Background: There is an ongoing debate regarding possible cost and benefits, but also harm of universal screening for the emerging sexually transmitted pathogen Mycoplasma genitalium. Methods: From the initial pool of 8665 samples that were tested, a subset of Chlamydia trachomatis-positive and randomly selected C. trachomatis-negative cervical swabs were further interrogated for M. genitalium by real-time polymerase chain reaction, using a 224 bp long fragment of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene. Results: M. genitalium was detected in 4.8% of C. trachomatis-positive samples and none of C. trachomatis-negative samples. Accordingly, a significant association was shown between M. genitalium and C. trachomatis (P < 0.01), but also between M. genitalium and Mycoplasma hominis infection (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Based on the results, routine screening is recommended only for women with one or more identified risk factors. Moreover, younger age does not represent an appropriate inclusion/exclusion criterion for M. genitalium testing in the low-risk female population.

Background: Abnormal lipid profiles are a characteristic feature of persons with chronic conditions in which the diabetic populations are recognized as the dominant group, regardless of gender and ethnicity worldwide. This study was conducted to identify and evaluate the abnormalities of serum lipid profiles in both nondiabetic and diabetic persons. Methods: This study was a case–control investigation conducted between 2013 and 2015. The study enrolled 266 patients from the North Central and South West Regional Health Authorities of Trinidad. Of the 266 patients recruited, 126 were diabetic and 140 were nondiabetic. Results: Our study observed that dyslipidemia was present among the nondiabetic populations as the nondiabetics had 55 women and 20 men with high cholesterol, 22 women and 14 men with high triglyceride (TG), 30 women and 25 men with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), 42 women and 21 men with high low-density level-cholesterol (LDL-C), 13 women and 8 men with high very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and also 30 women and 11 men with body mass index (BMI) over 30 kg/m². We also observed that diabetic women had significantly lower TGs (P = 0.019) and higher HDL-C (P = 0.001) and LDL (P = 0.003) when compared with the diabetic men. In addition, the nondiabetic females also had higher HDL-C (P = 0.045) when compared to their male counterparts. Both diabetic and nondiabetic women exhibited significantly higher BMI ofP= 0.000. A negative correlation was obtained among TGs and HDL (r = −0.356, n = 83,P= 0.001) and a positive correlation was observed among LDL and HDL (r = 0.230, n = 86,P= 0.035). Conclusions: This study observed the incidences in the abnormalities of serum lipid profiles in both nondiabetic and diabetic persons. It also presents the high occurrence of nondiabetic women with dyslipidemia as they presented with high cholesterol, high TG, low HDL-C, and high VLD-L with BMI over 30 kg/m².

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a major cause of noncommunicable diseases. In this study, we report the prevalence rate of HTN in Birjand population. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1286 individuals in Birjand in 2014. Individuals with systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥90 mmHg were considered as hypertensive. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test, independent t-test, and one-way ANOVA.P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Among the 1286 participants, 659 were women (51.2%). Prevalence of HTN was 20.1% (10.3% systolic HTN and 6.9% diastolic HTN). Prevalence self-reported HTN was 12.3%. SBP and DBP means were higher in men (P < 0.001). Mean scores of SBP and DBP increased by aging and body mass index (P < 0.001). Diabetic individuals had higher SBP scores (P < 0.001). Dyslipidemic patients had greater SBP and DBP (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Prevalence of HTN in our study is high. About one-fifth of the participants had HTN. In addition, BP is higher in men, elderly, and diabetic individual. Therefore, it is necessary to control BP regularly in different groups in society.

Background: Not many studies have examined the risk of emergency medical attendance during stressful life events or special days such as birthdays. This study looked at whether patients had a higher than normal chance of attending the emergency departments around their birthdays compared to the rest of the year. Methods: Patient attendance data were collected from our accident and emergency department from April 2013 to March 2014. The birthday of individual patients was matched with their date of attendance to find out the number of patients attending emergency department on and around their birthdays. Chi-square test and binominal distribution test were used to compare birthday attendances with those occurring at other times of the year. Results: A total of 1028 patients attended within the 7 days starting from their birthday (expected number 49, 211/52 = 946). This was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.0071). Road traffic accidents were more frequent on both the birthday week and the week after birthday. Medical emergencies, injury in a public place, 19–35 years age group and male patients showed similarly significant association but for the week after birthday only. Conclusions: People are more likely to present to emergency departments in the week starting from their birthday than any other week of the year. There is scope for public health initiatives such as sending health education information in the form of a birthday card to raise awareness of this risk.