This week saw the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) descend on Newcastle, in the North East of England, and not far from the Angel of the North, one of the wonders of Britain. This meeting, attended by over 500 sexual health clinicians, always provides an impressive array of research studies from small […]
Latest articles
Who wants to know their HSV-2 serology status, anyway?
Though 75% to 90% of HSV-2 infected persons may be unaware of their condition, they may still be capable of transmitting the infection. A recent study investigates the patterns of viral shedding and presumed infectivity in “asymptomatic” HSV-2 (i.e. HSV-2 in persons unaware of their condition prs to diagnosis) as against “symptomatic” infection. The occasion […]
Is African HSV-2 different ?
Still on the topic of HSV-2 … A clinically effective vaccine has yet to be achieved, though efforts are being made to develop one. A replication-defective HSV-2 mutant virus – the US strain HSV-2 dl5-29 – has been shown to induce immunity against the US strains HSV-2 G and 333 in mice and guinea pigs. […]
The potential of couple-based HIV prevention in Africa
A recent cross-sectional study of 1,542 HIV infected people in Soweto, S. Africa, correlates certain sexual risk behaviours against a number of characteristics, including the self-reported HIV status of the partner. Given most risk behaviours by HIV infected people in this area have been reported to be in the context of long-term (heterosexual) relations, the […]
Is research on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual health a public health priority?
Last month saw the publication by the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) of a report commissioned by the National Institute of Health (NIH): The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding. The report is a systematic review on the existing literature on all aspects of LGBT health, […]
A biomarker for the efficacy of new antiretroviral microbicides?
A recent study claims to have proved the correlation between HIV-1 RNA in the genital secretions of infected individuals and HIV transmission (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient ρ was 0.56 for endocervical samples, and 0.55 for semen). Mechanisms of transmission of HIV transmission through genital mucosa are still not well understood. But, prior to this study, […]
The records of the US syphilis experiments in Guatemala: read them yourself!
Now open to public access: the documents at the heart of last October’s scandal over unethical experiments by US researchers in Guatemala. In 1946-48, the US team, seeking an opportunity to study the effectiveness of penicillin against syphilis and gonorrhoea, conducted experiments involving the deliberate exposure to those diseases of 700 Guatemalan soldiers, mental health […]
UK services need to be more proactive about HIV testing!
At the same time as the release of depressing figures by the UK Health Protection Agency (HPA) showing a doubling of the annual rate of fresh HIV diagnoses in the UK, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has just issued two sets of recommendations on HIV prevention. Annual figures for new diagnoses […]
HIV infection and female genital tract immunity
A recent article offers a systematic review of the literature concerning the influence of clinical characteristics (e.g. pregnancy or STI history) on female genital tract immunity to HIV. This review places itself against the background of an increasing shift in HIV research from systemic considerations relating to transmission of the infection – “the blood compartment” […]
Key recommendations for STI screening in US
The American College of Obstretricians and Gynecologists has just published its updated schedule of recommended screenings, tests and immunizations for periodic assessments or “well woman exams”. These annual assessments of women aged 21 and above are a key instrument of primary care in the US. Their free provision is being considered for inclusion in the […]