Phase I safety & preliminary acceptability of nonoxynol-9 vaginal pessary as a vaginal microbicide in low risk women in Pune, India.

Background & Objectives: Though nonoxynol-9 (N-9) is available in India as a spermicidal pessary, data on its safety as a potential microbicide among Indian women are not available. Nonoxynol-9 containing compounds have shown anti-HIV activity in in vitro studies and protection against cervical infections. Nonoxynol-9 is being extensively evaluated as a vaginal microbicide world-wide.

Cervical intraepithelial changes & HIV infection in women attending sexually transmitted disease clinics in Pune, India.

Background & Objectives: Cervical cancer is the most important cause of malignancy associated deaths among women in India. Western studies have reported higher risk of abnormal Pap smears in HIV infected women. A large burden of HIV infection and increasing HIV epidemic in India threatens to exacerbate incidence of cervical cancer.

Preliminary observations on lymphocyte subpopulations in HIV seropositive & HIV seronegative tuberculosis patients in Pune, India.

CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte counts were determined in 59 HIV seropositive and 41 HIV seronegative newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients in Pune. There were significant differences in the CD4 counts and CD4/CD8 ratios between HIV seropositive and HIV seronegative tuberculosis patients. Majority of the HIV seropositive patients had a CD4 count less than 500 cells/cu.