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Query: UMLS:C0019693 (HIV)
 170,526 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We enrolled 253 HIV-antibody positive heroin addicts without HIV-related disease (n = 81) or with persistent generalized lymphadenopathy (n = 172) in a prospective study to evaluate clinical progression to AIDS related complex (ARC) or AIDS and to identify factors of possible prognostic relevance. Follow-up lasted between 6 and 40 months (median 12 months). According to the non-parametric Cox's model the only significant (P less than 0.001) prognostic variable was T4+ cell count considered in three classes: greater than 800/microliters (no depletion), 400-800/microliters (moderate depletion) and less than 400/microliters (absolute depletion). Subjects with T4+ cell count of less than 400/microliters had a risk of developing ARC or AIDS that was 6.46 and 1.98 higher than those with values of greater than 800/microliters or between 400 and 800/microliters respectively. The estimated probability of progression to ARC or AIDS was 0.029, 0.056 and 0.172 at one year in subjects with T4+ cell count of greater than 800/microliters 400-800/microliters and less than 400/microliters, respectively, and 0.296, 0.501, and 0.896 at two years.
Int J STD AIDS
PMID:T4+ cell depletion as a major risk factor for AIDS-related complex and AIDS. Longitudinal study of 253 HIV-antibody positive heroin addicts from northern Italy. 167 62

Since January 1990, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients attending two sexually transmitted disease clinics in Baltimore, Md, have been offered T-lymphocyte subset evaluations. From January through September, CD4+ lymphocyte concentrations were measured in 223 newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients; 50% had fewer than 500 CD4+ T cells and 12% had fewer than 200 CD4+ T cells per cubic millimeter. Most patients were asymptomatic, and, even among patients with fewer than 200 CD4+ T cells, 54% had no symptoms or signs suggestive of advanced HIV infection. Homosexually active men had significantly lower mean CD4+ lymphocyte concentrations than intravenous drug users. Given the substantial numbers of patients with CD4+ concentrations that qualified them for zidovudine therapy, we also assessed their mechanisms of paying for health care. Only 24% of HIV-infected patients had private insurance. Seventy-two percent of patients with fewer than 200 CD4+ T cells either had no insurance or relied on public assistance for health care. Thus, although 50% of asymptomatic individuals identified by routine voluntary HIV screening in an inner-city sexually transmitted disease clinic may benefit from therapy for their disease, 75% of those qualifying for presently recommended therapy either depend on publicly funded health care or have no means of payment for care.
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PMID:CD4 lymphocyte concentrations in patients with newly identified HIV infection attending STD clinics. Potential impact on publicly funded health care resources. 167 76

The abstract of the regional meeting on behavioral interventions for sexually transmitted disease (STD) and AIDS prevention held in Jamaica in 1990, and sponsored by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO, is provided. The conference objectives were to assess existing STD intervention programs in the Americas, to improve coordination of health approaches, to evaluate knowledge and the implication for prevention interventions, to develop evaluation procedures on program effectiveness, and to provide guidelines and regional strategies for prevention and control of STD/HIV. In the inaugural session the idea that further spread of AIDS is minimized through both HIV and STD prevention programs was introduced. Effective strategies for AIDS prevention can be adapted for STD prevention. The new sexual candor has positively affected public understanding and comprehensive research, and applies to the discussion of all STDs. Coordination of STD and AIDS activity makes more efficient use of resources, and can be adapted to specific country needs. Coordination involved information sharing on effective prevention strategies, joint planning and provision of services such as serological testing and counseling, and integration of administration, personnel, and infrastructure for HIV/AIDS and STD prevention. Primary prevention and longterm change are desired. Coordination also involves joint efforts with other health care activities such as maternal and child health. Plenary session 1 was devoted to expert opinion on specific STDs, their physical and mental impact, and their economic and environmental impact. The day 2 plenary session reported on the increases in HIV and STD prevalence, and the various opportunities and needs for intervention. Target audiences were identified as those at high risk and teens and children as anticipatory risks. Religious opinions, societal norms, and public opinion were obstacles to program support. Other sessions dealt with condom promotion, the role and training of health workers, and counseling and partner notification. The final day's discussion focused on methods and materials approaches: general public, STD service, outreach, youth, and women. The findings of the last plenary session focused on funding and staffing shortages and lack of coordinated national programs. The Kingston Declaration, which proposes a plan for action for governments, community groups, nongovernment organizations, and others, was agreed upon. Basic components of any program should be accessibility, targeted risk groups, cultural sensitivity, and local design.
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PMID:Regional meeting on behavioral interventions for STD and AIDS prevention. 168 18

The sexually transmitted disease surveillance system instituted at the Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) clinic of the Transvaal Memorial Institute for Child Health and Development was evaluated after 1 year. The presenting complaint of the vast majority of the 227 patients was sexual abuse. In more than half (52%), child abuse was medically proven, and it was highly suspected in another 18%. In only 6% did no abuse take place. About half the patients suffered non-penetrative sexual abuse, 40% penetrative abuse and 10% suffered non-sexual abuse. Smears for gonorrhoea were positive in 2 out of 152 patients; for Chlamydia in 1 out of 140; for Gardnerella and Trichomonas in 2 and 1 case, respectively. Syphilis serology yielded 3 positive results out of 162, and hepatitis B, 6 out of 143. No positive results were found in tests for HIV and herpes. With the exception of hepatitis B tests, all positive results occurred in children considered on clinical grounds to have medically proven or highly suspected sexual abuse. These results will allow modification of the surveillance system and testing of those children more likely to test positive, while doing fewer tests overall.
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PMID:Sexually transmitted disease surveillance in a child abuse clinic. 173 30

AIDS is clearly the most lethal of all the STDs. The universal adherence to "safe" sexual practices is required in order to try to limit this epidemic. Unfortunately, the other forms of transmission of HIV, intravenous injection and via the fetal-placental circulation, have ensured that simply altering the sexual practices of society would not be sufficient to end this epidemic quickly.
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PMID:Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. A venereal disease. 173 72

From December 1988 till April 1989 154 women who worked in clubs (120) and behind windows (34) in and around Ghent, Belgium, were interviewed about knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in their professional life. Television scored best (98%) as a source of information for AIDS. A leaflet posted in every door in 1987 was mentioned in 60%. Less than half the women gave more than 7 correct answers on 11 questions about safety of sex techniques. Intercourse with condom, the sexual act mostly done, was considered safer than deep kissing, masturbation and even massage. In 10 to 20% of the professional sex contacts no condoms were used, which leads to 1000 to 4000 unprotected contacts every week in the sex industry in Ghent (population 500,000). Condom use with the private partner is exceptional. Proposals for condom use almost invariably come from the women themselves instead of from their clients. We conclude that up till now health education efforts to prostitutes and their clients were not sufficient and that they should be intensified.
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PMID:Do prostitutes need more health education regarding sexually transmitted diseases and the HIV infection? Experience in a Belgian city. 174 21

Epidemiologic studies exploring risks for sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus infection, typically rely on self-report of sexual behaviors. Estimates of the incidence and prevalence of sexual practices are important measures for assessment of behavioral interventions as well as for examining disease transmission. This study examined the degree of agreement within heterosexual couples reporting frequency and type of sexual behaviors, including condom use. Self-reports were obtained from 71 couples attending Baltimore sexually transmitted disease clinics in 1989-1990 regarding the number of days and number of episodes of three specific sexual practices (any type of sexual activity, vaginal sex, and vaginal sex with condom use) over a 30-day period. Paired t test analysis revealed both sexes to be very consistent in their reporting of recent sexual experiences. Multivariate analysis showed that agreement did not vary by socioeconomic status, by whether the partners were married to each other, or by age. These findings suggest that reliable information regarding sexual behaviors may be obtained from men or women.
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PMID:Interpartner reliability of reporting of recent sexual behaviors. 174 26

The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all primary care physicians assess the sexually transmitted disease/human immunodeficiency virus (STD/HIV) risk of all adolescent and adult patients. To determine whether factors amenable to change through continuing medical education are associated with frequent and thorough STD/HIV risk assessment, a telephone survey of primary care physicians in the Washington, DC metropolitan area was conducted (n = 961). Thirty-seven percent of physicians reported regularly asking new adult patients about their sexual practices; 60% asked new adolescent patients. STD/HIV risk questioning was associated with physicians' confidence in their ability to help prevent HIV, comfort with discussing patients' sexual practices, and perception of a large STD/HIV problem in their practice. These findings suggest that continuing medical education should target improvement in physicians' sexual practice questioning skills.
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PMID:Frequency and thoroughness of STD/HIV risk assessment by physicians in a high-risk metropolitan area. 174 64

The article proposes that the clinical case definition for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in Africa is an unworkable concept, with the wrong definition, incorrect validation, improper use, and consequently is a poor surveillance tool. The definition was proposed by the World Health Organization in 1986 to satisfy the use in countries with limited diagnostic resources, and resources for serological testing. Critical review until now of this procedure was lacking. Currently serological testing is available and of high quality. It does not seem justifiable to continue using a provisional surveillance definition. Abandoning this classification procedure may also lead to the focus on problems other than opportunistic infections and AIDs. Clinical surveillance is important, but as well morbidity and mortality need monitoring. It is argued that the definition is an unworkable concept because patients with underlying immunosuppression disorders such as AIDs can not be easily distinguished from chronic disease patients; i.e., pulmonary tuberculosis, renal failure, uncontrolled diabetes, or diarrhea with weight loss. Clinical accuracy is insufficient. It is the wrong definition because pulmonary tuberculosis with a persistent cough cannot be distinguished for those HIV positive and those not. There is inconsistency in the WHO clinical definition and the Centers for Disease Control definitions of AIDs. The incidence of tuberculosis in countries with unmodified clinical case definitions may contribute to an inflated number of AIDs cases. The wrong standards were used to validate the WHO definition in evaluative studies. The reference sensitivity ranges indicate that the definition is insensitive to identifying seropositive patients. Also, the HIV status of patients does not equate with AIDs. Although designed for surveillance, the clinical case definition is used by doctors for individual patient management. Labeling a patient as having AIDs, when he is HIV negative, leads to negative consequences. Researchers compare African AIDs data with North American data with imprecise and noncomparable definitions. As a surveillance tool in countries with a fragmentary or without a vital registration system, it is an inaccurate tool. Alternatives to obtaining data about the spread and impact of HIV are cluster sampling, hospital surveillance of selected populations, anonymous testing of pregnant women or patients in sexually transmitted disease clinics. In Nairobi, a necropsy survey found that 16% had AIDs but 38% were HIV positive.
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PMID:What use is a clinical case definition for AIDS in Africa? 173 1

This article reports the findings of a study of HIV and STDs prevalence among long-distance truck drivers from East and Central Africa. Similar to prostitutes, truck drivers and a highly mobile population, characterized by having multiple sex partners. The researchers established a tent clinic at the Athi River Weighbridge Police Station near Nairobi, Kenya, where convoys of trucks stop for 3-5 days. 331 men from several East and Central African countries participated in the study. The participants completed a standard questionnaire about their medical history, knowledge, attitudes, and sex practices, and underwent a physical examination and blood test. Their ages ranged from 18-61 years, with a mean age of 31 years. 18% of the participants tested positive for HIV. Additionally, 4.6% tested positive for syphilis, and 4.5% and 4.3% suffered from urethral discharge ranked as the highest risk factor, followed by lack of circumcision. The study found no difference in the HIV prevalence rate between married and single men. The prevalence rate was far higher among Central Africans (31.75%) than among East Africans (16.65%), possibly explained by the hypothesis that says that HIV was first introduced in Central Africa, from where it spread to East Africa. Older drivers where more likely to be infected with HIV than younger drivers, with the age group of 40-49 having the highest prevalence rate. Researchers suspect that this is due to the fact that older drivers have been exposed longer and have more money with which to purchase sex. The report concludes that truck drivers constitute a high risk group, and should be targeted accordingly, with education and condom use campaigns.
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PMID:Long distance truck-drivers: 1. Prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). 175 21


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