Can HPV Vaccination Combat Genital Warts?
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Yes — and the benefit extends beyond vaccinated women to their male sexual partners.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
November 5, 2009
Covering:
Fairley CK et al., Sex Transm Infect 2009 Oct 16
Therapeutic HPV Vaccination for Preventing Progression of Vulvar Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Free
Clinical responses were achieved in women with grade 3 VIN who were vaccinated against HPV-16 viral oncoproteins.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
November 4, 2009
Covering:
Kenter GG et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 5; 361:1838
Finn OJ and Edwards RP., N Engl J Med 2009 Nov 5; 361:1899
Darunavir + Raltegravir + Etravirine = High Rate of Treatment Success
Ninety percent of highly treatment-experienced patients who received this combination achieved virologic suppression at week 24; results were sustained at week 48.
By Paul E. Sax, MD
November 2, 2009
Covering:
Yazdanpanah Y et al., Clin Infect Dis 2009 Nov 1; 49:1441
Life Expectancy for HIV-Infected Patients in the U.S.
Average life expectancy continues to improve, but disparities persist.
A Glimmer of Hope for HIV Vaccines
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
Summary and Comment
Free
A large trial has shown that a vaccine can protect against HIV acquisition. The task now is to figure out how to build on this initial success.
By Frances H. Priddy, MD, MPH, and Carlos del Rio, MD
October 22, 2009
Covering:
Rerks-Ngarm S et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 20
Dolin R., N Engl J Med 2009 Oct 20
Ethnicity Affects Attitudes About HPV Vaccination
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Ethnic minority women in the U.K. were less likely than white women to know about HPV and to view vaccination as acceptable.
STI and HIV Services Fall Short for Sexually Active Young Women
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
More than one third of young women who receive contraceptive services are not concurrently offered STI or HIV services.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
October 13, 2009
Covering:
Farr SL et al., Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009 Aug; 201:142.e1
First HIV Integrase Inhibitor Performs Well in Previously Untreated Patients
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Raltegravir and efavirenz yielded similar rates of virologic suppression, but raltegravir had fewer side effects.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
October 6, 2009
Covering:
Lennox JL et al., Lancet 2009 Sep 5; 374:796
HIV Vaccine Study Shows Promise
A new vaccine regimen, tested among more than 16,000 young adults, was found to offer modest protection against HIV acquisition.
By Frances H. Priddy, MD, MPH
September 28, 2009
Covering:
McNeil DG Jr., New York Times 2009 Sep 24
U.S. Military HIV Research Program 2009 Sep 24
U.S. Military HIV Research Program., 2009 Sep 24
U.S. Military HIV Research Program., 2009 Sep 4
Testing for and Prevalence of HCV Infection in HIV-Infected Patients
During a 12-year observational study among HIV-infected patients, the prevalence of HCV coinfection decreased from 37% to 20%.
Primary Care for HIV-Positive Patients
General Medicine
Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
All the usual benchmarks apply to care of HIV-positive patients.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
September 17, 2009
Covering:
Aberg JA et al., Clin Infect Dis 2009 Sep 1; 49:651
New Hope for HIV Vaccine Development
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Using a novel technique, researchers identified antibodies that neutralize a broad array of HIV strains.
For Cervical Cancer, Age Matters — Both the Woman's and Her HPV Infection's
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Persistent HPV infection with carcinogenic HPV genotypes was associated with higher risk for CIN 2+; cytology screening was most beneficial in women 35 or older.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
September 10, 2009
Covering:
Castle PE et al., BMJ 2009 Jul 28; 339:b2569
Sasieni P et al., BMJ 2009 Jul 28; 339:b2968
Ronco G et al., BMJ 2009 Jul 28; 339:b3005
Rapid Urine Chlamydia Test for Males Is Highly Sensitive
Emergency Medicine
Summary and Comment
When tested on first-void urine samples, a new rapid chlamydia test had a sensitivity of 82%.
ART and the Risk for Sexual HIV Transmission
In this study, no transmissions occurred in HIV-infected patients with viral loads <400 copies/mL on ART. However, evidence is still insufficient to estimate the risk of transmission directly or to provide guidance on the use of ART for preventing HIV transmission.
STD Screening Among MSM
During a 2-year period, STD testing was performed at 23% of all MSM visits to a Boston clinic. At least one STD was diagnosed at 11% of those visits.
Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine: Postlicensure Safety Data and Marketing Controversies
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Free
Causal nature of qHPV vaccination in relation to adverse events remains unclear; marketing has been criticized for focusing on cervical cancer prevention.
By Ann J. Davis, MD
September 3, 2009
Covering:
Slade BA et al., JAMA 2009 Aug 19; 302:750
Rothman SM and Rothman DJ., JAMA 2009 Aug 19; 302:781
Haug C., JAMA 2009 Aug 19; 302:795
A Biomarker for HIV-Associated Cognitive Disorder
Neurology
Summary and Comment
A small study demonstrates the usefulness of the peripheral blood monocyte HIV DNA reservoir as a marker for HIV-associated cognitive impairment and a predictor of persistent cognitive dysfunction after adequate control of HIV.
By Nagagopal Venna, MD, MRCP(I), MRCP(UK)
September 1, 2009
Covering:
Valcour VG et al., Neurology 2009 Mar 17; 72:992
Nonmelanoma Skin Cancers in Patients with HIV Mirror Cancer in the General Population
Dermatology
Summary and Comment
In persons with HIV infection, as in the general population, the factors most associated with the development of cutaneous malignancies are the traditional ones.
By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
August 28, 2009
Covering:
Crum-Cianflone N et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jun 22; 169:1130
Condoms Prevent Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2!
Dermatology
Summary and Comment
Consistent users had a significantly reduced risk for genital herpes infection compared with never users.
By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
August 21, 2009
Covering:
Martin ET et al., Arch Intern Med 2009 Jul 13; 169:1233
Novel Approach to Immunization Protects Monkeys from AIDS
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Injecting actual antibody genes instead of SIV antigens protected against later SIV infection.
Non–AIDS-Defining Cancer Is More Common in HIV-Infected Than in HIV-Uninfected Men
In the U.S. VA Healthcare System, the incidence of non–AIDS-defining malignancies was 60% higher in HIV-infected patients than in matched HIV-uninfected patients.
By Keith Henry, MD
August 10, 2009
Covering:
Bedimo RJ et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009 Jul 16
Identifying Patients with Acute HIV Infection and Their Partners
In North Carolina, a protocol for negative or indeterminate HIV-antibody results that involved nucleic acid amplification testing, confirmatory antibody testing, and follow-up interviews led to identification of newly infected partners of newly infected patients.
Impressive Results with Raltegravir in Treatment-Naive HIV Patients
Rates of virologic suppression were similar between raltegravir and efavirenz, but drug-related adverse events were less common with raltegravir.
By Paul E. Sax, MD
August 10, 2009
Covering:
Lennox JL et al., Lancet 2009 Aug 3
Emery S and Winston A., Lancet 2009 Aug 3
ART Initiation in Resource-Poor Settings
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
A computer model suggests that starting ART at CD4 counts <350 cells/mm3 , rather than <250 cells/mm3 , would improve morbidity and mortality and be cost-effective.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
August 5, 2009
Covering:
Walensky RP et al., Ann Intern Med 2009 Aug 4; 151:157