Influence of HIV-related immunodeficiency on the histopathology of chronic hepatitis C

OBJECTIVE: There is substantial evidence demonstrating the aggravating effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on the progression of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. There is however, little data on the affect of certain factors which could affect liver pathology findings in patients with concomitant HIV infection such as the duration of HIV infection or T-cell subpopulation counts. We examined pathology findings in patients with concomitant HIV and HCV infections to determine the impact of immunodepression. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed liver pathology data collected in patients with concomitant HIV and HCV infections grouping patients according to severity of the liver pathology: group 1 = cirrhosis or active hepatitis; group 2 = minimally active hepatitis or histologically normal liver. Transparietal liver biopsies were obtained for the work-up of viral hepatitis or because of long-term unexplained fever or suspected lymphoma. Epidemiological and biological data were obtained from medical files. The duration of the liver disease was estimated from the date of exposure to risk of immunodepression as determined by the peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ counts. All pathology specimens were read by two pathologists who established the Knodell score for each patient. RESULTS: Fifty patients were included: 23 were classed in group 1 and 28 in group 2. The Knodell score was significantly different between the two groups, 11 +/- 4 and 4 +/- 3 respectively (p < 0.0001). Disease duration was similar for the two groups: mean 8 years. Mean CD4+ count was significantly higher in group 1: 312/mm3 versus 110/mm3 for group 2 (p = 0.0057); as was the mean CD8+ count (758/mm3 versus 360/mm3, p = 0.0013). For the entire study population, there was a significantly negative correlation (p < 0.05) between the Knodell score and the CD4+ count (r = 0.31) and for the CD8+ count (r = 0.41). CONCLUSION: HCV-related liver pathology in patients co-infected with HIV depends on the level of immunodepression. CD8+ counts are better correlated with pathology findings than with CD4+ counts.     

Predictive modelling of the 3-D structure of interleukin-13

Several atomic structures are now available for the family ofhelical cytokines, which includes growth hormone as well asmany of the interleukins. Using structural information fromfive members of this family, two alternative models of interleukin(IL)-13 are proposed. IL-13 has biological properties similarto those of IL-4 and, like the other interleukins, is a potentiallyimportant pharmaceutical target. The model of IL-13 is discussedand compared with the known interleukin structures.     

Stability, in-Vitro and in-Vivo Release Studies from Metronidazole Ointments

The influence of ointment formulation on the stability, the in-vitro release and the in-vivo absorption through the skin of rabbits was investigated. The choice of the selected ointments has no influence on the drug stability with the exception of an acidified emulsion base. A good correlation between in-vitro release and in-vivo absorption was found revealing that metronidazole was quickly released and effectively absorbed from a polyethylene glycol base.     

Declines in divergent thinking with age: Cross-sectional, longitudinal, and cross-sequential analyses.

Six measures of divergent thinking were administered to 825 men ranging in age from 17 to 101 over the period from 1959 to 1972; repeat administrations were given to a subset of 278 men after a 6-year interval. Cross-sectional analyses showed curvilinear trends, with an increase in scores for men under 40 and a decline thereafter. Repeated measures analyses on subjects initially aged 33 to 74 generally replicated this finding, whereas cross-sequential analyses suggested a decline for all cohorts tested at a later time. Additional analyses suggested that not all of the decline could be attributed to reduced speed of response production. These longitudinal findings confirm earlier cross-sectional reports of decline in divergent thinking abilities with age. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Literal solutions for time-domain crosstalk on losslesstransmission lines

The transmission line equations for a three-conductor lossless line in a homogeneous medium are solved in literal (symbolic) form in the time domain. The resulting formulas for the crosstalk voltages are exact and are given in terms of the line parameters and the termination impedances. These formulas demonstrate the effect of the various line parameters on the resulting crosstalk and show how to adjust the line parameters to achieve a desired time-domain crosstalk. In addition, other solution methods are discussed and used to verify the literal solution     

Efficient Reflectance and Visibility Approximations for Environment Map Rendering

We present a technique for approximating isotropic BRDFs and precomputed self-occlusion that enables accurate and efficient prefiltered environment map rendering. Our approach uses a nonlinear approximation of the BRDF as a weighted sum of isotropic Gaussian functions. Our representation requires a minimal amount of storage, can accurately represent BRDFs of arbitrary sharpness, and is above all, efficient to render. We precompute visibility due to self-occlusion and store a low-frequency approximation suitable for glossy reflections. We demonstrate our method by fitting our representation to measured BRDF data, yielding high visual quality at real-time frame rates.     

Mixed-Cation Oxide Powders via Resin Intermediates Derived from a Water-Soluble Polymer

Submicrometer powders of complex oxides were prepared via resin intermediates based on a starch type of organic precursor. A commercially available water-soluble starch derivative was (for the first time) used as the organic base for solution synthesis of ceramic powders. Calcination of the charred, fluffy, amorphous resins at a temperature below 600°C for 4 h yielded perovskite powders of Sr-doped LaMnO₃ and Sr-doped La(Fe,Co)O₃. Sr-doped LaCrO₃ needed to be calcined above 750°C to ensure phase purity and to remove organic residue. Due to the low cost of starch derivatives, the process has the potential of being more economical than the commonly used Pechini's type process, which utilizes citric acid and ethylene glycol.     

Cross-validiation of the Neuropsychology Behavior and Affect Profile in stroke patients.

Internal stability and discriminant validity of the Neuropsychology Behavior and Affect Profile (L. Nelson et al, 1989) were examined in samples of 70 stroke patients and 88 elderly controls. The test is designed to yield indices of premorbid (before-item subset) and present (now-item subset) levels of emotional functioning in each of 5 scales. With coefficient alphas ranging from .76 to .87, results indicated moderate to high internal stability. The test was also able to reliably distinguish between the criterion stroke sample (n?=?42) and a matched group of elderly controls in terms of present levels of emotional functioning (2 wks poststroke). When discriminant validity was examined in terms of premorbid emotional status (before-item subset), group differences were unexpectedly obtained. Clinical and research implications of these results are discussed, noting the possibility of early, noncognitive correlates preceding stroke. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)