Computed tomographic colonography is highly specific, but the range of reported sensitivities is wide. Patient or scanner characteristics do not fully account for this variability, but collimation, type of scanner, and mode of imaging explain some of the discrepancy. This heterogeneity raises concerns about consistency of performance and about technical variability. These issues must be resolved before CT colonography can be advocated for generalized screening for colorectal cancer.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL) includes a spectrum of clinicopathological conditions with increasing prevalence in the developed world. Although steatosis alone seems to have a benign course, those patients with the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) can have a progressive course. Additionally, there is now evolving, indirect evidence that some of the patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis may be the result of 'burned-out' NASH. Although NAFL and NASH are associated with insulin-resistance syndrome, some patients with NAFL may have no obvious risk factors. Despite preliminary data from a number of pilot studies, no established therapies can be offered to patients with NASH. Over the next few years, a number of exciting research projects dealing with the epidemiology as well as the pathogenesis of NAFL are expected to be completed. It is anticipated that, through a better understanding of NAFL, more effective treatment protocols can be developed targeting only those patients with NASH that are at the highest risk for progression to cirrhosis and liver failure.

Objectives To determine the prevalence and predictors of an incomplete immune response in patients with sustained viral suppression following their first or second combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) regimen. Methods All patients were recruited to the Australian HIV Observational Database (AHOD) by March 2006. Data were analysed to assess the prevalence of an incomplete immune response (<350 cells/μL) in the 12-24 months after starting the first or second cART regimen. Factors associated with an incomplete immune response were assessed using logistic regression and time to AIDS/death was assessed using survival analysis. Results Of the 2493 patients recruited to AHOD by March 2006, 590 were eligible for the analysis. Twenty eight percent of patients with a baseline CD4 count <350 cells/μL had an incomplete immune response 12-24 months after starting their first or second cART regimen. Lower baseline CD4 count prior to starting the cART regimen was predictive of an incomplete immune response. There was a non-significant trend towards faster AIDS or death in incomplete immune responders. Conclusions An incomplete immune response in patients with sustained viral suppression is associated with poorer immune function prior to starting cART. Type of cART or individual antiretroviral drugs was not associated with an incomplete immune response.

Factors affecting the response to hepatitis B vaccination in a primary care setting were examined by means of a review of case notes of patients attending 22 sexually transmissible disease services. Where not available from the notes, presence of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) was determined by testing available stored serum. One hundred and ninety-five patients completed a course of 3 injections and had an anti-HBs assay performed. The highest response rate (anti-HBs > or = 10 IU/L) was found in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative heterosexual women (16 of 17, 94.1%) followed by HIV-negative heterosexual men (11 of 12, 91.7%); HIV-negative homosexual men (105 of 120, 87.5%); and HIV-positive homosexual men (6 of 14, 42.9%). (For HIV-positive vs HIV-negative homosexual men, P = 0.0003). Eleven of 14 (78.6%) homosexual men of unknown HIV status responded to vaccination. There was a trend to lower CD4+ lymphocyte counts among HIV-infected patients who responded to hepatitis B vaccination (mean 482 cells/cm2) when compared to those that did not respond (632 cells) but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.330). Neither the type of vaccine (recombinant, plasma-derived or mixed) nor the length of vaccination course (mean 6.2 months; range 2 to 18) affected response. This study confirmed that vaccination against hepatitis B is much less effective in HIV-infected homosexual men and marginally less effective for HIV-negative homosexual men, though the mechanism for this reduced response is uncertain. Reassuringly vaccine response was not affected by common variables in primary care settings such as vaccine type or delays in the vaccine schedule.

Introduction Although studies have shown reductions in mortality from AIDS after the introduction of combination antiretroviral treatment (cART), little is known about cause-specific mortality in low income settings in the cART era. We explored predictors of AIDS and non-AIDS mortality and compared cause-specific mortality across high and low income settings in the Asia Pacific region. Methods We followed patients in the Asia Pacific HIV Observational Database from the date they started cART (or cohort enrolment if cART initiation was identified retrospectively), until the date of death or last follow-up visit. Competing risks methods were used to estimate the cumulative incidence, and to investigate predictors, of AIDS and non-AIDS mortality. Results Of 4252 patients, 215 died; 89 from AIDS, 97 from non-AIDS causes and 29 from unknown causes. Age >50 years (hazard ratio (HR), 4.29; 95%CI, 2.10-8.79) and CD4 counts ≤100 cells/μL (HR, 8.59; 95%CI, 5.66-13.03) were associated with an increased risk of non-AIDS mortality. Risk factors for AIDS mortality included CD4 counts ≤100 cells/μL (HR, 34.97; 95%CI, 18.01-67.90) and HIV RNA ≥10,001 (HR 4.21; 95%CI 2.07-8.55). There was some indication of a lower risk of non-AIDS mortality in Asian high, and possibly low, income countries compared to Australia. Conclusions Immune deficiency is associated with an increased risk of AIDS and non-AIDS mortality. Older age predicts non-AIDS mortality in the cART era. Less conclusive was the association between country-income level and cause-specific mortality because of the relatively high proportion of unknown causes of death in low income settings.

Nearly 4 million people in the United States have evidence of hepatitis C infection (HCV), representing a significant cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer as well a major burden to our healthcare systems and society. Antiviral therapy can successfully eradicate HCV over the long term, potentially reducing the risk of progression and improving patients' quality of life. The currently preferred HCV treatment is a combination of pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin, which can achieve an overall sustained viral eradication rate of 55%. The duration of this treatment is typically determined by HCV genotype and the patient's early virologic response to the antiviral regimen. Evidence has accumulated over the past few years to indicate that close adherence to the optimal antiviral regimen can enhance sustained virologic response. But optimal treatment outcomes require diligence and careful management of side effects related to combination therapy. Although reducing the dose of pegylated interferon alfa, ribavirin, or both can effectively treat side effects, suboptimal doses of this regimen, especially ribavirin, may negatively affect virologic response. An alternative strategy is to use growth factors to treat cytopenias. This strategy can obviate dose reductions while potentially improving patients' quality of life. Patient support seems especially important early after the initiation of antiviral therapy. Encouraging study findings involving the growth factors, epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa, suggest improved anemia and quality of life while maintaining the optimal ribavirin dose. Future work should be aimed at providing stronger evidence for the use of these "supportive products" during anti-HCV therapy. As we strive to develop better treatment options for our HCV patients, the importance of adhering to the treatment regimen continues to play a central role. Effective side effect management is crucial for the success of this treatment because adherence is negatively affected by side effects related to the antiviral regimen. By identifying and addressing the important side effects of combination therapy for HCV, adherence to treatment can be improved and optimal outcomes can be achieved.

The antibiotic MIC/treatment outcome correlates that are usually found in gonorrhea do not apply for azithromycin. Current MIC criteria do not accurately define susceptibility or resistance of gonococci to azithromycin and by themselves do not predict the likely outcome of therapy. Pharmacokinetic factors may decrease the predictive value of MIC data.

Objectives-To determine if there were any differences in antiretroviral treatment (ART) use across the three eastern states of Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, during the period 1997 to 2006. Methods-We NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript compared to the other states (37% compared to 49 and 55% in 2000). We found similar proportions of HIV-positive MSM participants were on ART in all three states over the study period in the clinicbased AHOD cohort (81-92%) and two large, community based surveys in Australia (69-85% and 49-83%) . Similar proportions of treated patients had an undetectable viral load across the three states, with a consistently increasing trend over time observed in all states. We found that more PHI patients commenced treatment in the first year following HIV diagnosis in NSW compared to Victoria; however, the sample size was very small.Conclusions-For the most part, patterns of ART use were similar across NSW, Victoria and Queensland using a range of available data from cohort studies, community surveys and national prescription databases in Australia. However, there may be a lower proportion of individuals living with HIV on ART in NSW compared to the other states, and there is some indication of a more aggressive treatment approach with PHI patients in NSW compared to Victoria.