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BackgroundAge-specific data on anal, and corresponding cervical, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection are needed to inform female anal cancer prevention.MethodsWe centrally reanalyzed individual-level data from 26 studies reporting HPV prevalence in paired anal and cervical samples by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status and age. For women with HIV (WWH) with anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse (HSIL+), we also investigated concurrent cervical cytopathology.ResultsIn HIV-negative women, HPV16 prevalence decreased significantly with age, both at anus (4.3% at 15-24 years to 1.0% at ≥55 years; ptrend = 0.0026) and cervix (7.4% to 1.7%; ptrend < 0.0001). In WWH, HPV16 prevalence decreased with age at cervix (18.3% to 7.2%; ptrend = 0.0035) but not anus (11.5% to 13.9%; ptrend = 0.5412). Given anal HPV16 positivity, concurrent cervical HPV16 positivity also decreased with age, both in HIV-negative women (ptrend = 0.0005) and WWH (ptrend = 0.0166). Among 48 WWH with HPV16-positive anal HSIL+, 27 (56%) were cervical high-risk HPV-positive, including 8 with cervical HPV16, and 5 were cervical HSIL+.ConclusionsAge-specific shifts in HPV16 prevalence from cervix to anus suggest that HPV infections in the anus persist longer, or occur later in life, than in the cervix, particularly in WWH. This is an important consideration when assessing the utility of cervical screening results to stratify anal cancer risk.

Abstract Background Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) remain a serious world health problem due to their association with anogenital/oral cancers and warts. While over 100 HPV types have been identified, a subset is associated with malignancy. HPV16 and 18 are the most prevalent oncogenic types, while HPV6 and 11 are most commonly responsible for anogenital warts. While other quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays detect oncogenic HPV, there is no single tube assay distinguishing the most frequent oncogenic types and the most common types found in warts. Results A Sybr Green-based qPCR assay was developed utilizing degenerate primers to the highly conserved HPV E1 theoretically detecting any HPV type. A single tube multiplex qPCR assay was also developed using type-specific primer pairs and TaqMan probes that allowed for detection and quantitation of HPV6,11,16,18. Each HPV type was detected over a range from 2 × 101 to 2 × 106copies/reaction providing a reliable method of quantitating type-specific HPV in 140 anogenital/cutaneous/oral benign and malignant specimens. 35 oncogenic and low risk alpha genus HPV types were detected. Concordance was detected in previously typed specimens. Comparisons to the gold standard detected an overall sensitivity of 89% (95% CI: 77% - 96%) and specificity of 90% (95%CI: 52% - 98%). Conclusion There was good agreement between the ability of the qPCR assays described here to identify HPV types in malignancies previously typed using standard methods. These novel qPCR assays will allow rapid detection and quantitation of HPVs to assess their role in viral pathogenesis.

In the United States, sexually transmitted diseases due to Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae continue to be a major public health burden. Screening of extragenital sites including the oropharynx and rectum is an emerging practice based on recent studies highlighting the prevalence of infection at these sites. We reviewed studies reporting the prevalence of extragenital infections in women, men who have sex with men (MSM), and men who have sex only with women (MSW), including distribution by anatomical site. Among women, prevalence was found to be 0.6-35.8% for rectal gonorrhea (median reported prevalence 1.9%), 0-29.6% for pharyngeal gonorrhea (median 2.1%), 2.0-77.3% for rectal chlamydia (median 8.7%), and 0.2-3.2% for pharyngeal chlamydia (median 1.7%). Among MSM, prevalence was found to be 0.2-24.0% for rectal gonorrhea (median 5.9%), 0.5-16.5% for pharyngeal gonorrhea (median 4.6%), 2.1-23.0% for rectal chlamydia (median 8.9%), and 0-3.6% for pharyngeal chlamydia (median 1.7%). Among MSW, the prevalence was found to be 0-5.7% for rectal gonorrhea (median 3.4%), 0.4-15.5% for pharyngeal gonorrhea (median 2.2%), 0-11.8% for rectal chlamydia (median 7.7%), and 0-22.0% for pharyngeal chlamydia (median 1.6%). Extragenital infections are often asymptomatic and found in the absence of reported risk behaviors, such as receptive anal and oral intercourse. We discuss current clinical recommendations and future directions for research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Vaginal Film User Evaluations: Developer Considerations from Initial Impressions and User Sensory Perceptions and Experiences during Vaginal Sex" by Kathleen M. Morrow and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "He Said, She Said. Exploring Couples' Sensory Perceptions and Experiences with Vaginal Gels & Film: Implications for Microbicide Development" by Kathleen M. Morrow, Rochelle K. Rosen, Joseph L. Fava and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article " More...? Less...? Just Right...? The Role of Perceived Volume in Gel and Film Perceptibility During Intercourse, and its Impact on Product Preference" by Kathleen M. Morrow, Rochelle K. Rosen, Sara Vargas and colleagues is presented.

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is an increasingly utilized treatment modality that has been proven to be safe and cost effective for treating infections that require prolonged antimicrobial treatment. Adequate patient selection, a structured OPAT team with an effective communication system, and routine clinical monitoring are key elements to establish a successful OPAT program. The Miriam Hospital Infectious Diseases Clinic offers a multidisciplinary OPAT model coordinated by infectious diseases specialists and serves as a major referral center in Rhode Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community viral load measurements have been postulated to be a population-based biomarker of HIV disease. We propose the use of the monitored community viral load (mCVL) as an aggregate measure of viral load among persons receiving HIV care with available HIV-1 plasma viral loads and applied it to our clinic population from 2003-2010. We demonstrated a reduction in mCVL from 16,589 copies/ml to 11,992 copies/ml that correlated with a rising rate of antiretroviral use and HIV viral suppression; however, differences among risk populations were observed. The mCVL is a useful measure of HIV burden among patients in-care; it may reflect the HIV transmission risk in the community and help target preventive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhode Island is a state with a high incidence of tickborne diseases, specifically Lyme disease. The Ioxedes tick which serves as vector for the three most common tick infections is endemic in both the New England and mid-Atlantic regions. However, differences in the density of infections exist within Rhode Island (RI), with the highest densities in the southern counties. Tick-borne diseases can have varying presentations, as well as varied response to appropriate treatment leading to many questions and confusion for patients, clinicians, and the public itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information related to Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and its extra-genital sites. It says that CT and NG are the two most common reportable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the U.S. due to unsafe sexual behaviors and biological differences among men and women. It mentions that the common site of infection in CT is the urogenital tract while NG involves the cervix. It states that nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) can detect urogenital Chlamydia and gonnorhea using noninvasive urine sample. Moreover, women, pregnant women, and men are recommended to be screened for NG and CT under the existing guidelines.

Background: Persons living with HIV are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease in part because of persistent inflammation and coagulation activation., Methods: We examined whether smoking and heavy episodic alcohol use (defined as 5 or more drinks on one occasion) were associated with greater monocyte activation (soluble CD14) and coagulation (D-dimer) in participants in the Study to Understand the Natural History of HIV and AIDS in the Era of Effective Therapy (the "SUN" Study), a prospective observational cohort., Results: Using regression analysis (n = 689), current smoking compared with nonsmoking was associated with significantly elevated soluble CD14 (B = 135.57, 95% confidence interval: 84.95 to 186.19, P < 0.001), whereas heavy alcohol use compared with nonheavy use was associated with significantly lower D-dimer levels (B = -0.059, 95% confidence interval: -0.102 to -0.016, P = 0.007)., Conclusions: Smoking cessation should be encouraged by HIV care providers to improve mortality outcomes from all causes of death, particularly cardiovascular disease.

Rhode Island is a state with a high incidence of tick-borne diseases, specifically Lyme disease. The Ioxedes tick which serves as vector for the three most common tick infections is endemic in both the New England and mid-Atlantic regions. However, differences in the density of infections exist within Rhode Island (RI), with the highest densities in the southern counties. Tick-borne diseases can have varying presentations, as well as varied response to appropriate treatment leading to many questions and confusion for patients, clinicians, and the public itself.

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is an increasingly utilized treatment modality that has been proven to be safe and cost effective for treating infections that require prolonged antimicrobial treatment. Adequate patient selection, a structured OPAT team with an effective communication system, and routine clinical monitoring are key elements to establish a successful OPAT program. The Miriam Hospital Infectious Diseases Clinic offers a multidisciplinary OPAT model coordinated by infectious diseases specialists and serves as a major referral center in Rhode Island.

Community viral load measurements have been postulated to be a population-based biomarker of HIV disease. We propose the use of the monitored community viral load (mCVL) as an aggregate measure of viral load among persons receiving HIV care with available HIV-1 plasma viral loads and applied it to our clinic population from 2003-2010. We demonstrated a reduction in mCVL from 16,589 copies/ml to 11,992 copies/ml that correlated with a rising rate of antiretroviral use and HIV viral suppression; however, differences among risk populations were observed. The mCVL is a useful measure of HIV burden among patients in-care; it may reflect the HIV transmission risk in the community and help target preventive interventions.