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ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of using Internet outreach to encourage men who have sex with men (MSM) to get tested for HIV at voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) clinics in Beijing and Urumqi, China.MethodsFrom June to August 2007, two volunteers contacted MSM using instant messaging, online chat rooms, mobile phone, and e-mail (active recruitment). Banners with study information were put at the front pages of three major Chinese gay websites (passive recruitment). Those contacted were offered a modest financial incentive to seek HIV testing at existing VCT clinics. Those who subsequently sought HIV testing services at VCT clinics and provided informed consent completed a questionnaire and a blood draw to test for HIV and syphilis.ResultsA total of 3,332 MSM were contacted and 429 attended VCT clinics. One out of every 4 men that were recruited through instant messaging actually went for HIV testing, while the recruitment yields for online gay chat rooms, mobile phone contact, and email were 1∶6, 1∶10, and 1∶140, respectively. The majority of participants (80%, 317/399) reported being motivated to seek HIV testing out of concern for their health, and only 3% (11/399) reported being motivated by the financial incentive. Active recruitment tend to recruit MSM who are younger (X2 = 11.400, P = 0.001), never tested for HIV (X2 = 4.281, P = 0.039), tested less often (X2 = 5.638, P = 0.018).ConclusionInternet outreach is a promising way to encourage MSM to seek HIV testing at existing VCT clinics. Active recruitment can target MSM who are younger, never tested for HIV and tested less often.

Phialophora as defined by its type species P. verrucosa is a genus of Chaetothyriales, and a member of the group known as ‘black yeasts and relatives’. Phialophora verrucosa has been reported from mutilating human infections such as chromoblastomycosis, disseminated phaeohyphomycosis and mycetoma, while morphologically similar fungi are rather commonly isolated from the environment. Phenotypes are insufficient for correct species identification, and molecular data have revealed significant genetic variation within the complex of species currently identified as P. verrucosa or P. americana. Multilocus analysis of 118 strains revealed the existence of five reproductively isolated species apparently having different infectious potentials. Strains of the sexual morph Capronia semiimmersa cluster within P. americana. The newly defined taxa differ markedly in their predilection for the human host.

Objectives To assess HIV and syphilis infections among men who have sex with men who use the Internet (MSMUI) and their risk behaviors. Methods In 2007, 429 MSMUI were recruited via the Internet in Beijing and Urumqi, China. A questionnaire was administered, and a blood specimen collected and tested for HIV and syphilis. Results Median age of participants was 25 years. Median number of lifetime sexual partners was 10. Ninety point seven percent ever had sex with a cyber-friend. Rates of condom use in the last oral, insertive and receptive anal sex were 9.1%, 66.3% and 60.4% respectively. Infection rates of HIV, syphilis and HIV/syphilis co-infection were 4.8%, 11.4%, and 1.7% respectively. Factors associated with HIV infection were being ≤24 years (OR=2.85, 95% CI: 1.05–7.75), syphilis positive (OR=4.78, 95% CI: 1.68–13.58), used non-water-based liquid as lubricant (OR=8.03, 95% CI: 1.03–62.52) and having bleeding gums or oral ulcers during condom-free oral sex (OR=3.17, 95% CI: 1.13–8.88). Conclusions MSMUI engage in high-risk sexual behaviors and have a high prevalence of HIV and syphilis infections. The internet is the predominant venue for the majority of MSMUI to find sexual partners. It is urgent to implement effective intervention programs targeting this group.

g) Fig 1.Box plot of the observed species and Shannon diversity of fungal (a) and bacterial (b) communities. Tukey's test was used and differences were considered significant at P < 0Á05 (**P < 0Á01, ***P < 0Á001). Principal coordinate plot comparing samples based on the weighted UniFrac distances of the fungal (c) and bacterial (d) communities. Relative abundances of fungal (e) and bacterial (f) taxa at the genus level in the different cohorts. Only the top 10 enriched genera categories are shown. (g) A Spearman correlation matrix was used to show the correlations among the bacterial and fungal genera present in more than 50% of the samples with average abundances greater than 0Á1%. Blue indicates a positive correlation, whereas white indicates a negative correlation. A false discovery rate correction was applied to adjust the level of significance.

Tinea capitis is one type of superficial fungal infection which is found all over the world. The major etiologic agent of tinea capitis varies in different areas. Tinea capitis in China has unique characteristics. The epidemiology, transmission and therapy of child and adult tinea capitis in China are reviewed in this paper.

Specific risk behaviors related to different sexually transmitted infections have not been widely evaluated among men who have sex with men in China. In the present study, a total of 302 MSM were recruited from Beijing with a prevalence of HIV, syphilis, and anal HPV infection as 9.9, 19.2 and 71.4%, respectively. Lower education level was observed to be related to higher infection rate of HIV and syphilis. "Ever found sexual partners in gay venues" was significantly associated with HIV infection as well. "Taking anilinction as regular sexual behavior" was observed to be a significant predictor for anal HPV infection.

Tinea capitis is a dermatophyte infection of the scalp that occurs most often in prepubescent children. Tinea capitis may be transmitted by shared use of contaminated hairbrush, by contact with fomites or by direct physical contact with an infected person. Occasionally, outbreak of tinea capitis would happen under some special conditions. Last year, we found an outbreak of tinea capitis in a school due to Microsporum canis. In epidemiological study, we performed the prevalence survey to all of the exposed persons by physical examinations and mycological laboratory tests, including KOH preparation and fungal cultures. We also investigated the environment in the school. In molecular typing study of the M. canis isolated from patients and the environment, random primer amplification polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method, the specific amplification of subrepeat element in the ribosomal DNA nontranscribed spacer (NTS), and the analysis of DNA sequence in the intertranscribed spacer (ITS) of rDNA were performed. The total number of exposed children was seventy-one, among them forty-two were attacked by tinea capitis. The ratio between boy and girl was 13:1. The ages of the patients was ranged from 3.5 years old to 10 years old. Four patients bred cat or dog as pet. Most patients appeared noninflammatory type of tinea capitis and several patients were inflammatory type. Under microscopic examination the invaded hair were all ectothrix. The pathogens isolated from these patients were M. canis. And we also isolated M. canis from the carpet and the pillowcase in the school. The patterns of total strains of M. canis in the RAPD method and PCR amplification of the rDNA NTS region study were identical, and the isolates from patients and the environment contained the same DNA sequences in the ITS region. The outbreak of tinea capitis was caused by M. canis. The M. canis isolated from patients and from the environment were probably the same origin.