The New Invincibles: HIV Screening among Older Adults in the U.S

Background

Thirteen percent of the U.S. population is ages 65 and older, a number projected to reach 20% by 2030. By 2015, 50% of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-infected individuals in the U.S. are expected to be ages 50 and older. Current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines recommend “opt-out” HIV screening for individuals ages 13–64. The purpose of this study was to assess the occurrence and barriers to HIV screening in older adults, and to evaluate the rationale for expanding routine HIV screening to this population.

Methods

The study used 2009 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data. A total of 12,366 (unweighted) adults, ages 50 and older, participated in the adult section of the NHIS and answered questions on the HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, and Tuberculosis components. Associations between HIV screening, socio-demographic variables, and knowledge of HIV-related disease were examined using logistic regression models.

Results

The HIV screening rate within this population was 25.4%. Race had no statistically significant effect. Low risk perception of HIV exposure (84.1%) accounted for low likelihood of planned screening (3.5%) within 12 months post survey. A routine medical check-up was the single most common reason for HIV screening (37.6%), with only about half (52.7%) of the tests suggested by a health care provider.

Conclusion

It is imperative that practices and policies are developed and implemented to increase HIV awareness and screening in the older adult population. Increased health care provider awareness of the importance of HIV screening, especially for those 65 and older, is critical. Health policies and clinical guidelines should be revised to promote and support screening of all adults.     

The uncoupling protein and the potassium channel are activated by hyperosmotic stress in mitochondria from durum wheat seedlings

The plant uncoupling mitochondrial protein (PUMP) and the plant mitochondrial potassium channel (PmitoK_ATP) are two recently discovered energy‐dissipating systems present in plant mitochondria, which may play a role as defence systems under environmental stress. To verify whether hyperosmotic stress affects the two dissipating systems in durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), their functioning was studied in early etiolated seedlings maintained under moderate and severe salt (NaCl) and osmotic (mannitol) stress. As measures of mitochondrial stress mitochondrial integrity, membrane potential maintenance and oxygen uptake coupled with ATP synthesis during succinate and proline oxidation were investigated. Both PUMP and PmitoK_ATP were activated under stress conditions. Activation was clearly evident even under moderate stress when proline oxidation was inhibited, although mitochondrial integrity and succinate oxidation were still unaffected. Under severe stress, which significantly affected all the tested indicators of mitochondrial integrity and functionality, PUMP and PmitoK_ATP activation was further enhanced. Interestingly, both systems were activated by reactive oxygen species and were able to control mitochondrial superoxide anion production. These results suggest that PUMP and PmitoK_ATP serve as early antioxidant defence systems in response to hyperosmotic stress and that they are involved in a prolonged response to stress.     

人干细胞因子受体c-Kit稳定表达细胞株的构建

 干细胞因子 (SCF)是一种重要的造血因子 ,其受体c Kit具有酪氨酸激酶活性 .SCF c Kit介导的细胞内信号转导在造血、肥大细胞的生成及其功能、以及生殖细胞和黑色素细胞的发育中起着关键的作用 .通过构建人c kitcDNA的pcDNA3.1真核表达载体 ,转染不表达人c kit的小鼠髓系祖细胞FDC P1.经Zeocin抗性筛选 ,PCR、RT PCR、Western印迹分析、流式细胞仪分析等方法检测到人c kit基因的稳定整合和表达 ,并分布于细胞表面 ,证明获得了稳定表达人c Kit受体的细胞株 .用MTT法检测重组细胞株增殖特性 ,表明重组人SCF可刺激其增殖 .为进一步研究人c Kit受体介导的细胞内信号转导及检测重组人干细胞因子生物学活性提供了有效的细胞模型     

Roller Compaction of Hydrophilic Extended Release Tablets—Combined Effects of Processing Variables and Drug/Matrix Former Particle Size

The present study shows that roller compaction (RC) can successfully be used as a granulation method to prepare hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC)-based extended release matrix tablets containing a high drug load, both for materials deforming mainly by fragmentation (paracetamol) as for those having mainly plastic deformation (ibuprofen). The combined effect of RC process variables and composition on the manufacturability of HPMC tablets was investigated. Standard wet granulation grade HPMC was compared with a larger particle size direct compressible HPMC grade. Higher roll pressure was found to result in larger paracetamol granules and narrower granule particle size distributions, especially for formulations containing smaller size HPMC. However, for ibuprofen, no clear effect of roll pressure was observed. High roll pressure also resulted in denser ribbon and less bypass fines during RC. Loss of compactibility was observed for granules compared to powder blends, which was found to be related to differences in granule porosity and morphology. Using the large-sized HPMC grade did in some cases result in lower tensile strength tablets but had the advantage to improve the powder flow into the roller compactor. This work also indicates that when the HPMC level lies near the percolation threshold, significant changes can occur in the drug release rate due to changes in other factors (raw material characteristics and processing).

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1208/s12249-014-0219-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.KEY WORDS: dry granulation, extended release, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, roller compaction, work hardening     

小兴安岭谷地云冷杉林的碳密度与生产力

采用样地清查和异速生长方程法,量化了处于衰退状态的小兴安岭谷地云冷杉林的森林碳密度和生产力.结果表明： 2011年森林碳密度总量为268.14 t C·hm^-2,其中植被碳密度、碎屑碳密度和土壤碳密度分别为74.25、16.86和177.03 t C·hm^-2.2006—2011年,乔木层碳密度从80.86 t C·hm^-2减少到71.73 t C·hm^-2,主要树种冷杉、白桦、云杉和兴安落叶松的碳密度年均减少比例分别为0.5%、1.2%、2.7%和3.7%,毛赤杨、红松和花楷槭的碳密度年均增加比例分别为2.9%、3.9%和7.2%.森林净初级生产力(NPP)为4.69 t C·hm^-2·a^-1,地下部和地上部NPP比值为0.56,凋落物损失部分是总NPP的最大组分,所占比例为34.5%.森林生态系统中2个主要碳输出途径异养呼吸和粗木质残体分解的年通量分别为293.67和119.29 g C·m^-2·a^-1.森林净生态系统生产力(NEP)为55.90 g C·m^-2·a^-1.研究结果表明,处于衰退状态的谷地云冷杉林仍具有一定的碳汇功能.     

生境因子及理化因素对外源基因在植物体内表达的调节

外源基因在植物体内的表达除受植物体本身代谢及分子调节外,还受生境因子及理化因素等外界环境因子的调节.生境因子及理化因素可诱导植物某些基因的表达,同时调控这些基因的启动元件;利用营养及逆境胁迫条件改变植物的生长代谢也可实现对外源基因表达的调节.本综述了生境因子及理化因素对外源基因在转基因植物体内表达的调控机制.     

甲状腺功能减退患者实施快乐因子刺激干预的临床观察

目的:探讨快乐因子刺激干预对甲状腺功能减退患者进行护理的临床效应.方法:选取52例甲状腺功能减退患者,随机分为对照组和试验组,各26例.对照组给予常规治疗及护理,试验组在对照组的基础上采用快乐因子刺激进行护理干预,比较两组患者服药依从性及治疗效果,并采用汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)与汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)对两组患者进行测评.结果:试验组实施干预后,HAMD与HAMA评分明显降低,与对照组相比,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);试验组患者对治疗的依从性明显好于对照组(P＜0.05),试验组治疗效果优于对照组(P＜0.05).结论:快乐因子刺激干预能有效提高甲减患者的正性情绪,提高服药依从性,增强治疗效果.     

纳米中药龙胆草复方制剂对实验性大鼠癫痫的防治作用

目的观察纳米中药龙胆草复方制剂扶植肠道双歧杆菌对实验性大鼠癫痫的治疗作用。方法实验以大鼠腹腔注射青霉素600万U/kg制成癫痫模型。应用纳米治疗,检测双歧杆菌及脑内r氨-基丁酸含量的变化。结果纳米中药持续7 d治疗后,肠道双歧杆菌菌量明显上升,与自然恢复组比较差异有极显著性(P<0.01)。脑内r氨-基丁酸含量接近正常。结论纳米中药龙胆草复方制剂具有良好的抗癫痫作用。