Semen May Harbor HIV Despite Effective HAART: Another Piece in the Puzzle

The risk of male-to-female intravaginal HIV-1 transmission is estimated at about 1 event per 200–2000 coital acts. The aim of this study was to assess the residual risk of HIV presence in semen in patients under HAART therapy.The study took place in France from October 2001 to March 2009. 394 paired blood and semen samples were provided from 332 HIV-1 infected men. The Roche Cobas AMPLICOR Monitor HIV assay was used to quantify HIV-1 RNA in blood and in seminal plasma. Three percent of 394 HIV-1 infected men enrolled in an assisted reproductive technology program harbored detectable HIV-1 RNA in semen, although they had no other sexually transmitted disease and their blood viral load was undetectable for at least 6 months under antiretroviral treatment.These data suggest that undetectable plasma HIV RNA means a lower risk of viral transmission through seminal fluid on a population level, but not necessarily at the level of the individual

Decline in Circulating Tumor Cell Count and treatment outcome in advanced prostate cancer

AbstractBackgroundTreatment response biomarkers are urgently needed for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Baseline and post-treatment circulating tumor cell (CTC) counts of ≥5 cells/7.5ml are associated with poor CRPC outcome.ObjectiveTo determine the value of a ≥30% CTC decline as a treatment response indicator.Design, setting, and participantsWe identified patients with a baseline CTC count ≥5 cells/7.5ml and evaluable post-treatment CTC counts in two prospective trials.InterventionPatients were treated in the COU-AA-301 (abiraterone after chemotherapy) and IMMC-38 (chemotherapy) trials.Outcome measures and statistical analysisThe association between a ≥30% CTC decline after treatment and survival was evaluated using univariable and multivariable Cox regression models at three landmark time points (4, 8, and 12 wk). Model performance was evaluated by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and c-indices.ResultsOverall 486 patients (122 in IMMC-38 and 364 in COU-AA-301) had a CTC count ≥5 cells/7.5ml at baseline, with 440, 380, and 351 patients evaluable at 4, 8, and 12 wk, respectively. A 30% CTC decline was associated with increased survival at 4 wk (hazard ratio [HR] 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.36–0.56; p<0.001), 8 wk (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.33–0.53; p<0.001), and 12 wk (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.3–0.5; p<0.001) in univariable and multivariable analyses. Stable CTC count (<30% fall or <30% increase) was not associated with a survival benefit when compared with increased CTC count. The association between a 30% CTC decline after treatment and survival was independent of baseline CTC count. CTC declines significantly improved the AUC at all time-points. Finally, in the COU-AA-301 trial, patients with CTC ≥5 cells/7.5ml and a 30% CTC decline had similar overall survival in both arms.ConclusionsA 30% CTC decline after treatment from an initial count ≥5 cells/7.5ml is independently associated with CRPC overall survival following abiraterone and chemotherapy, improving the performance of a multivariable model as early as 4 wk after treatment. This potential surrogate must now be prospectively evaluated.Patient summaryCirculating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that can be detected in the blood of prostate cancer patients. We analyzed changes in CTCs after treatment with abiraterone and chemotherapy in two large clinical trials, and found that patients who have a decline in CTC count have a better survival outcome

GENEPI-3C, a versatile neutron generator for the GUINEVERE ADS feasibility studies

TU6PFP028International audienceGUINEVERE, Generator-of-Uninterrupted- Intense-NEutrons-at-the-lead-VEnus-REactor, is devoted to ADS feasibility studies and to investigate on-line reactivity monitoring, sub-criticality determination and operational procedures. It will couple a versatile neutron source to the VENUS-F lead core at the SCK*CEN site in Mol (Belgium). It is based on an electrostatic accelerator generating 14 MeV neutrons by bombarding a deuteron beam on a tritium target located in the reactor core. A new accelerator has been developed. It will produce alternatively 1 μs 250 keV deuteron pulses with adjustable repetition rate (40 mA peak), as well as continuous beam (1 mA) with programmable interruptions. Beam will be inserted vertically into the reactor core. The accelerator is designed to enable the vertical section of the beam line to be easily lifted out the reactor bunker for maintenance operations, target changes and core loading procedures. This paper will describe the design of the accelerator and its commissioning in Grenoble (France), before its transfer to the Belgian site. This work is performed within the 6th Framework Program EC project EUROTRANS.GUINEVERE, Generator-of-Uninterrupted- Intense-NEutrons-at-the-lead-VEnus-REactor, is devoted to ADS feasibility studies and to investigate on-line reactivity monitoring, sub-criticality determination and operational procedures. It will couple a versatile neutron source to the VENUS-F lead core at the SCK*CEN site in Mol (Belgium). It is based on an electrostatic accelerator generating 14 MeV neutrons by bombarding a deuteron beam on a tritium target located in the reactor core. A new accelerator has been developed. It will produce alternatively 1 μs 250 keV deuteron pulses with adjustable repetition rate (40 mA peak), as well as continuous beam (1 mA) with programmable interruptions. Beam will be inserted vertically into the reactor core. The accelerator is designed to enable the vertical section of the beam line to be easily lifted out the reactor bunker for maintenance operations, target changes and core loading procedures. This paper will describe the design of the accelerator and its commissioning in Grenoble (France), before its transfer to the Belgian site. This work is performed within the 6th Framework Program EC project EUROTRANS

GENEPI-3C, a versatile neutron generator for the GUINEVERE ADS feasibility studies

TU6PFP028International audienceGUINEVERE, Generator-of-Uninterrupted- Intense-NEutrons-at-the-lead-VEnus-REactor, is devoted to ADS feasibility studies and to investigate on-line reactivity monitoring, sub-criticality determination and operational procedures. It will couple a versatile neutron source to the VENUS-F lead core at the SCK*CEN site in Mol (Belgium). It is based on an electrostatic accelerator generating 14 MeV neutrons by bombarding a deuteron beam on a tritium target located in the reactor core. A new accelerator has been developed. It will produce alternatively 1 μs 250 keV deuteron pulses with adjustable repetition rate (40 mA peak), as well as continuous beam (1 mA) with programmable interruptions. Beam will be inserted vertically into the reactor core. The accelerator is designed to enable the vertical section of the beam line to be easily lifted out the reactor bunker for maintenance operations, target changes and core loading procedures. This paper will describe the design of the accelerator and its commissioning in Grenoble (France), before its transfer to the Belgian site. This work is performed within the 6th Framework Program EC project EUROTRANS.GUINEVERE, Generator-of-Uninterrupted- Intense-NEutrons-at-the-lead-VEnus-REactor, is devoted to ADS feasibility studies and to investigate on-line reactivity monitoring, sub-criticality determination and operational procedures. It will couple a versatile neutron source to the VENUS-F lead core at the SCK*CEN site in Mol (Belgium). It is based on an electrostatic accelerator generating 14 MeV neutrons by bombarding a deuteron beam on a tritium target located in the reactor core. A new accelerator has been developed. It will produce alternatively 1 μs 250 keV deuteron pulses with adjustable repetition rate (40 mA peak), as well as continuous beam (1 mA) with programmable interruptions. Beam will be inserted vertically into the reactor core. The accelerator is designed to enable the vertical section of the beam line to be easily lifted out the reactor bunker for maintenance operations, target changes and core loading procedures. This paper will describe the design of the accelerator and its commissioning in Grenoble (France), before its transfer to the Belgian site. This work is performed within the 6th Framework Program EC project EUROTRANS