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PubMed1988

Sexual and reproductive life events in relation to duration of oral contraceptive use.

In order to disclose differences between users and non-users of oral contraceptives (OC), 620 women aged 15-54 were invited to participate in an in depth interview about sexual, contraceptive, and reproductive life events. Of the 585 women who participated, 459 were consecutive gynecological in- or outpatients, and 126 were selected from visitors in general practice. Data was analysed by multivariate test statistics. After correction for present age and social class, the duration of use of OC (DOC) among women 15-34 years of age correlated negatively to age at menarche and coital debut and positively to number of sexual partners, oral-genital sexual practice, and number of pelvic inflammatory diseases. Among women over 35, DOC was positively associated only to cigarette smoking. No correlation was found to coital frequency (whether earlier, present or during pregnancy or menstruation), number of births and abortions, or to social classification. In epidemiological research on benefits and risks of oral contraceptives, confounding influence of one or more variables is of crucial importance. The present findings point at sexual and life-style habits as potential confounders in the study of OC and associated diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Bim, Bad and Bmf: intrinsically unstructured BH3-only proteins that undergo a localized conformational change upon binding to prosurvival Bcl-2 targets.

All BH3-only proteins, key initiators of programmed cell death, interact tightly with multiple binding partners and have sequences of low complexity, properties that are the hallmark of intrinsically unstructured proteins (IUPs). We show, using spectroscopic methods, that the BH3-only proteins Bim, Bad and Bmf are unstructured in the absence of binding partners. Detailed sequence analyses are consistent with this observation and suggest that most BH3-only proteins are unstructured. When Bim binds and inactivates prosurvival proteins, most residues remain disordered, only the BH3 element becomes structured, and the short alpha-helical molecular recognition element can be considered to behave as a 'bead on a string'. Coupled folding and binding is typical of many IUPs that have important signaling roles, such as BH3-only proteins, as the inherent structural plasticity favors interaction with multiple targets. This understanding offers promise for the development of BH3 mimetics, as multiple modes of binding are tolerated.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed2006

DisProt: the Database of Disordered Proteins.

The Database of Protein Disorder (DisProt) links structure and function information for intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). Intrinsically disordered proteins do not form a fixed three-dimensional structure under physiological conditions, either in their entireties or in segments or regions. We define IDP as a protein that contains at least one experimentally determined disordered region. Although lacking fixed structure, IDPs and regions carry out important biological functions, being typically involved in regulation, signaling and control. Such functions can involve high-specificity low-affinity interactions, the multiple binding of one protein to many partners and the multiple binding of many proteins to one partner. These three features are all enabled and enhanced by protein intrinsic disorder. One of the major hindrances in the study of IDPs has been the lack of organized information. DisProt was developed to enable IDP research by collecting and organizing knowledge regarding the experimental characterization and the functional associations of IDPs. In addition to being a unique source of biological information, DisProt opens doors for a plethora of bioinformatics studies. DisProt is openly available at http://www.disprot.org.

Databases, Protein↗
PubMed2004

Dating violence and associated sexual risk and pregnancy among adolescent girls in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the annual prevalence of physical violence from dating partners among a representative sample of sexually experienced adolescent girls attending US public and private high schools, as well as sexual risk behaviors and pregnancy among this population. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND MEASURES: Female students (9th through 12th grade) (N = 6864) participating in the 2001 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey completed measures of physical dating violence during the previous year, as well as assessments of health risk behaviors. Annual rates of physical dating violence were estimated for sexually experienced (n = 3085) and inexperienced girls. Multiple logistic regression models were constructed to assess whether physical dating violence in the previous year was associated with sexual health risks and pregnancy, after controlling for effects of potentially confounding demographic features and risk behaviors. RESULTS: Slightly less than 1 of 5 sexually experienced US adolescent girls (17.7%) reported being intentionally physically hurt by a date in the previous year, and approximately 1 of 25 girls (3.7%) who reported no sexual experience reported such violence. Dating violence among sexually experienced adolescent girls was related to increased risks for both sexual risk behaviors (eg, recent multiple sexual partners: odds ratio: 2.0; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-3.1) and pregnancy (odds ratio: 1.8; 95% confidence interval: 1.3-2.4). CONCLUSIONS: Dating violence is prevalent among US adolescent girls, especially those reporting having had sexual intercourse. Adolescent girls intentionally hurt by a date in the previous year are more likely to experience sexual health risks, including those increasing vulnerability to human immunodeficiency virus infection and other sexually transmitted infections, and to have been pregnant. Dating violence should be integrated into sexual health and pregnancy prevention programs, and greater efforts to identify girls experiencing dating violence are needed among those providing care related to adolescent sexual and reproductive health.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices in Haiti.

AIDS constitutes an important public health problem in Haiti, where it appears to be spread mainly through heterosexual encounters. The study reported here employed in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and a national cross-sectional survey of 1,300 men and 1,300 women 15 to 49 years old to assess AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices in Haiti. According to criteria established for the study, 38.1% of the 1,118 sexually active male survey respondents were found to engage in high-risk behavior. In general, the women were found to have better knowledge of AIDS than the men. Significant obstacles to condom use included the inability of women to choose whether condoms would be used and a belief that condom lubricant could cause health problems. The study also found a tendency to ostracize people with AIDS, especially in areas outside Port-au-Prince, and a belief that AIDS was imposed on people by fate--which could partially explain the tendency to persist in high-risk behavior.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2001

Adolescents with ASCUS: are they a high risk group?

Population demographics, risk behaviors, and compliance rates for the management of an ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance) diagnosis are not well studied in the adolescent population. From June 1994 to December 1996, 1,175 Papanicalou (pap) smears were performed in an urban adolescent clinic on patients age 12 to 18. Of these, 124 (10.5%) were diagnosed with ASCUS or ASCUS with a qualifying statement. A retrospective chart review (n=83) and telephone interview was performed on patients with ASCUS. Ninety-nine percent of enrollees were African American. Comparisons were made between those patients with normal pap smears and those with ASCUS. No statistically significant difference existed pertaining to age at pap smear, age at menarche, age at first coitus, and education level. A positive association was found in the ASCUS group for the presence of sexually transmitted diseases (P < 0.001), number of sexual partners (P < 0.0007), and pregnancy (P < 0.001). Of the 80% of patients who had an ASCUS diagnosis and were referred for colposcopy (n = 62), only 61% attended their appointment (n = 38). Thirty-nine percent of these patients were aware of an abnormal diagnosis after colposcopy. For those that attended colposcopy, 56% were accompanied by a parent. For those who were not compliant with attendance, none cited parental consent for the procedure as a barrier to obtaining treatment. Adolescent females in an urban setting with multiple sexual partners, history of sexually transmitted diseases, and prior pregnancy are at a greater risk for ASCUS on cervicovaginal smear when compared to their age-matched controls. In addition, the adolescent compliance rate for colposcopy is low. We, therefore, recommend that these adolescent females be observed diligently.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Structural and molecular characterization of a preferred protein interaction surface on G protein beta gamma subunits.

G protein betagamma subunits associate with many binding partners in cellular signaling cascades. In previous work, we used random-peptide phage display screening to identify a diverse family of peptides that bound to a common surface on Gbetagamma subunits and blocked a subset of Gbetagamma effectors. Later studies showed that one of the peptides caused G protein activation through a novel Gbetagamma-dependent, nucleotide exchange-independent mechanism. Here we report the X-ray crystal structure of Gbeta(1)gamma(2) bound to this peptide, SIGK (SIGKAFKILGYPDYD), at 2.7 A resolution. SIGK forms a helical structure that binds the same face of Gbeta(1) as the switch II region of Galpha. The interaction interface can be subdivided into polar and nonpolar interfaces that together contain a mixture of binding determinants that may be responsible for the ability of this surface to recognize multiple protein partners. Systematic mutagenic analysis of the peptide-Gbeta(1) interface indicates that distinct sets of amino acids within this interface are required for binding of different peptides. Among these unique amino acid interactions, specific electrostatic binding contacts within the polar interface are required for peptide-mediated subunit dissociation. The data provide a mechanistic basis for multiple target recognition by Gbetagamma subunits with diverse functional interactions within a common interface and suggest that pharmacological targeting of distinct regions within this interface could allow for selective manipulation of Gbetagamma-dependent signaling pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Determinants of HIV/AIDS risk behaviors in expectant fathers in Haiti.

Haiti has an HIV/AIDS epidemic of the highest magnitude outside of sub-Saharan Africa. Factors such as relationship power imbalances, traditional gender role acceptance, and patriarchal belief systems that devalue women's sexuality have increased Haitian women's vulnerability to HIV infection. Because of these influences and since the HIV epidemic is largely heterosexually transmitted, it is important to understand the role that men's beliefs and behaviors play in the continuing risk of young men and women in Haiti. The purpose of this study was to gather information from male community members through semi-structured interviews in order to describe the prevalence of HIV/AIDS risk behaviors (e.g., condom use, number of sexual partners) among expectant fathers in Haiti and identify predictive psychosocial variables of HIV/AIDS risk behaviors. Results from this study showed that men who were not married (OR = 0.22, p = 0.05) and men who had medium (OR = 22.50, p < 0.001) and high sexual communication (OR = 36.51, p < 0.001) were more likely to use condoms. This study also showed that high stigma associated with HIV (OR = 16.07, p < 0.05), low HIV knowledge (OR = 0.10, p < 0.01), and high decision making power (OR = 62.52, p < 0.001) were predictors of multiple sex partners for the expectant fathers in the sample. HIV prevention programs should be designed to increase knowledge about HIV transmission, treatment, prevention and personal risk of contraction as well as correct misconceptions about individuals with HIV or AIDS and promote sex communication among partners.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Factual knowledge about AIDS and dating practices among high school students from selected schools.

Following various educational strategies by governmental and non-governmental organisations to educate youths and school teachers about HIV infection and prevention, this KABP survey was one attempt to evaluate the results. The study sample of 478 high school students was drawn from four randomly selected schools in Mashonaland and Matabeleland including high and low density, government and mission co-educational schools. The sample was randomly selected and stratified to represent sex and grade level. The KABP self administered questionnaire was used. The paper analyses the relationship between the knowledge and dating patterns. Generally, respondents demonstrated a 50pc to 80pc accuracy of factual knowledge. Of the 66pc Forms I through IV pupils who dated, 30pc preferred only sexually involved relationships and a small number considered the possibility of HIV/AIDS infection. A theoretically based tripartite coalition involving the school, the family health care services for education, guidance and support to promote responsible behaviour throughout childhood was suggested.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Sexual behaviour in Zulu men and women with genital ulcer disease.

OBJECTIVE--To investigate patterns of sexual behaviour in men and women with genital ulcer disease (GUD) and their relevance to HIV-1 transmission. METHODS--A sexual behaviour questionnaire was administered by the same interviewer to all participants who were also entered into a study of the microbial aetiology of GUD. SETTING--City Health Sexually Transmitted Diseases Clinic, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban, South Africa. PARTICIPANTS--100 Zulu men and 100 Zulu women. RESULTS--36 (%) of men and 36 (%) of women had continued with sexual intercourse despite GUD. Patients with donovanosis and secondary syphilis were more likely than those with other causes of GUD to have intercourse despite ulcers. During swab collection bleeding was observed from ulcers in 59 women and 26 men. Prostitutes were not identified and were rarely named as source contacts. Men had more sexual partners (190) than women (122) during the previous three months. Condom use was minimal. Men who migrated between urban and rural areas appeared to have the most sexual partners. Urban women had more partners than women from rural areas. CONCLUSIONS--Men and women with GUD are practising riskful sexual behaviour and could benefit from behaviour modification programmes. In this community men who travel between urban and rural areas and who present late with GUD that bleeds easily are probably the most important high-frequency HIV transmitter core group. A significant potential risk of blood to blood contact during sexual intercourse exists in patients with GUD.

Black People↗
PubMed1995

Genotyping human papillomavirus type 16 isolates from persistently infected promiscuous individuals and cervical neoplasia patients.

Nucleotide sequence variation in the noncoding region of the genome of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) was determined by direct sequencing and single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis of DNA fragments amplified by PCR. Individuals of diverse sexual promiscuity and/or cervicopathology were studied. In a group of 14 healthy, monogamous HPV16-positive females, only two HPV16 sequence variants could be documented. Among 17 females and 3 males with multiple sex partners and living in the same geographical region, nine sequence variants were found, whereas among 7 patients with cervical neoplasia from another region, five variants were detected. Although numbers are limited, in the group of individuals at high risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease or with cervical neoplasia, a larger number of HPV16 sequence variants was encountered (two types among 14 individuals versus nine types among 20; Fisher's exact test, P = 0.07). Seven of the individuals were sampled repeatedly over time. For these persistently infected women, no differences in HPV16 sequences were detected, irrespective of promiscuity, and persistence of a single viral variant, spread over multiple anatomic sites, for more than 2 years could be demonstrated. This indicates that viral persistence may be a common feature and that successful superinfection with a new variant may be rare, despite a potentially high frequency of viral reinoculation.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Colposcopy in the diagnosis of penile condyloma.

To determine the incidence of penile condyloma in a group of high-risk men, we carried out colposcopy and biopsy of suspicious lesions in 51 men. All men were partners of women with condyloma. Of these men, 45 were found to have histologic evidence of condyloma, and only eight of these had grossly visible disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Sexual practices in the transmission of hepatitis B virus and prevalence of hepatitis delta virus infection in female prostitutes in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate heterosexual transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the prevalence of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection in female prostitutes. DESIGN: Survey. SETTING: Sexually transmitted disease clinics, drug treatment programs, detention centers, and/or outreach efforts in eight areas in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1368 female prostitutes 18 years of age or older. OUTCOME MEASURES: Seropositivity for HBV and HDV infection. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of past or present HBV infection was 56%: 74% in women who were injecting-drug users (IDUs), 38% in women reporting no history of injecting-drug use (non-IDUs), 51% in whites, 55% in blacks, and 67% in Hispanics. Of 21 HBV carrier IDUs, 21% had HDV infection; of 18 HBV carrier non-IDUs, 6% had HDV infection. In non-IDUs (49%), risk factors for HBV infection were a history of having penile-anal intercourse (odds ratio [OR], 3.1; 95% confidence limits [CL], 1.3, 7.3) and seropositivity for syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. In IDUs, factors associated with an increased risk of infection, in addition to behaviors related to injecting-drug use, were the number of lifetime sexual partners, having sexual partners from groups at high risk for HBV infection, and seropositivity for syphilis and HIV infection; spermicide and/or diaphragm use was associated with a markedly decreased risk of HBV infection among blacks (OR, 0.1; 95% CL, 0.03, 0.4) and Hispanics (OR, 0.2; 95% CL, 0.06, 0.9). CONCLUSION: This is the first study to suggest that having anal intercourse and failing to use vaginal contraceptives may facilitate transmission of HBV to women. Our data support guidelines that recommend hepatitis B vaccination for prostitutes and persons with a history of sexually transmitted diseases or multiple sexual partners.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

High-risk sexual behavior among heterosexual undergraduates at a midwestern university.

Approximately 80% of a self-selected sample of 593 heterosexual undergraduate college students studied at a large Midwestern state university in 1988 had ever experienced penile-vaginal or penile-anal intercourse. One-fifth of the 477 sexually experienced women and men said they had had heterosexual and intercourse. The mean age at first vaginal intercourse was 17, while the mean age at first anal intercourse was about 18.5. Although less than four years, on average, had elapsed since the respondents' first vaginal or anal intercourse, females reported having had an average of 5.6 sexual partners, and males reported an average of 11.2 partners.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A possible role of Chlamydia trachomatis in unexplained infertility and sterility.

To estimate the presence of latent Chlamydia Trachomatis (C.T.) infections, we have carried out a study on a selected group of couples affected by unexplained sterility and infertility. We examined 193 women and, as control group 210 healthy fertile women. For both groups the main risk factors that could explain the infection epidemiology have been analyzed. The parameters considered are age of first intercourse, number of partners, social-economic conditions and number of voluntary abortions. Amongst all the causal agents of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), C.T. was most common, with an incidence of about 12 per cent in the study group versus the 5.7 per cent of the control group (chi 2 = 4.12).

Abortion, Habitual↗
PubMed2006

The silent HIV epidemic among pregnant women within rural Northern Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Many national antenatal clinics (ANC) based HIV surveillance systems in sub-Saharan Africa have limited coverage of remote rural sites, a weakness that compromises adequate estimation, monitoring and development of effective preventive and care programmes. To address this void in rural Manyara and Singida within Northern Tanzania, we conducted antenatal clinic-based sentinel surveillance. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled 1377 counselled and consenting pregnant women attending ANC clinics for the first time during the current pregnancy. The study was conducted in six antenatal clinics, within three divisions of rural Manyara and Singida regions in 2003/2004. Interviews were conducted and blood samples for routine purposes were collected and tested for anti-HIV IgG antibody anonymously, using Bionor HIV-1 & 2 assay. RESULTS: Among enrollees, 94% (1296/1377) participated fully. The overall prevalence of HIV was 2.0% (95%CI: 1.34-2.97). The highest HIV prevalence was among women aged between 15-19 years in both rural and remote rural populations. The odds of HIV infection was 4.3 (95%CI: 1.42-12.77) times among women reporting more than one lifetime sexual partners compared with those with one partner. HIV infection was associated with history of genital sores or foul smelling discharge, OR 6.8 (95%CI: 2.78-16.66) and age at first pregnancy (2.5 times higher likelihood of infection if before the age of 18 years versus at a later age). CONCLUSION: Including rural remote sites, as part of the national ANC routine surveillance, is crucial in order to discover imminent silent epidemics such as the one described in this paper. Scaling up HIV prevention efforts is mandatory to prevent the imminent escalation of the HIV epidemic highly associated with a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), multiple sexual partners and pregnancies at a younger age. Ignorance of relevant knowledge and low utilisation of condoms underscores the urgency for large-scale preventive efforts. Research to capture a wider representation of the risk factors in the general population should be a priority to enable further customised HIV prevention efforts.

Adolescent↗