Application of Response Surface Methodology for Optimization of Nanosized Zinc Oxide Synthesis Conditions by Electrospinning Technique.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) is a well-known semiconductor material due to its excellent electrical, mechanical, and unique optical properties. ZnO nanoparticles are widely used for the industrial-scale manufacture of microelectronic and optoelectronic devices, including metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors, light-emitting diodes, transistors, capacitors, and solar cells. This study proposes optimization of synthesis parameters of nanosized ZnO by the electrospinning technique.

The TAZ domain-containing proteins play important role in the heavy metals stress biology in plants.

TAZ (transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding) zinc finger domains, also known as transcription adaptor putative zinc finger domains, that control diverse function in plant growth and development. Here, in the present study, we evaluated the role of the TAZ domain-containing gene in response to various heavy metals. Initially, we found a total of 3, 7, 8, 9, 9, 9, 7, 14, 6, 10, and 6 proteins containing TAZ domain in stiff brome, millet, sorghum, potato, pepper, maize, rice, apple, peach, pear, and tomato genome that could trigger the plant resistance against various heavy metals, respectively.

Isolation and identification of microorganisms in Kazakhstan koumiss and their application in preparing cow-milk koumiss.

Koumiss is a type of famous fermented mare milk and considered an important nutritious beverage in central Asian countries. However, the production of koumiss cannot meet public demand in the market due to availability of mare milk. In the present study, 52 lactic acid bacteria and 20 yeast strains from traditional homemade Kazakhstan koumiss were isolated and identified.

Strategies to manage hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection disease burden - volume 2.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic was forecasted through 2030 for 15 countries, and the relative impact of two scenarios was considered: (i) increased treatment efficacy while holding the treated population constant and (ii) increased treatment efficacy and increased annual treated population. Increasing levels of diagnosis and treatment, in combination with improved treatment efficacy, were critical for achieving substantial reductions in disease burden. In most countries, the annual treated population had to increase several fold to achieve the largest reductions in HCV-related morbidity and mortality.

The present and future disease burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections with today's treatment paradigm - volume 2.

Morbidity and mortality attributable to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are increasing in many countries as the infected population ages. Models were developed for 15 countries to quantify and characterize the viremic population, as well as estimate the number of new infections and HCV related deaths from 2013 to 2030. Expert consensus was used to determine current treatment levels and outcomes in each country.

Historical epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in select countries - volume 2.

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of liver related morbidity and mortality. In many countries, there is a lack of comprehensive epidemiological data that are crucial in implementing disease control measures as new treatment options become available. Published literature, unpublished data and expert consensus were used to determine key parameters, including prevalence, viremia, genotype and the number of patients diagnosed and treated.

Regional differences in self-reported HIV care and management in the EuroSIDA study.

Introduction: EuroSIDA has previously reported a poorer clinical prognosis for HIV-positive individuals in Eastern Europe (EE) as compared with patients from other parts of Europe, not solely explained by differences in patient characteristics. We explored regional variability in self-reported HIV management at individual EuroSIDA clinics, with a goal of identifying opportunities to reduce the apparent inequalities in health.

Methods: A survey (www.

A survey of ATRIPLA use in clinical practice as first-line therapy in HIV-positive persons in Europe.

ATRIPLA is licensed for use only in HIV-positive persons whose viral loads <50 for ≥ 3 months. We investigated the use of ATRIPLA as first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in EuroSIDA using a web-based survey performed in Autumn 2012. 96/112 clinics (85.

[Chronic viral hepatitis in St.Petersburg].

Morbidity data on chronic viral hepatitis including cirrhotic stages of disease and lethality indexes in St. Petersburg are provided. The necessity of isolation in ICD- 10 and statistical accounting of chronic viral hepatitis diagnosis with outcome into cirrhosis (cirrhotic stage) is shown.

Short- and long-term mortality and causes of death in HIV/tuberculosis patients in Europe.

Mortality of HIV/tuberculosis (TB) patients in Eastern Europe is high. Little is known about their causes of death. This study aimed to assess and compare mortality rates and cause of death in HIV/TB patients across Eastern Europe and Western Europe and Argentina (WEA) in an international cohort study.

TB meningitis in HIV-positive patients in Europe and Argentina: clinical outcome and factors associated with mortality.

Objectives: The study aimed at describing characteristics and outcome of tuberculous meningitis (TBM) in HIV-positive patients and comparing these parameters with those of extrapulmonary TB (TBEP) and pulmonary TB (TBP).

Methods: Kaplan-Meier estimation and Poisson regression models were used to assess the mortality following TB diagnosis and to evaluate potential prognostic factors for the 3 groups of TB patients separately.

Results: A total of 100 patients with TBM, 601 with TBEP, and 371 TBP were included.

VS411 reduced immune activation and HIV-1 RNA levels in 28 days: randomized proof-of-concept study for antiviral-hyperactivation limiting therapeutics.

Background: A new class of antiretrovirals, AntiViral-HyperActivation Limiting Therapeutics (AV-HALTs), has been proposed as a disease-modifying therapy to both reduce Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) RNA levels and the excessive immune activation now recognized as the major driver of not only the continual loss of CD4(+) T cells and progression to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), but also of the emergence of both AIDS-defining and non-AIDS events that negatively impact upon morbidity and mortality despite successful (ie, fully suppressive) therapy. VS411, the first-in-class AV-HALT, combined low-dose, slow-release didanosine with low-dose hydroxycarbamide to accomplish both objectives with a favorable toxicity profile during short-term administration. Five dose combinations were administered as VS411 to test the AV-HALT Proof-of-Concept in HIV-1-infected subjects.

The clinical benefits of antiretroviral therapy in severely immunocompromised HIV-1-infected patients with and without complete viral suppression.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a protective effect of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on the development of clinical events in patients with ongoing severe immunosuppression.

Methods: A total of 3,780 patients from the EuroSIDA study under follow-up after 2001 with a current CD4(+) T-cell count ≤200 cells/mm(3) were stratified into five groups: group 1, viral load (VL)<50 copies/ml on cART; group 2, VL 50-99,999 copies/ml on cART; group 3, VL 50-99,999 copies/ml off cART; group 4, VL≥100,000 copies/ml on cART; and group 5, VL≥100,000 copies/ml off cART. Poisson regression was used to identify the risk of (non-fatal or fatal) AIDS- and non-AIDS-related events considered together (AIDS/non-AIDS) or separately as AIDS or non-AIDS events within each group.

Benchmarking HIV health care: from individual patient care to health care evaluation. An example from the EuroSIDA study.

Background: State-of-the-art care involving the utilisation of multiple health care interventions is the basis for an optimal long-term clinical prognosis for HIV-patients. We evaluated health care for HIV patients based on four key indicators.

Methods: Four indicators of health care were assessed: Compliance with current guidelines on initiation of: 1) combination antiretroviral therapy (cART); 2) chemoprophylaxis; 3) frequency of laboratory monitoring; and 4) virological response to cART (proportion of patients with HIV-RNA < 500copies/ml for >90% of time on cART).

Regional differences in AIDS and non-AIDS related mortality in HIV-positive individuals across Europe and Argentina: the EuroSIDA study.

Background: Differences in access to care and treatment have been reported in Eastern Europe, a region with one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics, compared to the rest of Europe. This analysis aimed to establish whether there are regional differences in the mortality rate of HIV-positive individuals across Europe, and Argentina.

Methods: 13,310 individuals under follow-up were included in the analysis.

The analysis of near full-length genome sequences of HIV type 1 subtype A viruses from Russia supports the monophyly of major intrasubtype clusters.

The HIV-1 epidemic in Russia has been insufficiently studied, with only 11 complete genome sequences from this country currently available, only three of which are of the locally predominant genetic form, the former Soviet Union (FSU) subtype A variant (A(FSU)). Here we analyze 10 newly derived A(FSU) near full-length genome sequences from Russia. Samples were selected based on phylogenetic clustering in protease-reverse transcriptase in two of the major A(FSU) clusters, V77I(PR) (n=6), widely circulating in Russia and other FSU countries, and A(SP1) (n=4), predominant in St.

Five-year trends in epidemiology and prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, St. Petersburg, Russia: results from perinatal HIV surveillance.

Background: The HIV epidemic in Russia has increasingly involved reproductive-aged women, which may increase perinatal HIV transmission.

Methods: Standard HIV case-reporting and enhanced perinatal HIV surveillance systems were used for prospective assessment of HIV-infected women giving birth in St. Petersburg, Russia, during 2004-2008.

Once daily dolutegravir (S/GSK1349572) in combination therapy in antiretroviral-naive adults with HIV: planned interim 48 week results from SPRING-1, a dose-ranging, randomised, phase 2b trial.

Background: Dolutegravir (S/GSK1349572) is a new HIV-1 integrase inhibitor that has antiviral activity with once daily, unboosted dosing. SPRING-1 is an ongoing study designed to select a dose for phase 3 assessment. We present data from preplanned primary and interim analyses.

Fatal and nonfatal AIDS and non-AIDS events in HIV-1-positive individuals with high CD4 cell counts according to viral load strata.

Background: This study compared the incidence of fatal and nonfatal AIDS and non-AIDS events in HIV-positive individuals with a CD4 cell count more than 350  cells/μl among viral load strata: low (<500  copies/ml), intermediate (500-9999.9  copies/ml) and high (≥ 10000  copies/ml).

Methods: Individuals contributed person-years at risk if their most recent CD4 cell count was more than 350  cells/μl.

Tuberculosis among HIV-positive patients across Europe: changes over time and risk factors.

Objective: To describe temporal changes in the incidence rate of tuberculosis (TB) (pulmonary or extrapulmonary) among HIV-positive patients in western Europe and risk factors of TB across Europe.

Methods: Poisson regression models were used to determine temporal changes in incidence rate of TB among 11,952 patients from western Europe (1994-2010), and to assess risk factors for TB among 12,673 patients from across Europe with follow-up after 2001.

Results: Two hundred and seventy-seven TB events occurred during 84,221 person-years of follow-up (PYFU) in western Europe.

Construction and phenotypic characterization of HIV type 1 functional envelope clones of subtypes G and F.

Subtype G has been estimated to represent the fourth most prevalent clade in the HIV-1 pandemic and subtype F is widely circulating in parts of South America (frequently within BF recombinant forms) and in Romania. However, functional envelope clones of these subtypes are lacking, which are needed for studies on antibody-mediated neutralization, coreceptor usage, and efficiency of viral entry inhibitor drugs. Here we report the construction, neutralization properties, and coreceptor usage of HIV-1 functional envelope clones of subtypes G (n = 15) and F (n = 7).

Serious fatal and nonfatal non-AIDS-defining illnesses in Europe.

Background: Little is known about the incidence and risk factors for serious non-AIDS-defining events.

Methods: The incidence of non-AIDS events (malignancies, end-stage renal disease, liver failure, pancreatitis, cardiovascular disease), and AIDS after January 1, 2001, was calculated; Poisson regression was used to investigate factors associated with non-AIDS and AIDS.

Results: Among 12,844 patients, 1058 were diagnosed with a non-AIDS event [incidence 1.

[The topical problems of morphological diagnosis and the pathomorphism of HIV infection].

The paper analyzes the frequency of admissions to the S. P. Botkin Clinical Infectious Hospital and the City AIDS Center among patients with HIV infection and the structure of fatal outcomes.

Short communication: Molecular epidemiology of HIV type 1 in the Republic of Dagestan, Russian Federation: virtually uniform circulation of subtype A, former Soviet Union variant, with predominance of the V77I(PR) subvariant.

We examine the distribution of viral genetic forms and the presence of antiretroviral drug resistance mutations in HIV-1 infections in the Republic of Dagestan, in the North Caucasus area of Russia, where a recent large increase in HIV-1 infections has been documented. Samples were collected from 41 HIV-1-infected individuals from Dagestan, most of them from the cities of Derbent (n = 21) and Mahachkala (n = 18). Thirty six were injecting drug users and five were infected by heterosexual contact.

Antiretroviral prophylaxis to prevent perinatal HIV transmission in St. Petersburg, Russia: too little, too late.

Background: We evaluated the influence of type and timing of prophylaxis on perinatal HIV transmission in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Methods: We linked surveillance data for 1498 HIV-infected mothers delivering from 2004 to 2007 with polymerase chain reaction data for 1159 infants to determine predictors of transmission.