Women's health. The role of gender in HIV progression

Recent studies have examined the experience of women and the potential for gender differences with respect to HIV progression and the acceptance, tolerance, adherence, and response regarding HAART. Differences in CD4 cell count and viral load have not been reported in all studies. For any given CD4 cell count, women may be at a higher risk of HIV progression. Women appear to have an increased risk of progression to AIDS compared with men with the same viral load. They have lower initial viral loads than men in early-stage disease, but these catch up in advanced-stage disease. Because of depression and other psychological factors, women may be in greater need of supportive services, and this can affect the success of antiretroviral therapy. Women also have an increased risk of adverse drug reactions from HAART. Gender should be considered when prescribing therapy.     

General practice and the new science emerging from the theories of 'chaos' and complexity.

This paper outlines the general practice world view and introduces the main features of the theories of 'chaos' and complexity. From this, analogies are drawn between general practice and the theories, which suggest a different way of understanding general practice and point to future developments in general practice research. A conceptual and practical link between qualitative and quantitative methods of research is suggested. Methods of combining data about social context with data about individuals and about biomedical factors are discussed. The paper emphasizes the importance of data collected over time and of considering the multiplicative interactions between variables. Finally, the paper suggests that to develop this type of research, general practice many need to reassess systems of categorizing and recording appropriate data.     

Integrating STI / HIV prevention into family planning services. Women's reproductive health

Since women comprise the fastest growing category of new HIV cases, interest has grown in reaching women with HIV/STD prevention messages and services through family planning services. However, many family planning programs are not yet fully involved in preventing or treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Many organizations are exploring strategies to reach monogamous wives and girlfriends, women who were not earlier considered for targeted HIV/AIDS prevention programs. The only risk factor for many women is being married to men who have multiple sex partners or who use intravenous drugs. Research in many countries has shown that while men may use condoms with prostitutes or casual sex partners, they rarely do so with their wives and girlfriends. In addition, men tend to stop using condoms when a casual partner becomes a steady girlfriend. Trusting wives pay little attention to safe sex messages because they do not consider themselves to be at risk. While other women may be concerned about their husband's or boyfriend's infidelity, they feel unable to convince them to use condoms. Integrating STI/HIV prevention into family planning programs may be a means of reaching many of these women at risk through interpersonal means. Planning for service integration is discussed.     

Evaluation of an academic reinforcement program for health science students.

An Academic Reinforcement Program has been used for three years at the University of Texas Medical Branch to assist health science students with test taking, note taking, memorization, labeling, charting, and time-scheduling techniques. An evaluation indicated that the majority of students who have learned the techniques improved their academic grades with less expenditure of study time, learned to deal with some problems which affected their studies, and gained self-confidence through the encouragement and support of the staff who taught the techniques.     

理工科院校新生心理健康状况调查与分析

目的为了解大学新生的心理健康状况。方法本研究采用大学生人格问卷（UPI）对某理工科院校3327名新生进行调查。结果7.96%的新生存在较严重的心理问题;存在严重心理问题的新生其心理健康水平不存在性别差异;与06年新生心理普查结果相比不存在显著差异。结论07级新生总体心理健康状况一般。     

Integrative medicine in health science education

Integrative Medicine (IM) is a concern of many people. We consider IM to be very important in Health Science, especially Clinical Laboratory Science. We will start a new program named "Introduction to Integrative Health Science", which covers the relationship of Health Science and IM, in addition to "Introduction to Healthy Food and Supplement". These programs will bring a new angle to the education of Clinical Laboratory Science as Health Science. We have held various community health education sessions about IM, which have helped to explain Clinical Laboratory Science as well as the scientific evaluation of IM. We hope that Clinical Laboratory Science Education will develop further in the future.