HIV/AIDS infection control enforcement: a comparison between Nigeria and the United States

We examined differences in approaches to HIV-related infection control practices in two university teaching hospitals in the United States and Nigeria. Health care workers (n = 202 in Nigeria and 186 in the USA) responded to a previously validated measure of infection control practices. There were significant differences in the estimated probability of treating a person with HIV disease (higher in USA), and a greater probability of peer ridicule as a way of enforcing group norms on infection control in Nigeria. Peer enforcement of norms was significantly lower in the USA. In both countries, more precautions would be taken if it was known that the patient was HIV infected. Infection control practices were more likely to be followed in the USA compared with Nigeria if they were praised for this activity, if appropriate facilities (sharps containers, gloves, etc.) were nearby, and if they felt that infection control procedures were effective. These data point to the importance of normative social pressures in Nigeria and of knowing the patient is HIV infected in the USA and feeling that infection control procedures are effective ways of avoiding occupational HIV infection. The role of normative pressures and assumptions about HIV infection status as well as cues and availability of facilities for infection control appear to differ between these health care workers in Nigeria and the USA.     

阿片受体拮抗剂在TNF－α所致体温升高中的作用

为探索细胞介素ＴＮＦ－α升体温效应与下丘脑前部、视前区（ＰＯＡＨ）中的阿片受体的关系。应用脑神经核团微量注射方法给自由状态下的雄性ＳＤ大鼠ＰＯＡＨ区微量注射ＴＮＦ－α致热源。给药前３０ｍｉｎ分别用通常阿片受体拮抗剂Ｎａｌ（１０～２０μｇ）和特异性阿片受体μ、δ和κ的拮抗剂ＣＴＡＰ（１．０～２．５μｇ）、ＮＴＩ（０．２５～０．５μｇ）和ｎｏｒ－ＢＮＩ（０．１～３μｇ）对ＰＯＡＨ做预处理。结果：单独给ＴＮＦ－α可致剂量相关的体温升高△Ｔ（１℃～１．４℃）；经Ｎａｌ１０μｇ，ＣＴＡＰ１．０μｇ和ＮＴＩ０．５μｇ处理后使ＴＮＦ－α的升体温效应减弱；用Ｎａｌ２０μｇ，ＣＴＡＰ２．５μｇ和ＮＴＩ０．２５μｇ处理后可完全阻断ＴＮＦ－α所致的体温升高；ｎｏｒ－ＢＮＩ（０．１～３μｇ）对ＴＮＦ－α的升体温效应无影响。     

Long-term follow-up of autoantibody profiles in black female lupus patients and clinical comparison with Caucasian and Asian patients

The aim was to determine whether the autoantibody profile in Black female lupus patients is associated with clinical subsets, fluctuates over time and/or reflects disease activity. A clinical comparison with Caucasian and Asian patients matched for age of onset and disease duration was also undertaken. Up to seven serial bleeds from Black female lupus patients who had been followed up for periods of 3.15 yr were tested for antibodies to Ro/SSA, La SSB. Sm, RNP and ribosomal P using ELISA research assays. Significant differences in both clinical and serological profiles between the ethnic groups were found. Varying aspects of disease activity were linked to anti-DNA (renal, cardiovascular, global score), anti-ribosomal P (musculoskeletal, haematology) and anti-Sm (general) antibodies. There are differences in clinical and serological profiles amongst systemic lupus erythematosus patients of different ethnic origin. However, using the BILAG system, relatively few antibodies were found to reflect disease activity accurately in serial measurements.      

Application of image-guided surface coil P-31 MR spectroscopy to human liver, heart, and kidney

Localized phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy in humans has previously been accomplished with surface coils by means of depth-resolved surface coil spectroscopy or rotating frame experiments, in which the extent of tissue sampled critically depends on surface coil placement. The authors' goal was to modify the surface coil image-selected in vivo spectroscopy (ISIS) experiment to accomplish three-dimensional volume selection through application of selective pulses in the presence of B0 gradients. Advantages of ISIS include the ability to use proton images to define the volume of interest (VOI) and reduced dependence on exact positioning of the surface coil. However, rapid replication of the surface coil ISIS experiment can cause spectral contamination from signals originating outside the VOI. A modified version of the ISIS experiment was developed to alleviate contamination under conditions of rapid replication. Applications of localized P-31 MR spectroscopy for observation of high-energy phosphorus metabolites are presented in human liver, heart, and transplanted and normal kidney.