Social class, reference and context.
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Child↗
Biomedical subjects
H Francis
Publications and source records attributed to H Francis.
The association between malaria, blood transfusions, and HIV seropositivity in a pediatric population in Kinshasa, Zaire.
Since Plasmodium falciparum malaria is a frequent cause of anemia among African children, and blood transfusions, unscreened for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody, are used frequently in the treatment of children with severe malaria, the relationships between malaria, transfusions, and HIV seropositivity were investigated in a pediatric population in Kinshasa, Zaire. In a cross-sectional survey of 167 hospitalized children, 112 (67%) had malaria, 78 (47%) had received transfusions during the current hospitalization, and 21 (13%) were HIV seropositive. Ten of the 11 seropositive malaria patients had received transfusions during the current hospitalization; pretransfusion specimens were available for four of these children and were seronegative. Of all blood transfusions, 87% were administered to malaria patients, and there was a strong dose-response association between transfusions and HIV seropositivity. A review of 1000 emergency ward records demonstrated that 69% of transfusions were administered to malaria patients, and 97% of children who received transfusions had pretransfusion hematocrits of 0.25 or less (less than or equal to 25%). The treatment of malaria with blood transfusions is an important factor in the exposure of Kinshasa children to HIV infection.
Animals↗
Rapid latex agglutination assay using recombinant envelope polypeptide for the detection of antibody to the HIV.
Unscreened blood transfusions continue to be one of the major modes of transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in developing countries, such as in Central Africa, where 5% to 18% of blood donors are HIV seropositive. We evaluated a rapid latex agglutination assay using a novel recombinant envelope polypeptide of HIV for the detection of HIV antibodies among 2820 blood donors and clinical patients from diverse geographic regions, including on-site testing in Central Africa of 1600 blood donors. Overall, 29.2% of the serum samples were positive by Western blot assay. On a single determination, the latex agglutination slide test was found to be highly sensitive and specific compared with Western blot results in these populations with a relatively high prevalence of infection. Use of this assay will allow the immediate implementation of serologic screening for HIV in developing areas of the world, where standard screening procedures are impractical or not available, and in many other clinical settings, such as sexually transmitted diseases clinics and hospitals, where testing and counseling could be promptly implemented.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
The agony and the ecstasy.
The issue of helping patients with their sexual needs has sparked heated debate. In the search for understanding, Hilary Francis describes how she assisted a disabled couple to have sex.
Adult↗