Outcomes of Project Wall Talk: an HIV/AIDS peer education program implemented within the Texas State Prison system.

We report select outcomes from an evaluation of Project Wall Talk, a community-based, peer-led HIV prevention education program implemented in 36 Texas State prison units. Peer educators completed questionnaires prior to receipt of a 40-hour intensive training (N = 590) and at 9-month follow-up (N = 257). Students (N = 2506) completed questionnaires pre- and post-receipt of peer educator-led HIV education sessions. Peer educators and their students showed significant increases in HIV-related knowledge. Peer educators showed significant increases in assessment of their skills as educators. For both peer educators and students, significant differences in HIV-related knowledge were indicated across categories of prior educational level attained and race/ethnicity; no such differences were indicated at follow-up. Compared with baseline, a significantly greater proportion of peer educators reported ever having had an HIV test. After receiving peer-led education, a significantly smaller proportion of students reported they knew their HIV status and more indicated plans to take an HIV test. Additionally, in months 12 and 18 following program implementation, the numbers of HIV tests at the five units that implemented the peer education program were roughly twice that of five, matched comparison units without the peer education program. Based on peer educator reports, we projected that peer educators (N = 257) may have as many as 84,000 or more annual opportunities to share HIV-related knowledge with other prisoners outside the classroom.     

Effectiveness of early orthodontic treatment with the Twin-block appliance: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. Part 1: Dental and skeletal effects.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of early orthodontic treatment with the Twin-block appliance for the developing Class II Division 1 malocclusion. This multicenter trial was carried out in the United Kingdom. A total of 174 children, aged 8 to 10 years old, with Class II Division 1 malocclusion were randomly allocated to receive treatment with a Twin-block appliance or to an untreated, control group. Data were collected at the start of the study and 15 months later. Results showed that early treatment with Twin-block appliances resulted in reduction of overjet, correction of molar relationships, and reduction in severity of malocclusion. Most of this correction was due to dentoalveolar change, but some was due to favorable skeletal change. Early treatment with the Twin-block appliance is effective in reducing overjet and severity of malocclusion. The small change in the skeletal relationship might not be considered clinically significant.     

The expression of surface tissue factor apoprotein by blood monocytes in the course of infections in early infancy.

The expression of surface tissue factor procoagulant activity and its shedding by blood monocytes can be induced by several stimuli. Few of these defined situations, other than the presence of bacteria and their toxins, are commonly present in the young human infant. In this study, measurements were made of the percentage of monocytes expressing surface tissue factor apoprotein (TFA) in blood taken from babies in the early weeks of life. Mononuclear cells were separated from blood in an environment free of detectable endotoxin. After exposure to a polyclonal rabbit antibody raised to purified brain TFA and subsequent exposure to a fluorescin-labeled murine anti-rabbit IgG, the cell fluorescent activity was analyzed by flow cytometry. The percentage of monocytes showing strong fluorescence was determined. In every instance when systemic bacterial infection was present, more than 60% of the monocytes examined showed fluorescence indicative of the presence of surface TFA. In a single case of fungal Candida septicemia, none of the monocytes was positive. More than 60% of cells were found to be positive in certain instances where infection was highly probable but not proven. Positive cells were found in three cases of isoimmune hemolytic disease of the newborn, as had been anticipated from previous studies, whereas less than 25% of monocytes derived from babies in the absence of discernible infection or isoimmune hemolytic disease expressed surface TFA (p less than 0.001). These findings provide insight into a possible mechanism of coagulation activation in sepsis and may prove to be a useful predictor of the presence of infection or endotoxemia in young infants.     

Prosthetic practice in the National Health Service: 2. Partial dentures.

This two-part series on the making of dentures in the National Health Service includes useful practical advice for the general practitioner. Part 1 discussed complete denture, whilst part 2 covers partial dentures.     

Human T-cell receptor V alpha gene polymorphism.

Polymorphism in the germline repertoire of T-cell receptor (TCR) variable alpha and beta (V alpha and V beta) genes could alter the relative abilities of individuals in a population to respond to particular antigens. Variation in the number of germline V alpha and V beta gene segments has been reported in wild mice and in different inbred mouse strains. A previous study of the human V beta gene germline repertoire failed to reveal a similar degree of polymorphism in the numbers of V beta gene segments. We have now carried out a survey of 10 different V alpha gene segment subfamilies containing approximately 23 V alpha gene segments in a panel of 120 unrelated individuals by hybridization and failed to find any evidence for V alpha repertoire polymorphism. To determine if significant germline polymorphism does occur in humans at the level of individual V gene segments, we determined the nucleotide sequences of eight copies of the V alpha 21 gene segment derived from seven unrelated individuals. Polymorphic differences between these sequences defined three different alleles. One of these alleles contains a frameshift mutation which would cause premature termination of the protein product. The presence of this null allele among the eight sequences determined suggests that functionally relevant germline polymorphism of human TCR V gene segments may occur by mechanisms other than gene duplication or deletion.     

Low Serum Retinol Is Associated with Increased Severity of Measles in New York City Children

Children with no known prior vitamin A deficiency exhibited a significant decline in their serum retinol levels during the acute phase of measles. This decline in circulating retinol was associated with increased duration of fever, higher hospitalization rates, and decreased antibody titers.     

Constitutive secretion of the granule chymase mouse mast cell protease-1 and the chemokine, CCL2, by mucosal mast cell homologues

BACKGROUND: The mucosal mast cell (MMC) granule-specific beta-chymase, mouse mast cell protease-1 (mMCP-1), is released systemically into the bloodstream early in nematode infection before parasite-specific IgE responses develop and TGF-beta1 induces constitutive release of mMCP-1 by homologues of MMC in vitro. Intraepithelial MMC may also express the chemokine CCL2 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1) during nematode infection but the expression of this chemokine by MMC homologues has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression and to compare the mechanisms of constitutive release of the chymase, mMCP-1, and the chemokine, CCL2. METHODS: MMC homologues were generated by culturing bone marrow cells in the presence of TGF-beta1, IL-3, IL-9 and stem cell factor (SCF). The intracellular distribution of mMCP-1 and CCL2 was examined by confocal microscopy. The involvement of the Golgi complex and of protein synthesis in the constitutive release of mMCP-1 and CCL2 was investigated using the Golgi-disrupting agent brefeldin A and cycloheximide to block protein synthesis. Secreted analytes were quantified by ELISA. RESULTS: mMCP-1 colocalized with Golgi matrix protein 130 but was most abundant in the granules, whereas CCL2 was not found in the granules but appeared to be located uniquely in the Golgi complex. Extracellular release of mMCP-1 was significantly inhibited ( approximately 40%) by cycloheximide and by the Golgi-disrupting agent brefeldin A, indicating both continuous protein synthesis and transportation via the Golgi complex are required for optimal mMCP-1 secretion. A similar but more marked inhibitory effect with both compounds was demonstrated on the constitutive secretion of CCL2. CONCLUSION: The culture conditions that promote mMCP-1 expression and release by MMC homologues also promote the expression and release of CCL2. Constitutive release involves de novo protein synthesis and requires a functional Golgi complex, suggesting that similar mechanisms of extracellular secretion operate for both mediators.