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We examined the prevalence and correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) risk behaviors in a large sample of severely mentally ill (SMI) patients. Risk levels were correlated with demographic factors, diagnosis, symptom severity, trauma history, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder (SUD), and sexual orientation. SMI clients from urban and rural settings (N = 275) were assessed regarding HIV/AIDS risk behaviors, and hypothesized risk factors. Patients exhibited substantial levels of risky behavior, particularly sexual risk. Correlates of increased risk included SUD, trauma, male homosexual orientation, younger age, and symptom severity. Structural equation modeling identified SUD and sexual orientation as the primary determinants of both drug and sexual risk behavior. We conclude that specific illness related variables appear to have less impact on risk behavior among people with SMI than previously hypothesized. Substance abuse prevention and treatment may be the most effective means of reducing HIV risk in this population.

Questions exist about whether testing of preventive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 vaccines, which will require rapid recruitment and retention of cohorts with high HIV-1 seroincidence, is feasible in the United States. A prospective cohort study was conducted in 1995-1997 among 4,892 persons at high risk for HIV infection in nine US cities. At 18 months, with an 88% retention rate, 90 incident HIV-1 infections were observed (1.31/100 person-years (PY), 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 1.61). HIV-1 seroincidence rates varied significantly by baseline eligibility criteria--1.55/100 PY among men who had sex with men, 0.38/100 PY among male intravenous drug users, 1.24/100 PY among female intravenous drug users, and 1.13/100 PY among women at heterosexual risk-and by enrollment site, from 0.48/100 PY to 2.18/100 PY. HIV-1 incidence was highest among those men who had sex with men who reported unprotected anal intercourse (2.01/100 PY, 95% CI: 1.54, 2.63), participants who were definitely willing to enroll in an HIV vaccine trial (1.96/100 PY, 95% CI: 1.41, 2.73), and women who used crack cocaine (1.62/100 PY, 95% CI: 0.92, 2.85). Therefore, cohorts with HIV-1 seroincidence rates appropriate for HIV-1 vaccine trials can be recruited, enrolled, and retained.

Recent studies have reported on the utility of audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (ACASI) in surveys of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors that involve a single assessment. This paper reports the results of a test of ACASI within a longitudinal study of HIV risk behavior and infection. Study participants (gay men (n = 1,974) and injection drug users (n = 903)) were randomly assigned to either ACASI or interviewer-administered assessment at their second follow-up visit 12 months after baseline. Significantly more of the sexually active gay men assessed via ACASI reported having sexual partners who were HIV antibody positive (odds ratio = 1.36, 95% confidence interval: 1.08, 1.72), and a higher proportion reported unprotected receptive anal intercourse. Among injection drug users (IDUs), our hypothesis was partially supported. Significantly more IDUs assessed via ACASI reported using a needle after another person without cleaning it (odds ratio = 2.40, 95% confidence interval: 1.34, 4.30). ACASI-assessed IDUs reported similar rates of needle sharing and needle exchange use but a lower frequency of injection. Participants reported few problems using ACASI, and it was well accepted among members of both risk groups. Sixty percent of the participants felt that the ACASI elicited more honest responses than did interviewer-administered questionnaires. Together, these data are consistent with prior research findings and suggest that ACASI can enhance the quality of behavioral assessment and provide an acceptable method for collecting self-reports of HIV risk behavior in longitudinal studies and clinical trials of prevention interventions.

Summary Background We used data from Europe, North America, and Australia to assess the effect of exposure category on the AIDS incubation period and HIV-1 survival and whether the effect of age at seroconversion varies with exposure category and with time since seroconversion. Methods 38 studies of HIV-1-infected individuals whose dates of seroconversion could be reliably estimated were included in the analysis. Individual data on 13 030 HIV-1-infected individuals from 15 countries were collated, checked, and analysed centrally. We calculated estimates of mortality and AIDS incidence rates and estimated the proportions of individuals surviving and developing AIDS at each year after seroconversion from the numbers of observed deaths or cases of AIDS and the corresponding person-years at risk. Analyses were adjusted for age at seroconversion, time since seroconversion, and other factors as appropriate. Findings Mortality and AIDS incidence increased strongly with time since seroconversion and age at seroconversion. Median survival varied from 12·5 years (95% Cl 12·1–12·9) for those aged 15–24 years at seroconversion to 7·9 years (7·4–8·5) for those aged 45–54 years at seroconversion, whereas for development of AIDS the corresponding values were 11·0 years (10·7–11·7) and 7·7 years (7·1–8·6). There was no appreciable effect of exposure category on survival. For AIDS incidence, the exposure category effect that we noted was explained by the high incidence of Kaposi's sarcoma in those infected through sex between men. We estimated that among people aged 25–29 years at seroconversion 90% (89–91) and 60% (57–62) survived to 5 years and 10 years, respectively, after seroconversion, whereas 13% (12–15) and 46% (44–49), respectively, developed AIDS (excluding Kaposi's sarcoma). Interpretation Before widespread use of highly-active antiretroviral therapy (before 1996), time since seroconversion and age at seroconversion were the major determinants of survival and development of AIDS in Europe, North America, and Australia.

Associations between substance use and sexual behavior were examined among 3220 seronegative men who have sex with men (MSM) in a HIV vaccine preparedness study. Relationships between current and past substance use and current sexual risk were evaluated using crude odds ratios and logistic regression to adjust for confounding variables. Heroin and injection drug use were uncommon (

SummaryThe traumatologic operation technique is reported over a time period of 21 years. Concerning the treatment of the intertrochanteric femur fracture, a development from the Ender nai

As tuberculosis transmission decreases, case rates decline and an increasing proportion of cases arises from the pool of persons with latent infection. Elimination of tuberculosis will require preventing disease from developing in infected persons. From 1994 to 1996 the Atlanta TB Prevention Coalition conducted a community-based tuberculin screening and isoniazid preventive therapy project among high-risk inner-city residents of Atlanta, Georgia. We established screening centers in outpatient waiting areas of the public hospital serving inner-city residents, the city jail, clinics serving the homeless, and with outreach teams in neighborhoods frequented by drug users. All services were provided free. A total of 7,246 persons participated in tuberculin testing; 4,701 (65%) adhered with skin test reading, 809 (17%) had a positive test, 409 (50%) fit current guidelines for isoniazid preventive therapy, 84 (20%) we intended to treat completed therapy. The major limitations of this community-based tuberculin screening and preventive therapy project were the low proportion of infected individuals who were eligible for isoniazid preventive therapy and the poor adherence with a complete regimen among those we intended to treat. For community-based programs to be efficacious, preventive therapy regimens that are of shorter duration and safe for older persons will need to be implemented.

SummaryIn the Department of Surgery, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum-Langendreer, 176 patients were operated because of an esophagus carcinoma between July 1, 1975 and September, 30, 1996.

Addiction Research and Treatment Center Analyses were performed to construct and confirm the validity of new conjoint intake and 6-month follow-up scales for the Addiction Severity Index (A. T. McLellan, L. Luborsky, G. E. Woody, & C. P. O'Brien, 1980) applied to a diverse sample of substance dependence patients (N = 1,008). A multistage scaling strategy identified 5 psychometrically integral addiction problem scales. Exploratory item and factor analyses, confLrrnatory oblique item clustering, and variance partitioning verified that the scales comprised relatively little common variance and that each retained a substantial amount of unique and reliable variance. Resulting scales (Psychiatric, Drug, Alcohol, Family, and Legal Problems, respectively) were highly internally consistent and structurally stable overall, at intake and follow-up and across gender, age, ethnicity, and substance abuse categories. Concurrent and predictive validity over 2 years were supported for clinical subsamples based on comorbid psychopathology and mood, HIV risk behaviors, personality indices, urine toxicology, and criminal records. The Addiction Severity Index (ASI) is probably the most commonly used instrument in the field of substance abuse and has been a Arthur I. Alterman, Terry G. Cook, David Metzger, Megan J. Rutherford, and John S. Cacciola, Depart- ment of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, and Treatment Research Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Philadelphia; Paul A. McDermott, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania; Lawrence S. Brown, Jr., Addiction Research and Treatment Center, Brooklyn, New York. Megan J. Rutherford is now at the Alcohol and Drug Institute, University of Washington. This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant (DA05186), the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcohofism Grant AA08480, and a Department of Veterans Affairs grant. Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Arthur I. Alterman, Treatment Research Center, 3900 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104. Electronic mail may be sent to Alterman@Research.TRC.UPenn.Edu. remarkably useful multidimensional clinical and evaluation tool (Cacciola et al., 1997; Stoffel- mayr, Mavis, & Kasim, 1994). At the same time, research in the past decade has begun to demonstrate some limitations in the two sets of ASI problem indices used to summarize respon- dent status. One set, the interviewer severity ratings (ISRs), is the interviewer's determina- tion of a summary score based on lifetime and recent problems that describes the "need for treatment" at intake in each of the ASI's seven problem areas. However, the interrater reliabil- ity of ISRs has been shown to be modest when applied by raters in the field (Alterman, Brown, Zaballero, & McKay, 1994; Hodgins & EI- Guebaly, 1992; Stoffelmayr et al., 1994). Our group has recently developed a set of psycho- metrically sound, standardized ASI intake scales based on both lifetime and recent problem items that are designed as a reliable and objective alternative to the ISRs (McDermott et al., 1996). The composite scores (CSs) are arithmeti- cally derived scales, used both at intake and at 233

The first simultaneous microbeam mapping of single event upset (SEU) and latchup (SEL) in the CMOS RAM HR165162 is presented. We found that the shapes of the sensitive areas depend on V/sub DD/, on the ions being used and on the site on the chip being hit by the ion. In particular, we found SEL sensitive sites close to the main power supply lines between the memory-bit-arrays by detecting the accompanying current surge. All these SELs were also accompanied by bit-flips elsewhere in the memory (which we call "indirect" SEUs in contrast to the well known SEUs induced in the hit memory cell only). When identical SEL sensitive sites were hit farther away from the supply lines only indirect SEL sensitive sites could be detected. We interpret these events as "latent" latchups in contrast to the "classical" ones detected by their induced current surge. These latent SELs were probably decoupled from the main supply lines by the high resistivity of the local supply lines.

Objective: To determine the willingness of populations at high risk of HIV-1 infection to participate in HIV vaccine efficacy trials, determine factors influencing decision-making, and evaluate knowledge levels of vaccine trial concepts. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: HlV-1-negative homosexual men, male and female injecting drug users and non-injecting women at heterosexual risk were recruited in eight cities in the United States (n = 4892). Results: A substantial proportion of the study population (77%) would definitely (27%) or probably (50%) be willing to participate in a randomized vaccine efficacy trial. Increased willingness was associated with high-risk behaviors, lower education level, being uninsured or covered by public insurance, and not having been in a previous vaccine preparedness study. Altruism and a desire for protection from the vaccine were major motivators for participation. Major concerns included positive HIV-1 antibody test due to vaccine, safety of the vaccine, and possible problems with insurance or foreign travel. Baseline knowledge of vaccine trial concepts was low. Conclusions: It is likely that high-risk volunteers will be willing to enroll in HIV vaccine efficacy trials. A variety of participant and community educational strategies are needed to address participant concerns, and to ensure understanding of key concepts prior to giving consent for concepts prior to giving consent for participation.

The extent and consequences of professional delay in diagnosis were analysed in 83 patients with palmoplantar and subungual melanomas treated from January 1986 to March 1997 in our department. Seventeen (52%) out of 33 subungual melanomas and 10 (20%) out of 50 palmoplantar melanomas were clinically misdiagnosed by physicians. Three palmoplantar melanomas (6%) were initially misinterpreted by pathologists. In 23 of the 27 cases (85%) the clinical misdiagnosis was made by non-dermatologists. Misdiagnosis caused a median delay of 12 months in the diagnosis of palmoplantar melanomas and 18 months in the diagnosis of subungual melanomas. Delay in diagnosis was associated with increased tumour thickness, more advanced stage at time of melanoma diagnosis and a lower estimated 5-year survival rate (15.4% versus 68.9% for palmoplantar; 68.5% versus 90.9% for subungual). Acral melanomas are frequently misdiagnosed due to their less common locations and because plantar and subungual melanomas often do not fit the 'changing mole' pattern. To Improve the patient's prognosis it is necessary to increase the physicians' skill in the diagnosis of acral melanomas. Histological examination should always be performed in acral lesions that do not heal.

Federal probationers or parolees with a history of opioid addiction were referred by themselves or their probation/parole officer for a naltrexone treatment study. Participation was voluntary and subjects could drop out of the study at any time without adverse consequences. Following orientation and informed consent, 51 volunteers were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to a 6-month program of probation plus naltrexone and brief drug counseling, or probation plus counseling alone. Naltrexone subjects received medication and counseling twice a week, controls received counseling at similar intervals. All therapy and medication were administered in an office located adjacent to the federal probation department. Fifty-two percent of subjects in the naltrexone group continued for 6 months and 33% remained in the control group. Opioid use was significantly lower in the naltrexone group. The overall mean percent of opioid positive urine tests among the naltrexone subjects was 8%, versus 30% for control subjects ( p 〈 .05). Fifty-six percent of the controls and 26% of the naltrexone group ( p 〈.05) had their probation status revoked within the 6-month study period and returned to prison. Treatment with naltrexone and brief drug counseling can be integrated into the Federal Probation/Parole system with favorable results on both opioid use and re-arrest rate.

Mice bearing interleukin-6 (IL-6)-secreting tumor were used to study the chronic effect of IL-6 on carbohydrate metabolism. Mice were injected with allogeneic tumor cells transduced with the murine IL-6 gene. Serum IL-6 levels were correlated exponentially with tumor weight. Secretion of IL-6 from the developed tumors was associated with decreased food consumption, reduced body weight, and reduced blood glucose levels. Insulin levels did not change, and 2-deoxyglucose uptake was not affected in most tissues examined. A significant increase of 2-deoxyglucose uptake was measured in the liver. Glycogen content in the liver determined 0, 6, 12, and 18 days after tumor inoculation was 42, 23, 12, and 3 mg/g, respectively. The activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase was not affected. The activity of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Phase) determined 6, 12, and 18 days after tumor injection was 84, 70, and 50% of G-6-Pase activity in pair-fed mice bearing nonsecreting tumors, respectively. G-6-Pase mRNA levels were markedly reduced due to inhibition of G-6-Pase gene transcriptional rate.

Most opiate users are injection drug users (IDUs). A significant percentage of IDUs have antisocial personality disorder (APD). APD has been found by some researchers to be an additional risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in IDUs. The present study evaluated the association of sociodemographic characteristics, substance abuse history, and several measures of antisociality including the DSM-III-R diagnosis made by the Personality Disorder Examination, the California Psychological Inventory-Socialization Scale, and Hare's Revised Psychopathy Checklist, to behaviors associated with HIV risk in 289 opiate-dependent methadone-maintained subjects. The presence of drug- and sex-related risky behaviors measured by the Risk Assessment Battery was predicted more consistently by measures of personality traits associated with antisociality than by a diagnosis of APD.

The barriers to internal rotation for the methyl group in p-hydroxy-p‘-methyl-t-stilbene and its one- and two-water complexes are reported. The jet-cooled fluorescence excitation spectra of these species are also presented. The excitation spectrum of both p-hydroxy-t-stilbene and p-hydroxy-p‘-methyl-t-stilbene exhibits two origins separated by ∼270 cm-1, which are due to the syn and anti conformers of the hydroxy group. The frequency difference between the two conformers changes dramatically in the water complexes. Additionally, barriers to internal rotation show a strong water complex dependence, changing by as much as 25% with hydrogen bonding at the hydroxy group, a site 12 atoms away from the methyl rotor.

Decisions regarding where patients access HIV care are not well understood. The purpose of this analysis was to examine differences in travel distance to care among persons receiving care in Philadelphia. A multi-stage sampling design was utilized to identify 400 potential participants. 65 % (260/400) agreed to be interviewed. Participants were asked questions about medical care, supportive services, and geographic location. Distances were calculated between residence and care location. 46.3 % travelled more than three miles beyond the nearest facility. Uninsured travelled further (6.9 miles, 95 % CI 3.9–9.8) than persons with public insurance (3.3 miles, 2.9–3.6). In multivariate analyses, no insurance (20/260) was associated with increased distance (p = 0.0005) and Hispanic ethnicity was associated with decreased distance (p = 0.0462). Persons without insurance travel further but insurance status alone does not explain the variability in distance travelled to care. In Philadelphia, Hispanic populations, and providers that may be most accessible to them, are spatially contained.

BACKGROUND Successful HIV treatment as prevention requires individuals to be tested, aware of their status, linked to and retained in care, and virally suppressed. Spatial analysis may be useful for monitoring HIV care by identifying geographic areas with poor outcomes. METHODS Retrospective cohort of 1704 people newly diagnosed with HIV identified from Philadelphia's Enhanced HIV/AIDS Reporting System in 2008-2009, with follow-up to 2011. Outcomes of interest were not linked to care, not linked to care within 90 days, not retained in care, and not virally suppressed. Spatial patterns were analyzed using K-functions to identify "hot spots" for targeted intervention. Geographic components were included in regression analyses along with demographic factors to determine their impact on each outcome. RESULTS Overall, 1404 persons (82%) linked to care; 75% (1059/1404) linked within 90 days; 37% (526/1059) were retained in care; and 72% (379/526) achieved viral suppression. Fifty-nine census tracts were in hot spots, with no overlap between outcomes. Persons residing in geographic areas identified by the local K-function analyses were more likely to not link to care [adjusted odds ratio 1.76 (95% confidence interval: 1.30 to 2.40)], not link to care within 90 days (1.49, 1.12-1.99), not be retained in care (1.84, 1.39-2.43), and not be virally suppressed (3.23, 1.87-5.59) than persons not residing in the identified areas. CONCLUSIONS This study is the first to identify spatial patterns as a strong independent predictor of linkage to care, retention in care, and viral suppression. Spatial analyses are a valuable tool for characterizing the HIV epidemic and treatment cascade.

Successes in preventing HIV transmission among substance using populations have focused primarily among injection drug users, which have produced measurable reductions in HIV incidence and prevalence. By contrast, the majority of substances used worldwide are administered by non-injectable means, and there is a dearth of HIV prevention interventions that target non-injecting substance users. Increased surveillance of trends in substance use, especially cocaine (including crack) and methamphetamine in addition to new and emerging substances (e.g., synthetic cannabinoids, cathinones and other amphetamine analogs) are needed to develop and scale-up effective and robust interventions for populations at risk for HIV-transmission via sexual behaviors related to non-injection substance use. Strategies are needed that address unique challenges to HIV prevention for substance users who are HIV-infected and those who are HIV- uninfected and at high risk. We propose a research agenda that prioritizes: (1) ) combination HIV prevention strategies in substance users; (2) behavioral HIV prevention programs that reduce sexual transmission behaviors in non-treatment seeking individuals; (3) medical and/or behavioral treatments for substance abuse that reduce/eliminate substance-related sexual transmission behaviors; and (4) structural interventions to reduce HIV incidence.

The effects of RU-486, a glucocorticoid antagonist, on HIV infection and replication in depressed and nondepressed women were studied using ex vivo models of HIV infection. RU-486 treatment of cells decreased HIV reverse transcriptase activity of monocyte-derived macrophages in a model of acute infectivity. RU-486 also decreased HIV viral replication in the chronically-infected T-cell line ACH-2, but not in the promonocyte cell line U1. No differences were associated with depression status. Thus, glucocorticoid antagonism may suppress HIV infectivity and replication ex vivo. Studies to determine the role of glucocorticoid antagonists in the host defense against HIV should be performed.

The study objectives were to explore the potential need for and use of complementary and alternative (CAM) services among women diagnosed with breast cancer and to investigate reasons for nonreceipt of CAM.The Alaska Breast Cancer Needs Assessment Survey was completed by female breast cancer survivors in Alaska. The survey assessed physical and psychologic symptoms, services received, satisfaction with treatment, communication with providers, and informational needs. Survey responses were obtained from 309 women with breast cancer, with a mean age of 56 years and high level of education.Results revealed that most breast cancer survivors have significant needs for CAM services, and yet only a small proportion actually receives them. For example, virtually all women reported symptoms potentially amenable to treatment via individual counseling or nutritional interventions; however, only 29% and 45%, respectively, received such services. Women who did and those who did not receive CAM services (e.g., counseling, massage, meditation, and supplementation) generally did not differ in terms of their need for such services as measured via symptoms that could be supported by these interventions. However, the majority failed to be referred for such treatments or were unable to access them if referred.Results suggest that while access to services played a small role in nonreceipt of CAM services, the largest reason for CAM nonreceipt was failure to recognize their potential benefit on the part of providers and at least some patients. Raising awareness about the potential value of CAM among care providers for women with breast cancer is crucial, as it will likely lead to more CAM acceptance and utilization. Once providers accept and refer for CAM, patients' quality of life may be considerably enhanced, as the extant literature has demonstrated the potential value of CAM for breast cancer survivors.

Cercospora leaf spot (CLS), caused by the fungal pathogen Cercospora beticola, is the most important foliar disease of sugarbeet. The disease is managed in part by timely applications of quinone outside inhibitor (QoI) fungicides. However, pathogen resistance to QoI fungicides is associated with the exchange of glycine to alanine at amino acid position 143 (G143A) in the C. beticola cytochrome b gene. To assess whether QoI resistance has developed in C. beticola in the Red River Valley (RRV) of Minnesota and North Dakota, a real-time PCR procedure was used to determine whether the G143A mutation could be identified in samples harvested from 922 fields across the RRV. In total, 12 fields located in diverse locations within the RRV contained the G143A mutation, suggesting that QoI resistance arose independently at each location and in several genetic backgrounds. This is the first report of QoI resistance in the RRV. Careful monitoring of the G143A mutation will be necessary to ensure that QoI fungicides remain efficacious for CLS management in the RRV region. Accepted for publication 31 May 2013. Published 12 August 2013.

This article examines whether preventive HIV vaccines trials will be viable among female injection drug users (IDUs). Of the 137 women who completed baseline serologic and behavioral assessments, 121 (88%) were seronegative; all enrolled in Project Jumpstart in Philadelphia (PA, U.S.A.), a vaccine preparedness initiative cosponsored by NIAID and NIDA. Subjects were seen every 3 months for risk and vaccine opinion assessment, risk reduction counseling, and HIV antibody testing. The baseline prevalence rate of HIV infection was 12% (16 of 137) with an annual incidence rate of 3.5% (4 of 114) during the first year. Of the 121 baseline seronegative women, 28% shared needles and 52% engaged in unprotected intercourse. Sixty percent of the baseline seronegative women reported being willing to be one of the first people to try an HIV vaccine. According to logistic regression, needle sharers were 12.8 times more likely, women who engaged in sex for drugs or money 6.6 times more likely, out-of-treatment women 3.5 times more likely, and those who believed that vaccines can prevent disease acquisition 3 times more likely to report willingness to try an HIV vaccine than their respective counterparts. At 1-year postbaseline assessment, 98% of the women had behavioral data collected and 95% had serologic specimens collected. Given that seroconversions occur and that these women engage in risk behaviors, report willingness to try an HIV vaccine, and can be retained for longitudinal assessment, they appear to be suitable participants for preventive HIV vaccine efficacy trials. Nonetheless, work is required to insure that these women make informed and knowledgeable decisions regarding trial enrollment.

(1995). Reforming post‐cold war US arms sales policy: The crucial link between exports and the defence industrial base. Journal of Strategic Studies: Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 1-32.

Although ion microprobes can be used as high power microscopes to select a special target site for further investigations, single ion experiments often require additional high magnification light microscopy of the target, because imaging by ions might spoil the effect to be investigated. Ideally, the light microscope should be coaxial with the microbeam with its objective lens as near as possible to the target. In the past there have been various techniques to circumvent this obvious impossibility. Some place the microscope objective slightly out of axis, some use mirrors, with or without holes for the beam, under 45° to the target (or nearly so) and long working distance microscopes. And there was even one (D. Heck, Karlsruhe) using a mirror-microscope-objective, coaxial with the beam, with a central hole to let the beam pass. All these setups have suboptimal resolution, either because only part of the target is in focus or because of too long working distance or because part of the possible resolution is compromised by the central borehole (or because of all these reasons together). The best possible resolution is only possible with a high power objective near the target. We have therefore designed a microscope which flips onto and out of the beam axis with sub-μm precision. To find the spot, where the beam will hit, we first image a test grid with the microprobe. Then we flip the light microscope onto the beam axis and identify the center of the SIM image with the corresponding point in the light microscopic image. This is the point, where the undeflected beam will hit. Similarly important is the reliable identification of a hit independently of target thickness, composition or topography. As any separate detector in front of the target would destroy the microfocus, the target itself is the only place where the beam can be allowed to interact. Moreover this interaction must deliver an effect for every hit and this effect must be detectable with 100% efficiency. The only effect that fits to these requirements, is the emission of secondary electrons which are produced in large numbers and can be detected with high efficiency. This work reports about our light microscopic aiming system, about our (still not perfect) hit detector, and how various operating conditions influence the reliability of hit detection.

Background Identifying women in the US with sufficient risk of HIV infection for inclusion in HIV vaccine efficacy trials has been challenging. Using geography and sexual network characteristics to inform new recruitment strategies, HVTN 906 determined the feasibility of recruiting and retaining women at high risk and assessed HIV incidence. Methods HIV uninfected women were enrolled in Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia if they were 18-45 years, not pregnant or intending to become pregnant for 18 months and reported unprotected vaginal/anal sex in the prior six months and either i) resided or engaged in risk behavior in local geographical HIV risk pockets; and/or ii) had a male partner who had either been incarcerated or injected drugs in the last year or had concurrent sex with another partner in the last six months. Behavioral risk assessment, risk reduction counseling, HIV and pregnancy testing were done at baseline, 6, 12 and 18 months. Results Among 799 women, 71% were from local high-risk pockets and had high-risk male partners, 18% were from local high-risk pockets only and 10% had high-risk male partners only. Median age was 37 years; 79% were Black and 15% Latina. At baseline, the median number of male partners was 3 (25%,75%: 2,7), 76% had unprotected sex while intoxicated (alcohol or drugs), and 52% exchanged sex for money or drugs. Retention at 18-months was 80%. Pregnancy incidence was 11% with 48% of pregnancies occurring during the first 6 months of follow-up. HIV incidence was 0.31% (95% CI: 0.06,0.91). Risk behaviors decreased between screening and 6 months with little change thereafter. Conclusion Women recruited using new strategies based on geography and sexual network characteristics did not have a substantial HIV incidence, despite baseline levels of risk behaviors. New strategies to identify women at high risk in the US are needed.

International audience; Dust devils - convective vortices made visible by the dust and debris they entrain - are common in arid environments and have been observed on Earth and Mars. Martian dust devils have been identified both in images taken at the surface and in remote sensing observations from orbiting spacecraft. Observations from landing craft and orbiting instruments have allowed the dust devil translational forward motion (ground velocity) to be calculated, but it is unclear how these velocities relate to the local ambient wind conditions, for (i) only model wind speeds are generally available for Mars, and (ii) on Earth only anecdotal evidence exists that compares dust devil ground velocity with ambient wind velocity. If dust devil ground velocity can be reliably correlated to the ambient wind regime, observations of dust devils could provide a proxy for wind speed and direction measurements on Mars. Hence, dust devil ground velocities could be used to probe the circulation of the martian boundary layer and help constrain climate models or assess the safety of future landing sites. We present results from a field study of terrestrial dust devils performed in the southwest USA in which we measured dust devil horizontal velocity as a function of ambient wind velocity. We acquired stereo images of more than a 100 active dust devils and recorded multiple size and position measurements for each dust devil. We used these data to calculate dust devil translational velocity. The dust devils were within a study area bounded by 10 m high meteorology towers such that dust devil speed and direction could be correlated with the local ambient wind speed and direction measurements. Daily (10:00-16:00 local time) and 2-h averaged dust devil ground speeds correlate well with ambient wind speeds averaged over the same period. Unsurprisingly, individual measurements of dust devil ground speed match instantaneous measurements of ambient wind speed more poorly; a 20-min smoothing window applied to the ambient wind speed data improves the correlation. In general, dust devils travel 10-20% faster than ambient wind speed measured at 10 m height, suggesting that their ground speeds are representative of the boundary layer winds a few tens of meters above ground level. Dust devil ground motion direction closely matches the measured ambient wind direction. The link between ambient winds and dust devil ground velocity demonstrated here suggests that a similar one should apply on Mars. Determining the details of the martian relationship between dust devil ground velocity and ambient wind velocity might require new in situ or modelling studies but, if completed successfully, would provide a quantitative means of measuring wind velocities on Mars that would otherwise be impossible to obtain. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The human apoB gene encodes an mRNA of 14121 nucleotides. In liver the apoB gene products a full-length mature protein of 4,536 amino acids (B-100), whereas in the intestine this gene produces a truncated protein of 2,152 amino acids (B-48). B-48 results from RNA editing of nucleotide 6666 from C to U, thereby producing a stop codon at position 2153. Rat liver has been shown to contain apoB RNA editing capability resulting in production of both B-100 and B-48. To create an in vitro expression system for human B-100, a minigene with a wild type coding sequence for the entire B-100 protein (B-100/Gln) was stably transfected into rat hepatoma cells (McA-RH7777). Similarly, a minigene with mutation at nucleotide 6667 that allowed translation even after editing of nucleotide 6666 (B-100/Leu, nonstop mutant), a minigene with an additional nonsense mutation at nucleotide 7053 to produce B-50 (B-50/Leu), and a truncated wild type minigene with a stop signal at codon 3261 to produce B-74 and an mRNA of 10 kb (B-74/Gln) were also transfected. Very little full-length B-100 and B-74 was produced by any of the respective constructions, including the B-100/Leu with the nonstop mutation. Transfection with B-100/Gln, B-100/Leu and B-74/Gln constructions produced greater than 90% of apoB as B-48, whereas the B-50/Leu construction produced 76% B-50 and 24% B-48. The inability of the B-100/Leu construction to produce B-100 suggested an explanation for B-48 production other than RNA editing. Northern blot analysis showed that the RNA produced by all four transfectants was shortened to a size of about 7 kb. A 10-kb but no 7-kb RNA was observed in the B-74/Leu construction when transfected to Chinese hamster ovary cells suggesting cell type specificity in generation of a shortened RNA. The 3' end of apoB RNA from McA-RH7777 B-100/Leu transfectants was reverse transcribed, cloned, and sequenced. This revealed two species of RNA: one polyadenylated at or near nucleotide 6775 capable of coding for B-48, the other polyadenylated at nucleotide 7080 capable of coding for B-50. In 18% of the cDNA clones, nucleotide 6666 was edited from C to T. In 6 of 34 clones, addition of the poly(A) tail after nucleotide 6774 created a TAA stop codon, whereas no stop signals could be detected in the remaining clones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The relationship between parental substance use problems (SUPs) and the quality of parental relationships with levels of psychological symptomatology was examined in 155 female and 324 male methadone maintenance patients. Subjects completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), SCL-90, and the Treatment Effectiveness Questionnaire (TEQ), which included questions regarding demographics, drug use, family/social relationships, and substance use in relatives. Of those completing the questionnaire, 40% were randomly selected for an Addiction Severity Index (ASI) interview. As hypothesized, parental SUPs were associated with greater levels of psychological symptomatology, more family/social, and medical problems. Positive parental relationships were associated with significantly lower levels of psychological symptomatology and fewer family/social problems. Males were significantly more likely than females to report positive parental relationships and no parental SUPs. No differences based on race were revealed related to reports of the quality parental relationships or parental SUPs.

The single event upset (SEU) imaging has been applied at the GSI heavy ion microprobe to determine the sensitivity of integrated circuits (IC) to heavy ion irradiation. This method offers the possibility to directly image those parts of an IC which are sensitive to ion-induced malfunctions. By a 3-dimensional simulation of charge collection across p-n-micro-junctions, we can predict SEU cross-sections. For a MHS65162 2k x 8bit CMOS SRAM we found two regions per bit with different sensitivity and measured a total cross-section of (71/spl plusmn/18) /spl mu/m/sup 2/ for a bitflip per cell and simulated 60 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ with an argon beam of 1.4 MeV/nucl. (LET of 19.7 MeV/(mg/cm/sup 2/)). >

OBJECTIVES. The purpose of this study was to assess the willingness of intravenous drug users to participate in a preventive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) vaccine efficacy trial. METHODS. Of the 347 intravenous drug users in methadone treatment who were approached for participation, 257 completed a battery of self-administered questionnaires assessing risk behaviors, interest in vaccine trials, and other vaccine-related information. Data from 16 known seropositives and 1 inconsistent responder were dropped from analyses (n = 240). RESULTS. Fifty-two percent of the subjects expressed a willingness to be one of the first individuals to participate in a preventive HIV vaccine efficacy trial. Subjects who had recently shared needles or works and subjects who trusted the government to ensure vaccine safety were both twice as likely to report interest in participation. Twenty-two percent of subjects reported that they would increase needle sharing if vaccinated. Thirty percent did not know what a vaccine was. CONCLUSIONS. These findings suggest that some in-treatment intravenous drug users would volunteer for a preventive HIV vaccine efficacy trial. Education and counseling will be required to ensure that subjects fully understand the trial's purposes, methods, risks and benefits.

In situ (mobile) sampling of 33 natural dust devil vortices reveals very high total suspended particle (TSP) mean values of 296 mg m−3 and fine dust loadings (PM10) mean values ranging from 15.1 to 43.8 mg m−3 (milligrams per cubic meter). Concurrent three-dimensional wind profiles show mean tangential rotation of 12.3 m s−1 and vertical uplift of 2.7 m s−1 driving mean vertical TSP flux of 1689 mg m−3 s−1 and fine particle flux of ~1.0 to ~50 mg m−3 s−1. Peak PM10 dust loading and flux within the dust column are three times greater than mean values, suggesting previous estimates of dust devil flux might be too high. We find that deflation rates caused by dust devil erosion are ~2.5–50 μm per year in dust devil active zones on Earth. Similar values are expected for Mars, and may be more significant there where competing erosional mechanisms are less likely.

While quizzing during informed consent for research to ensure understanding has become commonplace, it is unclear whether the quizzing itself is problematic for potential participants. In this study, we address this issue in a multinational HIV prevention research trial enrolling injection drug users in China and Thailand.Enrolment procedures included an informed consent comprehension quiz. An informed consent survey followed.525 participants completed the informed consent survey (Heng County, China¼255, Xinjiang, China¼229, Chiang Mai, Thailand¼41). Mean age was 33 and mean educational level was 8 yrs. While quizzing was felt to be a good way to determine if a person understands the nature of clinical trial participation (97%) and participants did not generally find the quiz to be problematic, minorities of respondents felt pressured (6%); anxious (5%); bored (5%); minded (5%); and did not find the questions easy (13%). In multivariate analysis, lower educational level was associated with not minding the quizzing (6e10 yrs vs 0e5 yrs: OR¼0.27, p¼0.03; more than 11 yrs vs 0e5 yrs: OR¼0.18, p¼0.03). There were also site differences (Heng County vs Xinjiang) in feeling anxious (OR¼0.07; p¼0.01), not minding (OR¼0.26; p¼0.03), being bored (OR¼0.25; p¼0.01) and not finding the questions easy (OR¼0.10; p¼0.01).Quizzing during the informed consent process can be problematic for a minority of participants. These problems may be associated with the setting in which research takes place and educational level. Further research is needed to develop, test and implement alternative methods of ensuring comprehension of informed consent.clinicaltrials.gov number NCT00270257.

The association between alcohol use and indicators of HIV progression through adherence has been documented (1–3); however, a direct association between alcohol use and HIV viral load and CD4 count has not been established. Immunologic studies have searched for a biological mechanism by which alcohol may directly affect the immune function of HIV positive patients. Alcohol significantly enhanced HIV R5 strain infection in monocyte-derived macrophages, treated ex vivo (4). Samet et al. conducted a seven-year longitudinal study which examined the independent association between HIV progression and alcohol use (5). Heavy alcohol consumption was not directly associated with higher HIV RNA levels among subjects receiving HAART (4). We examined the relationship between alcohol use and viral load - independent of adherence to HAART. Focus was placed on the HAART using group, since Samet et al. observed that alcohol’s effects on the liver could potentially affect the metabolism of ARV medications, which may account for the associations between alcohol and HIV disease progression (6).

As the sole protein component of low density lipoproteins, apolipoprotein B (apoB) plays an important role in cholesterol metabolism. Previously, we found that the proximal promoter region of apoB (-81 to -52 relative to the start site) played a critical role in hepatocyte-specific gene expression and that that region contained overlapping binding sites for nuclear factors AF-1 (-81 to -62) and C/EBP (-69 to -52) (Metzger, S., Leff, T., and Breslow, J. L. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 9978-9983). In this study, we show that HNF-4, a member of the steroid hormone receptor superfamily, binds the AF-1 site on the apoB promoter and through it activates transcription in transient transfection assays in both liver and non-liver cell lines, HepG2 and HeLa, respectively. Mutational analysis of the AF-1/HNF-4 binding site indicated a correlation of HNF-4 binding and transcriptional activity. In addition, transient co-transfection experiments with HNF-4 and C/EBP alpha expression vectors showed that the two factors can synergistically activate transcription to levels more than 3-fold above the sum of either factor alone. Finally, using gel retardation analysis we show that purified HNF-4 and C/EBP proteins can concurrently occupy their overlapping binding sites on the apoB promoter in vitro. However, since the same system showed a lack of cooperative binding, we argue that an alternative mechanism is responsible for the synergistic effect of HNF-4 and C/EBP alpha on apoB gene transcription.

There have been few studies of treatments for substance dependence among private programs. The present study compared the patient populations, treatment services provided and six-month outcomes of employed, insured patients referred by an employee assistance program to four private treatment programs (two inpatient and two outpatient). Subjects were alcohol and/or cocaine dependent males referred from a single employer. Ninety-four percent were successfully contacted at six-month follow-up, with confirmatory urinalysis and breathalyzer samples taken. Three results were obtained. First, there were significant and pervasive improvements shown in the total sample at follow-up. Fifty-nine percent were completely abstinent, 82% were working and only 8% required re-treatment. Second, there were significant differences among the programs in levels of improvement and six-month outcomes. Finally, the differences in efficacy were related to the differences in the nature and amount of treatment services provided.

L ETTERS Risk Reduction With Buprenorphine– Naloxone and Methadone: Patient’s Choice To the Editors: A recent study by Woody et al 1 demonstrated “. marked and approxi- mately equal reductions in injection related risk” among subjects who applied for methadone maintenance but agreed to be randomized to receive either buprenor- phine or methadone, and who remained in their assigned treatment condition for 24 weeks. It is respectfully suggested that this trial raises serious ethical issues while contributing little if anything to guide either clinicians or prospective patients. Although the outcome of the 2 groups with regard to virtually all of the parameters measured was remarkably sim- ilar, a major distinction was observed with regard to retention: at the end of 24 weeks, 74% of methadone recipients were still enrolled compared with only 46% of those assigned to the buprenorphine arm. This finding is not unexpected when research protocol rather than applicant preference determines the treatment regimen to be provided. It is of particular concern given the clear risk of both morbidity and mortality associated with opioid depen- dence, and the very strong and consistent evidence of the favorable outcomes asso- ciated with methadone, which was the treatment of choice of all these subjects. Furthermore, in this trial, buprenor- phine recipients were subject to the same inflexible demands for observed “dosing” as are required by federal regulation of all those who receive methadone. Thus, for roughly half the 24 weeks of this trial, they were obliged to make visits to the OTP (not to a primary care provider) at least 6 days per week, and for the balance of the investigation could receive no more than 2 “take-home” doses weekly. 2 The author has no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose. e142 | www.jaids.com TO THE E DITOR The protocol was thus the antithesis of what prevails in the “real world,” where patients can receive prescriptions for as much as a month’s supply of buprenor- phine from the outset, to be dispensed by a community pharmacy. The bottom line would seem to be that this study underscores the rationale for allowing those who need and seek care for opioid dependence to “vote with their feet,” and for researchers and clini- cians to respect that vote. Robert G. Newman, MD, MPH Department of Preventive Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY REFERENCES 1. Woody G, Bruce D, Korthuis P, et al. HIV risk reduction with buprenorphine-naloxone or meth- adone: findings from a randomized trial. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2014;66:288–293. 2. Federal opioid treatment standards. Fed Regist. 2002;1(42):65–68. To be codified at 42 CFR 2.1 Authors’ Reply: “Risk Reduction With Buprenorphine– Naloxone and Methadone: Patient’s Choice“ To the Editors: We agree with the observation 1 that this trial did not represent the way patients are treated with buprenorphine–naloxone in clinical practice; however, it is impor- tant to point out that the main purpose of Supported by NIDA grants: U10-DA013714 (D. Donovan); U10 DA-13043, KO5 DA-17009 (G.E.W.). The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose. These HIV data have not been presented; however, they will be presented at AMERSA, November 8, 2014, San Francisco, CA, and at the ACNP, December 2014. this study was to evaluate if buprenor- phine–naloxone causes hepatotoxicity. Several previous case reports suggested that it does, and the FDA asked NIDA to conduct a trial to explore this question. The request was that the trial includes at least 300 patients who were treated with each medication for 6 or more months and had 4 or more postbaseline blood draws to test for liver enzyme changes. A random- ized trial, as the gold standard for compar- ing interventions, was judged to be the best way to explore this question. It was necessary to do the study in methadone programs since both medications would available and the daily dosing minimized the risk of medication nonadherence due to diversion. All potential participants received thorough informed consent including the fact that they could drop out of the study at any time, agreed to be randomized before entering the study, and were not asked for their preferred treatment. The protocol was written at a time that patient requests for buprenor- phine–naloxone treatment in primary care were expanding and before publication of the Cochran review 2 showing better reten- tion with methadone than buprenorphine. Thus, the magnitude of the differential dropout that occurred was unexpected. Study findings showed no evidence of bu- prenorphine–naloxone induced transami- nase elevations 3 thus addressing concerns that led the FDA to request the study, and methadone maintenance and other local treatment options were available to pa- tients who dropped out of their assigned medication condition. HIV risk was one of several measures included for secondary analyses. We hope that these clarifications are responsive to the comments raised by this letter. George Woody, MD*† Douglas Bruce, MD‡ P. Todd Korthuis, MD§ Sumedha Chhatre, PhD*† Maureen Hillhouse, PhDk Petra Jacobs, MD† James Sorensen, MD¶ Andrew J. Saxon, MD# Sabrina Poole, PsyD* David Metzger, PhD*† Walter Ling, MDk J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Volume 67, Number 5, December 15, 2014

Employment has been identified as a major goal of drug abuse treatment, yet few rigorous tests of employment-related interventions have been conducted. A 10-session, manual-guided vocational cognitive problem-solving intervention was evaluated at five methadone treatment sites in an effort to reduce the high unemployment rate among methadone clients. The group intervention focused on helping participants explore the value they place on work, identifying social and psychological barriers to work, developing action strategies to overcome those barriers, setting realistic expectations of work, and taking action. At six months post-intervention, the experimental group (N = 67) demonstrated a significant increase in employment rate (13.4% to 26.9%); no significant change occurred for controls (N = 63). At 12 months post-intervention, however, overall employment gains declined in the experimental group, suggesting the need for additional intervention in order to maintain employment gains. Methadone clients entering treatment generally have a high rate of unemployment (Bloch, Ellis, & Spielman, 1977; Craig, 1980; Hubbard, Rachal, Craddock, & Cavanaugh, 1984; Philadelphia CODAAP, 1985; Singh, Joe, Lehman, Garland, & Sells, 1982). The studies cited above reported methadone client unemployment rates between 63% and 85% at treatment entry. Employment has been linked to drug abuse treatment outcome as both a criterion of success and a goal in itself (e.g., see Platt, 1986). While the high rates of unemployment noted above clearly argue the need for effective vocational training as part of methadone maintenance treatment, relatively few clinics offer substantial vocational programs for their clients. For example, Senay, Dorus and Joseph (1981) found that more than half of the methadone clients they surveyed reported that there were no employment-related services at their treatment sites. Similarly, Hubbard (1981) reported that, among 162 programs studied, only 9% had funds allocated specifically for vocational services for methadone clients. Relatively few programs have been developed and rigorously tested which focus on improving the employment status of methadone maintenance clients. Two large-scale demonstration programs designed to facilitate entry or re-entry into the job market-the Wildcat experiment in New York City (Friedman, 1978) and the National Supported Work Demonstration Project (Dickinson & Maynard, 1981)-yielded moderate success. Both of these programs utilized a model in which participants were assigned to jobs with ongoing support and supervision provided by the project. These "supported-work" projects were designed to ease participants into the independent labor force. When compared with controls, participants demonstrated significant improvements in vocational performance during the supported phase of the projects; however, for most subjects these successes declined following the removal of the supports. In contrast to the large-scale demonstration projects described above, Hall, Loeb, LeVois and Cooper (1981) organized a Job Seekers Workshop for 60 methadone clients attending four San Francisco clinics. Thirty clients attended a 12-hour intervention program teaching job-search techniques, employment application procedures, and interview skills. The remaining 30 clients received a onehour orientation to existing community resources. Within the three-month study time frame 52% of the experimental group, but only 30% of the control group, obtained jobs. Four experimental subjects dropped out of the study prior to treatment intervention but were included in the data analysis. If these four subjects are excluded along with their matched controls, a significant difference was found (p In another study reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (1982) "employment specialists" were assigned to 39 programs (methadone maintenance, outpatient drug-free, and residential drug-free) in New Jersey, Detroit, and Chicago. …

Objective. To examine whether the addition of counseling, medical care, and psychosocial services improves the efficacy of methadone hydrochloride therapy in the rehabilitation of opiate-dependent ...

To test the hypothesis that the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram would down-regulate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infectivity and that the greatest effects would be seen in people with depression. Depression is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality in HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Serotonin (5-HT) neurotransmission has been implicated in the pathobiology of depression, and pharmacologic therapies for depression target this system. The 5-HT transporter and 5-HT receptors are widely distributed throughout the central nervous and immune systems. Depression has been associated with suppression of natural killer cells and CD8(+) lymphocytes, key regulators of HIV infection.Ex vivo models for acute and chronic HIV infection were used to study the effects of citalopram on HIV viral infection and replication in 48 depressed and nondepressed women. For both the acute and chronic infection models, HIV reverse transcriptase activity was measured in the citalopram treatment condition and the control condition.The SSRI significantly down-regulated the reverse transcriptase response in both the acute and chronic infection models. Specifically, citalopram significantly decreased the acute HIV infectivity of macrophages. Citalopram also significantly decreased HIV viral replication in the latently infected T-cell line and in the latently infected macrophage cell line. There was no difference in down-regulation by depression status.These studies suggest that an SSRI enhances natural killer/CD8 noncytolytic HIV suppression in HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome and decreases HIV viral infectivity of macrophages, ex vivo, suggesting the need for in vivo studies to determine a potential role for agents targeting serotonin in the host defense against HIV.

New intervention models are needed for HIV prevention among drug-using women.The Women Fighting Infection Together (Women FIT) feasibility study enrolled 189 women in three U.S. cities (Providence, New York, Philadelphia) with drug-using histories, who also reported risky sexual behavior. Eligible women had participated previously in a yearlong study of HIV Counseling and Testing (HIV-CT) and limited case management. Two thirds of the sample were black, most were unemployed, and about two thirds reported prior or current crack use. Women were randomized into two groups. In one group, women participated in a manualized, four-session, peer-led, interactive group intervention that stressed body knowledge, woman-initiated HIV/sexually transmitted infection (HIV/STI) prevention, including a focus on women's health (reproductive health screening, sexual violence, self-breast examination, STI signs, symptoms), which aimed to increase comfort with and pride in their bodies. Control group women received HIV-CT enriched by female condom counseling. Outcomes included study retention, session attendance and ratings, changes in knowledge, and use of protection methods.The study successfully retained 95% of the participants for a 2-month follow-up. Positive assessments from participants and peer leaders exceeded preset thresholds for success. Pre-post changes in body knowledge (p0.0001) and protection methods knowledge (p0.01) was greater among the intervention women than the control women.The body empowerment model deserves further elaboration in interventions focusing on women at high risk of HIV/STI acquisition.