Mixing as an ethnoetiology of HIV/AIDS in Malaysia's multinational factories

Minah Karan, the stigmatizing label appended to Malay factory women in the 1980s, signaled a dangerous female sexuality that risked spreading beyond the factory gates and infecting Malaysia's idea(l)s of its traditional kampung culture. This article narrates how Minah Karan, as the former antihero of development, was reconstituted in the 1990s, with the government's labeling of factories as high-risk settings for HIV/AIDS. This is an ethnoetiology based not on any evidential epidemiological data but on the racial and gendered mixing that transpires behind factory walls: a fear that the mixing of the sexes means ipso facto sexual mixing among the races. The article demonstrates how importation of the high-risk label articulates at the local level the new and contested linkages, economic, religious, and scientific, constitutive of globalization. The pragmatic nature and imperatives of this high-risk process are discerned in factory women's accounts of how they negotiate the interactional imperatives of factory work, because transnational structures of productivity violate the social boundaries that have long connoted political stability, moral integrity, ethnic community, and individual safety. The article concludes by questioning whether ethnoetiologies, especially when they concern sexual networks, become social etiologies, because this would locate ethnoetiologies as central to conventional public health praxis rather than as ethnographic exotica in the margins.     

Cryptococcosis as an opportunistic infection in immunodeficiency secondary to paracoccidioidomycosis

We describe the case reports of two patients with immunodeficiency secondary to paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) and opportunistic Cryptococcus neoformans infections. Secondary immunodeficiency likely occurred as a consequence of the intestinal loss of proteins and lymphocytes associated with malabsorption syndrome due to obstructed lymphatic drainage. Both patients had had severe abdominal involvement during the acute PCM disease. Immunological evaluation showed cellular and humoral immunity impairment. Cryptococcosis manifested as relatively well circumscribed lesions: osteolytic lesions of the skull in one patient, and pulmonary nodules in the other. The latter was treated surgically and with amphotericin B, whereas the other was treated with the combination amphotericin-B and flucytosine. Both patients had a good response to treatment with complete regression of the lesions. They have now 2 and 4 years of follow-up with maintenance therapy and no indication of reactivation of the infection. PCM also did not reactivate. The clinical and immunological characteristics of these patients are discussed and compared to the opportunistic C. neoformans infections of AIDS and transplant patients.     

Pathogen evolution within host individuals as a primary cause of senescence

This paper discusses a novel theory of senescence: the community of pathogens within each host individual evolves during the life-time of the host, and in doing so progressively reduces host vigour. I marshal evidence that asymptomatic host individuals maintain persistent populations of viral pathogens; that these pathogens replicate; that they are often extremely variable; that selection within hosts causes the evolution of pathogens better able to exploit the host; that selection is host-specific; and that such evolving infections cause appreciable and progressive deterioration. Experimental approaches to testing the theory are discussed.     

Peptide nucleic acids as epigenetic inhibitors of HIV-1

Summary The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was once perceived to have transformed deadly HIV/AIDS into a treatable, chronic infectious disease. However, mounting evidence now suggests that the prevalence of multi-drug resistant HIV (MDR-HIV) infection is steadily rising among newly infected individuals in the HAART-experienced countries, raising a concern for a future outbreak of MDR-HIV/AIDS. Our global fight against AIDS must include sustained effort to search and discover a new therapeutic modality for HIV infection. Of plausible viral targets explored to date, HIV gene-targeting approach has not yet seen a considerable success in vivo. The pursuit of anti-HIV gene intervention should include the identification of critical gene targets as well as the optimization of biomolecules that can effectively interact with the intended targets. Using unmodified peptide nucleic acids (PNA) as a biomolecular tool, we discovered a potentially critical HIV gene segment within gag-pol encoding gene. Antisense PNA targeting this specific region effectively disrupted a translation of HIV gag-pol mRNA, abolishing the virion production from chronically HIV-infected cells. This exemplifies the possibility that epigenic HIV inhibitors may be developed in the coming years, if emerging novel technologies permit sufficient and stable in vivo delivery of PNA or other similarly effective biomolecules.     

Peptide nucleic acids as epigenetic inhibitors of HIV-1

The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was once perceived to havetransformed deadly HIV/AIDS into a treatable, chronic infectious disease. However, mountingevidence now suggests that the prevalence of multi-drug resistant HIV (MDR-HIV) infection issteadily rising among newly infected individuals in the HAART-experienced countries, raising aconcern for a future outbreak of MDR-HIV/AIDS. Our global fight against AIDS must include sustainedeffort to search and discover a new therapeutic modality for HIV infection. Of plausible viraltargets explored to date, HIV gene-targeting approach has not yet seen a considerable success invivo. The pursuit of anti-HIV gene intervention should include the identification of critical genetargets as well as the optimization of biomolecules that can effectively interact with theintended targets. Using unmodified peptide nucleic acids (PNA) as a biomolecular tool, we discovereda potentially critical HIV gene segment within gag-polencoding gene. Antisense PNA targetingthis specific region effectively disrupted a translation of HIV gag-polmRNA, abolishing thevirion production from chronically HIV-infected cells. This exemplifies the possibility that epigenic HIV inhibitors may be developed in the coming years, if emerging novel technologies permitsufficient and stable in vivo delivery of PNA or other similarly effective biomolecules.     

Peptide nucleic acids as epigenetic inhibitors of HIV-1

Summary The advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was once perceived to have transformed deadly HIV/AIDS into a treatable, chronic infectious disease. However, mounting evidence now suggests that the prevalence of multi-drug resistant HIV (MDR-HIV) infection is steadily rising among newly infected individuals in the HAART-experienced countries, raising a concern for a future outbreak of MDR-HIV/AIDS. Our global fight against AIDS must include sustained effort to search and discover a new therapeutic modality for HIV infection. Of plausible viral targets explored to date, HIV gene-targeting approach has not yet seen a considerable success in vivo. The pursuit of anti-HIV gene intervention should include the identification of critical gene targets as well as the optimization of biomolecules that can effectively interact with the intended targets. Using unmodified peptide nucleic acids (PNA) as a biomolecular tool, we discovered a potentially critical HIV gene segment within gag-pol encoding gene. Antisense PNA targeting this specific region effectively disrupted a translation of HIV gag-pol mRNA, abolishing the virion production from chronically HIV-infected cells. This exemplifies the possibility that epigenic HIV inhibitors may be developed in the coming years, if emerging novel technologies permit sufficient and stable in vivo delivery of PNA or other similarly effective biomolecules.     

The role of the local microbial ecosystem in respiratory health and disease

Respiratory tract infections are a major global health concern, accounting for high morbidity and mortality, especially in young children and elderly individuals. Traditionally, highly common bacterial respiratory tract infections, including otitis media and pneumonia, were thought to be caused by a limited number of pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. However, these pathogens are also frequently observed commensal residents of the upper respiratory tract (URT) and form—together with harmless commensal bacteria, viruses and fungi—intricate ecological networks, collectively known as the ‘microbiome’. Analogous to the gut microbiome, the respiratory microbiome at equilibrium is thought to be beneficial to the host by priming the immune system and providing colonization resistance, while an imbalanced ecosystem might predispose to bacterial overgrowth and development of respiratory infections. We postulate that specific ecological perturbations of the bacterial communities in the URT can occur in response to various lifestyle or environmental effectors, leading to diminished colonization resistance, loss of containment of newly acquired or resident pathogens, preluding bacterial overgrowth, ultimately resulting in local or systemic bacterial infections. Here, we review the current body of literature regarding niche-specific upper respiratory microbiota profiles within human hosts and the changes occurring within these profiles that are associated with respiratory infections.     

On the uniqueness of endemic equilibria of an HIV/AIDS transmission model for a heterogeneous population

In this paper, we examine an HIV/AIDS transmission model which has been widely used for studying the spread of HIV/AIDS through sexual contact. Some sufficient conditions are obtained for the uniqueness of endemic equilibrium. We also present a two-group model whose no-disease equilibrium is unstable but it has at least three positive endemic equilibria.     

颅脑损伤患者下呼吸道感染病原菌分布及耐药性分析

目的 探讨桐乡市第一人民医院颅脑损伤患者下呼吸道感染病原菌的分布及耐药性,帮助临床合理使用抗菌药物.方法 采用VITEK-2细菌鉴定及药敏分析系统,对113例颅脑损伤患者下呼吸道感染痰标本分离出的病原菌进行鉴定和耐药性分析.结果 113例患者中共分离出病原菌179株,其革兰阴性杆菌122株,占68.1%,以肺炎克雷伯菌...     

HIV/AIDS患者CD4水平对甲状腺功能影响的比较研究

目的观察HIV/AIDS患者甲状腺功能的变化,了解HIV对内分泌的影响。方法检测168例HIV/AIDS患者TT4、TT3、FT4、FT3、TSH,并分析不同CD4水平对甲状腺功能影响。结果HIV/AIDS患者甲状腺功能可保持正常,但低CD4组的FT3、TSH水平低于高CD4组。结论HIV/AIDS患者甲状腺功能可保持正常,但HIV感染不同阶段会对内分泌系统有一定影响。HIV感染对甲状腺影响的具体机制尚不十分清楚,利用动物模型进行进一步研究非常必要。     

Pinimenthol ointment in patients suffering from upper respiratory tract infections – A post-marketing observational study

In order to gain further experience regarding the tolerability of Pinimenthol^® ointment¹ in adolescents (⩾12 years) and adults suffering from upper respiratory tract infections, a post-marketing observational study was performed. In this study, data of 3060 patients were collected (64.9% prospectively over an individual observation period of 5–14 days, 35.1% retrospectively). The prospective documentation also comprised data concerning treatment effects.Sample size of the post-marketing observational study was calculated in the way that adverse drug reactions with an event probability of at least 1:1000 would occur within the study at least once with a probability of 95%.Most patients suffered from cold, acute or chronic bronchitis, bronchial catarrh or hoarseness. Pinimenthol^® ointment was prescribed to inunction (29.6%), inhalation (17.3%) or inunction and inhalation (53.1%), respectively. The mean duration of study participation was 8.0±3.4 days.The tolerability was rated as excellent or good by 96.7% of physicians and 95.7% of patients. A total of 22 patients (0.7%) reported adverse drug reactions which mostly affected the skin or mucus membrane and therefore correspond to the expected adverse effects profile of Pinimenthol^® ointment. The treatment effect was mostly judged as excellent or good (physicians: 88.3%; patients: 88.1%).In conclusion, the study confirms Pinimenthol^® ointment as a well tolerated therapy option for upper respiratory tract infections in both adolescents and adults.     

The changing face of pediatric respiratory tract infections: how human metapneumovirus and human bocavirus fit into the overall etiology of respiratory tract infections in young children

Lower respiratory tract infections are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. Recent technological advances in the field of molecular biology have allowed virologists to detect many previously undetected viral pathogens. Two of these, human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and human bocavirus (HBoV), are of particular clinical interest to pediatric health care providers. This review discusses the most common viral respiratory infections in children, explores the role of newly discovered respiratory pathogens, and describes techniques for the diagnosis of viral respiratory infections.     

军队干部病房与普通病房患者下呼吸道感染病原菌对比分析

目的调查干部病房与普通病房患者下呼吸道感染病原菌的分布状况,为临床经验用药治疗提供参考。方法采用回顾性方法对2009年5月至2010年2月解放军第44医院干部病房与普通病房下呼吸道感染住院患者送检痰培养结果进行统计分析。结果两个病区下呼吸道感染病原菌均以G-杆菌为主,干部病房G-杆菌所占比例低于普通病房,而真菌、耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌及产超广谱β-内酰胺酶细菌检出率高于普通病区。结论干部病房与普通病房患者下呼吸道感染病原菌存在差异,干部病房患者感染病原菌多以多重耐药菌株为主,临床应根据药敏结果使用抗菌药物。     

Beneficial effects of probiotics in upper respiratory tract infections and their mechanical actions to antagonize pathogens

Probiotics are live micro‐organisms with beneficial effects on human health, which have the ability to counteract infections at different locations of the body. Clinical trials have shown that probiotics can be used as preventive and therapeutic agents in upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) and otitis. Their mechanical properties allow them to aggregate and to compete with pathogens for nutrients, space and attachment to host cells. Consequently, they can directly antagonize pathogens and thus exert beneficial effects without directly affecting the metabolism of the host. An overview of the probiotics with such traits, tested up to date in clinical trials for the prevention or treatment of URTIs and otitis, is presented in this review. Their mechanical properties in the respiratory tract as well as at other locations are also cited. Species with interesting in vitro properties towards pharyngeal cells or against common respiratory pathogens have also been included. The potential safety risks of the cited species are then discussed. This review could be of help in the screening of probiotic strains with specific mechanical properties susceptible to have positive effects in clinical trials against URTIs.     

A hollow-fiber bioreactor for expanding HIV-1 in human lymphocytes used in preparing an inactivated vaccine candidate

An inactivated HIV vaccine intended to elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies is designed to use a pool of population-prevalent HIV-1 from plasma (PHIV), isolated before evolution of antibody-mediated genetic mutations. A suitable cell substrate (CS) for isolating such PHIV is peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after stimulating with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). Feasibility of employing a hollow-fiber bioreactor under optimized conditions was investigated for large-scale expansion and efficient recovery of concentrated PHIV. Each CS batch was infected in vitro with a prototype PHIV, the infected cells were introduced into the bioreactor for 7-10 days in co-culture, and the cell-free supernatants were assayed for p24 antigen as an index of HIV synthesis. PBMC versus CD8-depleted (CD8D) CS, 20kDa versus 5kDa molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) bioreactor cartridges, 7- versus 10-day culture periods, and varying concentrations of IL-2, fetal bovine serum (FBS) and glucose content in the medium were functionally evaluated for p24 yield. PBMC cultures in 20kDa MWCO cartridges with 15% FBS, 80IU/mL IL-2 and 2.0g/L glucose produced the highest p24 yield; however, CD8D-CS, 20-30% FBS and 80 IU/mL IL-2 within 5kDa cartridges and 2.0 g/L glucose in the circulating medium was more cost-effective for synthesis of virion p24.     

HIV感染者/AIDS病人高迁移率族蛋白1的表达及其临床意义

通过检测74例处于不同病期的HIV感染者/AIDS患者和10例健康对照者PBMCs中HMGB1 mRNA的表达水平及其外周血浆HMGB1、TNF-a和IL-2水平,比较各组之间表达水平的差异及其与CD4＋T淋巴细胞的关系.发现HMGB1 mRNA的表达水平及血浆HMGB1含量在AIDS病人组明显高于感染者组和正常对照组（P〈0.05）;AIDS患者经HAART治疗后疗效差组HMGB1 mRNA的表达水平及血浆HMGB1含量也明显高于疗效好组（P〈0.05）;而经HAART治疗后效果好且免疫功能恢复的患者HMGB1 mRNA的表达及血浆HMGB1含量均较治疗前明显下降（P〈0.05）;当CD4＋T细胞数低于200/μL时,血浆HMGB1含量以及PBMCs中HMGB1 mRNA表达水平与CD4＋T细胞数呈负相关.显示HMGB1在HIV/AIDS发病及病情进展过程中可能起重要作用,HMGB1血浆含量及PBMCs中HMGB1 mRNA的表达水平高低与HIV/AIDS患者病情轻重密切相关.     

Delivery of ALX-0171 by inhalation greatly reduces respiratory syncytial virus disease in newborn lambs

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common cause of acute lower respiratory disease in infants and young children worldwide. Currently, treatment is supportive and no vaccines are available. The use of newborn lambs to model hRSV infection in human infants may provide a valuable tool to assess safety and efficacy of new antiviral drugs and vaccines. ALX-0171 is a trivalent Nanobody targeting the hRSV fusion (F) protein and its therapeutic potential was evaluated in newborn lambs infected with a human strain of RSV followed by daily ALX-0171 nebulization for 3 or 5 consecutive days.

Colostrum-deprived newborn lambs were infected with hRSV-M37 before being treated by daily nebulization with either ALX-0171 or placebo. Two different treatment regimens were examined: day 1–5 or day 3–5 post-infection. Lambs were monitored daily for general well-being and clinical parameters. Respiratory tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were collected at day 6 post-inoculation for the quantification of viral lesions, lung viral titers, viral antigen and lung histopathology.

Administration by inhalation of ALX-0171 was well-tolerated in these hRSV-infected newborn lambs. Robust antiviral effects and positive effects on hRSV-induced lung lesions and reduction in symptoms of illness were noted. These effects were still apparent when treatment start was delayed and coincided with peak viral loads (day 3 post-infection) and at a time point when signs of RSV disease were apparent. The latter design is expected to have high translational value for planned clinical trials. These results are indicative of the therapeutic potential of ALX-0171 in infants.