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Case-control study of risk factors for cervical neoplasia in Denmark. I: Role of the "male factor" in women with one lifetime sexual partner.

Possible risk factors for cervical cancer were investigated in 645 women, 20-49 years of age from Copenhagen, with histologically confirmed cervical cancer or carcinoma in situ and in 614 controls drawn at random from the female population of the same area. To study the role of the "male factor", monogamous cases and controls together with their husbands were invited for further examination. This included a personal interview, a blood sample for analysis of herpes simplex virus antibodies, and a penile swab for papillomavirus analysis. In total, 41 case couples and 90 control couples were enrolled (89% and 92% of eligibles, respectively). The most significant risk determinants were a history of genital warts in the male (RR = 17.9 for ever vs. never) and ever having used condoms (RR = 0.2). Other potentially important factors, although not statistically significant, were ever having visited prostitutes (RR = 2.6, p = 0.14), circumcision (RR = 0.3, p = 0.18), and a history of genital warts in the female (RR = 4.6), p = 0.09). Having a husband with a history of multiple sexual partners was also associated with an increased crude risk, but when adjustment was made for husband ever having had genital warts, use of condom, and age, no significant excess risk was observed. Human papillomavirus DNA, which was tested for with ViraPap and ViraType, was detected in one of the controls, and in only 2 case husbands. This study points to the importance of "high-risk males" for the development of cervical cancer in their sexual partner; the results support the infectious nature of the disease.

Adult↗

Genital papillomavirus infection and cervical dysplasia--opportunistic complications of HIV infection.

Certain human genital papillomaviruses (HPV) are strongly associated with cervical dysplasia and cancer. Evidence is accumulating that HPV infection and ano-genital cancers are more common in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The objective of our study was to evaluate the extent to which HPV infection and associated cervical disease constitute opportunistic complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in a population of sexually promiscuous, HIV-infected women in Kinshasa, Zaire. In 1989 we obtained Pap smears and cervicovaginal lavage specimens for HPV DNA testing from 47 HIV-seropositive and 48 HIV-seronegative prostitutes who were part of a cohort under observation since 1988. Thirty-eight percent of the HIV-seropositive and 8% of the seronegative women (odds ratio = 6.8; p = 0.001) had HPV DNA detected by either ViraType, a dot-blot assay which detects specific genital HPV types, or low-stringency Southern blot, which detects all HPV types. Eighty-two women (86%) had an interpretable Pap smear; 11 of 41 (27%) HIV-seropositive women and one of 41 (3%) seronegative women had cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) (odds ratio = 14.7; p = 0.002). HIV seropositivity, HPV infection and CIN were highly associated. Eight (73%) of 11 seropositive women with CIN had HPV detected. Both HPV infection and cervical cancer may emerge as opportunistic complications of HIV infection in populations in which HIV, HPV and cervical cancer are common.

DNA, Viral↗

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for an antigen related to non-A, non-B hepatitis and its antibody: partial characterization of the antigen and chimpanzee transmission.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed based on sera from patients convalescent from non-A, non-B hepatitis and haemophilia A patients who had been frequently treated with commercial blood products. Using this ELISA, an antigen was detected which appears to be related to non-A, non-B hepatitis. The antigen is provisionally designated as DS-antigen (DS-Ag). The serum of another patient with haemophilia A, which was strongly positive for the DS-Ag, caused a typical case of non-A, non-B hepatitis in a chimpanzee. DS-Ag could be detected in the serum of the chimpanzee during the acute phase of the infection. The ELISA for DS-Ag reacted with neither hepatitis A or B virus antigens, nor Epstein-Barr virus or cytomegalovirus. The assay was provisionally evaluated using sera from different groups of patients. Out of 17 patients with posttransfusion hepatitis non-A, non-B, 11 were found positive in the ELISA for DS-Ag (65%). As expected, a relatively high prevalence of DS-Ag (9%) was found in patients with haemophilia, who are regularly treated with blood-clotting factor-concentrates. Antibodies to DS-Ag were found in 48% of these patients. The DS-Ag was found in 8 of 1400 (0.6%) volunteer blood donors, and antibody to DS-Ag in 3% of the sera. Remarkably, a high incidence (41%) of antibodies to DS-Ag was found in prostitutes, suggesting that this antigen may be transmitted by a sexual route. The DS-Ag was pelleted by ultracentrifugation for four hours at 100,000g and was found to have a buoyant density of 1.32 g/cm3 in a CsCl gradient.

Adult↗

Prevalence of a non-A, non-B-associated antigen/antibody system detected by radioimmunoassay in acute and chronic liver disease.

An antigen/antibody system associated with one form of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis has been identified by solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). The antigen is found in 3% of normal subjects and in increased frequency in patients with haemophilia, renal homograft recipients, homosexual men, prostitutes, drug addicts, and patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The antigen was found in normal frequency in patients with acute hepatitis A and B, sporadic NANB hepatitis (nondrug addicts), autoimmune and alcohol-induced chronic liver disease, and primary biliary cirrhosis.

Acute Disease↗

HIV and HBV infection in intravenous drug addicts from northeastern Italy.

Three hundred and two intravenous drug addicts (IVDA) from five towns in Northeastern Italy were studied. Of the males, 37/249 (14.8%) were homosexuals and of the females, 29/53 (54.7%) were prostitutes; 118 (39.0%) were alcoholics. AST levels were abnormal in 31.8%, ALT in 45.7%, GTP in 36.4%, and bilirubin in 14.6%. The prevalence of HBsAg (13.9%) and HBeAg (21.4% of HBsAg positive) was significantly higher than in 2,983 controls (4.2% and 6.3%, p less than .001 and p less than .02, respectively). Of the HBsAg positive subjects, 51.7% had anti-HDV antibodies. Among 260 HBsAg negative cases, 146 (56.2%) were anti-HBs and anti-HBc positive, 76 (29.2%) were anti-HBc positive and anti-HBs negative (25 anti-HBe positive and 51 anti-HBe negative), and 38 had no HBV markers. Anti-HIV ELISA positive subjects came to 70.5% (triplicate determination with absolute concordance) and Western blot analysis confirmed the results in 99.1% of ELISA positive and 100% of ELISA negative subjects. The prevalence of anti-HIV was significantly higher in anti-HBc positive than negative cases (p less than .02), even excluding HBsAg positive subjects. Cases negative for HIV and HBV had a significantly lower median duration of drug abuse than those with past or present infection (36 vs 60 months, p less than .001). HIV-related diseases were present in 56.3% of the cases (120/213; PGL in 94, ARC in 24, and AIDS in two).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C antibody in Peru.

The prevalence in Peru of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was determined in a survey of populations living in the northern jungle region and in groups at high risk of parenterally and sexually transmitted diseases. All sera were initially screened for anti-HCV using commercial first and second generation ELISAs; repeatedly reactive sera were further verified with a second generation immunoblot assay. Serum samples were also tested by ELISA for HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc. None of 2,111 sera obtained in the survey of jungle residents was positive for anti-HCV by immunoblot assay. Twelve of 16 HIV-1 antibody positive hemophiliacs, one of 103 HIV-1 antibody positive homosexuals, and three of 602 HIV-1 negative registered female prostitutes were positive for anti-HCV. A high prevalence of total markers of hepatitis B infection was found in all subjects, especially in older subjects and groups at high risk of parenterally and sexually transmitted diseases. The findings of this study indicate that seropositivity for hepatitis C virus antibody is uncommon in Peru except in high risk groups and suggest that the epidemiology of hepatitis C differs substantially from hepatitis B.

Adolescent↗

Factors associated with viremia and elevated transaminase levels in asymptomatic hepatitis D virus-infected risk groups.

To detect hepatitis D virus (HDV) RNA in asymptomatic HDV-infected risk groups, Northern blot hybridization was carried out using a strand-specific riboprobe. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to evaluate factors associated with HDV viremia and elevated transaminase levels in these subjects. Two (15%) of 13 antibody to HDV (anti-HDV) -positive intravenous drug addicts, 15 (33%) of 45 anti-HDV positive prostitutes, and 6 (40%) of 15 anti-HDV positive brothel goers had detectable serum HDV RNA. Older age (> 31 years old) was negatively associated with HDV RNA (P < .04), while hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) was positively associated with it (P < .002) in univariate analysis. Only HBeAg was still significant in multivariate analysis (P < .05). Of the 76 asymptomatic anti-HDV positive case, 28 (37%) had mildly elevated serum ALT levels and only 5 (7%) had ALT levels more than twice normal (> 80 U/L). HBeAg (P < .05) and HDV RNA (P < .02) were two factors associated with ALT elevation in univariate analysis, and HDV RNA was the only significant factor in multivariate analysis (P < .005). In summary, active replication of HBV seemed to be of help for the assembly of HDV and viremia. However, active replication of HDV was associated mostly with mildly elevated ALT levels in these subjects. These cases may represent a particular group in the disease spectrum of HDV infection.

Adolescent↗

Injection with nondisposable needles as an important route for transmission of acute community-acquired hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan.

A prospective case-controlled study was conducted in order to determine the transmission route of community-acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Taiwan. Thirty-eight consecutive patients (25 men and 13 women) with acute community-acquired HCV infection and 76 age (within 3 years)- and sex-matched healthy control subjects without HCV infection were enrolled. Serum anti-HCV was tested by second generation immunoassay. The sera of 26 family members from 12 families of index patients were also tested for anti-HCV. A questionnaire covering the history of blood transfusion, surgery, intravenous drug abuse, prostitute contact, dental procedures, injection, acupuncture, tattooing, and ear-piercing was conducted among patients and control subjects. Univariate analysis revealed injection with nondisposable needles was an independent risk factor (P = 0.02, odds ratio = 4.17, 95% confidence interval = 1.24-14.47) associated with HCV infection. Other risk factors were not significant. Only 2 (7.7%) family members of index patients had an anti-HCV. In conclusion, more vigorous effort to prohibit the use of nondisposable needles should be promoted to interrupt the spread of community-acquired HCV infection in Taiwan. Of note, a significant number of patients (34.2%) contracted HCV infection without identifiable risk factors. Unidentified routes need to be investigated.

Case-Control Studies↗

Network of sexual contacts and sexually transmitted HIV infection in Burkina Faso.

Two thirds of the people who have been infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the world live in Sub-Saharan African countries. The results of a study measuring the degree distribution of the network of sexual contacts in Burkina Faso are described. Such a network is responsible for the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and in particular of HIV. It has been found that the number of different sexual partners reported by males is a power law distribution with an exponent gamma = 2.9 (0.1). This is consistent with the degree distribution of scale-free networks. On the other hand, the females can be divided into two groups: the prostitutes with an average of 400 different partners per year, and females with a stable partner, having a rapidly decreasing degree distribution. Such a result may have important implications on the control of sexually transmitted diseases and in particular of HIV. Since scale-free networks have no epidemic threshold, a campaign based on prevention and anti-viral treatment of few highly connected nodes can be more successful than any policy based on enlarged but random distribution of the available anti-viral treatments.

Adolescent↗

Estimating transmission probabilities for chlamydial infection.

Estimates of transmission probabilities for sexually transmitted diseases historically come from studies of uninfected individuals exposed to those with a high disease prevalence (for example, prostitutes). However, changes in sexual behaviour, much of which relates to concerns about AIDS, has made identification of populations suitable for such studies extremely difficult. This paper presents a method for estimating these probabilities that utilizes a deterministic model and routinely collected data available in many clinics. Variance estimates for the estimators are also derived. Data for chlamydial infection and sensitivity analyses for the input parameters and assumptions illustrate the method.

Ambulatory Care Facilities↗

A critique of research on sexual-minority youths.

Developmental scientists should seriously reconsider traditional empirical and theoretical paradigms that narrowly define sexual-minority adolescents in terms of those who adopt a culturally defined sexual identity label. A broader consideration of youth populations who have same-sex desires but who might not necessarily identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual, lead one to a very different understanding of sexual-minority youths than is apparent in most published studies. First, they are in most regards just like all other adolescents with similar developmental needs and concerns. Second, they are not a homogeneous group but vary among themselves in predictable ways. Third, this expanded definition allows us to conclude that same-sex attraction per se does not lead to pathology or to problematic behavior such as drug abuse, suicide, prostitution or HIV infection. Indeed, researchers and clinicians should focus on the resiliency that often characterizes sexual-minority youths.

Adolescent↗

A sustainable behavioral intervention to increase condom use and reduce gonorrhea among sex workers in Singapore: 2-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Prostitution is the most important source of transmission of AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases in Asia. We developed and evaluated the sustainability of an intervention to increase condom use and reduce gonorrhea among brothel-based sex workers in Singapore. The intervention focused on developing sex workers' negotiation skills, educating clients, and mobilizing support from peers and health staff in promoting condom use. METHODS: A pretest-posttest design with one intervention site (n = 124) and another comparable control site (n = 122) was maintained for 5 months followed by a time series design to follow up the intervention group for 2 years. RESULTS: At 5 months, the intervention group improved significantly in negotiation skills and were almost twice as likely as controls to always refuse unprotected sex (adjusted rate ratio 1.90, 95% CI 1.22-2.94). Gonorrhea incidence declined considerably by 77.1% in the intervention group compared with 37.6% in the controls. Consistent refusals of unprotected sex in the intervention group increased from 44.4% at baseline to 65.2% at 5 months, 73.6% at 1 year, and 90.5% at 2 years with a corresponding decline in gonorrhea. CONCLUSION: Sustained condom use with a corresponding decline in gonorrhea was achieved by a behavioral and environmental intervention for sex workers.

Adult↗

Factors associated with HIV testing: results from an Italian General Population Survey.

BACKGROUND: HIV testing, with appropriate counseling, can help prevent the spread of HIV infection. This study is the first national survey in Italy that examines factors associated with serotesting among Italian heterosexuals and is part of a European Concerted Action. METHODS: In 1998, a cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted on a random sample (n = 2,603) of the Italian population ages 18-49 years. Associations between HIV testing and risky sexual behaviors (multiple sexual partners in the past 5 years, intercourse with prostitutes, not always using condoms with a new sexual partner) and sociodemographic variables are examined separately for men and women using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of having ever been tested for HIV, whether voluntarily or not, among heterosexual men and women is 27.0 and 32.8%, respectively. Voluntary testing is reported by 8.4% of heterosexual men and 6.1% of heterosexual women. Multivariate analysis shows that having multiple sexual partners significantly increases the odds of testing (Men: OR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.3-3.4. Women: OR = 3.03; 95% CI: 1.7-5.4). Multiple logistic regression, controlling for risky behavior, shows also that persons ages 30-39 years have significantly higher probability of being tested than younger subjects (Men: OR = 3.30; 95% CI: 1.4-7.9. Women: OR = 2.61; 95% CI:1.1-6.4). Better educated women tend to have a higher probability of testing, but this increase is not significant at the 5% level. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of voluntary serotesting in Italy is lower than in other countries. Risky sexual behavior is associated with higher odds of testing; however, a high proportion of at-risk heterosexuals never sought testing. Particular attention should be dedicated to younger persons and to less educated women.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

Genetic lessons from high altitude.

What lessons can we learn from mountain sickness or wellness that may apply to our patients? Does hypoxia affect us similarly regardless of its cause? Millions of individuals are as hypoxic from congenital or acquired heart or lung disease as healthy individuals may be at altitude. Certain adjustments enable many of such patients to lead nearly normal lives. I will compare their adjustments to those seen in the acclimatization of healthy persons to altitude. Some living organisms use strategies which enable them to tolerate a degree of hypoxia lethal to man. Are there lessons we can learn from them? In my short talk I will raise a few provocative questions, and these will lead me to discuss the relevance of basic research to the resolution of vexing human ailments. When does commercialization of research become a form of intellectual prostitution?

Altitude↗

[Hepatitis in drug poisonings].

In the period between 1983 and 1987 autopsies were carried out on 120 drug victims at the Institute for Forensic Medicine in Hamburg, and 93 cases were serologically tested for hepatitis B. It was found that 50 cases (54%) were positive for anti-HBc, 39 (42%) for anti-HBs, and 5 cases (5%) for HBsAg. The prevalence of hepatitis-B-virus markers was dependent upon the age of the victims. In 81% inflammatory alterations of the liver (including unspecific reactive hepatitis) were diagnosed histologically. The pathogenesis of these serological and pathomorphological findings is discussed. Drug addicts are a group at risk for hepatitis B, and it can spread on account of the epidemiological connection with other risk groups, e.g., prostitutes and homosexuals. Postmortem serological investigations for hepatitis markers proved to be a well-established and reproducible means of differentiating histopathological liver alterations.

Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury↗

[AIDS fatalities in Hamburg (status: February 1985)--legal medicine aspects].

The registration of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS deaths is centralized for medical research. A short review of the epidemiological state of AIDS in Hamburg is given (situation as of February 1985), and the autopsy results of seven postmortem examinations are referred to. Kaposi's sarcoma was seen in four patients and opportunistic infections in all cases, especially as a result of Pneumocystis carinii and cytomegalovirus. Due to the constellation of groups with an increased risk of acquiring AIDS--homosexual males, intravenous drug abusers and prostitutes--forensic implications have to be expected.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

A transmission model for AIDS.

Mathematical and computer-simulation models of sexually transmitted diseases, which have been used to study gonorrhoea and human papilloma virus transmissions, are applied to the study of AIDS. The problems of adapting the general model to the new problem, within already established principles, are described; and solutions offered. The objective is to predict equilibrium levels for the prevalence and incidence of HTLV-III infection in the U.K. Within the uncertainties of the available information on sexual behaviour in our society, on the risk of transmission and on the natural history of the infection, the model predicts: the infection will be self-sustaining in the heterosexual as in the homosexual population, the equilibrium prevalence of HTLV-III infection may attain 500-800 per 1000 among promiscuous male homosexuals and female prostitutes: 1 to 5 per 1000 among non-promiscuous heterosexual males and females: and 8 to 15 per 1000 overall, these equilibria will be reached in about 10 years among the promiscuous classes, but not for 40 years among the less promiscuous, this implies 20,000 to 40,000 deaths from AIDS per year in the U.K., these estimates will be modified by behaviour changes in the population as a whole, responding to fear of infection and to health-education approaches, but substantial control will depend upon the production of a vaccine and its preferential use in the promiscuous classes.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

[An immunofluorescent study of circulating sperm antibodies in humans (author's transl)].

1. By means of an indirect immunofluorescent technique with reference to Weller and Coons (1954), modified for spermatozoal immunofluorescence we found antibodies against spermatozoa in the sera of: 6 of 35 female partners of couples with unexplained infertility, 5 of 35 male partners of couples with unexplained infertility, 8 of 40 prostitutes, 8 of 18 men after orchitis and vasoresection. In contrast to these findings the sera of 20 fertile women, 25 fertile men, and 20 virgins showed negative results with the test mentioned above. 2. The site of the antigen-antibody reaction was mainly the spermatozoal tail and in the second place, the equatorial segment. 3. The immunoglobulins primarily belonged to the IgG and secondly to the IgA class. 4. Our results differ partly from the findings made by other authors perhaps on account of methodical differences. 5. The clinical relevance and associated problems are discussed.

Adolescent↗