Generation and characterization of a collection of knock-down lines for the chloroplast Clp protease complex in tobacco.

Protein degradation in chloroplasts is carried out by a set of proteases that eliminate misfolded, damaged, or superfluous proteins. The ATP-dependent caseinolytic protease (Clp) is the most complex protease in plastids and has been implicated mainly in stromal protein degradation. In contrast, FtsH, a thylakoid membrane-associated metalloprotease, is believed to participate mainly in the degradation of thylakoidal proteins. To determine the role of specific Clp and FtsH subunits in plant growth and development, RNAi lines targeting at least one subunit of each Clp ring and FtsH were generated in tobacco. In addition, mutation of the translation initiation codon was employed to down-regulate expression of the plastid-encoded ClpP1 subunit. These protease lines cover a broad range of reductions at the transcript and protein levels of the targeted genes. A wide spectrum of phenotypes was obtained, including pigment deficiency, alterations in leaf development, leaf variegations, and impaired photosynthesis. When knock-down lines for the different protease subunits were compared, both common and specific phenotypes were observed, suggesting distinct functions of at least some subunits. Our work provides a well-characterized collection of knock-down lines for plastid proteases in tobacco and reveals the importance of the Clp protease in physiology and plant development.

Alto consumo de drogas recreativas y conductas sexuales de riesgo en hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres / High prevalence of drug consumption and sexual risk behaviors in men who have sex with men

Fundamento y objetivo: Describir el patrón de uso de drogas en hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres (HSH) residentes en España y su asociación con las prácticas de riesgo sexual. Material y método: La Encuesta Europea por Internet para HSH se implementó en 2010 en 38 países europeos y recogió información sociodemográfica y sobre conducta y salud sexual, entre otras. Mediante modelos de regresión logística multivariante se evaluó la asociación entre la variable penetración anal desprotegida (PANP) con parejas ocasionales y el consumo de drogas. Resultados: Entre los 13.111 HSH encuestados, el cannabis fue la droga consumida con más frecuencia en los últimos 12 meses (30,1%), seguido del popper (28,4%) y la cocaína (18,7%). Los modelos de regresión logística ajustados mostraron un riesgo de PANP de 1,5 entre los consumidores de drogas en relación con los que no las habían consumido. El 2,5% de los HSH se había inyectado drogas alguna vez en la vida, y el 1,4%, en los últimos 12 meses. La prevalencia de PANP con parejas ocasionales (53,4%), de infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) (23%), de hepatitis C (8,2%) y de infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) (15,8%) fue superior en HSH inyectores con respecto al resto de los participantes (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: Se confirma una elevada prevalencia de consumo de drogas en HSH y su asociación con las conductas sexuales de riesgo. Aunque el uso de la vía inyectada en HSH es minoritario, el subgrupo de HSH inyectores presenta una mayor prevalencia de conductas sexuales de riesgo, VIH, hepatitis C y otras ITS (AU)

Basis and objective: To describe the pattern of drug use among men who have sex with men (MSM) living in Spain and its association with sexual risk practices. Material and method. The European MSM Internet Survey was implemented in 2010 in 38 European countries on websites for MSM and collected data on sociodemographics, sexual behavior, and other sexual health variables. The association between unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with casual partners and drug consumption was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression models. Results: Among the 13,111 participants, most consumed drugs were cannabis (30.1%), popper (28.4%) and cocaine (18.7%). The risk of UAI with casual partners was 1.5 among those who had used drugs in relation to the other participants. The proportion of MSM who had injected drugs at least once in life was 2.5%, and 1.4% in the last 12 months. The prevalence of UAI with casual partners (53.4%), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (23%), hepatitis C (8.2%) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) (15.8%) was higher in MSM injectors related to those who had not used injected drugs (P < .05). Conclusions: The results of this study confirm a high prevalence of drug use in MSM and their relationship to sexual risk behavior. Although the use of injected drugs in MSM is a minority, this group reported a higher level of sexual risk behaviors, self-reported HIV, hepatitis C and other STI (AU)

Calidad de la prescripción para indicaciones no autorizadas en ficha técnica (off-label) en la enfermedad oncológica avanzada / Quality of off-label prescriptions in advanced oncologic diseases

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No disponible

Determinantes de la asistencia irregular a consulta médica en pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana: resultados de la Encuesta Hospitalaria de pacientes con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, 2002-2012 / Factors determining irregular attendance to follow-up visits among human immunodeficiency virus patients: Results of the hospital survey of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus

INTRODUCCIÓN: Describir la frecuencia de la asistencia irregular a consulta médica de pacientes con VIH y analizar sus determinantes. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal realizado anualmente (2002-2012) en un día prefijado. Se recogen datos epidemiológicos, clínicos y conductuales de los pacientes con VIH (hospitalizados y ambulatorios) atendidos ese día en los hospitales públicos participantes. Se definió «asistencia irregular a consulta» como asistencia a consulta de forma esporádica, según la valoración del médico. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo, bivariante y multivariante de regresión logística para estimar los factores asociados a asistencia irregular a la consulta. RESULTADOS: En total se incluyeron 7.304 pacientes de los que el 13,7% acudían irregularmente a la consulta. La probabilidad de asistencia irregular aumentó en pacientes entre 25 y 49 años, subsaharianos o latinoamericanos, con menor nivel de estudios, aquellos sin domicilio fijo o que estaban en prisión, los que vivían solos o en establecimientos colectivos, los desempleados o jubilados, los que se infectaron por compartir material de inyección, los que no usaron condón en su última relación sexual y los inyectores activos. Por el contrario, los pacientes diagnosticados hacía menos de un año y los hombres homo/bisexuales tenían menor probabilidad de acudir irregularmente. CONCLUSIÓN: A pesar de la universalidad de nuestro sistema de salud existen variables sociales y demográficas que actúan como barreras para la asistencia a consulta, lo que puede comprometer la efectividad del tratamiento en determinados grupos de población. Estos determinantes deberían tenerse en cuenta a la hora de planificar políticas de control de la infección por el VIH

INTRODUCTION: To describe the occurrence of non-regular attendance to follow-up visits among HIV patients and to analyze the determining factors. METHODS: One-day survey carried out annually (2002-2012) in public hospitals. Epidemiological, clinical and behavioral data are collected in all HIV-infected inpatients and outpatients receiving HIV-related care on the day of the survey. «Non-regular attendance to a follow-up visit» was defined as sporadic attendance to the medical appointments, according to the judgment of the attending physician. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed, and factors associated to non-regular attendance to follow-up visits were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 7,304 subjects were included, of whom 13.7% did not attend medical appointments regularly. Factors directly associated with non-regular attendance were: age between 25-49 years; birth in Sub-Saharan Africa or Latin-America; low educational level; being homeless or in prison; living alone or in closed institutions; being unemployed or retired; being an intravenous drug user; not using a condom at last sexual encounter, and injecting drugs in the last 30 days. Conversely, HIV diagnosis within the last year and being men who have sex with men were factors inversely associated with non-regular attendance to follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: In spite of health care beings free of charge for everyone in Spain, social factors can act as barriers to regular attendance to medical appointments, which, in turn, can endanger treatment effectiveness in some population groups. This should be taken into account when planning HIV policies in Spain

Algunas preguntas sobre abiraterona, desayunos y dinero público / Some questions about abiraterone, breakfast and public funding

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[High prevalence of drug consumption and sexual risk behaviors in men who have sex with men]. / Alto consumo de drogas recreativas y conductas sexuales de riesgo en hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres.

BASIS AND OBJECTIVE: To describe the pattern of drug use among men who have sex with men (MSM) living in Spain and its association with sexual risk practices. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The European MSM Internet Survey was implemented in 2010 in 38 European countries on websites for MSM and collected data on sociodemographics, sexual behavior, and other sexual health variables. The association between unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with casual partners and drug consumption was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among the 13,111 participants, most consumed drugs were cannabis (30.1%), popper (28.4%) and cocaine (18.7%). The risk of UAI with casual partners was 1.5 among those who had used drugs in relation to the other participants. The proportion of MSM who had injected drugs at least once in life was 2.5%, and 1.4% in the last 12 months. The prevalence of UAI with casual partners (53.4%), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (23%), hepatitis C (8.2%) and sexually transmitted infections (STI) (15.8%) was higher in MSM injectors related to those who had not used injected drugs (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm a high prevalence of drug use in MSM and their relationship to sexual risk behavior. Although the use of injected drugs in MSM is a minority, this group reported a higher level of sexual risk behaviors, self-reported HIV, hepatitis C and other STI.

[Factors determining irregular attendance to follow-up visits among human immunodeficiency virus patients: results of the hospital survey of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus]. / Determinantes de la asistencia irregular a consulta médica en pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana: resultados de la Encuesta Hospitalaria de pacientes con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, 2002-2012.

INTRODUCTION: To describe the occurrence of non-regular attendance to follow-up visits among HIV patients and to analyze the determining factors. METHODS: One-day survey carried out annually (2002-2012) in public hospitals. Epidemiological, clinical and behavioral data are collected in all HIV-infected inpatients and outpatients receiving HIV-related care on the day of the survey. "Non-regular attendance to a follow-up visit" was defined as sporadic attendance to the medical appointments, according to the judgment of the attending physician. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed, and factors associated to non-regular attendance to follow-up visits were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 7,304 subjects were included, of whom 13.7% did not attend medical appointments regularly. Factors directly associated with non-regular attendance were: age between 25-49 years; birth in Sub-Saharan Africa or Latin-America; low educational level; being homeless or in prison; living alone or in closed institutions; being unemployed or retired; being an intravenous drug user; not using a condom at last sexual encounter, and injecting drugs in the last 30 days. Conversely, HIV diagnosis within the last year and being men who have sex with men were factors inversely associated with non-regular attendance to follow-up visits. CONCLUSION: In spite of health care beings free of charge for everyone in Spain, social factors can act as barriers to regular attendance to medical appointments, which, in turn, can endanger treatment effectiveness in some population groups. This should be taken into account when planning HIV policies in Spain.

Hepatitis C virus infection and its relationship to certain sexual practices in men-who-have-sex-with-men in Spain: results from the European MSM internet survey (EMIS).

OBJECTIVES: To compare sexual practices and risk behaviours between MSM who were first diagnosed with hepatitis C (HCV) in the previous 12 months and those who were never diagnosed; and, to identify factors associated with a diagnosis of HCV. METHODS: The European-MSM-Internet-Survey (EMIS) was implemented for 3 months during 2010, mainly on websites for MSM. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour, drug use, STI history, and other sexual health variables were collected. The Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: Data from 13,111 respondents were analysed. The proportion of MSM who had ever been diagnosed with HCV infection was 1.9% (n=250), and of those currently infected with the virus was 0.6% (n=78). The percentage of those first diagnosed in the last 12 months was 0.4% (n=46), of whom 70% were HIV-negative and 22% had HIV coinfection. Having a first diagnosis of HCV in the last 12 months was more common among HIV-positive than among HIV-negative MSM (0.9% vs 0.4%) and among MSM born abroad than among Spanish-born (0.7% vs 0.3%). MSM diagnosed with HCV in the last 12 months were more likely to have had: more than 10 sexual partners, sex abroad, receptive anal intercourse, insertive/receptive fisting, and unprotected anal intercourse with non-steady partners of unknown or discordant HIV-status. Likewise, they reported more frequent visits to sex-focused venues, higher drug use, as well as a higher proportion of STI diagnosis. In the multivariate model, visiting a public sex-focused venue, practicing receptive fisting, using erection enhancing medication and having a diagnosis of syphilis were independently associated with a first diagnosis of HCV in the last 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: HCV infection does not seem to be restricted to HIV-infected MSM. Certain sexual behaviour (fisting, visiting sex-focused venues), drug use, and ulcerative STI seem to be associated with a diagnosis of HCV.

Conductas sexuales de alto riesgo en hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres según tipo de pareja sexual / High-risk sexual behaviour by partner type among men who have sex with men

OBJETIVO: Identificar los factores asociados a las prácticas sexuales de alto riesgo en hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres (HSH) en España. Métodos Encuesta online realizada en 2010 sobre conductas sexuales y necesidades de prevención del VIH/ITS, entre otros. La práctica de la penetración anal no protegida (PANP) con parejas con estado serológico al VIH desconocido o discordante en el último año se consideró como de alto riesgo. Resultados De los 13.111 participantes, el 49,4% habían tenido relaciones sexuales con parejas estables (PE) y el 73,4% con parejas ocasionales (PO) en los últimos 12 meses, siendo la PANP de alto riesgo del 25,4 y el 29,4%, respectivamente. Entre los factores asociados a la PANP de alto riesgo con PE destacaron: residir en poblaciones < 500.000 habitantes (OR = 1,42 < 100.000 habitantes), declarar que casi nadie de su entorno conocía su orientación sexual (OR = 1,42) y ser VIH positivo con carga viral indetectable siempre que se presentara un nivel de conocimientos sobre el VIH/ITS elevado (OR = 3,18). Con las PO destacaron: un mayor número de parejas (OR = 4,31 > 50 parejas), haber consumido drogas para sexo (OR = 1,33) y drogas de ocio (OR = 1,19), presentar un nivel de conocimientos sobre el VIH/ITS medio (OR = 1,82) o bajo (OR = 1,33), y ser VIH positivo (OR = 1,56).Conclusiones Entre los HSH la prevalencia de conductas sexuales de alto riesgo es alta, tanto con la PE como con las PO. Los factores asociados a la PANP de alto riesgo varían según el tipo de pareja sexual (p. ej., tener el VIH con una carga viral indetectable), factores que tienen que considerarse para plantear estrategias de prevención primaria y secundaria

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with high risk sexual practices among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Spain. METHODS: An online survey was conducted in 2010, which included, among others, questions on HIV/STI sexual behaviours and prevention needs. Unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with a partner of unknown or discordant HIV status in the past year was defined as a high risk sexual behaviour. RESULTS: Of the 13,111 participants, 49.4% had had sex with steady partners (SP) and 73.4% with non-steady partners (NSP) in the last 12months; and the prevalence of high risk UAI was 25.4% and 29.4%, respectively. Factors associated with high risk UAI with SP were: living in a city of less than 500,000 inhabitants (OR=1.42 <100,000 inhabitants), being out to no-one or only a few people (OR=1.42), and being HIV-positive with undetectable viral load among those with a high level of HIV/STI knowledge (OR = 3.18). Factors associated with high risk UAI with NSP were mainly: having a higher number of sexual partners (OR = 4.31 >50 partners), having used drugs for sex (OR = 1.33), and at parties (OR = 1.19), having a medium (OR = 1.82) or low (OR = 1.33) level of HIV/STI knowledge, and being HIV-positive (OR = 1.56). CONCLUSIONS: Among MSM, the prevalence of high risk sexual practices is high with both SP and NSP. Factors associated with high risk UAI vary by type of sexual partner (e.g., having HIV with an undetectable viral load). These must be taken into account when planning strategies for primary and secondary prevention

Predictors of advanced disease and late presentation in new HIV diagnoses reported to the surveillance system in Spain / Determinantes de enfermedad avanzada y presentación tardía en los nuevos diagnósticos de VIH notificados al sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica en España

Objective: To present surveillance data on advanced disease (AD) and late presentation (LP) of HIV in Spain and their determinants. Methods We included all new HIV diagnoses notified by the autonomous regions that consistently reported such cases throughout the period 2007-2011. Coverage was 54% of the total Spanish population. Data sources consisted of clinicians, laboratories and medical records. AD was defined as the presence of a CD4 cell count <200cells/μL in the first test after HIV diagnosis, while LP was defined as the presence of a CD4 cell count <350cells/μL after HIV diagnosis. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (OR, 95% CI) were used as the measure of association. Logistic regressions were fit to identify predictors of AD and LP. Results A total of 13,021 new HIV diagnoses were included. Among these, data on the outcome variable were available in 87.7%. The median CD4 count at presentation was 363 (interquartile range, 161-565). Overall, 3356 (29.4%) patients met the definition of AD and 5494 (48.1%) were classified as LP. Both AD and LP increased with age and were associated with male sex and infection through drug use or heterosexual contact. All immigrants except western Europeans were more prone to AD and LP. Multivariate models disaggregated by sex showed that the effect of age and region of origin was weaker in women than in men. Conclusions Despite universal health care coverage in Spain, men, immigrants and people infected through drug use or heterosexual contact seem to be experiencing difficulties in gaining timely access to HIV care (AU)

Objetivo: Se presentan los datos de vigilancia sobre enfermedad avanzada y presentación tardía de los nuevos diagnósticos de VIH en España, y sus determinantes. Métodos Se incluyeron todos los nuevos diagnósticos de VIH de 2007-2011 en el ámbito de las comunidades autónomas que notificaron de forma constante durante todo el periodo (54% de la población española). La fuente de información fueron clínicos y laboratorios. Se definió como enfermedad avanzada un recuento < 200 linfocitos CD4/μl en la primera determinación tras el diagnóstico, y como presentación tardía < 350 linfocitos CD4/μl. Se usaron la odds ratio y su intervalo de confianza del 95% como medida de asociación. Para el análisis multivariado de los factores asociados a enfermedad avanzada y presentación tardía se ajustó un modelo de regresión logística. Resultados Se incluyeron 13.021 nuevos diagnósticos, de los cuales el 87,7% tenía información de la variable de estudio. La mediana de CD4 fue de 363 (rango intercuartílico: 161-565). Durante el periodo, 3.356 pacientes (29,4%) cumplían la definición de enfermedad avanzada y 5.494 (48.1%) se clasificaron como presentación tardía. Tanto la enfermedad avanzada como la presentación tardía aumentaban con la edad, se asociaban al sexo masculino y a la transmisión a través del uso de drogas inyectadas o heterosexual. Ser inmigrante de cualquier origen, excepto de Europa Occidental, se asociaba a enfermedad avanzada y presentación tardía. Desagregando por sexo, el efecto de la edad y de la región de origen fue más débil en las mujeres que en los hombres. Conclusión A pesar de la cobertura universal en España, los hombres, los inmigrantes, los usuarios de drogas inyectadas y las personas infectadas por relaciones heterosexuales parecen tener más dificultad para acceder al seguimiento clínico (AU)

Patrón de inicio del seguimiento clínico en los pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en España / Linkage to care among new human immunodeficiency virus diagnoses in Spain

OBJETIVO: Describir el tiempo trascurrido desde el diagnóstico de la infección por el VIH hasta el inicio del seguimiento clínico en España y estimar los factores asociados al inicio de seguimiento correcto. Métodos Se calculó la distribución del intervalo entre las fechas del diagnóstico de VIH y la primera determinación de CD4 (considerada la fecha de inicio de seguimiento) entre los nuevos diagnósticos notificados en 2010 en las 7 comunidades autónomas participantes. Se consideró «inicio correcto» si este intervalo era < 3 meses. Se estimaron mediante regresión logística los factores asociados al inicio correcto. Resultados De los 1.769 nuevos diagnósticos del 2010, el 83,1% inició seguimiento en el primer año tras el diagnóstico y el 75,7% antes de 3 meses. Los usuarios de drogas inyectadas (UDI) tuvieron una probabilidad de inicio correcto significativamente menor (OR = 0,3; IC del 95%, 0,2-0,6).Conclusión En España, el inicio del seguimiento clínico tras el diagnóstico de VIH se hace en un tiempo razonable, pero hay margen de mejora y los UDI están en desventaja

OBJECTIVE: To describe linkage to care among new HIV diagnoses in Spain; and to estimate factors associated to linkage to care within three months after diagnosis. METHODS: The distribution of the time elapsing between the date of HIV diagnosis and the date of first determination of CD4 (considered to be the date of linkage to care) was calculated among new HIV diagnoses in 2010 in the seven Autonomous Regions participating, where data on date of CD4 count was available. Linkage to care was considered «correct» if done within three months after diagnosis. Factors associated to correct linkage to care were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1769 new HIV diagnoses were included. Of them, 83.1% had evidence of linkage to care within a year, and 75.7% were linked within three months after diagnosis. Being an injectable drug user(IDU) was the only factor inversely associated with linkage to care within 3 months (OR = 0.3; 95% CI:0.2-0.6)

[High-risk sexual behaviour by partner type among men who have sex with men]. / Conductas sexuales de alto riesgo en hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres según tipo de pareja sexual.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with high risk sexual practices among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Spain. METHODS: An online survey was conducted in 2010, which included, among others, questions on HIV/STI sexual behaviours and prevention needs. Unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) with a partner of unknown or discordant HIV status in the past year was defined as a high risk sexual behaviour. RESULTS: Of the 13,111 participants, 49.4% had had sex with steady partners (SP) and 73.4% with non-steady partners (NSP) in the last 12months; and the prevalence of high risk UAI was 25.4% and 29.4%, respectively. Factors associated with high risk UAI with SP were: living in a city of less than 500,000 inhabitants (OR=1.42 <100,000 inhabitants), being out to no-one or only a few people (OR=1.42), and being HIV-positive with undetectable viral load among those with a high level of HIV/STI knowledge (OR=3.18). Factors associated with high risk UAI with NSP were mainly: having a higher number of sexual partners (OR=4.31 >50 partners), having used drugs for sex (OR=1.33), and at parties (OR=1.19), having a medium (OR=1.82) or low (OR=1.33) level of HIV/STI knowledge, and being HIV-positive (OR=1.56). CONCLUSIONS: Among MSM, the prevalence of high risk sexual practices is high with both SP and NSP. Factors associated with high risk UAI vary by type of sexual partner (e.g., having HIV with an undetectable viral load). These must be taken into account when planning strategies for primary and secondary prevention.

[Linkage to care among new human immunodeficiency virus diagnoses in Spain]. / Patrón de inicio del seguimiento clínico en los pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en España.

OBJETIVE: To describe linkage to care among new HIV diagnoses in Spain; and to estimate factors associated to linkage to care within three months after diagnosis. METHODS: The distribution of the time elapsing between the date of HIV diagnosis and the date of first determination of CD4 (considered to be the date of linkage to care) was calculated among new HIV diagnoses in 2010 in the seven Autonomous Regions participating, where data on date of CD4 count was available. Linkage to care was considered «correct¼ if done within three months after diagnosis. Factors associated to correct linkage to care were estimated using logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 1769 new HIV diagnoses were included. Of them, 83.1% had evidence of linkage to care within a year, and 75.7% were linked within three months after diagnosis. Being an injectable drug user (IDU) was the only factor inversely associated with linkage to care within 3 months (OR = 0.3; 95% CI: 0.2-0.6). CONCLUSION: In Spain linkage to care after HIV diagnosis is good, but there is still room for improvement, especially among IDUs.

Predictors of advanced disease and late presentation in new HIV diagnoses reported to the surveillance system in Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To present surveillance data on advanced disease (AD) and late presentation (LP) of HIV in Spain and their determinants. METHODS: We included all new HIV diagnoses notified by the autonomous regions that consistently reported such cases throughout the period 2007-2011. Coverage was 54% of the total Spanish population. Data sources consisted of clinicians, laboratories and medical records. AD was defined as the presence of a CD4 cell count <200cells/µL in the first test after HIV diagnosis, while LP was defined as the presence of a CD4 cell count <350cells/µL after HIV diagnosis. Odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (OR, 95% CI) were used as the measure of association. Logistic regressions were fit to identify predictors of AD and LP. RESULTS: A total of 13,021 new HIV diagnoses were included. Among these, data on the outcome variable were available in 87.7%. The median CD4 count at presentation was 363 (interquartile range, 161-565). Overall, 3356 (29.4%) patients met the definition of AD and 5494 (48.1%) were classified as LP. Both AD and LP increased with age and were associated with male sex and infection through drug use or heterosexual contact. All immigrants except western Europeans were more prone to AD and LP. Multivariate models disaggregated by sex showed that the effect of age and region of origin was weaker in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: Despite universal health care coverage in Spain, men, immigrants and people infected through drug use or heterosexual contact seem to be experiencing difficulties in gaining timely access to HIV care.

Late diagnosis and entry to care after diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection: a country comparison.

BACKGROUND: Testing for HIV infection and entry to care are the first steps in the continuum of care that benefit individual health and may reduce onward transmission of HIV. We determined the percentage of people with HIV who were diagnosed late and the percentage linked into care overall and by demographic and risk characteristics by country. METHODS: Data were analyzed from national HIV surveillance systems. Six countries, where available, provided data on two late diagnosis indicators (AIDS diagnosis within 3 months of HIV diagnosis, and AIDS diagnosis within 12 months before HIV diagnosis) and linkage to care (≥ 1 CD4 or viral load test result within 3 months of HIV diagnosis) for people diagnosed with HIV in 2009 or 2010 (most recent year data were available). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The percentage of people presenting with late stage disease at HIV diagnosis varied by country, overall with a range from 28.7% (United States) to 8.8% (Canada), and by transmission categories. The percentage of people diagnosed with AIDS who had their initial HIV diagnosis within 12 months before AIDS diagnosis varied little among countries, except the percentages were somewhat lower in Spain and the United States. Overall, the majority of people diagnosed with HIV were linked to HIV care within 3 months of diagnosis (more than 70%), but varied by age and transmission category. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in patterns of late presentation at HIV diagnosis among countries may reflect differences in screening practices by providers, public health agencies, and people with HIV. The percentage of people who received assessments of immune status and viral load within 3 months of diagnosis was generally high.

Gonorrhoea diagnoses in a network of STI clinics in Spain during the period 2006-2010: differences by sex and transmission route.

BACKGROUND: Gonorrhoea infection is one of the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infections and an important cause of morbidity and serious complications. The objectives of this paper are: a) to describe gonorrhoea cases diagnosed in a network of 15 (out of 16) STI clinics in Spain during 2006-2010; b) to analyse differences among men who have sex with men (MSM), men who have sex exclusively with women (MSW) and women; and c) to evaluate factors associated to with HIV co-infection. METHODS: All gonorrhoea cases diagnosed in the network were included (25.7% of total cases notified in Spain). Data were collected by clinical staff. Descriptive/bivariate analyses were carried out stratifying by sex and transmission category; association and trends were evaluated using the chi-square test. Factors associated with HIV co-infection were estimated using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: 2385 cases were included: 55.3% among MSM, 31.3% among MSW and 13.3% among females; cases among MSM increased from 55.8% in 2006 to 62.9% in 2010 while no trends were found among the other two groups.Most MSM cases were Spaniards (72%), aged 25-34 years (46%), 49% reported previous STI and 25% concurrent STI (excluding HIV); casual partners were the commonest source of infection, and 21% of cases had rectal gonorrhoea. MSW cases did not differ from MSM by age, origin or source of infection, but frequencies of prior or concurrent STI were lower. Female cases were younger than male, were mostly foreigners (58%), and 41% were sex workers; concurrent STI (other than HIV) were diagnosed in 30%; 20.4% had symptoms (72.5% and 89.2% in MSM and MSW), and pharyngeal location was present in 30%.HIV co-infection was highest in MSM (20.9%). Co-infection was associated with age > 35 years, low educational level, being Western European or Latin-American, being MSM, having previous or concurrent STI and reporting contact with an HIV-infected partner; it was inversely associated with female sex. CONCLUSION: Differences by sex, transmission route and origin should be considered when implementing care and preventive programmes for gonorrhoea, and MSM are a priority group for intervention, in particular HIV-infected MSM.

Epidemiological surveillance of congenital syphilis in Spain, 2000-2010.

The characteristics of 67 confirmed congenital syphilis cases reported to the surveillance system in Spain (2000-2010) were analyzed. The incidence rates ranged from 0.00 to 2.23 per 100,000 live births. Median age at diagnosis was 4 days. Hepatosplenomegaly was the most common clinical finding, although almost 60% of the cases were asymptomatic. Missed opportunities for congenital syphilis prevention through antenatal care were identified.