重庆市病原学阳性肺结核患者密切接触者结核分枝杆菌潜伏感染现状及影响因素

目的 了解病原学阳性肺结核患者密切接触者结核分枝杆菌潜伏感染（LTBI）现状及影响因素,为制定LTBI干预措施提供基础依据。 方法 采用多阶段分层整群随机抽样方法选取重庆市39个区县病原学阳性肺结核患者密切接触者为研究对象,通过问卷调查收集人口学信息等资料,采用γ-干扰素释放试验（IGRA）检测结核分枝杆菌感染状态。采用χ²检验和二元logistic回归模型对LTBI影响因素进行分析。 结果 共纳入密切接触者2 591例,男女性别比为0.69：1,平均年龄（35.72±16.64）岁。检出LTBI 1 058例,结核分枝杆菌潜伏感染率为40.83%。单因素分析结果显示,不同年龄、身体质量指数（BMI）、职业、文化程度、婚姻状态,是否患有慢性病或大手术史,是否与指示病例共同居住,以及与指示病例累计接触时长是否≥ 250 h者,感染率不同,差异均有统计学意义（均P < 0.05）;感染率随年龄和BMI升高均呈上升趋势（均P < 0.001）,随文化程度升高呈下降趋势（P < 0.05）。Logistic回归分析显示,年龄45~54岁（OR=1.951,95%CI：1.031~3.693）、55~64岁（OR=2.473,95%CI：1.279~4.781）、其他职业（OR=0.530,95%CI：0.292~0.964）、教师（OR=0.439,95%CI：0.242~0.794）、学生（OR=0.445,95%CI：0.233~0.851）、初中及以下文化程度（OR=1.412,95%CI：1.025~1.944）、BMI < 18.5 kg/m²（OR=0.762,95%CI：0.586~0.991）、与指示病例共同居住（OR=1.621,95%CI：1.316~1.997）、与指示病例累计接触时长≥ 250 h（OR=1.292,95%CI：1.083~1.540）是LTBI的影响因素（均P < 0.05）。 结论 病原学阳性肺结核患者密切接触者结核分枝杆菌潜伏感染率高,需重点关注高龄、农民、与患者接触程度高的密切接触者,及时采取针对性干预措施以降低发病风险。     

山东省男男性行为人群新型毒品滥用和HIV新发感染的相关因素分析

目的 分析MSM新型毒品滥用和HIV新发感染的相关因素,为制定艾滋病防控措施提供参考依据。方法 2021年4-7月在山东省9个城市监测哨点招募MSM,每个城市招募样本量为400人。开展面对面问卷调查,收集MSM社会人口学特征、行为学和接受HIV干预服务等信息,采集血样进行HIV和梅毒抗体检测。采用限制性抗原亲和力酶联免疫法进行HIV新发感染检测,并计算HIV新发感染率指标。结果 共调查MSM 3 624人,年龄（32.70±9.33）岁,以≥30岁（59.52%,2 157/3 624）、高中及以下文化程度（55.99%,2 029/3 624）、未婚/离异/丧偶（57.70%,2 091/3 624）和性取向为同性恋者为主（86.26%,3 126/3 624）。最近6个月发生无保护肛交占32.95%（1 194/3 624）;曾使用新型毒品占27.48%（993/3 613）;HIV抗体阳性率为3.12%（113/3 624）,HIV新发感染率为2.61%（95%CI：1.73%~3.49%）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,MSM新型毒品滥用的相关因素包括未婚/离异/丧偶（相比于已婚/同居,aOR=1.43,95%CI：1.22~1.69）、大专及以上文化程度（相比于高中及以下文化程度,aOR=1.47,95%CI：1.25~1.72）、主要寻找男性性伴场所为互联网/交友软件（相比于酒吧/浴池/公园等,aOR=1.76,95%CI：1.41~2.19）、最近6个月发生无保护肛交（相比于未发生无保护肛交,aOR=1.33,95%CI：1.13~1.57）、最近1年患过性病（相比于未患性病,aOR=2.77,95%CI：2.04~3.76）。MSM HIV新发感染的相关因素包括最近6个月发生无保护肛交（相比于未发生无保护肛交,aOR=2.51,95%CI：1.25~5.01）、最近1年未接受HIV干预服务（相比于接受HIV干预服务,aOR=3.89,95%CI：1.30~11.60）、梅毒阳性（相比于梅毒阴性,aOR=8.18,95%CI：2.98~22.48）、曾使用新型毒品（相比于未使用新型毒品,aOR=4.75,95%CI：2.32~9.70）。结论 山东省MSM新型毒品滥用现象较为普遍,新型毒品滥用会增加HIV新发感染风险。     

山东省男男性行为人群HIV暴露前后预防用药情况及相关因素分析

目的 了解山东省MSM的HIV暴露前后预防（PrEP/PEP）用药情况并分析相关因素，为PrEP/PEP工作的推广提供参考依据。方法 2022年4-7月在山东省7个城市监测哨点招募MSM进行问卷调查，每个城市样本量为400人。收集MSM社会人口学、性行为、PrEP/PEP用药等信息，并采集血标本做HIV和梅毒抗体检测。结果 研究对象MSM共2 815人，以≤30岁（55.7%，1 569/2 815）、未婚（68.6%，1 931/2 815）、大专及以上文化程度（56.5%，1 590/2 815）为主。PrEP用药者占9.2%（258/2 815）；PEP用药者占10.8%（305/2 815）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示，MSM中PrEP用药的可能性较高的相关因素包括年龄≤30岁（aOR=4.04，95%CI：1.25~13.01）、自我认知HIV感染风险较低（aOR=1.76，95%CI：1.16~2.68）、最近6个月发生群交行为（aOR=1.51，95%CI：1.10~2.09）、最近6个月发生同性商业性行为（aOR=1.69，95%CI：1.16~2.47）、使用新型毒品（aOR=1.53，95%CI：1.11~2.11）、接受同伴教育（aOR=1.56，95%CI：1.03~2.37）、知晓别人PrEP用药（aOR=3.29，95%CI：2.48~4.36）、HIV抗体阴性（aOR=8.40，95%CI：1.12~63.12）；MSM中PrEP用药的可能性较低的相关因素为主要性伴为临时性伴（aOR=0.67，95%CI：0.49~0.90）。MSM中PEP用药的可能性较高的相关因素包括年龄<50岁（≤30岁：aOR=2.41，95%CI：1.02~5.69；31~49岁：aOR=3.33，95%CI：1.42~7.85）、自我认知无HIV感染风险（aOR=1.87，95%CI：1.12~3.11）、最近6个月发生群交行为（aOR=1.68，95%CI：1.23~2.29）、使用新型毒品（aOR=3.86，95%CI：2.94~5.07）以及未接受同伴教育（aOR=1.54，95%CI：1.12~2.12）。结论 山东省MSM的PrEP/PEP用药比例较高。应加强同伴教育和自我认知HIV风险教育，提高MSM中PrEP/PEP用药的使用率。     

抗病毒治疗HIV感染者神经认知损伤与认知表现特征研究

目的 联合应用两种神经认知评价量表,探讨接受抗病毒治疗（ART）的HIV感染者神经认知损伤患病率、影响因素及其神经认知表现特征。方法 纳入浙江省台州市开展的HIV与衰老相关疾病前瞻性队列研究中2 250例接受ART的HIV感染者。使用中国版简易智能精神状态检查量表（MMSE）和国际HIV相关性痴呆量表（IHDS）评价其神经认知损伤情况,并对2个量表中的7个神经认知域进行聚类分析。结果 在接受ART的HIV感染者2 250例中,年龄集中在45~89岁（48.0%,1 080/2 250）,男性占79.2%（1 782/2 250）,小学及以下文化程度者占37.8%（852/2 250）。MMSE和IHDS判断的神经认知损伤的患病率分别为14.3%（321/2 250）和31.8%（716/2 250）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,HIV感染者MMSE判断的神经认知损伤危险因素包括60~89岁（aOR=2.63,95%CI：1.52~4.56）、抑郁症状（aOR=5.58,95%CI：4.20~7.40）和使用依非韦伦（EFV）治疗（aOR=2.86,95%CI：1.89~4.34）;男性（aOR=0.71,95%CI：0.51~1.00）、偏胖（aOR=0.63,95%CI：0.44~0.89）和文化程度较高（aOR=0.11,95%CI：0.05~0.25）为保护因素。IHDS判断的神经认知损伤危险因素包括60~89岁（aOR=3.10,95%CI：2.09~4.59）、抑郁症状（aOR=1.78,95%CI：1.44~2.20）和使用EFV治疗（aOR=1.79,95%CI：1.41~2.29）;男性（aOR=0.75,95%CI：0.58~0.97）、偏瘦（aOR=0.67,95%CI：0.47~0.96）、基线CD4⁺T淋巴细胞（CD4）计数≥350个/μl（aOR=0.69,95%CI：0.53~0.91）和文化程度较高（aOR=0.23,95%CI：0.14~0.39）是保护因素。HIV感染者的神经认知表现分为4种主要类型,在年龄、性别、文化程度、饮酒、抑郁症状、腰臀比、高血压病史、糖尿病病史、基线CD4计数和使用EFV治疗的差异有统计学意义（均P < 0.05）。结论 接受ART的HIV感染者神经认知表现分为4种类型,神经认知损伤患病率较高,需对不同类型者采取针对性的监测、预防与控制措施。     

天津市中老年社区居民性活跃现状及相关因素分析

目的 了解天津市中老年社区居民性活跃现状及其相关因素。方法 2020年6月至2022年12月，通过多阶段抽样方法，对天津市≥50岁中老年社区居民开展横断面调查。样本量估计数为735名。通过调查员面对面收集问卷，包括社会人口学特征、健康特征以及性生活方式有关特征等相关信息。采用多因素logistic回归模型分析性活跃状态的相关因素。结果 共纳入776名研究对象（男性和女性分别为510名和266名），年龄以50~59岁（45.9%）为主。总体性活跃率为45.6%。年龄更大（60~69岁：aOR=0.67，95%CI：0.45~0.99；≥70岁：aOR=0.12，95%CI：0.07~0.21）、男性（aOR=1.93，95%CI：1.32~2.82）、城镇居民（aOR=0.18，95%CI：0.12~0.28）、同居/已婚（aOR=2.80，95%CI：1.41~5.58）、独居（aOR=0.51，95%CI：0.27~0.96）、爬楼或行走困难（aOR=0.55，95%CI：0.31~0.97）、现患慢性病（1种：aOR=0.55，95%CI：0.36~0.85；≥2种：aOR=0.53，95%CI：0.33~0.84）与性活跃状态有关。结论 相当比例的中老年社区居民仍然保持性活跃。身体健康状况与中老年社区居民的性活跃状态存在关联。应将性健康服务纳入中老年社区居民卫生保健服务范围，加强社区卫生服务人员的性健康相关服务意识和技能。     

抗病毒治疗HIV感染者血脂变化轨迹特征及影响因素分析

目的 分析抗病毒治疗HIV感染者血脂变化轨迹特征及其影响因素。方法 基于回顾性队列研究设计,以浙江省台州市2004年1月至2021年4月抗病毒治疗HIV感染者为研究对象,运用χ²检验分析研究对象社会人口学特征和基线指标情况,应用潜在类别混合模型描述研究对象接受抗病毒治疗后血脂变化轨迹,采用多因素logistic回归分析血脂变化轨迹的影响因素。采用R 3.5.0.软件LCMM软件包进行统计学分析。结果 2 079例HIV感染者中,年龄M（Q₁,Q₃）为31（43,55）岁,以男性（78.1%,1 623/2 079）和已婚（58.7%,1 221/2 079）为主,BMI≥24.0 kg/m²占18.9%（393/2 079）,异性性传播途径占67.7%（1 407/2 079）。血脂变化轨迹分为3种：倒U形（2.3%,48/2 079）、进展型（31.3%,650/2 079）和一般轨迹（U形）（66.4%,1 381/2 079）,倒U形和进展型确定为危险轨迹（33.6%）。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,相比于抗病毒治疗方案为齐多夫定-替诺福韦-依非韦伦（3TC- TDF-EFV）、基线TC水平<5.2 mmol/L、基线TG水平<1.7 mmol/L、BMI为18.5~23.9 kg/m²、基线CD4⁺T淋巴细胞（CD4）计数<200个/μl和抗病毒治疗时间<5年者,抗病毒治疗方案一直使用齐多夫定-拉米夫定-依非韦伦（3TC-AZT-EFV）（aOR=1.99,95%CI：1.44~2.77）和更换为克力芝（LPV/r）（aOR=3.17,95%CI：2.00~5.01）、基线TC水平分别为5.2~6.1 mmol/L（aOR=2.55,95%CI：1.92~3.39）和≥6.2 mmol/L（aOR=5.89,95%CI：3.76~9.25）、基线TG水平分别为1.7~2.2 mmol/L（aOR=2.00,95%CI：1.53~2.62）和≥2.3 mmol/L（aOR=6.51,95%CI：4.97~8.54）、BMI为≥24.0 kg/m²（aOR=1.44,95%CI：1.11~1.88）的HIV感染者较容易出现血脂变化的危险轨迹。而BMI为<18.5 kg/m²（aOR=0.55,95%CI：0.35~0.86）、基线CD4计数为200~349个/μl（aOR=0.67,95%CI：0.52~0.87）和≥350个/μl（aOR=0.71,95%CI：0.54~0.94）、抗病毒治疗时长为5~9年（aOR=0.74,95%CI：0.56~0.99）和≥10年（aOR=0.53,95%CI：0.22~0.67）的HIV感染者较不容易出现血脂变化的危险轨迹。结论 部分HIV感染者抗病毒治疗后的血脂变化呈危险轨迹状态,与AZT和LPV/r等特定抗病毒药物使用、抗病毒治疗时长、基线CD4计数、TC、TG和BMI显著关联,建议HIV感染者开始抗病毒治疗阶段的同时,加强血脂监测并采取针对性干预措施。     

江苏省男男性行为人群HIV新发感染及影响因素分析

目的 分析江苏省MSM的HIV新发感染及影响因素。方法 根据2019年全国艾滋病哨点监测方案,2019年4-7月在江苏省13个城市招募MSM,进行问卷调查及实验室检测,应用限制性抗原亲和力酶联免疫法（LAg-Avidity EIA）检测HIV新发感染者,根据中国CDC推荐的基于亲和力方法的计算公式及参数计算新发感染率;采用多因素logistic回归模型分析HIV新发感染的影响因素。结果 研究对象MSM 4 469人,HIV新发感染率为4.5%（95%CI：3.4%~5.5%）。多因素logistic分析结果显示,相比于≥ 40岁年龄组、招募途径来自MSM活动场所、艾滋病知识知晓、最近6个月未发生无保护肛交、无梅毒现症感染,18~24岁年龄组（aOR=2.083,95%CI：1.087~3.990）、招募途径来自VCT门诊（aOR=2.125,95%CI：1.175~3.843）、艾滋病知识不知晓（aOR=2.456,95%CI：1.109~5.437）、最近6个月发生无保护性肛交（aOR=3.553,95%CI：2.143~5.889）、梅毒现症感染（aOR=2.414,95%CI：1.033~5.462）的HIV新发感染风险较高。结论 江苏省MSM人群HIV新发感染率较高。MSM的艾滋病预防控制,需加强健康教育、推广使用安全套和促进HIV/梅毒筛查工作。     

成都市男男性行为人群3种类型HIV暴露前预防用药使用意愿及影响因素分析

目的 调查成都市MSM对3种类型HIV暴露前预防用药（PrEP）的使用意愿及影响因素。方法 2021年11月至2022年1月,依靠成都同乐健康咨询服务中心招募793名研究对象。收集社会人口学特征、最近6个月性行为发生情况、PrEP污名、HIV预期污名、MSM内化污名和3种类型PrEP的使用意愿。采用单因素和多因素logistic回归模型分析3种类型PrEP使用意愿的影响因素。结果 在793名研究对象中,按需口服药物的使用意愿较高（68.3%）。较高文化程度和多性伴均会促进口服类PrEP的使用意愿,较高文化程度[与初中及以下相比,高中/中专（aOR=2.43,95%CI：1.13~5.21）、大专（aOR=2.67,95%CI：1.27~5.61）、大学本科（aOR=3.21,95%CI：1.52~6.74）、硕士研究生及以上（aOR=3.77,95%CI：1.54~9.26）]、多性伴（aOR=1.54,95%CI：1.12~2.11）均与每天口服1粒药物呈正相关。较高的HIV预期污名对3种类型PrEP使用意愿均呈正相关：每天口服1粒药物（aOR=1.07,95%CI：1.02~1.12）、按需口服药物（aOR=1.09,95%CI：1.03~1.15）、每隔8周注射1次药物（aOR=1.06,95%CI：1.01~1.11）。结论 成都市MSM的PrEP整体使用意愿较高,推广PrEP有较高的可行性。未来应加强对该人群HIV和PrEP相关知识的宣传教育,提高认知水平,引导MSM树立正确的PrEP使用动机。     

男男性行为人群主要性伴类型特征及其未检测HIV相关因素分析

目的 比较主要性伴类型不同的MSM特征,分析MSM最近6个月未检测HIV的相关因素。方法 2021年4-7月在山东省9个城市招募MSM,开展面对面问卷调查,收集其社会人口学特征、高危行为和HIV检测等信息,采集血样用于HIV抗体和梅毒抗体检测。结果 最近6个月发生同性肛交性行为的MSM共3 008人,将MSM根据最近6个月主要性伴类型分为固定性伴组(36.83%,1 108/3 008)、商业性伴组(3.06%,92/3 008)和临时性伴组(60.11%,1 808/3 008)。不同组别MSM的年龄、本地居住时间、文化程度、寻找男性性伴的主要场所、最近6个月新型毒品使用、肛交每次坚持使用安全套、发生群交行为、未检测HIV和最近1年患过性病、接受同伴教育、梅毒检测频率的分布差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,MSM最近6个月未检测HIV的相关因素包括年龄<30岁(aOR=1.39,95%CI:1.06~1.83)、已婚/同居(aOR=1.74,95%CI:1.39~2.16)、高中及以下文化程度(aOR=1.39,95%CI:1.15~1.67)、最近6个月未使用新型毒品(aOR=2.27,95%CI:1.89~2.71)、最近1年未接受同伴教育(aOR=1.59,95%CI:1.28~1.98)、从未做过梅毒检测(aOR=11.30,95%CI:8.15~15.66)、最近1年未做但以前做过梅毒检测(aOR=5.65,95%CI:4.19~7.62)、最近6个月主要性伴类型是商业性伴(aOR=1.80,95%CI:1.01~3.20)和最近6个月主要性伴类型是临时性伴(aOR=1.50,95%CI:1.26~1.80)。结论 主要性伴类型不同的MSM特征有所差异,HIV检测比例仍有待提高。今后应针对主要性伴类型不同的MSM特征,充分利用网络和同伴教育等方法扩大MSM HIV检测覆盖率。     

成都市男男性行为人群对重复HIV检测阴性的反应与危险性行为的关联研究

目的 研究成都市MSM对重复HIV检测阴性的反应及与危险性行为的关联。方法 2022年3-5月与成都同乐健康咨询服务中心合作,采用方便抽样方法招募研究对象610名MSM。收集研究对象社会人口学特征、对HIV检测阴性的反应和性行为情况。采用单因素及多因素logistic回归模型分析HIV检测阴性反应与性行为的关联。结果 参加问卷调查579名（94.9%）,纳入研究对象354名（61.1%）,HIV检测阴性反应得分分别为强化安全（17.03±2.20）分、运气（7.50±1.87）分和低风险感知（8.87±3.62）分。多因素logistic回归模型结果显示,强化安全与发生群交呈负相关（aOR=0.80,95%CI：0.67~0.95）;运气与临时性行为（aOR=1.20,95%CI：1.06~1.35）、不坚持使用安全套（aOR=1.21,95%CI：1.06~1.37）、发生群交（aOR=1.26,95%CI：1.00~1.60）和多性伴（aOR=1.24,95%CI：1.09~1.42）与危险性行为呈正相关。低风险感知仅与多性伴（aOR=1.08,95%CI：1.01~1.15）呈正相关。结论 成都市MSM对重复HIV检测阴性反应的强化安全和运气维度认可程度较高,自身风险感知良好。在提供HIV检测和咨询服务期间,干预策略和风险咨询应重视向对运气认可较高的个体倾斜,帮助其树立安全性行为意识,减少侥幸心理带来的负面影响。     

Trends in predictors of death due to HIV-related causes among persons living with AIDS in New York City: 1993–2001

To examine trends in predictors of HIV-related mortality among cohorts of persons living with AIDS (PLWA) in New York City (NYC), nine calendar year-specific cohorts of PLWA were created from 1993 to 2001. Cohorts were defined as persons who had been alive at any time during that year and had been diagnosed with AIDS before the end of that year. Predictors of death because of HIV-related causes of death were assessed by examinnng year-specific, stratified death rates per 1,000 PLWA and adjusted relative risks (RRs) from proportional hazards models. We conducted an analysis of AIDS surveillance data PLWA in NYC between 1993 and 2001. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were constructed for each calendar year cohort to evaluate trends in the RR of HIV-related death over the subsequent 5 years, adjusting for sex, reace/ethnicity, age, transmission risk borough of residence, category of AIDS diagnosis [opportunistic illness (OI) or CD4 count <200 cells/μL], time since AIDS diagnosis, and CD4 count at time of AIDS diagnosis. Death rates due to all causes and HIV-related causes declined substantially during 1993–1997 and then stabilized in all subgroups of PLWA between 1998 and 2001. Beginning in 1995, differences in survival emerged in some subgroups, such that by 2001 (1) injecting drug users (IDUs) had poorer survival compared with men who have sex with men (MSM) [RR₂₀₀₁=2.1, 95% confidence intervals (95% CI)=1.8–2.4]; (2) black and Hispanic PLWA had a significantly higher risk of death than white PLWA (RR₂₀₀₁=1.4, 95% CI=1.2–1.6, RR₂₀₀₁=1.2, 95% CI=1.1–1.4, respectively, and (3) PLWA aged 60 and above had poorer survival compared with younger persons (RR₂₀₀₁=2.4, 95% CI=1.9–3.0), after adjustment for other factors. The observed disparities that began to emerge in 1995 may be attributable to differential effects of, access to, or usage of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). More targeted studies are needed to determine why such disparities have emerged.     

A vulnerable population in a time of crisis: Drug users and the attacks on the World Trade Center

In this article, we present preliminary findings from a qualitative study focused on the impact of the World Trade Center attacks on New York City residents who are current or former users of heroin, crack, and other forms of cocaine. In it, we present data describing their responses to and feelings about the attacks, changes in drug use after the attacks, and factors affecting changes in use. Our analysis is based on 57 open-ended interviews conducted between October 2001 and February 2002. The majority of study participants reported that the attacks had a significant emotional impact on them, causing anxiety, sadness, and anger. Several described practical impacts as well, including significant reductions in income. On September 11th and the weeks and months that followed, several participants who had been actively using did increase their use of heroin, crack, and/or other forms of cocaine. Reductions in use were, however, as common over time as were increases. There was some relapse among former users, but this was limited to those who had stopped using drugs within the 6 months immediately preceding the attacks. A diverse set of factors interacted to control use. For some participants, these factors were internal, relating to their individual motivations and drug use experiences. Other participants were essentially forced to limit use by marked reductions in income. For others, access to health and social service professionals, as well as drug treatment, proved to be key. Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Montefiore Medical Center     

Computer and internet use among urban African Americans with type 2 diabetes

Previous studies have identified a “digital divide” between African Americans and whites, with African Americans having substantially lower rates of Internet use. However, use of the Internet to access health information has not been sufficiently evaluated in this population. Therefore, we conducted a telephone survey to determine the prevalence of computer and Internet use among 457 African American adults with type 2 diabetes. Participants were 78% female, with a mean age of 57±11 years, and about one-third had a yearly income ≦$7,500. Forty percent of the participants reported having a computer at home and 46% reported knowing how to use a computer. Most participants (58%) reported that they had, at some point, used a computer, and of those, 40% reported that they used the computer to find health information. In a stratified analysis, participants with lower education levels (<high school) were less likely to have a computer; older participants, men, and individuals with lower education levels were less likely to know how to use a computer and to use it to search for health information (all P<.05). Nonetheless, of the participants who did not know how to use a computer, 66% reported that they would be willing to learn. In addition, 82% reported that they had friends or family in the neighborhood who would let them use a computer. Furthermore, 89% of participants reported that they would use a computer program to manage their diabetes if it were offered free of charge. These data show promise for the willingness of this under-served population to use computers and access health information using the Internet. New programs are needed to explore Internet-based interventions to improve self-management and diabetes care among African Americans.     

Antimicrobial antibodies in Danish slaughterhouse workers and greenhouse workers

Summary As a consequence of contact with animals and animal products slaughterhouse workers might be at risk of infection with pathogenic microorganisms. This hypothesis has been supported by some earlier studies. In this study 217 slaughtermen and a control group of 113 greenhouse workers were investigated for the prevalence of serum antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, Campylobacter jejuni (IgA and IgG), Yersinia enterocolitica types 3 and 9, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis types I, II, III, IV, and V, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhimurium, and Borrelia burgdorferi. No significant differences were found concerning either frequency of positive tests or magnitude of titers. The prevalence of toxoplasma antibodies was remarkably high in both groups.     

Clinical and laboratory evidence of the importance of the tick D. marginatus as a vector of B. burgdorferi in some areas of sporadic Lyme disease in Bulgaria

56 adult ticks D. marginatus and 38 adult ticks H. punctata were sampled by the flagging method, transferred to the laboratory, dissected and tested for infection with Lyme disease spirochetes. 3 (7.9%) of the adult H. punctata and 2 (3.57%) of the adult D. marginatus were infected with B. burgdorferi (Bb). This report also presents the case of a patient, who developed Lyme disease symptoms after he had been bitten by a D. marginatus tick. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by serological testing and by a biopsy, taken from the patient's skin lesion. The skin biopsy was examined under an electron microscope and Bb was found in the sections of the deeper strata of the dermis in two structural forms: (a) cylindrical bodies (protoplasm cylinder) with circular ends covered with a three-layered membrane; (b) granules, situated among the collagenous fibres either closely adhered to them or covered with a membrane. The result of the study demonstrates that in single cases in some ecosystems, ticks D. marginatus might be implicated in Bb transmission to humans as secondary vectors.     

Absorption,metabolism and elimination of N,N-dimethylformamide in humans

Summary Excretion of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and DMF metabolites N-hydroxymethyl-N-methylformamide (MF), N-hydroxymethyl-formamide (F) and N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine (AMCC) has been monitored in the urine of volunteers during and after their 8-h exposure to DMF vapour at a concentration of 10, 30 and 60 mg · m^–3. The pulmonary ventilation in these experiments was typically about 101 · min^–1 and the retention in the respiratory tract was 90%. After exposure to 30 mg DMF · m^–3, the yield of compound determined in the urine represented 0.3% (DMF), 22.3% (MF), 13.2% (F) and 13.4% (AMCC) of the dose absorbed via the respiratory tract. The excretion curves of the particular compounds attained their maximum 6–8h (DMF), 6–8h (MF), 8–14h (F) and 24–34h (AMCC) after the start of the exposure. The half-times of excretion were approximately 2, 4, 7 and 23 h respectively. In contrast to slow elimination of AMCC after exposure to DMF, AMCC was eliminated rapidly after AMCC intake. This discrepancy could be explained by rate-limiting reversible protein binding of a reactive metabolic intermediate of DMF, possibly methylisocyanate.     

Biological monitoring of workers exposed to<Emphasis Type="Italic"> N</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-dimethylformamide in synthetic leather manufacturing factories in Korea

Objectives To investigate the relationship between N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) exposure and excretion of urinary N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine (AMCC) and N-methylformamide (NMF) in workers at synthetic leather manufacturing factories in Korea, for the first time.Methods One-hundred forty-four male workers at nine synthetic leather manufacturing factories were surveyed. Exposure to DMF was evaluated through breathing zone air sampling followed by analysis via a gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The levels of NMF and AMCC were determined by a GC with a flame thermionic detector (GC-FTD). Urine samples were collected at the end of the workshift.Results and Conclusions Geometric mean of workplace air DMF and urinary NMF was 8.8 ppm and 47.5 mg/l, respectively, and the level of DMF and NMF was significantly correlated. The biological exposure limit for NMF (15 mg/ml) was exceeded in 89.5% of urine samples, and 37.9% of air samples exceeded the environmental DMF exposure limit (10 ppm), indicating a serious health risk to the employees of the synthetic leather industry in Korea. Exposure to 10 ppm DMF in the workplace air corresponded to a urinary NMF concentration of 53.4 mg/l. Alcohol intake the day before urine was sampled influenced NMF excretion into urine (40.5 mg/l NMF for the no-alcohol group and 94.6 mg/l for the group consuming more than 63.0 g alcohol/day). We could not find a significant relationship between air DMF and urinary AMCC concentration. Exposure to 10 ppm DMF corresponded to an AMCC concentration of 8.0 mg/l in the urine samples collected on the same day as the air was sampled.     

我国几种非嗜肺军团菌感染的血清流行病学研究

本文报告了1986年对我国五个地区994名健康成人、373名儿童和100例肺炎病人进行三种军团菌抗体检测的结果。健康成人抗体阳性率(≥1:16)Lm为9.26%,Ld为9.05%,Lg为3.32%。儿童Lm为5.36%,Ld为2.14%,Lg为3.75%。肺炎病人抗体阳性率以Ld最高(44%),Lm次之(23%),Lg均阴性。提示我国南方和北方地区人群中均存在这三种军团菌感染的可能性,应予以注意。     

Percutaneous absorption of N,N-dimethylformamide in humans

Summary Skin penetration fo N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) liquid or vapour was studied in volunteers. Exposure to liquid DMF was performed in two ways: in a dipping experiment, one hand was dipped up to the wrist in DMF for 2–20 min, while in a patch experiment, 2 mmol DMF was applied to the skin and allowed to be absorbed completely. The period of exposure to DMF vapour (50 mg · m^–3) was 4 h. The DMF metabolites N-hydroxymethyl-N-methylformamide (MF), N-hydroxymethylformamide (F), and N-acetyl-S-(N-methylcarbamoyl)cysteine (AMCC) were monitored in the urine. Liquid DMF was absorbed through the skin at a rate of 9.4 mg · cm^–2 · h^–1. Percutaneous absorption of DMF vapour depended strongly on ambient temperature and humidity and accounted for 13%–36% of totally excreted MF. The results suggest that skin absorption of liquid DMF is likely to contribute to occupational exposure substantially more than penetration of DMF vapour. The yield of metabolites after transdermal DMF absorption was only half of that seen after pulmonary absorption. Elimination of MF and F but not that of AMCC was delayed, which supports the contention that AMCC should be used instead of MF as the most suitable biomarker of DMF in cases where percutaneous intake can occur.     

Effects of increasing syringe availability on syringe-exchange use and HIV risk: Connecticut, 1990–2001

Syringe-exchange programs (SEPs) in Connecticut operate with caps on the number of syringes exchanged per visit. We investigated the effects of legislation increasing the cap on drug injectors' access to clean syringes through the SEPs in New Haven and Hartford. The mixed design of this study included longitudinal and crosssectional data from individuals and ecological data from program operations. Five parameters—syringe return rate, syringes per visit to the SEP, syringe reuse rate, syringe human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence, and syringe sharing—were monitored through syringe tracking and testing of SEP syringes and by interviewing injectors. Two increases in the cap—from 5 to 10 and then from 10 to 30—had little effect on the five parameters that measured injectors' access to clean syringes. In contrast, access to clean syringes increased when the New Haven SEP first began operations, when syringes first became available at pharmacies in Hartford, and when the agency running the Hartford SEP changed. Legislation providing piecemeal increases in the cap may not, by themselves, be sufficient to increase injectors' access to clean syringes and decrease the risk of human immunodeficiency virus transmission in this population.