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Objectives: Using mathematical modelling, we have previously shown that the prevalence of infection with Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is likely to increase in the general population in Australia with the transition from Pap smear-based cervical screening to human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing. Here we use the existing model to estimate the level of supplemental testing required to maintain TV control.Methods: A compartmental mathematical model describing the transmission of TV in the general heterosexual population in Australia was used to evaluate the impact of a range of screening scenarios on TV prevalence over time following the transition to HPV DNA testing for cervical screening. Scenarios considered were the inclusion of a TV test with the HPV test and the addition of TV testing to routine chlamydia testing conducted in primary care.Results: Our modelling suggests that with sufficient coverage, inclusion of TV testing with routine chlamydia screening in general practice, TV prevalence can be reduced over time, but at the current reported coverage will gradually increase following the transition to HPV testing. Inclusion of TV testing with HPV testing in the cervical screening programme is preferable to no supplemental testing but is considerably less effective in controlling TV.Conclusions: These findings support the inclusion of TV testing with routine chlamydia testing of young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The afferent projections from the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (ABVN) to the nucleus tractus solitaries (NTS) have been proposed as the anatomical basis for the increased parasympathetic tone seen in auriculo-vagal reflexes. As the afferent center of the vagus nerve, the NTS has been considered to play roles in the anticonvulsant effect of cervical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). Here we proposed an "auriculo-vagal afferent pathway" (AVAP), by which transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (ta-VNS) suppresses pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced epileptic seizures by activating the NTS neurons in rats. Results: The afferent projections from the ABVN to the NTS were firstly observed in rats. ta-VNS increased the first grand mal latency of the epileptic seizure and decreased the seizure scores in awake rats. Furthermore, when the firing rates of the NTS neurons decreased, epileptiform activity manifested as electroencephalogram (EEG) synchronization increased with 0.37±0.12 s delay in anaesthetized rats. The change of instantaneous frequency, mean frequency of the NTS neurons was negative correlated with the amplitude of the epileptic activity in EEG traces. ta-VNS significantly suppressed epileptiform activity in EEG traces via increasing the firing rates of the neurons of the NTS. In comparison with tan-VNS, the anticonvulsant durations of VNS and ta-VNS were significantly longer (P<0.01). There was no significant difference between the anticonvulsant durations of VNS and ta-VNS (P>0.05). The anticonvulsant effect of ta-VNS was weakened by reversible cold block of the NTS. Conclusions: There existed an anatomical relationship between the ABVN and the NTS, which strongly supports the concept that ta-VNS has the potential for suppressing epileptiform activity via the AVAP in rats. ta-VNS will provide alternative treatments for neurological disorders, which can avoid the disadvantage of VNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Population movement can sustain STI prevalence in remote Australian indigenous communities," by B. B. Hui and colleagues that was published in the 2013 issue is presented.

Background: The Australian Chlamydia Control Effectiveness Pilot (ACCEPt) was a cluster randomised controlled trial designed to assess the effectiveness of annual chlamydia testing through general practice in Australia. The trial showed that testing rates increased among sexually active men and women aged 16-29 years, but after 3 years the estimated chlamydia prevalence did not differ between intervention and control communities. We developed a mathematical model to estimate the potential longer-term impact of chlamydia testing on prevalence in the general population., Methods: We developed an individual-based model to simulate the transmission of Chlamydia trachomatis in a heterosexual population, calibrated to ACCEPt data. A proportion of the modelled population were tested for chlamydia and treated annually at coverage achieved in the control and intervention arms of ACCEPt. We estimated the reduction in chlamydia prevalence achieved by increasing retesting and by treating the partners of infected individuals up to 9 years after introduction of the intervention., Results: Increasing the testing coverage in the general Australian heterosexual population to the level achieved in the ACCEPt intervention arm resulted in reduction in the population-level prevalence of chlamydia from 4.6% to 2.7% in those aged 16-29 years old after 10 years (a relative reduction of 41%). The prevalence reduces to 2.2% if the proportion retested within 4 months of treatment is doubled from the rate achieved in the ACCEPt intervention arm (a relative reduction of 52%), and to 1.9% if the partner treatment rate is increased from 30%, as assumed in the base case, to 50% (a relative reduction of 59%)., Conclusion: A reduction in C. trachomatis prevalence could be achieved if the level of testing as observed in the ACCEPt intervention arm can be maintained at a population level. More substantial reductions can be achieved with intensified case management comprising retesting of those treated and treatment of partners of infected individuals., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objectives: Using mathematical modelling, we have previously shown that the prevalence of infection with Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) is likely to increase in the general population in Australia with the transition from Pap smear-based cervical screening to human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing. Here we use the existing model to estimate the level of supplemental testing required to maintain TV control., Methods: A compartmental mathematical model describing the transmission of TV in the general heterosexual population in Australia was used to evaluate the impact of a range of screening scenarios on TV prevalence over time following the transition to HPV DNA testing for cervical screening. Scenarios considered were the inclusion of a TV test with the HPV test and the addition of TV testing to routine chlamydia testing conducted in primary care., Results: Our modelling suggests that with sufficient coverage, inclusion of TV testing with routine chlamydia screening in general practice, TV prevalence can be reduced over time, but at the current reported coverage will gradually increase following the transition to HPV testing. Inclusion of TV testing with HPV testing in the cervical screening programme is preferable to no supplemental testing but is considerably less effective in controlling TV., Conclusions: These findings support the inclusion of TV testing with routine chlamydia testing of young people., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: The importation of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) strains from overseas is believed to be the main source of antimicrobial resistance in Australia. With recent sporadic cases of ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea reported in Australia and elsewhere, we sought to model the potential for imported NG strains to persist in the men who have sex with men (MSM) population in Australia., Methods: We developed an individual-based model to simulate the transmission of NG in a population of urban MSM, and used this model to investigate factors contributing to the probability that an imported NG strain will persist., Results: The probability of the imported NG strain persisting as the result of a single importation event is less than 1%, but the probability increases to 1% if the imported NG strain is resistant to treatment, and further increases to 3.1% if the imported NG strain can also form mixed infections with the local NG strain. The probability of the imported NG strain persisting increases to 4.4% if there are at least three importation events per month within a 1-year period., Conclusion: The imported NG strain is unlikely to persist as a result of a single importation event. However, the probability of persistence increases if the imported NG strain is resistant to treatment, can form mixed infections with the local NG strain or there are frequent importation events. Identification of the factors that determine the likelihood of persistence of an imported NG strain could contribute to our capacity to respond appropriately and in a timely fashion., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)

Objective: To study the effects of different acupuncture stimulation on nitric oxide (NO) content in acupoint areas., Methods: The experiment was performed in 47 healthy volunteers providing informed consents. Both males and females were included in each group: 11 cases in electro-acupuncture group, 13 cases in manual-acupuncture group, 16 cases in warm-moxibustion group, and 7 cases in control group. Stimulations were given at Jianshi (PC 5) of the Pericardium Meridian and Chengshan (BL 57) of the Bladder Meridian with manual-acupuncture, electro-acupuncture and warm-moxibustion respectively. NO was collected from Ximen (PC 4) and Chengjin (BL 56) areas on the ipsilateral meridians, and the content was detected., Results: The content of NO in the warm-moxibustion group was higher than that in the electro-acupuncture group, the content in electro-acupuncture group was higher than that in the manual acupuncture group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: All the three stimulations can raise NO levels on acupoint areas significantly, and the effect moxibustion is superior to that of electro-acupuncture and manual acupuncture.

Published models of excitable cells can be used to fit to a range of action potential experimental data. CellML is a well-defined standard for publishing and exchanging such models, but currently there is a lack of software that utilizes CellML for parameter analysis. In this paper, we introduce a Java-based utility capable of performing model simulation, identifiability analysis, and parameter optimization of ionic cardiac cell models written in CellML. Identifiability analysis was performed in seven CellML models. Parameter identifiability was consistently improved by using the compensatory membrane current as opposed to the membrane voltage as the residual. as well as through the introduction of an additional stimulus set used in the fitting process.