Relationship Dynamics and Sexual Risk Reduction Strategies Among Heterosexual Young Adults: A Qualitative Study of Sexually Transmitted Infection Clinic Attendees at an Urban Chicago Health Center.

Few studies have examined risk-reduction alternatives to consistent condom use for HIV prevention among heterosexual young adults. We used qualitative methodology to explore risk reduction strategies and contextual factors influencing attempts to reduce risk in an urban, high morbidity sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic. Focus groups were conducted October-December 2014 with heterosexually identified men (n = 13) and women (n = 20) aged 18-29 seeking STI screening at an urban clinic.

Transmission clustering among newly diagnosed HIV patients in Chicago, 2008 to 2011: using phylogenetics to expand knowledge of regional HIV transmission patterns.

Introduction: HIV transmission cluster analyses can inform HIV prevention efforts. We describe the first such assessment for transmission clustering among HIV patients in Chicago.

Methods: We performed transmission cluster analyses using HIV pol sequences from newly diagnosed patients presenting to Chicago's largest HIV clinic between 2008 and 2011.

Characterization of CD4⁺ T-cell immune activation and interleukin 10 levels among HIV, hepatitis C virus, and HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Background: HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients have accelerated liver disease compared with HCV monoinfection. In HIV-positive patients with viral suppression, data comparing inflammatory cytokines and immune activation between HIV/HCV coinfection with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) to HIV/HCV-seropositive patients with cleared HCV are limited.

Methods: Fifty-nine age- and sex-matched patients were stratified: (1) HIV monoinfection (n = 15); (2) HCV monoinfection with CHC (n = 15); (3) HIV/HCV coinfection with CHC (n = 14); and (4) HIV/HCV seropositive with cleared HCV (n = 15).