Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019693 (HIV)
 170,526 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections are among the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States today. Although these organisms are obligate intracellular pathogens, they more closely resemble bacteria than viruses. C. trachomatis is responsible for considerable morbidity in women, causing urethritis, cervicitis, endometritis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. The latter complication is associated with a high incidence of infertility and ectopic pregnancy, even when the infection is asymptomatic. In young men, C. trachomatis is a common cause of urethritis and epididymitis. Diagnostic tests include tissue culture which has the greatest sensitivity and specificity but is difficult and costly, and various antigen assays which are useful in high-risk, high-prevalence populations. Treatment is effective with doxycycline or erythromycin, but success also depends on appropriate follow-up and empiric treatment of sexual partners. Control of C. trachomatis genital infections is crucial to the control of all sexually transmitted diseases including HIV infection.
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PMID:Chlamydia trachomatis genital infections. 837 72

A cross-sectional seroprevalence study of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) was undertaken among 494 attendees in two Santo Domingo sexually transmitted disease clinics in 1989. All participants were evaluated for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, syphilis, and genital ulcers. Of the 494 participants, 15 (3.0%) were positive for HIV-1 and 14 (2.8%) were positive for HTLV-I. Twelve of 371 (3.2%) men were HIV-1 seropositive: 0 of 68 homosexual/bisexual and 12 (4.0%) of 302 heterosexual men (one seronegative male could not be classified). Three (2.4%) of 123 women were HIV-1 seropositive. One (1.5%) homosexual/bisexual man, five (1.7%) heterosexual men, and eight (6.5%) women were HTLV-I seropositive. Among heterosexual men, HIV-1 was associated with multiple lifetime sex partners (O.R. = 5.9; 95% C.I. = 1.4, 23; p = 0.007). HIV-1 was associated with genital ulcer disease among women (p = 0.004). Among women, HTLV-I was associated with professional sex work (O.R. = 18; 95% C.I. = 2.1, > 100; p = 0.001). These findings suggest the need for control of sexually transmitted diseases and targeted educational programs for prevention of HIV-1 and HTLV-I among individuals with high-risk behaviors in the Dominican Republic.
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PMID:HIV-1 and HTLV-I in sexually transmitted disease clinics in the Dominican Republic. 845 Apr 7

The notion of safe sex currently denotes protection from unintended pregnancy, HIV, and other sexually transmitted diseases (STD). Modern parallel complications of sexual activity should therefore be considered when selecting contraceptives. This article assesses the impact of hormonal contraception, spermicides. barrier methods, IUDs, and douching on the pathogenesis of STDs and HIV. It discusses the direct and indirect effects of contraception methods on clinical physiology and host immune responses while considering the possible consequences on maternal and infant health if pregnancy results from the use of ineffective contraception. It is concluded that significant interactions exist between forms of contraception and STDs and HIV which may be beneficial or harmful to women. For example, oral contraceptive (OC) use may reduce risks of pelvic inflammatory disease and its sequelae, but may increase risks of chlamydia infection. Barrier methods, especially when combines with spermicides, can reduce the risk of STDs/HIV if used consistently. The combined use of OCs and condoms offers serious defense against both unintended pregnancy and STDs/HIV. IUDs also seem safe and effective in women at low risk for reproductive tract infection. Periodic screening and treatment for prevalent STDs and possible bacterial vaginosis can protect the health of individuals and their sexual contacts. Finally, more research is needed on the reproductive and infectious disease repercussions of human sexuality, while counseling and care for family planning and infectious disease protection are recommended for those who are sexually active.
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PMID:Contraception and sexually transmitted diseases: interactions and opportunities. 851 49

To explore a possible association between bacterial vaginosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, 144 consecutively enrolled commercial sex workers from a sexually transmitted disease clinic (STD) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, were interviewed and underwent serologic testing and genital examination. 62 (43%) of sex workers were HIV-positive. A self-reported history of syphilis, chancroid, herpes, gonorrhea, or Chlamydia was significantly associated with HIV infection. Bacterial vaginosis, detected in 49 (34%), was also associated with HIV infection. Sex workers reporting 10-19 and 20 or more sexual encounters per week were 2.2 and 3.5 times, respectively, more likely to be infected with HIV than those reporting under 10 encounters. A clinically established diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis was independently associated with HIV seropositivity even when age, number of sexual encounters per week, current condom use, and past and current STD infection were controlled (odds ratio, 4.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-9.4). When the bacterial vaginosis diagnosis was based on Gram stain (score 7-10), however, the association with HIV seropositivity disappeared, but having abnormal vaginal flora (gram stain score 4-10) was related to HIV status. Further epidemiologic studies are recommended to investigate the possibility that bacterial vaginosis--the most prevalent genital infection in Thailand--acts as a cofactor for the heterosexual transmission of HIV.
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PMID:Bacterial vaginosis and HIV seroprevalence among female commercial sex workers in Chiang Mai, Thailand. 852 84

The acridinium ester 4-(2-succinimidyloxycarbonylethyl)phenyl-10-methylacridinium 9-carboxylate trifluoromethane sulfonate (AE), which reacts rapidly with alkaline hydrogen peroxide to produce light, has been used as a detection label in a number of assay procedures, including nucleic acid probe-based systems [Nelson et al. (1995) in Nonisotopic Probing, Blotting and Sequencing (Kricka, L. J., Ed.) pp 391-428, Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, CA]. We have synthesized a number of derivatives of this AE and characterized their chemiluminescent properties. These derivatives display significant differences in the kinetics of the chemiluminescence reaction as well as optimal pH for light production. These differences allow two or more derivatives to be simultaneously detected and quantitated in a single reaction vessel. Several of these derivatives have been covalently linked to nucleic acid probe molecules and have been further characterized in regard to chemiluminescence properties as well as hydrolysis of the ester bond in both single- and double-stranded conformations. On the basis of these properties, homogeneous assay formats utilizing DNA probes labeled with various AE derivatives were developed. Simultaneous detection and quantitation of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the gag and pol regions of HIV, and wild-type and mutant HIV sequences was achieved with high sensitivity and discrimination.
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PMID:Simultaneous detection of multiple nucleic acid targets in a homogeneous format. 867 1

During November-December 1992, in Madras, India, interviews were conducted with 84 public and private physicians who treated at least five sexually transmitted disease (STD) patients each week in Royapuram, Washerman, Evr High Road, T. Nagar, and Adyar regions of the city. Field workers also observed 108 medical consultations of 48 of the physicians interviewed. Researchers aimed to use the findings of this baseline survey to optimize STD services in order to reduce the population at risk of HIV/AIDS. 61% of the physicians interviewed made specific clinical diagnoses. 17% made only syndrome-based diagnoses. 22% used both types of diagnoses. 48% used a treatment effective against the two main pathogens for male urethritis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis. 20% used a treatment that was not effective against either of these pathogens. Only 12% used a treatment effective against chancroid and syphilis for men with genital ulcers. 29% did not use a treatment effective against chancroid or syphilis. For female genital ulcers, only 10.7% of physicians used an effective treatment against chancroid or syphilis. 21.4% provided treatment effective against neither chancroid nor syphilis in female STD patients with genital ulcers. 79% claimed to counsel their STD patients to use condoms, but only 30% were observed actually promoting condoms for STD or HIV/AIDS prevention. Physicians instructed only 6% of STD patients how to use condoms. Condoms were given to only one STD patient. These findings highlight the need for physicians and other health care providers to adopt the syndromic approach to STD treatment and for developing and evaluating innovative and effective programs of patient education in order to reduce the risk of HIV infection.
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PMID:Sexually transmitted disease services in Madras: could their role in AIDS prevention be strengthened? 869 Apr 98

The struggle against sexually transmitted diseases (STD) constitutes a priority of public health in developing countries: STD cause complications, particularly in pregnant women, and facilitate the transmission of HIV. One of the strategies in the struggle against STD is the diagnosis and the early treatment of these infections. The STD, and in particular infections of Neisseria gonorrhea and Chlamydia trachomatis, are difficult to diagnose in women without complementary analyses, which primary health care may not be able to supply. Health care provided to patients could be standardized and improved by considering the signs and symptoms. We studied the prevalence and risk factors of STD among 192 pregnant women consulting the health clinic in Libreville, Gabon, in September 1993. The prevalence of STD was high (13.5% rate of cervical infection with gonorrhea or Chlamydia trachomatis). We then evaluated the different diagnostic strategies or algorithms. Regardless of the type of examination (medical interview, simple clinical examination or examination with a speculum), the use of scores integrating risk factors, the clinical signs and symptoms outperformed hierarchical algorithms. This approach was more sensitive and specific and easy to perform. Use of this method may enable more effective screening of STD and also avoid most maternal and perinatal complications.
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PMID:[Development and evaluation of screening algorithms for sexually transmitted diseases in pregnant women at Libreville, Gabon]. 870 20

Important unpublished literature and literature published since 1980 on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in South Africa were reviewed to provide a picture of what is known about the epidemiology of STDs in the country. STD infection is a serious public health problem in South Africa, with significant morbidity from both ulcerative and nonulcerative infections, particularly in women. The body of data on STDs was found to be largely sound, but incomplete. Ulcerative infections, caused mainly by syphilis and chancroid, are present in 5-15% of asymptomatic clinic attenders, while prevalence rates of gonorrhea average 8%, with up to 13% of gonococcal isolates resistant to penicillin antibiotics. Chlamydia and vaginal infections are detected in 16% and 20-49%, respectively, of antenatal and family planning clinic attenders. HIV seroprevalence has reached 7.6% among antenatal clinic attenders.
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PMID:Sexually transmitted diseases in South Africa. 915 64

A sample of 808 nonpregnant women residing in an area of high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) was studied with respect to sexual risk behaviors in the 4-month period before and after testing for a series of STDs. All women were tested for both Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis and were given the option of also taking a test for the HIV antibody. Neither the experience of receiving a negative HIV test result nor that of receiving a positive versus a negative diagnosis for STDs resulted in significant mean changes in self-reports of STD or HIV susceptibility, condom use consistency, or number of sexual partners during the 4 months following testing. However, perceived susceptibility was found to predict when women would decrease the consistency with which they used condoms as a function of HIV testing.
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PMID:Testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases: implications for risk behavior in women. 881 71

Recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is a potent immune regulatory cytokine and is involved in the defense against several intracellular organisms, such as Chlamydia and Toxoplasma. Furthermore IFN-gamma is able to inhibit the growth of human tumor cell lines. The ability to inhibit the growth of intracellular organisms makes the therapeutic use of recombinant human IFN-gamma in certain patient groups, such as those with chronic granulomatous disease, leprosy, and HIV infection, very attractive. We have shown recently that IFN-gamma-mediated effects can be blocked by heparin and that this inhibitory effect can be abrogated by the addition of protamine. In this report, we show that the antagonistic effect of protamine on heparin-mediated inhibition of IFN-gamma activity is mainly due to the capacity of protamine to enhance IFN-gamma activity. We found that protamine enhances the capacity of IFN-gamma to inhibit the growth of different brain tumor cell lines, to induce indolamine 2, 3-dioxygenase activity, to induce toxoplasmostasis, and to induce MHC class II antigen expression in human glioblastoma cells and in human native fibroblasts. We were able to demonstrate that IFN-gamma binds to protamine, and, therefore, we assume that the effect of protamine on IFN-gamma is due to a direct interaction between the two molecules.
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PMID:Protamine enhances the activity of human recombinant interferon-gamma. 883 19


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