Weiming Tang

HIV incidence and associated factors in a cohort of men who have sex with men in Nanjing, China.

Background: Many surveys conducted in recent years reported the increasing trend of HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM), but limited data exists on HIV incidence by cohort study in China. Methods: A 6-month prospective cohort study was conducted. A total of 397 MSM found HIV seronegative at baseline study were followed-up for 6 months starting from May 2007 and re-evaluated seroconversions of HIV at 6 months. Questionnaire interviews were conducted to collect information about risk behaviors. Results: Of the 397 MSM who were found seronegative at the baseline study, 286 (72.0%) received the HIV antibody testing at month 6; 7 of them showed HIV seroconversions, yielding an incidence of 5.12 per 100 person-years. Significant predictors of seroconversion (Poisson regression analyses) included duration being MSM >10 years (relative risks [RR] = 3.08, 95% CI: 1.53–6.20), recruiting male sex partner mostly at saunas (RR = 2.35, 95% CI:1.09–5.08), positive syphilis diagnosis made at the baseline study (RR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.31–6.09), having multiple male sex partners in the last 6 months (RR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.18–5.49), having at least 1 casual male sex partner in the last 6 months (RR = 2.17, 95% CI: 1.00–4.70), and having unprotected anal sex with a regular male sex partner in the last 6 months (RR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.10–4.49). Conclusions: The incidence of HIV among MSM is very high; many new infections would hence occur in China. Effective interventions are warranted. The risk factors reported in this study give some insights for designing relevant prevention programs.

The incidence of syphilis, HIV and HCV and associated factors in a cohort of men who have sex with men in Nanjing, China

Objective This study investigated the incidence of syphilis, HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), as well as factors associated with syphilis seroconversion among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Nanjing, China. Methods A cohort of MSM was recruited by respondent-driven sampling methods. Those who were syphilis-, HIV- and HCV-seronegative at the baseline were invited to be retested at month 6. A Poisson regression analysis was performed. Results Of the 416 participants in the study, 348 participants were HIV-, syphilis- and HCV-negative at the baseline, 250 (71.84%) of whom returned for retesting at month 6. Nine of these 250 participants had seroconverted to syphilis-positive (incidence=7.58 per 100 person-years (PY); 95% CI 2.63 to 12.53 per 100 PY), and five had seroconverted to HIV-positive (incidence=4.17 per 100 PY; 95% CI=0.52 to 7.83 per 100 PY). No HIV and syphilis coinfection and no HCV seroconversion were found. Multivariate analysis identified four statistically significant factors predicting syphilis seroconversion, including currently single marital status (RR=0.32, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.65, p<0.01), monthly income >US

Crowdsourcing HIV Test Promotion Videos: A Noninferiority Randomized Controlled Trial in China

300 (RR=2.68, 95% CI 1.28 to 5.61, p<0.01), self-reported homosexual orientation (RR=0.48, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.96, p<0.05) and recruitment of male sex partners mostly from gay saunas (RR=6.72, 95% CI 2.88 to 15.68, p<0.01). Conclusions The high incidence of syphilis and HIV reflects the seriousness and urgency of the HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STD) epidemics among MSM in China. Effective interventions of syphilis treatment and prevention should target MSM with characteristics reflecting the aforementioned risk factors.

Providing HIV-related services in China for men who have sex with men.

BACKGROUND Crowdsourcing, the process of shifting individual tasks to a large group, may enhance human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing interventions. We conducted a noninferiority, randomized controlled trial to compare first-time HIV testing rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender individuals who received a crowdsourced or a health marketing HIV test promotion video. METHODS Seven hundred twenty-one MSM and transgender participants (≥16 years old, never before tested for HIV) were recruited through 3 Chinese MSM Web portals and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 videos. The crowdsourced video was developed using an open contest and formal transparent judging while the evidence-based health marketing video was designed by experts. Study objectives were to measure HIV test uptake within 3 weeks of watching either HIV test promotion video and cost per new HIV test and diagnosis. RESULTS Overall, 624 of 721 (87%) participants from 31 provinces in 217 Chinese cities completed the study. HIV test uptake was similar between the crowdsourced arm (37% [114/307]) and the health marketing arm (35% [111/317]). The estimated difference between the interventions was 2.1% (95% confidence interval, -5.4% to 9.7%). Among those tested, 31% (69/225) reported a new HIV diagnosis. The crowdsourced intervention cost substantially less than the health marketing intervention per first-time HIV test (US

The effectiveness of UV-C radiation for facility-wide environmental disinfection to reduce health care-acquired infections.

131 vs US

The epidemic of HIV syphilis chlamydia and gonorrhea and the correlates of sexual transmitted infections among men who have sex with men in Jiangsu China 2009.

238 per person) and per new HIV diagnosis (US

HIV/AIDS Epidemic Among Older Adults in China During 2005-2012: Results From Trend and Spatial Analysis

415 vs US

Consistently High Unprotected Anal Intercourse (UAI) and factors correlated with UAI among men who have sex with men: implication of a serial cross-sectional study in Guangzhou, China

799 per person). CONCLUSIONS Our nationwide study demonstrates that crowdsourcing may be an effective tool for improving HIV testing messaging campaigns and could increase community engagement in health campaigns. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT02248558.

Recreational drug use among Chinese MSM and transgender individuals: Results from a national online cross-sectional study

Abstract Problem In China, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care provided by community-based organizations and the public sector are not well integrated. Approach A community-based organization and experts from the Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention developed internet-based services for men who have sex with men, in Guangzhou, China. The internet services were linked to clinical services offering HIV testing and care. Local setting The expanding HIV epidemic among men who have sex with men is a public health problem in China. HIV control and prevention measures are implemented primarily through the public system. Only a limited number of community organizations are involved in providing HIV services. Relevant changes The programme integrated community and public sector HIV services including health education, online HIV risk assessment, on-site HIV counselling and testing, partner notification, psychosocial care and support, counting of CD4+ T-lymphocytes and treatment guidance. Lessons learnt The internet can facilitate HIV prevention among a subset of men who have sex with men by enhancing awareness, service uptake, retention in care and adherence to treatment. Collaboration between the public sector and the community group promoted acceptance by the target population. Task sharing by community groups can increase access of this high-risk group to available HIV-related services.

Social Media Interventions to Promote HIV Testing, Linkage, Adherence, and Retention: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND Health care-acquired infections (HAIs) constitute an increasing threat for patients worldwide. Potential contributors of HAIs include environmental surfaces in health care settings, where ultraviolet-C radiation (UV-C) is commonly used for disinfection. This UV-C intervention-based pilot study was conducted in a hospital setting to identify any change in the incidence of HAIs before and after UV-C intervention, and to determine the effectiveness of UV-C in reducing pathogens. METHODS In a hospital in Culver City, CA, during 2012-2013, bactericidal doses of UV-C radiation (254 nm) were delivered through a UV-C-based mobile environmental decontamination unit. The UV-C dosing technology and expertise of the specifically trained personnel were provided together as a dedicated service model by a contracted company. The incidence of HAIs before and after the intervention period were determined and compared. RESULTS The dedicated service model dramatically reduced HAIs (incidence difference, 1.3/1000 patient-days, a 34.2% reduction). Reductions in the total number and incidence proportions (28.8%) of HAIs were observed after increasing and maintaining the coverage of UV-C treatments. CONCLUSION The dedicated service model was found to be effective in decreasing the incidence of HAIs, which could reduce disease morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. This model provides a continuously monitored and frequently UV-C-treated patient environment. This approach to UV-C disinfection was associated with a decreased incidence of HAIs.