Acrolein (Acr) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant as well as an endogenous compound. Acrolein-derived 1,N(2)-propanodeoxyguanosines (Acr-dG) are exocyclic DNA adducts formed following exposure to cigarette smoke or from lipid peroxidation. Acr-dG is mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic and may represent a useful biomarker for the early detection of cancers related to smoking or other oxidative conditions, such as chronic inflammation. In this study, we have developed a high-throughput, automated method using a HistoRx PM-2000 imaging system combined with MetaMorph software for quantifying Acr-dG adducts in human oral cells by immunohistochemical detection using a monoclonal antibody recently developed by our laboratory. This method was validated in a cell culture system using BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells treated with known concentrations of Acr. The results were further verified by quantitative analysis of Acr-dG in DNA of BEAS-2B cells using a liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry/multiple-reaction monitoring method. The automated method is a quicker, more accurate method than manual evaluation of counting cells expressing Acr-dG and quantifying fluorescence intensity. It may be applied to other antibodies that are used for immunohistochemical detection in tissues as well as cell lines, primary cultures, and other cell types.

Background: Kenya has the fourth-largest HIV epidemic across the globe. Disclosure of HIV-positive status plays a critical role in the prevention of HIV transmission. Disclosure, specifically to sexual partners, has been shown to foster safer sexual behaviors in addition to emotional, social, or monetary support from partners. Objective: This study was conducted to identify factors associated with HIV-positive status disclosure to sexual partners compared to disclosure to other than sexual partners. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to August 2012 among 497 HIV-positive women 19–49 years of age who had sex in the past six months. Participants were recruited from the Kenyatta National Hospital and Mbagathi Direct Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. A questionnaire was administered to obtain data on HIV disclosure. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with disclosure of HIV-positive status to sexual partners. Results: Of the 497 women, 349 reported to whom they had disclosed their HIV status. Approximately 34% had disclosed their HIV-positive status to a sexual partner. Women who disclosed to their sexual partners were 11 times more likely to be married or in a common-law relationship and 4 times more likely for their sexual partner or spouse to be the heads of the households. Frequency of condom use, belief that HIV disclosure is important for HIV prevention and control, knowledge of partner’s HIV status, and number of sex partners were also significantly associated with disclosing to a sexual partner. Conclusion: This study found a low rate of disclosure of HIV-positive status by women to sexual partners and identified a number of factors associated with disclosure to sexual partners. These findings can be used in designing interventions that focus on individuals who have not disclosed their HIV-positive status to their sexual partners by demonstrating the importance of disclosure and safe sex practices.

Background: Disclosure of HIV status is crucial to the adoption of preventive behaviors for HIV transmission. This study was conducted to investigate HIV status disclosure and its impact on sexual practices among HIV-positive women in Nairobi, Kenya. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV-positive women seeking care at two hospitals in Nairobi. A questionnaire and known self-efficacy scales were administered to eligible women to collect information on sociodemographic factors, HIV disclosure and beliefs, healthcare provider advice on disclosure, sexual practices, and self-efficacy. Results: Of 497 women who were included in this analysis, 95.8% had disclosed their HIV status to someone. Women who disclosed were more likely to be in a relationship (p 0.0017) and to be the heads of their households (p 0.0042). Women who reported that their healthcare provider advised them to disclose and told them of ways to disclose were significantly more likely to have disclosed (p=0.0237 and p=0.0294, respectively). The belief that HIV status disclosure is important for HIV prevention and control and that the benefits of disclosure outweigh the risks was also significantly associated with disclosure (p<0.0001 for both). Conclusion: The prevalence of disclosure among HIV-positive individuals’ in hospital settings in Nairobi is high. These findings indicate that encouraging and suggesting ways to disclose by healthcare providers and individuals’ beliefs about the benefits of disclosure can increase the rate of HIV disclosure. Prospective studies to assess these observations would provide reliable guidance on how to increase disclosure by all women.