Though many methods of prevention of STI/HIV are available, condoms remain of utmost importance. They have gone a long way from the oiled silk paper used by the Chinese and the hard sheaths made of tortoise- shell used by the Japanese to the latex condoms of today. The breakthrough came when the rubber vulcanization process was invented by Charles Goodyear and eventually the first rubber condom was made. The condom offers maximum protection( more than 90%) against HIV, Hepatitis B virus and N.Gonorrhoea. They also offer protection in scenarios when alternate sexual practices are adapted. The female condom in the only female driven contraceptive method available today. Graphene and Nano lubricated condoms are new in the market and others in futuristic approach may include wearable technology/Technology driven condom and invisible Condoms. Both Correct and Consistent use of condoms needs to be promoted for HIV/STI prevention.

Objective: To study the effect of addition of platelet rich plasma (PRP) to the hair transplantation for scarring alopecia.Methods: An evaluation of the patients with detailed history, clinical examination and laboratory investigations was done. Routine baseline investigations and skin biopsy were done in order to rule out any activity of the underlying disease process. Freshly prepared Platelet rich plasma (PRP) using YCELL BIO kit was injected in freshly done slits over recipient area.Results: A total of 4 cases were studied-A 26 years old male with cleft lip surgical scar with absent hair growth on the middle third of the upper lip, a 22 year old male with a 5 year old post traumatic depressed scar over the junction of medial and lateral third of the right eyebrow, a 17 year old boy with a post burn scar over his left upper lip and adjoining lower cheek area and a 55 years old post menopausal female, an already diagnosed and treated case of frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA). Hair transplantation was performed with follicular unit extraction (FUE). Freshly prepared PRP was injected intradermally after creating the slits. In all the cases, there was a good survival rate of the healthy hair follicles, accompanied by improvement in the texture of the surrounding skin.Conclusions: Platelet rich plasma, being a cocktail of growth factors, can bring vitality to the tissue and improve its vascularity, thus making it more receptive to the transplant. Additionally, with the improved vascularity of the recipient bed and activated fibroblasts, there is accelerated hair growth and better cosmetic outcomes of the scar.

Introduction:Heterosexual route is the most common mode of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission among married couples in India. The aim of the study was to determine HIV seroconcordance and serodiscordance among couples when one of the partners is HIV positive.Materials and Methods:A retrospective study which included HIV positive married cohabiting cases was carried out at the Department of Skin-VD, Medical College, Baroda. Detailed history of high-risk sexual behavior, blood transfusion (BT) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was taken. All the cases were examined for the presence of STIs and all males were examined for circumcision. The spouses of these cases were tested for HIV to know the seroconcordance/serodiscordance.Results:A total of 66 HIV positive cases were studied which included 34 males and 32 females. Forty-five cases had seropositive spouses that consisted of 20 out of 34 HIV positive males and 25 out of 32 HIV positive females. History of STI was present in 13 cases. History of BT in one of the spouses was present in 15 of 45 seroconcordant couples while in 6 out of 21 serodiscordant couples. Among 34 HIV positive males, circumcision was present in 8 cases out of which 6 were serodiscordant.Discussion:About 68% concordance suggests continued intramarital transmission probably due to lack of spousal communication and late testing. In cases having transfusion transmitted HIV, seroconcordance rate was found to be high. Such cases are usually asymptomatic and hence tested late but continue to transmit HIV by unprotected sexual activity.

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