predictive value of exercise capacity in the incidence of diabetes within a high diabetes prevalence population.Methodology: A retrospective cohort study including consecutive patients free of diabetes who underwent clinically indicated treadmill stress testing. Diabetic patients at baseline or patients younger than 18 years of age were excluded. Incident diabetes was defined as an established clinical diagnosis post-exercise testing date. The predictive value of exercise capacity was examined using Harrell’s c-index, net reclassification index (NRI), and integrated discrimination index (IDI).Results: A total of 8,722 participants (mean age 46±12 years, 66.3% were men) were free of diabetes at baseline. Over a median follow-up period of 5.24 (2.17-8.78) years, there were 2,280 (≈26%) new cases of diabetes. In a multivariate model adjusted for conventional risk factors, we found a 12% reduction in the risk of incident diabetes for each one greater MET achieved (HR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.88–0.92; P<0.001). Using Cox regression, exercise capacity improved the prediction ability beyond the conventional risk factors (AUC=0.62 to 0.66 and c-index= 0.62 to 0.68).Conclusion: Exercise capacity improved the overall predictability of incidence diabetes. Patients with reduced exercise capacity are at high risk for developing incidence diabetes. Improvement of both physical activity and functional capacity represents a preventive measure for the general population.

COVID-19 lockdown implementation in Ghana: lessons learned and hurdles to overcome

COVID-19 exacts huge health and economic burdens on the global economy. To minimize spread of the virus, most governments of the wealthiest countries implemented lockdowns—a tough preventive measure. Ghana implemented a partial lockdown of two major cities, then lifted it in few weeks despite rising numbers of cases. This Viewpoint presents perspectives of key stakeholders in the public about lockdown implementation in Ghana. Respondents characterize the lifting of the lockdown as hasty, poorly communicated, and lacking transparency. Most would have preferred a longer lockdown despite the pressures it imposed especially on the urban poor. Participants expressed uncertainty about the health systems' ability to respond to increases in disease transmission and to provide education, engagement, and empowerment needed in communities, but even so would have preferred a longer lockdown. We offer lessons for more effective policy and implementation of lockdowns.

The content of the preventive measure of home detention

The criminal procedural provisions in Romania regulate a number of 5 preventive measures, of which 3 are custodial and two restrictive. Of these, the measure of house arrest, regulated as a novelty at the beginning of 2014, seems to be an intermediate form between judicial control and pre-trial detention, borrowing elements of content from both measures. Compared to the obligations that can be imposed on the defendant arrested at home, certain situations can be left uncovered by the legislator, which can make the measure seem ineffective in practice.

Tuberculosis, BCG Vaccination and COVID-19: Are They Connected?

Evidence from multiple scientific studies suggests that the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine, widely used worldwide as a preventive measure against tuberculosis, also offers cross-protection against other pathogens. This review aimed to gather data from research that studied the mechanisms involved in the immunological protection induced by the BCG vaccine, which may be important in the control of viral infections, such as COVID-19. Through a literature review, we compiled information about the different BCG strains used worldwide, as well as the responses and protection elicited by them. We commented on the mechanisms of immune response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and we discussed the possibility of cross-protection of different BCG strains on the control of COVID-19. Due to the immunomodulatory properties of BCG, some BCG strains were able to induce an effective cellular immune response and, through epigenetic modifications, activate cells of the innate immune system, such as monocytes, macrophages and natural killer cells, which are crucial for the control of viral infections. Although several vaccines have already been developed and used in an attempt to control the COVID-19 pandemic, some BCG vaccine strains may help stimulate the basal defences against these pathogens and can be used as additional defences in this and future pandemics.

Pemberdayaan Masyarakat Berbasis Komunitas Zakat Pada Masa Pandemi Di Desa Kahayya, Kabupaten Bulukumba

Zakat as one of the institutions in Islam, has a spiritual dimension and covers many aspects of community empowerment that include various aspects such as economic, social, health, education and religion, especially in the event of a pandemic. One of the community empowerment programs by zakat institutions is Zakat Community Development. One of the community empowerments programs by zakat institutions in this research to find out and analyze the concept of empowerment in the form of Zakat Community Development during the pandemic in Kahayya Village, Bulukumba Regency. The method in this study is qualitatively descriptive by finding detailed information related to the Zakat Community Development program in Kahayya Village, Bulukumba Regency. The results of this study show that several programs have been implemented covering various aspects such as socioeconomic, health, education and religion. In the field of health, disinfectant narrowing, vaccination programs, provision of handwashing, distribution of masks and hand sanitizers to socialization related to the prevention of the spread of the covid-19 virus to the community. Similarly, in the world of education, through ZCD is done the reactivation of reading parks and the development of ICT-based libraries. Socialization in pondok tahfidz as a preventive measure of transmission and healthy life is part of religious empowerment so that students can still learn religion. Especially in the economic aspects formed by several SME communities, namely farmers groups that develop AGROWISATA and horticulture, Kahayya coffee SMEs and honey mustika Kahayya SME groups.Zakat sebagai salah satu pranata dalam Islam, memiliki dimensi spiritual serta mencakup banyak aspek pemberdayaan masyarakat yang meliputi berbagai aspek seperti ekonomi, sosial, kesehatan, pendidikan dan agama, khususnya pada saat terjadi pandemi. Salah satu program pemberdayaan masyarakat oleh lembaga zakat adalah Zakat Community Development. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui serta menganalisis konsep pemberdayaan berupa Zakat Community Development pada masa pandemi di Desa Kahayya, Kabupaten Bulukumba. Metode pada penelitian ini adalah kualitatif deskriptif dengan menemukan informasi secara detail terkait program Zakat Community Development di Desa Kahayya, Kabupaten Bulukumba. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa telah dilaksanakan beberapa program yang meliputi berbagai aspek seperti sosial ekonomi, kesehatan, pendidikan maupun keagamaan. Pada bidang kesehatan dilakukan penyemprotan desinfektan, program vaksinasi, penyediaan tempat cuci tangan, pembagian masker dan hand sanitizer hingga sosialisasi terkait pencegahan penyebaran virus covid-19 kepada masyarakat. Demikian pula pada dunia pendidikan, melalui ZCD dilakukan pengaktifan kembali taman baca serta pengembangan perpustakaan berbasis TIK. Sosialisasi di Pondok Tahfidz sebagai langkah pencegahan penularan dan hidup sehat merupakan bagian dari pemberdayaan keagamaan agar santri tetap dapat belajar agama. Terkhusus pada aspek ekonomi yang terbentuk beberapa komunitas UKM yaitu kelompok tani yang mengembangkan AGROWISATA dan holtikultura, UKM Kopi Kahayya serta kelompok UKM Madu Mustika Kahayya.

Correct Handwashing Education According to WHO Guidelines at MI Muhammadiyah Needs Magelang District

At the beginning of 2020, the world was shocked by the emergence of a new disease outbreak, Covid-19, which was caused by the SARS COV-2 virus. The school environment is one of the places that is vulnerable to the spread of this virus. An effective preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19 is the application of clean and healthy living habits (PHBS) in the school environment, one of which is the habit of washing hands. However, not all residents in the school understand how to wash their hands properly. The purpose of this service activity is to provide education about proper hands washing according to WHO for MI Muhammadiyah Need in Magelang Regency. The material needed for the implementation of the activity is a hand sanitizer liquid made from 70% active alcohol as a hand disinfectant. Implementation of community service activities using demonstration methods and hands-on practice of hands washing according to WHO. Based on this service activity, not all members of the MI Muhammadiyah Need was known the steps for hands washing properly according to WHO. Through this service, school residents are given knowledge and practice the 8 steps of hand washing according to WHO using a handsanitizer. Thus, school residents are expected to be able to apply proper hand washing methods in their daily life and socialize it to other individuals school residents are given knowledge and practice the 8 steps of hand washing according to WHO using a handsanitizer. Thus, school residents are expected to be able to apply proper hand washing methods in their daily life and socialize it to other individuals school residents are given knowledge and practice the 8 steps of hand washing according to WHO using a handsanitizer. Thus, school residents are expected to be able to apply proper hand washing methods in their daily life and socialize it to other individuals

The methodology of food design. Part 2. Digital nutritiology in personal food

Atherosclerosis (the main cause of a wide range of cardiovascular diseases) and other multifactorial diseases depend on several nutrition factors, defined in general by lifestyle that directly and constantly affects the human body. The modern level of science and technology development is able to form a diet, taking into account all personal characteristics in such a way that makes nutrition an effective preventive measure against diseases in order to keep a person healthy. The purpose of this article is to define and study all the limitations (the scope of its coverage in the scientific literature) that arose in the process of research aimed to formation of an integrated personal approach to designing of nutrition to prevent atherosclerosis. The object of the study was scientific literature, which is available in open source and free access databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, eLIBRARY.RU, www.fips.ru, Patentscope. The language of search is Russian and English, search depth is 12 years. In the course of the research two food design concepts were found that affect process of digitalization in the food sector: the concept “FoodTech” (food technology) and digital nutritiology. It was established that in Russia only one company — LLC “City Supermarket” (Moscow), that works with the brand “Azbuka Vkusa” — acts in the sphere of “FoodTech” on the Russian market. This company selects personalized food, taking into account the results of personal nutrigenetic tests, in cooperation with LLC “Genotech” (Moscow). There is a need to use biological information, statistical information processing (nutrigenetic studies, nutrigenomic research) and machine-aided data processing (machine learning) for further generation of automatic algorithm that compiles personal recommendations. The relevance of generation of a national domestic database on chemical composition of food products (presented in the market) to simplify the preparation of individual personal diets is observed. We underline the necessity to use the test-organisms, i. e. dorio fish / zebrafish (Danio rerio) and nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans)), which were used to determine the activity of candidate substances — the biologically active substances that feature antiatherosclerotic properties. In the future the authors plan to conduct a nutrigenomic and nutrigenetic study, using digital achievements. To collect information about consumers, it is necessary to apply digital devices, and use biological informatics to process the results; after that it is necessary to generate the algorithm for automatic selection of personalized dietary recommendations.