Der Einfluss des Dieselmotors auf die Luftqualität = Influence of Diesel Engines on the Air Quality

Der Dieselmotor ist in vielen Anwendungsbereichen unverzichtbar, kommt aber durch seine Emissionen immer wieder in Kritik. Mit moderner Abgasnachbehandlung können aber inzwischen die Stickoxid-Emissionen und die Partikelemissionen deutlich reduziert werden. Ein Blick auf die Immissionsbelastung der vom Dieselmotor verursachten Emissionen zeigt bereits, dass hier eine deutlichere Verbesserung stattgefunden hat

Growth response to 4-hydroxy-l-threonine of Escherichia coli mutants blocked in vitamin B6 biosynthesis

AbstractMutants of Escherichia coli (pdx B and pdx C) which are blocked in the biosynthesis of pyridoxol (vitamin B6) showed a growth response to 4-hydroxy-l-threonine. This observation constitutes the first direct evidence in support of the view that 4-hydroxy-l-threonine is implicated in the biosynthesis of vitamin B6. 1-Aminopropan-2,3-diol, the decarboxylation product of 4-hydroxy-l-threonine, does not support the growth of these mutants. Deuterium from deuterium-labelled 1-aminopropan-2,3-diol was not incorporated into pyridoxol

High seroprevalence of human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) antibodies among vertically HIV-infected pediatric patients living in Germany

Background: Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8), a gamma herpes virus, is the etiological agent for Kaposi sarcoma (KS). HIV-infected adults with advanced immunodeficiency are at risk. Prevalence data of HHV-8 infection in HIV-infected children living in non-endemic areas are limited. Serologic studies indicate low seroprevalence rates of 3–4% for healthy children living in United States and Germany [1]. Purpose of the study: The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of HHV-8 antibodies among vertically HIV-infected pediatric patients in Germany and to evaluate their association with age, gender, ethnicity, and other demographic factors. Methods: In 2012, a multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted in four University Hospitals in Germany. Stored frozen serum specimens obtained from vertically HIV-infected children and adolescents were tested for antibodies against lytic and latent HHV-8 antigens. Data on patients' demographic characteristics and medical history were recorded. Results: A total of 214 HIV-infected children and adolescents (105 males, 109 females) were included. The median age was 10.2 years (range 1 months–22.6 years). A high proportion of these children (62%) was born in Western Europe, whereas 65% (139/214) of their mothers were born in countries outside Western Europe. The majoritiy (91%) of the children had been treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy and 55.2% (116/210) had a HIV-viral load<50 copies/mL. The median CD4 cell count was 1000/L (range 3–4400). The overall seroprevalence of HHV-8 antibodies was 23.8% (51/214). Seroprevalence rates did not show significant differences between age or gender. In the group of young children aged 1 month to 35 months, 19.4% (46/31) had HHV-8 antibodies, compared to 25% (25/100) in children aged 36 months to 11 years, and 24.1% (20/83) children 12 years and older. In the study group, seroprevalence rates were significantly lower in children who were born in Western Europe (p <0.01) compared to those born in Africa, Asia, or Eastern Europe. Clinical symptoms of HHV-8 infection were reported to be uncommon; only one child had a history of KS at 2 years of age. Conclusions: Vertically HIV-infected pediatric patients living in Germany showed a high HHV-8 seroprevalence of 23.8%. These rates were higher as expected in the normal pediatric population. The findings suggest that HHV-8 infection occurred already in the first years of life

Neurocognition and quality of life after reinitiating antiretroviral therapy in children randomized to planned treatment interruption

Objective: Understanding the effects of antiretroviral treatment (ART) interruption on neurocognition and quality of life (QoL) are important for managing unplanned interruptions and planned interruptions in HIV cure research. Design: Children previously randomized to continuous (continuous ART, n=41) vs. planned treatment interruption (PTI, n=47) in the Pediatric European Network for Treatment of AIDS (PENTA) 11 study were enrolled. At study end, PTI children resumed ART. At 1 and 2 years following study end, children were assessed by the coding, symbol search and digit span subtests of Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (6-16 years old) or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale ( 6517 years old) and by Pediatrics QoL questionnaires for physical and psychological QoL. Transformed scaled scores for neurocognition and mean standardized scores for QoL were compared between arms by t-test and Mann-Whitney U test, respectively. Scores indicating clinical concern were compared (<7 for neurocognition and <70 for QoL tests). Results: Characteristics were similar between arms with a median age of 12.6 years, CD4 + of 830 cells/\u3bcl and HIV RNA of 1.7 log 10 copies/ml. The median cumulative ART exposure was 9.6 in continuous ART vs. 7.7 years in PTI (P=0.02). PTI children had a median of 12 months off ART and had resumed ART for 25.2 months at time of first assessment. Neurocognitive scores were similar between arms for all tests. Physical and psychological QoL scores were no different. About 40% had low neurocognitive and QoL scores indicating clinical concern. Conclusion: No differences in information processing speed, sustained attention, short-term memory and QoL functioning were observed between children previously randomized to continuous ART vs. PTI in the PENTA 11 trial

Time to Switch to Second-line Antiretroviral Therapy in Children With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Europe and Thailand.

Background: Data on durability of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in children with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are limited. We assessed time to switch to second-line therapy in 16 European countries and Thailand. Methods: Children aged <18 years initiating combination ART (≥2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NRTIs] plus nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor [NNRTI] or boosted protease inhibitor [PI]) were included. Switch to second-line was defined as (i) change across drug class (PI to NNRTI or vice versa) or within PI class plus change of ≥1 NRTI; (ii) change from single to dual PI; or (iii) addition of a new drug class. Cumulative incidence of switch was calculated with death and loss to follow-up as competing risks. Results: Of 3668 children included, median age at ART initiation was 6.1 (interquartile range (IQR), 1.7-10.5) years. Initial regimens were 32% PI based, 34% nevirapine (NVP) based, and 33% efavirenz based. Median duration of follow-up was 5.4 (IQR, 2.9-8.3) years. Cumulative incidence of switch at 5 years was 21% (95% confidence interval, 20%-23%), with significant regional variations. Median time to switch was 30 (IQR, 16-58) months; two-thirds of switches were related to treatment failure. In multivariable analysis, older age, severe immunosuppression and higher viral load (VL) at ART start, and NVP-based initial regimens were associated with increased risk of switch. Conclusions: One in 5 children switched to a second-line regimen by 5 years of ART, with two-thirds failure related. Advanced HIV, older age, and NVP-based regimens were associated with increased risk of switch

Bausteine einer Gemeindefinanzreform: Gewerbesteuer und Sozialhilfe

Available from Bibliothek des Instituts fuer Weltwirtschaft, ZBW, Duesternbrook Weg 120, D-24105 Kiel B 287930 / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman

HIV-1 seroreversion in HIV-1-infected children: do genetic determinants play a role?

Background: HIV-1 seroreversion in infants with vertically transmitted HIV-1 infection who started ART in the first months of life has been reported in only a subset of patients. However, the reason why most infants remain seropositive despite similar treatment response is not understood. Here, we assessed whether HIV-1 seroreversion in maternally infected infants is associated with genetic determinants. Methods: HIV-1-infected infants with a history of documented HIV-1 seroreversion were identified throughout Germany using a standardized questionnaire. At study entry immune reconstitution and anti-HIV-1 antibody expression were monitored as clinical parameters. To search for genetic determinants high-resolution HLA genotyping was performed. In addition, the coding sequence of the chemokine receptor CCR5 was analyzed by Sanger sequencing regarding potential mutations. Results: Patients showed normal numbers and frequencies of lymphocyte subpopulations. Five out of eight patients still had seronegative HIV-1 antibody status at study entry. HLA genotyping revealed the enrichment of HLA-DQB1*03 and DQB1*06 alleles within the patient cohort. Only one patient was found to carry a 32 bp-deletion within the CCR5 gene. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the phenotype of HIV-1 seroreversion in infants might correlate with the presence of HLA class II alleles DQB1*03 and DQB1*06. This finding supports the idea of genetic predisposition determining HIV-1 seroreversion in vertically infected infants effectively treated with AR