Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0001175 (AIDS)
 120,706 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Several new studies link the loss of vaginal flora with an increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Women who lack lactobacillus are more predisposed to acquiring HIV and other STDs. Sharon Hillier, of Magee-Women's Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh, states that vaginal mucosa produce lactobacilli, which help the vagina maintain a low pH and produce hydrogen peroxide killing pathogens. Much loss of natural microflora is attributed to bacterial vaginosis, excessive douching, and unsafe sex. As a result, Dr. Hillier speaks out strongly against the use of douches. Studies of sex workers in Thailand and Mombassa have demonstrated that women with a low prevalence of lactobacilli are at significantly higher risk of acquiring disease.
AIDS Alert 1998 Jul
PMID:Does loss of vaginal flora increase risk of STD? 1136 89

The Rakai STD Control for AIDS Prevention Study, which was started in 1994, indicates that treating curable sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) will not have an effect on HIV incidence. In fact, HIV infection rates increased slightly for the intervention and comparison groups during the study period. The study was conducted in 56 villages in Uganda, where 16 percent of the population is infected with HIV. These study results conflict with the more positive results obtained from a similar study conducted in 1995 in Tanzania. At the time, however, Tanzania was in a much earlier phase of the HIV epidemic than Rakai was in 1994. More studies are needed in regions where the epidemic is beginning, to determine the role of STD control in preventing HIV transmission during different phases of the epidemic. There should also be studies to determine the importance of genital herpes and bacterial vaginosis in HIV transmission.
NIAID AIDS Agenda 1998 Aug
PMID:Mass treatment for STDs has mixed results: some STD rates fall, but HIV incidence remains unchanged. 1136 26

The 12th World AIDS Conference in Geneva received reports on the efficacy of AZT in reducing HIV transmission between mother and infant, as well as other risk factors for transmission. Two studies revealed that a short-course of AZT treatment can reduce perinatal transmission. Two other large studies showed that incorporation of prenatal AZT into clinical practice has dramatic benefits in reducing HIV transmission. Most publicized was the data from several studies which show that a Cesarean section performed before the onset of labor or rupture of membranes, further reduces the risk of perinatal transmission. Researchers also provided information indicating that breastfeeding should be avoided when the mother is HIV-infected, that the presence of HIV may reduce a pregnant woman's ability to control the perinatal transmission of malaria, and that bacterial vaginosis was associated with HIV seroconversion during pregnancy and increased perinatal transmission. Finally, Geneva produced several studies reporting gender differences in viral load that have implications for when to begin antiretroviral therapy, that the genital tract represents a distinct reservoir of HIV infection, and that HIV-infected women were showing increased rates of lower genital tract neoplasia, which correlated with evolving immunosuppression.
 ...
PMID:Report from Geneva: women and HIV. 1136 76

Vaginal candidiasis (VC) is a common concern for women living with HIV infection. The authors evaluated the effectiveness of two self-care approaches to prophylaxis of VC among HIV-infected women, weekly intravaginal application of Lactobacillus acidophilus or weekly intravaginal application of clotrimazole tablets, in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. VC was defined as a vaginal swab positive for Candida species in the presence of signs/symptoms of vaginitis and the absence of a diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis or bacterial vaginosis. Thirty-four episodes of VC occurred among 164 women followed for a median of 21 months. The relative risk of experiencing an episode of VC was 0.4 (95% CI = 0.2, 0.9) in the clotrimazole arm and 0.5 (95% CI = 0.2, 1.1) in the Lactobacillus acidophilus arm. The estimated median time to first episode VC was longer for clotrimazole (p = .03, log rank test) and Lactobacillus acidophilus (p = .09, log rank test) compared with placebo. Vaginal yeast infections can be prevented with local therapy. Education about self-care for prophylaxis of VC should be offered to HIV-infected women.
J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care
PMID:Evaluation of two self-care treatments for prevention of vaginal candidiasis in women with HIV. 1148 20

The objective was to determine the magnitude of HIV as well as the associations between HIV seropositivity with reproductive tract infections (RTIs) among healthy women in Harare, Zimbabwe. In a cross-sectional study, 393 informed consenting women aged 15--49 years, attending 2 primary healthcare clinics, were interviewed and screened for HIV and RTIs. HIV seroprevalence was 29.3%. Seropositivity was significantly associated with bacterial vaginosis, syphilis, gonorrhoea and/or Chlamydia trachomatis infection, warts and genital ulcers. Risk factors for HIV were absence of lactobacilli in vaginal fluid, vaginal pH >4.5, age >20 years, being unmarried, having had more than one lifetime sexual partner, having used a condom at least once in their lifetime, having experienced an infant mortality, and a partner who was non-monogamous or a frequent traveller. In view of the very high seroprevalence and concomitant RTIs in this population, we recommend promotion of women-controlled prevention methods along with proactive detection and treatment of RTIs.
Int J STD AIDS 2001 Aug
PMID:HIV seroprevalence and its associations with the other reproductive tract infections in asymptomatic women in Harare, Zimbabwe. 1148 93

Mycoplasma genitalium was first isolated from men with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU) more than 20 years ago. Use of polymerase chain reaction technology has shown it to be a cause of acute NGU and probably chronic NGU, almost independently of Chlamydia trachomatis, but there is no substantial evidence that it causes acute or chronic prostatitis. In women, M. genitalium is not associated with bacterial vaginosis, but it is strongly associated with cervicitis and endometritis and serologically with salpingitis and tubal factor infertility. Further studies may show M. genitalium to be associated, perhaps causally, with epididymoorchitis, neonatal disease and reactive arthritis. Furthermore, its potential for enhancing HIV transmission needs to be explored. M. genitalium is susceptible to various broad-spectrum antibiotics, but M. genitalium-associated diseases are probably best treated with azithromycin.
Int J STD AIDS 2002 Mar
PMID:Mycoplasma genitalium -- an up-date. 1186 Jun 89

The objective was to determine how frequently an abnormal vaginal flora occurred in women attending a menopause clinic and whether any abnormality might be related to a particular risk factor. Women completed a questionnaire on their gynaecological, sexual and medical history. Whether they were perimenopausal or postmenopausal was determined on the basis of symptomatology, duration of amenorrhoea and on a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) assay when clinically indicated. A speculum examination of the vagina was undertaken, at which time a smear of vaginal secretion was Gram stained and the bacterial flora graded as follows: grade 1, normal; grade 2, intermediate, and grade 3, bacterial vaginosis (BV). Of 100 women examined, 44 had grade 1 flora, 17 had grade 2 flora and 18 had BV. An apparent absence of, or very scanty, vaginal bacteria in which grading was not possible was found in 21 women. Women with BV had had more sexual partners than the others, but otherwise there were no discernible factors associated with the occurrence of BV. Women with vaginal atrophy were more likely to have an apparent absence of vaginal bacteria, but a few had BV.
Int J STD AIDS 2002 Jul
PMID:Bacterial vaginosis in climacteric and menopausal women. 1217 62

A vaginal tampon specimen was previously shown to be suitable for the molecular diagnosis of non-ulcerative sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Different tampon fluid preparations were evaluated for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV). Women with pregnancy related problems were enrolled. Two observers evaluated the different tampon fluid preparations and vaginal smears collected during speculum examination using the Nugent score. Using the Amsel criteria, 21% of the 84 women enrolled were diagnosed with BV. Results of the tampon fluid preparations and vaginal smears showed excellent agreement for both observers (Spearman >0.80). The overall sensitivity and specificity was 91.7% (95% CI: 81.6-96.5) and 79.3% (95% CI: 67.2-87.8), respectively, using the Amsel criteria as reference standard. The tampon provides a specimen for the combined diagnosis of non-ulcerative STIs and BV. This non-invasively collected specimen may facilitate self-initiated testing and population-based studies as well as longitudinal studies that are necessary to gain insight in the epidemiology of BV related to STIs and HIV.
Int J STD AIDS 2002 Aug
PMID:Diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis on self-collected vaginal tampon specimens. 1219 40

Vaginitis is the most frequently gynecologic diagnosis encountered by physicians who provide primary care to women. Accurate diagnosis can be elusive, complicating treatment. Most experts believe that up to 90% of vaginitis cases are secondary to bacterial vaginosis, vulvo-vaginal candidiasis, and trichomoniasis. The diagnosis of vaginitis is based on the patient's symptoms, the physical examination, the findings of microscopic examination of the wetmount and potassium hydroxide (KOH) preparations, and the results of the pH litmus test. Additional cultures and testing may be needed for difficult-to-diagnose cases.
AIDS Patient Care STDS 2002 Aug
PMID:Vaginitis: case reports and brief review. 1222 87

Women seeking care in Madagascar for genital discharge (n = 1,066) were evaluated for syphilis seroreactivity; bacterial vaginosis (BV) and trichomoniasis. Chlamydial infection was assessed by ligase chain reaction (LCR) and by direct immunofluorescence (IF); gonorrhoea by direct microscopy, culture and LCR. Leucocytes were determined in endocervical smears and in urine using leucocyte esterase dipstick (LED). Gonococcal isolates were tested for minimal inhibitory concentrations. BV was found in 56%, trichomoniasis in 25%, and syphilis in 6% of the women. LCR detected gonorrhoea in 13% and chlamydial infection in 11% of the women. Detection of Gram(-) intracellular diplococci in endocervical smears, and gonococcal culture were respectively 23% and 57% sensitive and 98% and 100% specific compared to LCR. Chlamydia antigen detection by IF was 75% sensitive and 77% specific compared to LCR. Leucocytes in endocervical smears and LED testing lacked precision to detect gonococcal and chlamydial infections. Of 67 gonococcal strains evaluated, 19% were fully susceptible to penicillin, 33% to tetracycline; all were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, and spectinomycin. Patients who present with genital discharge in Madagascar should be treated syndromically for gonococcal and chlamydial infections and screened for syphilis. Gonorrhoea should be treated with ciprofloxacin.
Int J STD AIDS 2002 Sep
PMID:Laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections in women with genital discharge in Madagascar: implications for primary care. 1223 Sep 24


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>