Factors Associated with Adherence to Routine Screening Mammography in HIV-Infected Women.

Background: Both HIV-infected women and minority women have historically lower rates of screening mammography. The objective of this study was to identify factors related to adherence to routine screening mammography in a diverse inner-city cohort of HIV-infected women, to inform future work on targeted interventions to address disparities.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed the electronic medical record of HIV-infected women aged 40 and older engaged in care between October 1, 2003 and March 31, 2008 at a large urban safety-net HIV clinic.

Clinical Liver Disease Progression Among Hepatitis C-Infected Drug Users With CD4 Cell Count Less Than 200 Cells/mm(3) Is More Pronounced Among Women Than Men.

Background.  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality in the United States, and injection drug users are at particularly high risk. Methods.

Beliefs About Anal Cancer among HIV-Infected Women: Barriers and Motivators to Participation in Research.

Background: Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains associated with a greater risk of anal cancer, despite widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy. Evidence concerning the acceptability of anal cancer screening gives little attention to women. Because HIV-infected women have a high prevalence of depression and history of sexual trauma, understanding acceptability among this group is critical.

Relationship between poor physical function, inflammatory markers, and comorbidities in HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy.

Background: HIV-infected individuals may be at increased risk of poor physical function. Chronic inflammation has been associated with decreased physical function in the elderly and may also influence physical function in HIV-infected individuals.

Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed physical function in 65 HIV-infected women aged 40 and older on stable antiretroviral treatment using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB): a standardized test of balance, walking speed, and lower- extremity strength developed for elderly populations.

Patient and provider perspectives on cellular phone-based technology to improve HIV treatment adherence.

Innovative techniques, potentially using technology, to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) may help patients with HIV who struggle with self-care. This qualitative study compared patient and provider participants' perspectives on ART adherence and text messaging as a tool to promote adherence. Thirteen providers and 14 HIV-infected patients identified four main themes: (1) facilitators, (2) barriers to using text message reminders as a medium for ART medication reminders, (3) framing of text message reminders, and (4) patient responsibility and autonomy in the management of their health and wellness.

Risk factors for abnormal anal cytology over time in HIV-infected women.

Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the incidence of, and risk factors for, abnormal anal cytology and anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) 2-3 in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women.

Study Design: This prospective study assessed 100 HIV-infected women with anal and cervical specimens for cytology and high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) testing over 3 semiannual visits.

Results: Thirty-three women were diagnosed with an anal cytologic abnormality at least once.

Factors associated with time to colposcopy after abnormal Pap testing in HIV-infected women.

Background: HIV-infected women are at increased risk for cervical dysplasia and require timely follow-up after an abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) test.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed the proportion of HIV-infected women with colposcopic evaluation after an abnormal Pap test. Time to colposcopy within 12 months after an abnormal Pap test was assessed with univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling in a diverse cohort of HIV-infected women between October 1, 2003, and September 30, 2007.

Risk factors for nonadherence with Pap testing in HIV-infected women.

Background: HIV-infected women are at increased risk for cervical cancer; thus, adherence with Papanicolaou (Pap) testing is of particular importance. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for inadequate Pap testing in a diverse cohort of HIV-infected women at a large urban safety net HIV clinic.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study assessed HIV-infected women aged 18?60 years in care between October 1, 2003, and March 31, 2008, for risk factors for inadequate Pap testing.

Impact of a standardized protocol and antibiotic-impregnated catheters on ventriculostomy infection rates in cerebrovascular patients.

Background: Ventriculostomy infections create significant morbidity. To reduce infection rates, a standardized evidence-based catheter insertion protocol was implemented. A prospective observational study analyzed the effects of this protocol alone and with antibiotic-impregnated ventriculostomy catheters.

Abnormal anal cytology in HIV-infected women.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of and risk factors for abnormal anal cytology and human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in women who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive.

Study Design: We conducted an observational single center study of 100 HIV-infected women with cervical and anal specimens that were obtained for cytologic and high-risk HPV testing with Hybrid Capture 2.

Results: Seventeen women had abnormal anal cytology; 16 women had anal HPV; 21 women had abnormal cervical cytology, and 24 women had cervical HPV.

Human papillomavirus-related diseases in HIV-infected individuals.

Purpose Of Review: To present recent publications in human papillomavirus-associated diseases and their relationship to HIV-infected patients.

Recent Findings: Studies assessing geographic variations in human papillomavirus types and prevalence in cervical dysplasia and cancer in HIV-infected women suggest that although human papillomavirus types 16 and 18 dominate, multiple other human papillomavirus types may play a role in carcinogenesis. Anal dysplasia and cancer incidence continues to rise in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era; however, data on outcomes following therapy for anal dysplasia (infrared coagulator, high-resolution anoscopy-guided ablation) and anal cancer (chemoradiation and possibly intensity-modulated radiation therapy) have been encouraging.