Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Multiple Partners”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,567 records · Page 87Linked to original sources

Wealth and sexual behaviour among men in Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: The 2004 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) in Cameroon revealed a higher prevalence of HIV in richest and most educated people than their poorest and least educated compatriots. It is not certain whether the higher prevalence results partly or wholly from wealthier people adopting more unsafe sexual behaviours, surviving longer due to greater access to treatment and care, or being exposed to unsafe injections or other HIV risk factors. As unsafe sex is currently believed to be the main driver of the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, we designed this study to examine the association between wealth and sexual behaviour in Cameroon. METHODS: We analysed data from 4409 sexually active men aged 15-59 years who participated in the Cameroon DHS using logistic regression models, and have reported odds ratios (OR) with confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: When we controlled for the potential confounding effects of marital status, place of residence, religion and age, men in the richest third of the population were less likely to have used a condom in the last sex with a non-spousal non-cohabiting partner (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.32-0.56) and more likely to have had at least two concurrent sex partners in the last 12 months (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.12-1.19) and more than five lifetime sex partners (OR 1.97, 95% CI 1.60-2.43). However, there was no difference between the richest and poorest men in the purchase of sexual services. Regarding education, men with secondary or higher education were less likely to have used a condom in the last sex with a non-spousal non-cohabiting partner (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.16-0.38) and more likely to have started sexual activity at age 17 years or less (OR 2.73, 95% CI 2.10-3.56) and had more than five lifetime sexual partners (OR 2.59, 95% CI 2.02-3.31). There was no significant association between education and multiple concurrent sexual partnerships in the last 12 months or purchase of sexual services. CONCLUSION: Wealthy men in Cameroon are more likely to start sexual activity early and have both multiple concurrent and lifetime sex partners, and are less likely to (consistently) use a condom in sex with a non-spousal non-cohabiting partner. These unsafe sexual behaviours may explain the higher HIV prevalence among wealthier men in the country. While these findings do not suggest a redirection of HIV prevention efforts from the poor to the wealthy, they do call for efforts to ensure that HIV prevention messages get across all strata of society.

Journal Article↗

Chlamydial ocular infection: efficacy of partner notification by patient referral.

Records on 254 patients with chlamydial ocular infection observed over a period of 67 months at the Moorfield's Eye Hospital were reviewed retrospectively in relation to sexual partners in the 6 months prior to diagnosis. Contactable partners were given an appointment through index patients to attend our clinic. Those unable to attend were issued contact slips, as used by the sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in the United Kingdom, to attend elsewhere: 175/328 (53%) of all partners were seen in our clinic: 161/218 (74%) of current regular partners compared to only 7/57 (12%) of ex-regular and 7/53 (13%) of casual partners. However, of those given appointments 175/201 (87%) attended: 161/179 (90%) of current regular, 7/14 (50%) of ex-regular and 7/8 (88%) of casual partners. Seventy of 328 (21%) of all partners were issued contact slips, of whom 47/70 (67%) were reported to have attended elsewhere. No contact slips were returned by other clinics, indicating a failure in the contact slip system. Thirty-five of 53 (66%) of casual, 22/57 (39%) of ex-regular and none of the current regular partners were untraceable. One hundred and five of 196 (54%) female partners were examined, of whom 59/105 (56%) had chlamydial genital infection, 45/105 (43%) had other genital infections and 35/105 (33%) had multiple genital infections. Seventy of 132 (53%) male partners were examined, of whom 58/70 (83%) had chlamydial or non-specific urethritis, 5/70 (7%) had other genital infections and 4/70 (6%) had multiple genital infections. Partner notification is important to interrupt chlamydia transmission.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Appointments and Schedules↗

The fellowship of the rings: distinct pools of proliferating cell nuclear antigen trimer at work.

The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is a homotrimeric ring-shaped protein that, by encircling DNA, may function as a sliding platform for proteins participating in various DNA transactions. PCNA plays a fundamental role in DNA replication and repair, but also in postreplicative events, like DNA methylation, chromatin assembly and remodeling, sister chromatid cohesion, and coordinates these activities with cell cycle control. However, relevant aspects of PCNA function are still not well understood, like the role of PCNA in the association with partner proteins, and how multiple protein interactions are orchestrated. Based on emerging evidence, I suggest that 1) PCNA interacting proteins may be reclassified in three major categories, namely, a) cell cycle control; b) DNA replication/repair; c) chromatin regulation/transcription. 2) PCNA is a negative regulator, rather than a processivity/recruitment factor, of chromatin-modifying enzymes. 3) At DNA replication sites, PCNA function may be envisaged with a model of "dynamic hand-off" of interacting partners that rapidly and transiently exchange in a mutually exclusive manner, while cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) 2 (CDK2) is stably bound to PCNA. The partner exchange might occur through a conformational change of the PCNA/protein/DNA complex allowing CDK2 to phosphorylate the partner protein, thereby enabling its hand-off from PCNA.

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2↗

AIDS-related factors predictive of suicidal ideation of low and high intent among gay and bisexual men.

AIDS-related stressors were studied in relationship to suicidal ideation and suicide intent among 778 gay and bisexual men (none with AIDS). Over the previous six months, 27% (n = 212) reported suicidal ideation. Subjects who reported suicidal ideation (compared to those who did not) were more likely to report recent (last 6 months) bereavement of partner, recent ARC diagnosis, and multiple close friends with ARC. Suicide ideators were divided by a median split on a self-report scale of suicide intent into low (n = 105) and high (n = 107) intent suicide ideators. News of HIV seropositivity was specifically related to low intent suicidal ideation. High intent suicidal ideation was associated with having a partner with AIDS or ARC, or multiple close friends with AIDS, or having ARC. Generally speaking, while temporally discrete AIDS-related events were associated the report of suicidal ideation, ongoing stressors which may more greatly challenge adaptational capacities were more associated with high intent suicidal ideation.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

Association between physical partner violence, posttraumatic stress, childhood trauma, and suicide attempts in a community sample of women.

Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and to explore its association with childhood maltreatment, substance misuse, posttraumatic stress, and suicidal behavior in a representative community sample of women. IPV was operationalized as a "physical attack or beating by a spouse, boyfriend, or live-in partner." We surveyed 637 women in Memphis, Tennessee, by telephone survey. Sixteen percent reported ever experiencing IPV by a male partner, and 75% endorsed multiple assaultive acts. Of abused women, 5.9% met current PTSD diagnostic criteria, and an additional 11.8% were assessed with subthreshold symptoms. Abused women were more likely than other women to be divorced, to have less than 13 years education, to endorse high levels of childhood victimization, to have abused drugs and alcohol, and to have attempted suicide. Twenty-three percent of IPV+ (abused) women reported a suicide attempt at some time in their lives compared with 3% of IPV- (nonabused) women (p < .0001). Further, multiple logistic regression analysis showed that childhood sexual and emotional abuse and low educational attainment were the only significant predictors of IPV. These results suggest that in women who endorse IPV, careful inquiry of past abuse, trauma-related symptoms, suicidal behavior, and drug use may be important, so that interventions can be both timely and appropriate.

Adolescent↗

Hamartin and tuberin interaction with the G2/M cyclin-dependent kinase CDK1 and its regulatory cyclins A and B.

Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is a multi-system disorder characterized by hamartomatous tumors and abnormal brain development, with multiple foci of disrupted neuronal migration and giant dysmorphic neurons within cortical tubers. TSC is associated with mutations in 2 genes, TSC1 and TSC2, which encode hamartin and tuberin, respectively. The functions of these proteins have yet to be determined. Recently, the Drosophila homologue of TSC2, gigas, has been shown to be required for the G2/M transition of the cell cycle. However, the mechanism of this action remains unknown. Because the cyclin-dependent kinase CDK1 forms a complex with cyclin B1 to trigger the G2/M transition, we hypothesized that tuberin interacts with CDK1 to regulate its activity. In the study reported in this paper, we have used co-immunoprecipitation and confocal microscopy to demonstrate that tuberin interacts with and co-localizes with CDK1 and its binding partner cyclin B1 in multiple cell types. We also demonstrate that hamartin interacts with CDK1 and cyclin B1. We further present evidence that tuberin interacts with the other regulatory subunit of CDK1, cyclin A. These findings suggest a direct role for tuberin and hamartin in modulating the activity of CDK1 during G2 and the G2/M transition. This is the first description of a role for both tuberin and hamartin in a common cellular function, providing a potential mechanism for the identical clinicopathologic manifestations that result when either of these proteins are inactivated.

Antibody Specificity↗

Extracting gene networks for low-dose radiation using graph theoretical algorithms.

Genes with common functions often exhibit correlated expression levels, which can be used to identify sets of interacting genes from microarray data. Microarrays typically measure expression across genomic space, creating a massive matrix of co-expression that must be mined to extract only the most relevant gene interactions. We describe a graph theoretical approach to extracting co-expressed sets of genes, based on the computation of cliques. Unlike the results of traditional clustering algorithms, cliques are not disjoint and allow genes to be assigned to multiple sets of interacting partners, consistent with biological reality. A graph is created by thresholding the correlation matrix to include only the correlations most likely to signify functional relationships. Cliques computed from the graph correspond to sets of genes for which significant edges are present between all members of the set, representing potential members of common or interacting pathways. Clique membership can be used to infer function about poorly annotated genes, based on the known functions of better-annotated genes with which they share clique membership (i.e., "guilt-by-association"). We illustrate our method by applying it to microarray data collected from the spleens of mice exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation. Differential analysis is used to identify sets of genes whose interactions are impacted by radiation exposure. The correlation graph is also queried independently of clique to extract edges that are impacted by radiation. We present several examples of multiple gene interactions that are altered by radiation exposure and thus represent potential molecular pathways that mediate the radiation response.

Algorithms↗

Sexual behavior, condom use, and human papillomavirus: pooled analysis of the IARC human papillomavirus prevalence surveys.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection but it is unclear whether differences in transmission efficacy exist between individual HPV types. Information on sexual behavior was collected from 11 areas in four continents among population-based, age-stratified random samples of women of ages > or = 15 years. HPV testing was done using PCR-based enzyme immunoassay. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) of being HPV positive and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Variables were analyzed categorically. When more than two groups were compared, floating confidence intervals were estimated by treating ORs as floating absolute risks. A total of 11,337 women (mean age, 41.9 years) were available. We confirmed that lifetime number of sexual partners is associated with HPV positivity (OR for > or = 2 versus 1, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.63-2.11) but the association was not a linear one for HPV18, 31, and 33 (i.e., no clear increase for > or = 3 versus 2 sexual partners). Women who had multiple-type infection and high-risk HPV type infection reported a statistically nonsignificant higher number of sexual partners than women who had single-type and low-risk type infections, respectively. Early age at sexual debut was not significantly related to HPV positivity. Husband's extramarital sexual relationships were associated with an OR of 1.45 (95% CI, 1.24-1.70) for HPV positivity in their wives after adjustment for age and lifetime number of women's sexual partners. We did not observe a significant association with condom use. Our study showed an effect of both women's and their husbands' sexual behavior on HPV positivity. Furthermore, it suggests some differences in the pattern of the association between sexual behavior and different HPV types.

Adolescent↗

Divergent beliefs about psoriasis are associated with increased psychological distress.

The psychological adjustment of patients with psoriasis has been studied extensively. By comparison, no research has focused on their partners. We examined illness representations of psoriasis held by patients and their partners, and investigated whether divergent beliefs were associated with psychological distress. Fifty-eight patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and their partners completed a range of psychological assessments including beliefs about the condition, anxiety, depression, and worry. Patients also completed a self-assessment of psoriasis severity. Patients with psoriasis had significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and worry than their partners (t's > 2.53, p's < .05). Multiple regression analysis indicated that divergence in patients' and partners' beliefs about emotional impact of psoriasis and chronicity of timeline accounted for a statistically significant (21.3%) proportion of the variance in depression for partners. Differences in views on the consequences of having psoriasis and the cyclical nature of the condition were also significantly associated with increased levels of worry in partners. Dissimilarity in particular aspects of illness representations are associated with increased psychological distress in particular for the partners of patients with psoriasis. The results illustrate the importance of concordance between patients' and partners' models of illness in relation to adjustment, and highlight the need to consider and collaborate with both patients and their partners in managing this challenging condition.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

Dominant expression of multiple drug resistance after in vitro X-irradiation exposure in intraspecific Chinese hamster ovary hybrid cells.

BACKGROUND: Exposure of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to fractionated x irradiation in vitro has led to expression of a distinctive multiple-drug-resistant phenotype. This phenotype is characterized by overexpression of P-glycoprotein without an increase in P-glycoprotein messenger RNA or gene amplification; increased glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity; and resistance to vincristine, colchicine, and etoposide but not to doxorubicin. PURPOSE: To investigate whether this phenotype is dominant or recessive, we established intraspecific hybrids by fusion of x-ray-treated, drug-resistant CHO cells (DXR-10I or DXR-10II) with drug-sensitive CHO cells (E29). METHODS: Drug resistance levels were determined in the wild-type CHO cell line AuxB1, the drug-sensitive E29 line, the x-ray-pretreated lines, and the hybrid lines by colony-forming assay of cells grown in increasing concentrations of colchicine, vincristine, or doxorubicin. The hybrids were characterized by analysis of DNA content, P-glycoprotein expression by Western blotting, GST activity by use of 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrate, and sensitivity to reversal of resistance to vincristine by exposure to verapamil. RESULTS: These hybrids proved resistant to colchicine (two-fold) and vincristine (five- to seven-fold) but not to doxorubicin. After the hybrids were exposed to verapamil, vincristine cytotoxicity was increased 10- to 12-fold. The hybrid lines exhibited levels of P-glycoprotein comparable to those of the unfused x-ray-treated parent cell line, suggesting that P-glycoprotein overexpression is a dominant trait in these hybrid lines. Interpretation of the role of increased GST activity in these hybrids was inconclusive because of the very high levels of GST in the drug-sensitive cell-fusion partner. CONCLUSIONS: The multiple-drug-resistant phenotype following x-ray treatment of CHO cells in vitro was dominantly expressed. Overall, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that this phenotype is a consequence of the dominant genetic alteration resulting from exposure to x irradiation. IMPLICATIONS: This work adds weight to our hypothesis that there is a biological basis for the expression of clinical drug resistance in certain patients whose tumors have been previously irradiated.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Mental health problems in children of somatically ill parents, e.g. multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: Based on the investigation of 144 families (144 patients affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS), 109 partners, and 192 children) examined in three different European child and adolescent psychiatric University centres by means of questionnaires, we evaluated the prevalence of psychological symptoms in the offspring and associated risk factors such as duration and severity of the disease as well as depression of the ill and the healthy parent. RESULTS: Indicate that the severe disease of MS is associated with depression of the ill and healthy parent. Ill parents, especially ill mothers, as well as depressed ill, or depressed healthy parents evaluate their children's mental health problems with a higher prevalence within the internalizing spectrum. Healthy parents report normal psychological adjustment of their children. If two parents present a depressive state, the prevalence of relevant psychological internalizing symptoms is twice or three times as high as the age norms. CONCLUSION: Children in families with a parent affected by MS and associated depression of the parental couple are at high risk of mental health problems, especially internalizing disorders. In focusing on the mental health of children one must also be aware of the potential opportunities to address the parents' own psychological needs.

Adult↗

The association of foster care or kinship care with adolescent sexual behavior and first pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Each year more than 500 000 children enter out-of-home placement. Few outcome studies of these children specifically address high-risk sexual behavior and adolescent pregnancy. Our study investigated the relationship between living in kinship or foster care and high-risk reproductive behaviors in a nationally representative sample of women. METHODS: Data from 9620 women ages 15 to 44 years in the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth were analyzed in a cross-sectional study. Three groups-foster (n = 89), kinship (n = 513), and comparison (n = 9018)-were identified on the basis of self-reported childhood living situations. Bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. The outcome variables were age at first sexual intercourse and at first conception and the number of sexual partners. RESULTS: After adjustment for multiple predictor variables, foster care was associated with younger age at first conception (difference: 11.3 months) and having greater than the median number of sexual partners (odds ratio: 1.7, 1.0-2.8). Kinship care was associated with younger age both at first intercourse (difference = 6 months) and at first conception (difference: 8.6 months) and having greater than the median number of sexual partners (odds ratio: 1.4, 1.1-1.8). There were no differences between the kinship and foster groups. CONCLUSIONS: A history of living in either foster or kinship care is a marker for high-risk sexual behaviors, and the risk is comparable in both out-of-home living arrangements. Recognition of these risks may enable health care providers to intervene with high-risk youth to prevent early initiation of sexual intercourse and early pregnancy.

Adolescent↗

A detailed interpretation of OH radical footprints in a TBP-DNA complex reveals the role of dynamics in the mechanism of sequence-specific binding.

The hydroxyl radical footprint of the TATA-binding protein (TBP) bound to the high-affinity sequence TATAAAAG of the adenovirus 2 major late promoter has been quantitatively compared to a 2 ns molecular dynamics simulation of the complex in aqueous solution at room temperature using the CHARMM23 potential. The nucleotide-by-nucleotide analysis of the TBP-TATA hydroxyl radical footprint correlates with the solvent-accessible surface calculated from the dynamics simulation. The results suggest that local reactivity towards OH radicals results from the interplay between the local DNA geometry imposed by TBP binding, and the dynamics of the side-chains contacting the sugar hydrogen atoms. Analysis of the dynamics suggests that, over time, TBP forms stable interactions with the sugar-phosphate backbone through multiple contacts to different partners. This mechanism results in an enthalpic advantage to complex formation at a low entropic cost.

Adenine↗

Glutaminase: a multifaceted protein not only involved in generating glutamate.

The protein glutaminase has been traditionally considered as a mitochondrial enzyme, playing a key role in the energy and nitrogen metabolism of mammalian cells. However, new experimental evidence in the last few years has challenged this simplified view. The recent discovery of novel extramitochondrial localizations, the identification of potential protein interacting partners, the existence of multiple transcripts for mammalian glutaminase genes, and the presence of signature sequences and protein motifs on its sequence support the notion of glutaminase being a multifaceted protein, which may be involved in other functions besides glutamate generation from glutamine. In this short review, we will briefly summarize recent works on glutaminase proteins in mammals, with particular emphasis in brain studies. This experimental evidence will then be used to highlight new potential roles for this classical metabolic enzyme.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

Developmental antecedents of partner abuse: a prospective-longitudinal study.

Prospective measures of risk factors for partner abuse were obtained from a large birth cohort in 4 domains: socioeconomic resources, family relations, educational achievements, and problem behaviors. Partner abuse outcomes were measured at age 21. Results showed that antecedents of abuse included risk factors from all 4 domains. Risk factors were similar for men and women. Some age 3 antecedents were significant, but the strongest correlations were from age 15. In multivariate analyses, the most consistent predictor was the presence of early problem behaviors. In a cross-validation tests, abuse was moderately predictable by the same antecedents, whether the outcome measure was self-report or reports from partners of sample members. Findings suggest that theories of partner abuse should account for developmental influences from multiple life domains and that primary prevention of partner abuse should begin in adolescence.

Adolescent↗

Direct evidence that involucrin is a major early isopeptide cross-linked component of the keratinocyte cornified cell envelope.

Involucrin was the first protein to be identified as a likely constituent of the insoluble cornified cell envelope (CE) of stratified squamous epithelia. However, to date, direct isolation from CEs of involucrin cross-linked by way of the transglutaminase-induced isopeptide bond has not been reported. We have treated human foreskin CEs with methanol/KOH (saponification) to hydrolyze off much of the lipids. By immunogold electron microscopy, this exposed large amounts of involucrin epitopes as well as of desmoplakin, a desmosomal structural protein. About 20% of the total CE protein could be solubilized by proteolytic digestion after saponification, of which involucrin was the most abundant. Subsequent amino acid sequencing revealed many peptides involving involucrin cross-linked either to itself or to a variety of other known CE protein components, including cystatin alpha, desmoplakin, elafin, keratins, members of the small proline-rich superfamily, loricrin, and unknown proteins related to the desmoplakin family. Specific glutamines or lysines of involucrin were used to cross-link the different proteins, such as glutamines 495 and 496 to desmoplakin, glutamine 288 to keratins, and lysines 468, 485, and 508 and glutamines 465 and 489 for interchain involucrin cross-links. Many identical peptides were obtained from immature CEs isolated from the inner living cell layers of foreskin epidermis. The multiple cross-linked partners of involucrin provide experimental confirmation that involucrin is an important early scaffold protein in the CE. Further, these data suggest that there is significant redundancy in the structural organization of the CE.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Individual differences associated with high-risk sexual behaviour: implications for intervention programmes.

Simpson & Gangestad's (1991) sociosexual orientation inventory measures people's willingness to engage in uncommitted sexual relations. People with unrestricted sociosexual orientations report more casual sex encounters, and multiple and concurrent sexual partners, factors known to increase the risk for exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This study investigated the relationship of sociosexuality to an 'impulsive' personality profile characterized by impulsivity in decision-making, general risk-taking tendencies, and greater responsiveness to situational cues. It was found that an unrestricted sociosexual orientation was associated with greater impulsivity in decision-making on Tellegen's (1982) multidimensional personality questionnaire (MPQ) Control subscale, greater risk-taking tendencies on Tellegen's (1982) MPQ Harm-Avoidance subscale, and a greater responsiveness to situational cues as measured on Snyder's (1974) self-monitoring scale. Although unrestricted individuals had more knowledge about safe sex behavioural practices, they were more likely to engage in unprotected sexual intercourse (i.e. no condom use). Implications for HIV risk reduction educational programs targeting this population are discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

The role of intimate partner violence, race, and ethnicity in help-seeking behaviors.

OBJECTIVE: Women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) have multiple health and social service needs but many, especially Hispanic, women may not access these resources. This research sought to examine the relationship between IPV and health and social services utilization (help-seeking behaviors), with a focus on racial and ethnic disparities. DESIGN: Case-control study from an urban US emergency department population in which cases (women with IPV) and controls (women without IPV) were frequency matched by age group and race/ethnicity. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the relationship between IPV and help-seeking behaviors and between help-seeking behaviors and race/ethnicity among abused women. In addition, a stratified analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between acculturation and help-seeking behaviors among Hispanic women. RESULTS: The sample included 182 cases and 147 controls. Among the health services, alcohol program, emergency department, and hospital utilization were significantly increased among IPV victims compared to non-victims after taking demographic and substance use factors into account. Similarly, IPV victims were more likely to access social/case worker services and housing assistance compared to non-victims. Specific help-seeking behaviors were significantly associated with race and ethnicity among IPV victims, with non-Hispanic white and black women more likely to use housing assistance and emergency department services and black women more likely to use police assistance compared to Hispanic women. Among all Hispanic women, low acculturation was associated with decreased utilization of social services overall and with any healthcare utilization, particularly among abused women. CONCLUSIONS: Social service and healthcare workers should be alerted to and screen for IPV among all clients. The need for increased outreach and accessibility of services for abused women in Hispanic communities in the USA should be addressed, with cultural and language relevance a key component of these efforts.

Battered Women↗