Secondary Surgical Cytoreduction for Recurrent Ovarian Cancer.

Background: Secondary surgical cytoreduction in women with platinum-sensitive, recurrent epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian-tube ("ovarian") cancer is widely practiced but has not been evaluated in phase 3 investigation.

Methods: We randomly assigned patients with recurrent ovarian cancer who had received one previous therapy, had an interval during which no platinum-based chemotherapy was used (platinum-free interval) of 6 months or more, and had investigator-determined resectable disease (to no macroscopic residual disease) to undergo secondary surgical cytoreduction and then receive platinum-based chemotherapy or to receive platinum-based chemotherapy alone. Adjuvant chemotherapy (paclitaxel-carboplatin or gemcitabine-carboplatin) and use of bevacizumab were at the discretion of the investigator.

Establishing a small animal model for evaluating protective immunity against mumps virus.

Although mumps vaccines have been used for several decades, protective immune correlates have not been defined. Recently, mumps outbreaks have occurred in vaccinated populations. To better understand the causes of the outbreaks and to develop means to control outbreaks in mumps vaccine immunized populations, defining protective immune correlates will be critical.

Perceived financial need and sexual risk behavior among urban, minority patients following sexually transmitted infection diagnosis.

Background: Previous studies have shown that racial/ethnic and gender disparities in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infections (STI) may be due in part to factors such as poverty and income-inequality. Little has been published in the HIV/STI literature on the effect of the perception of having unmet basic needs on sexual risk behavior.

Methods: Data on perceived financial need and sexual risk were collected as part of a behavioral intervention aimed at promoting STI partner notification and reducing sexual behavior among minority patients presenting for care at 1 of 2 STI treatment centers in Brooklyn, NY, between January 2002 and December 2004.

Human immunodeficiency virus partner elicitation and notification in new york city: public health does it better.

Background: Partner notification (PN) is an effective strategy to identify undiagnosed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and to likely reduce HIV transmission. Whereas published literature has documented the benefits of provider referral for HIV PN, determination of the optimal provider--health department staff or community clinician--has not been previously studied. This study examined whether PN conducted by New York City (NYC) Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) is more successful than PN conducted by community clinicians.

A randomized controlled trial for reducing risks for sexually transmitted infections through enhanced patient-based partner notification.

Objectives: We sought to assess the effectiveness of approaches targeting improved sexually transmitted infection (STI) sexual partner notification through patient referral.

Methods: From January 2002 through December 2004, 600 patients with Neisseria gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis were recruited from STI clinics and randomly assigned to either a standard-of-care group or a group that was counseled at the time of diagnosis and given additional follow-up contact. Participants completed an interview at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months and were checked at 6 months for gonorrhea or chlamydial infection via nucleic acid amplification testing of urine.

Long-term persistence of mumps antibody after receipt of 2 measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations and antibody response after a third MMR vaccination among a university population.

Background: High attack rates among vaccinated young adults reported during the 2006 mumps outbreak in the United States heightened concerns regarding mumps vaccine failure.

Methods: Serum specimens from university students and staff were tested for mumps immunoglobulin (Ig) G by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). A subset of participants vaccinated for < or =5 years and > or =15 years were tested by neutralizing antibody (NA) assay.

HIV and sexually transmitted infection risk behaviors and beliefs among Black West Indian immigrants and US-born Blacks.

Objectives: We compared Black West Indian immigrants' and US-born Blacks' sexual and drug-use risk behaviors and their beliefs related to using condoms and informing partners of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) to identify possible differences in risk.

Methods: We drew data from the baseline assessment of a clinic-based intervention designed to increase partner STI notification.

Results: Black West Indian men were less likely than were US-born Black men to report nonregular partners.

Substance abuse intervention services in public STD clinics: a pilot experience.

Past research reported a gap in substance abuse treatment for patients in sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics. Studies in New York City indicate that approximately 20% of patients with STD show symptoms of alcohol and substance abuse, but only 1% have ever received treatment services. This article reports findings from a pilot project that implemented early intervention service procedures in an STD clinic in New York City.

A case-control study of syphilis among men who have sex with men in New York City: association With HIV infection.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with syphilis among men who report sex with other men in New York City. DESIGN, SETTING AND STUDY SUBJECTS: We conducted a case-control study among 88 men who reported sex with men in the previous year, 18 to 55 years old and diagnosed with primary or secondary syphilis during 2001; and 176 control subjects frequently matched by age and type of health provider.

Results: HIV prevalence among syphilis cases was 48% compared with 15% among control subjects (P <0.