Foodborne Botulism in the Republic of Georgia

In the Republic of Georgia, high rates of foodborne botulism are largely caused by home-preserved vegetables

Circulating microRNAs in sera correlate with soluble biomarkers of immune activation but do not predict mortality in ART treated individuals with HIV-1 infection: A case control study

Introduction: The use of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced HIV-1 associated morbidity and mortality. However, HIV-1 infected individuals have increased rates of morbidity and mortality compared to the non-HIV-1 infected population and this appears to be related to end-organ diseases collectively referred to as Serious Non-AIDS Events (SNAEs). Circulating miRNAs are reported as promising biomarkers for a number of human disease conditions including those that constitute SNAEs. Our study sought to investigate the potential of selected miRNAs in predicting mortality in HIV-1 infected ART treated individuals. Materials and Methods: A set of miRNAs was chosen based on published associations with human disease conditions that constitute SNAEs. This case: control study compared 126 cases (individuals who died whilst on therapy), and 247 matched controls (individuals who remained alive). Cases and controls were ART treated participants of two pivotal HIV-1 trials. The relative abundance of each miRNA in serum was measured, by RTqPCR. Associations with mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular and malignancy) were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Correlations between miRNAs and CD4+ T cell count, hs-CRP, IL-6 and D-dimer were also assessed. Results: None of the selected miRNAs was associated with all-cause, cardiovascular or malignancy mortality. The levels of three miRNAs (miRs -21, -122 and -200a) correlated with IL-6 while miR-21 also correlated with D-dimer. Additionally, the abundance of miRs -31, -150 and -223, correlated with baseline CD4+ T cell count while the same three miRNAs plus miR- 145 correlated with nadir CD4+ T cell count. Discussion: No associations with mortality were found with any circulating miRNA studied. These results cast doubt onto the effectiveness of circulating miRNA as early predictors of mortality or the major underlying diseases that contribute to mortality in participants treated for HIV-1 infection

Development and Validation of a Risk Score for Chronic Kidney Disease in HIV Infection Using Prospective Cohort Data from the D:A:D Study

Ristola M. on työryhmien DAD Study Grp ; Royal Free Hosp Clin Cohort ; INSIGHT Study Grp ; SMART Study Grp ; ESPRIT Study Grp jäsen.Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health issue for HIV-positive individuals, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Development and implementation of a risk score model for CKD would allow comparison of the risks and benefits of adding potentially nephrotoxic antiretrovirals to a treatment regimen and would identify those at greatest risk of CKD. The aims of this study were to develop a simple, externally validated, and widely applicable long-term risk score model for CKD in HIV-positive individuals that can guide decision making in clinical practice. Methods and Findings A total of 17,954 HIV-positive individuals from the Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) study with >= 3 estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values after 1 January 2004 were included. Baseline was defined as the first eGFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 after 1 January 2004; individuals with exposure to tenofovir, atazanavir, atazanavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, other boosted protease inhibitors before baseline were excluded. CKD was defined as confirmed (>3 mo apart) eGFR In the D:A:D study, 641 individuals developed CKD during 103,185 person-years of follow-up (PYFU; incidence 6.2/1,000 PYFU, 95% CI 5.7-6.7; median follow-up 6.1 y, range 0.3-9.1 y). Older age, intravenous drug use, hepatitis C coinfection, lower baseline eGFR, female gender, lower CD4 count nadir, hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) predicted CKD. The adjusted incidence rate ratios of these nine categorical variables were scaled and summed to create the risk score. The median risk score at baseline was -2 (interquartile range -4 to 2). There was a 1: 393 chance of developing CKD in the next 5 y in the low risk group (risk score = 5, 505 events), respectively. Number needed to harm (NNTH) at 5 y when starting unboosted atazanavir or lopinavir/ritonavir among those with a low risk score was 1,702 (95% CI 1,166-3,367); NNTH was 202 (95% CI 159-278) and 21 (95% CI 19-23), respectively, for those with a medium and high risk score. NNTH was 739 (95% CI 506-1462), 88 (95% CI 69-121), and 9 (95% CI 8-10) for those with a low, medium, and high risk score, respectively, starting tenofovir, atazanavir/ritonavir, or another boosted protease inhibitor. The Royal Free Hospital Clinic Cohort included 2,548 individuals, of whom 94 individuals developed CKD (3.7%) during 18,376 PYFU (median follow-up 7.4 y, range 0.3-12.7 y). Of 2,013 individuals included from the SMART/ESPRIT control arms, 32 individuals developed CKD (1.6%) during 8,452 PYFU (median follow-up 4.1 y, range 0.6-8.1 y). External validation showed that the risk score predicted well in these cohorts. Limitations of this study included limited data on race and no information on proteinuria. Conclusions Both traditional and HIV-related risk factors were predictive of CKD. These factors were used to develop a risk score for CKD in HIV infection, externally validated, that has direct clinical relevance for patients and clinicians to weigh the benefits of certain antiretrovirals against the risk of CKD and to identify those at greatest risk of CKD.Peer reviewe

"The Caucasian" concept in the works of A. Kazbegi "The patricide" and L. Tolstoy "Hadji Murat"

На материале повестей Л. Толстого "Хаджи-Мурат" и А. Казбеги "Отцеубийца" рассматривается вопрос о моментах сопряжения и отличия культурного концепта "кавказец" в художественном сознании грузинской и русской культур. Анализ функционирования концепта во многом помогает уточнить картину мира русского и грузинского художественного сознания последней четверти XIX столетия.The article deals with the problem of identifying similarities and differences existing in the interpretation of the concept "the Caucasian" in the artistic consciousness of the Georgian and Russian cultures on the material of Tolstoy’s stories "Hadji Murad" and A. Kazbegi "Patricide"

CYSTECTOMY WITH THE PROSTATE AND SEMINAL VESICLES BEING PRESERVED: PROGNOSIS AND REALITY

<p>The results of cystectomy (CE) in bladder cancer, performed in the standard and modified modes, were compared. The case histories of 153 patients operated on, by completely or partially preserving the prostate, were analyzed. With the extent ≤ T2N0, the rates of local and distant dissemination after standard and modified CE was 4%/2.1% and 9.5%/10.9%, respectively; i.e. the values did not differ greatly. The data of the performed analysis suggest that the compared values after modified CE are not worse than those after standard CE with orthotopic cystoplasty and do not allow one to doubt the oncological appropriateness in reducing the volume of an operation in specially selected patients.</p><p>  </p

Gender stereotypes, mass media and migrants

This article is urged to show one of the migratory crisis reflections through gender aspect of the cultures conflict. From this point of view need of studying migration, as well as other social processes, from positions of gender approach doesn't raise doubts. Conclusions of researchers are most often reduced to ascertaining of the fact that mass media scoop the images from the existing stereotypes which in turn are supported and extended by mass media. In some sense two separate concepts from the different planes - "gender" and "migrant" - adjoin in the information space. The analysis of a gender situation in the world and the analysis of gender aspects in television discourse as mirrors of this situation represents one of the sensitive issues of the present. It leads us to the thought that the image of migrant and maintenance of gender stereotypes in migrant community can be opened in television space. For research of the specified problem we have used a content analysis method, as empirical base - news releases of "The Message of the Week" and "Time" in 6 months from 10/15/2015 to 3/15/2016. In the publication our conclusions about features of giving information on migrants are provided in a gender-specific foreshortening, gender roles in Europe and the countries of the Middle East. Influence of maintaining gender stereotype of the different people in relationship of the parties in migratory crisis is described