Tuberculosis and HIV Co-Infection

Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV co-infections place an immense burden on health care systems and pose particular diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Infection with HIV is the most powerful known risk factor predisposing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and progression to active disease, which increases the risk of latent TB reactivation 20-fold. TB is also the most common cause of AIDS-related death. Thus, M. tuberculosis and HIV act in synergy, accelerating the decline of immunological functions and leading to subsequent death if untreated. The mechanisms behind the breakdown of the immune defense of the co-infected individual are not well known. The aim of this review is to highlight immunological events that may accelerate the development of one of the two diseases in the presence of the co-infecting organism. We also review possible animal models for studies of the interaction of the two pathogens, and describe gaps in knowledge and needs for future studies to develop preventive measures against the two diseases

Vaccines against Tuberculosis: Where Are We and Where Do We Need to Go?

In this review we discuss recent progress in the development, testing, and clinical evaluation of new vaccines against tuberculosis (TB). Over the last 20 years, tremendous progress has been made in TB vaccine research and development: from a pipeline virtually empty of new TB candidate vaccines in the early 1990s, to an era in which a dozen novel TB vaccine candidates have been and are being evaluated in human clinical trials. In addition, innovative approaches are being pursued to further improve existing vaccines, as well as discover new ones. Thus, there is good reason for optimism in the field of TB vaccines that it will be possible to develop better vaccines than BCG, which is still the only vaccine available against TB

Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Anxious Adolescents: Developmental Influences on Treatment Design and Delivery

Anxiety disorders in adolescence are common and disruptive, pointing to a need for effective treatments for this age group. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) is one of the most popular interventions for adolescent anxiety, and there is empirical support for its application. However, a significant proportion of adolescent clients continue to report anxiety symptoms post-treatment. This paper underscores the need to attend to the unique developmental characteristics of the adolescent period when designing and delivering treatment, in an effort to enhance treatment effectiveness. Informed by the literature from developmental psychology, developmental psychopathology, and clinical child and adolescent psychology, we review the ‘why’ and the ‘how’ of developmentally appropriate CBT for anxious adolescents. ‘Why’ it is important to consider developmental factors in designing and delivering CBT for anxious adolescents is addressed by examining the age-related findings of treatment outcome studies and exploring the influence of developmental factors, including cognitive capacities, on engagement in CBT. ‘How’ clinicians can developmentally tailor CBT for anxious adolescents in six key domains of treatment design and delivery is illustrated with suggestions drawn from both clinically and research-oriented literature. Finally, recommendations are made for research into developmentally appropriate CBT for anxious adolescents

Crustacea Decapoda von der Insel Rhodos, Griechenland

Obwohl uns schon Aristoteles (384-322 v. Chr.) über Decapoden aus dem Ägäischen Meer berichtet (Palinurus elephas (Fabricius) und Homarus gammarus (L.)), ist die Decapodenfauna dieser Region des östlichen Mittelmeeres bis heute nicht eingehend erforscht worden. Es gibt bis jetzt keine zusammenfassende Arbeit über die Fauna dieses Gebietes und auch die vorliegende Arbeit bedeutet nur einen kleinen Beitrag zur wirklichen Kenntnis der Decapoden. Es gibt eine ganze Reihe von Arten, welche aus der Adria oder dem Ionischen Meer einerseits und dem Marmara-Meer bzw. Dardanellen und Bosporus andererseits bekannt sind, ohne das sie bis jetzt aus der Ägäis gemeldet wurden. Wahrscheinlich ist bis heute nur ein geringer Teil der Ägäischen Decapodenfauna bekannt. Erst in den letzten Jahren bessert sich unsere Kenntnis dieses Gebietes, durch die Arbeiten von Geldiay & Kocataş (1968; 1970; 1972) und Kocataş (1971). Allerdings beziehen sich diese Arbeiten auf ein relativ begrenztes Gebiet in der Umgebung von Izmir. Wichtig für alle Arbeiten im östlichen Mittelmeer ist auch die Publikation von Holthuis & Gottlieb (1958). Im Anhang zu dieser Arbeit, geben die Autoren eine zusammenfassende Liste über alle vom östlichen Mittelmeer bekannten Arten, nebst den dazugehörigen Literaturangaben. Hier muss noch einmal auf den von Holthuis & Gottlieb (1958) festgelegten Begriff „östliches Mittelmeer" hingewiesen werden. Als Grenzlinie wurde von den Autoren das Längengrad 20 Ε angegeben, doch nicht im Sinne einer zoogeographischen Grenze (!), sondern nur aus praktischen Gründen für die Literaturangaben! Auf diese Weise konnten zum Beispiel alle Angaben aus dem Gebiet der Adria ausgelassen werden. Aus all dem gesagten dürfte hervorgehen, dass es nicht besonders über

Notes on Stenopus Spinosus Risso and Engystenopus Spinulatus Holthuis (Crustacea, Decapoda, Stenopodidae)

INTRODUCTION During recent explorations off the Mediterranean coast of Israel several specimens of Stenopus spinosus were collected. When studying this material it was thought to be of interest to compare the Israel specimens with those that had been reported from the Red Sea. Although Stenopus spinosus has repeatedly been reported from the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean, there is only a single record of the species from the Red Sea (Balss, 1914). Due to the kindness of Dr. G. Pretzmann of the Vienna Museum it was made possible for us to examine these Red Sea specimens. These proved not to be Stenopus spinosus but to belong to the poorly known Engystenopus spinulatus. In the first part of the present paper the Israel Stenopus material is dealt with, in the second part a description of the Red Sea specimens of Engystenopus is provided. I. Stenopus spinosus, a species new to the eastern Mediterranean During 1977 a scientific investigation of the benthic fauna of the Mediterranean south of Tel-Aviv, Israel, sponsored by the Zoological Institute of the University of Tel-Aviv, was carried out by the first author (Ch. L.), ably assisted by Mrs. B. Galil of the Institute. Eleven stations at depths between 20 and 8o m were regularly sampled. One of the interesting finds here was that of Stenopus spinosus. Stenopus spinosus Risso, 1827 Material examined. — Off Palmahim, south of Tel-Aviv; Sta. 1, 31°56'N 34°з6'Е, 35 m deep; 3 May 1977, 1 juvenile, NS 16328. Off Palmahim; Sta. 2, 3i°5ó'N 34o35' E, 50 m; 30 June 1977, ι $, NS 16323