Histological and morphometrical evaluation of the urethral wall after bioresorbable stent implantation in male New Zealand White Rabbits: A preliminary study.

The aim of the study was the histological and morphometrical evaluation of the urethral wall at three time points after bioresorbable stent implantation in male New Zealand White Rabbits. The research was performed on 26 male New Zealand White rabbits aged 3-4 months and weighing 2.1-3.

Changes in the Mechanical Properties of Alginate-Gelatin Hydrogels with the Addition of with Potential Application in Urology.

New hydrogel materials developed to improve soft tissue healing are an alternative for medical applications, such as tissue regeneration or enhancing the biotolerance effect in the tissue-implant-body fluid system. The biggest advantages of hydrogel materials are the presence of a large amount of water and a polymeric structure that corresponds to the extracellular matrix, which allows to create healing conditions similar to physiological ones. The present work deals with the change in mechanical properties of sodium alginate mixed with gelatin containing .

Evaluation of Selected Properties of Sodium Alginate-Based Hydrogel Material-Mechanical Strength, μDIC Analysis and Degradation.

The search for ideal solutions for the treatment of urethral stenosis continues. This includes developing the material, design, while maintaining its optimal and desired properties. This paper presents the results of the research conducted on sodium alginate-based hydrogel material (AHM), which may be used as a material for stents dedicated to the treatment of pathologies occurring in the genitourinary system.

Biomechanical-Structural Correlation of in Animal Models: A Pilot Study.

The mitral valve apparatus is a complex structure consisting of the mitral ring, valve leaflets, papillary muscles and (CT). The latter are mainly responsible for the mechanical functions of the valve. Our study included investigations of the biomechanical and structural properties of CT collected from canine and porcine hearts, as there are no studies about these properties of canine CT.

Intact Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Reservoir Estimated by the Intact Proviral DNA Assay Correlates With Levels of Total and Integrated DNA in the Blood During Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy.

Accurate characterization of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir is imperative to develop an effective cure. HIV was measured in antiretroviral therapy-suppressed individuals using the intact proviral DNA assay (IPDA), along with assays for total or integrated HIV DNA, and inducible HIV RNA or p24. Intact provirus correlated with total and integrated HIV.

Determination of Stent Load Conditions in New Zealand White Rabbit Urethra.

Background: Frequency of urethral stenosis makes it necessary to develop new innovative methods of treating this disease. This pathology most often occurs in men and manifests itself in painful urination, reduced urine flow, or total urinary retention. This is a condition that requires immediate medical intervention.

NK Response Correlates with HIV Decrease in Pegylated IFN-α2a-Treated Antiretroviral Therapy-Suppressed Subjects.

We previously reported that pegylated IFN-α2a (Peg-IFN-α2a) added to antiretroviral therapy (ART)-suppressed, HIV-infected subjects resulted in plasma HIV control and integrated HIV DNA decrease. We now evaluated whether innate NK cell activity or PBMC transcriptional profiles were associated with decreases in HIV measures. Human peripheral blood was analyzed prior to Peg-IFN-α2a administration (ART, baseline), after 5 wk of ART+Peg-IFN-α2a, and after 12 wk of Peg-IFN-α2a monotherapy (primary endpoint).

Gene expression profiling informs HPV cervical histopathology but not recurrence/relapse after LEEP in ART-suppressed HIV+HPV+ women.

Identification of factors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical histopathology or recurrence/relapse following loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) would allow for better management of the disease. We investigated whether gene signatures could (i) associate with HPV cervical histopathology and (ii) identify women with post-LEEP disease recurrence/relapse. Gene array analysis was performed on paraffin-embedded cervical tissue-isolated RNA from two cross-sectional cohorts of antiretroviral therapy (ART)-suppressed HIV+HPV+ coinfected women: (i) 55 women in South Africa recruited into three groups: high risk (HR) (-) (n = 16) and HR (+) (n = 15) HPV without cervical histopathology and HR (+) HPV with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1/2/3 (n = 24), (ii) 28 women in Botswana with CIN2/3 treated with LEEP 12-month prior to recruitment and presenting with (n = 13) and without (n = 15) lesion recurrence/relapse (tissue was analyzed at first LEEP).

HIV-1-specific CD4+ T cell responses in chronically HIV-1 infected blippers on antiretroviral therapy in relation to viral replication following treatment interruption.

The impact of transient viral load blips on anti-HIV-1 immune responses and on HIV-1 rebound following treatment interruption (TI) is not known. Clinical and immunological parameters were measured during 40 weeks of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and following TI in an observational cohort of 16 chronically HIV-1-infected subjects with or without observed viral load blips during ART. During therapy, blips in seven subjects were associated with higher anti-HIV-1 (p24) CD4+ T cell lymphoproliferative responses (p = 0.

Randomized, controlled trial of therapy interruption in chronic HIV-1 infection.

Background: Approaches to limiting exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs are an active area of HIV therapy research. Here we present longitudinal follow-up of a randomized, open-label, single-center study of the immune, viral, and safety outcomes of structured therapy interruptions (TIs) in patients with chronically suppressed HIV-1 infection as compared to equal follow-up of patients on continuous therapy and including a final therapy interruption in both arms.

Methods And Findings: Forty-two chronically HIV-infected patients on suppressive ART with CD4 counts higher than 400 were randomized 1:1 to either (1) three successive fixed TIs of 2, 4, and 6 wk, with intervening resumption of therapy with resuppression for 4 wk before subsequent interruption, or (2) 40 wk of continuous therapy, with a final open-ended TI in both treatment groups.

Presence of human immunodeficiency virus-1-specific CD4 and CD8 cellular immune responses in children with full or partial virus suppression.

The present study assessed antiviral T cell immune responses in 48 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children with a stable or decreasing CD4(+) T cell counts and different levels of viral control, in the presence or absence of antiretroviral therapy. Children with full (<40 copies/mL) or partial (<50,000 copies/mL) virus suppression and with a history of stable CD4(+) T cell counts had significantly increased levels of anti-HIV CD4(+) T cell lymphoproliferative responses, lower levels of CD38(+), and higher CD8(+)/CD28(+) T cell percentage, compared with those in treated children with a lack of virus suppression (>50,000 copies/mL). Levels of anti-HIV CD8(+) T cell activity, although higher in treated children with a lack of virus suppression, were not significantly different between the groups.