Makurdi

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition affecting men, especially as they age, with up to 90% of men experiencing it by age 80. This research aims to create an ongoing international registry to collect and analyze demographic and clinical data from men with BPH who receive either medical therapy or surgical treatments. The registry helps track treatment patterns and outcomes worldwide to better understand the effectiveness and complications related to various BPH treatments. The registry collects detailed baseline information including patient-reported symptoms, sexual health, quality of life, urinary flow, and laboratory values such as prostate-specific antigen and testosterone. It also records any complications like bleeding, infections, incontinence, strictures, ejaculation issues, and erectile dysfunction. This data is gathered over a three-year period with no set endpoint, allowing for long-term follow-up and analysis of real-world treatment results. Participants provide medical records which are securely stored and accessed only by authorized users. The study monitors symptoms using standardized scores and quality of life measures, along with clinical tests such as post-void residual urine volume. Regular audits ensure data accuracy, and the registry’s technology supports future integration with patient portals and electronic medical records. The study duration is planned for at least three years, with possible extensions to continue follow-up and research.

Researchers are evaluating two combination interventions designed to address HIV among youth aged 15 to 24 in Nigeria. These interventions include mHealth and Peer Navigation components, focusing on identifying youth living with HIV, linking them to care, promoting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) uptake among those testing negative, and supporting adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for newly diagnosed individuals. The study involves two parallel 48-week trials conducted in six Nigerian states, aiming to assess both the effectiveness and implementation success of these approaches. The first intervention, HIV Case Finding, targets young men, especially young men who have sex with men (YMSM), to encourage HIV testing and linkage to care if positive, and PrEP initiation if negative. This is a single-arm trial enrolling 6000 participants. The second, HIV Treatment Intervention, is a randomized controlled trial enrolling 600 youth newly diagnosed with HIV who are starting ART for the first time. Interventions include behavioral supports such as peer navigation, motivational interviewing, social media outreach, and SMS reminders alongside standard care. Participants will be involved for 48 weeks, during which they will receive support to promote HIV testing, linkage to care, PrEP uptake, and ART adherence. Researchers will monitor viral suppression and adherence to ART in the treatment group and assess identification of HIV-positive youth and linkage to care in the case finding group. The study will also evaluate the success of intervention implementation in the target populations. Regular follow-up and support through peer navigators and digital messaging are part of the participant experience throughout the study period.