HIV/AIDS selective infectivity–report of two peculiar cases

AbstractWe report two peculiar cases that were observed in two communities of Anambra State, South East Nigeria. The first case was a woman of 44 with a history of blood transfusion from a donor of questionable HIV status. A pint of blood was transfused in a private Hospital on the 15 th January, 2000. She has had no form of antiviral therapy until 22nd April, 2008 when she came to the hospital for routine medical check up. Her HIV result came out confirmed positive while that of her husband came out negative. She has had active sexual life with her husband in the previous eight years as they have had some difficulties in getting their desired extra two children having earlier gotten a boy and a girl. The second case involves a family of six. A couple with four children of ages about 6 months, 2 years, 3 years and 5 years. The youngest, a female presented with fever and multiple lymphadenopathy. She tested HIV positive and so was her mother and her second sibling. But her father and two other siblings remained negative at post three and six months intervals from their very first test date with us. These reported cases appear to go contrary to earlier formed opinion on HIV transmission. We support the opinion on a naturally, occurring substance, APOBEC3G which possibly confers permanent immunity against the HIV virus. We recommend clinical trials of the characterized APOBEC3G as a vaccine for non HIV infected persons of all ages and to people living with as a therapeutic drug

Solubility of strontium-substituted apatite by solid titration

Solid titration was used to explore the solubility isotherms of partially (Srx-HAp, x = 1, 5, 10, 40, 60 mol.%) and fully substituted strontium hydroxyapatite (Sr-HAp). Solubility increased with increasing strontium content. No phase other than strontium-substituted HAp, corresponding to the original titrant, was detected in the solid present at equilibrium; in particular, dicalcium hydrogen phosphate was not detected at low pH. The increase in solubility with strontium content is interpreted as a destabilization of the crystal structure by the larger strontium ion. Carbonated HAp was formed in simulated body fluid containing carbonate on seeding with Sr10-HAp, but the precipitate was strontium-substituted on seeding with Sr-HAp. Strontium-substituted HAp might be usable as a template for the growth of new bone, since nucleation appears to be facilitated. © 2008 Acta Materialia Inc.postprin

The Stability of Biological Apatite in the Presence of Strontium

Poster no. 646published_or_final_versio

Solubility of strontium-substituted apatite by solid titration

Solid titration was used to explore the solubility isotherms of partially (Srx-HAp, x = 1, 5, 10, 40, 60 mol.%) and fully substituted strontium hydroxyapatite (Sr-HAp). Solubility increased with increasing strontium content. No phase other than strontium-substituted HAp, corresponding to the original titrant, was detected in the solid present at equilibrium; in particular, dicalcium hydrogen phosphate was not detected at low pH. The increase in solubility with strontium content is interpreted as a destabilization of the crystal structure by the larger strontium ion. Carbonated HAp was formed in simulated body fluid containing carbonate on seeding with Sr10-HAp, but the precipitate was strontium-substituted on seeding with Sr-HAp. Strontium-substituted HAp might be usable as a template for the growth of new bone, since nucleation appears to be facilitated. © 2008 Acta Materialia Inc.postprin

Structure evolution of nanodiamond aggregates: a SANS and USANS study

Ultra-small-angle neutron scattering (USANS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements, covering length scales from micrometres to nanometres, were made to investigate the structure of nanodiamonds (NDs) and their suspensions. These nanodiamonds were produced by two different techniques, namely by the detonation method and by the laser ablation of a carbon-hydrocarbon mixture. The (U)SANS results indicated the presence of structures four orders of magnitude larger than the dimensions of a single ND particle, consisting of aggregations of ND particles. This aggregation of the ND particles was studied by employing the contrast variation technique. Two different solvents, namely H2O and dimethyl sulfoxide (and their deuterated counterparts), were used to understand the role of hydrogen in the shape and size of the aggregates. The analysis of experimental data from SANS measurements also reveals the ND particles to have an ellipsoidal structure. Using a defined shape model and the SANS contrast variation technique, it was possible to characterize the non-diamond outer shell of the particles and determine the outer layer thickness. This clarification of the structure of the NDs will allow better preparation of suspensions/samples for various applications. Understanding the structure of NDs at multiple length scales also provides crucial knowledge of particle-particle interaction and its effect on the aggregation structures

Effects of high versus low flux membranes on O2 saturation in hemodialysis patients

Background: Several studies have been carried out to evaluate the effects of dialysis on O2 saturation. While the dialysis procedure may lead to hypoxia under different circumstances, there are few studies available on the effects of membrane type on O2 saturation in these patients. objectives: This study was to appraise the effects of high and low flux membrane on pulse oxymetery in dialysis patients. Patients and Methods: In a cross-sectional evaluation, 43 hemodialysis patients without pulmonary disease were enrolled. Of this group, dialysis was performed by low and high flux membranes, and pulse oxymetery was applied before and after the procedures. Results: Mean age of the patients was 56.34 years. Of these patients, 23 (53.5) and 20 (46.5) were women and men, respectively. Type of membrane (high flux vs. low flux) did not show any significant effect on pulse oxymetery results (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Due to the lack of a significant difference in pulse oxymetery and creation of hypoxia between two types of membranes in hemodialysis patients, as well as the high cost of high flux membrane as compared to the low flux membrane, we do not suggest the use of high flux membrane in dialysis. © 2013, Kowsar Corp.; Published by Kowsar Corp

Low-molecular-weight organic acids exuded by Mangrove (Kandelia candel (L.) Druce) roots and their effect on cadmium species change in the rhizosphere

Cadmium (Cd) accumulation has been found in large areas of estuaries due to emissions from municipal waste incinerators, car exhausts, residues from metalliferous mining and the smelting industry, and the use of sludge or urban composts, pesticides and fertilizers. In these areas, mangroves have been observed to possess a tolerance to high levels of Cd and it is hypothesized that low-molecular-weight organic acids (LMWOAs) produced at the soil-root interface (rhizosphere) may play an important role in the availability of Cd to these plants. Changes in both LMWOAs and Cd bioavailability, directly or indirectly related to the Cd stress were studied in the laboratory. A rhizobox technique was used for 6 months under growth in air-conditioned greenhouse with natural illumination and the relative humidity of 85%, the temperature ranging from 26 to 32 degrees C, in increasing Cd concentration stress conditions (0, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ppm). Six-month-old Kandelia candel (L.) Druce seedlings which grown in the rhizoboxes were selected to examine their root exudates. The results showed that monocarboxylic acids (formic, acetic, lactic, butyric and propionic acids), and di- and tricarbonxylic acids (maleic, fumaric, citric and L-tartaric acids) were found in root exudates. Citric, lactic and acetic acids being dominant took up 76.85-97.87% of the total LMWOAs in root exudations. Fumaric acid was only found where mangroves were growing on 20 ppm Cd. Root exudates reduced pH by 0.2-0.5 pH units in the rhizosphere compare to the bulk soil. The proportion of exchangeable Cd and Cd bound to carbonate had a positive correlation to total LMWOAs in the rhizosphere soil. Root exudates induced changes in soil Cd species under control conditions, consisting of lower exchangeable Cd compared with increasing stress. Results indicate that the measurement of LMWOAs may be included as early biomarkers in a plant bioassay to assess the phytotoxicity of Cd-contaminated soils on mangrove plants. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Socio-demographic variation in adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) Cancer Prevention Recommendations within the UK Biobank prospective cohort study

\ua9 The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. Background: The 2018 (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) Cancer Prevention Recommendations are evidence-based lifestyle recommendations which aim to reduce the risk of cancer worldwide. Sociodemographic factors modulate lifestyle behaviours, and both cancer incidence and survival are socio-economically patterned. We investigated adherence to these recommendations and examined patterns of adherence across sociodemographic subgroups in the UK Biobank cohort. Methods: We included 158 415 UK Biobank participants (mean age 56 years, 53% female). Total adherence scores were derived from dietary, physical activity and anthropometric data using the 2018 WCRF/AICR standardized scoring system. One-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for differences in total scores and in values for individual score components according to sociodemographic factors and Pearson’s X2 test to investigate associations between sociodemographic factors according to tertiles of adherence score. Results Mean total adherence score was 3.85 points (SD 1.05, range 0–7 points). Higher total scores were observed in females, and older (>57 years), Chinese or South Asian, and more educated participants. We found significant variations in adherence to individual recommendations by sociodemographic factors including education, Townsend deprivation index and ethnicity. Conclusions: Identifying and understanding lifestyle and dietary patterns according to sociodemographic factors could help to guide public health strategies for the prevention of cancers and other non-communicable diseases

Does timing of decisions in a mixed duopoly matter?

We determine the endogenous order of moves in a mixed pricesetting duopoly. In contrast to the existing literature on mixed oligopolies we establish the payo equivalence of the games with an exogenously given order of moves if the most plausible equilibrium is realized in the market. Hence, in this case it does not matter whether one becomes a leader or a follower. We also establish that replacing a private firm by a public firm in the standard Bertrand-Edgeworth game with capacity constraints increases social welfare and that a pure-strategy equilibrium always exists

Peripheral trauma and risk of dystonia: What are the evidences and potential co-risk factors from a population insurance database?

BACKGROUND: Dystonia is a neurological syndrome typically resulting in abnormal postures. OBJECTIVES: We tested the role of physical injury as potential risk factor for development of dystonia using The National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. METHODS: We identified 65704 people who were coded in the database as having had peripheral traumatic injuries (ICD-9-CM 807-848 and 860-959) in the year 2000. Patients with traumatic brain or spine injuries were excluded from analysis. We matched them using purposive sampling with 65704 people in the database who had not suffered peripheral trauma. We looked then at the incidence of dystonia occurring at least 1 year from the date of the peripheral trauma until 2011. Psychiatric symptoms (depression and anxiety) and sleeps difficulties have been investigated as potential covariates. RESULTS: We found 189 patients with dystonia (0.28%) in the trauma group, and 52 patients with dystonia (0.08%) in the non-trauma group. Trauma was independently associated with dystonia (adjusted HR = 3.12, 95% CI = 2.30-4.24). The incidence density of dystonia in the trauma group was 2.27 per 10000 person-years, while it was 0.71 per 10000 person-years in the non-trauma group Beyond the peripheral trauma, other variables associated to the incidence of dystonia included female sex, aged 40 years and above, depression and sleep disorders. CONCLUSION: These data from a large population dataset support traumatic injury as a risk factor for the development of dystonia