Phenotypic mixing between reticuloendotheliosis virus and avian sarcoma viruses.

Coinfection of chicken embryo fibroblasts with reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) and avian sarcoma virus leads to the formation of avian sarcoma viral pseudotypes which carry envelope determinants of REV. These pseudotypes can be neutralized by REV antiserum, have a host range which is different from that of any known avian sarcoma virus, and are unable to form foci in cells preinfected with REV. The REV stocks used in these experiments were plaque-purified. They were free of avian leukosis virus detectable in the COFAL tests, and their ability to form pseudotypes with avian sarcoma virus was neutralized with specific REV antiserum.     

Progestagen-releasing vaginal rings--an update

Marketing of an intravaginal ring that releases a progestagen at low dosage willbegin in 1985. The device is a silicone rubber toroidal ring 55.6 mm in diameter. Its active constituent is 5 mg of levonorgestrel, with an in vivo release rate of 20 mcg/day. The device is left in the vagina for 3 months, at which point a new ring is fitted. The device largely acts locally on the genital tract, altering cervical mucus so that it is relatively inpenetrable to sperm. Over 50% of cycles in device acceptors are ovulatory; 19% have inadequate luteal function and 29% are anovulatory. In a social acceptability study involving 27 ring users, all participants asserted at the 8 week follow up that the ring was the best method they had used and indicated an interest in continuing to use the device. Over 50% cited health reasons for this choice. The ring was viewed as less invasive than the IUD and more convenient than the diaphragm. The greatest criticism of the ring resulted from changed menstrual patterns; in most cases, however, it was the unexpectedness of the change rather than the change itself that concerned the user. Clinical trials have suggisted that the ring is viable in terms of its safety, efficacy, and overall acceptability. The pregnancy rate in 5500 woman-months of experinence stands at 3%, and there has been no evidence of an increased incidence of actopic pregnancy. Although 20% of women experienced expulsion of the device, only 2% discontinued use for thes reason. The continuation rate of 60% after 1 year's use compares favorably with other methods of hormonal contraception.     

70. Ileorectostomie versus ileo-anale Anastomose mit Reservoir bei Colitis ulcerosa und Adenomatosis coli

Zusammenfassung Ca. 2000 Proktomucosektomien sind in den letzten Jahren durchgeführt worden als Alternative zur Proktocolektomie, aber auch zur Ileorectostomie bei AC und CU. Bei minimaler Operationsletalität ist die Rate der Frühkomplikationen (Ileus, Anastomoseninsuffizienz, Anastomosenstenose) nicht unbeträchtlich (> 10%). Die funktionellen Ergebnisse dagegen sind nach einer Phase der Adaptation vorwiegend gut. Die nicht unerheblichen Risiken der Ileorectostomie bei AC (Entartungsrate bis 20%) und bei CU (Entzündungsrezidiv 20–30%, sekundäre Entartung um 5%) haben die Proktomucosektomie an gröeren Zentren zu einem etablierten Verfahren werden lassen.     

Chemonucleolysis. A ten-year retrospective study

An 11.8-year median follow-up evaluation of 42 "ideal" patients who had chemonucleolysis was obtained by examination, questionnaire, and roentgenograms. The excellent and good rating of this group was 81%, as compared to the total of 135 patients previously evaluated at 42 months and showing 85.2%. No complications were noted. Disc space rewidening, after initial narrowing, was observed in eight patients and 26% of all discs injected. While all who showed rewidening had excellent results, widening was not necessary to achieve an excellent rating. Marked narrowing and sclerosis of intervertebral margins were seen in many excellent and good clinical results. Chemonucleolysis represents a viable option as definitive treatment for a herniated nucleus pulposus in carefully selected patients.     

Correction to: Factor Structure and Equivalence of Maternal Resources for Care in Bangladesh,Vietnam, and Ethiopia

Maternal and Child Health Journal - The article “Factor Structure and Equivalence of Maternal Resources for Care in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Ethiopia”, written by Sulochana Basnet,...     

Optimizing Disclosure of HIV Status to a Diverse Population of HIV-Positive Youth at an Urban Pediatric HIV Clinic

PurposeThe purpose of the study was to increase the proportion of youth living with HIV (YLWH) aged ≥11 years who undergo developmentally appropriate disclosure about their HIV status.MethodsA quality improvement project was initiated at an urban pediatric HIV clinic between July 2018 and March 2020. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of YLWH aged ≥11 years who were disclosed to about their HIV status. The proportion of undisclosed YLWH who had documented nondisclosure status was also assessed as a process measure. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles for change included monthly clinic staff check-ins to discuss new disclosures, quarterly team meetings to discuss strategies to improve disclosure, and modifying a clinic note template to prompt providers to document disclosure status. Annotated run charts were used to analyze the data.ResultsBefore the first PDSA cycle, 26/46 (57%) of the target population of YLWH aged ≥11 years had their HIV status disclosed to them, and none of the undisclosed youth had disclosure status documented in their medical record. After 20 months and six PDSA cycles, the proportion of YLWH aged ≥11 years disclosed to about their HIV status increased to 80% and the proportion of undisclosed YLWH with documentation of their disclosure status increased to 100%.ConclusionsSeveral interventions integrated throughout the pediatric HIV care process were associated with an increase in the proportion of YLWH with developmentally appropriate HIV disclosure and documentation of disclosure status, an important psychosocial aspect of care in these individuals.     

Relationship of reproductive success and median longevity to food intake, in the captive female spider Frontinella pyramitela

Two biological phenomena (prolongation of life span with dietary restriction, and life shortening with reproductive activity) have been described in several species but treated separately. For captive female bowl and doily spiders (Frontinella pyramitela), data reported by Austad were analyzed in terms of food consumed. "Reproductive success" was defined; its rate of change could be directly equated to food intake. To describe life span, the specific rate of change of median longevity was noted to be negatively proportional to the specific rate of change of food intake. Both reproductive success and changes in median longevity are coupled to food intake in these female spiders, and can be described by quantitative expressions.     

Comparing costs of monitoring glaucoma patients: hospital ophthalmologists versus community optometrists

OBJECTIVES: To compare the costs of monitoring stable glaucoma patients by community optometrists and hospital ophthalmologists. METHODS: A cost analysis was conducted alongside a randomised controlled trial which compared the accuracy and acceptability of measurement in each form of care. The viewpoints of the health service and of patients were considered. Costs were assessed using a number of different methods. Sensitivity analysis was conducted for key variables. RESULTS: The baseline analysis reflected heavily the different length of time between follow-up in the two arms of the trial (10 months (average) for hospital, 6 months for optometrists). It showed annual cost per patient for hospital ophthalmologists varied from 14.50 pounds to 59.95 pounds, and community optometrist costs varied from 68.98 pounds to 108.98 pounds. Assuming a 6-month follow-up interval for the hospital ophthalmologists, costs varied from 24.16 pounds to 99.92 pounds. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations about the least costly form of follow-up must depend on the context in which the decision is being taken and the scale of change envisaged. If the aim is to recoup resources from hospitals in order to pay for monitoring in the community, community monitoring is unlikely to be the least costly option.