Cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic human immunodeficiency virus infection

In 2012, the United Nations estimated that globally, 34 million people were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection at the end of 2011.     

Plasma extracellular microRNAs are related to AIDS/cerebral toxoplasmosis co-infection

This study investigated the potential of five miRNA candidates for cerebral toxoplasmosis/HIV co-infection (CT/HIV) biomarkers. miR-155-5p, miR-146a-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-125b-5p and miR-29c-3p were tested in 79 plasma divided into groups: 32 CT/HIV patients; 27 individuals with asymptomatic toxoplasmosis (AT); and 20 individuals seronegative for toxoplasmosis (NC). From each was collected peripheral blood/EDTA for laboratory diagnosis. Blood cells for DNA extractions (molecular diagnosis), plasma for RNA extractions (gene expression) and ELISA (serological diagnosis). miRNA expression was performed by qPCR, and values were expressed in Relative Quantification (RQ). Among the five miRNAs, miR-21-5p and miR-146a-5p were up-expressed in CT/HIV group when compared with AT and NC groups. RQ means for miR-21-5p and miR-146a-5p in CT/HIV group were 3.829 and 2.500, while in AT group, were 1.815 and 1.661, respectively. Differences between 3 groups were statistically significant (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test), as well as CT/HIV and AT groups (Mann-Whitney test). Plasma of CT/HIV and AT groups expressed similar levels of miR-29c-3p, miR-155-5p and miR-125b-5p. As NC group was different of CT/HIV and AT groups, differences between three groups were statistically significant (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA test). No difference was shown between CT/HIV and AT groups (Mann-Whitney test). These results suggest the host miRNAs modulation by Toxoplasma gondii.     

Cyclic fatigue resistance of three rotary file systems in a dynamic model after immersion in sodium hypochlorite

Odontology - To evaluate the effect of immersion in 3% sodium hypochlorite solution in the resistance to cyclic fatigue of three nickel–titanium (NiTi) rotary file systems, ProTaper Next...     

Achieving Health Equity in Embedded Pragmatic Trials for People Living with Dementia and Their Family Caregivers

Embedded pragmatic clinical trials (ePCTs) advance research on Alzheimer's disease/Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) in real-world contexts; however, health equity issues have not yet been fully considered, assessed, or integrated into ePCT designs. Health disparity populations may not be well represented in ePCTs without special efforts to identify and successfully recruit sites of care that serve larger numbers of these populations. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) Imbedded Pragmatic Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD-Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) Clinical Trials (IMPACT) Collaboratory's Health Equity Team will contribute to the overall mission of the collaboratory by developing and implementing strategies to address health equity in the conduct of ePCTs and ensure the collaboratory is a national resource for all Americans with dementia. As a first step toward meeting these goals, this article reviews what is currently known about the inclusion of health disparities populations of people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers in ePCTs, highlights unique challenges related to health equity in the conduct of ePCTs, and suggests priority areas in the design and implementation of ePCTs to increase the awareness and avoidance of pitfalls that may perpetuate and magnify healthcare disparities. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:S8–S13, 2020 .