HIV Advanced and Research Development

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the perceptions and acceptability of male circumcision among the young, as well as older men and women in South Africa. 

Methods: A total of eleven (11) focus group discussions were conducted in eight of the nine provinces of South Africa. Issues that were explored included (1) acceptability of male circumcision among different cultural groups, (2) perceptions about hospital versus traditional circumcision, (3) perceptions about safety of male circumcision, (4) perceptions about MC and protection against sexually transmitted infections including HIV, (5) misinformation about MC, (6) perceptions about MC and sexual pleasure, and (7) perceived barriers to male circumcision. 

Results: The study found that male circumcision was acceptable to both men and women in various cultures in South Africa. Although traditional male circumcision was the most preferred method, concerns were raised about the safety, and for this reason some preferred hospital over traditional circumcision. There were mixed attitudes regarding whether male circumcision is protective from HIV transmission. Some participants said that male circumcision increased sexual pleasure and decreased sexual inhibition. There is a need for sexual and reproductive health promotion interventions in the context of male circumcision. Conclusions: Male circumcision is acceptable to both men and women in various cultures in South Africa eventhough people have mixed perceptions regarding whether male circumcision is protective from HIV transmission.

In this review, randomized controlled trials of behavioral interventions for reducing the risk of HIV in occupational settings, were systematically identified through electronic and hand searches, they were then classified and then assessed for methodological quality. Data were analyzed using meta-analysis. This study found that condom use was the most effective intervention for reducing the risk of HIV infection among workers in occupational settings. The provision of Information, Education and Communications (IEC) material, reducing the number of sex partners, improving care for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV, and increasing knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Behaviors (KAPBs) were also effective in reducing the risk of HIV among workers. Recommendations coming from this study have immediate implications for service delivery in occupational settings. Knowing which behaviour change intervention is most effective will assist employers in occupational settings in allocating resources appropriately.

 
Studies indicate that women with HIV infection in the United States are inadequately screened for cervical dysplasia. However, few of these studies have included women in the southern United States, where HIV  incidence is now concentrated. We performed a retrospective chart review of women with HIV infection in two HIV clinics in a large southern metropolitan area. To describe screening rates among women in care, only women with ≥2 primary care clinic visits during 2007 were included. We used log-binomial regression to estimate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals of screening and to identify demographic, behavioral, and care-related factors associated with screening. Only 52% (258/498) of women in our study were screened during the year and only 29% (8/28) of women with ≤50 CD4 cells/mm3. Factors associated with increased screening in unadjusted analyses included increased number of primary care visits (p<0.001), higher CD4 cell count (p<0.001), younger age (p=0.006) and Hispanic compared to non- Hispanic ethnicity (p<0.001). In adjusted analyses, women with ≥4 primary care visits were 21% more likely to be screened than women with <4 visits (adjusted prevalence ratio = 1.21; 95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.44). Women with CD4 cell counts <200 cells/mm3 were less likely to be screened than women with CD4 counts ≥350 cells/mm3 (adjusted prevalence ratio: 0.77; 95% confidence interval: 0.59–1.00). Rates of screening for cervical dysplasia were lower than those seen in similar care settings in other geographic areas in the United States. The number of HIV primary care visits, which has been associated with retention in care, was associated with screening prevalence. Interventions designed to improve retention in care may improve screening rates for cervical dysplasia as well. 

Background: The use of antiretroviral treatment containing Zidovudine in HIV infected patients is associated with hematological toxicity to varying degrees of cytopenia particularly megaloblastic anemia. However, there is scarcity of data which assesses prevalence of AZT induced megaloblastic anemia among HIV patients taking ART in Ethiopia. 

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of Zidovudine induced megaloblastic anemia in HIV/AIDS patients taking ART at University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. 

Method: A retrospective study was conducted among HIV/AIDS patients who were attending Gondar University Hospital between January 2012 and February 2013. Data was collected from 319 patients’ chart and statistical analysis was done on SPSS version 20. 

Result: Prevalence of AZT induced anemia was 11.3% at the 6 month of AZT based treatment. Most of them (n = 29, 80.6%), developed macrocytic anemia. Age shows 
significant association with the incidence of anemia (P = 0.042) while sex, baseline CD4 cell count, presence of opportunistic infection, HIV clinical stage and baseline hemoglobin were not associated. 

Conclusion: This study showed high prevalence of macrocytic anemia after 6th months of treatment with AZT based ART. 

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignant diseases in western world and now emerging as a challenging disease in developing countries. Although much progress has been done to control of androgen sensitive PCa in recent years, the early diagnosis and treatment for Prostate cancer are not yet satisfactory and, thus the metastatic progression control/treatment is still poor. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well known regulatory factor of physiological and developmental processes, it has been revealed that many miRNAs contribute the initiation and progression of various cancers. In the present preliminary study, we evaluated the expression status of miR-7-1-3p on normal prostate cell line (PNT1A), androgen sensitive prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP) and androgen insensitive prostate cancer cell lines (DU145). The results of this study revealed that miR-7-1-3p was up regulated in metastatic form of prostate cancer cell line DU145, but no changes were noticed in miR-7 expression on other cell lines (LNCaP and PNT1A). Thus our preliminary studies suggested that miR-7-1-3p may serve as a novel microRNA for the diagnosis and as a new therapeutic target in prostate cancer.