HIV infection and high risk behavior among patients attending an STD referral clinic in Prague, Czech Republic.

OBJECTIVE: This survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of HIV infection and associated risk behaviour in a high risk population of clients attending an STD clinic in Prague, Czech Republic. METHODS: Between September 1994 and January 1995, clients entering the Apolinar STD clinic in Prague, Czech Republic, were enrolled in a blinded, unlinked HIV antibody seroprevalence study. Non-identifying demographic characteristics, STD diagnoses, HIV risk exposures, and voluntary HIV testing experience were extracted from medical charts. RESULTS: Of 1394 patients for whom serum was available for testing, one was positive for HIV (HIV prevalence 0.07%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01, 0.41%). This person was one of 28 men having sex with men (MSWM) (HIV prevalence among MSWM 3.6%, 95% CI 0.6, 17.7%). Among the 775 male clients, 75.5% had heterosexual unprotected sex, 11.1% had sex with high risk partners or prostitutes, 3.6% were MSWM, 1.0% were injecting drug users (IDUs), 0.7% were both MSWM and IDUs, and 6.8% and 1.8% had other or no recognized risk for HIV/STDs, respectively. Among the 619 female clients, 74.5% had heterosexual unprotected sex, 11.6% were prostitutes, 7.8% had sex with high risk partners, 1.1% were IDUs, and 3.9% and 2.3% had other or no recognised risk, respectively. The 304 adolescent patients (age 11-19 years) differed significantly (p < 0.05) in risk behaviour and STD diagnoses from the 1090 patients who were 20 years and older. Adolescents were significantly more likely to be female (58.6% v 40.5%, OR = 2.1), IDUs (3.6% v 0.4%, OR = 10.2), prostitutes (8.9% v 4.7%, OR = 2.0), and have sex partners with STDs (7.6% v 4.4%, OR = 1.8). The adolescent patients were also significantly more likely to be diagnosed with gonorrhoea (21.1% v 12.3%, OR = 1.9) and non-gonococcal urethritis (27.6% v 17.2%, OR = 1.8), and significantly less likely to have been tested previously for HIV (19.1% v 31.9%, OR = 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection is currently uncommon in this population. However, the high rates of unprotected sex, prostitution, injecting drug use, and STDs, especially among adolescents, provide the basis for an epidemic in this population. Aggressive prevention education should be started before adolescence.

[Possibilities of early diagnosis of autonomic neuropathy in diabetics]. / A cukorbetegek autonom neuropathiájának koraibb kórismézési lehetösége.

The possibilities of the diagnosis of autonomous neuropathy were investigated by the authors in 71 insulin-treated diabetes mellitus patients with the use of dynamic esophageal scintigraphy and determination of cardiac reflex tests. It has been found that the extent and severity of the lesion can be earlier and more exactly recognized with the help of these two methods. Important information can be obtained by the determination of esophageal transit time about the functional condition of vagal nerves supplying gastrointestinal organs. In patients suffering from autonomous neuropathy the esophageal transit time proved to be significantly prolonged (p less than 0.01). The injury of parasympathetic heart innervation is earlier indicated by the pulmo-cardiac reflexes, while the troubles of symphathic functions are shown more responsively by the sustained handgrip test. Cases with considerable degree of orthostatic hypotension were not observed, its incidence may be probably higher only in advanced forms of autonomous neuropathy. The injury of vegetative nerve fibers develops mostly parallel in diabetes mellitus, but partial functional disorders can be also observed. Detailed neurological examinations were performed in 30 patients, and it has been found, that the lesion of peripheral nerves can be only later observed. Specific complications involving the nervous system are more frequent in cases with longer duration of the disease. In the authors opinion, for investigation and follow-up of larger number of diabetic patients, the dynamic esophageal scintigraphy and determination of pulmo-cardiac reflex and sustained handgrip tests seem to be suitable.

[The significance of Campylobacter pylori infection in gastroenterologic and diabetic practice]. / Campylobacter pylori fertözés jelentösége a gasztroenterologiai és diabetologiai gyakorlatban.

The presence of Campylobacter pylori was investigated in gastric antral biopsy specimens. In 50 consecutive patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy microbiological cultures, histological examination and rapid urease test were parallel performed, and a 92 per cent sensitivity and 100 per cent specificity of rapid and cheap urease test were determined. Afterwards--in a prospective study--311 patients were examined for C. p. by the rapid urease test only. C. p. was detected in 92 per cent of duodenal ulcer patients, in 52 per cent of patients with gastric ulcer, in 67 per cent of non-ulcer dyspepsia, in 62 per cent of mixed diabetic patient material, and in 21 per cent only of asymptomatic volunteers. It has been found by the authors, that the rate of C. p. infection increased parallel with the continuance of diabetes and did not follow the increasing with age as in the general population. This is the first observation in the world literature concerning the correlation between C. p. and diabetes mellitus. Very close, significant correlation has been found between C. p. infection and chronic active gastritis. C. p. may play an important role in the recurrences of duodenal ulcer and in the pathogenesis of non-ulcer and diabetic dyspepsia. Further studies are planned to the correct evaluation of pathogeneity of Campylobacter pylori.