Some individuals remain uninfected with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) despite multiple high-risk sexual exposures. We studied a cohort of 25 subjects with histories of multiple high-risk sexual exposures to HIV-1 and found that their CD8+ lymphocytes had greater anti-HIV-1 activity than did CD8+ lymphocytes from nonexposed controls. Further studies indicated that their purified CD4+ lymphocytes were less susceptible to infection with multiple primary isolates of HIV-1 than were CD4+ lymphocytes from the nonexposed controls. This relative resistance to HIV-1 infection did not extend to T-cell line-adapted strains, was restricted by the envelope glycoprotein, was not explained by the cell surface density of CD4 molecules, but was associated with the activity of the C-C chemokines RANTES, MIP-1alpha, and MIP-1beta. This relative resistance of CD4+ lymphocytes may contribute to protection from HIV-1 in multiply exposed persons.

We conclude that impedance procedures may give additional significant information about bolus transport and esophageal wall movements.

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The operative results and complications after stoma closure in 548 patients operated on between 1972 and 1993 are described in this retrospective study. The patients were divided into three groups (group I,n = 74, 1972-1976; group II,n = 256, 1977-1985; group III,n = 218, 1986-1993) according to the year of operation and changing concepts in colorectal surgery. The overall mortality rate was 2.0%. The morbidity rate including minor complications was significantly reduced from 70.3% in group I to 27.1% in group III. Postoperative wound infections and fever were the most common complications. The location of the stoma and the operative technique did not markedly influence the morbidity rate. The most striking decrease in complications was achieved by the combined usage of orthograde lavage and perioperative antibiotic treatment (14.6% wound infections, 6.9% postoperative fever). In conclusion, a standardized perioperative treatment protocol including orthograde lavage and antibiotics is recommended.

Hepatitis A infection among homosexual and bisexual men is associated with oral-anal and digital-rectal intercourse, as well as with increasing numbers of anonymous sex partners and group sex. These findings reinforce the importance of developing educational activities for homosexual and bisexual men that focus on risk reduction for hepatitis A as well as other sexually transmitted disease spread via the fecal-oral route.