Monotherapy with boosted protease inhibitors as antiretroviral treatment simplification strategy in the clinical setting

Antiretroviral treatment simplification with darunavir/ritonavir or lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy maintains sustained HIV viremia suppression in clinical trials. However, data about the efficacy of this strategy in routine clinical practice is still limited, and no direct comparison between darunavir/ritonavir and lopinavir/ritonavir has been performed to date. We retrospectively studied all HIV-1-infected subjects who initiated monotherapy with darunavir/ritonavir or lopinavir/ritonavir while having plasma VL<50 c/mL, and had at least 1 subsequent follow-up visit in our clinic. When two consecutive PI-monotherapy regimens were used, each regimen was considered separately. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients who maintained virological suppression (HIV-1 VL <50 c/mL) through follow-up. Virological failure was defined as at least two consecutive HIV-1 VL >50 c/mL. We also evaluated other reasons for treatment discontinuation. Analyses were performed considering all regimens (full dataset analysis) either as “on treatment” or as “treatment switch equals failure”. Five hundred and seventy-three PI-monotherapy regimens corresponding to 520 subjects were included, 262 with darunavir/ritonavir and 311 with lopinavir/ritonavir. Medians (IQR) follow-up were 50 (26.3–107.6) and 85.6 (36.9–179.1) weeks for subjects on darunavir/ritonavir and lopinavir/ritonavir, respectively (p<0.001). Overall, 67 (11.7%) subjects experienced virological failure, 23 (8.7%) were on darunavir/ritonavir and 42 (13.5%) were on lopinavir/ritonavir (p=0.796). Two hundred and three (77.5%) patients on darunavir/ritonavir and 154 (49.5%) on lopinavir/ritonavir maintained virological suppression in the “treatment switch equals failure” (p=0.002). Other reasons for treatment discontinuation were gastrointestinal toxicity and dyslipidemia in 7.2% and 5.9% of cases, respectively. Gastrointestinal toxicities and dyslipidemia leading to treatment discontinuation were more frequent in patients on lopinavir/ritonavir (10.6% and 10.3%, respectively) than in patients on darunavir/ritonavir (3.1% and 0.8%, respectively). Monotherapy with darunavir/ritonavir or lopinavir/ritonavir as simplification strategy appears to be effective and safe in subjects with virological suppression in clinical practice. Virological efficacy seems to be similar between regimens. However, rates of discontinuation due to toxicities were higher in subjects on lopinavir/ritonavir than darunavir/ritonavir

Resistances for heat and mass transfer through a liquid-vapor interface in a binary mixture

In this paper we calculate the interfacial resistances to heat and mass transfer through a liquid-vapor interface in a binary mixture. We use two methods, the direct calculation from the actual non-equilibrium solution and integral relations, derived earlier. We verify, that integral relations, being a relatively faster and cheaper method, indeed gives the same results as the direct processing of a non-equilibrium solution. Furthermore we compare the absolute values of the interfacial resistances with the ones obtained from kinetic theory. Matching the diagonal resistances for the binary mixture we find that kinetic theory underestimates the cross coefficients. The heat of transfer is as a consequence correspondingly larger.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure

Thermodynamic modeling of phase separation in manganites

We present a phenomenological model based on the thermodynamics of the phase separated state of manganites, accounting for its static and dynamic properties. Through calorimetric measurements on La$_{0.225}$Pr$_{0.40}$Ca$_{0.375}$MnO$_{3}$ the low temperature free energies of the coexisting ferromagnetic and charge ordered phases are evaluated. The phase separated state is modeled by free energy densities uniformly spread over the sample volume. The calculations contemplate the out of equilibrium features of the coexisting phase regime, to allow a comparison between magnetic measurements and the predictions of the model. A phase diagram including the static and dynamic properties of the system is constructed, showing the existence of blocked and unblocked regimes which are characteristics of the phase separated state in manganites.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, Submitted to Phys. Rev.

The kinetics of the methanol synthesis on a copper catalyst: An experimental study

The kinetics of the low pressure of methanol from feed gases containing solely CO and H2 were studied in an internally recycled gradientless reactor. As experimental accuracy impeded the application of high CO contents, the experimental range of mole fraction of CO was limited to 0.04 to 0.22. The total pressure was varied from 3 to 7 MPa and the temperature from 503 to 553 K. Residence time distribution experiments confirmed the assumption of perfect mixing on a macroscale. A maximum likelihood approach was used to fit possible kinetic equations. Although more accurate results and better fits—compared to previous experiments in a simple integral reactor—were obtained, no single rate expression could be selected as the most appropriate one. This was mainly attributed to the effects of small amounts of CO2 and H2O formed in the reactor. Three different reaction rate equations fit the experiments equally well. Arguments are given that we never can expect to elucidate the reaction mechanisms on the basis of kinetic experiments

Molt Cycle Of The Gray-breasted Martin (hirundinidae: Progne Chalybea) In A Wintering Area In Maranhão, Brazil

[No abstract available]153436438Alerstam, T., Hedenström, A., Äkesson, S., Long-distance migration: Evolution and determinats (2003) Oikos, 103, pp. 247-260Azevedo Júnior, S.M., Dias Filho, M.M., Larrazabal, M.E., Plumagens e mudas de Charadriiformes (Aves) no litoral de Pernambuco, Brasil (2001) Revista Brasileira de Zoologia, 18, pp. 657-672Bull, J., Farrand, J., (1977) The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds - Eastern Region, , New York: Alfred A. knopfEisenmann, E., South American migrant swallows of the genus Progne in Panama and northern South Americawith comments on their identification and molt (1959) Auk, 76, pp. 528-532Eisenmann, E., Haverschmidt, F., Northward migration to Surinam of South American Martins (Progne) (1970) Condor, 72, pp. 368-369Fredrizzi, C.E., Azevedo Júnior, S.M., Larrazábal, M.E.L., Body mass and acquisition of breeding plumage of wintering (Calidris pusilla) (Linnaeus) (Aves, Scolopacidae) in the coast of Pernambuco, north-eastern Brazil (2004) Rev. Bras. Zool, 21, pp. 249-252Holmgren, N., Hedenström, A., The scheduling of molt in migratory birds (1995) Evol. Ecol, 9, pp. 354-368Igl, L.D., Johnson, D.H., Changes in breeding bird populations in North Dakota: 1967 to 1992-93 (1997) Auk, 114, pp. 74-92Marks, J.S., Moult of Bristle-Thighed Curlews in the Northwestern Hawaiian Island (1993) Auk, 110, pp. 573-587Naka, L.N., Rodrigues, M., Roos, A.L., Azevedo, M.A.G., Bird conservation on Santa Catarina Island, Southern Brazil (2002) Bird Conservation Internacional, 12, pp. 123-150Niles, D.M., Molt cycles of Purple Martins (Progne subis) (1972) Condor, 74, pp. 61-71Souza, D.G.S., (2002) All the birds of Brazil: An identification guide, , Salvador: Editora DallSvensson, E., Merilä, J., Molt and migratory condition in Blue Tits: A serological study (1996) Condor, 98, pp. 825-83

Variation in foraging activity of Acanthochitona garnoti (Mollusca: Polyplacophora) from different habitats

Click on the link to view the abstract.S. Afc. J. Zool. 1997,32(3