Marriage, monogamy and HIV: a profile of HIV-infected women in south India

A retrospective study was conducted on 134 HIV-infected females evaluated at an HIV/AIDS centre in south India to characterize their sociodemographics, HIV risk factors and initial clinical presentations. The mean age was 29 years; 81% were housewives; 95% were currently or previously married; 89% reported heterosexual sex as their only HIV risk factor; and 88% reported a history of monogamy. The majority were of reproductive age, thus the potential for vertical transmission of HIV and devastating impacts on families is alarming. Nearly half of these women initially presented asymptomatically implying that partner recruitment can enable early HIV detection. Single partner heterosexual sex with their husband was the only HIV risk factor for the majority of women. HIV prevention and intervention strategies need to focus on married, monogamous Indian women whose self-perception of HIV risk may be low, but whose risk is inextricably linked to the behaviour of their husbands.     

Effect of bioactive fractions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Citrullus vulgaris</Emphasis> Schrad. leaf extract against <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles stephensi</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aedes aegypti</Emphasis>

The benzene extract of Citrullus vulgaris was tested against Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti for the larvicidal activity and ovicidal properties. The crude benzene extract was found to be more effective against A. stephensi than A. aegypti. The LC₅₀ values were 18.56 and 42.76 ppm respectively. The LC₅₀ values for silica gel fractions (bioactive fractions I, II, III and IV) were 11.32, 14.12, 14.53 and 16.02 ppm respectively. The mean per cent hatchability of the egg rafts were observed after 48 h post treatment. The crude extract of benzene exerted 100% mortality at 250 ppm against A. stephensi and at 300 ppm against A. aegypti. The silica gel fractions I and II afforded 100% mortality at 100 ppm and III and IV exerted the hatchability rate of 4.9 and 5.3% at the same concentration against A. stephensi.     

Tralomethrin (OMS-3048), a new synthetic pyrethroid against vector mosquitoes.

Tralomethrin (OMS-3048) a synthetic pyrethroid, was tested for its insecticidal properties in the laboratory against normal strains of Culex quinquefasciatus, Cx. tritaeniorhynchus, Cx. sitiens, Anopheles stephensi, An. culicifacies, Aedes aegypti and Armigeres subalbatus and against strains of Cx. quinquefasciatus resistant to fenthion and malathion. Tralomethrin showed good larvicidal activity against all the species tested. LC50 ranged between 7.00 x 10(-6) and 9.10 x 10(-3) mg (ai)/l. Resistant strains of Cx. quinquefasciatus showed higher tolerance than the normal strain. Tralomethrin was more effective against adults of An. culicifacies (LD50 0.18 micrograms/cm2) than the other species. Residual activity of this compound lasted for 15 weeks on thatch surface at a dosage of 50 mg (ai)/m2 against all the mosquito species tested. In the field, this compound was effective for a period of 1-2 days in polluted water viz., cesspits and drains and 10-24 days in less polluted water as in cement tanks, when applied at the rate of 0.002-2.0 mg (ai)/l against immatures of Cx. quinquefasciatus.     

Nephrocalcinosis in rabbits – correlation of ultrasound, computed tomography, pathology and renal function

Objective. The purpose of this study was to induce nephrocalcinosis (NC) in rabbits with phosphate, vitamin D, oxalate and furosemide, to determine the effect on renal function and to correlate detection on ultrasound (US) and computed tomography (CT) with pathology. Materials and methods. Seventy-five immature New Zealand white rabbits were divided into five groups of 15. In each group, 5 animals were controls and 10 were given oral phosphate, furosemide, vitamin D or oxalate. Unilateral nephrectomy was performed at 3–6 weeks, and 5 rabbits of each test group were withdrawn from the substance. Weekly US was performed as well as US, CT and measurement of serum creatinine at the time of nephrectomy and prior to planned demise. Results. A total of 140 kidneys in 75 rabbits had both pathological and US correlation, with CT correlation in 126. Forty rabbits developed nephrocalcinosis with early (post nephrectomy at 3–6 weeks) or late (post demise at 12–20 weeks) pathological correlation obtained in 53 kidneys. Forty-one of these kidneys were from test animals: 23 developed NC early, 18 late. Twelve controls developed NC: 4 early, 8 late. Comparing US and CT to pathology, the sensitivity was 96 % for US, 64 % for CT. Specificity was 85 % for US and 96 % for CT. In 109 kidneys, information on serum creatinine level was available to correlate with pathology. The mean creatinine level was 138 mmol/l for those with NC and 118 mmol/l for those without NC (P < 0.001). Conclusion. In this study, the presence of NC was significantly associated with increasing serum creatinine. Overall, US was more sensitive and CT was more specific in the detection of NC. Received: 20 August 1996 Accepted: 12 August 1997     

Pattern and permanence of phosphate-induced nephrocalcinosis in rabbits

Objective. The purpose of this study was to observe the pattern and permanence of phosphate-induced nephrocalcinosis (NC) in rabbits. Materials and methods. Thirty immature New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 10 controls and 20 test subjects who were given oral phosphate. Unilateral nephrectomy was performed at 3–6 weeks, and 10 of the test group were withdrawn from the substance. All surviving rabbits were terminated at 6–14 weeks post nephrectomy. Weekly US was performed, as well as US, CT and serum creatinine evaluation at the time of nephrectomy and prior to planned demise. Results. Of the 20 rabbits that received oral phosphate, 16 had NC by 3 weeks and the remainder by 6 weeks. The severity was proportional to intake. NC occurred in the cortex in 69 %, the corticomedullary junction (CMJ) in 81 % and the medulla in 27 % of cases. Only 5 of 10 rabbits that returned to oral water post nephrectomy were suitable for follow-up on pathology. NC improved in 3 of these animals. Conclusion. NC in rabbits occurs maximally at the CMJ but also frequently in the cortex. NC was not permanent or static but improved in 3 of 5 rabbits when phosphate was withdrawn. Received: 3 July 1997 Accepted: 12 August 1997     

Mosquitocidal and repellent activity of the leaf extract of Citrullus vulgaris (cucurbitaceae) against the malarial vector, Anopheles stephensi liston (diptera culicidae)

The efficacy of the Cucurbitaceous plant Citrullus vulgaris against the Anopheles stephensi was assessed in the present study. The leaf extract of Citrullus vulgaris with different solvents viz, benzene, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol were tested for larvicidial, ovicidal, repellent and insect growth regulatory activities against Anopheles stephensi. The larval mortality was observed after 24 h exposure. The LC50 values are 18.56, 48.51, 49.57 and 50.32 ppm respectively. The mean percent hatchability of the egg of Anopheles stephensi were observed after 48 h. 100 per cent mortality was exerted at 250 ppm with benzene extract and the other extracts exerted 100 percent mortality at 300 ppm. Skin repellent test at 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mg per cm2 concentration gave the mean complete protection time ranged from 119.17 to 387.83 minutes with the four different extracts tested. The Citrullus vulgaris plant extract have shown insect growth regulatory activity against Anopheles stephensi at five different test concentrations ranging from 10 to 150 ppm with different solvents and they exhibit the following EI50 values 28.99, 70.02, 106.33 and 84.25 ppm respectively.