Evaluation of Optic Nerve Head Parameters, Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness, and Ocular Perfusion Pressure in Migraine Patients.

Background Neurovascular changes occur during the migraine is believed to cause alteration in cerebral and retinal circulation that possible result in damage to the brain and even retina or optic nerve. Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurement can be used as an index to assess ganglion cell and retinal nerve fiber damages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the optic nerve head (ONH) parameters, RNFL thickness, and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) in migraine patients.

Brown Adipose Tissue: Multimodality Evaluation by PET, MRI, Infrared Thermography, and Whole-Body Calorimetry (TACTICAL-II).

Objective: This study aimed to compare the associations of positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance (MR), and infrared thermography (IRT) imaging modalities with energy expenditure (EE) after brown adipose tissue (BAT) activation using capsinoid ingestion and cold exposure.

Methods: Twenty participants underwent PET-MR, IRT imaging, and whole-body calorimetry after capsinoid ingestion and cold exposure. Standardized uptake values (SUV) and the fat fraction (FF) of the supraclavicular brown adipose tissue regions were estimated.

Adipocyte Gs but not Gi signaling regulates whole-body glucose homeostasis.

Objective: The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is a key regulator of the metabolic and endocrine functions of adipose tissue. Increased SNS outflow promotes fat mobilization, stimulates non-shivering thermogenesis, promotes browning, and inhibits leptin production. Most of these effects are attributed to norepinephrine activation of the Gs-coupled beta adrenergic receptors located on the surface of the adipocytes.

Triggered EMG (T-EMG) Values of Pedicle Screws with a Powered Screwdriver vs A Standard Probe in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Do Not Agree: A Prospective Validation Study.

Triggered electromyography (t-EMG) is a common technique used during spinal instrumentation in surgery for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. This study tests the validity of t-EMG values obtained with a standard ball-tipped probe after completion of screw placement versus t-EMG values obtained during screw insertion with a powered screwdriver. t-EMG values were collected for screws spanning T7-L5 using both a standard probe and a powered screwdriver.

Longitudinal survey of condom use across a US Navy and Marine Corps shipboard deployment.

Objectives: Condoms are highly effective in preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) but implementation is often inconsistent with use rarely examined across travel transition periods. We examined the prevalence of condom use among ship-assigned US military personnel across an overseas deployment cycle and identified factors associated with condom non-use.

Methods: Longitudinal survey data were collected from ship-assigned US Navy/Marine Corps personnel on 11 ships before (T1), during (T2) and after (T3) an overseas deployment.

Effect of HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy on immune cellular functions.

During chronic HIV infection, immune cells become increasingly dysfunctional and exhausted. Little is known about how immune functions are restored after initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). In this study, we assessed cellular and metabolic activity and evaluated the effect of individual antiretrovirals on cellular subsets ex vivo in ART-treated and treatment-naive chronically HIV-infected individuals.

CCR5AS lncRNA variation differentially regulates CCR5, influencing HIV disease outcome.

Multiple genome-wide studies have identified associations between outcome of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and polymorphisms in and around the gene encoding the HIV co-receptor CCR5, but the functional basis for the strongest of these associations, rs1015164A/G, is unknown. We found that rs1015164 marks variation in an activating transcription factor 1 binding site that controls expression of the antisense long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) CCR5AS. Knockdown or enhancement of CCR5AS expression resulted in a corresponding change in CCR5 expression on CD4 T cells.

Correction: Trinh, H.V., et al. Humoral Response to the HIV-1 Envelope V2 Region in a Thai Early Acute Infection Cohort. 2019, , 365.

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The breadth of HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies depends on the conservation of key sites in their epitopes.

Developing HIV-1 vaccines that trigger broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) is a priority as bnAbs are considered key to elicitation of a protective immune response. To investigate whether the breadth of a neutralizing antibody (nAb) depended on the conservation of its epitope among circulating viruses, we examined Antibody:Envelope (Ab:Env) interactions and worldwide Env diversity. We found that sites corresponding to bnAb epitopes were as variable as other accessible, non-hypervariable Env sites (p = 0.

HIV-1 genetic diversity and demographic characteristics in Bulgaria.

HIV-1 strain diversity in Bulgaria is extensive and includes contributions from nearly all major subtypes and the Circulating Recombinant Forms (CRF): 01_AE, 02_AG, and 05_DF. Prior to this study, HIV-1 sequence information from Bulgaria has been based solely on the pro-RT gene, which represent less than 15% of the viral genome. To further characterize HIV-1 in Bulgaria, assess participant risk behaviors, and strengthen knowledge of circulating strains in the region, the study "Genetic Subtypes of HIV-1 in Bulgaria (RV240)" was conducted.

New Subtype B Containing HIV-1 Circulating Recombinant of sub-Saharan Africa Origin in Nigerian Men Who Have Sex With Men.

Background: HIV-1 circulating recombinant forms (CRF) containing subtype B are uncommon in sub-Saharan Africa. Prevalent infections observed during enrollment of a prospective study of men who have sex with men (MSM) from Lagos, Nigeria, revealed the presence of a family of subtype B and CRF02_AG recombinants. This report describes the HIV-1 genetic diversity within a high-risk, high-prevalence, and previously undersampled cohort of Nigerian MSM.

Expansion of Stem Cell-Like CD4 Memory T Cells during Acute HIV-1 Infection Is Linked to Rapid Disease Progression.

Acute HIV-1 infection is characterized by high viremia and massive depletion of CD4 T cells throughout all tissue compartments. During this time the latent viral reservoir is established but the dynamics of memory CD4 T cell subset development, their infectability and influence on disease progression during acute HIV-1 infection has not been carefully described. We therefore investigated the dynamics of CD4 T cell memory populations in the RV217 (ECHO) cohort during the acute phase of infection.

Protein Hydrolysate from , Armoured Catfish, with High Antioxidant Activity.

, locally named the armoured catfish, is a by-catch of tilapia fishing that accounts for up to 80% of total captured fish in the Adolfo Lopez Mateos dam, in Michoacán, México, affecting the economy of its surrounding communities. This invasive fish is discarded by fishermen since native people do not consume it, partly due to its appearance, yet it is rich in protein. The aim of this study was to produce hydrolysates from armoured catfish using food-grade proteases (neutrases HT and PF and alcalase PAL) and investigate the processing conditions (pH and temperature) that lead to a high degree of hydrolysis, antioxidant activity, and Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitory activity.

Humoral Response to the HIV-1 Envelope V2 Region in a Thai Early Acute Infection Cohort.

Reduced risk of HIV-1 infection correlated with antibody responses to the envelope variable 1 and 2 regions in the RV144 vaccine trial. To understand the relationship between antibody responses, V2 sequence, and structure, plasma samples (n = 16) from an early acute HIV-1 infection cohort from Thailand infected with CRF01_AE strain were analyzed for binding to V2 peptides by surface plasmon resonance. Five participants with a range of V2 binding responses at week 24 post-infection were further analyzed against a set of four overlapping V2 peptides that were designed based on envelope single-genome amplification.

Cross-Sectional Study of Sexual Behavior, Alcohol Use, and Mental Health Conditions Associated With Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Deploying Shipboard US Military Personnel.

Introduction: Limited comprehensive data exist on risk behavior associated with sexually transmitted infections (STI) among ship-assigned US military personnel during the predeployment time period (PDT). This study examined whether sexual risk behaviors, alcohol use, involuntary drug consumption (IDC), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression during the 12 months prior to deployment were associated with provider-diagnosed STIs in this population.

Materials And Methods: Using cross-sectional data collected during 2012-2014 among sexually active personnel, multivariable regression assessed factors associated with STIs among all men (n = 1,831).

Safety and efficacy of VRC01 broadly neutralising antibodies in adults with acutely treated HIV (RV397): a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Background: HIV-1-specific broadly neutralising antibodies such as VRC01 could promote HIV remission by halting viral replication and clearing infected cells. We investigated whether VRC01 could promote sustained viral control off antiretroviral therapy (ART) in adults who initiated ART during acute HIV infection.

Methods: We did a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial at the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre in Bangkok, Thailand.

Next-generation sequencing of HIV-1 single genome amplicons.

The analysis of HIV-1 sequences has helped understand the viral molecular epidemiology, monitor the development of antiretroviral drug resistance, and design candidate vaccines. The introduction of single genome amplification (SGA) has been a major advancement in the field, allowing for the characterization of multiple sequences per patient while preserving linkage among polymorphisms in the same viral genome copy. Sequencing of SGA amplicons is performed by capillary Sanger sequencing, which presents low throughput, requires a high amount of template, and is highly sensitive to template/primer mismatching.

Modeling HIV-1 Latency Using Primary CD4 T Cells from Virally Suppressed HIV-1-Infected Individuals on Antiretroviral Therapy.

The low frequency of latently HIV-infected cells limits the testing of potential HIV cure strategies using cells from successfully suppressed individuals. To date, primary cell models of latency use cells infected Primary CD4 T cell models carrying an individual's endogenous HIV reservoir that recapitulate conditions of HIV latency are still outstanding. We developed a primary CD4 T cell model of HIV latency derived from memory CD4 T cells isolated from virally suppressed HIV-infected individuals that recapitulates HIV-1 latency and viral reactivation events.

Recommendations for analytical antiretroviral treatment interruptions in HIV research trials-report of a consensus meeting.

Analytical antiretroviral treatment interruption (ATI) is an important feature of HIV research, seeking to achieve sustained viral suppression in the absence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) when the goal is to measure effects of novel therapeutic interventions on time to viral load rebound or altered viral setpoint. Trials with ATIs also intend to determine host, virological, and immunological markers that are predictive of sustained viral control off ART. Although ATI is increasingly incorporated into proof-of-concept trials, no consensus has been reached on strategies to maximise its utility and minimise its risks.

Longitudinal Analysis Reveals Early Development of Three MPER-Directed Neutralizing Antibody Lineages from an HIV-1-Infected Individual.

Lineage-based vaccine design is an attractive approach for eliciting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV-1. However, most bNAb lineages studied to date have features indicative of unusual recombination and/or development. From an individual in the prospective RV217 cohort, we identified three lineages of bNAbs targeting the membrane-proximal external region (MPER) of the HIV-1 envelope.

Clinical course and outcome after kidney transplantation in patients with C3 glomerulonephritis due to CFHR5 nephropathy.

Background: Complement factor H-related protein 5 (CFHR5) nephropathy is an inherited renal disease characterized by microscopic and synpharyngitic macroscopic haematuria, C3 glomerulonephritis and renal failure. It is caused by an internal duplication of exons 2-3 within the CFHR5 gene resulting in dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of transplanted patients with this rare familial nephropathy remain unknown.

Impact of Early Antiretroviral Therapy on Detection of Cell-Associated HIV-1 Nucleic Acid in Blood by the Roche Cobas TaqMan Test.

The Roche Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan HIV-1 test, v2.0 (the CAP/CTM assay), was used to quantify cell-associated HIV-1 (CAH) nucleic acid in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from well-characterized clinical specimens from HIV-1-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Chronically infected individuals on ART with no detectable plasma HIV-1 RNA demonstrated average CAH burdens of 3.

Integrated systems approach defines the antiviral pathways conferring protection by the RV144 HIV vaccine.

The RV144 vaccine trial showed reduced risk of HIV-1 acquisition by 31.2%, although mechanisms that led to protection remain poorly understood. Here we identify transcriptional correlates for reduced HIV-1 acquisition after vaccination.

Data on knowledge and beliefs of students, physicians and other health professionals about ethical issues in Cyprus.

This article presents data collected in a field, questionnaire-based survey about ethical issues in the Republic of Cyprus. The participants were students of the University of Cyprus, and physicians and other health professionals of the Medical School, University of Cyprus and of the Archbishop Makarios III Hospital. The questionnaire included items on sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, and on their knowledge and beliefs about three different ethical issues.

Ectopic fat and aerobic fitness are key determinants of glucose homeostasis in nonobese Asians.

Background: The importance of ectopic fat deposition and physical fitness in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction in subjects from the nonobese Asians is not known.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study and measured insulin sensitivity (M value; 4-hour hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp), insulin secretion rate (3-hour mixed meal tolerance test with oral minimal modelling), percent body fat, visceral adipose tissue, intramyocellular and intrahepatic lipid contents (magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy), cardiorespiratory fitness (VO max; graded exercise test) and habitual physical activity (short International Physical Activity Questionnaire) in 60 healthy nonobese Asian subjects (BMI = 21.9 ± 1.