Estimation of hospital-based HIV seroprevalence as a nationwide scale by novel method; 2002-2008 in Korea

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Korea, approximately 70% of HIV-positive individuals are currently diagnosed in hospitals, while most HIV-positive patients were diagnosed at public health centers in 1980 s and 1990 s. However, there are no reporting systems to identify how many HIV tests are performed in the Korean hospitals different from public health centers and Blood centers. We estimated how many HIV tests were performed in hospitals and analyzed the nationwide hospital-based HIV seroprevalence in the present study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between 2002 and 2008, data included HIV tests on insurance claims in hospitals and the proportion of computerized insurance claims from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Services. The number of HIV tests from the survey in the External Quality Assurance Scheme for hospital laboratories was collected to calculate the insurance claim proportion. HIV seroprevalence was estimated using data of tested individuals, including infected individuals. Statistical analysis was confirmed with the 95% confidence interval. Statistical significance was defined at p-values < 0.05.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The number of HIV tests in hospitals increased from 2.7 million in 2002 to 5.0 million in 2008. The trend of HIV seroprevalence was decrease (1.5-1.3 per 10,000 individuals, P < 0.0028), except in 2002. The number of women tested was greater than men, and the proportion increased in older individuals and in small towns. Men had a higher annual HIV seroprevalence than women (P < 0.0001). The annual seroprevalence decreased in men (P = 0.0037), but was stable in women. The seroprevalence in the 30-39 year age group demonstrated higher than other age groups except 2008.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The nationwide hospital-based number of HIV tests and seroprevalence were estimated using a new method and seroprevalence trends were identified. This information will facilitate improvement in national HIV prevention strategies.</p

Economics of neuraminidase inhibitor stock piling for pandemic influenza, Singapore.

We compared strategies for stock piling neuraminidase inhibitors to treat and prevent influenza in Singapore. Cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses, with Monte Carlo simulations, were used to determine economic outcomes. A pandemic in a population of 4.2 million would result in an estimated 525-1,775 deaths, 10,700-38,600 hospitalization days, and economic costs of 0.7 dollars to 2.2 billion Singapore dollars. The treatment-only strategy had optimal economic benefits: stock piles of antiviral agents for 40% of the population would save an estimated 418 lives and 414 million dollars, at a cost of 52.6 million dollars per shelf-life cycle of the stock pile. Prophylaxis was economically beneficial in high-risk subpopulations, which account for 78% of deaths, and in pandemics in which the death rate was >0.6%. Prophylaxis for pandemics with a 5% case-fatality rate would save 50,000 lives and 81 billion dollars. These models can help policymakers weigh the options for pandemic planning

Effects of Scalar Dissipation Rate Fluctuations on Autoignition of Hydrogen/Air Mixture

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/76071/1/AIAA-38665-294.pd

Increasing late diagnosis in HIV infection in South Korea: 2000-2007

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The number of Koreans diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections is increasing annually; however, CD4+ T-cell counts at diagnosis have decreased. The purpose of the present study was to identify clinical and epidemiologic associations with low CD4+ T-cell counts at the time of HIV diagnosis in a Korean population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data from 2,299 HIV-infected individuals with initial CD4+ T-cell counts measured within 6 months of HIV diagnosis and reason for HIV testing were recorded and measured from 2000 to 2007. Data were selected from the database of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Late diagnosis was defined by CD4+ T-cell counts <200 cells/mm³. Reasons for HIV testing were analyzed using logistic regression including epidemiologic variables.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 858 individuals (37.3%) were included in the late diagnosis group. Individuals with a late diagnosis were older, exposed through heterosexual contact, and demonstrated clinical manifestations of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The primary reason for HIV testing was a routine health check-up (41%) followed by clinical manifestations (31%) of AIDS. The proportion of individuals with a late diagnosis was higher in individuals tested due to clinical symptoms in public health centers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 17.3; 95% CI, 1.7-175) and hospitals (AOR, 4.9; 95% CI, 3.4-7.2) compared to general health check-up. Late diagnosis annually increased in individuals diagnosed by voluntary testing both in public health centers (PHCs, P = 0.017) and in hospitals (P = 0.063). Routine testing due to risky behaviors resulted in earlier detection than testing secondary to health check-ups, although this difference was not statistically significant (AOR, 0.7; P = 0.187). Individuals identified as part of hospital health check-ups more frequently had a late diagnosis (P = 0.001)</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>HIV infection was primarily detected by voluntary testing with identification in PHCs and by testing due to clinical symptoms in hospitals. However, early detection was not influenced by either voluntary testing or general health check-up. It is important to encourage voluntary testing for early detection to decrease the prevalence of HIV infection and AIDS progression.</p

Strong correlation effects in the doped Hubbard model in infinite dimensions

The density of states and the optical conductivity of the doped Hubbard model on a Bethe lattice with infinite connectivities have been studied using an analytic variant of the Lanczos continued fraction method. The spectral weight of the gap states and the position of the chemical potential upon hole or electron doping have been studied. We argue that the strong correlation effects such as gap states and midinfrared band shown in two dimensions also appear in infinite dimensions.Comment: 9 pages, revtex, 3 figures upon reques

Temporal Notch activation through Notch1a and Notch3 is required for maintaining zebrafish rhombomere boundaries

In vertebrates, hindbrain is subdivided into seven segments termed rhombomeres and the interface between each rhombomere forms the boundary. Similar to the D/V boundary formation in Drosophila, Notch activation has been shown to regulate the segregation of rhombomere boundary cells. Here we further explored the function of Notch signaling in the formation of rhombomere boundaries. By using bodipy ceramide cell-labeling technique, we found that the hindbrain boundary is formed initially in mib mutants but lost after 24 hours post-fertilization (hpf). This phenotype was more severe in mibta52b allele than in mibtfi91 allele. Similarly, injection of su(h)-MO led to boundary defects in a dosage-dependent manner. Boundary cells were recovered in mibta52b mutants in the hdac1-deficient background, where neurogenesis is inhibited. Furthermore, boundary cells lost sensitivity to reduced Notch activation from 15 somite stage onwards. We also showed that knockdown of notch3 function in notch1a mutants leads to the loss of rhombomere boundary cells and causes neuronal hyperplasia, indicating that Notch1a and Notch3 play a redundant role in the maintenance of rhombomere boundary