Category Archives: Other
Reviews that are lab-based (e.g. genes, pharmaceuticals) or on unique groups of people (e.g. fishermen, nurses)
Factors affecting antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-positive pregnant and postpartum women: an adapted systematic review
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial for effective treatment, but can be quite complex. Non-adherence can adversely affect treatment outcomes. Although many studies have been done on adherence in...
Meta-analyses on behavioral interventions to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV
Different behavioral interventions have found to be efficacious in reducing high-risk sexual activity. Interventions have been evaluated in both original research and meta-analytic reviews. Most of the studies have shown...
Impact of small reductions in plasma HIV RNA levels on the risk of heterosexual transmission and disease progression
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the impact of small changes in plasma levels of HIV-1 RNA on the risk of heterosexual transmission or disease progression to an AIDS-defining event or death. DESIGN...
The nursing implications of routine provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling in sub-Saharan Africa: A critical review of new policy guidance from WHO/UNAIDS
BACKGROUND: In 2007 WHO/UNAIDS issued new HIV testing guidelines recommending ‘provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling’ (PITC). In contrast to existing ‘voluntary counselling and testing’ guidelines (whereby individuals self refer for...
Uptake of home-based voluntary HIV testing in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
INTRODUCTION: Improving access to HIV testing is a key priority in scaling up HIV treatment and prevention services. Home-based voluntary counselling and testing (HBT) as an approach to delivering wide-scale...
Peginterferon alfa-2a is superior to peginterferon alfa-2b in the treatment of naïve patients with hepatitis C virus infection: Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
BACKGROUND: Pegylated interferon (PEGIFN) and ribavirin combination is the standard of care for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Studies comparing the efficacy and safety of PEGIFN...
Interferon-γ release assays for active pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis in adults in low-and middle-income countries: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Background. The diagnostic value of interferon- release assays (IGRAs) for active tuberculosis in low- and middle-income countries is unclear. Methods. We searched multiple databases for studies published through May 2010...
The diagnostic accuracy of serologic and molecular methods for detecting visceral leishmaniasis in HIV infected patients: Meta-analysis
Human visceral leishmaniasis (VL), a potentially fatal disease, has emerged as an important opportunistic condition in HIV infected patients. In immunocompromised patients, serological investigation is considered not an accurate diagnostic...
Interventions to reduce alcohol use among HIV-infected individuals: A review and critique of the literature
Alcohol use disorders are common among HIV-infected individuals and are associated with adverse physiological complications and increased engagement in other health risk behaviors. This paper provides a review and critique...
Does genetic diversity of HIV-1 non-B subtypes differentially impact disease progression in treatment-naive HIV-1-infected individuals? A systematic review of evidence: 1996–2010
With 88% of HIV-1-infected individuals living in areas of high prevalence of non-B subtypes and with expanded global access to antiretroviral treatment (ART), studying disease progression amongst non-B subtypes gains...
