Psychiatric symptoms and disorders in HIV infected mine workers in South Africa A retrospective descriptive study of acute first admissions

Objective: The social and living conditions of mine workers in South Africa contribute to a rapid transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections. HIV-associated dementia is a serious condition during HIV disease. Several other psychiatric symptoms and disorders, such as psychosis, secondary mania and depression, have also been associated with clinical HIV infection. We describe the onset of psychiatric symptoms and signs in a group of untreated, HIVinfected male mine workers first admitted for psychiatric treatment at the Rand Mutual Hospital in Johannesburg. Method: Between 1987 and 1997, 38 consecutive cases were admitted, and their files were retrieved for study in 2006. The subjects were 38 black male mine workers admitted acutely for psychiatric care due to psychiatric symptoms, and subsequently diagnosed with HIV infection. The presenting psychiatric symptoms on admission and diagnoses at discharge were compiled for all patients, not to infer causality but to establish the range of symptoms that the clinician has to deal with. Results: The 38 patients presented with a wide range of psychiatric symptoms. The dominating symptoms were those of cognitive deficits, and different psychotic manifestations. 12 of the patients, almost one third of the individuals, were diagnosed with dementia. The patients with dementia exhibited cognitive deficits, and in addition often abnormal behaviour and psychotic symptoms, and several also had symptoms of secondary mania. 5 of the patients presented with delirium. Psychosis, without concurrent dementia, was diagnosed in 5 patients. Bipolar disorder with mania, without concurrent dementia, and major depression was present in 2 patients, respectively. Screening for substance abuse showed that 9 of the patients had ongoing cannabis abuse and 10 had alcohol abuse.  Cannabis-induced psychotic disorder was present in 5 patients. Conclusion: The findings confirm that patients with a new diagnosis of HIV may present with disorders of thought and/or cognition as well as gross behavioural disturbance, and that psychotic symptoms and secondary mania could be manifestations of the clinical onset of HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) infection

HIV infection and psychiatric illness

Objective: To review the clinical features and current knowledge on the treatment of psychiatric symptoms and disorders in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Method: We searched the PubMed database combining HIV/AIDS with different keywords for psychiatric diagnoses and symptoms (e.g. depression, mania, anxiety, psychosis, dementia, substance abuse) and for psychopharmacological treatment. The years covered by these searches included 1980 to 2008. Results: Patients with HIV infection are at an increased risk of psychiatric illness. Major depressive disorder and subsyndromal depressive symptoms, as well as anxiety disorder and substance abuse are more prevalent among HIV infected individuals than among the general population. HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are common among HIV patients, and HIV-associated dementia (HAD) is a serious condition during the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) stage of HIV disease. Secondarymania and psychosis might be the first clinical symptom of HIV dementia. The introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has resulted in significant decreases in morbidity and mortality for HIV infected patients. HAART has also decreased the incidence of HAD, but does not give complete protection from this condition. The utility of psychotropic medications in HIV patients has not been studied sufficiently as a basis for guidelines, and more controlled trials are needed. Conclusion: Psychiatric illness is common in HIV infected individuals, and underlines the importance for screening not only for cognitive impairment but also forco morbid mental disease in HIV-positive patients. Further studies of the neuropsychiatric complications during HIV disease and the use of psychotropics under these circumstances are clearly needed. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of HAD is essential to identify additional therapeutic strategies for prevention and treatment of this neurodegenerative disease. Studies are also needed for optimizing effective utilization of antiretrovirals into the CNS. Mania and psychosis secondary to HAD may be used as an indicator to initiate HAART, irrespective of CD4 count. Further research on the utility of HAART in the treatment of such acute neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with HIV infection should be initiated

Toll-like receptor gene polymorphisms are associated with allergic rhinitis: a case control study

10.1186/1471-2350-13-66BMC Medical Genetics13-BMGM

Karakteristik Dan Hasil Uji Marshall Aspal Termodifikasi Dengan Karet Alam Terdepolimerisasi Sebagai Aditif

Aspal termodifikasi polimer merupakan salah satu jenis formula aspal dengan penambahan polimer untuk mendapatkan sifat perkerasan jalan yang lebih baik, yaitu mengurangi deformasi pada perkerasan, meningkatkan ketahanan terhadap retak dan kelekatan pada agregat. Penelitian ini telah dilakukan dengan menggunakan karet alam SIR 20 terdepolimerisasi sebagai aditif pada aspal dengan konsentrasi 3%, 5%, dan 7% b/b. Dari hasil pengujian penetrasi, titik lembek, titik nyala, dan % kehilangan berat setelah pemanasan didapatkan konsentrasi terbaik, yaitu 5%. Data hasil uji Marshall yang terdiri dari stabilitas, pelelehan, stabilitas sisa setelah perendaman, dan hasil bagi Marshall berturut-turut adalah 1135,46 kg, 3,47 mm, 91,78%, dan 327,22 kg/mm. Nilai tersebut telah memenuhi persyaratan SNI untuk aspal polimer (SNI 06-2489-91) dan memiliki sifat yang lebih baik daripada aspal tanpa penambahan aditif (kontrol). Diterima : 17 November 2014; Direvisi : 29 Januari 2015; Disetujui : 7 Mei 2015 How to Cite : Prastanto, H., Cifriadi, A., & Ramadhan, A. (2015). Karakteristik dan hasil uji marshall aspal termodifikasi dengan karet alam terdepolimerisasi sebagai aditif. Jurnal Penelitian Karet, 33(1), 75-82. Retrieved from http://ejournal.puslitkaret.co.id/index.php/jpk/article/view/17

Differences in bud burst timing and bud freezing tolerance among interior and coastal seed sources of Douglas fir

The need for species that will grow well through ongoing climate change has increased the interest in Douglas fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] in Sweden. One of the most common problems seen in plantations of Douglas fir seedlings is damage caused by late spring frost, known to be highly correlated with the timing of bud burst. The objective of this study was to investigate spring-related bud development under Nordic conditions of seven Douglas fir provenances and to compare data with a local provenance of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst). Results from a field trial and a greenhouse-based study were compared. The interior Douglas fir provenances exhibited an earlier bud burst than coastal provenances, both in the greenhouse and in the field trial. When comparing differences within the groups of interior and coastal Douglas fir provenances, no differences could be found. The local Norway spruce, only grown in the greenhouse, showed an intermediate bud development profile similar to the interior Douglas fir provenance Three Valley. We therefore suggest that Three Valley could be planted at the same locations as the investigated local provenance of Norway spruce in mid-Sweden. To avoid spring frost damage the Douglas fir seedlings need to be frozen stored and planted late in spring. Planting under shelterwood can also help protect the seedlings from spring frost damages. As similar results for bud development patterns of Douglas fir and Norway spruce provenances were obtained from the greenhouse and field trials, greenhouse tests could facilitate selection of provenances

Origin of Swedish hemophilia A mutations

Background: Hemophilia A (HA) has a high level of variation within the disease class, with more than 1000 mutations being listed in the HAMSTeRS database. At the same time a number of F8 mutations are present in specific populations at high frequencies. Objectives: The simultaneous presence of large numbers of rare mutations and a small number of high-frequency mutations raises questions about the origins of HA mutations. The present study was aimed at describing the origins of HA mutations in the complete Swedish population. The primary issue was to determine what proportion of identical mutations are identical by descent (IBD) and what proportion are attributable to recurrent mutation events. The age of IBD mutations was also determined. Patients/Methods: In Sweden, the care of HA is centralized, and the Swedish HA population consists of 750 patients from > 300 families (35% severe, 15% moderate, and 50% mild). Identical haplotypes were defined by single-nucleotide polymorphism and microsatellite haplotyping, and the ages of the mutations were estimated with estiage. Results: Among 212 presumably unrelated patients with substitution mutations, 97 (46%) had mutations in common with other patients. Haplotyping of the 97 patients showed that 47 had IBD mutations (22%) with estimated ages of between two and 35 generations. The frequency of mild disease increased with an increasing number of patients sharing the mutations. Conclusions: A majority of the IBD mutations are mild and have age estimates of a few hundred years, but some could date back to the Middle Ages

Origin of Swedish hemophilia B mutations

Background More than 1100 mutations that cause hemophilia B (HB) have been identified. At the same time, specific F9 mutations are present at high frequencies in certain populations, which raise questions about the origin of HB mutations. ObjectivesTo describe the mutation spectrum of all HB families in Sweden and investigate if mutations appearing in several families are due to independent recurrent mutations (RMs) or to a common mutation event (i.e. are identical by descent (IBD)). Patients/MethodsThe registered Swedish HB population consists of patients from 86 families. Mutations were identified by resequencing and identical haplotypes were defined using 74 markers and a control population of 285 individuals. The ages of IBD mutations were estimated using ESTIAGE. ResultsOut of 77 presumably unrelated patients with substitution mutations, 47 patients (61%) had mutations in common with other patients. Haplotyping of the 47 patients showed that 24 patients had IBD mutations (51%) with estimated ages of between two and 23 generations. A majority of these patients had mild disease. Eight of the 15 mutations observed in more than one family were C>T transitions in CpG sites and all eight were RMs. ConclusionsThe association of IBD mutations with a mild phenotype is similar to what has been previously observed in hemophilia A. Noteworthy features of the mutations that are common to more than one family are the equal proportions of patients with RM and IBD mutations and the correlation between the occurrence of RMs and C>T transitions at CpG sites