Regional cerebral blood flow and FDG uptake in asymptomatic HIV-1 men.

Despite advances in the treatment of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder occurs in 15-50% of HIV-infected individuals, and may become more apparent as ageing advances. In the present study we investigated regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and regional cerebral metabolic rate of glucose uptake (rCMRglc) in medically and psychiatrically stable HIV-1-infected participants in two age-groups. Positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based arterial spin labeling (ASL) were used to measure rCMRglc and rCBF, respectively, in 35 HIV-infected participants and 37 HIV-negative matched controls.

Mapping the brain in younger and older asymptomatic HIV-1 men: frontal volume changes in the absence of other cortical or diffusion tensor abnormalities.

Introduction: Over the past decade the developments made in treating people with human immune deficiency virus (HIV) have greatly improved quality of life and life expectancy. However, the nature of asymptomatic HIV-associated minor neurocognitive disorder (HAND) remains unclear. In this study we explored the occurrence of neuropsychological and neuroimaging changes in medically and psychiatrically stable HIV-1 infected patients on highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) from two separate age groups.

Observations on the calcium dependence and reversibility of cobalamin transport across the outer membrane of Escherichia coli.

The calcium dependence of cobalamin (Cbl) binding to the BtuB protein of Escherichia coli and the reversibility of its function in the transport of Cbl across the outer membrane have been examined. The results show that the two calcium-binding sites in BtuB that were identified previously by others are responsible for the calcium dependence of high affinity Cbl binding. The affinity of the pure BtuB protein for Cbl was approximately 1000-fold higher in the presence of saturating levels of calcium than in its absence.

Colposcopy is not necessary to assess the risk to the cervix in HIV-positive women: an international cohort study of cervical pathology in HIV-1 positive women.

The objectives of this prospective multicentre international cohort study are to describe the characteristics of a cohort of HIV-1 positive women and determine the best management system by comparing cervical pathology according to results of cytology, colposcopy and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing at baseline and throughout follow-up. A. Cohorts of known HIV-positive women were recruited from 6 hospital-based European centres and a community-based South African centre.

Gender identity disorder: treatment and post-transition care in transsexual adults.

As sex reassignment surgeries become more common and advanced, health professionals are more likely to see patients with gender identity disorders (GID) in their clinics. This can be challenging in many ways, and the challenges continue even after gender reassignment surgery as each case may present with unique anatomy. This article reviews the definition and treatment of GID, service provision in National Health Service and post-transition care of such patients.

A case of successful management of recurrent bacterial vaginosis of neovagina after male to female gender reassignment surgery.

As sex reassignment surgeries become common and advanced, doctors are more likely to encounter cases with 'different' anatomy. Due to variations in examination and management as compared with non-transsexual patients, these cases generally prove challenging to the physicians. We present a case of recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) of neovagina in a transsexual patient successfully managed by using metronidazole gel and occasional douching.

You're not going to give me the umbrella, are you?

The “umbrella test” is a longstanding urban myth that still bothers men who present for testing at sexual health clinics

Cervical screening and management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV-positive women.

The high prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology in the context of immunosuppression has been recognized for many years. In response to repeated observations of cervical cancers in HIV-infected women, moderate and severe cervical dysplasia were designated as early symptomatic HIV infection (Category B) by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1993, and invasive cervical cancer as an AIDS-defining condition (Category C). HIV-infected women, therefore, differ from the general population not only with a greater risk for more, but also potentially more severe cervical disease.

Multicentric Castleman's disease in a patient with HIV.

Multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) was originally described in non-HIV patients. It is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder, which is more commonly seen in HIV-positive patients and is associated with human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8). We describe a patient with advanced HIV who responded well to conventional highly active antiretroviral treatment.

Identification of the periplasmic cobalamin-binding protein BtuF of Escherichia coli.

Cells of Escherichia coli take up vitamin B(12) (cyano-cobalamin [CN-Cbl]) and iron chelates by use of sequential active transport processes. Transport of CN-Cbl across the outer membrane and its accumulation in the periplasm is mediated by the TonB-dependent transporter BtuB. Transport across the cytoplasmic membrane (CM) requires the BtuC and BtuD proteins, which are most related in sequence to the transmembrane and ATP-binding cassette proteins of periplasmic permeases for iron-siderophore transport.

Sequence changes in the ton box region of BtuB affect its transport activities and interaction with TonB protein.

Uptake of cobalamins by the transporter protein BtuB in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli requires the proton motive force and the transperiplasmic protein TonB. The Ton box sequence near the amino terminus of BtuB is conserved among all TonB-dependent transporters and is the only known site of mutations that confer a transport-defective phenotype which can be suppressed by certain substitutions at residue 160 in TonB. The crystallographic structures of the TonB-dependent transporter FhuA revealed that the region near the Ton box, which itself was not resolved, is exposed to the periplasmic space and undergoes an extensive shift in position upon binding of substrate.

Women and HIV--revisited ten years on.

This article compares how women and their relationship to HIV has changed since the original publication of this article in 1990. The number of women infected with HIV has continued to rise, but, in contrast, there have been few changes in their management. We review transmission risks and manifestations of the infection, and also discuss the issues faced by women with HIV.

A new class of cobalamin transport mutants (btuF) provides genetic evidence for a periplasmic binding protein in Salmonella typhimurium.

No periplasmic binding protein has been demonstrated for the ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-type cobalamin transporter BtuCD. New mutations (btuF) are described that affect inner-membrane transport. The BtuF protein has a signal sequence and resembles the periplasmic binding proteins of several other ABC transporters.

An exploration into occupational stress experienced by HIV health care professionals who work within genitourinary medicine settings.

The present study investigates the occupational stress of health care workers involved with HIV care in genitourinary medicine (GUM) outpatient departments. Sixteen nursing and 14 medical staff completed the P. Gray-Toft and J.