Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Exposé Of Misleading Claims That Male Circumcision Will Increase Hiv Infections In Africa, Brian J. Morris, Jake H. Waskett, Ronald H. Gray, Daniel T. Halperin, Richard Wamai, Bertran Auvert, Jeffrey D. Klausner

Richard G. Wamai

Despite over two decades of extensive research showing that male circumcision protects against heterosexual acquisition of HIV in men, and that includes findings from large randomized controlled trials leading to acceptance by the WHO/UNAIDS and the Cochrane Committee, opponents of circumcision continue to generate specious arguments to the contrary. In a recent issue of the Journal of Public Health in Africa, Van Howe and Storms claim that male circumcision will increase HIV infections in Africa. Here we review the statements they use in support of their thesis and show that there is no scientific basis to such an assertion. We …

Independent Evolution Of Macrophage-Tropism And Increased Charge Between Hiv-1 R5 Envelopes Present In Brain And Immune Tissue, Maria Paz Gonzalez-Perez, Olivia O’Connell, Rongheng Lin, W Matthew Sullivan, Jeanne Bell, Peter Simmonds, Paul R. Clapham

Rongheng Lin

Background: Transmitted HIV-1 clade B or C R5 viruses have been reported to infect macrophages inefficiently, while other studies have described R5 viruses in late disease with either an enhanced macrophage-tropism or carrying envelopes with an increased positive charge and fitness. In contrast, our previous data suggested that viruses carrying non-macrophage-tropic R5 envelopes were still predominant in immune tissue of AIDS patients. To further investigate the tropism and charge of HIV-1 viruses in late disease, we evaluated the properties of HIV-1 envelopes amplified from immune and brain tissues of AIDS patients with neurological complications. Results: Almost all envelopes amplified were …

Mexico's Northern Border Conflict: Collateral Damage To Health And Human Rights Of Vulnerable Groups, Leo Beletsky, Gustavo Martinez, Tommi Gaines, Lucie Nguyen, Remedios Lozada, Gudelia Rangel, Alicia Vera, Heather L. Mccauley, Andrea Sorensen, Steffanie A. Strathdee

Leo Beletsky

Objectives: Given links between policing environment and infectious disease risk among vulnerable groups, we surveyed female sex workers who inject drugs in Tijuana and Ciudad (Cd.) Juarez. Data were used to 1. compare distributions of human rights violations and disease risk, 2. juxtapose these patterns against demographic and structural environment variables, and 3. formulate implications for structural interventions. Methods: Structured interviews and testing for sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) were conducted (October 2008-October 2009). Frequency of individual and environmental factors, including police abuse, HIV risk and protective behaviors were compared between sites using univariate logistic regression. Results: Of 624 women, almost half …

A New Analytical Framework Of 'Continuum Of Prevention And Care' To Maximize Hiv Case Detection And Retention In Care In Vietnam, Masami Fujita, Krishna C. Poudel, Nhan Do Thi, Duong Bui Duc, Kinh Nguyen Van, Kimberly Green, Thu Nguyen Thi Minh, Masya Kato, David Jacka, Thuy Cao Thi Thanh, Long Nguyen Thanh, Masamine Jimba

Krishna C. Poudel

Background: The global initiative ‘Treatment 2.0’ calls for expanding the evidence base of optimal HIV service delivery models to maximize HIV case detection and retention in care. However limited systematic assessment has been conducted in countries with concentrated HIV epidemic. We aimed to assess HIV service availability and service connectedness in Vietnam. Methods: We developed a new analytical framework of the continuum of prevention and care (COPC). Using the framework, we examined HIV service delivery in Vietnam. Specifically, we analyzed HIV service availability including geographical distribution and decentralization and service connectedness across multiple services and dimensions. We then identified system-related …

A New Analytical Framework Of 'Continuum Of Prevention And Care' To Maximize Hiv Case Detection And Retention In Care In Vietnam, Masami Fujita, Krishna C. Poudel, Nhan Do Thi, Duong Bui Duc, Kinh Nguyen Van, Kimberly Green, Thu Nguyen Thi Minh, Masaya Kato, David Jacka, Thuy Cao Thi Thanh, Long Nguyen Thanh, Masamine Jimba

Krishna C. Poudel