Sexually transmitted infections among HIV-infected women in Thailand

BACKGROUND: Data on sexually transmitted infections (STI) prevalence among HIV-infected women in Thailand are limited. We studied, among HIV-infected women, prevalence of STI symptoms and signs; prevalence and correlates of having any STI; prevalence and correlates of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) among women without CT and/or GC symptoms or signs; and number of women without CT and/or GC symptoms or signs needed to screen (NNS) to detect one woman with CT and/or GC overall, among pregnant women, and among women ≤25 years. METHODS: During October 2004–September 2006, HIV-infected women at 3 obstetrics and gynecology clinics were asked about sexual behaviors and STI symptoms, physically examined, and screened for chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, and syphilis. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify correlates of infections. NNS was calculated using standard methods. RESULTS: Among 1,124 women, 526 (47.0%) had STI symptoms or signs, 469 (41.7%) had CT and/or GC symptoms or signs, and 133 (11.8%) had an STI. Correlates of having an STI included pregnancy and having STI signs. Among 469 women and 655 women with vs. without CT and/or GC symptoms or signs, respectively, 43 (9.2%) vs. 31 (4.7%), 2 (0.4%) vs. 9 (1.4%), and 45 (9.6%) vs. 38 (5.8%) had CT, GC, or “CT or GC”, respectively; correlates included receiving care at university hospitals and having sex with a casual partner within 3 months. NNS for women overall and women ≤25 years old were 18 (95% CI, 13-25) and 11 (95% CI, 6-23), respectively; and for pregnant and non-pregnant women, 8 (95% CI, 4-24) and 19 (95% CI, 14-27), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: STI prevalence among HIV-infected women, including CT and GC among those without symptoms or signs, was substantial. Screening for CT and GC, particularly for pregnant women, should be considered

Investigations on the Mechanical Properties of Conducting Polymer Coating-Substrate Structures and Their Influencing Factors

This review covers recent advances and work on the microstructure features, mechanical properties and cracking processes of conducting polymer film/coating- substrate structures under different testing conditions. An attempt is made to characterize and quantify the relationships between mechanical properties and microstructure features. In addition, the film cracking mechanism on the micro scale and some influencing factors that play a significant role in the service of the film-substrate structure are presented. These investigations cover the conducting polymer film/coating nucleation process, microstructure-fracture characterization, translation of brittle-ductile fractures, and cracking processes near the largest inherent macromolecule defects under thermal-mechanical loadings, and were carried out using in situ scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations, as a novel method for evaluation of interface strength and critical failure stress

Electrochemical Synthesis and Characterization of 1,2-Naphthaquinone-4-Sulfonic Acid Doped Polypyrrole

Polypyrrole thin film microelectrodes prepared from an aqueous solution of the sodium salt of 1, 2-napthaquinone-4-sulfonic acid and pyrrole in hydrochloric acid as the supporting electrolyte was characterized electrochemically for the first time and found to exhibit good electronic and spectroscopic properties. Voltammetric investigations showed that the polymer exhibited quasireversible kinetics in a potential window of -400 mV to 700 mV, with a formal potential of 322 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. The diffusion coefficient was calculated to be 1.02×10-6 cm2 s-1 for a thin film with a surface concentration of 1.83×10-7 mol cm-2 having a rate constant of 2.20×10-3 cm s-1 at 5 mV s-1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy provided quantitative information about the conductivity changes within the modified polymer and support for the quasireversible kinetics suggested by voltammetry. The changes in electrical properties of the polymer during electrochemical p-doping and n-doping were quantified by equivalent electrical circuit fitting and assisted in the identification of the suggested kinetic mechanism. SNIFTIRS confirmed the incorporation of the surfactant into the polypyrrole film and for the first time structural changes within the polymer were observed that could be related to the observed electrochemistry of the polymer

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Dyslipidemia in HIV-Infected Pregnant Women Receiving PIs Based HAART

Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), altered lipid metabolism and birth weight in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected pregnant women receiving protease inhibitor (PIs) based highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 109 HIV-infected pregnant women receiving PI-based HAART to prevent vertical viral transmission from Rajavithi and Nopparatrachathani Hospital was conducted from October 2010 to July 2012. A 100-gm oral glucose tolerance test was performed in women with abnormal 50-gm glucose challenge test during 2nd to 3rd trimester and lipid profile was measured after the 4th week of treatment. Statistics such as number and percentage were used for descriptive data. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), Chi-square, t-test and paired t-test were used for comparison with significance at p-value < 0.05.Results:The patients’ mean age was 28.9 years, most (79.8%) were naïve for HAART before pregnancy. The incidence of GDM was 7.3%. There was an increase in post treatment level of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) at 18.9 mg/dL (95%CI, 9.5-28.4) and 97.2 mg/dL (95%CI, 70.9-123.3), respectively. The incidence of low birth weight was 17.4%. Conclusion: Use of PI-based HAART in pregnant women was associated with increased GDM and altered lipid metabolism