
Evaluation of the Healthy Love Workshop, an HIV Prevention Intervention for African American Women...
HIV InfectionsSexually Transmitted InfectionsThe purpose of this program evaluation is to determine whether the Health Love Workshop, a group-level HIV behavioral intervention, reduces HIV-related sex risk behaviors and increases HIV protective behaviors of African American women and women of African descent. The intent of this program is to support an evaluation of the efficacy of the intervention and to provide feedback to the implementing organization to increase intervention effectiveness.

Comparative Study of Intermittent Catheters and Occurrence of Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary Tract InfectionsThe purpose of this study is to investigate the frequency of urinary tract infections with symptoms in spinal cord injured patients requiring intermittent catheterization for emptying the bladder. Patients will use either a coated catheter or an uncoated catheter with gel.

Identification of the Cranberry Juice Compounds That Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary Tract InfectionsThe purpose of this study is to identify the substances in cranberry juice that make it effective in reducing urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women.

Breastfeeding, Antiretroviral, and Nutrition Study
HIV InfectionsThis is a comparative clinical trial among HIV-infected women and their infants to determine: the benefit of nutritional supplementation given to women during breastfeeding the benefit and safety of antiretroviral (ARV) medications given either to infants or to their mothers to prevent HIV transmission during breastfeeding the feasibility of exclusive breastfeeding followed by early, rapid breastfeeding cessation

Procalcitonin Guided Antibiotic Use in Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (PARTI)-Study
Respiratory Tract InfectionsAcute respiratory tract infections (ARTI) are among the most frequent reasons for seeking medical attention in primary care. Although from predominantly viral origin, ARTIs are the most important condition for the prescription of antibiotics (AB), mainly due to the difficulty in primary care to differentiate between viral and bacterial etiology. Unnecessary AB use increases drug expenditures, side effects and AB resistance. A novel approach is to guide AB use by procalcitonin (ProCT), since serum levels are elevated in bacterial infections but remain lower in viral infections and inflammatory diseases. We aim to compare a strategy based on evidence-based guidelines with ProCT guided AB therapy in ARTIs with respect to outcome (days with restriction) and AB use. Patients presenting with ARTIs to primary care physicians and are intended to be treated with AB based on guidelines will be included and randomized 1:1 either to standard management or to the ProCT guided prescription of AB. All participating physicians will receive evidence-based guidelines for the management of patients with ARTIs. Patients with ARTI and in need of ABs by physicians' clinical judgment and with informed consent will be randomized to ProCT plus guidelines ("ProCT group") versus only guidelines guided AB treatment ("control group"). In patients randomized to the ProCT group, the use of antibiotics will be more or less discouraged (<0.1 or <0.25 ug/L) or encouraged (>0.5 or >0.25 ug/L), respectively. A re-evaluation in patients with ProCT (<0.1 or <0.25 ug/L) after 6 to 24 hours is mandatory. All patients will be reassessed at day 3 and it is recommended to stop AB in the ProCT group as described above. Structured phone interviews at days 14 and 28 will be done in all patients from both groups.

Friendship Based HIV/STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) Intervention for African American Females...
Sexual BehaviorSexually Transmitted Diseases1 moreThe Project ÒRÉ intervention is a half-day community-based HIV/STI intervention program for friendship groups of adolescents that is tailored to African American culture. The four participating community sites will be assigned to either the Project ÒRÉ intervention or a standard health promotion program. Sexually experienced African American adolescent females will recruit members of their friendship group for the five-hour program. All participants will complete questionnaires before and immediately following the programs and another one 3 months later. Immediately following the program some of the Project ÒRÉ groups will also participate in a focus group to provide feedback about the program.

BufferGel and PRO 2000/5: Vaginal Gels to Prevent HIV Infection in Women
HIV InfectionsThe majority of HIV infected people worldwide became infected with the virus through heterosexual contact. BufferGel and PRO 2000 Gel are vaginal gels designed to prevent women from becoming infected with HIV during sexual intercourse with an HIV infected partner. This study will test the safety and effectiveness of these gels.

Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of StaphVAX in Adults on Hemodialysis
Staphylococcal InfectionsKidney Failure1 moreTwo part study testing the effectiveness and safety of StaphVAX vaccine in chronic hemodialysis patients against infection by Staphylococcus aureus.

Cardiovascular Risk Factor Management in HIV Infection
Coronary Heart DiseaseDyslipidemia3 moreThere is growing evidence that antiretroviral therapy (ART) increases the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) through metabolic side effects, such as dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and type II diabetes. Prevalence of risk factors for CHD in HIV-infected individuals receiving ART in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) is high. This cluster randomised controlled trial is nested into the SHCS and will investigate whether physicians randomised to the routine provision of risk profiles from their patients receiving ART will improve the management of risk factors in HIV-infected patients compared to control physicians not routinely receiving such information. Risk profiles will be generated by the SHCS data center and provided to clinicians in all study centers.

Vaccine for Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Women
Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in WomenThe purpose of this study is determine whether a vaginal mucosal vaccine given to women with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections can reduce the number of infections occurring in a six-month study period, as compared to placebo treatment.