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1.
Health Place ; 57: 179-185, 2019 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31060017

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Pediatricians need community resources for childhood stress. We examined the association of weekly park visits and resilience amongst children receiving a park prescription at a clinic for low-income families. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective longitudinal clinical trial was conducted amongst children ages 7-17 at a safety-net primary care clinic with measures at zero, one and three months out. Parents reported their child's park visits per week, baseline ACE score, their own stress (PSS10) and coping; children reported resilience (Brief Resiliency Scale) and stress (PSQ8-11 scale). RESULTS: Enrolled children (N = 54; mean (sd) age 10.3 (2.4) years), had a median (IQR) ACE score of 2 (1, 4). Child resilience improved with each one-day increase in weekly park visits (0.04 points, 95% CI 0.01, 0.08) at every level of ACEs. Child stress partially mediated this relationship. CONCLUSION: Parks are a community resource for pediatric resilience; park prescriptions may be a way to deal with pediatric stress.


Subject(s)
Adverse Childhood Experiences , Parks, Recreational , Primary Health Care , Resilience, Psychological , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Child , Female , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Parents/psychology , Poverty , Prospective Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires
2.
AIDS Behav ; 17(9): 2878-92, 2013 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23975473

ABSTRACT

Needle-syringe programs (NSP) have been effective in reducing HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) infection among people who inject drugs (PWID). Achieving sustainable reductions in these blood-borne infections requires addressing structural factors so PWID can legally access NSP services. Systematic literature searches collected information on NSP coverage and changes in HIV or HCV infection prevalence or incidence at the population level. Included studies had to document biomarkers (HIV or HCV) coupled with structural-level NSP, defined by a minimum 50 % coverage of PWID and distribution of 10 or more needles/syringe per PWID per year. Fifteen studies reported structural-level NSP and changes in HIV or HCV infection prevalence/incidence. Nine reported decreases in HIV prevalence, six in HCV infection prevalence, and three reported decreases in HIV incidence. The results support NSP as a structural-level intervention to reduce population-level infection and implementation of NSP for prevention and treatment of HIV and HCV infection.


Subject(s)
Communicable Disease Control/organization & administration , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Harm Reduction , Hepatitis C/prevention & control , Needle-Exchange Programs , Public Health , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/prevention & control , Communicable Disease Control/statistics & numerical data , Female , HIV Infections/epidemiology , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Humans , Male , Needle-Exchange Programs/organization & administration , Needle-Exchange Programs/statistics & numerical data , Prevalence , Program Evaluation , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Risk-Taking , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/complications , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/epidemiology
3.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev ; (9): CD010119, 2012 Sep 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22972150

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The integration of HIV/AIDS and maternal, neonatal, child health and nutrition services (MNCHN), including family planning (FP) is recognized as a key strategy to reduce maternal and child mortality and control the HIV/AIDS epidemic. However, limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of service integration. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of integrating MNCHN-FP and HIV/AIDS services on health, behavioral, and economic outcomes and to identify research gaps. SEARCH METHODS: Using the Cochrane Collaboration's validated search strategies for identifying reports of HIV interventions, along with appropriate keywords and MeSH terms, we searched a range of electronic databases, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, MEDLINE (via PubMed), and Web of Science / Web of Social Science. The date range was from 01 January 1990 to 15 October 2010. There were no limits to language. SELECTION CRITERIA: Included studies were published in peer-reviewed journals, and provided intervention evaluation data (pre-post or multi-arm study design).The interventions described were organizational strategies or change, process modifications or introductions of technologies aimed at integrating MNCHN-FP and HIV/AIDS service delivery. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We identified 10,619 citations from the electronic database searches and 101 citations from hand searching, cross-reference searching and interpersonal communication. After initial screenings for relevance by pairs of authors working independently, a total of 121 full-text articles were obtained for closer examination. MAIN RESULTS: Twenty peer-reviewed articles representing 19 interventions met inclusion criteria. There were no randomized controlled trials. One study utilized a stepped wedge design, while the rest were non-randomized trials, cohort studies, time series studies, cross-sectional studies, serial cross-sectional studies, and before-after studies. It was not possible to perform meta-analysis. Risk of bias was generally high. We found high between-study heterogeneity in terms of intervention types, study objectives, settings and designs, and reported outcomes. Most studies integrated FP with HIV testing (n=7) or HIV care and treatment (n=4). Overall, HIV and MNCHN-FP service integration was found to be feasible across a variety of integration models, settings and target populations. Nearly all studies reported positive post-integration effects on key outcomes including contraceptive use, antiretroviral therapy initiation in pregnancy, HIV testing, and quality of services. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review's findings show that integrated HIV/AIDS and MNCHN-FP services are feasible to implement and show promise towards improving a variety of health and behavioral outcomes. However, significant evidence gaps remain. Rigorous research comparing outcomes of integrated with non-integrated services, including cost, cost-effectiveness, and health outcomes such as HIV and STI incidence, morbidity and mortality are greatly needed to inform programs and policy.


Subject(s)
Child Health Services/organization & administration , Family Planning Services/organization & administration , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Maternal Health Services/organization & administration , Neonatology/organization & administration , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/prevention & control , Child , Delivery of Health Care, Integrated/organization & administration , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Nutritional Sciences
4.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev ; (3): CD009756, 2012 Mar 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22419345

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: More than 34 million people are presently living with HIV infection. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can help these people to live longer, healthier lives, but adherence to ART can be difficult. Mobile phone text-messaging has the potential to help promote adherence in these patients. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether mobile phone text-messaging is efficacious in enhancing adherence to ART in patients with HIV infection. SEARCH METHODS: Using the Cochrane Collaboration's validated search strategies for identifying randomised controlled trials and reports of HIV interventions, along with appropriate keywords and MeSH terms, we searched a range of electronic databases, including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), EMBASE, Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), MEDLINE (via PubMed), PsycINFO, Web of Science, and the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Index Medicus. The date range was from  01 January 1980 to 01 November 2011. There were no limits to language or publication status. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in which patients or their caregivers (in the case of infants and children) of any age, in any setting, and receiving ART were provided with mobile phone text messages as a means of promoting adherence to ART. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently examined the abstracts of all identified trials. We initially identified 243 references. Seventeen full-text articles were closely reviewed. Both authors abstracted data independently, using a pre-designed, standardised data collection form. When appropriate, data were combined in meta-analysis. MAIN RESULTS: Two RCTs from Kenya were included in the review. One trial compared short weekly text messages against standard care. The other trial compared short daily, long daily, short weekly and long weekly messages against standard care. Both trials were with adult patients.In the trial comparing only short weekly messages to standard care, text messaging was associated with a lower risk of non-adherence at 12 months (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.93) and with the non-occurrence of virologic failure at 12 months (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.99).In the trial that compared different intervals and lengths for text-messaging to standard care, long weekly text-messaging was not significantly associated with a lower risk of non-adherence compared to standard care (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.04). Patients receiving weekly text-messages of any length were at lower risk of non-adherence at 48 weeks than were patients receiving daily messages of any length (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.99). There were no significant differences between weekly text-messaging of any length (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.75 to 1.37) and between short or long messaging at either interval (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.27). Compared to standard care, any daily text-messaging, whether short or long, did not reduce the risk for non-adherence (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.20).In meta-analysis of both trials, any weekly text-messaging (i.e. whether short or long messages) was associated with a lower risk of non-adherence at 48-52 weeks (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.89). The effect of short weekly text-messaging was also significant (RR 0.77, 95% CI 0.67 to 0.89). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is high-quality evidence from the two RCTs that mobile phone text-messaging at weekly intervals is efficacious in enhancing adherence to ART, compared to standard care. There is high quality evidence from one trial that weekly mobile phone text-messaging is efficacious in improving HIV viral load suppression. Policy-makers should consider funding programs proposing to provide weekly mobile phone text-messaging as a means for promoting adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Clinics and hospitals should consider implementing such programs. There is a need for large RCTs of this intervention in adolescent populations, as well as in high-income countries.


Subject(s)
Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Cell Phone , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV-1 , Medication Adherence , Text Messaging , Adult , Health Promotion/methods , Humans , Kenya , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Time Factors
5.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev ; (12): CD009513, 2011 Dec 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22161452

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Achieving and maintaining high levels of medication adherence are required to achieve the full benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART), yet suboptimal adherence among children is common in both developed and developing countries. OBJECTIVES: To conduct a systematic review of the literature of evaluations of interventions for improving paediatric ART adherence. SEARCH METHODS: We created a comprehensive search strategy in order to identify all studies relevant to this topic. In July 2010, we searched the following electronic databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL, LILACS, Web of Science, Web of Social Science, NLM Gateway (supplemented by a manual search of the most recent abstracts not included in the Gateway database). We searched abstracts from the International AIDS Conference from 2002 to 2010, the International AIDS Society Conference on Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention from 2003 to 2009, and from the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections from 1997 to 2010. We used search strategies determined by the Cochrane Review Group on HIV/AIDS. We also contacted researchers who work in this field and checked reference lists of related systematic reviews and of all included studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and non-randomised controlled trials of interventions to improve adherence to ART among children and adolescents (age ≤18 years) were included. Studies had to report adherence to ART as an outcome. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: After one author performed an initial screening to exclude citations that did not meet the inclusion criteria, two authors did a second screening of those citations that likely met the criteria. For all articles that passed the second screening, full articles were pulled in order to make a final determination. Two authors then extracted data and graded methodological quality independently. Differences were resolved through discussion. MAIN RESULTS: Four studies met the inclusion criteria. No single intervention was evaluated by more than one trial. Two studies were conducted in low-income countries. Two studies were randomised controlled trials (RCT), and two were non-randomised trials. An RCT of a home-based nursing programme showed a positive effect of the intervention on knowledge and medication refills (p=.002), but no effect on CD4 count and viral load. A second RCT of caregiver medication diaries showed that the intervention group had fewer participants reporting no missed doses compared to the control group (85% vs. 92%, respectively), although this difference was not statistically significant (p=.08). The intervention had no effect on CD4 percentage or viral load. A non-randomised trial of peer support group therapy for adolescents demonstrated no change in self-reported adherence, yet the percentage of participants with suppressed viral load increased from 30% to 80% (p=.06). The second non-randomised trial found that the percentage of children achieving >80% adherence was no different between children on a lopinavir-ritonavir (LPV/r) regimen compared to children on a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase regimen (p=.781). However, the proportion of children achieving virological suppression was significantly greater for children on the LPV/r regimen than for children on the NNRTI-containing regimen (p=.002). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: A home-based nursing intervention has the potential to improve ART adherence, but more evidence is needed. Medication diaries do not appear to have an effect on adherence or disease outcomes. Two interventions, an LPV/r-containing regimen and peer support therapy for adolescents, did not demonstrate improvements in adherence, yet demonstrated greater viral load suppression compared to control groups, suggesting a different mechanism for improved health outcomes. Well-designed evaluations of interventions to improve paediatric adherence to ART are needed.


Subject(s)
Anti-HIV Agents/administration & dosage , HIV Infections/drug therapy , HIV-1 , Medication Adherence , Adolescent , CD4 Lymphocyte Count , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , HIV Infections/virology , Humans , Infant , Male , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Viral Load
6.
AIDS Care ; 23(3): 303-14, 2011 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21347893

ABSTRACT

People living with HIV often have unmet needs for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. We present results of a systematic review of studies offering SRH services targeted to people living with HIV. Studies were selected from a broader SRH and HIV linkages review. Inclusion criteria included: (1) peer-reviewed journal articles with a pre-post or multiple-arm study design; (2) reported post-intervention evaluation data; and (3) published 1 January 1990 through 31 December 2007. Nine studies were identified with an average rigour score of 5.1 out of 9. Services included family planning (one study), sexually transmitted infection (STI) services (two studies), combined family planning and STI services (three studies) and multiple services (three studies). The review identified mostly positive effects on the outcomes measured, including condom and contraceptive use and quality of services. Yet gaps remain in the research to establish the best approaches for addressing needs and choices of people living with HIV. There is a need for high-quality intervention studies to determine the most successful and cost-effective strategies for providing SRH services to people living with HIV.


Subject(s)
Delivery of Health Care/standards , HIV Infections , Needs Assessment/organization & administration , Reproductive Health Services/organization & administration , Safe Sex , Choice Behavior , Delivery of Health Care/organization & administration , Female , HIV Seropositivity/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Needs Assessment/standards , Patient Education as Topic , Reproductive Health Services/standards , Sexual Behavior , Sexually Transmitted Diseases/therapy
7.
J Int AIDS Soc ; 13: 26, 2010 Jul 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20642843

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The international community agrees that the Millennium Development Goals will not be achieved without ensuring universal access to both sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support. Recently, there has been increasing awareness and discussion of the possible benefits of linkages between SRH and HIV programmes at the policy, systems and service delivery levels. However, the evidence for the efficacy of these linkages has not been systematically assessed. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the evidence for interventions linking SRH and HIV. Structured methods were employed for searching, screening and data extraction. Studies from 1990 to 2007 reporting pre-post or multi-arm evaluation data from SRH-HIV linkage interventions were included. Study design rigour was scored on a nine-point scale. Unpublished programme reports were gathered as "promising practices". RESULTS: Of more than 50,000 citations identified, 185 studies were included in the review and 35 were analyzed. These studies had heterogeneous interventions, populations, objectives, study designs, rigour and measured outcomes. SRH-HIV linkage interventions were generally considered beneficial and feasible. The majority of studies showed improvements in all outcomes measured. While there were some mixed results, there were very few negative findings. Generally, positive effects were shown for key outcomes, including HIV incidence, sexually transmitted infection incidence, condom use, contraceptive use, uptake of HIV testing and quality of services. Promising practices (n = 23) tended to evaluate more recent and more comprehensive programmes. Factors promoting effective linkages included stakeholder involvement, capacity building, positive staff attitudes, non-stigmatizing services, and engagement of key populations. CONCLUSIONS: Existing evidence provides support for linkages, although significant gaps in the literature remain. Policy makers, programme managers and researchers should continue to advocate for, support, implement and rigorously evaluate SRH and HIV linkages at the policy, systems and service levels.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/prevention & control , Reproductive Health Services , Sexual Behavior , Female , HIV Infections/psychology , Humans , Interview, Psychological , Male , Outcome Assessment, Health Care
8.
J Int AIDS Soc ; 12: 24, 2009 Oct 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19852854

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Mortality data are used to conduct disease surveillance, describe health status and inform planning processes for health service provision and resource allocation. In many countries, HIV- and AIDS-related deaths are believed to be under-reported in government statistics. METHODS: To estimate the extent of under-reporting of HIV- and AIDS-related deaths in Botswana, we conducted a retrospective study of a sample of deaths reported in the government vital registration database from eight hospitals, where more than 40% of deaths in the country in 2005 occurred. We used the consensus of three physicians conducting independent reviews of medical records as the gold standard comparison. We examined the sensitivity, specificity and other validity statistics. RESULTS: Of the 5276 deaths registered in the eight hospitals, 29% were HIV- and AIDS-related. The percentage of HIV- and AIDS-related deaths confirmed by physician consensus (positive predictive value) was 95.4%; however, the percentage of non-HIV- and non-AIDS-related deaths confirmed (negative predictive value) was only 69.1%. The sensitivity and specificity of the vital registration system was 55.7% and 97.3%, respectively. After correcting for misclassification, the percentage of HIV- and AIDS--related deaths was estimated to be in the range of 48.8% to 54.4%, depending on the definition. CONCLUSION: Improvements in hospitals and within government offices are necessary to strengthen the vital registration system. These should include such strategies as training physicians and coders in accurate reporting and recording of death statistics, implementing continuous quality assurance methods, and working with the government to underscore the importance of using mortality statistics in future evidence-based planning.

9.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev ; (1): CD006734, 2009 Jan 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19160297

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) represents the most common means by which children acquire HIV infection. Efficacious and effective interventions to prevent in utero and intrapartum transmission of HIV infection have been developed and implemented. However, a large proportion of MTCT of HIV occurs postnatally, through breast milk transmission. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this systematic review were to collate and assess the evidence regarding interventions to decrease late postnatal MTCT of HIV, and to determine the efficacy of such interventions in decreasing late postnatal MTCT of HIV, increasing overall survival, and increasing HIV-free survival. SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic searches were undertaken using PubMed, EMBASE and other databases for 1980-2008. Hand searches of reference lists of pertinent reviews and studies, as well as abstracts from relevant conferences, were also conducted. Experts in the field were contacted to locate any other studies. The search strategy was iterative. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized clinical trials assessing the efficacy of interventions to prevent MTCT of HIV through breast milk were included in the analysis. Other trials and intervention cohort studies with relevant data also were included, but only when randomization was not feasible due to the nature of the intervention (i.e., infant feeding modality). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data regarding HIV infection status and vital status of infants born to HIV-infected women, according to intervention, were extracted from the reports of the studies. MAIN RESULTS: Six randomized clinical trials and one intervention cohort study were included in this review. Two trials addressed the issue of shortening the duration of (or eliminating) exposure to breast milk. In a trial of breastfeeding versus formula feeding, formula feeding was efficacious in preventing MTCT of HIV (the cumulative probability of HIV infection at 24 months was 36.7% in the breastfeeding arm and 20.5% in the formula arm [p = 0.001]), but the mortality and malnutrition rates during the first two years of life were similar in the two groups. In a trial of early cessation of breastfeeding, HIV-free survival was similar between those children who ceased breastfeeding around four months of age and those who continued breastfeeding. Another trial addressing vitamin supplementation found more cases of HIV infection among children of mothers in the vitamin A arm. Efficacy for other vitamin supplements was not shown. An intervention cohort study evaluated the risk of MTCT according to infant feeding modality, and found increased risks of MTCT among breastfed children who also received solids (hazard ratio = 10.87, p = 0.018) as well as higher 3-month mortality rates (hazard ratio = 2.06) among infants given non- breast milk feedings (instead of exclusive breastfeeding). Three trials evaluated antiretroviral prophylaxis to breastfeeding infants. One trial found that breastfeeding with zidovudine prophylaxis (transmission rate = 9.0%) was not as effective as formula feeding (transmission rate 5.6%) in preventing late postnatal HIV transmission (p = 0.04). Breastfeeding with zidovudine prophylaxis and formula feeding had comparable HIV-free survival rates at 18 months (p = 0.60). Two trials of extended nevirapine prophylaxis demonstrated efficacy. In the first (data combined from trials conducted in three different countries), a six-week course of nevirapine resulted in a lower risk of HIV transmission by six weeks of age (p=0.009), but not at six months of age (p = 0.016). In the second, nevirapine administration until 14 weeks of age (5.2%) or nevirapine with zidovudine until 14 weeks of age (6.4%) resulted in significantly lower risks of MTCT of HIV by 9 months of age than a control regimen of peripartum prophylaxis (10.6%) (p < 0.001). HIV-free survival was significantly better through the age of 9 months in both extended prophylaxis groups, and through the age of 15 months in the extended nevirapine group. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Complete avoidance of breastfeeding is efficacious in preventing MTCT of HIV, but this intervention has significant associated morbidity (e.g., diarrheal morbidity if formula is prepared without clean water). If breastfeeding is initiated, two interventions 1). exclusive breastfeeding during the first few months of life; and 2) chronic antiretroviral prophylaxis to the infant (nevirapine alone, or nevirapine with zidovudine) are efficacious in preventing transmission.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections/transmission , HIV-1 , Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical/prevention & control , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant Formula , Milk, Human/virology , Pregnancy , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
10.
AIDS ; 23 Suppl 1: S79-88, 2009 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20081392

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of the literature and examine the effectiveness, optimal circumstances, and best practices for strengthening linkages between family planning and HIV interventions. DESIGN: Systematic review of peer-reviewed articles and unpublished program reports ('promising practices') evaluating interventions linking family planning and HIV services. METHODS: Articles were included if they reported post-intervention evaluation results from an intervention linking family planning and HIV services between 1990 and 2007. Systematic methods were used for searching, screening, and data extraction. Quality assessment was conducted using a 9-point rigor scale. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included in the analysis (10 peer-reviewed studies and six promising practices). Interventions were categorized into six types: family planning services provided to HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clients, family planning and VCT services provided to maternal and child health clients, family planning services provided to people living with HIV, community health workers provided family planning and HIV services, VCT provided to family planning clinic clients, and VCT and family planning services provided to women receiving postabortion care. Average study design rigor was low (3.25 out of 9). Most studies reported generally positive or mixed results for key outcomes; no negative results were reported. CONCLUSION: Interventions linking family planning and HIV services were generally considered feasible and effective, though overall evaluation rigor was low.


Subject(s)
Family Planning Services/methods , HIV Infections/prevention & control , HIV-1 , Counseling , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Pregnancy
11.
Nat Genet ; 40(12): 1466-71, 2008 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19029900

ABSTRACT

Chromosome region 1q21.1 contains extensive and complex low-copy repeats, and copy number variants (CNVs) in this region have recently been reported in association with congenital heart defects, developmental delay, schizophrenia and related psychoses. We describe 21 probands with the 1q21.1 microdeletion and 15 probands with the 1q21.1 microduplication. These CNVs were inherited in most of the cases in which parental studies were available. Consistent and statistically significant features of microcephaly and macrocephaly were found in individuals with microdeletion and microduplication, respectively. Notably, a paralog of the HYDIN gene located on 16q22.2 and implicated in autosomal recessive hydrocephalus was inserted into the 1q21.1 region during the evolution of Homo sapiens; we found this locus to be deleted or duplicated in the individuals we studied, making it a probable candidate for the head size abnormalities observed. We propose that recurrent reciprocal microdeletions and microduplications within 1q21.1 represent previously unknown genomic disorders characterized by abnormal head size along with a spectrum of developmental delay, neuropsychiatric abnormalities, dysmorphic features and congenital anomalies. These phenotypes are subject to incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity.


Subject(s)
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1/genetics , Craniofacial Abnormalities/genetics , Mental Disorders/genetics , Microcephaly/genetics , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Gene Deletion , Gene Duplication , Humans , Male , Schizophrenia/genetics , Young Adult
12.
AIDS ; 22(10): 1177-94, 2008 Jun 19.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18525264

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a meta-analytic review of HIV interventions for heterosexual African Americans to determine the overall efficacy in reducing HIV-risk sex behaviors and incident sexually transmitted diseases and identify intervention characteristics associated with efficacy. METHODS: Comprehensive searches included electronic databases from 1988 to 2005, handsearches of journals, reference lists of articles, and contacts with researchers. Thirty-eight randomized controlled trials met the selection criteria. Random-effects models were used to aggregate data. RESULTS: Interventions significantly reduced unprotected sex (odds ratio = 0.75; 95% confidence interval = 0.67, 0.84; 35 trials; N = 14 682) and marginally significantly decreased incident sexually transmitted diseases (odds ratio = 0.88; 95% confidence interval = 0.72, 1.07; 10 trials; N = 10 944). Intervention characteristics associated with efficacy include cultural tailoring, aiming to influence social norms in promoting safe sex behavior, utilizing peer education, providing skills training on correct use of condoms and communication skills needed for negotiating safer sex, and multiple sessions and opportunities to practice learned skills. CONCLUSION: Interventions targeting heterosexual African Americans are efficacious in reducing HIV-risk sex behaviors. Efficacious intervention components identified in this study should be incorporated into the development of future interventions and further evaluated for effectiveness.


Subject(s)
Behavior Therapy/methods , Black or African American/statistics & numerical data , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Heterosexuality , Unsafe Sex/prevention & control , Adult , Black or African American/psychology , Aged , Condoms/statistics & numerical data , Female , HIV Infections/psychology , Health Promotion , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Sex Education , Unsafe Sex/statistics & numerical data
13.
Natl Med J India ; 17(2): 86-95, 2004.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15141602

ABSTRACT

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesize data from existing primary research, and well-conducted reviews offer clinicians a practical solution to the problem of staying current in their fields of interest. A whole generation of secondary journals, pre-appraised evidence libraries and periodically updated electronic texts are now available to clinicians. However, not all systematic reviews are of high quality, and it is important to be able to critically assess their validity and applicability. This article is an illustrated guide for conducting systematic reviews. A clear understanding of the process will provide clinicians with the tools to judiciously appraise reviews and interpret them. We hope that it will enable clinicians to conduct systematic reviews, generate high-quality evidence, and contribute to the evidence-based medicine movement.


Subject(s)
Evidence-Based Medicine , Meta-Analysis as Topic , Review Literature as Topic , Bibliometrics , Humans , Information Storage and Retrieval/methods , Information Storage and Retrieval/standards , Quality Control , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Reproducibility of Results
14.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr ; 30 Suppl 1: S56-61, 2002 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12107360

ABSTRACT

To make sound health care decisions, policy makers, providers and researchers need access to relevant research findings. The role of systematic reviews is increasingly acknowledged as an important contribution in evidence-based health care decision making, and several review efforts, including that of the international Cochrane Collaboration, are under way. The Cochrane Collaborative Review Group on HIV Infection and AIDS (CRG on HIV/AIDS), conducts systematic reviews on the prevention and the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS and is guided by the Cochrane Collaboration's principles, which include minimizing potential bias, ensuring quality in the review process, keeping reviews up to date, and enhancing collaboration. The CDC HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis (PRS) project is working closely with the CRG on HIV/AIDS to produce Cochrane reviews of behavioral prevention interventions and on development and maintenance of a centralized, cumulative electronic database of HIV/AIDS behavioral prevention studies. Systematic reviews can play an important role in advancing evidence-based policy and practice in HIV/AIDS prevention and care.


Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/prevention & control , Evidence-Based Medicine , Public Health , Systematic Reviews as Topic , Humans , International Cooperation , Meta-Analysis as Topic , Publishing
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