Showing papers by "Sheena G. Sullivan published in 2006"
TL;DR: Temperature, relative humidity, and wind velocity were the three key meteorological determinants affecting the transmission of SARS and suggest that SARS has a seasonal nature akin to viruses such as influenza and the common cold.
141 citations
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TL;DR: Active testing for HIV among high-risk groups in China, although controversial, is in the best interests of public health.
Abstract: Active testing for HIV among high-risk groups in China, although controversial, is in the best interests of public health.
125 citations
TL;DR: A qualitative study was conducted to identify the reasons, sources, and types of HIV-related stigma prevalent in rural China and develop an intervention to reduce fear of casual transmission and stigma in these communities.
Abstract: HIV-related stigma and discrimination are major barriers to the successful control of HIV. Stigma is associated with the disease as well as the behaviors that lead to infection. A qualitative study was conducted to identify the reasons, sources, and types of HIV-related stigma prevalent in rural China. Eighty in-depth interviews were conducted with people living with HIV/AIDS, their family members, health care providers, and uninfected villagers. Stigmatizing behaviors were primarily associated with fear of HIV rather than with the route of infection. Uninfected villagers were the main source of discrimination, with health workers and family members also holding some stigmatizing attitudes. A primary concern for HIV-positive villagers was protecting their families, especially their children, from discrimination. Secondary stigma also extended to un- infected members of the same village. The results have been used to develop an intervention to reduce fear of casual transmission and stigma in these communities.
112 citations
TL;DR: It seems improbable that thalassemia represents a major health burden in this region of Cambodia, as hemoglobinopathies were common and the majority of abnormalities detected were not clinically significant.
Abstract: Blood counts, hemoglobin (Hb) high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and DNA analyses were performed on 260 children, aged 5 months to 16 years, at Siem Reap to assess the prevalence of thalassemia and other hemoglobinopathies in regional Cambodia. Hemoglobinopathies were present in 134 children (51.5%) with 20 abnormal genotypes identified. alpha-Thalassemia (thal) (35.4%) was the most prevalent disorder and the -alpha3.7 gene deletion was the most common alpha-globin gene abnormality. The - -SEA deletion and nondeletional forms of alpha-thal, Hb Constant Spring [Hb CS, alpha142, Term-->Gln, TAA-->CAA (alpha2)], Hb Pakse [alpha142, Term-->Tyr, TAA-->TAT (alpha2)] and triplicated alpha genes, were also present but at low frequencies. Hb E [beta26(B8)Glu-->Lys, GAG-->AAG] (28.8%) was the most common beta-globin gene abnormality, whilst beta-thal was only detected in two children (0.8% of cases). Although hemoglobinopathies were common, the majority of abnormalities detected (heterozygous -alpha3.7 and Hb E) were not clinically significant. On the basis of these findings, and with the majority of abnormalities being mild, it seems improbable that thalassemia represents a major health burden in this region of Cambodia.
36 citations
TL;DR: The presence of Y-chromosomes P* and R1a1* was suggestive of a small but significant Indo-European male ancestral component, which probably reflects the history of Indian, and later European, influences on Cambodia.
Abstract: A survey of the genetic ancestry of 125 Cambodian children resident in Siem Reap province was undertaken, based on eight Y-chromosome binary polymorphisms and sequencing of the mtDNA HV1 region. The data indicated a largely East Asian paternal ancestry and a local Southeast Asian maternal ancestry. The presence of Y-chromosomes P* and R1a1* was suggestive of a small but significant Indo-European male ancestral component, which probably reflects the history of Indian, and later European, influences on Cambodia.
16 citations