The feasibility of recruiting and retaining men who have sex with men and transgender women in a multinational prospective HIV prevention research cohort study in sub-Saharan Africa (HPTN 075).

Introduction: Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are profoundly affected by HIV with high HIV prevalence and incidence. This population also faces strong social stigma and legal barriers, potentially impeding participation in research. To date, few multi-country longitudinal HIV research studies with MSM/TGW have been conducted in SSA.

A Randomized-Controlled Trial of Computer-based Prevention Counseling for HIV-Positive Persons (HPTN 065).

Objective: Decreasing the risk of HIV transmission from HIV-positive individuals is an important public health priority. We evaluated the effectiveness of a computer-based sexual risk reduction counseling intervention (CARE+) among HIV-positive persons enrolled in care.

Methods: HIV-positive eligible participants (N=1075) were enrolled from 11 care sites in the Bronx, NY and Washington, DC and randomized 1:1 to either a tablet-based self-administered CARE+ intervention or standard of care (SOC).

A common VLDLR polymorphism interacts with APOE genotype in the prediction of carotid artery disease risk.

The genetic factors associated with carotid artery disease (CAAD) are not fully known. Because of its role in lipid metabolism, we hypothesized that common genetic variation in the very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) gene is associated with severe CAAD (>80% stenosis), body mass index (BMI), and lipid traits in humans. VLDLR was resequenced for variation discovery in 92 subjects, and single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) were chosen for genotyping in a larger cohort (n = 1,027).

Telephone notification of HIV test results: impact in King County, Washington.

Objective: We evaluated if receiving HIV test results over the telephone was associated with a change in the number of persons who received results.

Study Design: Data were collected from individuals testing for HIV from 1995 to 2002 at selected public clinics in King County, WA. Rates of receiving HIV test results were calculated for periods before and after telephone results were offered, for persons who were offered and accepted, offered but declined, and not offered telephone results.

TagSNP analyses of the PON gene cluster: effects on PON1 activity, LDL oxidative susceptibility, and vascular disease.

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) activity is consistently predictive of vascular disease, although the genotype at four functional PON1 polymorphisms is not. To address this inconsistency, we investigated the role of all common PON1 genetic variability, as measured by tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs), in predicting PON1 activity for phenylacetate hydrolysis, LDL susceptibility to oxidation ex vivo, plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels, and carotid artery disease (CAAD) status. The biological goal was to establish whether additional common genetic variation beyond consideration of the four known functional SNPs improves prediction of these phenotypes.

The correlation of paraoxonase (PON1) activity with lipid and lipoprotein levels differs with vascular disease status.

Paraoxonase (PON1) is an HDL-associated enzyme. Low PON1 activity predicts vascular disease status and is a more reliable predictor of vascular disease than are functional PON1 genotypes. There is evidence that the relationship of PON1 to vascular disease is, in part, due to its antioxidant activity.

Ex vivo measures of LDL oxidative susceptibility predict carotid artery disease.

Aim: The purpose of the study was to assess whether ex vivo measures of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation improved prediction of carotid artery disease (CAAD) case-control status compared to standard lipid and smoking measures.

Methods: One hundred and forty cases with a high degree of carotid artery stenosis aged 40-83 years and an equal number of controls without stenosis or other vascular disease were matched by censored age within 2 years. Matched logistic regression evaluated the significance of copper-induced oxidative measures with and without covariates.

Vitamin C and E intake is associated with increased paraoxonase activity.

Objective: Paraoxonase (PON1), an esterase physically associated with high density lipoprotein, has been shown to inhibit atherogenic low density lipoprotein and high density lipoprotein oxidation. PON1 activity appears to be primarily under genetic control with some environmental modification and is a predictor of vascular disease. Vitamins C and E, dietary antioxidants, scavenge free-oxygen radical products that may depress PON1 activity.