Assembling nanoparticles into well-defined structures is an important way to create and tailor the optical properties of materials. Most advances in metamaterials research to date have been based on structures fabricated in two-dimensional planar geometries. Here, we show an efficient method for assembling noble metal nanoparticles into stable, three-dimensional (3-D) clusters, whose optical properties can be highly sensitive or remarkably independent of cluster orientation, depending on particle number and cluster geometry. Some of the clusters, such as tetrahedra and icosahedra, could serve as the optical kernels for metafluids, imparting metamaterial optical properties into disordered media such as liquids, glasses, or plastics, free from the requirement of nanostructure orientation.

Three-Dimensional Plasmonic Nanoclusters

BackgroundUntreated maternal syphilis can result in the fetuses being infected. Severe adverse pregnancy outcomes include stillbirth, perinatal death, low birth weight, and congenital syphilis (CS). The World Health Organization has already classified global elimination of CS as a priority. However,

Reduction in mother-to-child transmission of syphilis for 10 years in Shenzhen, China

Background In 2004, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended routine screening for syphilis infection in asymptomatic persons at increased risk of infection, and recommended against screening in those not at increased risk. Purpose To update a prior systematic review on screening for syphilis infection in asymptomatic, nonpregnant adolescents and adults for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Data Sources Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (to March 2016) and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (to March 2016), MEDLINE (January 2004 to March 2016), and reference lists. Study Selection English-language trials and observational studies of screening effectiveness, test accuracy, and screening harms. Data Extraction One investigator abstracted details about study design, patient population, setting, screening method, followup, and results. Two investigators independently applied prespecified criteria to rate study quality. Discrepancies were resolved through consensus. Data Synthesis Four observational studies conducted outside the United States evaluated detection rates using specific screening intervals among men who have sex with men (MSM) or persons living with HIV. Higher rates of detection were reported for early syphilis in MSM living with HIV (8.1% vs. 3.1%; p=0.001), newly acquired syphilis in MSM living with HIV (7.3 cases [95% CI, 5.2 to 9.9] vs. 2.8 cases [95% CI, 1.8 to 4.0] per 1,000 patient-years; p 85% and specificity >91% for nontreponemal and treponemal tests in most studies) but require confirmatory testing. Two studies of the accuracy of reverse sequence testing indicated that using an automated treponemal test for initial screening resulted in a higher rate of false-reactive tests compared with using the Rapid Plasma Reagin test as an initial test in a low prevalence U.S. population (0.6% vs. 0.0%; p=0.03) and a higher prevalence Canadian population (0.26% vs. 0.13%), but both methods also identified additional positive tests that would not have been identified using conventional methods. Limitations No studies addressed the effectiveness of screening, the effectiveness of risk assessment instruments, or the adverse effects of screening. No studies were specifically conducted in adolescents. Only screening tests and methods cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for current clinical practice were included to determine diagnostic accuracy. Conclusions Observational data from four studies demonstrate improved detection of syphilis infection among MSM or men living with HIV who are screened every 3 months compared with 6 or 12 months. Screening with treponemal or nontreponemal tests is accurate for detecting syphilis in asymptomatic persons but requires confirmatory testing. Further research is needed to understand the impact of screening for syphilis on clinical outcomes; effective screening strategies, including reverse sequence screening, in various patient populations; and harms of screening.

Screening for Syphilis in Nonpregnant Adolescents and Adults: Systematic Review to Update the 2004 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation

/pdf/three-dimensional-plasmonic-nanoclusters-5d1411168l.pdf

The reported incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in China has been increasing over the last decades, especially among drug users, which has become one of the main burdens of public health in China. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of STIs among non-injecting methamphetamine (MA) users in Eastern China.A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 632 MA users in Eastern China in 2017. Demographic characteristics, sexual behaviors, behaviors of MA use and sexual health knowledge were collected through questionnaire. First pass urine specimens were collected and detected for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) with Nucleic Acid Amplification Technology (NAAT), while blood specimens were collected and detected for antibodies of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2), and syphilis with enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA).Among the 632 MA users, 464 (73.42%) were males, 60.92% were < 35 years of age, 546 (86.39%) were Shandong residents. 317 (50.16%, 95% CI 46.26-54.06%) participants were tested positive for at least one kind of STIs, including 242 (38.29%, 95% CI 34.50-42.08%) for HSV-2, 107 (16.93%, 95% CI 14.01-19.85%) for active syphilis, 46 (7.28%, 95% CI 5.25-9.31%) for treated syphilis, 40 (6.33%, 95% CI 4.43-8.23%) for CT, 6 (0.95%, 95% CI 0.19-1.71%) for HIV, and 3 (0.47%, 95% CI 0.06-1.00%) for NG infection. 99 (15.66%, 95% CI 12.83-18.49%) participants were co-infected with two kinds of STIs, including 91 (14.40%, 95% CI 11.66-17.14%) participants were co-infected with HSV-2 and syphilis. 14 (2.22%, 95% CI 1.07-3.37%) participants were co-infected with three kinds of STIs, and 4 HIV positive participants were co-infected with both syphilis and HSV-2. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, the results showed that females (adjusted OR [AOR] = 7.30, 95% CI 4.34-12.30) and individuals ≥ 35 years of age (AOR = 2.97, 95% CI 2.04-4.32) were more likely to test positive for STIs among MA users, whereas participants who acquired sexual health knowledge primarily from the Internet (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.40-0.82) and those whose regular partners did not use drugs (AOR = 0.59, 95% CI 0.37-0.94) were less likely.This study found that the prevalence of HSV-2 and syphilis are alarming high among non-injecting MA users in Shandong Province in Eastern China. The prevention and control intervention of STIs among MA users in Shandong were needed, especially on females and MA users ≥ 35 years of age. 

/pdf/prevalence-and-associated-factors-of-sexually-transmitted-2c8kl96e.pdf

Prevalence and associated factors of sexually transmitted infections among methamphetamine users in Eastern China: a cross-sectional study

Syphilis testing guidelines in China are usually based on symptomatic criteria, overlooking risk assessment and ultimately opportunities for disease detection and control. We used data from 10,695 sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic patients in Guangxi, China, to assess the efficacy of a potential screening tool inquiring about behavioural and health risk factors in identifying the STD patients who should not be triaged for syphilis testing under current guidelines, but on the contrary receive such testing. Validity testing of the screening tool was performed and receiver-operating characteristic curves were plotted to determine an optimal total risk score cut-off for testing. About 40.9% of patients with positive toluidine red unheated serum test and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination test did not show hallmark signs of syphilis. The screening tool was more sensitive in detecting infection in non-triaged male versus female patients (highest sensitivity = 90% vs. 55%) and the cut-off score to...

Improving strategies for syphilis control in China: selective testing of sexually transmitted disease patients--too little, too late?

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Improving strategies for syphilis control in China: selective testing of sexually transmitted disease patients--too little, too late?