摘要:

We examined factors associated with perceived risk of AIDS, behavior change, and HIV infection in a representative sample of 1458 child-bearing urban women in Rwanda, central Africa. Although 68% of women reported only one lifetime partner, and the majority (87%) lived with a husband or steady partner, the prevalence of HIV antibodies was still high (32%). Before receiving their HIV test results, the women completed a questionnaire about AIDS knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Knowledge about HIV transmission was high, with 96–98% of women correctly identifying the three primary routes of infection. However, only 16% of women reported taking any action to avoid AIDS in the previous year, and most (11%) had done so merely by asking their male partners to change their behavior. Only 7% of women had ever tried condoms, and many (68%) thought they could be dangerous to use. Women who perceived themselves at risk of AIDS (57%) were more likely to report changing behavior; they were also more likely to be infected with HIV. Other factors associated with behavior change included having known someone with AIDS, having discussed AIDS with a male partner, and believing that condoms are not dangerous. Future interventions should enhance perception of risk, encourage male sexual partners to reduce risky behavior, and increase familiarity with condoms.

ISSN:0269-9370    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Nine isolates of HIV-1 obtained from Congolese AIDS patients were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primer pairs and oligomer probes derived from the HIV-1LAV-BRU(BRU) sequence. When compared to BRU, two isolates exhibited a significant decrease of PCR efficiency with a given primer pair. Moreover, the DNA amplified from two other isolates did not hybridize with the corresponding probe despite efficient PCR. Base substitutions were detected in the regions of proviral genomes involved in oligonucleotide annealing and were assumed to be responsible for the failure of both amplification and probing. Our data confirm that the genetic variability of HIV-1 may reduce the efficiency of PCR as a diagnostic procedure, especially in the case of African isolates.

ISSN:0269-9370    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Western blot (WB) analysis of various strains of HIV-2 indicated that transmembrane glycoprotein (TMP) of HIV-2 exists as trimers. These trimers have molecular weights and electrophoretic mobilities in the region of the major external glycoprotein, gp 120, resulting in WB misidentification during diagnosis. A simple and rapid procedure was developed using trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to efficiently dissociate oligomeric forms of the TMP to monomers prior to the preparation of WB. This procedure permitted the unambiguous identification of antibodies to gp120 and to the TMP. Use of HIV-2 WB strips without any oligomeric forms of the TMP demonstrated (1) that cross reactivity of HIV-1-positive specimens on HIV-2 WB was mainly directed to Gag and Pol proteins, with some reactivity to gp36/gp41 TMP, but none to gp120; (2) that these strips can substantially reduce the number of specimens falsely identified as dually (HIV-1 and HIV-2) reactive; and (3) that HIV-2-positive specimens reacted to viral gp120 in a strain-specific manner, demonstrating high antigenic variation in this glycoprotein. It is recommended that this general procedure of viral protein dissociation be used for HIV-2 WB preparation.

ISSN:0269-9370    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

We compared 1616 sera from HIV-1-infected subjects and matched HIV-negative local controls in Uganda, Kenya and the UK. Sera were screened for specific antibody to HIV-1 p24 Gag and gp120 Env proteins and for p24 antigenaemia. In contrast to the UK, the majority of African HIV-1-infected subjects maintained detectable anti-p24 antibodies. However, lower reactivity of anti-p24 was observed in African AIDS patients, compared with those with asymptomatic HIV-1 infection. This reduction in anti-p24 reactivity with more advanced clinical stage was less marked in African HIV-1 infection than in the UK. Correspondingly, p24 antigenaemia was more common in patients with AIDS from the UK than in African patients (65 versus 4%). Reductions in anti-gp120 reactivity were observed in African AIDS patients, compared with the asymptomatic group. However, median reactivity of anti-gp120 in UK patients remained unchanged in both asymptomatic and AIDS subjects. The differences in humoral response to p24 and gp120 between Africa and the UK are semi-quantitative rather than qualitative and could be explained by initial higher antibody response to HIV-1 in African subjects.

ISSN:0269-9370    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

β2-microglobulin (β2M) levels were measured in 217 Edinburgh drug users to assess their usefulness as a marker for HIV-related disease. Eighty HIV-seronegative drug injectors had significantly higher levels than 100 HIV-seronegative blood-donor controls. Amongst 137 asymptomatic HIV-seropositive drug users, those who were defined as continued drug users had significantly higher β2-M levels and percentages of CD3+ T lymphocytes with DR Class II expression than non-injecting drug users. β2M levels correlated with the percentage of activated DR + CD3 + T lymphocytes. These findings indicate that changes in β2M levels may reflect differences in drug-injecting behaviour and are not influenced solely by HIV status or progression. These changes in β2M probably represent differing degrees of immunostimulation resulting from the antigenic challenges afforded by continued or frequent drug injection. It is important to establish normal ranges for β2M from HIV-seronegative controls who are matched with respect to risk group and behaviour. All these factors should be taken into account if β2M is to be used as a marker of HIV progression.

ISSN:0269-9370    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Residual HIV-infected blood in needles and syringes is a source of HIV infection. Using radiolabelled blood we have simulated needlestick injuries and sharing of syringes by intravenous drug users and quantified the volumes of blood which could be transferred to recipients in these situations. Up to 0.75 μl of blood was transferred in needlestick simulations, but there was a large variation. In simulations of needlesharing, seven to ten times more blood was transferred from the index user to the first sharer when 2 ml syringes were used compared with 1 ml syringes. Washing with water was not effective in removing ‘infected’ blood from a syringe.

ISSN:0269-9370    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0269-9370    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0269-9370    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0269-9370    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0269-9370    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1991

数据来源: OVID