Sexual Abstinence Programs Don’t Prevent Risks from Sexual Contact
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Abstinence-only programs were no more effective than other interventions, including no intervention.
By Keith I. Marton, MD
September 11, 2007
Covering:
Underhill K et al., BMJ 2007 Aug 4; 335:248
Whole-Genome Study Reveals Clues for Improving Host Control of HIV
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Of three loci found to explain 14% of the variance in HIV load, one is a potential target for vaccine development.
Acyclovir to Prevent HIV Infection?
In a Tanzanian trial described at the 4th IAS Conference, acyclovir had no effect on the incidence of HIV acquisition among women with HSV infection; however, adherence was quite poor.
Disappointing Data from Anti-HIV Microbicide Trials
The 2007 IAS Conference provided new details about the two cellulose-sulfate trials that were halted earlier this year.
HPV Vaccine Not Effective Therapeutically
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
A randomized clinical trial has shown that a bivalent HPV vaccine does not affect the clearance of preexisting infection.
Successful HIV Treatment Should Restore CD4-Cell Counts to Normal
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Even with very low pretreatment counts, normalization seems the rule.
By Abigail Zuger, MD
August 29, 2007
Covering:
Mocroft A et al., Lancet 2007 Aug 4; 370:407-13
AIDS and Death Despite High CD4-Cell Counts
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
AIDS-related events and deaths occur even in HIV-infected patients with high CD4-cell counts; whether this means treatment should be started earlier is not certain.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
August 29, 2007
Covering:
The UK Collaborative HIV Cohort (CHIC) Study Steering Committee, AIDS 2007 Aug 20; 21:1717-21
Benefits of Condom Use at Sexual Debut Go Beyond Contraception
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Several years after sexual debut, early condom users had lower STI rates than did nonusers.
By Ann J. Davis, MD
August 23, 2007
Covering:
Shafii T et al., Am J Public Health 2007 Jun; 97:1090-5
False-Negative Rapid-Test Results in Early HIV Infection
Seattle investigators caution that rapid HIV tests might miss the early stages of infection, when patients are theoretically most infectious.
By Carlos del Rio, MD
August 20, 2007
Covering:
Stekler J et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Jul 17; 147:147-8
Is HPV Vaccine Therapeutic in Women with Preexisting Infection?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
The vaccine showed no evidence of clearing oncogenic HPV subtypes in infected women.
HPV Vaccine Is Prophylactic, Not Therapeutic
HPV vaccine does not affect clearance of preexisting infection.
Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Prevalence
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
The high prevalence of chlamydia and gonorrhea in certain populations should inform screening and treatment strategies in the U.S.
By Stephen G. Baum, MD
August 15, 2007
Covering:
Datta SD et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Jul 17; 147:89-96
Maraviroc
The first CCR5 antagonist to receive approval for treatment of HIV infection
FDA Approval: Maraviroc
The CCR5 antagonist maraviroc is an important new option for treatment-experienced patients — as long as they harbor CCR5-tropic virus.
Diaphragm and Gel: No Added Protection Against HIV
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
HIV-acquisition rates were similar between women randomized to use a diaphragm and lubricant gel together with condoms and women randomized to use only condoms.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
August 1, 2007
Covering:
Padian NS et al., Lancet 2007 Jul 21; 370:251-61
Gray RH and Wawer MJ., Lancet 2007 Jul 21; 370:200-1
Etravirine: A Second-Generation NNRTI
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Etravirine shows promise for treatment of resistant HIV infection.
By Rajesh T. Gandhi, MD
August 1, 2007
Covering:
Madruga JV et al., Lancet 2007 Jul 7; 370:29-38
Lazzarin A et al., Lancet 2007 Jul 7; 370:39-48
Hirschel B and Perneger T., Lancet 2007 Jul 7; 370:3-5
Disappointing Results from a Trial of Diaphragm Use for HIV Prevention
Rates of HIV acquisition were similar among women who received condoms plus diaphragms and those who received condoms only.
By Salim S. Abdool Karim, MD, PhD
July 30, 2007
Covering:
Padian NS et al., Lancet 2007 Jul 21; 370:251-61
Gray RH and Wawer MJ., Lancet 2007 Jul 21; 370:200-1
Cancers in HIV-Infected People and Transplant Recipients
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Risk for a wide range of cancers, especially infection-related cancers, is increased in these populations.
By Mary E. Wilson, MD
July 25, 2007
Covering:
Grulich AE et al., Lancet 2007 Jul 7; 370:59-67
Clifford G and Franceschi S., Lancet 2007 Jul 7; 370:6-7
Reasons for Nonadherence to ART
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Free
Black race, Hispanic ethnicity, age <40, alcohol or crack use during the previous year, homelessness, complex antiretroviral regimens, and depression were independently associated with nonadherence.
By Thomas Glück, MD
July 18, 2007
Covering:
Sullivan PS et al., PLoS ONE 2007 Jun 20; 2:e552
A CCR5 Inhibitor Shows Promise
Infectious Diseases Summary and Comment
Vicriviroc, an investigational CCR5 inhibitor, demonstrates excellent HIV suppression in treatment-experienced patients.
By Daniel J. Diekema, MD, MS
July 18, 2007
Covering:
Gulick RM et al., J Infect Dis 2007 Jul 15; 196:304-12
Limitations of Rapid Testing
HIV/AIDS Clinical Care Summary and Comment
Free
The performance characteristics of a sequential rapid HIV-testing algorithm were poorer than anticipated in a Ugandan study, perhaps due to false-positive results from tests with "faint bands."
By Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH
July 16, 2007
Covering:
Gray RH et al., BMJ 2007 Jun 1
Neurosyphilis: Neither Gone nor Forgotten
As William Osler said: "Know syphilis in all its manifestations and relations, and all things clinical will be added unto you."
By Jodie Dionne-Odom, MD
July 16, 2007
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007 Jun 29; 56:625-8
Might Treating Asymptomatic Bacterial Vaginosis Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections?
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Treatment and prophylaxis resulted in significantly fewer new cases of chlamydia.
By Robert W. Rebar, MD
July 3, 2007
Covering:
Schwebke JR and Desmond R., Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007 Jun; 196:517.e1-6
Complications of Smallpox Vaccination
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Free
Direct contact with the recently vaccinated can cause vaccinia infections in others.
By Jan V. Hirschmann, MD
June 29, 2007
Covering:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007 May 4; 56:417-9
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)., MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007 May 18; 56:478-81
USPSTF Recommends Screening for Chlamydial Infection in Women at Risk
General Medicine Clinical Practice Guideline Watch
Young sexually active or pregnant women should be screened, but older women without risk factors should not; the evidence is insufficient to assess screening for men.
By Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, FASAM
June 28, 2007
Covering:
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force., Ann Intern Med 2007 Jul 17; 147:128-33
Meyers DS et al., Ann Intern Med 2007 Jul 17; 147:136-43
