Mycoplasma genitalium infection among HIV-positive women: prevalence, risk factors and association with vaginal shedding.

This study examined the prevalence and factors associated with Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) infection among HIV-positive women and the association between MG and vaginal HIV-1 RNA shedding. HIV-positive women attending an outpatient clinic in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, from 2002 to 2005 were examined for a battery of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and underwent a behavioural survey. A selected subset had a measurement of vaginal shedding analysed. Of the 324 HIV-positive women, 32 (9.9%) were infected with MG. HIV-positive women with MG were more likely to be co-infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Chlamydia trachomatis and to have had ≥1 male sexual partners in the last month. In the subset (n = 164), no differences were found in the presence of detectable vaginal HIV-1 RNA between women infected and not infected with MG (30.8% versus 34.8% shedding; P = 0.69). While MG was a common co-STI in this sample of HIV-positive women, it was not associated with vaginal HIV shedding.

Comparative analysis of methods for collection and measurement of cytokines and immunoglobulins in cervical and vaginal secretions of HIV and HPV infected women.

The goal of these studies was to distinguish which of two techniques [cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) and cervical wick (SS)] is the optimal collection method for the measurement of the local immunological response in human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV infected women. The following parameters were measured in 24 paired samples from 15 women (9 HIV+, 6 HIV-): total protein, immunoglobulin levels, HPV-specific antibodies, and Th1-Th2 cytokines. In addition, relative mRNA levels from CVL cell pellets were compared to protein levels from CVL supernatants. The total protein (2-fold) and IgG concentration (10-fold) are higher in the SS samples, were reproducible (%CV<3) and these levels correlated (P<0.0001) with their paired CVL sample. Type-specific HPV-L1 IgG and IgA antibodies were detected in CVL and SS (r>0.28, P<0.008) with excellent reproducibility (CV<3.0%). However, SS (%CV>18) failed to yield reproducible results for the cytokine assays as compared to the CVL (%CV<5.0). Furthermore, no correlations were found between relative mRNA levels from CVL cell pellet and cytokine protein levels in CVL supernatants. The CVL sample's superior reproducibility in the cytokine assays makes this the better collection method. In addition, cytokine protein level's failure to correlate with mRNA suggests tight regulation of cytokine genes or production from a different cell population.

Influence of light intensity on methanotrophic bacterial activity in Petit Saut Reservoir, French Guiana.

One year after impoundment in January 1994, methanotrophic bacteria in Petit Saut Reservoir (French Guiana) were active at the oxic-anoxic interface. This activity was revealed by the sudden extinction of diffusive methane emission (600 metric tons of CH4. day-1 for the whole lake surface area, i.e., 360 km2). Lifting of inhibition was suspected. After reviewing the potential inhibitors of this physiological guild (O2, NH4+, sulfides) and considering the similarities with nitrifiers, we suggest that sunlight influenced the methanotrophic bacteria. On the basis of phospholipid analysis, only a type II methanotrophic community was identified in the lake. Both growth and methanotrophic activity of an enriched culture, obtained in the laboratory, were largely inhibited by illumination over 150 microeinsteins. m-2. s-1. These results were confirmed on a pure culture of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3B. In situ conditions showed that water transparency was quite stable in 1994 and 1995 and that the oxycline moved steadily deeper until January 1995. Considering the mean illumination profile during this period, we showed that removal of methanotrophic growth inhibition could only occur below a 2-m depth. The oxycline reached this level in October 1994, allowing methanotrophic bacteria to develop and to consume the entire methane emission 4 months later.

Incidence of three sexually transmitted diseases during a safer sex promotion program for HIV-infected women.

Promotion of safer sex practices typically includes education, skills building, and condom distribution. To evaluate the impact of such promotions and describe risk factors for sexually transmitted disease (STD), a retrospective review of 741 sexually active HIV-infected women was conducted. The cohort was African-American (82%), at least 22 years of age (81%), acquired HIV through sex (36%), had a CD4 count above 200/ mm3 (76%), and had a history of substance (alcohol or drug) use (38%). Those with incident STD (14.7%) were more likely to be under 22 years of age, to have a history of substance use, and to have an STD at entry. Traditional methods of promoting safer sex practices should be enhanced by other options such as regular screening, partner treatment, and the use of microbicides and other female-controlled methods.

Clinical manifestations of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus in women in Louisiana.

To better understand the clinical manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in women in Louisiana, we conducted a retrospective review of the records of HIV-infected women who presented to the largest HIV outpatient clinic in Louisiana as well as to a tertiary care university hospital in New Orleans between January 1987 and December 1991. A total of 224 women were evaluated. Gynecologic examinations revealed that 17.5% had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and that 35% had evidence of candidal vulvovaginitis or colonization. The following conditions were diagnosed among indicated percentages of patients: syphilis, 22.2%; Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection, 7.2%; Chlamydia trachomatis infection, 12.3%; pelvic inflammatory disease, 5.3%; trichomonal vulvovaginitis, 26.9%; genital ulcers due to herpes simplex virus, 16.5%; and clinically evident genital human papillomavirus infections, 16.5%. Both trichomonal vulvovaginitis and syphilis were more common among intravenous drug users. A total of 82 opportunistic processes were observed in 55 women. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was the most frequent complication of AIDS, followed by candidal esophagitis and wasting syndrome. Over 85% of women had received a diagnosis of AIDS before death. Gynecologic diseases occurred often in this population; the frequency of AIDS-defining events was similar to that reported previously in the literature.