Sub-Optimal Vitamin B-12 Levels among ART-Naïve HIV-Positive Individuals in an Urban Cohort in Uganda

Malnutrition is common among HIV-infected individuals and is often accompanied by low serum levels of micronutrients. Vitamin B-12 deficiency has been associated with various factors including faster HIV disease progression and CD4 depletion in resource-rich settings. To describe prevalence and factors associated with sub-optimal vitamin B-12 levels among HIV-infected antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve adults in a resource-poor setting, we performed a cross-sectional study with a retrospective chart review among individuals attending either the Mulago-Mbarara teaching hospitals’ Joint AIDS Program (MJAP) or the Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) clinics, in Kampala, Uganda. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with sub-optimal vitamin B-12. The mean vitamin B-12 level was 384 pg/ml, normal range (200–900). Sub-optimal vitamin B-12 levels (<300 pg/ml) were found in 75/204 (36.8%). Twenty-one of 204 (10.3%) had vitamin B-12 deficiency (<200 pg/ml) while 54/204 (26.5%) had marginal depletion (200–300 pg/ml). Irritable mood was observed more among individuals with sub-optimal vitamin B-12 levels (OR 2.5, 95% CI; 1.1–5.6, P = 0.03). Increasing MCV was associated with decreasing serum B-12 category; 86.9 fl (±5.1) vs. 83 fl (±8.4) vs. 82 fl (±8.4) for B-12 deficiency, marginal and normal B-12 categories respectively (test for trend, P = 0.017). Compared to normal B-12, individuals with vitamin B-12 deficiency had a longer known duration of HIV infection: 42.2 months (±27.1) vs. 29.4 months (±23.8; P = 0.02). Participants eligible for ART (CD4<350 cells/µl) with sub-optimal B-12 had a higher mean rate of CD4 decline compared to counterparts with normal B-12; 118 (±145) vs. 22 (±115) cells/µl/year, P = 0.01 respectively. The prevalence of a sub-optimal vitamin B-12 was high in this HIV-infected, ART-naïve adult clinic population in urban Uganda. We recommend prospective studies to further clarify the causal relationships of sub-optimal vitamin B-12, and explore the role of vitamin B-12 supplementation in immune recovery

Primary therapeutic decision-making in inoperable non-small cell lung cancer

PubMedID: 10661352Purpose: To test the accuracy of our treatment decisions for patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using a prototype decision-support system (DSS) and a prognostic index (PI). Methods and Materials: To predict patient outcome and select optimal treatment, the systems protocol was tested retrospectively in 242 patients with Stage I-IV disease. The PI was determined in 184 patients with Stage I-IIIa,b disease. Survival was the final determinant of the accuracy of our treatment decisions. Results: Until 1996 it was our treatment policy to treat all Stage III patients with radical intent unless they had symptoms requiring palliation. In 1997, after the palliation concept of the DSS and the PI were changed to include all Stage III disease, there was considerable discordance between the rates of palliative treatment indicated by the DSS and the PI (69% and 99%, respectively) as well as that observed in our practice (30% in the DSS group and 20% in the PI group, respectively). There was also a significant difference in survival between the patients in the low- and high- risk categories defined by the PI (median survival of 12 versus 6 months, respectively; p = 0.0001). In the group that received radical radiotherapy, there was also a significant difference in the duration of survival between the low- and high-risk groups (median survival of 12 versus 8 months, respectively; p = 0.01). In addition, the risk categories proved to be the most important predictor of survival in the patients receiving radiotherapy longer than 2 weeks (median survival of 12 versus 7 months, respectively; p = 0.0001). In high-risk patients, however, the duration of radiotherapy did not have a significant impact on survival (p = 0.25). Conclusion: Our data indicate that the PI is a useful method for selecting radical or palliative treatment modalities as well as for determining treatment duration. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc

Supportive treatment in weight-losing cancer patients due to the additive adverse effects of radiation treatment and/or chemotherapy

PubMedID: 11277319The reversal of anorexia and weight loss especially in patients with advanced cancer suffering from radiation treatment (RT) -related complications and debilitated furtherly during RT would be a welcome relief. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of supportive treatment with megestrol acetate (MA) in our weight-losing cancer patients increasingly experiencing anorexia, smell, taste, and weight loss due to the additive adverse effects of RT ± chemotherapy and how MA changes the additive role of the severity of RT reactions on such patients. From June 1997 to October 1998, 100 eligible patients were enrolled on a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Of the 100 patients, 46 received MA during RT and 4 after the end of the RT, and 50 received placebo for 3 months. Subjective parameters were assessed by a brief questionnaire form based on scoring from 1 to 5, according to the degree of the loss or change for each parameter of malnutrition, appetite, taste and smell developed by us. At the end of the study a statistically significant weight gain was achieved in the patient group receiving MA compared to the placebo group (+ 3 to +5 kg versus -3.7 to -5.9 kg, p=0.000). Significant improvements were seen in performance status (p=0.000), appetite (p=0.000), malnutrition (p=0.000), loss of taste (p=0.000) and smell qualities (p=0.02) in the MA group compared to the placebo group. In the MA group there was no statistically significant difference related to the weight changes according to the grade of either the acute, or late RT effects (p=0.65 and 0.07, respectively). Whereas, in the placebo group a statistically significant additive effect of the acute and late RT effects was detected on weight loss (p=0.008 and 0.007, respectively). We observed no side-effects of MA in a 3-month time follow-up. The use of MA 480 mg/day during RT was effective in reversing anorexia and weight loss in spite of the acute RT effects, and helped most patients to well tolerate specific tumor therapy. Further evaluation of its mechanisms of action on RT-related adverse effects, tumor response relationships, and effect on patient survival are researched

DYNAMICS OF FAINT CLUSTERS OF GALAXIES

Recent studies with high-resolution cameras have extensively showed that clusters of galaxies are not as relaxed as we assumed. With its advent technology XMM-Newton allows us to obtain the temperature and metal abundance map in detail. In this study, we present our results related to six (A194, A1056, A1674, A1882, A2634, A2638) nearby (z<0.14) clusters. These clusters have very poor X-ray atmosphere (ICM) and therefore it is very efficient to study individual galaxies and their evolution within ICM. Based on the temperature maps and morphology of bright member galaxies, we try to understand the perturbed galaxy emissions and dynamics of the clusters itself

The use of R-MET HU 6-CSF in combination with high and standard doses of ifosfamide and doxorubicin in the patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma

WOS: A1995TH91900853

Impact of tumor stage, operative down-staging, tumor grade and radioresponsitivity of the tumor on survival in supratentorial astrocytomas

PubMedID: 10089070This retrospective study analyzed specifically the predicting factors for radioresponse and survival in 74 supratentorial astrocytoma patients. As a result of this study, cytoreduction in terms of ODs to T1 or T0 stage level or pre-RT T1 tumor stage along with radioresponse has a positive impact on long-term survival. It seems that radical radiotherapy should be the choice of treatment for the patients who had pre-RT T0 and T1 disease who were found more likely to respond to radiotherapy. This has not been reported previously and needs to be confirmed in larger trials

Anticipated administration of GM-CSF in the treatment of non small cell lung cancer

PubMedID: 11718213The purpose of this study was to verify the kinetic response of the human marrow myeloid progenitor cells to the short term use of GM-CSF and its impact on the therapeutic activity of this three-drug cisplatinum containing regimen in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Sixty patients with stage III-B and IV NSCLC were randomised to receive GM-CSF for 3 days, five days prior to the onset of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy regimen consisted of Mitomycin-C: 6 mg/m2 on day one, Ifosfamide: 2000 mg/m2 days 1 to 3, Mesna: 2000 mg/m2 days 1 to 3, Cisplatinum: 30 mg/m2 days 1 to 3, and was repeated every 4 weeks. All the patients received 30-50 Gy of radiotherapy to the primary and/or metastatic sites. There were positive correlations between stage of the disease, chemosensitivity of the tumor, number of chemotherapy cycles and overall survival (p=0.000). Administration of GM-CSF was an independent prognostic parameter in locally advanced and metastatic disease (p=0.041). In the GM-CSF receiving arm more courses could be given (117 versus 99, p=0.0415), and less courses were postponed (6 versus 22). In this arm, the mean of granulocyte nadir was higher (p=0.033) and mean time to granulocyte recovery became shorter (p=0.001) as the number of chemotherapy cycles increased. It was concluded that, dose intensification with GM-CSF prophylaxis is benefical in increasing the treatment tolerability by decreasing the intensity of granulocytopenia as well as providing rapid recovery

The role of radiotherapy among the therapeutic options for castleman's disease [Castleman hastali{dotless}gi{dotless}ni{dotless}n tedavi seçenekleri arasi{dotless}nda radyoterapinin rolü]

[No abstract available