The allele frequency of mutations in four genes that confer enhanced susceptibility to venous thromboembolism in an unselected group of New York State newborns

The frequencies of Factor V G1691A (FVL), prothrombin (PT) G20210A, 5'10'methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T, and methionine synthase (MS) A2756G (four mutations associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism [VTE]) were determined in a sample of approximately 1500 New York State residents. Dried blood spots from approximately equal numbers of Caucasians, African-Americans and Hispanics were anonymously obtained from the New York State Department of Health Newborn Screening Program. Following PCR amplification of dried blood spot DNA, allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization was used to detect mutant alleles. The total number of individuals at increased genetic risk for VTE was 271 (17.5%) of the 1553 persons tested. Increased genetic risk was defined as the heterozygous state for FVL or PT and the homozygous state for the MTHFR or MS polymorphisms. Sixteen individuals had more than one genetic risk factor. The MS gene variant allele frequencies for African-Americans and Hispanics are the first to be reported. This report also provides an estimate of the variant PT allele in the largest group of Hispanics studied to date.     

HIV/AIDS related knowledge and risk behaviors among female sex workers in two major cities of Mongolia

The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Mongolia is still low. Only 29 HIV/AIDS cases have been registered in Mongolia with a population of 2.6 millions, as of April, 2007. In all of the cases the infection has been sexually transmitted and almost 90.0% of total HIV/AIDS cases have been detected since 2005. Past studies conducted in Mongolia indicated that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) had been spreading rapidly among high risk groups, which highlights an urgent need for prevention mainly targeting these groups. This study was conducted to evaluate HIV/AIDS related knowledge/behaviors, as well as to assess the prevalence of HIV and syphilis among female sex workers (SWs) in two major cities of Mongolia. A total of 342 sex workers (199 females from Darkhan and 143 females from Ulaanbaatar city) with the mean age of 25.8 years participated in the study. In Darkhan, HIV/AIDS related knowledge of SWs was higher (99.0%) and the prevalence of syphilis was lower (3.5%) than in Ulaanbaatar (88.8% and 36.0%, respectively). No new HIV cases among the female SWs have been detected despite high syphilis rates (17.4%) among the study subjects. Although condom useat last sex with paying clients was high (92.3%), the rate was low with non-paying, non-regular sex partners (56.9%). These findings indicated that despite relatively good HIV/AIDS related knowledge, high risk sexual behaviors were still common among the female SWs.     

Evolving Understanding of the Epidemiology of HIV and Prevention Needs among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ulaanbaatar,Mongolia

This study describes HIV and syphilis bio-behavioral survey conducted among 200 men who have sex with men (MSM) recruited via respondent-driven sampling (RDS) between January 4 and February 1, 2012 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Participants were administered a structured questionnaire and data were analyzed with RDS-network program in STATA. Of 196 participants who agreed to be tested for HIV and syphilis, 21 (10.7 %; weighted 7.5; 95 % CI: 4.9, 11.4) and 8 (4.1 %; weighted 3.4; 95 % CI: 1.7, 6.7) were positive for HIV and syphilis, respectively. Exposure to HIV prevention programs in the last 12 months was reported by 51.8 % (weighted 33.6; 95 % CI: 27.6, 40.1) of participants. This study found high HIV prevalence and limited uptake of HIV prevention services among MSM in Mongolia. Given the concentrated HIV epidemic among MSM in Mongolia, HIV prevention, treatment and care services should focus on MSM as the population group most affected by HIV.