Electrolyte replacement in urban search and rescue dogs: a field study.

Urban search and rescue (USAR) dogs provide an important service in search, patrol, and explosive detection in urban and natural disasters. These dogs are exposed to stressful and dangerous conditions that can lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. Oral electrolyte and carbohydrate supplementation decreases electrolyte disturbances and improves endurance in other animal species. A field study was performed to determine the effect of oral electrolyte supplementation on performance and electrolyte balance of USAR dogs performing moderate-intensity work. Nine Pennsylvania Task Force 1 USAR dogs were randomly assigned to water or electrolyte replacement solution (Electramine, Vitae Inc., Breckenridge, CO) on two separate training days, one in winter and one in summer. There was no clinically significant or repeatable improvement in plasma electrolyte composition or performance in electrolyte-supplemented dogs. Although other electrolyte formulations must be tested to determine potential benefits, the overall benefits of electrolyte supplementation do not seem to outweigh the expense and burden of including these replacement fluids in USAR gear.

Antiretrovirals: reality or illusion?

AIDS: The use of antiretroviral drugs and combination therapy to treat HIV disease has been widely favored, despite obstacles such as cost, difficult dosing schedules, management of side effects, and inexperience of health practitioners in customizing treatment and counseling patients on use and adherence. Several benefits of drug therapy are discussed. One benefit is that the cost of therapy is lower than the overall cost of a patient not on therapy who will need more services and hospitalizations and will have higher incidences of opportunistic infections. Drug therapy also enables individuals to continue contributing to society by slowing the development of HIV and improving the quality of life. The Pan American Health Organization and UNAIDS are investigating ways to improve access to drugs in Latin America, the Caribbean, and other countries by working with pharmaceutical companies to coordinate drug purchases or negotiate price reductions. In addition, in order for antiretroviral therapy to be most effective, treatment should also include counseling, testing, and education.^ieng

HIV/AIDS and its interaction with tuberculosis in Latin America and the Caribbean.

At present, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is thought to have infected over 17 million people worldwide, over 1 million in North America and roughly 2 million in Latin America and the Caribbean. By comparison, infection with the tuberculosis (TB) agent Mycobacterium tuberculosis is far more common, current estimates indicating that roughly one-third of the world's population is infected. These two infections tend to aggravate each other. That is, HIV leads to a progressive immune system depression that favors reactivation of TB in people with latent tuberculous infections; it promotes progression of TB primary infections or reinfections to full-blown tuberculous disease; and it fosters TB transmission, because those simultaneously infected with HIV and M. tuberculosis tend to develop a bacilliferous and contagious TB that can be transmitted to other susceptible individuals, even though the latter are HIV-negative. In addition, this coinfection tends to promote circulation of drug-resistant M. tuberculosis and to produce peculiar manifestations that complicate TB diagnosis, treatment, and control. Overall, it seems clear that the growing threat posed by these associated agents demands effective action in the form of well-coordinated measures involving throughgoing participation by all countries.

Street youth and AIDS.

An attempt is made to characterize the population of homeless street youth who are living marginally and to describe aspects of this population's dynamics, motivations, values, and aspirations. Street youth, ranging in age from birth to 21, are on the street for one reason or another--dire poverty in the home, which necessitates their working on the street to supplement the family income, because they have been rejected by parents or guardians, because they have left home due to violence in the home, drug or alcohol use by family members, or because of lack of a place where they feel they can be "themselves." These conditions make street youths particularly vulnerable to HIV infection, not to mention malnutrition, stress, and drug use. Their violently accelerated emotional maturation, ignorance, alcohol- and drug-induced confusion, together with the exploitation and sexual abuse of which they are often victims, are additional factors that contribute to sexual practices that may lead to HIV infection.