The effect of the number of exposures on the risk of heterosexual HIV transmission

Article Abstract:

Traditionally, a great impediment to identifying the cause of infectious disease has been that some individuals contract a disease with a minimum exposure, while repeated exposure does not result in disease among others. The same problem is evident in the investigation of AIDS and its mode of spread. The fact that some patients become infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) after only minimal contact and others after repeated exposure should not be interpreted as indicating that the number of exposures is unimportant. Although some investigators have suggested that the number of exposures is not a significant variable, this conclusion may be based on statistical blunders and misconceptions, the most common being the use of linear analysis on intrinsically nonlinear variables. To investigate the role of the number of sexual contacts in the risk of HIV transmission, 150 female partners of HIV-infected men were studied. Women who reported sexual contact with other men in addition to their partners were excluded from the study. Thirty-five women, or 23 percent, were found to be HIV-positive. A chi-square analysis revealed that the number of sexual contacts was indeed a significant factor; this observation is all the more important since the number of sexual contacts may confound other observations. For example, some studies have indicated that the rate of heterosexual transmission between blacks is greater than that between whites. However, in the present study, when the greater frequency of sexual contact between the black couples was taken into account, the statistical significance of race disappeared. It is worth noting that the study identified 11 women with over 500 sexual contacts who had not been infected, and eight women with fewer than 100 contacts who had become infected. The only statistically significant difference between these two groups was a higher proportion of condom use in the uninfected group, although not all these couples used condoms. The likelihood of HIV transmission was greater if the couple engaged in anal intercourse, or there was bleeding during intercourse. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection, HIV infections, AIDS (Disease)

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Heterosexual transmission of hepatitis delta virus in the general population of an area endemic for hepatitis B virus infection: a prospective study

Article Abstract:

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is described as a defective RNA virus that requires the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the host for transmission. HDV infection is generally spread in the same manner as hepatitis B, from person to person in contaminated body fluids by a parenteral route, or by percutaneous or mucosal contact. (Parenteral means by routes other than the alimentary canal, such as by injection.) To clarify the routes of transmission of HDV infection, 268 patients admitted to the hospital due to viral hepatitis were evaluated. The hospital was located in an area of Taiwan that is endemic for hepatitis B, meaning that the infection is constantly present, but mortality is low. Of this group, 203 patients were positive for HBV infection. Twelve had acute disease and the remainder were previously unrecognized HBV carriers. HDV infection was identified in 34 cases. Sixty-five cases were characterized as non-A, non-B hepatitis (which is now classified as hepatitis C). Transmission of HDV infection most commonly occurred following contact with prostitutes; 90 percent of the men with HDV had sexual relations with prostitutes within 3 months of diagnosis. This was true of only 22.7 percent of male patients who did not have HDV, 8 percent of males with non-A, non-B hepatitis, and 8.3 percent of male controls. Female to male transmission of HDV infection was more common than male to female transmission, as observed in the spousal relationships. Homosexual transmission of HDV infection was not significant among this patient population. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Testing, Demographic aspects, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, Delta infection, Hepatitis D, Delta-associated agent, Hepatitis delta virus

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Plasma carotenoids, glutathione S-tranferase M1 and T1 genetic polymorphisms, and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: independent and interactive effects

Article Abstract:

Physiological factors may increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), an aggressive form of liver cancer. Researchers found that low carotenoid concentrations combined with smoking and tobacco exposure were associated with a higher risk of HCC. Various levels of carotenoids alone were not linked to HCC risk. Among drinkers of alcohol, low levels of some carotenes and the genetic defect glutathione S-transferase M1 raised the risk of HCC.

Health aspects, Physiological aspects, Smoking, Drinking of alcoholic beverages, Drinking (Alcoholic beverages), Carotenoids, Liver cancer, Glutathione transferase

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