Adaptation of the “Assessment of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Questionnaire” (“Cuestionario de Evaluación de la Adhesión al Tratamiento antirretroviral” - CEAT-VIH) for its use in Peru

Objetivos: El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar y validar el “Cuestionario para evaluar la adhesión al tratamiento antirretroviral” (CEAT-VIH) para su uso en el Perú, en pacientes VIH y SIDA en tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA). Métodos: Se evaluó la comprensión del cuestionario así como sus propiedades psicométricas en una muestra de 41 pacientes con VIH y SIDA en tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA) por más de tres meses. El periodo de estudio estuvo comprendido entre diciembre 2005 y enero 2006, el proceso de validación incluyó la aplicación del cuestionario el mismo día de la toma de muestra para el análisis de la carga viral y de los linfocitos TCD4. Se analizó la fi abilidad, la correlación de la puntuación con el recuento de linfocitos TCD4 y la carga viral. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron una adecuada fi abilidad (α = 0,706) y validez de criterio externa: respecto al recuento de linfocitos TCD4 (r = 0,439, p < 0,005), y respecto a la carga viral (r = - 0,548, p < 0, 005). Conclusiones: El CEAT-VIH ha demostrado ser una adecuada herramienta para evaluar el nivel de adherencia e identifi car los factores que infl uyen en la adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral en una muestra de pacientes VIH y SIDA en Perú.Objective: To adapt and validate the “Assessment of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Questionnary” “Cuestionario para evaluar la adhesión al tratamiento antirretroviral” (CEAT-VIH) for use in Peru, in HIV-infected patients in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Method: Understanding of the questionnaire was evaluated as well as its psychometric properties in 41 HIV-infected patients; antiretroviral therapy for at least 3 months was required. Data was obtained between December 2005 and January 2006. CEAT-VIH was carried out the day when sample for HIV viral load and CD4 cell count were taken. Reliability and validity related to two external criterions were evaluated. Results: CEAT-VIH showed appropriate reliability (α = 0,706) and adequate external criterion-related validity for CD4 cell count (r = 0,439, p < 0.005), and for HIV viral load (r = - 0,548, p < 0, 005). Conclusions: CEAT-VIH has proved to be useful to assess the level of adherence and to identify the factors affecting patient adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in Peru

Topics in Noncommutative Geometry Inspired Physics

In this review article we discuss some of the applications of noncommutative geometry in physics that are of recent interest, such as noncommutative many-body systems, noncommutative extension of Special Theory of Relativity kinematics, twisted gauge theories and noncommutative gravity.Comment: New references added, Published online in Foundations of Physic

Prevalence and association of upper and lower neural tube defects with illnesses and drugs [Defectos del tubo neural altos y bajos, prevalencia, y asociación con enfermedades y medicamentos]

Objective. To determine the prevalence of upper and lower neural tube defects and identify its association with the exposure to illnesses and drugs during pregnancy. Material and methods. This is a case-control study of 107 newborns with upper neural tube defects, 59 with lower neural tube defects, and 166 newborns without malformations, in 56,926 consecutive births between 1989 and 1997. The exposure was documented by a direct interview to the mother of those subject of study. The association was measured by the odds ratios, with confidence interval of 95%. Results. The prevalence of upper neural tube defects was of 1.9 for 1,000 newborn (alive or dead) and of lower neural tube defects of 1.0 for 1,000. The exposure to illnesses of less than a month of duration was associated with upper neural tube defects (OR = 3.11; IC = 1.34-7.39) the most important was flu; also the exposure to drugs (OR = 5.85; IC = 2.97 -11.62), the most prominent was acetaminophen. These factors of risk were not associated with lower neural tube defects. The mother's occupation, illness of more than a month of duration and X-ray exposure were not associated with of upper and lower neural tube defects. Conclusions. More studies are needed in the association among illnesses of less than a month of duration and drugs with upper neural tube defects. The different exposure frequencies between upper and lower neural tube defects suggest heterogeneity. © 2006 Federación Mexicana de Ginecology Obstetricia

Mapping species richness of plant families in European vegetation

Aims Biodiversity is traditionally studied mostly at the species level, but biogeographical and macroecological studies at higher taxonomic levels can provide valuable insights into the evolutionary processes at large spatial scales. Our aim was to assess the representation of vascular plant families within different vegetation formations across Europe. Location Europe. Methods We used a data set of 816,005 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA). For each plot, we calculated the relative species richness of each plant family as the number of species belonging to that family divided by the total number of species. We mapped the relative species richness, averaged across all plots in 50 km × 50 km grid cells, for each family and broad habitat groups: forests, grasslands, scrub and wetlands. We also calculated the absolute species richness and the Shannon diversity index for each family. Results We produced 522 maps of mean relative species richness for a total of 152 vascular plant families occurring in forests, grasslands, scrub and wetlands. We found distinct spatial patterns for many combinations of families and habitat groups. The resulting series of 522 maps is freely available, both as images and GIS layers. Conclusions The distinct spatial patterns revealed in the maps suggest that the relative species richness of plant families at the community level reflects the evolutionary history of individual families. We believe that the maps and associated data can inspire further biogeographical and macroecological studies and strengthen the ongoing integration of phylogenetic, functional and taxonomic diversity concepts