Encouraging innovation: ten research priorities for achieving universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care in Europe by 2010.

When the HIV epidemic officially hit western Europe in the early 1980s, central and eastern Europe were almost completely spared due to the isolation of the Soviet Union. However, in the mid-1990s, reported new cases of HIV in eastern European countries began to increase exponentially. While there have been many declarations and strategies addressing HIV/AIDS, today the goal is universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support services by 2010.

A survey of STI policies and programmes in Europe: preliminary results.

Objectives: A survey was conducted to assess the adequacy of sexually transmitted infections (STI) prevention and control policies and programmes in the European region (including the central Asian republics).

Methods: An adapted World Health Organization (WHO) model questionnaire was sent to ministry of health officials in all 45 countries of Europe and central Asia. The questionnaire included questions on STI programme structure; STI case management; the different types and levels of services, including public and private service providers; partner notification and screening policies; services for vulnerable populations; monitoring and supervision; surveillance and research.

Patterns of partnership and condom use in two communities of female sex workers in Tanzania.

Two rapid ethnographic studies have found that commercial sex workers (CSWs) and other high-risk women in Tanzania have different categories of partners, ranging from single-time contacts to long and enduring relationships. Since the advent of HIV/AIDS prevention programs in Tanzania in the late 1980s, CSWs and their clients have been aware of the multiple benefits of condom use for the prevention of pregnancy and STDs including HIV. These women often use condoms for the single-time contact.

Preventing HIV infection through peer education and condom promotion among truck drivers and their sexual partners in Tanzania, 1990-1993.

HIV prevention through peer education and condom promotion among truck drivers and their sexual partners is described. Trends during an initial 18-month intensive phase, followed by a 24-month maintenance phase, were monitored with surveys. Trends for self-reported condom use were: increase among men (56 to 74%) during the first phase with a decrease (72%) during the maintenance phase.

STD services for women at truck stop in Tanzania: evaluation of acceptable approaches.

AIDS continues to be the commonest cause of death in Tanzania among those aged between 15 and 45 years. Both ulcerative and non-ulcerative sexually transmitted diseases have been identified as major co-factors in HIV transmission. Certain groups including long distance truck drivers and their sexual partners have been reported as having a disporportionate effect on the transmission dynamics of STD including HIV, in a population.

Sentinel surveillance for HIV-1 among pregnant women in a developing country: 3 years' experience and comparison with a population serosurvey.

Objectives: To establish unlinked, anonymous sentinel surveillance for HIV-1 among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic, to determine age-specific seroprevalences, to monitor trends and to compare seroprevalence with that detected by a population serosurvey. To establish the sustainability and costs of surveillance.

Design: Sentinel surveillance for HIV through serial collection of unlinked, anonymous seroprevalence data from antenatal care; comparison of sentinel data with those from a population serosurvey; financial and general audit of the sentinel surveillance.

Lay health beliefs concerning HIV and AIDS--a barrier for control programmes.

Work in AIDS control in East Africa revealed widespread lay health beliefs concerning HIV infection and AIDS amongst health workers and members of the general population at both lower and higher risk of infection. The beliefs were often factually incorrect and undermining to AIDS control in the field of information, education and communication (IEC). The beliefs were conveyed informally but their origins could often be traced.

Behavioral characteristics and laboratory parameters in homo- and bisexual men in West Berlin: an evaluation of five years of testing and counselling on AIDS.

Sera of 1980 homo- and bisexual men who visited the Landesinstitut für Tropenmedizin Berlin (West) between April 1983 and December 1987 were tested for HIV antibodies; 24.3% were positive. Of HIV-antibody-positive men, 78.

Time trends of HIV-I antibody prevalence in homosexual men.

1840 homosexual and bisexual men were tested for human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV) infection at the Landesinstitut für Tropenmedizin, Berlin between April 1983 and December 1987. A total of 25.1% were seropositive for HIV, but the percentage was seemingly declining.

Prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Ixodes ricinus ticks in Berlin (West).

In 1986, 1711 nymphal and adult Ixodes ricinus orginating from Berlin (West) forests were examined individually or in pools of up to 10 ticks for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiologic agent of Lyme borreliosis. Detection of borreliae was carried out by means of a culture method using modified Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly-Medium (BSK II). Tick populations from 14 out of 15 locations contained positive specimens.

The skin-dwelling microfilariae of Monanema martini in Lemniscomys striatus as potential drug screening model for onchocerciasis: midazolam effect in vitro.

The murid model of Monanema martini in Lemniscomys striatus was used to evaluate its potential as drug screening model in onchocerciasis. It had been described that the histopathology and the reaction to diethylcarbamazine treatment of this model closely resemble human onchocerciasis. To study further similarities the in vitro effect of midazolam was examined.

The paralyzing effect of midazolam on Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae in vitro.

Midazolam, a water soluble benzodiazepine derivative, inhibited the motility of Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae in vitro at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 micrograms/ml. The effect was proportional to the concentrations used. Microfilariae regained motility after elimination of midazolam by washing.

Risk factors for HIV infection in German i.v. drug abusers. Clinical, serological and epidemiological features.

A series of 320 German i.v. drug abusers (32.

Active immunization against hepatitis B: immunogenicity of a recombinant DNA vaccine in females, heterosexual and homosexual males.

Three groups of subjects (58 females, 54 heterosexual males, and 50 homosexual males) received three doses of a recombinant DNA yeast-derived hepatitis B vaccine according to a 0, 1, and 6 month vaccination schedule. Local and general side effects were mild. Seroconversion rates after three injections were not significantly different between the groups.