Initial Commitment to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and Circumcision for HIV Prevention amongst Indian Truck Drivers

Studies of HIV prevention interventions such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) and circumcision in India are limited. The present study sought to investigate Indian truck-drivers initial commitment to PREP and circumcision utilizing the AIDS Risk Reduction Model. Ninety truck-drivers completed an in-depth qualitative interview and provided a blood sample for HIV and HSV-2 testing. Truck-drivers exhibited low levels of initial commitment towards PREP and even lower for circumcision. However, potential leverage points for increasing commitment were realized in fear of infecting family rather than self, self-perceptions of risk, and for PREP focusing on cultural beliefs towards medication and physicians. Cost was a major barrier to both HIV prevention interventions. Despite these barriers, our findings suggest that the ARRM may be useful in identifying several leverage points that may be used by peers, health care providers and public health field workers to enhance initial commitment to novel HIV prevention interventions in India.     

Apert syndrome and fetal hydrocephaly

Apert (1906) was the first to identify a syndrome characterized by the association of acrocephaly with syndactyly, acrocephalosyndactylism. Since then Apert syndrome has been recognized as a clinical entity. Although hydrocephalus was rarely reported as an associated malformation, it was suggested that hydrocephalus might be responsible for mental retardation in some cases of Apert syndrome. We report a case of Apert syndrome presenting as fetal hydrocephaly at 28 weeks gestational age, and we review the literature. We suggest that hydrocephalus should be considered as a major associated malformation, and a complete evaluation with sonogram and computed tomography scan is recommended in any newborn suspected of having Apert syndrome after routine cephalometric measurement.     

Evaluation of terrestrial plants extracts for uranium sorption and characterization of potent phytoconstituents

Sorption capacity of four plants (Funaria hygrometrica, Musa acuminata, Brassica juncea and Helianthus annuus) extracts/fractions for uranium, a radionuclide was investigated by EDXRF and tracer studies. The maximum sorption capacity, i.e., 100% (complete sorption) was observed in case of Musa acuminata extract and fractions. Carbohydrate, proteins, phenolics and flavonoids contents in the active fraction (having maximum sorption capacity) were also determined. Further purification of the most active fraction provided three pure molecules, mannitol, sorbitol and oxo-linked potassium oxalate. The characterization of isolated molecules was achieved by using FTIR, NMR, GC-MS, MS-MS, and by single crystal-XRD analysis. Of three molecules, oxo-linked potassium oxalate was observed to have 100% sorption activity. Possible binding mechanism of active molecule with the uranyl cation has been purposed.     

The heparin-accelerated neutralisation of bovine α and β thrombins by antithrombin III

The heparin-accelerated neutralisation of bovine α and β thrombins has been examined using a peptide substrate H-d-phenylalanyl-pipecolyl-arginine-paranitroanilide-HCl to measure thrombin amidase activity. α and β thrombins were both neutralised by antithrombin III and this neutralisation was further accelerated by the presence of small amounts of heparin. Low and high molecular weight heparin and heparins fractionated by their affinity for antithrombin III were all able to accelerate the neutralisation of α and β thrombin. This work is therefore unabel to confirm reports that α and β thrombins have different heparin sensitives.     

EXO5-DNA structure and BLM interactions direct DNA resection critical for ATR-dependent replication restart

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