'Transport infrastructure' determines spread of HIV subtypes in Africa

Study in AIDS Journal uses advanced mapping techniques to assess role of 'spatial accessibility'

2012-12-05

(Press-News.org) Philadelphia, Pa. (December 4, 2012) – Road networks and geographic factors affecting "spatial accessibility" have a major impact on the spread of HIV across sub-Saharan Africa, according to a study published online by the journal AIDS, official journal of the International AIDS Society. AIDS is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part ofWolters Kluwer Health. Using sophisticated mapping techniques and detailed databases, Dr Andrew J. Tatem of the University of Florida and colleagues have found "coherent spatial patterns in HIV-1 subtype distributions" across Africa. The researchers write, "A comprehensive understanding and evidence-base on accessibility, travel and mobility in resource poor settings would…provide a valuable resource for the strategic planning of disease control." The article is available on the AIDS journal homepage and in the November 28 print edition.

Molecular HIV Data Overlaid on Spatial Accessibility Maps… Dr Tatem and his team performed a spatial analysis of the distribution of HIV for the years 1998 to 2008 to explore the impact of transportation networks and geography on the spread of HIV. Molecular data on specific HIV subtypes were obtained and analyzed in relation to "detailed and complete" spatial datasets on Africa-wide road networks.

In addition to roads, the data included a wide range of factors affecting "spatial accessibility," such as land cover, settlement locations, bodies of water, and topography. Sophisticated models were used to calculate not just the distance between locations, but also the ease of traveling from one place to another.

Even simply laying a chart of HIV subtypes over a map of travel times between settled areas makes the link between spatial accessibility and HIV subtype "clearly evident." Dr Tatem and coauthors write, "[C]lusters of similar subtype distributions are well connected and easily accessible from one another, whereas regions of low accessibility separate groupings of similar subtype distributions."

…Show Role of Travel in Spread of HIV Subtypes Transport networks and ease of travel—rather than the straight-line distances between locations—provided a much better explanation for the distribution of HIV subtypes. The data showed clustering of certain subtype distributions in well-connected regions—such as the western, eastern, and southern Africa and Ethiopia—that are separated by areas of "limited connectivity."

In contrast, the difficulty of travel in certain areas of central Africa likely restricted the spread of HIV, the researchers suggest. "The relatively poor connectivity in central Africa likely contributed to the slow initial growth of the epidemic in the first half of the 20th century," according to Dr Tatem and colleagues. The same factor may explain why HIV rates remained relatively low in central Africa, while soaring elsewhere.

Although the study has some important limitations, it adds important evidence for understanding how transport infrastructure and geography have affected—and will continue to affect—the spread of HIV. The authors hope that the modeling techniques used can be extended to map cultural and other factors affecting HIV subtype distribution and transmissibility. More accurate data on "actual volumes and flows of human travel" could also lend new insights.

"The increased travel and mobility of people may lead to the accelerated spread of new variants and the further diversification of the global HIV epidemic," Dr Tatem and coauthors write. They believe that ongoing efforts to monitor the spread of HIV subtypes could have important implications for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.

### About AIDS AIDS publishes the very latest ground-breaking research on HIV and AIDS. Read by all the top clinicians and researchers, AIDS has the highest impact of all AIDS-related journals. With 18 issues per year, AIDS guarantees the authoritative presentation of even more significant advances. The Editors, themselves noted international experts who know the demands of HIV/AIDS research, are committed to making AIDS the most distinguished and innovative journal in the field. Visit the journal website at www.aidsonline.com.

About Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher of trusted content delivered in innovative ways to practitioners, professionals and students to learn new skills, stay current on their practice, and make important decisions to improve patient care and clinical outcomes. LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information, business intelligence and point-of-care solutions for the healthcare industry. Wolters Kluwer Health is part of Wolters Kluwer, a market-leading global information services company with 2011 annual revenues of €3.4 billion ($4.7 billion).

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Breath test could possibly diagnose colorectal cancer

2012-12-05

A new study published in BJS has demonstrated for the first time that a simple breath analysis could be used for colorectal cancer screening. The study is part of the "Improving Outcomes in Gastrointestinal Cancer" supplement. Cancer tissue has different metabolism compared to normal healthy cells and produces some substances which can be detected in the breath of these patients. Analysis of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) linked to cancer is a new frontier in cancer screening. Led by Donato F. Altomare, MD, of the Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation ...

Smoking may worsen hangover after heavy drinking

2012-12-05

PISCATAWAY, NJ – People who like to smoke when they drink may be at greater risk of suffering a hangover the next morning, according to a study in the January 2013 issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. For anyone who has ever had too much to drink, that day-after combination of headache, nausea and fatigue may be a familiar feeling. But some drinkers appear hangover-resistant: about one-quarter of people who drink enough to spur a hangover in most of us don't actually develop one. No one is sure why that is. But the new study suggests that smoking could ...

Study finds unique 'anonymous delivery' law effective in decreasing rates of neonaticide in Austria

2012-12-05

Rates of reported neonaticide have more than halved following the implementation of a unique 'anonymous delivery' law in Austria, finds a new study published today (05 December) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Researchers, from the Medical University of Vienna, looked at the rates of reported neonaticide (where a child is killed within the first 24 hours of birth) in Austria prior to and after the implementation of the 'anonymous delivery' law which was introduced in 2001. The law allows women access to antenatal care and to give birth ...

Consumers benefitted nearly $1.5 billion from the ACA's medical loss ratio rule in 2011

2012-12-05

New York, NY, December 5, 2012—Consumers saw nearly $1.5 billion in insurer rebates and overhead cost savings in 2011, due to the Affordable Care Act's medical loss ratio provision requiring health insurers to spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars on health care or quality improvement activities or pay a rebate to their customers, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. Consumers with individual policies saw substantially reduced premiums when insurers reduced both administrative costs and profits to meet the new standards. While insurers in the small- and large-group ...

National Geographic unveils new phase of genographic project

2012-12-05

WASHINGTON (Dec. 5, 2012)-- The National Geographic Society today announced the next phase of its Genographic Project — the multiyear global research initiative that uses DNA to map the history of human migration. Building on seven years of global data collection, Genographic shines new light on humanity's collective past, yielding tantalizing clues about humankind's journey across the planet over the past 60,000 years. "Our first phase drew participation from more than 500,000 participants from over 130 countries," said Project Director Spencer Wells, a population geneticist ...

Bye bye Mediterranean diet, the poorest can't afford it anymore

2012-12-05

Recently the Mediterranean diet has achieved lots of distinctions, from the inclusion by the UNESCO in the Olympus of the World heritage list to a long series of dedicated congresses and meetings held everywhere in the globe with the aim of promoting its healthy properties against the most threatening diseases such as cardiovascular disease and tumors. So the Mediterranean diet is an international star acclaimed by the scientific community as the best dietary paradigm. And yet this eating model seems to creak under the burden of the economic crisis scaring the food trolley ...

Does Fourth Amendment Protect Against Warrantless DUI Blood Tests?

2012-12-05

Does Fourth Amendment protect against warrantless DUI blood tests? The United States Supreme Court recently accepted a case that could affect the rights of those who are accused of driving under the influence. The issue at stake is can a police officer force a suspect to take a blood test against his or her will without a warrant? Specifically, the decision will decide whether the natural dissipation of alcohol in the bloodstream is a sufficient cause under the Fourth Amendment to draw blood without a warrant. The events in the case, Missouri v. McNeely, began when ...

Truck Accidents: GPS and Cellphones Add to Accident Risk

2012-12-05

Truck accidents: GPS and cellphones add to accident risk Many Connecticut motorists have come to rely on their smartphones and GPS systems to help find their way to unfamiliar destinations. But although these navigation tools have become nearly indispensable for a growing number of drivers, when used improperly they can also contribute to one of the greatest threats on Connecticut roads today: distracted driving. What is distracted driving? Distracted driving is a factor in roughly 20 percent of all traffic accidents nationwide, according to the National Highway ...

Study Shows Significant Rise in Gray Divorces

2012-12-05

Study shows significant rise in gray divorces Arizona is a popular retirement destination and is known for its high number of retirees. Unfortunately, many of these retirees are part of the latest divorce trend, known as gray divorce. Gray divorces involve individuals over the age of 50. Divorce is a difficult process. One individual who recently went through a gray divorce stated that it was a trying process. Since divorce can be a challenging journey, it's important to have experienced counsel at your side. Study shows increasing gray divorce rates A recent ...

Maryland Marijuana Reform Lowers Penalties, But Risks Remain

2012-12-05

Maryland marijuana reform lowers penalties, but risks remain As many states throughout the U.S. have done recently, Maryland implemented a law this year that reduces the penalties for possession of small quantities of marijuana. Lawmakers hope the new policy will reduce strain on the court system and allow police to focus more of their resources on addressing violent crime and other serious offenses. Maryland's new marijuana possession law went into effect on October 1, 2012. Under the new law, the maximum penalty for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana ...

Children who grow up with pets or on farms may develop allergies at lower rates because their gut microbiome develops with more anaerobic commensals, per fecal analysis in small cohort study

North American Early Paleoindians almost 13,000 years ago used the bones of canids, felids, and hares to create needles in modern-day Wyoming, potentially to make the tailored fur garments which enabl

Higher levels of democracy and lower levels of corruption are associated with more doctors, independent of healthcare spending, per cross-sectional study of 134 countries

'Transport infrastructure' determines spread of HIV subtypes in Africa

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: