In June 2013, the WHO issued new guidelines for antiretroviral treatment (ART). The guidelines substantially expand eligibility for ART, recommending initiation at CD4 cell counts #500 cells/ml instead of at #350 cells/ml. For HIVpositive patients with active tuberculosis (TB) or hepatitis B, HIV-infected partners in serodiscordant couples, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children younger...

BACKGROUND Antiretroviral therapy (ART) suppresses HIV viral load in all body compartments and so limits the risk of HIV transmission. It has been suggested that ART not only contributes to preventing transmission at individual but potentially also at population level. This trial aims to evaluate the effect of ART initiated immediately after identification/diagnosis of HIV-infected individuals,...

BACKGROUND The 2015 WHO recommendation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all immediately following HIV diagnosis is partially based on the anticipated impact on HIV incidence in the surrounding population. We investigated this approach in a cluster-randomised trial in a high HIV prevalence setting in rural KwaZulu-Natal. We present findings from the first phase of the trial and report on upta...

Central MessageThe benefits of regionalizing surgery for type A dissection depend on patient stability; the geographical density high-volume centers; and presence high-volume, experienced aortic surgeons.This Invited Expert Opinion provides a perspective following paper: Circulation. 2019;140(15):1239-1250. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.038867.See Articles pages 1738 1740. The surg...

I summarize the recent history of education reform and statewide testing in Texas, which led to introduction of the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) in 1990-91. A variety of evidence in the late 1990s led a number of observers to conclude that the state of Texas had made near miraculous progress in reducing dropouts and increasing achievement. The passing scores on TAAS tests were arb...

The research and development process for new HIV prevention technologies is a global enterprise and most parts of Africa, have been actively involved in the identification and development of effective methods. The new tools for HIV prevention currently under development include vaccines, topical microbicides such as gels, creams and foams that can be applied to the vagina or rectum prior to sex...

I thank the Editors of CSP for the opportunity to read and comment briefly on the excellent article by Paiva et al., The Current State of Play of Research on the Social, Political and Legal Dimensions of HIV (p. 477-86). Commentators often cite limited space as an acceptable excuse for overly brief commentary. Note, however, that their critical review covers a vast set of papers and debates fro...

We announce a new series for Addiction on HCV (hepatitis C virus). This is prompted by the changing treatment and prevention landscape and syndemic of HCV and drug use, specifically concerning people who inject drugs (PWID). In some developing countries more than 80% of HCV is among people with a history of drug injection; globally, almost 40% of HCV burden is attributable to injecting drug use...