The influence of an intense cardiovascular disease risk factor modification program

In an effort to make intensive lifestyle modification programs more accessible to patients with cardiovascular disease, the Ornish Program was offered at eight independent medical centers located across the United States. The purpose of this study was to determine if one of these independent sites was able to replicate outcomes produced by the original Ornish Program. Fifty program participants from six different cohorts provided baseline, 3- and 12-month data consisting of blood lipids, body fat, blood pressure, anginal pain, quality of life, stress, depression, social support, and hostility. A pooled analysis showed significant reductions in almost all physiological and psychosocial variables with most reductions persisting for at least 12 months. These findings suggest that cardiovascular disease patients who choose to participate in an independent, intensive lifestyle modification program can experience significant improvements in both physiological and psychosocial cardiovascular disease risk factors.     

Hypertension presenting early in pregnancy

Paraganglioma in pregnancy is an exceedingly rare and potentially life‐threatening diagnosis. It is important that the clinicians consider secondary causes when women present with hypertension in early pregnancy.     

Associated factors of umbilical cord blood collection quality

After 30 years of hematopoietic stem cell use for various indications, umbilical cord blood is considered as an established source of cells with marrow and postmobilization peripheral blood. The limited number of cells still remains a problematic element restricting their use, especially in adults who require to be grafted with a higher cell number. Improving the quality of harvested cord blood, at least in terms of volume and amount of cells, is essential to decrease the number of discarded units. In this review, we examine several variables related to parturient, pregnancy, labor, delivery, collection, the newborn, umbilical cord, and placenta. We aim to understand the biologic mechanisms that can impact cord blood quality. This knowledge will ultimately allow targeting donors, which could provide a rich graft and improve the efficiency of the collection.     

Examining Mediators of the Relationship Between Community Mobilization and HIV Incidence Among Young South African Women Participating in the HPTN 068 Study Cohort

AIDS and Behavior - We previously demonstrated that village community mobilization (CM) was associated with reduced HIV incidence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa....     

Using Participatory Methods to Assess PrEP Interest and Uptake Among Young People Living in the Southeastern US: A Mixed Methods Assessment

AIDS and Behavior - Adolescents and young adults (AYA; 13–24 years-old) comprise 22% of new HIV infections in the United States (US), most of whom live in the South. We used the...     

Preservation of Human Erythrocytes in the Liquid State: Biological Results with a New Medium

Abstract. Red blood cells (RBC) were collected with citrate-phosphate-dextrose (CPD) in a blood-pack optimal additive system. After concentration to 90% hematocrit they were diluted with saline-adenine-glucose medium (SAG-RBC), and stored for 35 days. In this work the RBC were stored in the presence of leukocytes. The SAG medium allows RBC conservation during 35 days at +4°C. The adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level of RBC is compatible with their survival. During the first 2 weeks, hemolysis of SAG-RBC was not greater than in CPD blood. Nevertheless, hemolysis reached 1.49% on day 35, and there was a marked increase in RBC osmotic fragility. Scanning electron-microscopic studies of 35-day RBC showed that the majority of them became echinocytes. After incubation in fresh frozen plasma, the RBC recovered satisfactory osmotic resistance and normal disc shape. The post-transfusion viability was normal with >70% recovery after 48 h. The in vivo restoration of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG) was rapid in the transfused SAG-RBC, 50% of the initial 2,3-DPG level being restored in 1 h. The in vivo studies proved that the functional quality of these RBC was compatible with their use in transfusion. The most important problem concerns the supernatant hemoglobin level of the SAG-RBC to be used for massive transfusion.     

Chronic and Acute Prenatal and Postnatal Ethanol Exposure on Lymphocyte Subsets from Offspring Thymic, Splenic, and Intestinal Intraepithelial Sources

The overall objective of this study was to analyze the effects of a combined prenatal and postnatal (entire gestational human chronic drinking model) ethanol exposure on T-cell development in mice. Specifically, this study evaluated the effects of chronic exposure to prenatal ethanol on lymphocyte makeup and proliferative capabilities of postnatal offspring's (4 and 12 weeks) peripheral lymphoid tissues. Chronic exposure regimens were conducted over the entire gestational period and through postnatal day 14 or 21. Thymus, spleen, and intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes were harvested and analyzed by flow cytometry for percentages of T-cell subsets. Splenic lymphocytes were also analyzed for their ability to proliferate in response to a T-cell mitogen. Limited effects of chronic ethanol exposure were seen.