The aim of this article is to audit the distribution and frequency of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) within a sexual network centred in South Wales. After diagnosis of a new case of HIV in February 2007, partner notification, HIV and STI testing were undertaken. Those traced were given information regarding safe sex practices and informed they had been in contact with HIV. Genitourinary (GU) medicine case-notes of contacts identified in the network were reviewed from February 2007 to 1 July 2008. Frequency and distribution of new diagnoses of STIs made on original identification in the network in 2007 were compared with subsequent new diagnoses within the network. One hundred and eighteen men who have sex with men (MSMs) and five women were identified in the original network in 2007. By 1 July 2008, 65 new sexual contacts (all MSMs) were added to the network and there were 25 new STI diagnoses in 13 contacts. Seven contacts originally identified in the cluster in 2007 were diagnosed with 16 of the new STIs. In conclusion, the sexual network has evolved by increasing in size with multiple new STIs diagnosed. The highest risk of STIs occurred in relatively few individuals. Standard interventions in health promotion in the GU medicine setting were not universally successful in preventing high-risk behaviour.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1258/ijsa.2009.009066 | DOI Listing |
BMC Health Serv Res
January 2025
Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, The Netherlands.
HIV self-sampling and -testing (HIVSS/ST) reduces testing barriers and potentially reaches populations who may not test otherwise. In the Netherlands, at-home HIV tests became commercially available around 2016, but data on user experiences are limited. This study aimed to explore characteristics of users and their experiences with HIVSS/ST.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiagn Microbiol Infect Dis
January 2025
Centre for HIV & Sexually Transmitted Infections, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Division of National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Background: HIV rapid diagnostic tests are crucial for timely diagnosis, especially in resource-limited settings. The World Health Organization recommends sensitivity ≥99 % and specificity ≥98 %. This study assessed RDT performance across South Africa's provinces using a proficiency testing program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFViruses
January 2025
Centre for Virus Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead 2145, Australia.
Anogenital inflammation is a critical risk factor for HIV acquisition. The primary preventative HIV intervention, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), is ineffective in blocking transmission in anogenital inflammation. Pre-existing sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) and anogenital microbiota dysbiosis are the leading causes of inflammation, where inflammation is extensive and often asymptomatic and undiagnosed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlants (Basel)
January 2025
College of Agriculture and Environmental Science (CAES), University of South Africa, Priva Bag X06, Florida 0710, South Africa.
Plants have long been used to treat serious illnesses in both humans and animals. A significant underappreciated medicinal tree, Sond is utilized by many different ethnic groups to cure a wide range of illnesses. A variety of electronic databases, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, Scielo, Scifinder, PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, and Google Scholar, were used to search the literature on , using key words such as uses, survey, pharmacology, antigonococcal, toxicity, phytochemistry and others.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
January 2025
Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Collegium Medicum, University of Warmia and Mazury, Al. Wojska Polskiego 30, 10-229 Olsztyn, Poland.
Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin are involved in different inflammatory diseases and may be potential cardiovascular risk biomarkers in psoriasis. They play an important role in regulating the recruitment and adhesion to endothelial cells during inflammation, affecting various conditions like vasculitis, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular diseases. Positive outcomes have been observed when using Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors and biological therapies that target selectins to control the functioning of endothelial cells and reduce inflammation in psoriasis and related conditions.
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