Sexual risk factors and bacterial vaginosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between sexual risk factors and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Forty-three studies reported new or multiple sexual partners and condom use relative to prevalent, incident, or recurrent BV. The summary estimate of the relative risk for the association between BV new or multiple male partners was 1.

Semantic context and visual feature effects in object naming: an fMRI study using arterial spin labeling.

Previous behavioral studies reported a robust effect of increased naming latencies when objects to be named were blocked within semantic category, compared to items blocked between category. This semantic context effect has been attributed to various mechanisms including inhibition or excitation of lexico-semantic representations and incremental learning of associations between semantic features and names, and is hypothesized to increase demands on verbal self-monitoring during speech production. Objects within categories also share many visual structural features, introducing a potential confound when interpreting the level at which the context effect might occur.

The influence of colour and sound on neuronal activation during visual object naming.

This paper investigates how neuronal activation for naming photographs of objects is influenced by the addition of appropriate colour or sound. Behaviourally, both colour and sound are known to facilitate object recognition from visual form. However, previous functional imaging studies have shown inconsistent effects.

Missing pelvic inflammatory disease? Substantial differences in the rate at which doctors diagnose PID.

Objectives: The clinical diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is subjective. Our aim was to determine if the pattern of diagnosis of PID among experienced clinicians varied compared with the diagnosis of genital warts.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 325 PID diagnoses made by experienced clinicians at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Australia (2002-2006), where doctors saw 21 785 unselected female patients in a walk-in service.

Screening pregnant women for chlamydia: what are the predictors of infection?

Objectives: To determine the risk factors associated with chlamydial infection in pregnancy and the sensitivity and specificity of these when used for selective screening.

Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study of pregnant women aged 16-25 years attending four major public antenatal services across Melbourne, Australia. Between October 2006 and July 2007, women were approached consecutively and asked to complete a questionnaire and to provide a first-pass urine specimen for Chlamydia trachomatis testing using PCR.

Chlamydia testing and notification in Australia: more money, more tests.

Background: To examine the associations between chlamydia testing and notification and age, sex, socioeconomic status and access to services for area of residence for the Australian state of Victoria in 2004.

Methods: Data on 71 295 tests and 7006 notifications for chlamydia were obtained by age, gender and area of residence. Each area of residence was assigned to a population-weighted quartile of socioeconomic advantage and was scored for access to services.

Sexually transmissible infection and HIV management among men who have sex with men with and without HIV: survey of medical practitioners who are members of the Australasian Society for HIV Medicine.

Background: Rates of HIV in New South Wales (NSW) have been stable, but have increased significantly in other Australian states. The reasons for this are unknown and may be associated with differences in the management of sexually transmissible infections (STI) and HIV in different states in Australia. Our aim was to determine if the use of suppressive treatment for genital herpes, the treatment of HIV or STI screening practices were different between states in Australia.

Could sexually transmissible infections be contributing to the increase in HIV infections among men who have sex with men in Australia?

Background: To review existing data on sexually transmissible infections (STI) in men who have sex with men in Australia in order to determine the possible contribution of STI to diverging trends in HIV notifications in different states.

Methods: We reviewed data from multiple sources, including routine national surveillance data, laboratory surveillance data, self-reported information on STI testing in men who have sex with men and ad hoc reports of STI prevalence.

Results: We found increasing rates of gonorrhoea and infectious syphilis notifications in urban men in Australia between 1997 and 2006, and increasing rates of chlamydia notifications in men aged 30-49 years.

Coverage is the key for effective screening of Chlamydia trachomatis in Australia.

Background: The rate of diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis (chlamydia) infection has risen dramatically in Australia. In response, the Australian government is planning to implement systematic screening and testing. Several decisions must be made, including whom to screen.

A cross-sectional survey of young people attending a music festival: associations between drug use and musical preference.

Introduction And Aims: Drug use is becoming normalised among young Australian people involved in music sub-cultures. We aimed to determine prevalences of illicit drug use in this population and associations between preferences for different music genres and recent use of particular illicit drugs.

Design And Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire of young people (aged 16-29 years) attending a music festival.

Sex workers working within a legalised industry: their side of the story.

Objectives: To examine the characteristics and work attitudes of female sex workers working in licensed brothels in Victoria, Australia.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of sex workers working at 38 of the 92 licensed brothels operating in Victoria during 2006.

Results: Of the 108 women approached, 97 (90%) completed the questionnaire.

Prevalence of HSV-2 antibody in a Melbourne antenatal population attending a tertiary obstetric hospital.

Objective: To determine the herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence rate in a Melbourne antenatal cohort.

Design: Prospective collection of serum and questionnaires in 1371 women attending an outpatient antenatal clinic.

Setting: A tertiary obstetric hospital in metropolitan Melbourne.

Take the sex out of STI screening! Views of young women on implementing chlamydia screening in General Practice.

Background: Australia is developing a chlamydia screening program. This study aimed to determine the attitudes of young women to the introduction of chlamydia screening in Australian General Practice.

Methods: In-depth face-to-face interviews with 24 young women from across Victoria, Australia, attending a randomly selected sample of general practices.

Incidence of putative HIV superinfection and sexual practices among HIV-infected men who have sex with men.

Objectives: To determine the upper limit for the incidence of clinically important HIV superinfection among HIV-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) and its relationship with engagement in unsafe sexual practices.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort and nested case-control study. Electronic files of all HIV-infected MSM not on antiretroviral therapy were reviewed.

Temporal associations with declining Trichomonas vaginalis diagnosis rates among women in the state of Victoria, Australia, 1947 to 2005.

Background: To investigate the temporal associations between Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) diagnoses in women at a large urban sexual health clinic and a major Papanicolaou (Pap) smear screening laboratory in Victoria, Australia with Pap smear screening rates and the introduction of nitroimidazole treatments.

Methods: An ecological analysis of TV diagnosis rates at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and the Victorian Cytology Service, Pap smear screening rates and nitroimidazole prescription data.

Results: Diagnoses of TV at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre peaked in the 1950s at 20% to 30% and then rapidly declined through the 1960s and 1970s to below 1% in 1990.

The role of the posterior superior temporal sulcus in audiovisual processing.

In this study we investigate previous claims that a region in the left posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) is more activated by audiovisual than unimodal processing. First, we compare audiovisual to visual-visual and auditory-auditory conceptual matching using auditory or visual object names that are paired with pictures of objects or their environmental sounds. Second, we compare congruent and incongruent audiovisual trials when presentation is simultaneous or sequential.

Chlamydia screening--Australia should strive to achieve what others have not.

Chlamydia screening programs overseas have failed to reduce chlamydia prevalence despite screening 20%-30% of young sexually active women. The Australian federal government announced in 2005 that it would provide $12.5 million for chlamydia control.

Aortic reconstruction with femoral-popliteal vein: graft stenosis incidence, risk and reintervention.

Background: Management using femoral-popliteal vein (FPV) of aortic graft infections, failing aortofemoral bypass, and aortoiliac occlusive disease in young patients with a small aorta is now an accepted therapeutic method and is performed frequently at our institution. A high reintervention rate for FPV graft stenosis has recently been reported. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of FPV graft failure due to stenosis after neoaortoiliac system (NAIS) reconstruction, and to identify risk factors for this complication.

My first time: initiation into injecting drug use in Manipur and Nagaland, north-east India.

Background: The north-east Indian states of Manipur and Nagaland are two of the six high HIV prevalence states in the country, and the main route of HIV transmission is injecting drug use. Understanding the pathways to injecting drug use can facilitate early intervention with HIV prevention programs. While several studies of initiation into injecting drug use have been conducted in developed countries, little is known about the situation in developing country settings.

TGFbeta ligands promote the initiation of retinal ganglion cell dendrites in vitro and in vivo.

Each type of neuron develops a unique morphology critical to its function, but almost all start with the basic plan of one long axon and multiple short, branched dendrites. Though extrinsic signals are known to direct many steps in the development of neuronal structure, little is understood about the initiation of processes, particularly dendrites. We find that Xenopus retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) explanted early will extend axons and not dendrites in dissociated cultures.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of adding a human papillomavirus vaccine to the Australian National Cervical Cancer Screening Program.

Background: The cost-effectiveness of adding a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to the Australian National Cervical Screening Program compared to screening alone was examined.

Methods: A Markov model of the natural history of HPV infection that incorporates screening and vaccination was developed. A vaccine that prevents 100% of HPV 16/18-associated disease, with a lifetime duration of efficacy and 80% coverage offered through a school program to girls aged 12 years, in conjunction with current screening was compared with screening alone using cost (in Australian dollars) per life-year (LY) saved and quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) saved.

Modelling the population-level impact of vaccination on the transmission of human papillomavirus type 16 in Australia.

Background: Vaccines are now available to prevent the development of cervical cancer from genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The decision to vaccinate depends on a vaccine's cost-effectiveness. A rigorous cost-effectiveness model for vaccinated individuals is presented in a companion paper; this paper investigates the additional benefits the community might receive from herd immunity.

Late incidence of chronic venous insufficiency after deep vein harvest.

Background: The deep veins (DV) of the thigh have proven to be versatile autogenous conduits for arterial reconstruction. Harvesting DV poses a theoretical risk of compromising venous outflow of the limb, which could predispose to chronic venous morbidity. The purpose of this study was to define the late incidence of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and to characterize the long-term alterations in venous physiology after DV harvest.