Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk for HIV infection in India, particularly those who engage in transactional sex with other men (i.e., male sex workers; MSW). Despite the need, HIV prevention efforts for Indian MSW are lacking. As in other settings, MSW in India increasingly rely on the use of mobile phones for sex work solicitation. Integrating mobile phone technology into an HIV prevention intervention for Indian MSW may mitigate some of the challenges associated with face-to face approaches, such as implementation, lack of anonymity, and time consumption, while at the same time proving to be both feasible and useful. Methods This is a pilot randomized controlled trial to examine participant acceptability, feasibility of study procedures, and preliminary efficacy for reducing sexual risk for HIV. MSW (N = 100) were equally randomized to: (1) a behavioral HIV prevention intervention integrating in-person and mobile phone delivered HIV risk reduction counseling, and daily, personalized text or voice messages as motivating “cognitive restructuring” cues for reducing condomless anal sex (CAS); or (2) a standard of care (SOC) comparison condition. Both groups received HIV counseling and testing at baseline and 6-months, and completed ACASI-based, behavioral and psychosocial assessments at baseline, 3, and 6 months. Mixed-effects regression procedures specifying a Poisson distribution and log link with a random intercept and slope for month of follow-up was estimated to assess the intervention effect on the primary outcomes: 1) CAS acts with male clients who paid them for sex, and 2) non-paying sexual partners – both outcomes assessed over the past month. Results The intervention was both feasible (98% retention at 6-months) and acceptable (>96% of all interventions sessions attended); all intervention participants rated the intervention as “acceptable” or “very acceptable.” A reduction in the reported number of CAS acts with male clients who paid them for sex in the past month was seen in both study conditions. MSW in the intervention condition reported a faster rate of decline in the number of CAS acts with male clients in the past month from the baseline to both the 3-month (B=−1.20; 95% CI=−1.68, −0.73; p<0·0001) and 6-month (B=−2.44; 95% CI=−3.35, −1.53; p<0·00001) assessment visits compared to the SOC condition. Post-hoc contrasts indicated that, at 3 months, participants in the intervention condition reported 1.43 (SD=0.29) CAS acts with male clients in the past month compared to 4.85 (SD=0.87) in the control condition (p=0.0003). Furthermore, at 6 months, the intervention condition participants reported 0.24 (SD=0.09) CAS acts with male clients in the past month compared to 2.79 (SD=0.79) in the control condition (p<0·0001). Conclusions Findings are encouraging and provide evidence of feasibility and acceptability, and demonstrate initial efficacy (for reducing sexual risk for HIV) of a behavioral HIV prevention intervention for Indian MSW that combines daily, personaliz...

The TB control programme needs to further explore how to extend its services to such 'hard to reach' groups. Active case finding to ensure early diagnosis and treatment initiation amongst such groups needs consideration.

New tetradentate Schiff base transition metal complexes have been derived from salicylidene-4-imino-2,3-dimethyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrazolin-5-one and histidine were characterized by CHN analysis, magnetic susceptibility measurements, molar conductance, FAB-MS, IR, 1 H-NMR, UV, CV, EPR, Fluorescence emission, AFM and Powder XRD techniques. AFM images and Powder XRD data endure that the complexes are nano-size grains with polycrystalline structure. The spectral evidences showed that all the metal chelates are square planar geometry except [VOL] complex which exist square-pyramidal geometry. Electrochemical data (CV) for [CuL] and [VOL] complexes in acetonitrile solution indicates that the redox potential of metal ions is affected by the coordinated ligand. Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) spectra of [CuL] and [VOL] complexes were well coinciding with proposed geometries and other reported complexes. CT-DNA interaction studies of [CuL] complex reveals that an intercalation binding mode occurs between complex and DNA base pairs. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of complexes has been tested against the growth of some fungal and bacterial species persist that chelates have better control than ligand.

In India, men who have sex with men and engage in sex work (i.e., male sex workers; MSW) have a high risk of transmitting HIV. Globally, sex workers have become more spatially mobile due to advances in mobile phone technology. In 2012, in-depth qualitative feedback was garnered from 40 interviews with MSW and four focus groups with 35 key informants (KI) who had expert knowledge of the local MSW community to inform the design of an HIV prevention intervention among MSW in Chennai, India. All MSW were recruited during outreach by employees of a Chennai-based organization for MSM. The data were analyzed using a descriptive qualitative approach. MSW and KI discussed the need for intervention content that went beyond basic HIV psychoeducation. They emphasized the importance of addressing psychological distress, alcohol-related risk and sexual communication skills. Concerns were raised about confidentiality, privacy and scheduling. Participants endorsed a combination of in-person and mobile phone-delivered sessions as well as the integration of mobile phone messaging. These findings served as the basis for the development of a theoretically driven, manual-based intervention incorporating mobile phones. An open pilot assessed the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention with 8 MSW. Assessments and HIV testing were administered at baseline, three, and six months post-baseline. Exit interviews were conducted at the conclusion of the intervention. Retention for session attendance and assessment follow-up was 100%. There was a high level of acceptability for the format, structure and content. These data show initial promise, feasibility and acceptability of the intervention.