17 research outputs found
Retention on Buprenorphine Is Associated with High Levels of Maximal Viral Suppression among HIV-Infected Opioid Dependent Released Prisoners
HIV-infected prisoners lose viral suppression within the 12 weeks after release to the community. This prospective study evaluates the use of buprenorphine/naloxone (BPN/NLX) as a method to reduce relapse to opioid use and sustain viral suppression among released HIV-infected prisoners meeting criteria for opioid dependence (OD).From 2005-2010, 94 subjects meeting DSM-IV criteria for OD were recruited from a 24-week prospective trial of directly administered antiretroviral therapy (DAART) for released HIV-infected prisoners; 50 (53%) selected BPN/NLX and were eligible to receive it for 6 months; the remaining 44 (47%) selected no BPN/NLX therapy. Maximum viral suppression (MVS), defined as HIV-1 RNA<50 copies/mL, was compared for the BPN/NLX and non-BPN/NLX (N = 44) groups.The two groups were similar, except the BPN/NLX group was significantly more likely to be Hispanic (56.0% v 20.4%), from Hartford (74.4% v 47.7%) and have higher mean global health quality of life indicator scores (54.18 v 51.40). MVS after 24 weeks of being released was statistically correlated with 24-week retention on BPN/NLX [AOR = 5.37 (1.15, 25.1)], having MVS at the time of prison-release [AOR = 10.5 (3.21, 34.1)] and negatively with being Black [AOR = 0.13 (0.03, 0.68)]. Receiving DAART or methadone did not correlate with MVS.In recognition that OD is a chronic relapsing disease, strategies that initiate and retain HIV-infected prisoners with OD on BPN/NLX is an important strategy for improving HIV treatment outcomes as a community transition strategy
Follow-up of collagen crosslink excretion in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma and analysis of tissue samples
A histological and micro-CT investigation in to the effect of NGF and EGF on the periodontal, alveolar bone, root and pulpal healing of replanted molars in a rat model - a pilot study
Background: This study aims to investigate, utilising micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histology, whether the topical application of nerve growth factor (NGF) and/or epidermal growth factor (EGF) can enhance periodontal, alveolar bone, root and pulpal tissue regeneration while minimising the risk of pulpal necrosis, root resorption and ankylosis of replanted molars in a rat model. Methods: Twelve four-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: sham, collagen, EGF and NGF. The maxillary right first molar was elevated and replanted with or without a collagen membrane impregnated with either the growth factors EGF or NGF, or a saline solution. Four weeks after replantation, the animals were sacrificed and the posterior maxilla was assessed using histological and micro-CT analysis. The maxillary left first molar served as the control for the corresponding right first molar. Results: Micro-CT analysis revealed a tendency for all replanted molars to have reduced root length, root volume, alveolar bone height and inter-radicular alveolar bone volume. It appears that the use of the collagen membrane had a negative effect while no positive effect was noted with the incorporation of EGF or NGF. Histologically, the incorporation of the collagen membrane was found to negatively affect pulpal, root, periodontal and alveolar bone healing with pulpal inflammation and hard tissue formation, extensive root resorption and alveolar bone fragmentation. The incorporation of EGF and NGF did not improve root, periodontal or alveolar bone healing. However, EGF was found to improve pulp vascularisation while NGF improved pulpal architecture and cell organisation, although not to the level of the control group.Conclusions: Results indicate a possible benefit on pulpal vascularisation and pulpal cell organisation following the incorporation of EGF and NGF, respectively, into the alveolar socket of replanted molars in the rat model. No potential benefit of EGF and NGF was detected in periodontal or root healing, while the use of a collagen membrane carrier was found to have a negative effect on the healing response
Fundamental research into the role of intermetallic phases in joining of aluminium alloys to steel
Bildung und Wachstum intermetallischer Phasensäume am Übergang zwischen Fe bzw. Stahl und sowohl reinem als auch Si-Legiertem Al wurden bei verschiedenen Werkstoffzuständen untersucht, ebenso wie der Einfluss von Phasensaumdicke und -Aufbau auf die mechanischen Verbindungseigenschaften.
In elementaren Interdiffusionsversuchen ist die Saumdicke wesentlich durch das parabolische Wachstum der Phase (AlFe) bestimmt. Die Zugabe von Si in Al, welche bekanntermaßen das Phasenwachstum bei der Reaktion mit Al Schmelzen hemmt, bewirkte ein beschleunigtes Wachstum bei 600°C Reaktionstemperatur. Untersuchungen der Verformungs-Mikrostruktur unter Härteeindrücken offenbarten einen deutlichen Einfluss der äußeren und inneren Phasengrenzen auf die Härtewerte. Wärmebehandlung von Stahl/Al Rührreibschweißungen zeigte, dass die Verbindungsfestigkeit mit reinem Al durch die Bildung von Kirkendall-Poren an der Grenzfläche Phasensaum/Al bestimmt wird, mit Al-Si hingegen durch die Dicke der Phase.Formation and evolution of intermetallic reaction layers at the interface between Fe or low C steel and both pure and Si containing Al was studied in different material states, as well as the impact of layer thickness and build-up on mechanical properties of joints.
In basic interdiffusion experiments, width of reaction layers is governed mainly by the parabolic growth of the phase (AlFe). The addition of Si to Al, which is known to decelerate layer growth during interdiffusion with Al melts, was found to accelerate the growth at 600°C. Investigations of the deformation microstructure beneath hardness indentations elicited a pronounced influence of the reaction layers outer and inner interfaces on the observed hardness. Heat treating of dissimilar friction stir welds showed that with pure Al, the joint strength is governed by the formation of Kirkendall-porosity at the reaction layer/Al interface; in joints with Al-Si it is controlled by the thickness of the phase layer
HIV in people reincarcerated in Connecticut prisons and jails: an observational cohort study
Effects of zoledronate on the radiation-induced collagen breakdown: a prospective randomized clinical trial
15N NMR Relaxation Studies of Free and Ligand-bound Human Acidic Fibroblast Growth Factor
Reduction of relative centrifugation force within injectable platelet-rich-fibrin (PRF) concentrates advances patients’ own inflammatory cells, platelets and growth factors : the first introduction to the low speed centrifugation concept
Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze systematically the influence of the relative centrifugation force (RCF) on leukocytes, platelets and growth factor release within fluid platelet-rich fibrin matrices (PRF).
Materials and methods: Systematically using peripheral blood from six healthy volunteers, the RCF was reduced four times for each of the three experimental protocols (I–III) within the spectrum (710–44 g), while maintaining a constant centrifugation time. Flow cytometry was applied to determine the platelets and leukocyte number. The growth factor concentration was quantified 1 and 24 h after clotting using ELISA.
Results: Reducing RCF in accordance with protocol-II (177 g) led to a significantly higher platelets and leukocytes numbers compared to protocol-I (710 g). Protocol-III (44 g) showed a highly significant increase of leukocytes and platelets number in comparison to -I and -II. The growth factors’ concentration of VEGF and TGF-β1 was significantly higher in protocol-II compared to -I, whereas protocol-III exhibited significantly higher growth factor concentration compared to protocols-I and -II. These findings were observed among 1 and 24 h after clotting, as well as the accumulated growth factor concentration over 24 h.
Discussion: Based on the results, it has been demonstrated that it is possible to enrich PRF-based fluid matrices with leukocytes, platelets and growth factors by means of a single alteration of the centrifugation settings within the clinical routine.
Conclusions: We postulate that the so-called low speed centrifugation concept (LSCC) selectively enriches leukocytes, platelets and growth factors within fluid PRF-based matrices. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of cell and growth factor enrichment on wound healing and tissue regeneration while comparing blood concentrates gained by high and low RCF