Degree of Immunosuppression at Entry into Care
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
Summary and Comment
Free
Despite public health recommendations for wider HIV testing in both the U.S. and Canada, a substantial number of people still enter care with advanced HIV infection.
By Carlos del Rio, MD
May 10, 2010
Covering:
Althoff KN et al., Clin Infect Dis 2010 Jun 1; 50:1512
Congenital Syphilis Makes a Comeback
Dermatology
Summary and Comment
In light of a resurgence, clinicians need to remember the clinical features of syphilis in infants.
By Jan V. Hirschmann, MD
May 7, 2010
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2010 Apr 16; 59:413
Home-Based Screening for Sexually Transmitted Infections
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Patients vastly preferred collection of vaginal specimens at home over clinic-based collection.
Rectal Testing for Chlamydial and Gonorrheal Infections
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
At one large clinic, rectal testing increased the overall detection rate of chlamydial and gonorrheal infections by 15%.
Recent Trends in Congenital Syphilis and Herpes Simplex Virus Prevalence
Rates of congenital syphilis are rising; HSV rates are stable but still worrisome.
By Peggy Sue Weintrub, MD
May 5, 2010
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2010 Apr 16; 59:413
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2010 Apr 23; 59:456
Azithromycin for Early Syphilis?
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
In patients without HIV infection, 2 g of oral azithromycin was as efficacious as benzathine penicillin G for treatment of early syphilis.
HIV Prevention Trials: Finding Our Way Forward
Although HIV prevention needs urgent attention, ethical issues surrounding research in this area are complex and far from being resolved.
By Rebeca M. Plank, MD
May 3, 2010
Covering:
Padian NS et al., AIDS 2010 Mar 13; 24:621
Can Chlamydia Screening Prevent Pelvic Inflammatory Disease?
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
We still don't know: Most cases of PID occurred in women who tested negative at baseline.
By Ann J. Davis, MD
April 29, 2010
Covering:
Oakeshott P et al., BMJ 2010 Apr 8; 340:c1642
Screening for Chlamydia trachomatis to Prevent Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Perhaps the focus should be on more frequent testing for women at higher risk.
Is Do-It-Yourself Home Cervicovaginal Sampling an Effective Screening Strategy?
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Self-sampling response rates and yield of high-grade cervical lesions in women who tested positive for human papillomavirus were high.
Rate of Virologic Suppression Failure Among HIV-Positive Patients
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
At 5 years, 3.4% of patients on a triple-drug regimen developed virologic suppression failure.
By Jamaluddin Moloo, MD, MPH
April 13, 2010
Covering:
The Pursuing Later Treatment Options II (PLATO II) Project Team., Arch Intern Med 2010 Mar 8; 170:410
Pregnancy Outcomes After HPV Vaccination
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
The data are largely reassuring.
Expanding HIV Testing and Treatment
The "test and treat" strategy continued to gain momentum at the 2010 Retrovirus Conference.
Does Circumcision Reduce HIV Acquisition in Men Who Have Sex with Men?
The jury's still out.
By Raphael J. Landovitz, MD
March 8, 2010
Covering:
Gust DA et al., AIDS 2010 Feb 17
Acyclovir Slows HIV Disease Progression
Another study confirms this association. The question now: What to do about it?
By Abigail Zuger, MD
March 8, 2010
Covering:
Lingappa JR et al., Lancet 2010 Mar 6; 375:824
Buvé A and Lynen L., Lancet 2010 Mar 6; 375:782
Lack of Care for HIV-Infected Crack Cocaine Users
Twenty percent of the HIV-infected crack cocaine users hospitalized at two U.S. sites reported that they had never received outpatient HIV care.
By Ingrid V. Bassett, MD, MPH
March 8, 2010
Covering:
Bell C et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2010 Feb 18
Just Say No? Abstinence-Only Intervention Might Work Best
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
. . . but the data still are not complete.
By Ann J. Davis, MD
March 4, 2010
Covering:
Jemmott JB III et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2010 Feb; 164:152
Sexual Risk Behavior and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in China
A cross-sectional survey of MSM in two Chinese cities shows a high prevalence of HIV infection, low rates of condom use, and widespread use of the Internet to find sex partners.
By Raphael Landovitz, MD
February 22, 2010
Covering:
Zou H et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2010 Feb; 53:S81
Neonatal Male Circumcision: Time for a Clear Recommendation?
Recent data support the health benefits of circumcision.
By Howard Bauchner, MD
February 17, 2010
Covering:
Tobian AAR et al., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2010 Jan; 164:78
Brady MT., Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2010 Jan; 164:94
Switching from a Protease Inhibitor to an Integrase Inhibitor
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Such a switch resulted in lower lipid levels but more viremia in two identical HIV trials.
By Bruce Soloway, MD
February 16, 2010
Covering:
Eron JJ et al., Lancet 2010 Jan 30; 375:396
HPV Testing for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Invasive Cervical Cancer
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
For women 35 or older, HPV testing was superior to cytology for detecting high-grade CIN.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
February 11, 2010
Covering:
Ronco G et al., Lancet Oncol 2010 Jan 19
Castle PE and Hormuzd AK., Lancet Oncol 2010 Jan 19
Radiologists Continue to Recommend Routine Screening Mammography Beginning at Age 40
Women's Health
Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Recommendation contrasts with recent guidelines from the USPSTF.
Annual Review of Pediatric and Adolescent Vital Statistics
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
The data reveal increasing rates of teen pregnancies, cesarean sections, and very-low-birth-weight infants as well as persistent disparities in life expectancy.
Labor Induction at Term Is a Risk Factor for Cesarean Delivery
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Risk for cesarean delivery was higher with induced labor than with spontaneous labor or expectant management, regardless of comparison group.
Pooled NAAT Following Various HIV Antibody Tests
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
Summary and Comment
Free
Pooled NAAT can improve detection of HIV infection, even when highly sensitive third-generation immunoassays are used for initial antibody testing.
By Anna K. Person, MD, and Charles B. Hicks, MD
January 25, 2010
Covering:
Patel P et al., Arch Intern Med 2010 Jan 11; 170:66