Antenatal atazanavir: a retrospective analysis of pregnancies exposed to atazanavir.

INTRODUCTION: There are few data regarding the tolerability, safety, or efficacy of antenatal atazanavir. We report our clinical experience of atazanavir use in pregnancy. METHODS: A retrospective medical records review of atazanavir-exposed pregnancies in 12 London centres between 2004 and 2010. RESULTS: There were 145 pregnancies in 135 women: 89 conceived whilst taking atazanavir-based combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), "preconception" atazanavir exposure; 27 started atazanavir-based cART as "first-line" during the pregnancy; and 29 "switched" to an atazanavir-based regimen from another cART regimen during pregnancy. Gastrointestinal intolerance requiring atazanavir cessation occurred in five pregnancies. Self-limiting, new-onset transaminitis was most common in first-line use, occurring in 11.0%. Atazanavir was commenced in five switch pregnancies in the presence of transaminitis, two of which discontinued atazanavir with persistent transaminitis. HIV-VL < 50 copies/mL was achieved in 89.3% preconception, 56.5% first-line, and 72.0% switch exposures. Singleton preterm delivery (<37 weeks) occurred in 11.7% preconception, 9.1% first-line, and 7.7% switch exposures. Four infants required phototherapy. There was one mother-to-child transmission in a poorly adherent woman. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that atazanavir is well tolerated and can be safely prescribed as a component of combination antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy

A Potential Role of Evolution in Shaping Modern Human\u27s Behaviors and Morals

Between eight and six million years ago there existed a common ancestor linking the human species with their great ape relatives. Following the arrival of this organism, a lineage of several different human species began to emerge around two to three million years ago in Africa. These species included Homo rudolfensis, Homo habilis, Homo ergaster, Homo erectus, Homo floresiensis, Homo heidelbergensis, Homo neanderthalensis, and Homo sapiens. By analyzing these species and the great ape relatives through literary research, it is possible to begin to investigate the potential role of evolution in constructing modern human behaviors and morals

Exploring Microplastic Concentrations and the Sedimentology of San Diego\u27s Offshore Benthic Environments

Marine pollution studies are showing infiltration of plastic debris in remote parts of oceans including the deep sea. Microplastics (MPs) are being discovered not only in the ocean’s water column but also benthic sediments reaching thousands of meters in depth. This is the first study to analyze MP concentrations in conjunction with sedimentary characteristics from varying deep-sea environments (coastal, deep ocean, offshore terrace) in the Southern California Continental Borderland (CCB). Our goal for this study was to observe how the concentration and type (morphology, color, size) of microplastics varied with distance from shore, with water depth, and between different submarine environments (deep basins, shallow shelves, and slopes/submarine canyons). We also investigated how MP concentrations varied with sedimentary characteristics (biogenic, terrigenous, grain size, organic matter, microfossils etc.) to explore if we could infer the source and transport pathways for MPs to these environments. Density separation methods were utilized to extract the plastic particles from the sediment samples. Measurable amounts of MPs (comprising predominantly fibers) were found in every sample yet varied within each environment as well as with sedimentary parameters (organic matter, grain size, etc.). Though there was not a clear pattern showing MP concentration variation with depth, distance offshore, or sediment type, we found that when MP accumulation rates were calculated using previously published regional sedimentation rates, there was a negative correlation between MPs/year and depth. These findings can be a foundation for measuring and managing plastic pollution in our oceans

A Case Report on Causes of COVID-19 Induced Psychosis and Treatments

COVID-19 is a viral infection that is caused by an RNA virus in a subfamily of Coronaviridae named severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS CoV 2). The family also includes severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV) and middle east respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV) which have previously been shown to cause respiratory symptoms and psychosis with immunoreactivity to IgG