Psychosocial Correlates of Monocyte Activation and HIV Persistence in Methamphetamine Users

This cross-sectional study investigated the associations of psychosocial factors relevant to recovery from substance use disorders with monocyte activation and HIV persistence in a sample of 84 HIV-positive, methamphetamine-using sexual minority men with undetectable HIV viral load (<40 copies/mL). We examined if psychosocial factors were associated with decreased soluble CD14 (sCD14) and lower proviral HIV DNA. Multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, anti-retroviral therapy regimen, and CD4+ T-cell count. Time on ART was also included in models examining proviral HIV DNA. Greater self-efficacy for managing methamphetamine triggers and higher social support for abstinence were independently associated with lower sCD14. Greater social support for abstinence was also independently associated with lower proviral HIV DNA. Psychosocial factors relevant to recovery from substance use disorders are associated with lower monocyte activation and decreased proviral HIV DNA. Findings underscore the need for longitudinal research to identify plausible mechanisms linking psychosocial factors and substance use with biological processes relevant to HIV pathogenesis.

     

选择性头部降温对胎羊缺血性脑损伤纹状体神经元凋亡和星形胶质细胞增殖的影响

目的研究选择性头部降温对缺血性脑损伤胎羊纹状体神经元凋亡和星形胶质细胞增殖的影响。方法胎羊于妊娠117~124d时通过双侧颈动脉阻塞30min造成双侧脑缺血损伤,损伤后将胎羊随机分为:损伤组(n=10)、2h低温组(损伤后2h开始亚低温治疗,n=7)和6h低温组(损伤后6h开始亚低温治疗,n=8),另设正常对照组(n=5)。通过冷循环水进行选择性头部降温,取脑组织用免疫组化法检测胎羊纹状体caspase-3(半胱天冬氨酸酶-3),GFAP(胶质纤维酸性蛋白)和PCNA(增殖细胞核抗原)的表达。结果①纹状体神经元凋亡:正常对照组中,caspase-3表达极少(11.00±13.77),损伤组caspase-3免疫阳性细胞为177.70±48.69,明显增加(P=0.000),损伤后2h治疗组(54.14±39.44,P=0.000)和损伤后6h治疗组(122.43±52.36,P=0.017)均能减少caspase-3免疫阳性细胞。②纹状体星形胶质细胞增殖:与正常对照组(163.40±21.98)相比,缺血性脑损伤组的GFAP免疫阳性细胞明显增多(433.25±66.69,P=0.000),损伤后2h开始亚低温治疗(219.50±35.31,P=0.000)和损伤后6h开始亚低温治疗(272.50±86.20,P=0.000)均能减少GFAP免疫阳性细胞。③纹状体PCNA阳性细胞的表达:在正常对照组中,PCNA免疫阳性细胞较少,为153.40±12.46,缺血性脑损伤组的PCNA免疫阳性细胞明显增多(353.70±45.60,P=0.000),损伤后2h开始亚低温治疗(187.14±26.26,P=0.000)和损伤后6h开始亚低温治疗(230.25±67.46,P=0.000)均能减少PCNA免疫阳性细胞。结论亚低温可以抑制纹状体神经元的凋亡和星形胶质细胞的增殖,该作用可能为选择性头部降温的脑保护作用机制之一。     

Pneumonie und diffus parenchymale Lungenerkrankungen im Lungenultraschall

Approximately 200,000 cases of ambulant pneumonia per year are currently anticipated in Germany. In order to reduce complications and to further minimize lethality a rapid diagnosis as well as efficient and quick therapy are significant factors within the medical treatment and the diagnosis can be achieved promptly with the aid of lung ultrasound. This article illustrates the sonomorphology of pneumonia as well as diffuse parenchymal lung disease and presents recent studies on the topic. Furthermore, lung ultrasound is compared with other diagnostic methods.     

Prinzipien des perioperativen Gerinnungsmanagements

The coagulation system is a complex network of interacting proteins and cells with extensive sensitivity, amplification and control pathways. The system represents a delicate balance between procoagulant and anticoagulant as well as profibrinolytic and antifibrinolytic activities. Clinically relevant phenotypes, e.g. bleeding and thrombosis, occur immediately when this balance is no longer in equilibrium. A correct understanding of the complex coagulation pathophysiology in the perioperative setting is essential for an effective treatment. In a bleeding patient, patient’s history, clinical findings, routine and advanced laboratory coagulation testing as well as point-of-care coagulation monitoring help to reliably and readily identify the underlying coagulation disorder. Modern coagulation management is proactive, individualized, balanced and follows clearly defined algorithms. Coagulopathic bleeding can be successfully controlled with specific interventions in the coagulation system.     

Raumlufttechnische Anlagen im Operationssaal

The prophylactic benefit of air conditioning systems against infections is currently being very controversially discussed. According to DIN?1946-6 operating theatres are graded into various room classes depending on the requirements. This article describes the special conditions required by oral and maxillofacial surgical interventions and the costs and benefits of such systems will be discussed.     

Maximale Blutalkoholkonzentration nach forciertem Konsum von alkoholfreiem Bier

In recent years sales of non-alcoholic beer have constantly increased. In Germany, so-called non-alcoholic beer may still have an ethanol content of up to 0.5% (by volume). This marginal amount of ethanol might have negative implications for certain groups of persons such as novice drivers. So far no reliable data regarding the blood ethanol concentration after consumption of non-alcoholic beer have been published. Therefore, a drinking experiment was performed as follows: after 5 days of abstinence from ethanol 78 test persons were asked to drink 1.5?l of non-alcoholic beer (ethanol content 0.41–0.42%) within 1?h. Blood samples were taken on a regular basis and analyzed for ethanol by headspace gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (HS-GC-FID). A total of 67 data sets could be interpreted and in 20 test persons ethanol was detected in blood with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0005?g/l. The maximum blood ethanol concentration was 0.0056‰. The results of the study suggest that even after consumption of unrealistically high amounts of non-alcoholic beer negative forensic implications are not to be expected.