Antibody-based CCR5 blockade protects Macaques from mucosal SHIV transmission.

In the absence of a prophylactic vaccine, the use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV acquisition by uninfected individuals is a promising approach to slowing the epidemic, but its efficacy is hampered by incomplete patient adherence and ART-resistant variants. Here, we report that competitive inhibition of HIV Env-CCR5 binding via the CCR5-specific antibody Leronlimab protects rhesus macaques against infection following repeated intrarectal challenges of CCR5-tropic SHIV. Injection of Leronlimab weekly at 10 mg/kg provides significant but partial protection, while biweekly 50 mg/kg provides complete protection from SHIV acquisition.

Hiding in plain sight - platelets, the silent carriers of HIV-1.

There are approximately 38 million people globally living with Human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) and given the tremendous success of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) this has dramatically reduced mortality and morbidity with prevention benefits. However, HIV-1 persists during cART within the human body and re-appears upon cART interruption. This HIV-1 reservoir remains a barrier to cure with cellular sites of viral persistence not fully understood.

Testing the adaptive advantage of a threatened species over an invasive species using a stochastic population model.

Introduced species are a major threat to freshwater biodiversity. Often eradication is not feasible, and management must focus on reducing impacts on native wildlife. This requires an understanding of how native species are affected but also how environmental characteristics influence population dynamics of both invasive and native species.

Can research at the end of life be a useful tool to advance HIV cure?

Despite extensive investigations, we still do not fully understand the dynamics of the total body HIV reservoir and how sub-reservoirs in various compartments relate to one another. Studies using macaque models are enlightening but eradication strategies will still need to be tested in humans. To take the next steps in understanding and eradicating HIV reservoirs throughout the body, we propose to develop a “peri-mortem translational research model” of HIV-infected individuals (called ‘The Last Gift’), which is similar to existing models in cancer research.

Clinical documentation for patient care: models, concepts, and liability considerations for pharmacists.

Purpose: A guide to the appropriate documentation of the critical aspects of the patient medical record to ensure reimbursement and the reduction of medical liability is presented.

Summary: Several documentation styles can be adopted to record pharmacist interventions, including unstructured notes, semistructured notes, and systematic notes. Documentation should be clear, concise, legible, nonjudgmental, patient focused, and standardized, and it should ensure patient confidentiality.

Results of four-corner arthrodesis using dorsal circular plate fixation.

Purpose: Four-corner arthrodesis with scaphoid excision has been used to reduce pain and preserve functional range of motion for patients with radioscaphoid arthritis. Early results of 4-corner arthrodesis with scaphoid excision using dorsal circular plate fixation are compared with reported results in the literature.

Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the first 18 four-corner arthrodeses performed with this system by 4 hand surgeons.

Direct regulation of RNA polymerase III transcription by RB, p53 and c-Myc.

The synthesis of tRNA and 5S rRNA by RNA polymerase (pol) III is cell cycle regulated in higher organisms. Overexpression of pol III products is a general feature of transformed cells. These observations may be explained by the fact that a pol III-specific transcription factor, TFIIIB, is strongly regulated by the tumor suppressors RB and p53, as well as the proto-oncogene product c-Myc.

Adverse effects of temazepam in older adults with chronic insomnia.

Background: Benzodiazepine-hypnotics are frequently used for treating insomnia in older adults; however, there is little information about adverse effects associated with their usage over several weeks, particularly in this segment of the population.

Objective: This study reports on the incidence of adverse effects of temazepam in older adults with chronic insomnia and examines whether the addition of cognitive-behaviour therapy (CBT) is associated with less drug used and fewer adverse effects.

Method: Sixty patients with chronic and primary insomnia were randomized to temazepam (n = 20), placebo (n = 20) or temazepam plus CBT (n = 20).