Anal HPV Infection in HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex with Men from China

BACKGROUND: Anal HPV infection, which contributes to the development of anal warts and anal cancer, is well known to be common among men who have sex with men (MSM), especially among those HIV positives. However, HIV and anal HPV co-infection among MSM has not been addressed in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Beijing and Tianjin, China. Study participants were recruited using multiple methods with the collaboration of local volunteer organizations. Blood and anal swabs were collected for HIV-1 serological test and HPV genotyping. RESULTS: A total of 602 MSM were recruited and laboratory data were available for 578 of them (96.0%). HIV and anal HPV prevalence were 8.5% and 62.1%, respectively. And 48 MSM (8.3%) were found to be co-infected. The HPV genotypes identified most frequently were HPV06 (19.6%), HPV16 (13.0%), HPV52 (8.5%) and HPV11 (7.6%). Different modes of HPV genotypes distribution were observed with respect to HIV status. A strong dose-response relationship was found between HIV seropositivity and multiplicity of HPV genotypes (p<0.001), which is consistent with the observation that anal HPV infection was an independent predictor for HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of HIV and anal HPV co-infection was observed in the MSM community in Beijing and Tianjin, China. Anal HPV infection was found to be independently associated with increased HIV seropositivity, which suggests the application of HPV vaccine might be a potential strategy to reduce the acquisition of HIV infection though controlling the prevalence of HPV

Imaging of Disease Dynamics during Meningococcal Sepsis

Neisseria meningitidis is a human pathogen that causes septicemia and meningitis with high mortality. The disease progression is rapid and much remains unknown about the disease process. The understanding of disease development is crucial for development of novel therapeutic strategies and vaccines against meningococcal disease. The use of bioluminescent imaging combined with a mouse disease model allowed us to investigate the progression of meningococcal sepsis over time. Injection of bacteria in blood demonstrated waves of bacterial clearance and growth, which selected for Opa-expressing bacteria, indicating the importance of this bacterial protein. Further, N. meningitidis accumulated in the thyroid gland, while thyroid hormone T4 levels decreased. Bacteria reached the mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract, which required expression of the meningococcal PilC1 adhesin. Surprisingly, PilC1 was dispensable for meningococcal growth in blood and for crossing of the blood-brain barrier, indicating that the major role of PilC1 is to interact with mucosal surfaces. This in vivo study reveals disease dynamics and organ targeting during meningococcal disease and presents a potent tool for further investigations of meningococcal pathogenesis and vaccines in vivo. This might lead to development of new strategies to improve the outcome of meningococcal disease in human patients

Immune and hemorheological changes in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a multifactorial disorder that affects various physiological systems including immune and neurological systems. The immune system has been substantially examined in CFS with equivocal results, however, little is known about the role of neutrophils and natural killer (NK) phenotypes in the pathomechanism of this disorder. Additionally the role of erythrocyte rheological characteristics in CFS has not been fully expounded. The objective of this present study was to determine deficiencies in lymphocyte function and erythrocyte rheology in CFS patients. METHODS: Flow cytometric measurements were performed for neutrophil function, lymphocyte numbers, NK phenotypes (CD56(dim)CD16(+ )and CD56(bright)CD16(-)) and NK cytotoxic activity. Erythrocyte aggregation, deformability and fibrinogen levels were also assessed. RESULTS: CFS patients (n = 10) had significant decreases in neutrophil respiratory burst, NK cytotoxic activity and CD56(bright)CD16(- )NK phenotypes in comparison to healthy controls (n = 10). However, hemorheological characteristic, aggregation, deformability, fibrinogen, lymphocyte numbers and CD56(dim)CD16(+ )NK cells were similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: These results indicate immune dysfunction as potential contributors to the mechanism of CFS, as indicated by decreases in neutrophil respiratory burst, NK cell activity and NK phenotypes. Thus, immune cell function and phenotypes may be important diagnostic markers for CFS. The absence of rheological changes may indicate no abnormalities in erythrocytes of CFS patients

Critical success factor bagi program keusahawanan di jabatan perdagangan politeknik

Konsep Critical Success Factor berkait rapat mengenai pengurusan dalam mencapai misi dan matlamat perniagaan dalam sesebuah organisasi. Oleh itu, kajian ini adalah bertujuan untuk mengkaji empat elemen Critical Success Factor di Jabatan Perdagangan Politeknik seterusnya melihat kecenderungan pelajar untuk melibatkan diri dalam bidang keusahawanan. Kajian jenis kuantitatif ini telah dibuat ke atas pensyarah di Jabatan Perdagangan Politeknik bagi zon Utara. Seramai 190 sampel kajian yang terlibat dalam penyelidikan ini melalui pengedaran borang kaji selidik. Antara enam buah politeknik di zon Utara yang terlibat dalam penyelidikkan ini adalah Politeknik Politeknik Tunku Syed Sirajuddin, Perlis, Politeknik Sultan Abdul Halim Muazzam Shah, Kedah, Politeknik Tunku Sultanah Bahiyah, Kedah, Politeknik Seberang Perai, Pulau Pinang, Politeknik Ungku Omar, Perak dan Politeknik Sultan Azlan Shah, Perak. Data yang diperolehi dianalisis mendapati nilai skor min bagi ketiga-tiga persoalan kajian iaitu, mengenalpasti elemen Critical Success Factor yang digunakan, cabaran dalam usaha melaksanakan elemen Critical Success Factor dan mengenalpasti tahap kecenderungan pelajar untuk melibatkan diri dalam bidang keusahawanan adalah tinggi. Manakala bagi persoalan kajian keempat iaitu mencari hubungan korelasi Pearson antara elemen Critical Suceess Factor dengan kecenderungan pelajar untuk melibatkan diri dalam bidang keusahawanan adalah berada pada tahap lemah, sekaligus menunjukkan Ho tidak diterima. Kesimpulannya, elemen Critical Success Factor ini memainkan peranan dalam pembentukkan organisasi yang berkesan supaya pembentukan matlamat dan objektif tercapa