Circumcision to Prevent HIV: A Promising Strategy Raises Provocative Questions
Circumcision in high-risk adult males lowers their rate of HIV infection, but will this procedure be culturally acceptable?
Triple-Class Failure in HIV-Infected Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
About 9% of patients who initiate combination antiretroviral therapy develop extensive triple-class virologic failure within 10 years.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
December 19, 2007
Covering:
Phillips AN et al., Lancet 2007 Dec 8; 370:1923
Mills EJ and Nachega JB., Lancet 2007 Dec 8; 370:1885
New Rapid Chlamydia Test
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Point-of-service diagnosis and treatment
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
December 13, 2007
Covering:
Mahilum-Tapay L et al., BMJ 2007 Dec 8; 335:1190
Bacterial Vaginosis: Condoms Might Prevent More Than Pregnancy
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Consistent condom use cut risk for new and persistent or recurrent BV by about half.
BV Incidence Among Lesbians
Women's Health Summary and Comment
In a community setting, BV prevalence was higher in lesbians than in heterosexual women.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
December 13, 2007
Covering:
Evans AL et al., Sex Transm Infect 2007 Oct; 83:470
New Rapid Test for Chlamydia
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
An easy-to-read immunoassay-based test for <$EMPH_O>Chlamydia<$EMPH_C> shows good sensitivity, specificity, and turnaround time.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
December 12, 2007
Covering:
Mahilum-Tapay L et al., BMJ 2007 Dec 8; 335:1190
Updated Antiretroviral Treatment Guidelines from DHHS and EACS
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Free
The latest guidelines include new recommendations on resistance testing, earlier initiation of therapy, and use of HLA B*5701 testing in patients considering abacavir.
Origin of HIV in the U.S.
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Sequence analysis of archival HIV strains suggests that the AIDS epidemic in the Western Hemisphere began in Haiti.
Treating HIV Lipodystrophy: A Promising New Approach
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Tesamorelin, a growth hormone–releasing hormone analogue, reduced visceral adiposity and improved lipid profiles among HIV-infected patients in a multicenter clinical trial.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
December 5, 2007
Covering:
Falutz J et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Dec 6; 357:2359
Blackman MR., N Engl J Med 2007 Dec 6; 357:2397
Hepatic Steatosis Is Common in HIV-Infected Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In a small Boston study, hepatic steatosis was detected in 42% of HIV-infected patients and was associated with insulin resistance and visceral fat accumulation.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
December 5, 2007
Covering:
Hadigan C et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2007 Nov 1; 46:312
Crystal Meth and HIV/AIDS: The Perfect Storm?
Methamphetamine use is already influencing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. and could have an even greater impact in coming years.
The Effects of HIV Infection on TB
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Genotypic clusters of TB including
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
November 21, 2007
Covering:
DeRiemer K et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2007 Nov 1; 176:936
HIV-1 Vaccine Might Increase Infection Risk in Certain Subgroups
The HIV-1 vaccine used in the STEP trial has already been shown to be ineffective, but might it actually cause harm?
Preventing HIV Drug Resistance in Mothers
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
A single dose of tenofovir/emtricitabine reduced NNRTI resistance among mothers receiving short-course zidovudine and single-dose nevirapine to prevent transmission of HIV to their infants.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
November 14, 2007
Covering:
Chi BH et al., Lancet 2007 Nov 7
Lockman S and McIntyre JA., Lancet 2007 Nov 7
How Successful Is the Push for Early HIV Diagnosis?
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Summary and Comment
Free
Not at all, in a large Baltimore cohort: Patients are presenting at progressively later stages of infection.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
November 5, 2007
Covering:
Keruly JC and Moore RD., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Nov 15; 45:1369
Goicoechea M and Smith DM., Clin Infect Dis 2007 Nov 15; 45:1375
Notification of HIV Test Results — Is the Return Visit Necessary?
Notifying patients of HIV test results by telephone seems to be safe and at least as effective as requiring them to receive their results in person.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
November 5, 2007
Covering:
McKinstry LA et al., Sex Transm Dis 2007 Oct; 34:796
Implementing Routine HIV Testing: The Role of State Law
State laws influence the feasibility of implementing HIV testing and sometimes serve as barriers to more-efficient testing procedures.
By Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH
November 5, 2007
Covering:
Wolf LE et al., PLoS ONE 2007 Oct 10; 2:e1005
Hepatic-Fibrosis Progression in HIV/HCV-Coinfected Patients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In an urban cohort, 24% of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients had significant progression of hepatic fibrosis in 3 years.
HIV Testing in the U.S.: A Long Way to Go
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
HIV testing rates in the U.S. remain very low, even in high-risk groups.
HPV vs. Pap Smear for Cervical Abnormalities
General Medicine Summary and Comment
If such testing represents the best approach to screening, readily available HPV DNA tests will be needed.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
October 25, 2007
Covering:
Naucler P et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Oct 18; 357:1589
Runowicz CD., N Engl J Med 2007 Oct 18; 357:1650
Testing the Test: HPV DNA in Cervical Screening
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Adding HPV DNA testing to standard cytologic screening resulted in earlier detection of CIN3+ lesions.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
October 25, 2007
Covering:
Bulkmans NWJ et al., Lancet 2007 Oct 4
Ronco G and Segnan N., Lancet 2007 Oct 4
Racial Disparities in HIV Incidence Among Young MSM
Although the prevalence of unprotected anal intercourse was similar across all racial groups in Baltimore, the prevalence of HIV infection was nine times higher among black men than among white men.
Can Human Papillomavirus Testing Replace the Pap Smear?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
HPV testing had greater sensitivity for detecting grade 2 or 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
October 17, 2007
Covering:
Mayrand M-H et al., N Engl J Med 2007 Oct 18; 357:1579
Pregnancy and HIV Disease Progression
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
In a cohort study conducted since the introduction of potent combination ART, pregnancy seemed to reduce a woman’s risk for HIV disease progression.
HPV: Vaccinate to Prevent, Not to Treat
Women's Health Summary and Comment
HPV vaccination did not improve HPV-16 or -18 clearance rate at 12 months.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
October 4, 2007
Covering:
Hildesheim A et al., JAMA 2007 Aug 15; 298:743
