A recent laboratory study based on specimens from 766 US patients with vaginal symptoms evaluates the performance of the current US FDA (Federal Drugs Administration) approved diagnostic test for Trichomonas Vaginalis (BD Affirm VPIII hybridization) against a modern molecular amplification based test (Gen-Probe Aptima). The greater sensitivity of the new test emerges clearly in this […]
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What role for antiretroviral microbicides in the future combat against HIV?
At the recent Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), meeting in Boston (27th February – 2nd March) researchers reported results from two trials involving the use of antiretroviral drugs, currently used in therapy, for the prevention of HIV transmission. These trials (MTN 001 & RMP-02/MTN-006) are just two among a whole programme of HIV-related […]
Chlamydia Internet-based self-screening: ‘another tool in our tool-box’?
A recent paper gives details of an Internet-based self-screening programme for Chlamydia in Baltimore, Maryland, running since 2004. The web site was advertised on the radio and in free community magazines, and kits made available at community locations, or sent on the Internet or in response to phone request. Participants return a questionnaire with their […]
So the “clap” has a human side!
Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a nimble bacterium, and past master at adapting itself to resist the challenge of our antibiotics. So maybe we shouldn’t be surprised at this latest accolade: to have been the first proven case of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) between organisms as disparate as the bacterium and a human being! A recent study […]
Do intravaginal practices make African women susceptible to HIV?
February saw the publication of what is probably the largest study of the association in sub-Saharan Africa between intravaginal practices – e.g. cleaning with cloth, paper or soap – and HIV incidence. It is a meta-analysis pooling data of 15,000 women deriving from 13 prospective longitudinal cohort studies. A preponderance of HIV affected sub-Saharans are […]
The case for better Hepatitis C surveillance in HIV-infected men
Far more needs to be done to diagnose incident Hepatitis C (HCV) in HIV-infected men in the era highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). This is the message coming out of a recent US long-term study (http://cid.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2011/01/29/cid.ciq201.full). Current US Public Health Service HIV guidelines endorse HCV testing only at initial HIV diagnosis – maybe because of […]
Why did the HIV epidemic decline in Zimbabwe ?
Why did Zimbabwe experience a remarkable decline in HIV prevalence, from 29% to 16% of adult population between 1997 and 2007, with incidence decline strongly accelerated between about 1999 and 2003? Why was this decline experienced in Zimbabwe and not in other countries? Are there lessons to be learnt from Zimbabwe’s experience? Basing itself on […]
Centres of sexual health misinformation ?
A recent judgment by a federal judge in Baltimore US marks the another move in the ongoing political struggle around Crisis Pregnancy Centres (CPCs), or Limited Service Pregnancy Centres (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/28/pregnancy-disclaimer-law-ruled-unconstitutional/). These volunteer run centres have established themselves with some social service agencies as an appropriate referral for women facing unintended pregnancy. According to their detractors […]
Should boys have HPV vaccination?
3rd February saw the publication of the results of a 4 year study to ascertain the efficacy of HPV vaccine for boys against HPV strains 6, 11, 16 and 18 . The sponsors were Merck, producers of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil. The double-blind study included 4,065 healthy men aged 16-26 in 18 countries. Efficacy was […]
Sexual health this week…chlamydia, female circumcision, WHO and America’s future
Better access to reproductive health care in the US: a promise stillborn? A Step Forward. Obama’s health reform (PL111-148), while conceding nothing to the pro-choice lobby, offers genuine promise of better access to sexual health care. This is thanks to Barbara Mikuski’s provision requiring all new health insurance plans to cover preventive services for women […]