High rate of missed HIV infections in individuals with indeterminate or negative HIV western blots based on current HIV testing algorithm in China.

It remains unclear if China's current HIV antibody testing algorithm misses a substantial number of HIV infected individuals. Of 196 specimens with indeterminate or negative results on HIV western blot (WB) retrospectively examined by HIV-1 nucleic acid test (NAT), 67.57% (75/111) of indeterminate WB samples, and 16.

Treatment adherence and health outcomes in MSM with HIV/AIDS: patients enrolled in "one-stop" and standard care clinics in Wuhan China.

Background: Conducted in Wuhan China, this study examined follow-up and health markers in HIV patients receiving care in two treatment settings. Participants, all men who have sex with men, were followed for 18-24 months.

Method: Patients in a "one-stop" service (ACC; N = 89) vs those in standard care clinics (CDC; N = 243) were compared on HIV treatment and retention in care outcomes.

Sex work and its associations with alcohol and methamphetamine use among female bar and spa workers in the Philippines.

To assess the prevalence of sex work and its associations with substance use among female bar/spa workers in the Philippines (N = 498), workers from 54 bar or spa venues in Metro Manila (2009-2010) were surveyed on demographics, drug/alcohol use, abuse history, and sex work. Their median age was 23 years and 35% engaged in sex work. Sex work was independently associated with methamphetamine use (19% vs 4%; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =2.

Risks and benefits of splenectomy versus no splenectomy for hereditary spherocytosis--a personal view.

Splenectomy is indicated in hereditary spherocytosis to relieve symptoms due to anaemia or splenomegaly, reverse growth failure or skeletal changes due to over-robust erythropoiesis, and prevent recurrent gallstones. A life-long risk of bacterial infection has been recognised for many years as a concomitant cost of splenectomy. The scope of this risk has expanded to include a number of organisms beyond the triad of pneumococcus, meningococcus, and haemophilus influenzae.

The 100% Condom Use Program: a demonstration in Wuhan, China.

The 100% Condom Use Program (100% CUP) was evaluated in Wuhan, China. The program sought to increase knowledge of STI/HIV transmission, increase condom use rates, and reduce the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among sex workers (commercial sex workers (CSWs)), via condom availability and use policies in entertainment establishments and STI services including education and counseling. Entertainment establishment owners and CSWs participated in educational sessions and multiple community sectors were involved in the program.

Client factors associated with length of stay in methadone treatment among heroin users who inject drugs: quantitative analysis of state-level substance abuse treatment utilization data.

The objective of this study was to examine, for a population of 8,258 adult injection drug users (IDUs) who all had entered a Massachusetts licensed methadone maintenance treatment program (MMT) between 1996 and 2002, client factors associated with remaining in MMT for a minimum of 1 year after program entry. Two binomial logistic regression models were developed. The first model examined the association between age, sex, race/ethnicity, parental status, employment status, educational status, health insurance status, homelessness status, having injected drugs in the past month, residential treatment use, number of overall treatment admissions, and whether a client's longest consecutive stay in MMT had lasted for 1 year or more.

Arteriosclerotic events are less frequent in persons with chronic anemia: evidence from families with hereditary spherocytosis.

Because anemic persons have lower cholesterol and whole blood viscosity than those who are not anemic, we hypothesized that subjects with hereditary spherocytosis who have not had the spleen removed should have fewer arteriosclerotic events than unaffected family members. We defined arteriosclerotic events as myocardial infarct, stroke, coronary artery surgery, and carotid artery surgery. We compared the rate of these events in affected-not splenectomized persons to the rate in unaffected family members.

Evidence-based drug treatment practice and the child welfare system: the example of methadone.

This article examined the extent to which methadone maintenance (MM) is considered a treatment alternative for drug-dependent parents, as reflected in the social work and child welfare literature and in child welfare policies. Findings were derived from a review of 15 social work journals published from 1996 through 2002 and from a review of child welfare policies in 27 states in regard to treatment recommendations for substance-abusing parents. These reviews found that 23 articles focused on child welfare-substance abuse issues; no article specifically discussed MM as a treatment option for heroin-using parents; and of the 27 states, only three included methadone as a treatment option in their child welfare policy recommendations.

Predictors of sharing drugs among injection drug users in the South Bronx: implications for HIV transmission.

HIV may be transmitted in the process of sharing injected drugs, even if all participants have their own syringes. In an effort to gain understanding of the extent and predictors of drug sharing, data were obtained via personal interviews with 1,024 injection drug users from four neighborhoods in the South Bronx. The relationship between drug-sharing and demographic, sexual, and drug-related variables was first examined in a bivariate analysis, and then via multiple logistic regression.

Parental status of women injection drug users and entry to methadone maintenance.

This article examines patterns of methadone maintenance treatment entry among 9018 adult women injection drug users (IDUs), with special attention to parental-status differences. The data originate from a statewide drug-treatment database covering all women IDUs who entered drug treatment in the State of Massachusetts over a four-year period. Through the use of logistic regression analysis, the study found that among these women IDUs, those who resided with their children were significantly more likely to enter methadone maintenance than women who were mothers but did not reside with their children.

Examining drug treatment program entry of injection drug users: human capital and institutional disaffiliation.

Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the likelihood of either entering residential treatment, methadone treatment or solely entering detoxification programs for 32,173 injection drug users (IDUs) using drug treatment in Massachusetts, 1996-1999. Those IDUs who were employed, more educated, health-insured, not homeless and who resided with their children were less likely to solely enter detoxification programs. This population, with more human capital and lower levels of institutional disaffiliation, was also more likely to enter methadone maintenance programs.