HIV control in postpartum mothers: a turbulent time.

We conducted an audit looking at the management of HIV-positive women in the postpartum period. We found that of the women with a previous AIDS-defining condition or a CD4 count <350 cells/µL, 83% were correctly continued on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and 84.1% of these had good virological control.

HIV testing in colposcopy and termination of pregnancy services: a missed opportunity?

Introduction: The 2008 National HIV testing guidelines produced jointly by the British Association of Sexual Health and HIV, British HIV Association and British Infection Society recommend HIV testing for patients attending termination of pregnancy (TOP) services and patients diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) Grade 2 or above. The aim is to reduce the time between acquisition and diagnosis of HIV by encouraging testing in settings where patients present with indicator diseases. Benefits of earlier HIV diagnosis include improved survival, prevention of onward transmission, and optimisation of maternal health when planning pregnancy.

A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial to evaluate the role of a short reducing course of oral corticosteroid therapy in the treatment of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Objectives: To assess the validity of our observational experience that a short course of oral prednisolone therapy might be of value in the management of symptoms of chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) in men.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-one men with CPPS (inflammatory or non-inflammatory) for > or =6 months, and who had failed to improve with standard antibiotic therapy, were randomized to receive either a 1-month reducing course of oral prednisolone (nine) or an equivalent placebo regimen (12 men). The outcome measures used were the McGill Pain Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), General Health Questionnaire-30 (GHQ-30) and the National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), which were completed at baseline and 3 months.