Are there benefits to starting antiretroviral therapy during primary HIV infection? Conclusions from the Seattle Primary Infection Cohort vary by control group.

It is controversial whether starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) during primary HIV infection (PHI) is beneficial. Subjects in this observational cohort began cART <30 days (group 1: acute treatment, n = 40), 31-180 days (group 2: early treatment, n = 82) or >180 days (group 3: delayed treatment, n = 35) after HIV infection, and were compared with 27 historical and 60 contemporary controls. Time to HIV-related diagnoses did not differ for group 1 (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.44, P = 0.3) or group 2 (aHR 1.17, P = 0.5) compared with contemporary controls, but it was delayed for both treated groups (aHR 0.38 for group 1, P = 0.01; and aHR 0.28 for group 2, P < 0.0001) compared with historical controls. Although rates of HIV-related diagnoses were similar in acutely treated subjects and contemporary controls, results were confounded by associations between higher CD4 counts, lower HIV RNA levels and delayed disease progression as reasons for deferring treatment. Randomized trials are needed to address benefits of cART during PHI.

Psychometric properties of the Autonomy over Tobacco Scale in German.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We investigated the psychometric properties of a German translation of the 12-item Autonomy over Tobacco Scale (AUTOS) among 1,195 eighth-grade students. METHODS: Data for this study were collected as part of the fourth wave of data collection of the Smokefree Class Competition intervention in the Saxony-Anhalt region of Germany. Students from the control arm of the Smokefree Class Competition study who indicated that they had ever smoked 'at least a few puffs' on a cigarette were classified as ever-smokers. They self-completed questionnaires distributed by teachers. RESULTS: AUTOS scores ranged from 0 to 36 with a distribution highly skewed toward lower-response categories. Inter-item correlations ranged from 0.65 to 0.89 (mean = 0.79, SD = 0.06). Composite reliability for the AUTOS was high (Ω = 0.96) and 3 lower-order factors were also reliable (withdrawal: 0.89, psychological dependence: 0.91, cue-induced cravings: 0.87). Concurrent validity was supported by strong relationships between the AUTOS and both lifetime cigarette consumption and current smoking frequency. Youths were 18 times more likely to be current smokers (95% CI = 11.9-27.2, p < 0.001) if they endorsed any AUTOS item. CONCLUSION: The German AUTOS is reliable and valid, and the results are consistent with the English AUTOS for use with adolescents.

Effects of a balanced energy and high protein formula diet(Vegestart complet®) vs. low-calorie regular diet in morbid obese patientsprior to bariatric surgery (laparoscopic single anastomosis gastric bypass): A prospective, double-blind randomized study / Efectos de una dieta-formula normocalórica e hiperproteica (Vegestart complet®) vs dieta normal baja en calorias en pacientes con obesidad morbida como preparacion a cirugía bariátrica (bypass gástrico laparoscópico de una anastomosis): estudio prospectivo doble ciego aleatorizado

Objective: Bariatric surgery is considered the only therapeutic alternative for morbid obesity and its comorbidities. High risks factors are usually linked with this kind of surgery. In order to reduce it, we consider that losing at least 10% of overweight in Morbid Obese (MO) and a minimum of 20% in Super- Obese patients (SO) before surgery, may reduce the morbidity of the procedure. The aim of our study is to demonstrate the effectiveness and tolerance of a balanced energy formula diet at the preoperative stage, comparing it against a low calorie regular diet. Method: We studied 120 patients divided into two groups of 60 each, group A was treated 20 days prior to bariatric surgery with a balanced energy formula diet, based on 200Kcal every 6 hours for 12 days and group B was treated with a low calorie regular diet with no carbs or fat. The last eight days prior to surgery both groups took only clear liquids. We studied the evolution of weight loss, the BMI, as well as behavior of co-morbidities as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, glucose controls and tolerance at the protocol. Results: The study shows that patients undergoing a balanced energy formula diet improved their comorbidities statistically significant in terms of decrease in weight and BMI loss, blood pressure and glucose, compared to the group that was treated before surgery with a low calorie regular diet. Nevertheless both groups improving the weight loss and co-morbidities with better surgical results and facilities. Conclusion: A correct preparation of the Morbid Obese patients prior of surgery can reduce the operative risks improving the results. Our study show that the preoperative treatment with a balanced energy formula diet as were included in our protocol in patients undergoing bariatric surgery improves statistical better their overall conditions, lowers cardiovascular risk and metabolic diseases that the patients with regular diet alone (AU)

Objetivos: La cirugía bariátrica es considerada la única alternativa terapéutica para el control de la obesidad mórbida y sus co-morbilidades. Dada la complejidad, gravedad y dificultades de estos pacientes, todo lo que hagamos para disminuir los riesgos peri-operatorios debe ser considerado como muy beneficioso para ellos. De este modo consideramos que una disminución como mínimo del 10% en el exceso de peso en los Obesos Mórbidos (OM) y un 20% en los Super-Obesos (SO), antes de la cirugía, puede mejorar los resultados y disminuir la morbimortalidad del procedimiento. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es demostrar la eficiencia y tolerancia de una dieta-fórmula hiperproteica y normocalórica como preparación preoperatoria, comparándola con una dieta hipocalórica de comida habitual. Métodos: De forma prospectiva y aleatorizada, se estudiaron 120 pacientes divididos en dos grupos de 60 cada uno. Las dietas se administraron 20 días previos a la cirugía. Al primer grupo (A), se le aplicó una dieta-fórmula hiperproteica y normocalórica en bricks, conteniendo 200 kcal cada 6 horas durante los primeros 12 días y al segundo grupo (B), una dieta hiperproteica normal sin carbohidratos o grasas. Los últimos 8 días previos a la cirugía se dieron solamente líquidos claros en ambos grupos. El análisis se efectuó sobre la evolución del peso, del IMC, de la presión arterial y de los niveles de glucemia, así como de la tolerancia al procedimiento. Resultados: El estudio demostró que los pacientes pertenecientes al grupo A, mejoraron de forma estadísticamente significativa tanto en la pérdida de peso y del IMC, como de las co-morbilidades estudiadas, frente a los pacientes que integraron el grupo B. Aunque en todo el conjunto, ambos grupos obtuvieron pérdida de peso preoperatoria y mejoría en sus co-morbilidades. Conclusiones: Una preparación adecuada para los pacientes que vayan a ser sometidos a cirugía bariátrica, puede mejorar los resultados y minimizar los posibles efectos indeseables de la misma. Una dieta-fórmula del tipo de la ensayada en nuestro estudio, alcanza los objetivos de pérdida de peso y reducción o control de las co-morbilidades en mejor proporción que las dietas hipocalóricas habituales, mejorando el riesgo cardiovascular y facilitando todo el proceso quirúrgico (AU)

Effects of a balanced energy and high protein formula diet (Vegestart complet®) vs. low-calorie regular diet in morbid obese patients prior to bariatric surgery (laparoscopic single anastomosis gastric bypass): a prospective, double-blind randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: Bariatric surgery is considered the only therapeutic alternative for morbid obesity and its comorbidities. High risks factors are usually linked with this kind of surgery. In order to reduce it, we consider that losing at least 10% of overweight in Morbid Obese (MO) and a minimum of 20% in Super- Obese patients (SO) before surgery, may reduce the morbidity of the procedure. The aim of our study is to demonstrate the effectiveness and tolerance of a balanced energy formula diet at the preoperative stage, comparing it against a low calorie regular diet. METHOD: We studied 120 patients divided into two groups of 60 each, group A was treated 20 days prior to bariatric surgery with a balanced energy formula diet, based on 200 Kcal every 6 hours for 12 days and group B was treated with a low calorie regular diet with no carbs or fat. The last eight days prior to surgery both groups took only clear liquids. We studied the evolution of weight loss, the BMI, as well as behavior of co-morbidities as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, glucose controls and tolerance at the protocol. RESULTS: The study shows that patients undergoing a balanced energy formula diet improved their comorbidities statistically significant in terms of decrease in weight and BMI loss, blood pressure and glucose, compared to the group that was treated before surgery with a low calorie regular diet. Nevertheless both groups improving the weight loss and co-morbidities with better surgical results and facilities. CONCLUSION: A correct preparation of the Morbid Obese patients prior of surgery can reduce the operative risks improving the results. Our study show that the preoperative treatment with a balanced energy formula diet as were included in our protocol in patients undergoing bariatric surgery improves statistical better their overall conditions, lowers cardiovascular risk and metabolic diseases that the patients with regular diet alone.

Short term patterns of early smoking acquisition.

OBJECTIVE: To describe short term patterns of smoking acquisition exhibited by adolescent smokers. DESIGN: Interview records from the prospective development and assessment of nicotine dependence in youth study were examined retrospectively. Interviews were conducted three times per year over 30 months. SUBJECTS: 164 students in grades 7-9 (ages 12-15 years, 86 girls, 78 boys) who had used cigarettes at least twice. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A continuous timeline of smoking activity, beginning with the subject's first use of tobacco and continuing through follow up, was translated into six patterns--abstinent, sporadic, occasional, daily, escalating, and intermittent. Outcome measures were the proportion of subjects starting/ending in each pattern, and the number of transitions per subject between patterns. RESULTS: There was a general but discontinuous progression from infrequent to more frequent use, with many interspersed periods of not smoking. Escalation to daily smoking was common after the development of dependence symptoms, but was rare among those who did not have symptoms. After the appearance of symptoms, both transitions to heavier daily smoking and attempts at cessation increased. CONCLUSIONS: Movement to heavier, more frequent smoking is generally unidirectional, although many youths attempt to quit one or more times. The appearance of any symptom of dependence altered the subsequent pattern of smoking behaviour. Future investigators might consider using more frequent data points and a continuous timeline to track smoking behaviour.

Concentrations of selected carotenoids and vitamin A in human liver, kidney and lung tissue.

Concentrations of preformed vitamin A and five individual carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin, lutein and lycopene) were determined in liver, kidney and lung tissue from 20 autopsies of subjects ranging in age from 4 mo to 86 y. Total carotenoid concentrations in liver tissue were always greater than in kidney or lung tissue within the same patient. Total carotenoid concentration in adult subjects was 2.5-77.1 nmol/g tissue (mean 21.0 nmol/g tissue) in liver tissue (n = 14), 0.2-12.7 nmol/g tissue (mean 3.1 nmol/g tissue) in kidney tissue (n = 13) and 0.1-8.4 nmol/g tissue (mean 1.9 nmol/g tissue) in lung tissue (n = 13). Carotenoid content in tissue samples from two infants was low, ranging from 0 to 1.0 nmol/g tissue. beta-Carotene and lycopene were almost always the predominant carotenoids found in liver, kidney and lung tissue. beta-Carotene was positively correlated (P less than 0.05) with alpha-carotene, lycopene and total carotenoids in all of the tissues examined. In addition, beta-carotene and total carotenoids from liver tissue were positively correlated with the same carotenoids in both kidney and lung tissue within each patient. Total vitamin A (free plus esterified) concentration was 8.7-1102.2 nmol/g tissue in liver (n = 17), 3.5-343.9 nmol/g tissue in kidney (n = 14) and 0.7-404.6 nmol/g tissue in lung (n = 14). Vitamin A concentrations were significantly correlated with both beta-carotene and total provitamin A carotenoid concentrations in liver tissue, but not in kidney or lung tissue.

Sex differences in peer responsiveness to suicide ideation.

Two surveys assessing attitudes toward and beliefs about suicide were conducted with undergraduates. There were 473 participants in Survey I and 692 participants in Survey II. Sex differences were found in participants' receptivity to suicidal individuals, beliefs about the behavior of suicidal peers, attitudes concerning the worth of suicidal people, incidence of adolescent suicide, and morality of suicide. There was no sex difference in participants' own frequency or seriousness of suicide ideation or suicide attempts. Results are discussed in terms of hypotheses concerning traditional socialization of males and females, resulting in sex-role differentiation that may influence attitudes toward and beliefs about suicide.

Exacerbation of lymphomatoid papulosis during treatment with danazol.

A patient who experienced exacerbation of a previously diagnosed condition of lymphomatoid papulosis during infertility treatment with danazol is reported. The condition worsened over the first month of treatment with medication and resolved completely upon discontinuation of the medication.

Nitrogen-15: microbiological alteration of abundance.

The abundance of N(15) relative to N(14) is significantly altered during experiments in vitro in which nitrate and nitrite are microbiologically reduced to nitrogen gas. In all studies to date, N(14)O(3)-and N(14)O(2)-species have been preferentially reduced. This selectivity has a complex dependence on conditions in the medium. The results are not only relevant to natural variations in N(15) relative to N(14) but should be seriously considered during N(15) tracer studies in soils.

The use of a remedial tilting table in physical medicine and rehabilitation.

One of the problems in treating all types of long term patients both young and old is the physical handling involved. Therapists are often faced with the major task of getting heavy patients who have been in bed for a long time or have significant muscle weakness or paralysis, on to their feet again. Additional difficulties relate to the fact that there is often a loss of postural reflex adjustment, in that: (1) Elderly patients forget how to stand after not having done so for a long time, and treating a frightened, heavy, elderly man who will not straighten his legs as he is lifted upright can put a strain on a therapist, which may well result in injury. (2) All patients who have been lying for a length of time need to be brought to the upright position progressively, to allow their circulation to adjust to the changes in gravitational pull, and an easily progressed change of angle whilst lying fully supported is desirable.