VOA标准英语2015--Study: Give ARVs After Male Circumcision

Study: Give ARVs After Male Circumcision

Male Circumcision has been proven to slow the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. But a new study shows that in the short-term the surgical¹ technique could actually increase the risk of infection for female partners unless precautions are taken.

The World Health Organization says male circumcision can greatly reduce the risk of HIV infection. Major campaigns are underway to get nearly 29 million men circumcised.

Dr. Arron Tobian and his colleagues are studying the effects of circumcision. He’s an associate professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.

“Three randomized trials, which are the gold standard of medical evidence, have shown that male circumcision decreases HIV acquisition by 50 to 60 percent in men. And follow-up studies have shown that the procedure may be even more efficacious than that 50 to 60 percent efficacy,” he said.

Male circumcision has other health benefits, as well.

“Male circumcision of HIV infected men has also been shown to decrease genital ulcers² and human papilloma virus. Among HIV negative men male circumcision has also been shown to decrease genital herpes and human papilloma virus, which is a cause of penile cancer.”

Dr. Tobian said women benefit, too, when their male partner is circumcised.

“Among female partners married to circumcised men, it’s been shown that they have lower levels of bacterial³ vaginosis, trichomoniasis and human papilloma virus that causes cervical cancer,” he said.

The procedure also provides some protection for women by reducing their exposure to HIV from their male partners.

However, Tobian said, scientists studying HIV infected men in Uganda have discovered something unexpected and worrying about the procedure. There’s a greater risk of infection for women in the short term.

“Among circumcision of HIV infected men there were numerous observational studies that suggested male circumcision prior to puberty – during childhood – may decrease HIV transmission. However, one randomized trial of circumcision of adult men showed that there’s an increased HIV transmission to female partners if couples resumed intercourse⁴ prior to certified⁵ wound healing.”

Dr. Tobian said it takes four to six weeks to fully⁶ heal from male circumcision.

“HIV shedding significantly increased compared to prior to circumcision at week one, week two and week three. So, in the first few weeks after circumcision, HIV shedding significantly increased. However, by week six and by week 12 HIV shedding was actually significantly lower than compared to prior to circumcision,” he said.

Shedding is a term used, for example, when the virus is present in bodily fluids, such as semen or vaginal secretions⁷.

Tobian said that while men are counseled not to have sexual intercourse during healing, many are, nevertheless. So, they are given condoms along with counseling.

Now, the study shows that the “likelihood of HIV transmission from a newly circumcised man to his female partner is less than one-tenth of one percent.” That’s sounds rather small. However, the study warns that since the World Health Organization aims to circumcise nearly 29-million men in the coming years, “that small increase could add up to 17,000 new infections among female partners.”

The Johns Hopkins associate professor added that antiretroviral drugs can be a major mitigating⁸ factor.

“Among those men who reported chronic⁹ antiretroviral therapy, they had significantly lower rates of HIV shedding during this entire wound healing period. It’s about 90 percent lower than among those men who are not reporting antiretroviral therapy,” he said.

The study recommended that men be placed on antiretroviral therapy at the time of circumcision. However, it’s not known yet how long the therapy should last or which drugs are most effective in such cases.

1 surgical   

adj.外科的，外科医生的，手术上的

参考例句：

• He performs the surgical operations at the Red Cross Hospital.他在红十字会医院做外科手术。
• All surgical instruments must be sterilised before use.所有的外科手术器械在使用之前，必须消毒。

2 ulcers   

n.溃疡( ulcer的名词复数 )；腐烂物；道德败坏；腐败

参考例句：

• Detachment of the dead cells produces erosions and ulcers. 死亡细胞的脱落，产生糜烂和溃疡。 来自辞典例句
• 75% of postbulbar ulcers occur proximal to the duodenal papilla. 75％的球后溃疡发生在十二指肠乳头近侧。 来自辞典例句

3 bacterial   

a.细菌的

参考例句：

• Bacterial reproduction is accelerated in weightless space. 在失重的空间，细菌繁殖加快了。
• Brain lesions can be caused by bacterial infections. 大脑损伤可能由细菌感染引起。

4 intercourse   

n.性交；交流，交往，交际

参考例句：

• The magazine becomes a cultural medium of intercourse between the two peoples.该杂志成为两民族间文化交流的媒介。
• There was close intercourse between them.他们过往很密。

5 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

6 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

7 secretions   

n.分泌（物）( secretion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lysozyme is an enzyme found in egg white, tears, and other secretions. 溶菌酶是存在于卵白、泪和其他分泌物中的一种酶。 来自辞典例句
• Chest percussion and vibration are used with postural drainage to help dislodge secretions. 在做体位引流时要敲击和振动胸部帮助分泌物松动排出。 来自辞典例句

8 mitigating   

v.减轻，缓和( mitigate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Are there any mitigating circumstances in this case ? 本案中是否有任何情况可以减轻被告的罪行？ 来自辞典例句
• A sentencing judge is required to consider any mitigating circumstances befor imposing the death penalty. 在处死刑之前，要求量刑法官必须考虑是否有任何减轻罪行之情节。 来自口语例句

9 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。