Article Abstract:
HIV appears to play a role in the development and severity of genital ulcers among HIV-infected women. A group of 304 HIV-infected women were followed for 20 months. Fourteen percent developed genital ulcers. Nineteen percent of these had recurrent ulcers, suggesting a chronic problem. Women developing ulcers had an average CD4 cell count of 210 per millimeter cubed. Lab tests were performed to identify Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Candida, Gardnerella vaginalis, herpesvirus, or cytomegalovirus. No agent was identified in 60% of cases. Twenty-eight percent tested positive for herpes simplex-2, 12% contained unusual or mixed bacteriolgical species, and none were syphilis infections. Three women had ulcers testing positive for Chlamydia, Gardnerella vaginalis, and cytomegalovirus, respectively. These pathogens are not usually associated with ulcers, although in this case they were associated with the most tissue-destructive and difficult to cure ulcers among the group.
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Article Abstract:
The study determines whether vulvar vestibulitis syndrome, a disorder of unknown etiology, was associated with an altered distribution of mannose-binding lectin alleles. Results of such investigation might lead to the institution of criteria to differentially diagnose women with this syndrome and development of more appropriate and more efficacious individualized treatment.
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Article Abstract:
Hepatitis B vaccination of new mothers seems to be feasible, according to a study of 136 women. Hepatitis B is a serious disease that can be transmitted via sexual intercourse.
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