Erratum to: Estimation of country-specific and global prevalence of male circumcision.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s12963-016-0073-5.]

Estimation of country-specific and global prevalence of male circumcision.

BACKGROUND: Male circumcision (MC) status and genital infection risk are interlinked and MC is now part of HIV prevention programs worldwide. Current MC prevalence is not known for all countries globally. Our aim was to provide estimates for country-specific and global MC prevalence. METHODS: MC prevalence data were obtained by searches in PubMed, Demographic and Health Surveys, AIDS Indicator Surveys, and Behavioural Surveillance Surveys. Male age was ≥15 years in most surveys. Where no data were available, the population proportion whose religious faith or culture requires MC was used. The total number of circumcised males in each country and territory was calculated using figures for total males from (i) 2015 US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) data for sex ratio and total population in all 237 countries and territories globally and (ii) 2015 United Nations (UN) figures for males aged 15-64 years. RESULTS: The estimated percentage of circumcised males in each country and territory varies considerably. Based on (i) and (ii) above, global MC prevalence was 38.7 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 33.4, 43.9) and 36.7 % (95 % CI: 31.4, 42.0). Approximately half of circumcisions were for religious and cultural reasons. For countries lacking data we assumed 99.9 % of Muslims and Jews were circumcised. If actual prevalence in religious groups was lower, then MC prevalence in those countries would be lower. On the other hand, we assumed a minimum prevalence of 0.1 % related to MC for medical reasons. This may be too low, thereby underestimating MC prevalence in some countries. CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides the most accurate estimate to date of MC prevalence in each country and territory in the world. We estimate that 37-39 % of men globally are circumcised. Considering the health benefits of MC, these data may help guide efforts aimed at the use of voluntary, safe medical MC in disease prevention programs in various countries

Male circumcision significantly reduces prevalence and load of genital anaerobic bacteria

Male circumcision reduces female-to-male HIV transmission. Hypothesized mechanisms for this protective effect include decreased HIV target cell recruitment and activation due to changes in the penis microbiome. We compared the coronal sulcus microbiota of men from a group of uncircumcised controls (n = 77) and from a circumcised intervention group (n = 79) at enrollment and year 1 follow-up in a randomized circumcision trial in Rakai, Uganda. We characterized microbiota using16S rRNA gene-based quantitative PCR (qPCR) and pyrosequencing, log response ratio (LRR), Bayesian classification, nonmetric multidimensional scaling (nMDS), and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PerMANOVA). At baseline, men in both study arms had comparable coronal sulcus microbiota; however, by year 1, circumcision decreased the total bacterial load and reduced microbiota biodiversity. Specifically, the prevalence and absolute abundance of 12 anaerobic bacterial taxa decreased significantly in the circumcised men. While aerobic bacterial taxa also increased postcircumcision, these gains were minor. The reduction in anaerobes may partly account for the effects of circumcision on reduced HIV acquisition. IMPORTANCE The bacterial changes identified in this study may play an important role in the HIV risk reduction conferred by male circumcision. Decreasing the load of specific anaerobes could reduce HIV target cell recruitment to the foreskin. Understanding the mechanisms that underlie the benefits of male circumcision could help to identify new intervention strategies for decreasing HIV transmission, applicable to populations with high HIV prevalence where male circumcision is culturally less acceptable

Den prostituerade missbrukaren: en inblick i kvinnlig missbruksvård i Malmö

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate drug addiction treatment for women and to get an insight if and how they regard the issue of prostitution in women’s rehab. I will do this by reviewing if the context in law SoL 2001:453 kap. 5 § 9 can be applied to women in treatment for drug addiction with prostitution as their main funding source. According to SoL 2001:453 kap.5 § 9 the care that is offered to the addict should be individual and accommodate specific needs. The major question is: do rehab facilities regard the issue of prostitution in women’s rehab? To find my answers I preformed interviews at three drug rehab centers in Malmö and asked if they are implementing prostitution in their rehab plan for women. To insure a deeper understanding for the problems that the prostituted women face I contacted Prostitutionsgruppen in Malmö and Helena Cewers, sexologist and midwife, for guidance to my question formulations. According to background recurs, interviews with key persons and rehab actors, prostitutions is a subject that awakens many feelings and fears due to the stigma that surrounds the topic. The analysis result shows that insecurity, lack of understanding and awareness are the main reasons that prostitution rarely are a part of the rehabilitation plan for women. Still all of the actors regarding this evaluation agreed that there is a need for improvement and changes for women with drug addiction problems and prostitution considering their rehab

Male circumcision and prevalence of genital human papillomavirus infection in men : a multinational study

Background: Accumulated evidence from epidemiological studies and more recently from randomized controlled trials suggests that male circumcision (MC) may substantially protect against genital HPV infection in men. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between MC and genital HPV infection in men in a large multinational study. Methods: A total of 4072 healthy men ages 18-70 years were enrolled in a study conducted in Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. Enrollment samples combining exfoliated cells from the coronal sulcus, glans penis, shaft, and scrotum were analyzed for the presence and genotyping of HPV DNA by PCR and linear array methods. Prevalence ratios (PR) were used to estimate associations between MC and HPV detection adjusting for potential confounders. Results: MC was not associated with overall prevalence of any HPV, oncogenic HPV types or unclassified HPV types. However, MC was negatively associated with non-oncogenic HPV infections (PR 0.85, 95% confident interval: 0.76-0.95), in particular for HPV types 11, 40, 61, 71, and 81. HPV 16, 51, 62, and 84 were the most frequently identified genotypes regardless of MC status. Conclusions: This study shows no overall association between MC and genital HPV infections in men, except for certain non-oncogenic HPV types for which a weak association was found. However, the lack of association with MC might be due to the lack of anatomic site specific HPV data, for example the glans penis, the area expected to be most likely protected by MC

Patterns, receptors and signals:regulation of phagosome maturation

Recognition of microbial pathogens and dead cells and their phagocytic uptake by specialized immune cells are essential to maintain host homeostasis. Phagosomes undergo fusion and fission events with endosomal and lysosomal compartments, a process called 'phagosome maturation', which leads to the degradation of the phagosomal content. However, many phagocytic cells also act as antigen-presenting cells and must balance degradation and peptide preservation. Emerging evidence indicates that receptor engagement by phagosomal cargo, as well as inflammatory mediators and cellular activation affect many aspects of phagosome maturation. Unsurprisingly, pathogens have developed strategies to hijack this machinery, thereby interfering with host immunity. Here, we highlight progress in this field, summarize findings on the impact of immune signals, and discuss consequences for pathogen elimination

Keanekaragaman Makrofauna Tanah di Lahan Karet Bekas Pembakaran dan Tidak Terbakar di Desa Linggang Amer, Kabupaten Kutai Barat, Kalimantan Timur

Makrofauna tanah memainkan peran penting dalam habitat di dalam tanah. Salah satu tugas makrofauna tanah adalah menjaga kesuburan tanah dengan mengembalikan bahan organik, mendistribusikan nutrisi, meningkatkan aerasi tanah, dan lain-lain. Makrofauna berperan sangat penting dalam ekosistem tanah dan masih terbatasnya informasi mengenai keanekaragaman makrofauna tanah yang terdapat pada lahan karet, maka perlu dilakukan penelitian mengenai keanekaragaman makrofauna tanah di lahan karet bekas pembakaran dan tidak terbakar. Waktu pelaksanaan penelitian ini adalah bulan Desember 2023 sampai dengan bulan Mei 2024. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Desa Linggang Amer, Kecamatan Linggang Bigung, Kabupaten Kutai Barat dan Laboratorium Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Mulawarman. Metode penelitian yang digunakan yaitu metode eksploratif berupa survei. Pengambilan sampel dilakukan pada lahan karet bekas pembakaran dan tidak terbakar. Metode pengambilan sampel makrofauna tanah menggunakan metode sortir tangan dan metode perangkap jebak (pitfall trap), lalu untuk metode pengambilan sampel karakteristik sifat fisik tanah adalah contoh tanah utuh dan contoh tanah tidak utuh atau terusik.Berdasarkan hasil klasifikasi seluruh pengamatan makrofauna tanah pada lahan karet bekas pembakaran dan lahan karet tidak terbakar, makrofauna tertangkap sebanyak 15 jenis. Lahan karet bekas pembakaran memiliki rata-rata Indeks Keanekaragaman (H’) 1,59925, rata-rata Indeks Kemerataan (E) 0,60676, dan rata-rata Indeks Dominasi (C) 0,23565. Lahan karet tidak terbakar memiliki rata-rata Indeks Keanekaragaman (H’) 1,46309, rata- rata Indeks Kemerataan 0,54028, dan rata-rata Indeks Dominasi (C) 0,2737. Karakteristik sifat fisik tanah di lahan karet bekas pembakaranmaupun lahan karet tidak terbakar memiliki tekstur penyebaran partikel adalah Silty Loam (SiL), rata-rata bobot isi di lahan karet bekas pembakaran 0,81 g cm-3 , rata-rata berat jenis tanah 2,27 g cm-3 , rata-rata porositas 65,45%, serta rata-rata kadar air 41,31%. Lahan karet tidak terbakar mempunyai rata-rata bobot isi 0,79 g cm-3 , rata-rata berat jenis 2,28 g cm-3 , rata-rata porositas 64,78%, dan rata-rata kadar air 40,96%

Prevalence of anogenital HPV infection, related disease and risk factors among HIV-infected men in inner-city Johannesburg, South Africa: baseline findings from a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection is associated with the development of anogenital cancers, particularly in men living with HIV (MLWH). We describe the prevalence of anogenital HPV infection, abnormal anal cytology and anogenital warts (AGWs) in MLWH in Johannesburg, and explore whether HPV infection and receipt of antiretroviral treatment is associated with detection of abnormal anal cytology and AGWs. METHODS: We enrolled a cohort of 304 sexually-active MLWH ≥18 years, who completed a questionnaire and physical examination. Genital swabs were collected from all men and intra-anal swabs from 250 (82%). Swabs were tested for HPV DNA and genotypes, and anal smears graded using the Bethesda classification. Factors associated with anogenital disease were assessed by logistic regression models. RESULTS: Two thirds were receiving antiretroviral treatment, for a median 33 months (IQR = 15-58) and 54% were HIV-virologically suppressed. Only 5% reported ever having sex with men. Among 283 genital swabs with valid results, 79% had any HPV, 52% had HR-HPV and 27% had >1 HR-HPV infection. By comparison, 39% of the 227 valid intra-anal swabs had detectable HPV, 25% had any HR-HPV and 7% >1 HR infection. While most anal smears were normal (51%), 20% had ASCUS and 29% were LSIL. No cases had HSIL or cancer. Infection with >1 HR type (adjusted OR [aOR] = 2.39; 95%CI = 1.02-5.58) and alpha-9 types (aOR = 3.98; 95%CI = 1.42-11.16) were associated with having abnormal cytology. Prevalence of AGWs was 12%. Infection with any LR type (aOR = 41.28; 95%CI = 13.57-125.62), >1 LR type (aOR = 4.14; 95%CI = 1.60-10.69), being <6 months on antiretroviral treatment (aOR = 6.90; 95%CI = 1.63-29.20) and having a CD4+ count <200 cells/μL (aOR = 5.48; 95%CI: 1.60-18.78) were associated with having AGWs. CONCLUSIONS: In this population, anogenital HR-HPV infection and associated low-grade disease is common, but severe anal dysplasia was not detected. Findings reinforce the need for HPV vaccination in men for preventing both AGWs and HR-HPV infection. Given the absence of anal HSILs, however, the findings do not support the use of anal screening programmes in this population

Potensi Algoritma Berbasis Neural Network dan Turunannya sebagai Prediktor Kadar PM2,5 dan PM10

Pendahuluan: Polusi udara merupakan penyebab utama Penyakit Tidak Menular (PTM) di Asia Tenggara dan telah diidentifikasi sebagai masalah kesehatan global terbesar kedua pada tahun 2016. Strategi prediksi yang efektif sangat penting untuk mengurangi dampak buruknya. Studi ini secara sistematis meninjau penerapan algoritma berbasis Artificial Neural Network (ANN) dalam memprediksi konsentrasi polutan udara, khususnya PM2.5 dan PM10. Metode: Tinjauan sistematis ini mengikuti pedoman PRISMA. Pencarian sistematis dilakukan pada 4 basis data untuk menemukan studi yang menerapkan model ANN dalam prediksi polusi udara dengan menggunakan data meteorologi dan/atau geografis sebagai input. Ekstraksi data difokuskan pada struktur model, akurasi prediksi, serta perbandingan dengan algoritma kecerdasan buatan lainnya. Model ANN dievaluasi berdasarkan kemampuannya menangani interaksi variabel non-linear yang kompleks, fleksibilitas pada berbagai dataset, dan kinerja prediktif dibandingkan metode lain. Hasil: Algoritma berbasis ANN secara konsisten menunjukkan performa lebih baik dibandingkan model alternatif dalam memprediksi kadar PM2.5 dan PM10. Kemampuan ANN dalam pembelajaran adaptif serta integrasi berbagai input meningkatkan akurasi prediksi. Beberapa studi melaporkan adanya peningkatan lebih lanjut ketika ANN dikombinasikan dengan metode turunannya. Simpulan: ANN merupakan alat yang andal dan akurat untuk memprediksi polusi udara serta mendukung kebijakan berbasis bukti dalam pencegahan dan pengelolaan lingkungan. Peran ANN dalam ilmu lingkungan menyoroti inovasi dalam pemodelan prediktif dan membuka peluang integrasi dengan teknologi berkelanjutan.Polusi udara menjadi penyebab terbesar penyakit Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) di Asia Tenggara dan terletak sebagai masalah global terbesar kedua pada tahun 2016. Oleh karena itu, salah satu upaya yang dapat dilakukan pemerintah untuk menangani polusi udara adalah dengan menggunakan algoritma berbasis Artificial Neural Network (ANN) untuk memprediksi kadar polusi udara sehingga mengurangi dampak dan mencegah perburukan dari polusi udara. Penggunaan ANN dengan input parameter meteorologi dan data geografis dapat memberikan hasil yang memuaskan dalam memprediksi kadar polusi udara terutama kadar PM2,5 and PM10. Dari studi perbandingan antara algoritma kecerdasan buatan, algoritma berbasis Neural Network (NN) ini dapat memberikan hasil lebih akurat dibandingkan dengan algoritma lainnya dalam memprediksi PM2,5 and PM10. Kombinasi penggunaan ANN menguntungkan disebabkan karena kelemahan dari algoritma ini dapat diatasi sehingga meningkatnya kapasitas prediksi. Penggunaan ANN dapat mengukur kadar PM2,5 dan PM10 secara akurat, sehingga berpotensi digunakan sebagai salah satu instrumen pertimbangan kebijakan pemerintah dalam pencegahan polusi udara

Pancasila sebagai Perjanjian Luhur Memperkuat Nilai-Nilai Kemanusiaan Indonesia di Era Teknologi

Pancasila is the strength, lifeblood, and future of the Indonesian state. Established on 1 June 1945 as the foundation of the state, Pancasila is an ideological foundation derived from cultural values and mutual agreement. Ratified on 18 August 1945, Pancasila became the constitutional foundation of the state through a lengthy process marked by differences of opinion but ultimately reached a compromise. Therefore, Pancasila as the foundation of the state strengthens Indonesia's existence and diversity within the concept of a united and sovereign nation. However, what is happening today is the proliferation of disputes over differences and diversity on social media. Pancasila, as an ideological foundation, has not been well understood, while Pancasila as a constitutional foundation is understood but still violated. Pancasila, which was agreed upon on 1 June 1945 and as a result of a compromise on 18 August 1945, still needs to be continuously socialized through education. This is very important to prevent conflicts related to differences and diversity in society. Pancasila as an ideological foundation must strengthen its position as a consensus of conscience among every group and class in society. This understanding can strengthen the Pancasila of 18 August 1945. Although it is a compromise, Pancasila still upholds human values as universal values accepted by all Indonesian society. Thus, the values of Pancasila reinforce the power of the ‘heart’ and public awareness as a noble agreement that can suppress and prevent the erosion of social bonds. Pancasila can influence the formation of opinions about human values in the technological era. This study was analyzed using a qualitative-descriptive approach, using books, journals, and newspapers as theoretical references and empirical data from the field.AbstrakPancasila adalah kekuatan, napas kehidupan, dan masa depan negara Indonesia. Pancasila yang ditetapkan pada 1 Juni 1945 sebagai landasan negara merupakan landasan ideologis yang berasal dari nilai-nilai budaya dan hasil kesepakatan bersama. Pancasila yang disahkan pada 18 Agustus 1945 merupakan landasan konstitusional negara melalui proses panjang akibat perbedaan pandangan namun akhirnya mencapai kompromi. Oleh karena itu, Pancasila sebagai landasan negara memperkuat keberadaan dan keragaman Indonesia dalam konsep bangsa yang bersatu dan berdaulat. Namun, yang terjadi saat ini adalah maraknya perselisihan mengenai perbedaan dan keragaman di media sosial. Pancasila sebagai landasan ideologis belum dipahami dengan baik, sementara Pancasila sebagai landasan konstitusional dipahami tetapi masih dilanggar. Pancasila yang disepakati pada 1 Juni 1945 dan sebagai hasil kompromi pada 18 Agustus 1945, masih perlu terus disosialisasikan melalui pendidikan. Hal ini sangat penting untuk mencegah konflik terkait perbedaan dan keragaman di masyarakat. Pancasila sebagai landasan idiil harus memperkuat posisinya sebagai kesepakatan hati nurani setiap kelompok dan golongan dalam masyarakat. Pemahaman ini dapat memperkuat Pancasila 18 Agustus 1945. Meskipun merupakan kompromi, Pancasila tetap menjunjung nilai-nilai kemanusiaan sebagai nilai-nilai universal yang diterima oleh seluruh masyarakat Indonesia. Dengan demikian nilai-nilai Pancasila mempertegas kekuatan dari “hati” dan kesadaran masyarakat sebagai perjanjian luhur yang dapat menekan dan mencegah tergerusnya ikatan sosial. Pancasila dapat mempengaruhi pembentukan opini tentang nilai-nilai manusia di era teknologi. Studi ini dianalisis menggunakan pendekatan kualitatif-deskriptif, dengan menggunakan buku, jurnal, dan koran sebagai referensi teoretis dan data empiris dari lapangan