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Studies of self-reported sexually transmitted infections (STI) suggesting an association with prostate cancer may reflect underreporting of such infections among nondiseased subjects. To reduce such bias, we studied archived sera in a cohort of U.S. military personnel known to have high rates of both STIs and prostate cancer. Using a nested case-control design, serum samples from 534 men who served on active duty between September 1, 1993 and September 1, 2003 were examined. Controls were individually matched to cases based on date of serum collection, date of birth, branch of service, military rank, marital status, and race. Each of the 267 case-control pairs had two serum samples: a recent serum sample, taken approximately 1 year before the case's prostate cancer diagnosis, and an earlier serum sample, taken approximately 8 years before diagnosis. Each serum specimen was studied for antibodies against human papillomavirus, herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), and Chlamydia trachomatis. Logistic regression accounted for matching and potential confounding factors. Study data indicated no association between prostate cancer and serologic evidence of infections just before the reference date. However, a statistically significant association between prostate cancer and serologic evidence of HSV-2 infection was detected in the earlier sample (odds ratio, 1.60; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-2.44). The strength of this association increased when analyses were restricted to sera collected at least 60 months before diagnosis (odds ratio, 2.04; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-3.29; 204 pairs). If this association is causal, then our findings would suggest a long latency period for prostate cancer development after HSV-2 infection.

Objectives: Although the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among girls infected with HIV has been reported, the incidence of STI diagnoses has not been well documented. The objectives of this study were to examine (1) incident STI diagnoses and (2) the association between viral load (VL) and incident STI diagnosis among HIV-infected adolescent girls in care., Methods: This was a prospective longitudinal 18-month study of girls enrolled in the Adolescent HIV trials network. Cox proportional hazard modelling was performed to evaluate the incidence of STI by baseline viral load., Results: The mean (SD) age of participants was 20.6 (2.0) years, viral load of participants was 66,917 (165,942) copies/ml and median viral load was 7,096 copies/ml. The incidence of STIs for the entire cohort was 1.4 per 100 person-months. During the 18-month follow-up period, there were no significant differences in the STI incidence between the high and low viral load groups (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.86, 95% CI 0.37 to 1.95) There was also no significant association between STI incidence and log-transformed viral load (HR = 1.10, 95% CI 0.92 to 1.3)., Conclusions: Adolescent girls with HIV infection continue to acquire sexually transmitted infections after diagnosis. This analysis does not suggest that VL is a critical factor in STI acquisition over time. Additional work exploring the role of other contextual factors on STI acquisition among HIV-infected adolescent girls is warranted.

Background: Military personnel deployed to foreign countries with high endemic rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are at risk., Goal: To evaluate a cognitive-behavioral, skills-building intervention to prevent STDs in junior, enlisted, male US Marines deployed to the Western Pacific aboard ships with periodic liberty visits to foreign ports., Study Design: This study, using a quasi-experimental design, assigned 584 men to a cardiopulmonary resuscitation training (n = 288) or a cognitive-behavioral intervention (n = 296). The intervention aimed to increase prevention knowledge, reduce high-risk psychosocial (motivation) factors, and build decision-making and communication skills to reduce risky sexual behaviors and alcohol consumption., Results: Participation in the intervention was associated with increased knowledge regarding symptoms and treatment of STDs and HIV (P < 0.001), decreased alcohol use (P < 0.01), and sexual risk (P < 0.01) during liberty ports of call., Conclusion: A multiple-session, cognitive-behavioral, skills-building intervention can be successfully implemented for deployed military personnel.

Background: Hepatitis G virus (HGV), also known as GB virus C, is a newly discovered Flavivirus that is transmissible by blood transfusion and other possible routes., Objective: To study the risk of sexual transmission of HGV in female sexual partners of men with hemophilia (n = 161 couples)., Methods: Blood samples obtained from 11 medical centers were analyzed for (1) HGV RNA by polymerase chain reaction; (2) antibodies to HGV by enzyme immunoassay; and (3) other viruses and T-cell counts by routine laboratory tests. Subjects completed a questionnaire that assessed sexual intercourse frequency, number of sexual partners, condom usage, sexually transmitted diseases, illicit drug usage, and needlestick or broken-glass injuries., Results: The HGV infection (RNA +/- antibody positive) prevalence was 48% among men and 21% among women. Prevalence of hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and HIV among men was 99%, 94%, and 86%, compared with 3%, 11%, and 12% among women, respectively. The odds ratio for HGV infection for women with an HGV-positive male sexual partner was 2.14 (P = 0.06) without adjustment, and 2.77 (P = 0.03) with adjustment for other variables, none of which were independently significant., Conclusion: These results suggest a low level of HGV sexual transmission.