RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Persistence of Zika virus (ZIKV) ribonucleic acid (RNA) in semen is common after infection. METHODS: We designed a reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay that targets antisense ZIKV RNA (asRNA) to assess ZIKV replication competence in ZIKV RNA-positive semen samples. RESULTS: We detected ZIKV asRNA in semen of 9 of 19 men (47.4%) diagnosed with ZIKV infection. All asRNA-positive samples had high ZIKV loads (cycle threshold values <26) and were obtained within 21 days of symptom onset. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of the asRNA assay for detection of ZIKV replication was higher than that of conventional virus isolation methods (47.4% vs 21.1%, P = .032).
Asunto(s)
ARN sin Sentido/análisis , ARN Viral/análisis , Semen/virología , Replicación Viral , Infección por el Virus Zika/virología , Virus Zika/fisiología , Humanos , Masculino , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Virus Zika/genética , Virus Zika/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
The objective of this study was to extend the psychometric evaluation of a brief version of the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS). A secondary analysis of data from an international sample of 1967 English-speaking persons living with HIV disease was used to examine the factor structure, and reliability of the 12-item Brief Version Self-Compassion Inventory (BVSCI). A Maximum Likelihood factor analysis and Oblimin with Kaiser Normalization confirmed a two-factor solution, accounting for 42.58% of the variance. The BVSCI supported acceptable internal consistencies, with 0.714 for the total scale and 0.822 for Factor I and 0.774 for Factor II. Factor I (lower self-compassion) demonstrated strongly positive correlations with measures of anxiety and depression, while Factor II (high self-compassion) was inversely correlated with the measures. No significant differences were found in the BVSCI scores for gender, age, or having children. Levels of self-compassion were significantly higher in persons with HIV disease and other physical and psychological health conditions. The scale shows promise for the assessment of self-compassion in persons with HIV without taxing participants, and may prove essential in investigating future research aimed at examining correlates of self-compassion, as well as providing data for tailoring self-compassion interventions for persons with HIV.
Asunto(s)
Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/psicología , Empatía , Infecciones por VIH/psicología , Inventario de Personalidad , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Ansiedad/psicología , Comorbilidad , Depresión/psicología , Análisis Factorial , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , América del Norte/epidemiología , Psicometría , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Autoimagen , Autoeficacia , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Unhealthy substance-use behaviors, including a heavy alcohol intake, illicit drug use, and cigarette smoking, are engaged in by many HIV-positive individuals, often as a way to manage their disease-related symptoms. This study, based on data from a larger randomized controlled trial of an HIV/AIDS symptom management manual, examines the prevalence and characteristics of unhealthy behaviors in relation to HIV/AIDS symptoms. The mean age of the sample (n = 775) was 42.8 years and 38.5% of the sample was female. The mean number of years living with HIV was 9.1 years. The specific self-reported unhealthy substance-use behaviors were the use of marijuana, cigarettes, a large amount of alcohol, and illicit drugs. A subset of individuals who identified high levels of specific symptoms also reported significantly higher substance-use behaviors, including amphetamine and injection drug use, heavy alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and marijuana use. The implications for clinical practice include the assessment of self-care behaviors, screening for substance abuse, and education of persons regarding the self-management of HIV.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por VIH/psicología , Asunción de Riesgos , Autocuidado , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/epidemiología , Adulto , África/epidemiología , Anciano , Alcoholismo , Femenino , Infecciones por VIH/tratamiento farmacológico , Infecciones por VIH/patología , Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Humanos , Masculino , Cumplimiento de la Medicación , Persona de Mediana Edad , Modelos Psicológicos , Psicometría , Puerto Rico/epidemiología , Factores de Riesgo , Estadística como Asunto , Trastornos Relacionados con Sustancias/psicología , Estados Unidos/epidemiología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
As part of a larger randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of an HIV/AIDS symptom management manual (n = 775), this study examined the prevalence of peripheral neuropathy in HIV-infected individuals at 12 sites in the USA, Puerto Rico, and Africa. Neuropathy was reported by 44% of the sample; however, only 29.4% reported initiating self-care behaviors to address the neuropathy symptoms. Antiretroviral therapy was found to increase the frequency of neuropathy symptoms, with an increased mean intensity of 28%. A principal axis factor analysis with Promax rotation was used to assess the relationships in the frequency of use of the 18 self-care activities for neuropathy, revealing three distinct factors: (i) an interactive self-care factor; (ii) a complementary medicine factor; and (iii) a third factor consisting of the negative health items of smoking, alcohol, and street drugs. The study's results suggest that peripheral neuropathy is a common symptom and the presence of neuropathy is associated with self-care behaviors to ameliorate HIV symptoms. The implications for nursing practice include the assessment and evaluation of nursing interventions related to management strategies for neuropathy.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por VIH/complicaciones , Conductas Relacionadas con la Salud , Cooperación del Paciente/estadística & datos numéricos , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso Periférico/epidemiología , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso Periférico/terapia , Autocuidado/normas , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/complicaciones , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/diagnóstico , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/tratamiento farmacológico , Adulto , Distribución por Edad , Anciano , Analgésicos/uso terapéutico , Terapia Antirretroviral Altamente Activa/métodos , Estudios de Cohortes , Terapias Complementarias , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Infecciones por VIH/diagnóstico , Infecciones por VIH/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Dimensión del Dolor , Enfermedades del Sistema Nervioso Periférico/etiología , Prevalencia , Medición de Riesgo , Asunción de Riesgos , Autocuidado/tendencias , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Distribución por Sexo , Estados Unidos , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Interferences with the Olympus immunoturbidimetric assay for ferritin have been reported because the antibodies used in the immunoassay are derived from rabbits. Rabbits are familiar pets known to be a risk factor for developing heterophilic (or interfering) antibodies. This report shows how the current Olympus Ferritin assay has been improved to eliminate the interference from heterophilic antibodies.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Heterófilos/inmunología , Especificidad de Anticuerpos , Ferritinas/sangre , Inmunoensayo/métodos , Fragmentos Fab de Inmunoglobulinas/inmunología , Animales , Reacciones Falso Positivas , Ferritinas/inmunología , Humanos , Inmunoensayo/instrumentación , Nefelometría y Turbidimetría/instrumentación , Nefelometría y Turbidimetría/métodos , Conejos , Sensibilidad y EspecificidadRESUMEN
Fatigue has been identified as a key complaint among patients with HIV/AIDS. Although having more than one disease is expected to increase symptom severity, this relationship has not been explored extensively. We investigated differences in fatigue severity together with the impact of demographic factors and the number of comorbidities and symptoms among patients with and those without comorbidities at 18 international clinical and community sites. Specific comorbidities and the number of symptoms associated with increased fatigue severity. Only by distinguishing fatigue as to its causes and patterns will health care providers be able to intervene specifically and thus more effectively.
Asunto(s)
Fatiga/epidemiología , Fatiga/virología , Infecciones por VIH/complicaciones , Infecciones por VIH/epidemiología , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Comorbilidad , Fatiga/enfermería , Femenino , Infecciones por VIH/enfermería , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Modelos Teóricos , Evaluación en Enfermería , Prevalencia , Análisis de Regresión , Factores de Riesgo , Estados Unidos/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
The purpose of this study was to describe the frequency and correlates of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies used by people with HIV/AIDS to manage illness and treatment-related symptoms. Data were collected from a convenience sample (N = 422) of people living with HIV disease. Demographic variables (e.g., education, age, and gender) were compared for those who reported using at least one CAM therapy. There were significant differences for gender (chi2 = 4.003, df = 1, p = .045) and for ethnicity (chi2 = 6.042, df = 2, p = .049). Females and African Americans used CAM more frequently. More than one third of the participants used CAM, and there were a total of 246 critical incidents of nontraditional treatment use. It is possible that these nonallopathic interventions may positively affect health-related quality of life in persons with HIV by ameliorating or reducing the side effects associated with the disease and its treatments.
Asunto(s)
Actitud Frente a la Salud , Terapias Complementarias/estadística & datos numéricos , Infecciones por VIH/terapia , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida/terapia , Adulto , Negro o Afroamericano/psicología , Distribución de Chi-Cuadrado , Terapias Complementarias/normas , Características Culturales , Diversidad Cultural , Femenino , Infecciones por VIH/psicología , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Calidad de Vida , Factores Sexuales , Estados Unidos , Población Blanca/psicologíaRESUMEN
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To identify when fatigue is reported as a problem by people who are HIV positive, what the perception of fatigue is, and which self-care behaviors are used and with what efficacy. DESIGN: Multisite descriptive study. SETTING: University-based AIDS clinics, community-based organizations, and homecare agencies located in cities across the United States, in Norway, and through a university Web site. SAMPLE: Convenience sample of 422 self-identified people who are HIV positive. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Symptom description, symptom relief, symptom help, and self-care strategies. FINDINGS: The sixth most reported symptom in this study, fatigue, was treated with a variety of self-designed strategies. In only three instances was consultation with a healthcare provider (i.e., physician) or an injection (medication not defined) mentioned. The most frequently used interventions were supplements, vitamins, and nutrition followed by sleep and rest; exercise; adjusting activities, approaches, and thoughts; distraction; and complementary and alternative therapies. In addition to self-designed strategies, the media and friends and family were sources of information. CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue was reported less frequently in this study than in other HIV-, AIDS-, or cancer-related studies. This may be an artifact of the study design. The use of informal networks for assistance, let alone the prevalence of unrelieved fatigue, indicates the need for more attention to this problem among people with AIDS. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Careful assessment of the pattern of fatigue and its onset, duration, intervention, and resolution is required if the varied types of fatigue are to be identified and treated successfully.