Search Results (779)

Background/Objectives: There is still limited understanding of how psychotic symptoms and sexual risky behaviors (SRBs) are related to each other. Gaining more knowledge of the mechanisms involved in this relationship could inform interventions to reduce or prevent SRBs. This study aims to deepen comprehension of the relationship between psychotic experiences (PEs) and SRBs by examining the moderating effects of depression and childhood trauma. Methods: A web-based survey and a cross-sectional design were adopted to collect data from 466 young general population adults (aged 18–35 years) from Tunisia during the period January–March 2024. The snowball sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Results: Moderation analyses were adjusted over age, sex, household crowding index, marital status, and living situation. The interaction PEs by childhood trauma was significantly associated with SRB scores. At high and moderate levels of child abuse, higher PEs were significantly linked to higher SRBs. Furthermore, the interaction PEs by depression was significantly associated with SRB scores. At high, moderate, and low levels of depression, higher PEs were significantly associated with higher SRBs. Conclusions: Clinicians should consider including assessment of childhood trauma and depression in young adults with PEs who are engaged in sexual risk-taking behaviors. Findings may imply that strategies addressing these two factors can be effective in mitigating the association between PEs and SRBs. Full article

Background: With the worldwide resurgence of Mpox in 2022, understanding its regional features is important. This systematic review aimed to provide an overview of the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes of Mpox in Saudi Arabia to fill the knowledge gaps in this area. Methods: Following the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, a systematic search was performed on PubMed, MEDLINE (via Ovid), Scopus and Wiley Online Library for case reports and series published on Mpox in Saudi Arabia after 2022. Results: Analysis included eight studies comprising a total of 410 patients with confirmatory data. The cohort was predominantly male (91%), with a mean age of 32.8 years. Extramarital sexual contact was the most frequently identified risk factor (28.8%), whereas most patients (63.4%) had unknown or denied exposure routes. The most common clinical manifestations were fever (97.1%) and rash (96.8%). Dermatological findings were usually pleomorphic. These included umbilicated pustules, crusted papules, and vesiculopustular lesions. Although management was primarily supportive, rare complications, such as keratitis and neurological deficits, were observed. Conclusions: In Saudi Arabia, Mpox primarily affects young adult males, particularly individuals with high-risk sexual behaviors. Much of this transmission remains undetermined, and better contact tracing and focused public health efforts are urgently required. Full article

Background/Objectives: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines are effective in preventing HPV infection and HPV-related cancers in both males and females. As sexual behavior plays a central role in HPV transmission, male vaccination is important not only for reducing HPV-associated diseases among men but also for limiting viral transmission at the population level. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among male university students in Selangor, Malaysia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic characteristics, history of sexual intercourse, HPV-related knowledge, and awareness of HPV vaccination. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with HPV vaccination awareness. Results: Overall, 43.4% of the respondents demonstrated good awareness of HPV vaccination. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified several factors significantly associated with awareness. Non-Muslim students were more likely to report good awareness of HPV vaccination than Muslim students (AOR = 2.724, 95% CI: 1.150–6.454, p < 0.001). Students who were in a relationship or married demonstrated higher awareness compared with single students (AOR = 3.830, 95% CI: 2.071–7.082, p < 0.001). HPV-related knowledge showed the strongest association, with participants possessing good knowledge being more likely to be aware of HPV vaccination (AOR = 7.012, 95% CI: 4.077–12.059, p < 0.001). In contrast, history of sexual intercourse was not significantly associated with HPV vaccination awareness after adjustment (p = 0.097). Conclusions: Awareness of HPV vaccination among male university students was influenced by religion, relationship status, and HPV-related knowledge. These findings highlight the need for targeted, male-inclusive vaccination education strategies that address sociodemographic differences. University-based interventions may play an important role in improving awareness and increasing HPV vaccine uptake in this population. Full article

Background/Objectives: In England, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) are eligible for vaccination at NHS sexual health services, including human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines. However, current research shows limited understanding of the factors influencing vaccination uptake among GBMSM. This study aimed to examine the barriers and facilitators affecting the offer and uptake of these vaccination programmes. Methods: A qualitative interview study following the Person-Based Approach (a systematic method for developing and optimising health interventions) involving GBMSM and sexual health service staff from two regions of England. Purposive sampling aimed to include GBMSM with diverse backgrounds and engagement with sexual health services. Patient and public involvement shaped the study design and interview topic guides. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analysed to identify barriers and facilitators which were interpreted using the COM-B model of behaviour change. Results: Twenty GBMSM and eleven staff took part. The findings showed that opportunistic delivery of HPV, HAV, and HBV vaccination within sexual health services is mostly acceptable and feasible for GBMSM and staff, while also highlighting areas for optimization. Despite low knowledge of these viruses and their associated risks, willingness to be vaccinated was high, with healthcare provider recommendations and the convenience of vaccine delivery during routine clinic visits acting as important facilitators. However, the reach of opportunistic models was limited, particularly for individuals underserved by sexual health services or disengaged from GBMSM social networks. System-level barriers such as complex vaccine schedules (particularly when multiple schedules are combined), inconsistent access to vaccination histories, and limited system-level follow-up processes (e.g., automated invites and reminders) were also found to act as obstacles to vaccination uptake and delivery. Conclusions: To improve equitable uptake, sexual health services should explore the feasibility of addressing both individual and structural barriers through additional strategies, including targeted and persuasive communication to increase knowledge, leveraging regular contact with GBMSM to promote uptake, and implementing enhanced approaches to support vaccination completion (e.g., automated prompts or reminders). Full article

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a significant public health problem due to their impact. Knowledge about them, perceptions of the risk of contracting them, and adherence to prevention strategies such as HPV vaccination are, at various levels, key factors in preventing the spread of STIs. The study therefore aimed to investigate and evaluate, in a group of young Italians, the level of knowledge, perception of risk and propensity to adhere to preventive strategies, including vaccination against papillomavirus. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by administering a questionnaire to young people aged between 16 and 30, residing in four macro-geographical areas, collecting socio-demographic, behavioral and knowledge data. Levels of knowledge about STIs and HPV were classified into four categories (low, medium without awareness, medium with awareness, high). Risk perception was assessed on a scale of 1 to 10. Results: A total of 2576 questionnaires were collected, revealing that general knowledge about STIs is limited: only 12.5% of participants demonstrated a high level of knowledge, while 27.1% demonstrated a low level; with regard to HPV, 41.3% of the sample demonstrated a low level of knowledge. The perception of the risk of contracting HIV and HPV was low in most subjects (average score of approximately 2.9 out of 10), with no significant differences related to levels of knowledge about HPV. Potential adherence to HPV vaccination was high (83.0% considered vaccination useful), but among unvaccinated subjects, almost half expressed concerns about vaccination, related to poor knowledge and mistrust of vaccines in general. Factors associated with a higher frequency of self-reported STIs included older age, transgender identity, non-heterosexual orientation, and risky sexual behavior. Conclusions: The results emerging from the study highlight the urgent need to strengthen educational and preventive interventions aimed at young people. Raising awareness of the risk of contracting STIs and the importance of vaccination are key targets for health promotion interventions. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study explores the diagnostic and management pathways for dyspareunia in women seeking specialist care, focusing on gynecologists’ feedback and women’s perceptions of their experience. Methods: An online survey was conducted among 225 sexually active women to explore their perceptions of dyspareunia, its impact on relationships, and experiences with healthcare feedback, diagnosis, and treatment. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain assessment and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) were used. Gynecologists’ feedback was classified as positive, neutral, or negative based on its influence on the therapeutic pathway. Results: Of 78 women reporting dyspareunia, 12 with pain level ≥5 on NRS were selected for in-depth analysis. The mean pain score was 7.0 ± 1.53, with symptoms lasting from several months to over two years and occurring during most sexual encounters. The mean FSFI score was 24.86 ± 4.54, with half of the participants scoring within the sexual dysfunction range. Qualitative findings revealed frequent dismissive responses from healthcare professionals and limited access to appropriate management. Common self-management strategies included changing sexual positions and using lubricants, while half of the participants had not undergone a formal diagnostic process. Most frequent diagnoses were hormonal disorders and recurrent genital tract infections, and women were advised to undergo pharmacological treatment. Half of the participants were unaware of the possibility of physiotherapeutic management. Conclusions: Women with dyspareunia often face an inadequate diagnostic and therapeutic process. The care received is often insufficient and not aligned with a biopsychosocial model. Full article

Fungal diversity has been well explored worldwide, but such knowledge in special environments remains limited. Here, we focus on the soil from Ngari Prefecture with high altitude in the northwestern part of Xizang, China. Among the 514 fungal strains isolated from the soil samples, two strains are newly described as Cymostachys pangongensis and Emericellopsis rutogensis in the Hypocreales on the basis of both morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Cymostachys pangongensis exhibits typical characteristics of Cymostachys, viz., irregularly cymosely branched conidiophores and olivaceous brown to dark brown, fabiform conidia. It represents the sixth known species of Cymostachys and the first species isolated from soils in this genus. Emericellopsis rutogensis has typical chlamydospores and conidia of Emericellopsis, although its sexual ascomata and ascospores were not observed. Notably, these two new species belong to interesting fungal genera, whose members are well known for rich medicinal natural products. In summary, this study enriches the knowledge of fungal diversity in special environments, and the isolated strains may provide important bioresources for future applications. Full article

Background: In Bangladesh, a number of sex workers are involved in commercial sex work in different brothels in both legal and illegal settlements due to reasons such as lack of social support, depression, forced sex, abuse, violence, polyamory, being kidnapped, and unemployment. In this study, we tried to evaluate the demographic characteristics and prevalence of viral and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among the study population. Methods: A total of 250 female sex workers were interviewed and tested from the Daulatdia brothel of Rajbari district, Bangladesh, who had been working there for at least 1 month. Through questionnaires, demographic data were collected. Primarily, lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) tests were used to investigate HCV (Hepatitis C Virus), HBV (Hepatitis B Virus), and Syphilis, which were reconfirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in cases of positive results. Results: The mean age was 27.51 ± 6.69 years with a range of 18–50 years. Most of them (n = 243, 97.98%) had elementary knowledge of STDs. We determined that overall, 96 (38.40%) were positive for either of these diseases. Individually, 10 (4.00%), 18 (7.20%), and 68 (27.20%) were positive for HCV, HBV, and syphilis, respectively. Conclusions: Our observation indicates that females of all ages should be strictly protected from forced sex work. Current sex workers should be educated regarding the dangers and protective mechanisms of STDs. In addition, as a public health concern, regular clinical check-ups and STD associated diagnoses are necessary to ensure the safety of FSW from these highly infectious and concerning diseases. Due to their socio-economic condition, proper treatment and rehabilitation are highly recommended. Full article

Background: HIV is one of the deadliest viruses in the world and the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the Sub-Saharan African countries, including Ethiopia. Millions of new HIV infections are reported every year among the population in the 15–24 age group. Particularly, adolescents are vulnerable to HIV infection due to a lack of adequate information and engagement in risky sexual practices. Thus, the assessment of knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) is one of the cornerstones in the fight against HIV/AIDS for designing appropriate prevention strategies. This study aimed to assess the KAPs regarding HIV/AIDS among high school students in Burayu town, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was conducted on students from three higher secondary schools in Burayu town from February to June 2022. A total of 394 students were selected using a stratified proportional sampling technique. Data were collected using pre-tested and self-administered questionnaires and analyzed by SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics were conducted, and logistic regression was used to determine the associations between variables. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant in all cases. Results: Out of the 394 students, the majority of respondents (70%) had sufficient knowledge about HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention, while only 61% demonstrated a positive attitude towards people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). In bivariate analysis, a higher level of knowledge was significantly associated with a positive attitude towards PLWHA at OR 23.4, 95% CI, 2.9–185.5, p = 0.003, and not having had sexual practice at OR 4.1, 95% CI, 1.2–13.9, p = 0.025. In multivariate analysis, sexual practice was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) associated with the level of knowledge, age, gender, and places of residence at AORs values of 5.5, 9.7, 3.4, and 5.5, respectively. Conclusions: This study suggests that students with high levels of knowledge had a positive attitude towards PLWHA and less sexual practice compared to students with low levels of knowledge. Furthermore, students’ sexual practice was significantly associated with knowledge level, age, gender, and place of residence. This underscores the urgent need for targeted education to empower vulnerable groups, foster positive attitudes and practive, and curb HIV/AIDS transmission for improved health outcomes. Full article

The high accessibility and interconnectedness of social media platforms have led to their increasing exploitation as tools for criminal activity. A notable example of such digital sexual offenses is the “Nth Room” case, in which sexually exploitative content and illegal recordings were unlawfully distributed on platforms such as X, Telegram, and Discord. Despite amendments to legislations, including the Sexual Violence Punishment Act and Youth Protection Act, aimed at preventing the recurrence of incidents, these crimes continue to persist. Perpetrators employ tactics such as the repeated creation and deletion of accounts, which complicate efforts to track and apprehend them. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop advanced cyber investigation technologies capable of effectively monitoring sexual crimes posted on social media. This study aimed to propose a novel cyber investigation technology designed to trace criminal organizations by collecting tweets related to sexual crimes from X, which is the most frequently used social media platform for such content in Korea, and subsequently constructing a knowledge graph. Slang terms commonly associated with sexual crimes on X were employed as search keywords to collect relevant tweets. The knowledge graph is then generated based on three key elements extracted from the tweets: hashtags, words, and URL/invite codes. This graph serves as a tool for tracking the criminal networks involved in the distribution of sexually exploitative content and unauthorized recordings. Furthermore, to enhance tracking efficiency, an optimization model was developed to generate knowledge graphs from various analytical perspectives. In this study, to evaluate the performance of the proposed technology, a dataset of 3387 tweets was collected using an X crawler. Knowledge graphs were generated and optimized through both single and combined analyses of the three key elements, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed technology in tracking criminal organizations engaged in sexual crimes. Full article

Objective: Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a leading cause of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and various cancers, including cervical cancer, remains prevalent in the US. Despite the HPV vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing persistent HPV infections, vaccination rates remain low. Given the significant role of social media in reaching younger populations, this systematic review examines its influence on adolescents’ and young adults (AYAs) awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward HPV vaccination. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search across six electronic databases (ERIC, APA PsycInfo, Child Development & Adolescent Studies, CINAHL Ultimate, MEDLINE Ultimate, and PubMed) from 2011 to 2024. Empirical studies that examined the association between social media use and HPV were included. Data extraction captured the study’s purpose, design, population, outcome measures, and key results. Results: Seven studies satisfied the review’s inclusion criteria. Our findings reveal mixed effects of social media on AYAs’ knowledge and vaccination intentions. Some studies indicated positive associations between social media interventions and increased vaccination knowledge and intentions, while others found no significant impact. Additionally, exposure to anti-vaccine content was linked to lower vaccination intentions, especially among individuals with lower knowledge who were more vulnerable to misinformation. Interventions incorporating interactive content and loss-framed messaging were more effective in increasing vaccine intentions. Conclusions: This review underscores the potential of social media to influence AYAs knowledge and perceptions regarding HPV vaccination, while also highlighting the challenges posed by misinformation. Further research is needed to optimize social media interventions and combat misinformation to improve vaccination uptake. Full article

Background: Testicular development and spermatogenesis are intricate biological processes controlled by a coordinated transcriptional network. However, comprehensive characterization of full-length transcripts and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) during porcine testicular sexual maturation remains limited. Methods: This study systematically profiled the transcriptional landscape of pig testes prior to (pre-sexual maturity, PSM) and following (post-sexual maturity, SM) sexual maturity using Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read sequencing. Results: There were 11,060 differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs), 15,338 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs), 688 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), and 19 differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) between PSM and SM groups among the 9941 mRNAs, 15,339 transcripts, 4136 lncRNAs (58.58% being LincRNAs). These differential RNAs converged on 133 shared GO terms (e.g., spermatogenesis, male gamete generation) and 58 common KEGG pathways (e.g., metabolic pathways, Wnt/MAPK signaling), according to functional enrichment and combined analysis. Core genes (e.g., PRM1, ODF2, GSTM3) demonstrated synergistic expression across gene, transcript, lncRNA-cistarget, and circRNA levels. Furthermore, DELs were associated with steroid biosynthesis and N-glycan biosynthesis, whereas DEcircRNAs, which were mostly upregulated after puberty, were thought to control genes linked to spermatogenesis. Conclusions: This research sheds light on the dynamic transcriptional reprogramming that occurs during the maturation of pig testicles, advances our knowledge of coding and ncRNA regulatory networks in male mammals, and offers useful molecular markers for enhancing pig reproductive efficiency. Full article

Citrus species develop fruits through both sexual reproduction and parthenocarpy, following a growth pattern with an initial exponential phase dominated by cell division in the ovary wall, followed by a linear phase driven by cell expansion in juice vesicles. Sustained carbohydrate supply is essential to support the metabolic energy required for these processes, which are tightly regulated by hormonal signaling pathways involving gibberellins (GAs), auxins (IAA), cytokinins, and abscisic acid (ABA). Recent studies across cultivars have identified genes associated with hormone biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, cell cycle regulation, and abscission in ovule and pericarp tissues. Manipulation of these hormones through targeted treatments and cultural practices has shown potential to enhance fruit set and growth. Notably, exogenous GA₃ application promotes fruit set in parthenocarpic cultivars by upregulating GA20ox2/GA3ox and CYCA1.1, whereas synthetic auxins enhance fruit enlargement by improving assimilate partitioning and water uptake. Optimizing such treatments, however, requires a comprehensive understanding of physiological, environmental, and agronomic factors influencing fruit development. This review summarizes recent advances in hormonal and molecular regulation of citrus fruit set and developments, assesses applied strategies to improve productivity, and identifies current knowledge gaps needed to refine biotechnological and management aimed at enhancing both yield and fruit quality. Full article

Objectives: Despite high overall vaccination coverage in Galicia, Spain, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine uptake remains below the 90% target set by the World Health Organization for 2030. This study aimed to assess baseline knowledge of HPV and attitudes towards HPV vaccination among Galician adolescents and to evaluate the impact of a brief educational intervention delivered as a “pill of knowledge”. Methods: A quasi-experimental pre-/post-intervention study was conducted among 967 students aged 12–16 years from 16 secondary schools in Galicia during the 2023–2024 academic year. A concise, structured 15-min educational session termed a “pill of knowledge” was delivered, and HPV-related knowledge and vaccination intention were measured immediately before and after the intervention using a standardized questionnaire. Results: Following the “pill of knowledge”, the mean proportion of correct responses increased by 30.1 ± 16.6% across all knowledge items. Among unvaccinated participants, intention to accept HPV vaccination rose from 77.7% to 94.4% in girls and from 64.7% to 85.8% in boys. Pre-intervention predictors of vaccination intention included perceived vaccine efficacy and baseline HPV knowledge. Post-intervention independent predictors comprised being female, younger age (12–13 years), and prior sexual education delivered by teachers or parents. The overall predictive accuracy of the logistic regression model for vaccination intention improved from 75.6% before the intervention to 92.7% afterwards. Conclusions: A brief, school-based “pill of knowledge” produced substantial and immediate improvements in HPV knowledge and vaccination acceptance among Galician adolescents. These findings strongly support the systematic incorporation of short, evidence-based educational interventions of this kind into the school setting as an effective public health measure to increase HPV vaccine coverage and advance progress toward WHO elimination targets. Full article

Three free-living marine nematode species of the family Desmodoridae are described and illustrated based on light and scanning electron microscopy. Pseudochromadora paraparva sp. nov. was collected from muddy sand sediments at Eulwangri Beach, Incheon, Korea, and P. capitata sp. nov. from sublittoral muddy sediments off Jindo Island, Korea. Metachromadora itoi Kito, 1978, is also recorded for the first time from Korean waters, based on specimens from sandy sediments off Jeju Island. Pseudochromadora paraparva sp. nov. is distinguished from P. parva Gagarin & Thanh, 2008 and related congeners by having a tripartite cephalic region consisting of a jar-shaped main capsule, an anterior transition zone with weaker cuticle bearing the cephalic setae, and a highly elevated hat-shaped labial region. It additionally shows a sexually dimorphic amphideal fovea, a unique arrangement of precloacal thorns, a gubernaculum with a dorsal apophysis, and ventral thorns lacking cuticular hillocks. Pseudochromadora capitata sp. nov. is characterized by a cephalic region composed of a rounded labial region and a thickly cuticularized main capsule, together with a sexually dimorphic amphideal fovea, arcuate spicules with a large hammer-shaped capitulum, a gubernaculum with a dorsal apophysis, and 3–8 precloacal and 3–5 postcloacal thorns arranged in a row. Molecular data (18S and 28S rRNA) were generated for both new species, and phylogenetic analyses support their placement within the genus Pseudochromadora and provide molecular evidence distinguishing them from closely related congeners. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations of M. itoi also revealed multiple configurations of the buccal cavity, providing additional morphological information useful for understanding structural variation within the genus. These findings refine the taxonomic framework within the Desmodoridae and expand current knowledge of morphological diversity in free-living marine nematodes. Full article