'It's like the treasure': beliefs associated with semen among young HIV-positive and HIV-negative gay men

This paper examines cultural and social meanings associated with semen, along with related issues of unprotected receptive anal intercourse, HIV seroconversion, treatment optimism and viraemia. The findings are derived from qualitative interviews conducted with 12 HIV-positive young gay men and 12 HIV-negative counterparts who participated in a prospective cohort study in Vancouver, Canada. Focussing on the narratives of young gay men, the analysis reveals a diverse range of knowledge, values and functions of semen, especially in relation to its exchange. Beliefs about semen appeared to differ by HIV serostatus and were linked with intimacy, identity and pleasure, particularly among the HIV-positive men. Against dominant representations of semen in relation to issues of loss, anxiety and infertility, this unique study sheds much needed light on its role within the cultural construction of sexuality among gay men. As such, these narratives are of direct importance to primary and secondary HIV prevention, including condom promotion and the development of rectal microbicides.     

Protein assays for diagnosis of Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome and X-linked thrombocytopenia

Mutations in the gene encoding the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) give rise to Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS), a condition that exhibits a wide spectrum of clinical severity. Patients may develop mild thrombocytopenia or suffer from a wide range of associated disorders including eczema, immune dysfunction, autoimmune disease and malignancy. The clinical diagnosis of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) can be difficult and is usually supported by the detection of WASp gene mutations using genetic analysis. Recently, protein-based assays have been used to demonstrate the absence of WASp in patients known to have WASp gene mutations. We have now reversed this approach and report on the use of immunoblot assays to rapidly diagnose WAS in 13 patients. There was a complete absence of WASp in 10 out of 13 patients and an abnormal protein form was detected in the remaining three patients. In all cases, subsequent genetic analysis confirmed the presence of a WASp gene mutation. We believe that protein-based assays should be employed as the first line of investigation in the diagnosis of WAS spectrum disorders.     

Vets,denialists and rememberers: social typologies of patient adherence and non-adherence to HAART from the perspective of HIV care providers

For many people living with HIV/AIDS taking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is difficult due to various individual and social factors, including the side effects of these medications, HIV/AIDS stigma and poor patient–provider relationships. Most studies that examine barriers to and facilitators of adherence to HAART have been conducted with people on these medications, which is critical to improving adherence among various HIV-affected groups. Less attention has been paid to the experiences of HIV care providers, which is an important gap in the literature considering the key role they play in the delivery of HAART and the management of patient treatment plans. This paper presents findings from a qualitative pilot study that explored how HIV care providers assess adherence and non-adherence to HAART among their HIV-positive patients in Vancouver, British Columbia. Drawing upon individual interviews conducted with HIV physicians (n = 3), social service providers (n = 3) and pharmacists (n = 2), this discussion focuses on the social typologies our participants use to assess patient success and failure related to adherence. Eleven unique categories are featured and the diversity within and across these categories illustrate a broad spectrum of adherence-related behaviours among patients and the social meanings providers attribute to these behaviours. As one of the first explorations of the social typologies used by HIV care providers to assess patient performance on HAART, these data contribute valuable insights into the experiences of providers within the context of adherence-related care delivery.     

Albumin resuscitation increases cardiomyocyte contractility and decreases nitric oxide synthase II expression in rat endotoxemia

OBJECTIVE: Hypotension and hypoperfusion during septic shock may contribute to tissue hypoxia and the intramyocardial inflammatory response that results in myocardial dysfunction. Therefore, we hypothesized that crystalloid or colloid resuscitation may alter myocardial dysfunction. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, prospective animal study. SETTING: University animal laboratory. SUBJECTS: Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g, n = 6/group). INTERVENTIONS: Rats received an intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide or control. One hour later, rats were randomized to intravenous resuscitation and received either 30 mL/kg normal saline, 10 mL/kg 10% pentastarch, 10 mL/kg 5% rat albumin, or no volume. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We measured fractional shortening of cardiomyocytes isolated 5 hrs after lipopolysaccharide or control injection. In separate identical experiments, we measured myocardial interleukin-6, macrophage inhibitory protein-2, and nitric oxide synthase II protein and messenger RNA expression. Control fractional shortening of 24.1 +/- 2.2% was decreased by lipopolysaccharide to 18.8 +/- 1.2% (p <.001). Volume resuscitation after lipopolysaccharide significantly improved fractional shortening (p <.001). In particular, albumin resuscitation increased fractional shortening to 23.5 +/- 0.9%, which was more than either saline (fractional shortening 20.1 +/- 1.7%,p <.01) or pentastarch (fractional shortening 21.4 +/- 0.9%,p <.01). Myocardial macrophage inhibitory protein-2 protein and interleukin-6 and macrophage inhibitory protein-2 messenger RNA expression and neutrophil content were elevated following lipopolysaccharide (p <.05) but were not altered by volume resuscitation. Myocardial nitric oxide synthase II protein and messenger RNA expression increased following lipopolysaccharide (p <.01) and decreased with albumin resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that following lipopolysaccharide injection, volume resuscitation improves cardiomyocyte fractional shortening. Albumin resuscitation is particularly beneficial in preventing reduced cardiomyocyte contractility, and this benefit may be related to an albumin-induced reduction in nitric oxide synthase II protein and messenger RNA expression following endotoxin injection.     

An immunoglobulin Y that specifically binds to an in silico-predicted unique epitope of Zika virus non-structural 1 antigen

Objective: To identify unique immunogenic epitopes of Zika virus non-structural 1 (NS1) antigen and produce immunoglobulin Y (IgY) for potential use in he diagn...     

‘It's like the treasure’: beliefs associated with semen among young HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative gay men

This paper examines cultural and social meanings associated with semen, along with related issues of unprotected receptive anal intercourse, HIV seroconversion, treatment optimism and viraemia. The findings are derived from qualitative interviews conducted with 12 HIV‐positive young gay men and 12 HIV‐negative counterparts who participated in a prospective cohort study in Vancouver, Canada. Focussing on the narratives of young gay men, the analysis reveals a diverse range of knowledge, values and functions of semen, especially in relation to its exchange. Beliefs about semen appeared to differ by HIV serostatus and were linked with intimacy, identity and pleasure, particularly among the HIV‐positive men. Against dominant representations of semen in relation to issues of loss, anxiety and infertility, this unique study sheds much needed light on its role within the cultural construction of sexuality among gay men. As such, these narratives are of direct importance to primary and secondary HIV prevention, including condom promotion and the development of rectal microbicides.     

Controlled Release of Vanadium from a Composite Scaffold Stimulates Mesenchymal Stem Cell Osteochondrogenesis

Large bone defects often require the use of autograft, allograft, or synthetic bone graft augmentation; however, these treatments can result in delayed osseous integration. A tissue engineering strategy would be the use of a scaffold that could promote the normal fracture healing process of endochondral ossification, where an intermediate cartilage phase is later transformed to bone. This study investigated vanadyl acetylacetonate (VAC), an insulin mimetic, combined with a fibrous composite scaffold, consisting of polycaprolactone with nanoparticles of hydroxyapatite and beta-tricalcium phosphate, as a potential bone tissue engineering scaffold. The differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was evaluated on 0.05 and 0.025 wt% VAC containing composite scaffolds (VAC composites) in vitro using three different induction media: osteogenic (OS), chondrogenic (CCM), and chondrogenic/osteogenic (C/O) media, which mimics endochondral ossification. The controlled release of VAC was achieved over 28 days for the VAC composites, where approximately 30% of the VAC was released over this period. MSCs cultured on the VAC composites in C/O media had increased alkaline phosphatase activity, osteocalcin production, and collagen synthesis over the composite scaffold without VAC. In addition, gene expressions for chondrogenesis (Sox9) and hypertrophic markers (VEGF, MMP-13, and collagen X) were the highest on VAC composites. Almost a 1000-fold increase in VEGF gene expression and VEGF formation, as indicated by immunostaining, was achieved for cells cultured on VAC composites in C/O media, suggesting VAC will promote angiogenesis in vivo. These results demonstrate the potential of VAC composite scaffolds in supporting endochondral ossification as a bone tissue engineering strategy.