An alternative strategy to western blot as a confirmatory diagnostic test for HIV infection

BackgroundIn China, western blot (WB) is the recommended procedure for the diagnosis of HIV infection. However, this technique is time consuming and labor intensive, and its complexity restricts wide application in resource-limited regions.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a dry blood spots (DBS)–urine paired enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test, instead of WB, for HIV antibody detection.Study designPlasma, DBS, and urine samples were collected from 1213 subjects from different populations. Two diagnostic testing strategies were conducted in parallel. The equivalence of the paired ELISA and WB strategies was assessed.ResultsA diagnosis of HIV was determined in 250 subjects according to the paired ELISA test, and in 249 according to the WB strategy. The discordant case was judged HIV-positive during follow-up. In total, 18 subjects were diagnosed with possible HIV using the paired ELISA test, among whom, 11 subjects tested negative with WB, and one was confirmed to be HIV-positive during follow-up. For the remaining 945 subjects, both strategies indicated a negative result. The kappa test indicated good conformity (kappa = 0.954) between the two diagnostic strategies.ConclusionThe DBS–urine paired ELISA could be applied as an alternative to WB in HIV diagnosis, which would be valuable in resource-limited regions owing to the associated affordability and ease of use.     

Gender Comparisons of Unhealthy Weight-control Behaviors Among Sixth-Graders

ObjectiveTo examine gender differences in unhealthy weight-control behaviors (UWCB) and identify key psychosocial and demographic correlates of UWCB among sixth-graders.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was completed by 146 boys and 153 girls at a middle school. Secondary data analyses included bivariate tests and multivariable logistic regression.ResultsForty-seven percent of participants reported 1 or more UWCB, with no differences by gender (P = .75). Factors common to boys and girls included: lower global self-esteem; lower body-esteem; and greater negative parental modeling among participants who engaged in UWCB compared to those who did not. However, multivariable models revealed gender differences. Among boys, body mass index, negative parental modeling, and global self-esteem retained statistically significant associations with UWCB after controlling for other variables in the model, whereas race and weight-related body-esteem remained significant for girls.Conclusions and ImplicationsThis research highlights the need for gender-specific UWCB prevention programs implemented in late childhood and early adolescence.     

HIV/HCV共感染对HIV一1生物学特性影响的研究

目的研究有偿献血人群HIV／HCV共感染对HIV-1基因离散率、病毒载量、CD4 T淋巴细胞等生物学特性影响。方法扩增HIV-1 env基因C2～V3区,Clustal W和Phylip软件计算基因离散率,NASBA方法检测HIV-1病毒载量,采用Coulter公司的Epics XL流式细胞计数仪检测CD4 细胞数,用SPSS软件t检验分析HIV／HCV共感染对HIV-1生物学特性的影响。结果HCV共感染与非共感染人群的HIV-1平均基因离散率为7．95％、15．73％(P<0．001),平均病毒载量为4．61、4．45(P=0．522),平均CD4 T淋巴细胞数为308、251(P=0．161)。结论该有偿献血人群中HIV／HCV共感染对HIV-1基因离散率有影响,而对病毒载量、CD4 T淋巴细胞无影响。     

Response rates for providing a blood specimen for HIV testing in a population-based survey of young adults in Zimbabwe

Background  

To determine differences among persons who provided blood specimens for HIV testing compared with those who did not among those interviewed for the population-based Zimbabwe Young Adult Survey (YAS).