scholarly journals Unlinked anonymous testing to estimate HIV prevalence among pregnant women in Catalonia, Spain, 1994 to 2009

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (32) ◽  
Author(s):  
D Carnicer-Pont ◽  
J Almeda ◽  
J Luis Marin ◽  
C Martinez ◽  
M V Gonzalez-Soler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Method ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Antibody Detection ◽  
Anonymous Testing ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Unlinked Anonymous Testing ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Detection Programme

This paper estimates the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in women giving birth and women voluntarily terminating pregnancy over a period of sixteen years in Catalonia. Samples for HIV antibody detection were collected from the Neonatal Early Detection Programme for congenital metabolic diseases that covers 99% of infants born in Catalonia. The sampling method collected information of 50% of births every year and of all women attending three clinics for voluntary interruption of pregnancy. Using two sequential immunoassays we analysed unlinked anonymous blood spot samples from 549,689 newborns between 1994 and 2009 and from 31,904 women who voluntarily interrupted pregnancy between 1999 and 2006. HIV prevalence among women giving birth decreased from 3.2 per 1,000 in 1994 to 1.7 per 1,000 in 2009 (p<0.01) and the mean age of infected mothers increased from 26 years in 1994 to 32 years in 2009 (p=0.001). A decrease in HIV prevalence was also observed in women voluntarily terminating pregnancy, from 2.3 per 1,000 in 1999 to 1.0 per 1,000 in 2006 (p<0.01). In contrast, estimated HIV prevalence in mothers born outside Spain increased from 2.2 per 1,000 in 2002 to 3 per 1,000 in 2009 (p<0.01) and their average age increased from 27 years in 2003 to 31 years in 2009 (p<0.01).

scholarly journals The South African Nurse’s Knowledge of Occupational Human Immunodeficiency Virus Postexposure Prophylaxis in the Era of Controlled and Stable HIV Prevalence

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (21) ◽  
pp. 7784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melitah Molatelo Rasweswe ◽  
Mmapheko Doriccah Peu
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Work Experience ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Postexposure Prophylaxis ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Risk Of Hiv Acquisition

Knowledge is a crucial aspect of nursing. Nurses, just like any other healthcare workers (HCWs), are empowered with the knowledge of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Postexposure Prophylaxis (PEP) protocol to be followed, including post-exposure to blood and body fluids (BBFs). The utilization of HIV PEP demonstrated its capabilities to prevent HCWs from HIV infections. However, the practice in healthcare settings remains a challenge, as many HCWs do not adhere to the protocol. This study investigated how knowledgeable nurses are about HIV PEP in the era of controlled and stable HIV prevalence. Ninety-four nurses completed a self-administered questionnaire to provide information. A biostatistician assisted with data analysis, using Microsoft Excel converted to the STATA 13 format. Most (77.0%) were female with a mean age of 30 ± 9 years. The degree of knowledge was low, although the results showed that 90.43% of nurses had been informed about HIV PEP. Eighty (84%) did not know where to access HIV PEP, and (55.32%) were unaware of HIV PEP guidelines. A comparison between knowledge and work experience revealed that those with five years and less experience are less knowledgeable. There is a need to improve nurses’ knowledge of HIV PEP to reduce the risk of HIV acquisition from work-related activities.

scholarly journals Monitoring HIV through sentinel surveillance in Morocco

2002 ◽  
Vol 08 (01) ◽  
pp. 141-149
Author(s):  
E. El Harti
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Tuberculosis ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Sentinel Surveillance ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
Anonymous Testing ◽  
Hiv Epidemic ◽  
Unlinked Anonymous Testing

HIV sentinel surveillance was performed in five provinces of Morocco in 1993, expanded to 10 provinces in 1996. The activity was done by unlinked anonymous testing procedures. We analysed the data from 1993 to 1999. The groups studied were sexually transmitted infections, clinic attendees, pregnant women and patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. The results show that overall HIV prevalence rate over the whole period in 10 cities was 0.10% [45/44, 233]. Casablanca had a significantly high rate with 0.39% [10/2567]. The patients with pulmonary tuberculosis displayed the highest prevalence with 0.36% [9/2530]. These data confirm the assumption that the HIV epidemic is low in Morocco. However, the increase of HIV prevalence lately calls for reinforcing preventive measures to limit its spread.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Acute Deep Vein Thromboses

2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 352-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Louw ◽  
Barry F. Jacobson ◽  
Harry Büller
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
South African ◽  
Hiv Infections ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Vein Thrombosis ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Healthy Control ◽  
Deep Vein

Abnormalities that predispose to a hypercoagulable state with an increased incidence of venous thrombosis have been described in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and are associated with an increased mortality. A recent systematic review by Klein et al concluded that further studies are essential to elucidate the link between HIV infection and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). We prospectively evaluated 24 consecutive, active people presenting with an acute DVT; 13 consented to HIV testing, revealing an HIV prevalence of 84% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65-1.04). In a matched healthy control group, the HIV prevalence was 4% (95% CI, 0.039-0.041). The high HIV prevalence in the DVT group that consented to testing was also significantly higher compared to that in the South African population, estimated to be 10% in 2005. Although the study numbers were low, a statistically significant increased prevalence of HIV infection was found in patients with acute DVTs.

Heparin Cofactor II Deficiency in Patients Infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (05) ◽  
pp. 730-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Toulon ◽  
M Lamine ◽  
I Ledjev ◽  
T Guez ◽  
M E Holleman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Absolute Number ◽  
Thrombin Inhibitor ◽  
Unusual Complication ◽  
Healthy Individuals ◽  
Heparin Cofactor Ii ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Coagulation Inhibitor ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Cd4 Lymphocytes

SummaryIn human plasma, heparin cofactor II (HCII) is a thrombin inhibitor, whose deficiency has been reported to be associated with recurrent thrombosis. The finding of two cases of low plasma HCII activity in two patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) led us to investigate this coagulation inhibitor in the plasma of a larger population of HIV-infected patients. The mean plasma HCII activity was significantly lower in 96 HIV-infected patients than in 96 age- and sex-matched healthy individuals (0.75 ± 0.24 vs 0.99 ± 0.17 U/ml, p <0.0001). HCII antigen concentration was decreased to the same extent as the activity. The proportion of subjects with HCII deficiency was significantly higher in the HIV-infected group than in healthy individuals (38.5% vs 2.1%). In addition, HCII was significantly lower in AIDS patients than in other HIV-infected patients, classified according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on the basis of an absolute number of circulating CD4+ lymphocytes below 200 x 106/1. The link between HCII and immunodeficiency is further suggested by significant correlations between HCII activity and both the absolute number of CD4+ lymphocytes and the CD4+ to CD8+ lymphocyte ratio. Nevertheless, the mean HCII level was not different in the various groups of patients classified according to clinical criteria, except in CDC IVD patients in whom HCII levels were significantly lower. In addition, no correlation could be demonstrated between HCII and protein S activities, another coagulation inhibitor whose plasma level was also found to be decreased in HIV-infected patients. A similar prevalence of HCII deficiency was also found in a small series of 7 HIV-infected patients who developed thrombotic episodes, an unusual complication of the infection. This suggests that, in HIV-infected patients, HCII deficiency is not in itself the causative factor for the development of thrombosis.

scholarly journals The psychotropic effect of vitamin D supplementation on schizophrenia symptoms

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aras Neriman ◽  
Yilmaz Hakan ◽  
Ucuncu Ozge
Keyword(s):  
Vitamin D ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test ◽  
Sunlight Exposure ◽  
Antipsychotic Treatment ◽  
Serum 25Ohd ◽  
Vitamin D Receptors ◽  
Vitamin D Levels ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Background Schizophrenia is a multifactorial disease involving interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Vitamin D has recently been linked to many metabolic diseases and schizophrenia. Vitamin D plays essential roles in the brain in the context of neuroplasticity, neurotransmitter biosynthesis, neuroprotection, and neurotransmission. Vitamin D receptors are demonstrated in most brain regions that are related to schizophrenia. However, very few studies in the literature examine the effects of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) on schizophrenia symptoms. Methods This study aimed to examine the effects of vitamin D replacement on positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. Serum 25OHD levels of 52 schizophrenia patients were measured. SANS and SAPS were used to evaluate the severity of schizophrenia symptoms, and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test: CV4 was used for cognitive assessment. The study was completed with 40 patients for various reasons. The patients whose serum 25OHD reached optimal levels after vitamin D replacement were reevaluated with the same scales in terms of symptom severity. The SPSS 25 package program was used for statistical analysis. The Independent-Samples t-test was used to examine the relationship between the variables that may affect vitamin D levels and the vitamin D level and to examine whether vitamin D levels had an initial effect on the scale scores. Results The mean plasma 25OHD levels of the patients was 17.87 ± 5.54. A statistically significant relationship was found only between the duration of sunlight exposure and 25 OHD level (p < 0.05). The mean SANS and SAPS scores of the participants after 25OHD replacement (23.60 ± 15.51 and 7.78 ± 8.84, respectively) were statistically significantly lower than mean SANS and SAPS scores before replacement (51.45 ± 17.96 and 18.58 ± 15.59, respectively) (p < 0.001 for all). Only the total attention score was significantly improved after replacement (p < 0.05). Conclusion The data obtained from our study suggest that eliminating the 25OHD deficiency together with antipsychotic treatment can improve the total attention span and positive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia. The 25OHD levels should be regularly measured, replacement should be started when necessary, and the patients should be encouraged to get sunlight exposure to keep optimal 25OHD levels.

An Assessment of Sampling Methods and Microbiological Hygiene Indicators for Process Verification in Poultry Slaughterhouses

2006 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. HUTCHISON ◽  
L. D. WALTERS ◽  
G. C. MEAD ◽  
M. HOWELL ◽  
V. M. ALLEN
Keyword(s):  
Storage Time ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Indicator Bacteria ◽  
Aerobic Bacteria ◽  
Process Verification ◽  
Bacterial Indicator ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation ◽  
Microbiological Testing ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Poor Relationship

Studies to determine the appropriateness of the use of populations of indicator bacteria on poultry carcasses for process verification were undertaken in commercial slaughterhouses. Samples were collected from neck skin by excision or from whole carcass rinses and were examined for a range of presumptive process hygiene indicator bacteria. Coefficients of variation were calculated for each bacterial indicator and were significantly lower in excised samples, indicating more reproducible bacterial recovery by this sampling method. Total viable counts of aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Pseudomonas in samples collected by excision had the lowest coefficients of variation when compared with other indicators and were therefore used for further study. The uncertainties associated with the quantification of each bacterial indicator were calculated and were lowest overall for total viable counts of aerobic bacteria. In general, uncertainty was higher for lower bacterial numbers. Results of microbiological testing on pooled excised neck skin samples were not significantly different from the mean of individually analyzed samples. Bacterial numbers increased by 1 log unit when cultures were stored under chilled conditions typical of those used for transporting samples to external laboratories, but the increases were not significant for Pseudomonas and aerobic bacteria when storage time was less than 17 h. Weak relationships were identified between bacterial indicator numbers and duration of processing, although cleanliness of the processing environment diminished visibly during this time. In the plants visited for this study, there was a poor relationship between presumptive bacterial indicator numbers and process hygiene. Consequently, bacterial analyses for process verification purposes may be of limited value.

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