THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANDATE OF HEAVEN: CONFUCIAN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE AND ENVIRONMENTALISM IN CHINESE POLICIES

Environmental degradation is a contemporary issue that has gained a lot of attention in recent history for China. The developing country’s industrial revolution has led to unprecedented carbon emissions, and despite efforts to curb population growth, China’s expanding and aging population has presented the country with numerous challenges. In this essay, I examine China’s environmental issues and the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) policy decisions through the lens of Confucian role relations. Through this lens, and given the multitude of challenges China is facing, it may be argued that the PRC is acting out its role as the leader and protector (paternal figurehead) of Chinese citizens in earnest. Additionally, my survey of Chinese nationals helps us to better understand the PRC’s relationship with its people. Based on this qualitative data, it appears that the people of China believe that the PRC is acting in their best interests and that the PRC’s environmental regulations are helping. This study may help foreign investors, government, and non-government organizations better understand the PRC’s decision-making and relationship with their responsibilities, which could lead to improved strategy in the Chinese marketplace as well as more favorable negotiations with China

Antitubercular therapy decreases nitric oxide production in HIV/TB coinfected patients

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) production is increased among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and also among those with tuberculosis (TB). In this study we sought to determine if there was increased NO production among patients with HIV/TB coinfection and the effect of four weeks chemotherapy on this level. METHODS: 19 patients with HIV/TB coinfection were studied. They were treated with standard four drug antitubercular therapy and sampled at baseline and four weeks. 20 patients with HIV infection, but no opportunistic infections, were disease controls and 20 individuals were healthy controls. Nitrite and citrulline, surrogate markers for NO, were measured spectrophotometrically. RESULTS: The mean age of HIV/TB patients was 28.4 ± 6.8 years and CD4 count was 116 ± 36.6/mm. Mean nitrite level among HIV/TB coinfected was 207.6 ± 48.8 nmol/ml. This was significantly higher than 99.7 ± 26.5 nmol/ml, the value for HIV infected without opportunistic infections and 46.4 ± 16.2 nmol/ml, the value for healthy controls (p value < 0.01). The level of HIV/TB coinfected NO in patients declined to 144.5 ± 34.4 nmol/ml at four weeks of therapy (p value < 0.05). Mean citrulline among HIV/TB coinfected was 1446.8 ± 468.8 nmol/ml. This was significantly higher than 880.8 ± 434.8 nmol/ml, the value for HIV infected without opportunistic infections and 486.6 ± 212.5 nmol/ml, the value for healthy controls (p value < 0.01). Levels of citrolline in HIV/TB infected declined to 1116.2 ± 388.6 nmol/ml at four weeks of therapy (p value < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NO production is elevated among patients with HIV infection, especially so among HIV/TB coinfected patients, but declines significantly following 4 weeks of antitubercular therapy

Prevention of opportunistic infections in HIV infection by pentoxiphylline

Background & objectives: Levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) are increased in patients with HIV infection leading to increased apoptosis and reduced CD4 cell life. Pentoxiphylline is a TNF inhibitor with properties that might make it useful for the treatment of HIV infection. These include improved cell mediated immunity and inhibition of viral replication. We carried out this study to determine the therapeutic utility of pentoxiphylline in improving constitutional manifestations, preventing opportunistic infections and sustaining CD4 counts among asymptomatic HIV infected individuals (i.e., those with no opportunistic infection)

Vivienda y movilidad. Comportamiento residencial de la migración china en España

En este artículo se analizan las características residenciales de la migración china en España. A partir del estado de la cuestión sobre su comportamiento residencial caracterizado por una elevada tasa de movilidad interna asociada fundamentalmente al trabajo y sus actividades económicas, se introducirán otros factores más específicos como los vínculos residenciales transnacionales. Las fases de la trayectoria residencial que incluyen el alojamiento en viviendas de emergencia y de transición hasta alcanzar la estabilidad residencial son objeto de análisis para el caso de la migración china. Finalmente, se exponen varias trayectorias residenciales de migrantes chinos en España donde se muestra la complejidad de la relación entre vivienda y movilidad con peculiaridades chinas.This article analyses the housing characteristics of Chinese migration in Spain. Its residential behaviour is characterised by a high rate of internal mobility mainly associated with work and economic activities. Other more specific variables will be introduced, such as transnational housing links. The phases of the residential trajectory that include housing in emergency and transitional housing to achieve residential stability will be the subject of analysis for the case of Chinese migration. Finally, several residential trajectories of Chinese migrants in Spain are presented showing the complexity of the relationship between housing and mobility with Chinese peculiarities

P20-05. Emergence of HIV-1 circulatory recombinant forms (CRFs) and unique recombinant forms (URFs) in North India: functional and pathogenic implications

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Acute alcoholic myopathy, rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure: A case report

A case of middle aged male who developed swelling and weakness of muscles in the lower limbs following a heavy binge of alcohol is being reported, lie had myoglobinuria and developed acute renal failure for which he was dialyzed, Acute alcoholic myopathy is not a well recognized condition and should be considered in any intoxicated patient who presents with muscle tenderness and weakness

Genetic and functional analysis of HIV-1 Rev Responsive Element (RRE) sequences from North-India

HIV-1 Rev protein regulates the expression of HIV-1 transcripts by binding to a highly structured stem loop structure called the Rev Responsive Element (RRE) present in the genomic and partially spliced RNAs. Genetic variation in this structure is likely to affect binding of Rev protein and ultimately overall gene expression and replication. We characterized RRE sequences from 13 HIV-1 infected individuals from North India which also included two mother-child pairs following vertical transmission. We observed high degree of conservation of sequences, including the 9-nt (CACUAUGGG) long sequence in stem-loop B, required for efficient binding of Rev protein. All of our 13 RRE sequences possessed G to A (position 66) mutation located in the critical branched-stem-loop B which is not present in consensus C or B sequence. We derived a consensus RRE structure which showed interesting changes in the stem-loop structures including the stem-loop B. Mother-Child RRE sequences showed conservation of unique polymorphisms as well as some new mutations in child RRE sequences. Despite these changes, the ability to form multiple essential stem-loop structures required for Rev binding was conserved. RRE RNA derived from one of the samples, VT5, retained the ability to bind Rev protein under in vitro conditions although it showed alternate secondary structure. This is the first study from India describing the structural and possible functional implications due to very unique RRE sequence heterogeneity and its possible role in vertical transmission and gene expression

Genetic analysis of HIV-1 Circulating Recombinant Form 02_AG, B and C subtype-specific envelope sequences from Northern India and their predicted co-receptor usage

HIV-1 epidemic in India is largely driven by subtype C but other subtypes or recombinants have also been reported from several states of India. This is mainly due to the co-circulation of other genetic subtypes that potentially can recombine to generate recombinant/mosaic genomes. In this study, we report detail genetic characterization of HIV-1 envelope sequences from North India (Delhi and neighboring regions). Six of 13 were related to subtype C, one B and the rest six showed relatedness with CRF02_AG strain. The subtype C possessed the highly conserved GPGQ motif but subtype B possessed the GPGR motif in the V3 loop as observed earlier. While most of the sequences suggested CCR5 co-receptor usage, one subtype C sample clearly indicated CXCR4 usage. A successful mother to child transmission was established in two pairs. Thus, co-circulation of multiple subtypes (B and C) and the recombinant CRF02_AG strains in North India suggests a rapidly evolving scenario of HIV-1 epidemic in this region with impact on vaccine formulation. Since this is the first report of CRF02_AG envelope from India, it will be important to monitor the spread of this strain and its impact on HIV-1 transmission in India