1.Study on HIV testing behavior among men who have sex with men based on structural equation model
Xiaojun MENG ; Xuwen WANG ; Jing GU ; Hanlu YIN ; Xuan ZHANG ; Yanhua QIAN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2020;41(5):758-763
Objective:To analyze HIV testing behaviors and associated factors in men who have sex with men (MSM) and provide evidence for making intervention on promoting HIV testing.Methods:Our observational study was conducted between April and June, 2018 in Wuxi, Jiangsu province in MSM. A self-completed questionnaire was used to collect the information about their socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, acceptance of intervention services, psychological status and HIV testing behaviors. Structural equation model (SEM) was chosen to fit data and the model was modified to analyze the relationships between variables.Results:A total of 410 MSM were enrolled in our study, among whom 72.9%(299/410) were aware of the necessity of HIV testing and 69.0%(283/410) reported having HIV tests in the last year. A modified structural equation model presented good fitting results with fitting index of root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)was 0.065, normed fit index (NFI) was 0.946, relative fit index (RFI) was 0.922, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) was 0.968 and comparative fit index (CFI) was 0.952. Results of SEM showed that intervention service was the factor with the largest standardized total effect value of 0.57 associated with HIV testing behaviors among MSM. Among intervention services, HIV testing reminding had the biggest factor loading of 0.88. Psychological status scores played a negative role in HIV testing behaviors among MSM with the path coefficient value of -0.33.Conclusions:The awareness and testing rate of HIV among MSM population need to be further improved. While effective measures are implemented to promote HIV testing among MSM, more attention should be paid to the mental health problems of MSM.
2.HIV infection and associated factors of male sex workers among men who have sex with men
Enpin CHEN ; Hanlu YIN ; Jing GU ; Xuwen WANG ; Huachun ZOU ; Xiaojun MENG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2020;41(10):1697-1702
Objective:This study aimed to discover the HIV infection and associated factors among male sex workers (MSW) who provide sexual services for men. Data from this study thus can be used to provide evidence for designing related intervention programs.Methods:In this observational study, MSW were recruited from May to July, 2019 in KTV venues in Wuxi, China. A questionnaire was used to collect information with blood sample collected and tested for HIV and syphilis. EpiData 3.0 and SPSS 17.0 software were used to clean up data and statistical analysis.Results:A number of 500 MSW were involved including 243 (48.6 %) heterosexual and 257 (51.4 %) homosexual MSW. The overall HIV prevalence was 5.4 %(27/500) among all the MSW. there were significant differences between the HIV prevalence rates, the heterosexual MSW (3.3 %, 8/243) and the homosexual MSW (7.4 %, 19/257)( χ2=4.112, P=0.043). In the past 3 months, 28.0 % (72/257) of the homosexual MSW mainly engaged in receptive anal sex which was higher than 11.5 %(28/243) of the heterosexual MSW. Compared to 15.6 % (40/257) of the homosexual MSW who engaged in heterosexual behavior, a higher proportion of 98.4 % (239/243) was noticed among the heterosexual MSW. Higher percentage (44.9 %, 109/243) appeared among the heterosexual MSW who had not been tested for HIV than the homosexual MSW (20.6 %, 53/257). Results from logistic regression multivariate analysis showed that age ≥30 (a OR=7.54, 95 %CI: 2.53-37.11), having unprotected anal sexual practice (a OR=3.76, 95 %CI:1.15-12.23), having anal sex after drinking alcohol (a OR=10.91, 95 %CI: 2.29-51.87) and syphilis tested positive (a OR=8.23, 95 %CI:1.29-52.51) were risk factors associated with HIV infection among the heterosexual MSW. Having unprotected anal sexual behavior (a OR=2.94, 95 %CI: 1.17-7.37), having group anal sex (a OR=4.08, 95 %CI:1.05-15.81), without record on HIV testing (a OR=6.58, 95 %CI: 2.01-18.06) and syphilis tested positive (a OR=4.55, 95 %CI: 1.15-18.06) were risk factors associated with HIV among the homosexual MSW. Conclusions:High HIV prevalence was discovered among both heterosexual and homosexual MSW in Wuxi, China. Differences in sexual behaviors between these two groups should be considered when designing targeted HIV intervention programs for these populations.
3.Evaluation of effects of comprehensive intervention based on key persons on AIDS-related high-risk behaviors in male sex workers in entertainment venues
Xiaojun MENG ; Jing GU ; Tianjian JIA ; Tianzhu CHEN ; Jun LI ; Hanlu YIN
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2023;44(9):1434-1439
Objective:To evaluate the effect of comprehensive intervention model based on key persons in entertainment venues on the incidence of AIDS-related high-risk behaviors in male sex workers (MSW). Data from this study thus can be used to provide compelling evidence for the wider implementation of the intervention model.Methods:In this randomized controlled trial, MSW were recruited and followed-up from May to December, 2021 in entertainment venues in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, with an estimated sample size of 320. The MSW in the intervention group were provided with comprehensive interventions via key persons in entertainment venues compared with the control group receiving routine interventions. The effect of the intervention model was assessed by comparing the behavioral differences between these two groups and in the intervention group before and after intervention.Results:A total of 330 MSW were recruited at baseline survey, in which 168 were divided into intervention group and 162 into control group. There was no significant difference in socio-demographic characteristics between two groups (all P>0.05). After intervention for 6 months, the rate of consistent condom use in commercial homosexual activities in the intervention group was 79.5% (101/127), higher than 63.2% (74/117) in the control group, and in the intervention group, 90.1% (73/81) of MSW used condom consistently in heterosexual activities, higher than in the control group (59.6%, 59/99) . Compared with 30.8% (36/117) of MSW with drug abuse history in the control group, a lower proportion of 9.4% (12/127) was observed in the intervention group. Differences in all of aforementioned variables were significant (all P<0.05). After intervention, the incidence of group sex was 3.9% (5/127) in the intervention group and 9.4% (11/117) in the control group, the incidence of anal sex post-alcohol consumption was 40.2% (51/127) in the intervention group and 32.5% (38/117) in control group, the differences were not significant (all P>0.05). Conclusions:The intervention model based on key persons in entertainment venues could promote consistent condom use in MSW in both commercial homosexual and heterosexual activities and help them reduce drug abuse, but had no significant effect on decreasing group sex and anal sex after alcohol consumption. It is crucial to improve the intervention model according to the specific characteristics of MSW in order to enhance the effects of comprehensive intervention.
4.Uptake of HIV post-exposure prophylaxis and related factors in male sex workers
Aodi ZHANG ; Bolin YANG ; Hanlu YIN ; Jing GU ; Jibiao CHEN ; Zhuping XU ; Xiaojun MENG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(8):1158-1163
Objective:To understand the uptake of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and related factors among male sex workers (MSW) and provide references for the promotion of PEP.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenience sampling to recruit MSW participants with the help of a community-based organization in October 2023, in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province. The sample size was estimated at 340 people. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect their social demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, knowledge, beliefs, and uptake of PEP. A logistic regression model was used to analyze factors associated with the uptake of PEP in MSW. The SPSS 26.0 software was used for statistical analysis.Results:A total of 357 participants were recruited, mainly aged 18-20 (55.7%,199/357), unmarried (94.4%,337/357), and having an education background of junior high school or below (50.1%,179/357). Among 357 participants, 64.4% (230/357) knew about PEP, 51.0% (182/357) believed in the efficacy of PEP, and 13.4% (48/357) had experience of using PEP. Among 68 respondents having high-risk sexual behaviors in the past 3 months, 17.6% (12/68) have had uptake of PEP. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that group sex with men in the past 3 months (a OR=7.51, 95% CI: 1.37-41.09), HIV testing in the past 3 months (a OR=2.89, 95% CI: 1.16-7.16), the experience of using pre-exposure prophylaxis (a OR=30.18,95% CI: 12.60-72.24) and believing in the efficacy of PEP (a OR=2.94, 95% CI: 1.04-8.29) were the associated factors with the uptake of PEP in MSW. Conclusions:Although the overall uptake rate of PEP in MSW was high, the proportion of using PEP was still low among participants having high-risk sexual behaviors in the past 3 months. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen HIV risk awareness education considering their characteristics and promote timely uptake of PEP to interrupt HIV transmission.
5.Clinical value of classified detection of circulating tumor cells in peripheral blood of NSCLC patients
Hanlu YIN ; Jian YIN ; Liwen CHEN ; Ning LI ; Zhian LIU ; Zhibin HU ; Hongbing SHEN
Chinese Journal of Oncology 2016;38(9):677-681
Objective To investigate the clinical value of detection of circulating tumor cells ( CTCs) classified by epithelial cell adhesion molecule ( EpCAM) in peripheral blood of patients with non?small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Peripheral blood samples (7.5 ml each time) were collected from 47 NSCLC patients. Among them, blood samples were collected at the end of each therapy?cycle in three patients for longitudinal monitoring of CTCs. CTCs were enriched by the depletion of leucocytes using a magnetic bead separation technique, stained with EpCAM, cytokeratin 7/8 and their isotypic control antibodies, respectively, and then identified and counted by multi?parameter flow cytometry. Results In the blood samples from 47 patients, EpCAM?positive CTCs were detected in 64.3%(9/14), 40.0%(4/10) and 43.5%(10/23) of patients in stages Ⅰ?Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ, respectively. EpCAM?negative CTCs were detected in 78. 6%( 11/14 ) , 90. 0%( 9/10 ) and 91. 3%( 21/23 ) of patients in stage Ⅰ?Ⅱ, Ⅲ, and Ⅳ, respectively. The total detection rates of EpCAM?positive and EpCAM?negative CTCs were 48.9%(23/47) and 87.2%(41/47), respectively, showing a statistically significant difference between them (P<0.001). According to the stage of the cancer, there was a significant difference between the detection rates of the two types of CTCs in patients of stageⅣ( P=0.001) , but not in stageⅠ?ⅡandⅢ( P>0.05) . The number of EpCAM?negative CTCs was significantly higher than that of EpCAM?positive CTCs in all stages (P<0.05). The frequency of patients with the percentage of EpCAM?negative CTCs >90% was significantly higher in stage Ⅳ patients than that in stage Ⅰ?Ⅱ cases (P=0.030), while the frequency of patients with the percentage of EpCAM?negative CTCs between 50%~90% was significantly lower in the stageⅣthan that in the stage Ⅰ?Ⅱ patients (P=0.001). The treatment of most patients with EpCAM?negative CTCs >50%showed to be ineffective (P=0.033). Conclusion Detection of CTCs classified by EpCAM in peripheral blood is helpful in evaluating the distant metastasis and treatment effectiveness of NSCLC patients.
6.Research progress of weight-adjusted waist index and the association with adverse health outcomes
Bolin YANG ; Jibiao CHEN ; Hanlu YIN ; Jing GU ; Zhuping XU ; Xiaojun MENG
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology 2024;45(10):1455-1464
Anthropometric indexes play a crucial role in identifying obesity. However, as an internationally commonly used indicator of obesity diagnosis, BMI has limitations in distinguishing lean body mass from fat mass. The weight-adjusted waist index (WWI), a novel anthropometric index, assesses adiposity through standardized waist circumference for weight, which presents an excellent capacity to predict the morbidity and mortality risks of various diseases. However, research on WWI is still in the exploratory stage, and there is a lack of unified standards for using this indicator to determine obesity. In addition, its potential application in children and adolescents also urgently needs to be explored. Therefore, this article comprehensively summarizes and compares the distinctive characteristics between WWI and other obesity-related anthropometric indexes. Bibliometric methods are used to analyze the hotspots and trends of WWI-related research, and we focus on discussing the value of WWI in predicting adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, liver and kidney diseases. We aim to promote the application of WWI in a broader field and fully demonstrate its important public health significance and broad application prospects.