State of the (positive) nation: findings from the fourth national Australian HIV futures survey.

This paper characterises the health and wellbeing of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Australia. The HIV Futures 4 Survey is a self-complete anonymous questionnaire distributed through multiple sites. Data were collected on health, clinical and social variables. There were 1059 responses, approximately 8% of the estimated HIV-positive population. Respondents were aged between 18 and 92 years and 77% were homosexual men. In total, 60% reported a viral load of <500 copies/mL and 83% a CD4 count of over 250 cells/microL. A total of 44% reported another major health condition and 35% a mental health condition. A total of 71% were using antiretroviral therapy. More than half of the respondents had stopped working because of HIV and 25% were living in poverty. In conclusion, adequate planning for the future of our response to HIV/AIDS relies in no small part on our access to detailed information about how the epidemic affects those with the virus.

Simulated tennis matchplay in a controlled environment.

The aim of this study was to develop an exercise protocol to simulate tennis matchplay on a 'category 2' surface. Match analyses were used to form the basis for the design of the protocol. The protocol involved playing against a tennis ball serving machine. Part A of the protocol comprised 92 min 46 s of simulated tennis matchplay; Part B consisted of continuous hitting to the point of 'volitional fatigue' or when the required hitting frequency for two consecutive ball feeds could no longer be maintained. Ten elite tennis players (5 males, 5 females) volunteered to participate in the study, which was performed on an indoor tennis court (Matchplay, En-Tout-Cas). Their age, body mass and estimated maximal oxygen uptake were as follows: males, 21.7 +/- 1.0 years, 73.6 +/- 2.6 kg and 58.0 +/- 1.7 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1), respectively; females, 21.9 +/- 1.3 years, 62.3 +/- 2.0 kg and 42.2 +/- 0.7 ml x kg x min(-1), respectively (mean +/- sx). Heart rate, change in body mass and time to volitional fatigue were monitored. The heart rate responses of the participants to the simulated matchplay (range: 140-157 beats x min(-1), 73-81% peak heart rate) were consistent with the results of previous studies, for 'actual' matchplay. This protocol was successful in simulating similar physiological responses in Part A to 'actual' matchplay on a 'category 2' surface, in a controlled environment; it was also a sensitive evaluation tool of skilled performance in Part B. The current protocol may be used as a baseline protocol for studying the influence of, for example, training and dietary intervention on performance.