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Background: Dual point-of-care tests (POCTs) for the simultaneous detection of antibodies to HIV and syphilis have been developed. Since community-based organisations (CBO) are effective providers of HIV and syphilis testing among men who have sex with men (MSM), evaluation of the utility of these dual tests at CBO testing services is a high priority. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of performing dual HIV-syphilis POCT testing among both users and providers at these non-clinical sites., Methods: This evaluation assessed the utility of two lateral flow immunochromatographic antibody technologies for dual screening for HIV/syphilis among MSM seeking testing in four CBO testing services in Spain, Slovenia, Latvia, and Ukraine. The study's conceptual framework divides the concept of feasibility into two inter-related domains, acceptability, and usability and further breaks it down into six subdomains: learnability, willingness, suitability, satisfaction, efficacy, and effectiveness. The feasibility analysis was performed by calculating the median score in 3 stages (for individual questions, subdomains, and domains), using a summated scores method., Results: The final sample included 844 participants, 60 of which were found to be HIV test positive (7.1%) and 61 (7.2%) positive on testing for syphilis. There was a small difference (1.1%) when comparing the results of the two dual POCTs under evaluation to the tests routinely used at each site. The inter-rater agreement showed a high concordance between two independent readings. The analysis of the feasibility for the users of the services indicated good satisfaction, suitability, and willingness. In addition, among 18 providers the total mean score showed good acceptability and usability, good willingness, easy learnability, high suitability, and good efficacy, but lower satisfaction and effectiveness. The operational characteristics of both dual study POCTs were well evaluated by providers., Conclusions: The introduction of dual HIV and syphilis  POCTs in CBO testing services for screening of MSM is feasible, with a high acceptability and usability both for users and providers. Implementation of dual POCTs for HIV and syphilis in CBO testing services is an opportunity for scaling up integrated HIV/syphilis testing for MSM., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Catecholamines have been extensively reported to be present in most animal groups, including members of Echinodermata. In this study, we investigated the presence and distribution of catecholaminergic nerves in two members of the Holothuroidea, Holothuria glaberrima (Selenka, 1867) (Aspidochirotida, Holothuroidea) and Holothuria mexicana (Ludwig, 1875) (Aspidochirotida, Holothuroidea), by using induced fluorescence for catecholamines on tissue sections and immunohistochemistry with an antibody that recognizes tyrosine hydroxylase. The presence of a catecholaminergic nerve plexus similar in distribution and extension to those previously reported in other members of Echinodermata was observed. This plexus, composed of cells and fibers, is found in the ectoneural component of the echinoderm nervous system and is continuous with the circumoral nerve ring and the radial nerves, tentacular nerves, and esophageal plexus. In addition, fluorescent nerves in the tube feet are continuous with the catecholaminergic components of the radial nerve cords. This is the first comprehensive report on the presence and distribution of catecholamines in the nervous system of Holothuroidea. The continuity and distribution of the catecholaminergic plexus strengthen the notion that the catecholaminergic cells are interneurons, since these do not form part of the known sensory or motor circuits and the fluorescence is confined to organized nervous tissue.