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Major Public Health Implications (major + public_health_implication)
Selected AbstractsAcute hepatitis C in HIV-infected men who have sex with menHIV MEDICINE, Issue 4 2004J Ghosn Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is usually transmitted via the parenteral route, but there are widely discrepant findings on its possible sexual transmission. Thus there are no recommendations concerning protected sex for couples in which only one partner is HCV-infected. Whether HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases could favour HCV transmission remains unclear, but recent data suggesting an increasing incidence of acute HCV in HIV-infected men underline the major public health implications of this issue. Case reports Between June 2002 and July 2003, five HIV-infected homosexually active men presented with primary (n=4) and secondary (n=1) syphilis and concomitant abnormal liver function tests revealing acute asymptomatic HCV seroconversion. Other causes of acute viral hepatitis were inquired into and excluded. Highly at-risk sexual behaviour, including unprotected anal intercourse and unsafe oral sex, with concomitant syphilis, was found to be the only identifiable important risk factor for transmission of HCV. Conclusions Sexual transmission may be fuelling a significant increase in HCV seroconversions among HIV-infected men who have highly risky sexual behaviours. Given the recent data suggesting the spread of sexually transmitted infections among HIV-infected gay men, specific recommendations concerning safe sex are urgently needed. [source] Prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in Indigenous Australian youthsOBESITY REVIEWS, Issue 3 2009P. C. Valery Summary We conducted a cross-sectional study of Indigenous youths residing in the Torres Strait region of Australia to assess the prevalence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Data on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, presence of acanthosis nigricans and blood glucose were collected. Fasting glucose, insulin, C-Peptide, HbA1c and lipids were measured, and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed in those with a BMI greater than 25 (childhood-equivalent cut-points) or fasting glucometer reading >5.5 mmol/L. Of 158 youths, 31% were overweight and 15% were obese, 38% had enlarged waist circumference consistent with central obesity, 43% had acanthosis nigricans and 27% were hypertensive. More females than males had enlarged waist circumferences (59% vs. 13%, P < 0.001). Among overweight or obese youth, 56% had significantly elevated insulin (P = 0.021); they also had higher HOMA-IR (P = 0.002). The metabolic syndrome was present in 17% of all youths (mostly females) and in 33% of the overweight or obese subgroup. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed in two youths. These very high proportions of overweight or obese Torres Strait youth with metabolic risk factors have major public health implications. [source] The changing global epidemiology of Acinetobacter baumannii infections: a development with major public health implicationsCLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 2 2007M. E. Falagas Abstract Acinetobacter baumannii infections have become increasingly common among critically-ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide. A. baumannii clinical isolates are frequently resistant to most antimicrobial agents and evidence of pan-drug resistance among A. baumannii isolates (i.e., resistance to all available antimicrobial agents, including polymyxins) has been reported. These facts constitute an alarming development in the field of infectious diseases, with major public health implications. More intensive efforts are urgently required to elucidate the epidemiological and infection control issues related to these organisms and to improve the management of patients with such infections. [source] | ||||||||||