Accurate determination of fruit and vegetable consumption is essential for research that seeks to determine current fruit and vegetable intake patterns, what type and amount of fruit and vegetable consumption is optimal for human health and for evaluating interventions developed to increase such consumption. However, there are many issues that make accurate determination of fruit and vegetable consumption quite difficult. There are many methods used to measure fruit and vegetable intake, but all have limitations. Also, what foods individuals consider to be or to not be fruits or vegetables appear to be quite variable, with such variability often associated with the individual's racial/ethnic background. Researchers and governmental agencies vary with respect to what foods they include and do not include when calculating fruit and vegetable intake. These differences make it difficult to conduct, evaluate and compare studies in this area. The current paper reviews some of the major issues with measuring and determining fruit and vegetable intake.

The high prevalences of UAI and HIV infection in South Beach attest to a previously undocumented public health concern. The extremely high estimated incidence for young MSM in South Beach highlights the urgent need for more effective risk-reduction interventions and further epidemiological research on resort areas.

Population-based HIV antibody testing revealed a remarkably high annual incidence of HIV infection. A community-based organization was transformed to implement a social marketing campaign and provide other disease prevention services for MSM.

Anal cancer rates, which were higher for men who have sex with men (MSM) compared to the general population before HIV, increased dramatically after the HIV epidemic began and continue to increase in HIV-infected MSM despite the advent of antiretroviral therapy and associated immune reconstitution. Because of the similarity to cervical cancer and an established link to human papillomavirus infection, many experts have called for widespread implementation of anal cytological screening and treatment programs, especially for HIV-infected MSM. However, other experts argue that it is too early for widespread implementation of such programs for reasons including lack of clear evidence that anal dysplasia is a precursor to anal cancer, or that detecting and treating anal dysplasia reduces the risk for developing anal cancer; lack of effective treatments for anal dysplasia when it is discovered; and lack of resources. This paper reviews current literature regarding these issues.

HIV counseling and testing has been a cornerstone of AIDS prevention strategies, with men who have sex with men being specifically targeted for the counseling and testing. Unfortunately, it appears that exposure to HIV counseling and testing has little effect on the behaviors of those who test negative. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently altered its recommendations on when and how often men who have sex with men should undergo testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, now recommending annual testing for sexually active men who have sex with men, with even more frequent testing for men who have sex with men who engage in highest risk behaviors. Using data from our study, we evaluated the new recommendations with respect to HIV testing. Overall, 81% of the men who have sex with men in our sample reported never having tested positive for HIV. Among these men who have sex with men in South Beach nearly 8% tested positive on their current test. Slightly more than half of the men who tested positive on their current test had not been tested in the past 12 months; slightly fewer than half reported they had tested negative within the prior 9 months. Reporting multiple (4 or more) anal sexual partners during the past 12 months was significantly associated with a positive test result. Our results support the new CDC guidelines regarding more frequent testing for sexually active men who have sex with men, with having a high number of anal partners being a significant indicator of need for testing more often than annually in our population.