Polymicrobial consortia in the pathogenesis of biofilm vaginosis visualized by FISH. Historic review outlining the basic principles of the polymicrobial infection theory.

The manuscript disputes the exclusive mono-infectious way of thinking, which presumes that for every infection only one pathogen is responsible and sufficient, when infectious vectors, close contact and reduced immunity meet. In situations involving heavily colonized anatomical sites such an approach often ends in insoluble contradictions. Upon critical reflection and evaluation of 20 years research on spatial organization of vaginal microbiota it is apparent, that in some situations, pathogens may act and operate in permanent, structurally organized consortia, whereas its individual components may be innocuous and innocent, failing to express any pathogenic effect.

Female genital cosmetic surgery: a cross-sectional survey exploring knowledge, attitude and practice of general practitioners.

Objective: To explore general practitioner's (GP) knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding female genital cosmetic surgery (FGCS) in Australia.

Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Australia.

Was an epidemic of gonorrhoea among heterosexuals attending an Adelaide sexual health services associated with variations in sex work policing policy?

Background: A review of historical trends in gonococcal diagnoses made at the Adelaide Sexual Health Clinic (ASHC), South Australia, identified a substantial rise in diagnoses among heterosexuals between 2006 and 2010. Sex work is illegal in South Australia, regulated in Victoria and legal in New South Wales. This and other factors that could have influenced the epidemic were explored in this analysis.

Summer heat: a cross-sectional analysis of seasonal differences in sexual behaviour and sexually transmissible diseases in Melbourne, Australia.

Objectives: To date, no study has correlated seasonal differences in sexual behaviour with the seasonal differences in sexually transmitted infections (STIs); and no seasonal study of STIs has been conducted in the southern hemisphere. Our study aimed to describe seasonal differences in sexual behaviour and correlate this with seasonal differences in STI diagnoses in Melbourne, Australia.

Method: This was a cross-sectional study of individuals attending the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre over a 9-year period from 2006 to 2014.

Baseline findings from the Anal Cancer Examination (ACE) study: screening using digital ano-rectal examination in HIV-positive men who have sex with men.

Objective: Cytological screening for anal cancer precursors is not always possible. We investigated digital ano-rectal examination (DARE) as a means of early anal cancer detection in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: We recruited 327 HIV-positive MSM aged 35 and over from clinics with HIV physicians in Melbourne, Australia, to receive an annual DARE.

Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission cascade in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The Chinese government has invested US$140 million annually on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. This study evaluates the programme by examining the improvements in programme coverage HIV testing and provision of antiviral drugs along the PMTCT cascade.

Methods: Data for PMTCT cascade indicators were collected through a comprehensive systematic review of published peer-reviewed English and Chinese literature during 2003-2011.

The efficacy of azithromycin and doxycycline for the treatment of rectal chlamydia infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There are increasing concerns about treatment failure following treatment for rectal chlamydia with 1 g of azithromycin. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the efficacy of 1 g of azithromycin as a single dose or 100 mg of doxycycline twice daily for 7 days for the treatment of rectal chlamydia.

Methods: Medline, Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Register and ClinicalTrials.

Methadone maintenance treatment programme reduces criminal activity and improves social well-being of drug users in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has been implemented in China since 2004 and has expanded into a nationwide programme. This study aims to evaluate changes in social functioning, family relations and drug-related criminal behaviour among MMT clients in China.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Incidence of curable sexually transmissible infections among adolescents and young adults in remote Australian Aboriginal communities: analysis of longitudinal clinical service data.

Objectives: To undertake the first comprehensive analysis of the incidence of three curable sexually transmissible infections (STIs) within remote Australian Aboriginal populations and provide a basis for developing new control initiatives.

Methods: We obtained all results for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) testing conducted during 2009-2011 in individuals aged ≥16 years attending 65 primary health services across central and northern Australia. Baseline prevalence and incidence of all three infections was calculated by sex and age group.

Slaying the Trojan horse: natural killer cells exhibit robust anti-HIV-1 antibody-dependent activation and cytolysis against allogeneic T cells.

Unlabelled: Many attempts to design prophylactic human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vaccines have focused on the induction of neutralizing antibodies (Abs) that block infection by free virions. Despite the focus on viral particles, virus-infected cells, which can be found within mucosal secretions, are more infectious than free virus both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, assessment of human transmission couples suggests infected seminal lymphocytes might be responsible for a proportion of HIV-1 transmissions.

The acceptability of different HIV testing approaches: cross-sectional study among GMSM in Australia.

Background: We explored the attitudes of Australian gay and other men who have sex with men (GMSM) about the current standard-of-care (non-rapid tests at healthcare settings) and alternative approaches (rapid tests and testing in non-healthcare settings) to better understand the acceptability of alternative testing approaches.

Methods: The Contemporary Norms in Networks and Communities of GMSM study enrolled GMSM in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in 2011-2012 using peer referrals. We explored the self-reported preferences for testing: rapid versus non-rapid and in non-healthcare settings (community-based or home-based testing) versus in healthcare settings, and examined factors associated with preferences for these approaches.

Characteristics of acute nongonococcal urethritis in men differ by sexual preference.

Nongonococcal urethritis (NGU) is a common clinical syndrome, but no etiological agent is identified in a significant proportion of cases. Whether the spectrum of pathogens differs between heterosexual men (MSW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) is largely unstudied but of considerable clinical relevance. A retrospective review was done using the electronic medical record database of Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Australia.

High-throughput informative single nucleotide polymorphism-based typing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae using the Sequenom MassARRAY iPLEX platform.

Objectives: Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global problem heightened by emerging resistance to ceftriaxone. Appropriate molecular typing methods are important for understanding the emergence and spread of N. gonorrhoeae AMR.