Chlamydia Treatment and Peripheral Artery Disease
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Eight weeks of rifalazil did not improve peak walking time on a treadmill.
By Neil M. Ampel, MD
February 18, 2009
Covering:
Jaff MR et al., Circulation 2009 Jan 27; 119:452
Stem-Cell Transplantation Enables Long-Term HIV Control
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
Summary and Comment
Free
A leukemia patient lost his CCR5 receptors and achieved remission of both leukemia and HIV infection.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
February 13, 2009
Covering:
Hütter G et al., N Engl J Med 2009 Feb 12; 360:692
Levy JA., N Engl J Med 2009 Feb 12; 360:724
STIs in the U.S.
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Rates of reportable STIs rose markedly in 2007 and were particularly high among blacks.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
February 12, 2009
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2009 Jan
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2009 Jan
Survival of HIV-Infected ICU Patients Continues to Improve
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Sixty-nine percent of HIV-infected patients admitted to an ICU from 2000 through 2004 were discharged alive.
By Thomas Glück, MD
February 11, 2009
Covering:
Powell K et al., Chest 2009 Jan; 135:11
Rethinking Guidelines for HIV-Infected HCWs
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
No cases of HIV infection were found in patients who were operated on by an HIV-infected cardiothoracic surgeon.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
February 11, 2009
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2009 Jan 9; 57:1413
HIV and Community-Acquired MRSA
Community-acquired MRSA infections are increasingly common in HIV-positive people. This article summarizes current knowledge regarding risk factors and management of these infections.
RNA Interference Prevents Genital Herpes in Mice
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Vaginally administered siRNAs protected mice against HSV challenges for as long as 1 week.
Selection of HIV Variants in Heterosexual Transmission
Heterosexually transmitted HIV subtype D and A variants were less diverse and more closely linked to ancestral virus than were strains circulating in the infecting partner.
By Keith Henry, MD
February 2, 2009
Covering:
Sagar M et al., J Infect Dis 2009 Feb 15; 199:580
Abstinence Pledges Five Years Later
Psychiatry
Summary and Comment
The negative impact of a popular program
By Barbara Geller, MD
January 26, 2009
Covering:
Rosenbaum JE., Pediatrics 2009 Jan; 123:e110
HIV Transmission in the U.S.
Using the CDCs recently revised numbers for HIV incidence, investigators estimate that the annual rate of HIV transmission has remained below 10% since the early 1990s.
By Paul E. Sax, MD
January 16, 2009
Covering:
Holtgrave DR et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009 Jan 7
More About Circumcision and STI Prevention
General Medicine
Summary and Comment
Prevention of HPV carriage was modest, but protection against HIV infection among heterosexual men with seropositive partners was dramatic.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
January 15, 2009
Covering:
Nielson CM et al., J Infect Dis 2009 Jan 1; 199:7
Auvert B et al., J Infect Dis 2009 Jan 1; 199:14
Warner L et al., J Infect Dis 2009 Jan 1; 199:59
Gray RH et al., J Infect Dis 2009 Jan 1; 199:1
Hypersensitivity to Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
Women's Health
Summary and Comment
Rates of allergic reactions were very low in an Australian school population that had received 380,000 doses of HPV vaccine.
By Anna Wald, MD, MPH
January 15, 2009
Covering:
Kang LW et al., BMJ 2008 Dec 2; 337:a2642
Lopinavir Dosing During Pregnancy
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
During the third trimester of pregnancy, the dose might need to be increased.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
January 14, 2009
Covering:
Mirochnick M et al., J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2008 Dec 15; 49:485
Delayed HCV Antibody Responses in HIV-Infected Patients
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Because of the prolonged lag time in seroconversion, the diagnosis of acute HCV infection may be missed unless RNA testing is done.
Top HIV/AIDS Stories of 2008
Some perspective on the years greatest successes and disappointments
Crash and Burn of HIV Vaccine Candidates
The focus of HIV vaccine research was redefined in 2008.
No Good News Yet on Anti-HIV Microbicides
Two intravaginal microbicide gels were found to be safe but completely ineffective.
HIV Incidence in the U.S.: New Methods Result in a Higher Estimate
Overall, the number of new infections in the U.S. is holding steady but is higher than we originally thought.
Rapid HIV Testing Is Not Without Its Flaws
The low specificity of the oral swab tests remains a concern, as do poor follow-up rates among those testing positive.
The Prospect of PrEP
The use of antiretrovirals for pre-exposure prophylaxis is being widely investigated. What if its found to be safe and effective?
Sexual Risk Behavior During HIV Prevention Trials
Results from the oral-tenofovir HIV prevention trial in Ghana show that being in an HIV prevention study does not necessarily lead to risk disinhibition.
Another Microbicide Fails to Prevent HIV Transmission
Infectious Diseases
Summary and Comment
Carraguard, a vaginal microbicide made from a seaweed derivative, is not effective in preventing HIV acquisition.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
December 18, 2008
Covering:
Skoler-Karpoff S et al., Lancet 2008 Dec 6; 372:1977
Cates W and Feldblum P., Lancet 2008 Dec 6; 372:1932
Is Elimination of a Generalized HIV Epidemic Possible?
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
Summary and Comment
Free
A mathematical model using data from South Africa suggests that the HIV epidemic in this region could be eliminated with rapid scale-up of universal voluntary HIV testing and immediate ART.
Another Call for Routine HIV Screening
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care
Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Free
The American College of Physicians adds its support to a policy of HIV testing for all adolescents and adults, regardless of perceived risk.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
December 8, 2008
Covering:
Qaseem A et al., Ann Intern Med 2009 Jan 20
A Pivotal Step for HIV Vaccines
Investigators continue to explore why the HIV vaccine used in the Step Study failed to protect high-risk individuals from HIV acquisition — and seemed to increase risk in some.
By Frances Priddy, MD, MPH
December 8, 2008
Covering:
Buchbinder SP et al., Lancet 2008 Dec 5; 372:1881
McElrath MJ et al., Lancet 2008 Dec 5; 372:1894