This study examined HIV testing behaviours, perceived vulnerability to HIV and correlates of sexual risk behaviours of young adult Latino and African American male gang members in Los Angeles, California. Data were collected from 249 gang members aged 18-26 years. The majority (59%) of gang members reported unprotected vaginal intercourse (UVI) in the past 12 months. Only one-third (33.2%) of gang members had ever been tested for HIV. In our multivariate analysis, gang members who reported UVI were more likely to have engaged in the following behaviours: had sex with someone they just met (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 4.51), had sex with someone they think or know had a sexually transmitted infection (STI; AOR = 4.67) or had sex while incarcerated (AOR = 8.92). In addition, gang members with a higher perceived vulnerability to HIV were less likely to report UVI in the previous 12 months (AOR = 0.75). These findings offer implications for development of an HIV prevention intervention for young Latino and African American male gang members.

People living with HIV (PLH) in Thailand face tremendous challenges, including HIV disclosure. With the advent of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy in Thailand, the positive benefits of HIV disclosure are becoming more salient. However, there are regional variations in the levels of HIV disclosure in Thailand. We examined and compared the levels of HIV disclosure in Northern and Northeastern Thailand. PLH (N = 410) were recruited from four district hospitals in the North and the Northeast. More PLH in the North reported disclosing HIV status to at least one family member in the household. PLH in the Northeast reported significantly lower levels of HIV disclosure within family and outside of family. HIV disclosure remains a significant challenge in Thailand, especially in the Northeast. We propose future interventions focusing on HIV disclosure to address the specific concerns and barriers to HIV disclosure, taking into account the regional differences in HIV disclosure.

This study examined pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) acceptability among female sex workers, male-to-female transgendered persons and men who have sex with men in Lima, Peru. Focus groups explored social issues associated with PrEP acceptability and conjoint analysis assessed preferences among eight hypothetical PrEP scenarios with varying attribute profiles and their relative impact on acceptability. Conjoint analysis revealed that PrEP acceptability ranged from 19.8 to 82.5 out of a possible score of 100 across the eight hypothetical PrEP scenarios. Out-of-pocket cost had the greatest impact on PrEP acceptability (25.2, P < 0.001), followed by efficacy (21.4, P < 0.001) and potential side-effects (14.7, P < 0.001). Focus group data supported these findings, and also revealed that potential sexual risk disinhibition, stigma and discrimination associated with PrEP use, and mistrust of health-care professionals were also concerns. These issues will require careful attention when planning for PrEP roll-out.

RNA polymerase III (Pol III) transcribes medium-sized non-coding RNAs (collectively termed Pol III genes). Emerging diverse roles of Pol III genes suggest that individual Pol III genes are exquisitely regulated by transcription and epigenetic factors. Here we report global Pol III expression/methylation profiles and molecular mechanisms of Pol III regulation that have not been as extensively studied, using nc886 as a representative Pol III gene. In a human mammary epithelial cell system that recapitulates early breast tumorigenesis, the fraction of actively transcribed Pol III genes increases reaching a plateau during immortalization. Hyper-methylation of Pol III genes inhibits Pol III binding to DNA via inducing repressed chromatin and is a determinant for the Pol III repertoire. When Pol III genes are hypo-methylated, MYC amplifies their transcription, regardless of its recognition DNA motif. Thus, Pol III expression during tumorigenesis is delineated by methylation and magnified by MYC.

We present a measurement of the branching fraction for the decay B -→K0*- using a sample of approximately 86×106 BB̄ pairs collected by the BABAR detector from e+e- collisions near the γ(4S) resonance. The D0 is detected through its decays to K -π+, K-π+π0, and K- π+ π- π+, and the K*- through its decay to KS0π -. We measure the branching fraction to be B(B -→D0K*-) = [6.3±0.7(stat) ±0.5(syst)]×10-4. © 2004 The American Physical Society.

We have performed a search for the decays B+-->J/psip(-)Lambda; and search for B0-->J/psip(-)p. in a data set of (88.9+/-1.0) x 10(6) Upsilon(4S) decays collected by the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II e(+)e(-) storage ring at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. Four charged B candidates have been observed with an expected background of 0.21+/-0.14 events. The corresponding branching fraction is (12(+9)(-6)) x 10(-6), where statistical and systematic uncertainties have been combined. The result can be interpreted as a 90% confidence level (C.L.) upper limit of 26 x 10(-6). We also find one B0 candidate, with an expected background of 0.64+/-0.17 events, implying a 90% C.L. upper limit of 1.9 x 10(-6).

We present a measurement of the average multiplicity of φ mesons in [Formula Presented] [Formula Presented] and [Formula Presented] meson decays. Using 17.6 [Formula Presented] of data taken at the [Formula Presented] resonance by the BABAR detector at the PEP-II [Formula Presented] storage ring at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center, we reconstruct φ mesons in the [Formula Presented] decay mode and measure [Formula Presented] This is significantly more precise than any previous measurement. © 2004 The American Physical Society.

We report the observation of the B meson decay B+/- -->J/psietaK+/- and evidence for the decay B0-->J/psietaK0S, using 90 x 10(6) BB; events collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the BABAR detector at the SLAC PEP-II e+e- asymmetric-energy storage ring. We obtain branching fractions of B(B+/- -->J/psietaK+/-) = [10.8 +/- 2.3(stat) +/- 2.4(syst)] x 10(-5) and B(B0-->J/psietaK0S) = [8.4 +/- 2.6(stat) +/- 2.7(syst)] x 10(-5). We search for the new narrow mass state, the X(3872), recently reported by the Belle Collaboration, in the decay B+/- -->X(3872)K+/-,X(3872)-->J/psieta and determine an upper limit of B[B +/- -->X(3872)K+/- -->J/psietaK+/-] < 7.7 x 10(-6) at 90% confidence level.