bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surveillance of transmitted drug resistance in untreated HIV‐infected patients in Cuba
Authors: Machado Zaldivar L , Dubed Echevarría M , Blanco de Armas M , Díaz Torres H , Ruiz Gutierrez N , Romay Franchi D , Váldes de Calzadilla N , Silva Cabrera E 
Published: November 2012

BackgroundKnowledge of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) in untreated HIV‐infected patients is fundamental in the epidemiological surveillance programs, because it is associated with suboptimal virological outcome of first‐line HAART. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiology of TDR in newly diagnosed Cuban patients.Methods250 HIV‐1‐infected patients diagnosed between 2009 and 2011 were included in the study. RNA was isolated from plasma and used as target to amplify the pol gen by RT‐nested PCR. PCR products were sequenced and the data generated used to determine the viral subtype by phylogenetic analyses. The TDR were detected by means of Stanford University calibrated population resistance tool, using the 2009 surveillance drug resistance mutations list.ResultsBaseline characteristic were as follows: 78.4% of the cases were males, mean age was 35.5 years, 66.3% of infections were acquired by homosexual transmission and the median viral load was 4.6 log. The 39.2% of the analyzed samples corresponded to the subtype B and 60.8% for non‐B genetic forms, with prevalence of CRF 19_cpx, CRF 20 BG and CRF 23 BG [1]. The overall prevalence of TDR increased in comparison with previous studies (19.2% versus 5.2%) [2]. The majority of mutations were seen within the group of nucleoside reverse transcriptase (NRTI) (8.5%) and non‐NRTI (9.7%). TDR was less common in the group of protease inhibitors (1.7%). The most common mutations were M184V and K103N for the NRTIs and NNRTIs, respectively. The prevalence of TDR in samples of the subtype G was significant (p = 0.005) in comparison with other genetic forms.ConclusionsThis study confirms an increase in the transmission of resistance‐associated mutations, which indicates the importance of maintaining a constant epidemiological surveillance of the TDR in newly diagnosed Cuban patients.
Clinical risk factors on survival among infected children born to HIV‐positive mothers
Authors: Chaimay B , Woradet S , Chantutanon S , Phuntara S , Suwanna K 
Published: November 2012

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate clinical risk factors on survival among infected children born to HIV‐positive mothers in the southern region of Thailand.MethodsData from routine prospective cohort studies from 1990–2010 were analyzed. In these studies, totally 1549 infected children born to HIV‐positive mothers were enrolled at birth and followed longitudinally. Information on demographic, clinical manifestation, HIV infection status factors was collected. Survival analysis was used to determine risk factors associated with mortality.ResultsThe main result found that one‐quarter of infected children died (434, 28.02%) during the follow‐up period. A total of 135,295 person‐months of follow up was available. The incident rate was 1.03 times per 100 person‐months (95% CI: 0.97 to 1.08). The median survival time among infected children born to HIV‐positive mothers from diagnosis to death was 87.34 months (95% CI: 87.32 to 87.36). Infected children born to HIV‐infected mothers were diagnosed to confirm as AIDS (88.44%) and symptomatic HIV positive (11.56%), respectively. Regarding the clinical risk factor on survival among infected children born to HIV‐positive mothers were found. Infected children born to HIV‐positive mothers were more likely to die, who infected with candidiasis (HR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.07 to 2.00), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (HR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.26 to 1.81) and Pneumocystis carinii (HR: 1.50, 95% CI: 1.27 to 1.76), those compared to infected children without clinical manifestation.ConclusionMortality among infected children born to HIV‐positive mothers contributed to high levels in the southern region of Thailand. Consequently, health service system related to prevent mother‐to‐child HIV transmission is needed to improve child survival by lowering HIV infection and mortality in children born to HIV‐positive mothers.
Trends in transmitted HIV drug resistance in Iran from 2010 to 2011
Authors: Jahanbakhsh Sefidi F , Hattori J , Ibe S , Monavari S , Memarnejadian A , Aghasadeghi M , Mostafavi E , Keyvani H , Sugiura W , Azadmanesh K 
Published: November 2012

BackgroundDrug‐resistant (DR) HIV emerges during antiretroviral treatment (ART), creating concern about widespread transmission of DR‐HIV as ART is expanded in resource‐limited countries. The aim of this study was to determine the predominant HIV‐1 subtypes and prevalence of drug‐resistance mutations among antiretroviral‐naïve patients in Iran.Design and methodsFor this HIV DR threshold surveillance study, blood samples were collected from 50 antiretroviral‐naïve HIV‐1‐infected patients. Antiretroviral‐resistant mutations were determined by sequencing HIV‐1 protease (PR), reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase (INT) regions. The HIV‐1 subtype of each sample was determined by sequencing the p17 and C2‐V5 regions of the gag and env genes, respectively.ResultsThe PR, RT and INT regions were successfully sequenced in 47 samples (94.0%). Phylogenetic analyses of these regions revealed that 45 (95.7%) cases were CRF35_AD. The remaining two cases were subtype B (2.1%) and CRF01_AE (2.1%). Consistent results were obtained also by Env and Gag sequences. Regarding prevalence of transmitted drug‐resistant viruses, two cases were found to harbor RT‐inhibitor mutations. In addition, nine amino acid differences compared to that of HXB2 were found in protease region as compared to that of HXB2, though none matched with the mutations shown in the WHO list for surveillance of transmitted mutations. No drug‐resistant mutations were found in the INT region.ConclusionOur study clarified that CRF35_AD is the major HIV‐1 subtype among Iranian HIV‐1‐infected patients. According to the WHO surveillance algorithm, the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance in Iran was estimated as moderate (5–15%).
High prevalence of CXCR4‐using viruses in vertically HIV‐1‐infected infants in Thailand
Authors: Samleerat T , Phiayura P , Hongjaisee S , Sirirungsi W , Ngo‐Giang‐Huong N , Barin F 
Published: November 2012

Purpose of the studyPrevious studies evaluating the frequency of CXCR4‐using strains in HIV‐1 vertically infected children restricted mainly to patients infected with subtype B or C strains. However, the coreceptor use by non‐B or non‐C subtypes remains little known, especially in infants. In this study, we determined the HIV‐1 coreceptor usage in infants with vertically‐acquired HIV‐1 infection in Thailand, where the predominant circulating HIV‐1 strains are CRF01_AE and the minority are subtype B.MethodsC2‐V3‐C3 gp120 was amplified in a triplicate nested‐PCR and sequenced. Coreceptor usage was predicted using the geno2pheno [coreceptor] algorithm and analyzed with a false positive rate (FRP) of 10%.Summary of resultsA total of 255 sequences were obtained from viral isolates of 85 HIV‐1‐infected infants (34 male and 51 female) participating in the National AIDS Program (NAP) of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) of Thailand. All children were received ARV prophylaxis according to the Thai national guidelines. The median age was 84 days (range: 33–308). Seventy‐four children (87.1%) were infected with CRF01_AE strain and 11 (12.9%) were infected with subtype B strain. Concordance in tropism prediction for the triplicates was observed in all samples. CXCR4 coreceptor‐using strains were found in 44.7% (38 of 85) and CCR5 coreceptor‐using strains were found in 55.3% (47 of 85). No significant difference in age (p=0.34) and clinical signs of AIDS (p=0.47) were observed between these populations. CCR5Delta32 and CCR5m303 mutation genotypes that may contribute to a selective pressure of viruses to alternatively use CXCR4 as a coreceptor were not found.ConclusionsA high prevalence of HIV‐1 CXCR4‐using variants was found among HIV‐1 vertically infected infants in Thailand, indicating that a direct vertical transmission of CXCR4‐using variants or a rapid switch from CCR5‐using to CXCR4‐using viruses shortly after transmission. These observations may have implications for clinical and therapeutic aspects, especially in the early stage of HIV‐1 infection in infants and may benefits for using of CCR5‐antagonists in this population.
Antiretroviral therapy in HIV‐infected patients with tuberculosis and chronic viral hepatitis
Authors: Kanestri V , Kravchenko A , Deulina M 
Published: November 2012

BackgroundThe purpose of the study was to determine the influence of an HIV infection with tuberculosis or chronic viral hepatitis on efficiency and safety during 48 weeks of HAART.MethodsHAART was received by 327 naïve HIV patients (pts). Clinical symptoms of an HIV infection had 273 pts (83.5%). The 1st group ‐ 59 HIV pts with tuberculosis, the 2nd group ‐ 217 HIV pts with chronic viral hepatitis, the 3rd group ‐ 51 HIV‐monoinfected pts. All pts were treated with 2 NRTI + EFV/PI. Evaluation of HAART efficacy based on the change of amount CD4 cells and RNA HIV level after 24 and 48 weeks therapy. Safety of HAART was evaluated on the frequency of adverse events and the change of laboratory abnormalities.ResultsAfter 24 weeks 61–72% of patients had undetectable RNA HIV level. CD4 cells increased in all groups. The percentage of pts with low CD4 cells (<200 cells/mm3) decreased from 40–55% to 26–30%. After 48 weeks HAART CD4 cells increased by 90–127 cells/mm3 (vs baseline) in all pts, however 17.4–26.7% pts saved low CD4 cells. Undetectable RNA HIV level registered in 75.6% pts with tuberculosis and 87.5–88.8% other pts. The proportion of pts who had adverse events was more among 1st and 2nd groups as compared as HIV‐monoinfected pts (33–35% and 19%, p < 0.05) after 24 weeks of therapy. After 48 weeks HAART the frequency of adverse events and laboratory abnormalities decreased to 20–28% in 1st and 2nd groups and to 2% in 3rd group. The most frequent we observed CNS disorders (grade 1) due to EFV and gastrointestinal symptoms due to PI or Combivir (CBV). In pts with accompanying diseases the frequent increase of ALT level was observed in 30–40%, in HIV‐monoinfected pts ‐ 4–10%. The frequency of interruption HAART was greatest among patients with tuberculosis ‐ 14.3% (vs 5% and 5.8% in patients with hepatitis and monoinfected patients). In general, the interrupt has been associated with the combination of side effects of antiretroviral and antituberculosis drugs.ConclusionsAvailability of chronic liver disease or tuberculosis almost have no influence on the HAART efficacy. However, essential increase the frequency of adverse events HAART that leads to change HAART regimen or interruption it.
Use of maraviroc in clinical practice: a multicenter observational study
Authors: Dentone C , Fraccaro P , Fenoglio D , Firpo E , Cenderello G , Piscopo R , Cassola G , Bartolacci V , Casalino Finocchio G , De Leo P , Guerra M , Orofino G , Mantia E , Zoppi M , Filaci G , Parodi A , De Maria A , Bozzano F , Marras F , Sormani M , Signori A , Bruzzone B , Nigro N , Ferrea G , Giacomini M , Viscoli C , Di Biagio A 
Published: November 2012

Purpose of the studyPromising research suggest that maraviroc (MVC) has favourable clinical outcome in HIV‐infected patients (pts). Aim of the study is to assess: durability, safety profile and immunovirological recovery in a large MVC‐based cohort.MethodsAll HIV pts treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) containing MVC for at least 6 months (all viruses CCR‐5 tropic analyzed by genotypic and phenotypic test) were recruited in an observational multicenter study. Eight Infectious Diseases Centers in Liguria and Piedmont (Italy) collected at baseline and every 3 months demographics, clinical and immunovirological data on a web‐based system (by MedinfoDist, University of Genoa). We used SPSS for Pearson Chi square test and for generalized estimating equation (GEE); in this model for longitudinal data and frequency analysis we considered altered: TCD4+≤350/mmc, HIVRNA>50 cp/ml, total cholesterol >200 mg/dl, triglycerides >160 mg/dl, transaminase>40 mg/dl, creatinine>1.3 mg/dl and we divided data in 5 time periods: baseline, 1–6, 9–12, 15–24 and 24–45 months.Summary of resultsWe enrolled 55 pts: 36 (65%) males, median age 49.6 years (yrs) (range [r] 18.2–76.6, IQR 44.5–53.3), 11 (20%) HCVRNA‐positive, 4 (7%) HBsAg‐positive, 1 both infection. Twenty‐four (44%) pts were classified as CDC C stage, median nadir TCD4+ was 219/mmc (r 11‐529, IQR 125–317), median duration of ART was 15.3 yrs (r 1.3–27.3, IQR 12–16.8), median duration of treatment with MVC was 23 months (r 6–47, IQR 14–36). At baseline 42 (76%) pts had HIVRNA >50 cp/ml, 11 (20%) HIVRNA≤50 cp/ml, 2 (4%) pts no data; on treatment at the last examination 53 pts (96%) had HIVRNA≤50 cp/ml, 2 pts still had HIVRNA>50 cp/ml (CCR5 tropic) and median TCD4+ count was 469/mmc (r 73–1802, IQR 302–592). One pt died and only 2 pts shifted to X4. Chi square test at 9–12 months showed p=0.0001 and the 80% of pts had TCD4+>350/mmc; at the same observation time 83.3% of pts had HIVRNA ≤50 cp/ml (p=0.0001). About cholesterol, triglycerides, transaminase and creatinine no significative differences were found and the median value showed no changes.ConclusionsIn our study a majority of pts treated with ART containing MVC achieved a count of TCD4 >350/mmc and HIVRNA undetectable within 9–12 months. This regimen is a safe, feasible option and in pts with a poor immunological stage, MVC offered a remarkable TCD4+ count gain with limited X4 strains onset.
Enhancing the Performance of Solid‐State Dye‐Sensitized Solar Cells Using a Mesoporous Interfacial Titania Layer with a Bragg Stack
Authors: Park Jung Tae , Prosser Jacob H. , Ahn Sung Hoon , Kim Sang Jin , Kim Jong Hak , Lee Daeyeon 
Published: November 2012

AbstractHigh efficiency dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are fabricated with a heterostructured photoanode that consists of a 500‐nm‐thick organized mesoporous TiO2 (om‐TiO2) interfacial layer (IF layer), a 7 or 10‐μm thick nanocrystalline TiO2 layer (NC layer), and a 2‐μm‐thick mesoporous Bragg stack (meso‐BS layer) as the bottom, middle and top layers, respectively. An om‐TiO2 layer with a high porosity, transmittance, and interconnectivity is prepared via a sol‐gel process, in which a poly(vinyl chloride)‐g‐poly(oxyethylene methacrylate) (PVC‐g‐POEM) graft copolymer is used as a structure‐directing agent. The meso‐BS layer with large pores is prepared via alternating deposition of om‐TiO2 and colloidal SiO2 (col‐SiO2) layers. Structure and optical properties (refractive index) of the om‐TiO2 and meso‐BS layers are studied and the morphology of the heterostructured photoanode is characterized. DSSCs fabricated with the heterostructured IF/NC/BS photoanode and combined with a polymerized ionic liquid (PIL) exhibit an energy conversion efficiencies of 6.6% at 100 mW/cm2, one of the highest reported for solid‐state DSSCs and much larger than cells prepared with only a IF/NC layer (6.0%) or a NC layer (4.5%). Improvements in energy conversion efficiency are attributed to the combination of improved light harvesting, decreased resistance at the electrode/electrolyte interface, and excellent electrolyte infiltration.
Heat transfer analysis in thermal entrance region under turbulent flow conditions
Authors: Hasan Basim O. 
Published: November 2012

ABSTRACTTurbulent heat transfer in the thermal entrance region of the pipe was studied by numerical solution of the energy equation using finite difference technique under different operating conditions. The turbulence effect was accounted for by introducing thermal eddy diffusivity term in the energy equation in both axial and radial directions. The axial and radial temperature profiles, the local heat transfer coefficient in the entrance and fully developed regions, and the entrance lengths were obtained and discussed. In addition, the role of thermal eddy diffusivity in the thermal entrance region and fully developed region was investigated. The finite difference numerical solution was also commented on. The theoretical results were compared with previous experimental works, and a reasonably good agreement was found. It was found that the temperature gradient in axial direction is very steep, close to the leading edge near the pipe's surface and becomes almost negligible after a distance equals few pipe diameters, depending on Reynolds number (Re), Prandtl number (Pr), and heat flux (q). The radial temperature profile was very steep, close to the pipe's surface near the leading edge and becomes almost constant at a very short distance from the pipe surface, depending on Re, Pr, and q. The entrance length (Lt) was found to be reached after 0.5–3.5 pipe diameters distance for the investigated ranges of Re, Pr, and q. Thermal eddy diffusivity plays an important role in axial and radial transport. Ignoring it, causes underestimation in the heat transfer coefficient and overestimation in the entrance length. © 2012 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiphysics simulations of cure residual stresses and springback in a thermoset resin using a viscoelastic model with cure‐temperature‐time superposition
Authors: Patham Bhaskar 
Published: November 2012

AbstractSimulations of evolution of cure‐induced stresses in a viscoelastic thermoset resin are presented. The phenomenology involves evolution of resin modulus with degree of cure and temperature, the development of stresses due to crosslink induced shrinkage, and the viscoelastic relaxation of these stresses. For the simulations, the detailed kinetic and chemo‐thermo‐rheological models for an epoxy‐amine thermoset resin system, described in Eom et al. (Polym. Eng. Sci. 2000, 40, 1281) are employed. The implementation of this model into the simulation is facilitated by multiphysics simulation strategies. The trends in simulated cure‐induced stresses obtained using the full‐fledged viscoelastic model are compared with those obtained from two other equivalent material models, one involving a constant elastic modulus, and the other involving a cure‐dependent (but time‐invariant) elastic modulus. It is observed that the viscoelastic model not only results in lower estimates of cure‐induced stresses, but also provides subtle details of the springback behavior. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Covalently crosslinked hyaluronic acid‐chitosan hydrogel containing dexamethasone as an injectable scaffold for soft tissue engineering
Authors: Sun Jinchen , Xiao Chao , Tan Huaping , Hu Xiaohong 
Published: November 2012

AbstractInjectable hybrid hydrogels were produced by mixing crosslinked aldehyde hyaluronic acid with dexamethasone grafted water soluble chitosan, without the addition of a chemical crosslinking agent. The gelation is attributed to the Schiff‐base reaction between amino and aldehyde groups of hydrogel precursors. In this article, the water soluble chitosan, N‐succinyl‐chitosan, grafted with dexamethasone via water soluble carbodiimide chemistry has been characterized. In vitro gelation time, morphologies, swelling, weight loss, and compressive modulus of hybrid hydrogels in phosphate buffered saline were studied. The dexamethasone grafted hydrogel showed a slightly lower gelation time, higher water uptake and faster weight loss compared to the hydrogel without dexamethasone. Human adipose‐derived stem cells were encapsulated into the dexamethasone grafted hydrogel in vitro to assess the biological performance and applicability of the hydrogel as cell carrier. Results demonstrated that the dexamethasone grafted hydrogel resulted in enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation as compared to the hydrogel without dexamethasone. These characteristics provide a potential opportunity for the dexamethasone grafted hybrid hydrogel as an injectable scaffold in adipose tissue engineering applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Utilization of fly ash acid residue as a reinforcing filler in ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber
Authors: Luo Feng , Wang Shujuan , Xue Bing , Jiang Yinshan , Wei Cundi 
Published: November 2012

AbstractFly ash acid residue (FAAR), a by‐product of circulating fluidized bed fly ash extracted Al2O3 by acid leaching method, has been posing problems because of its disposal. The major chemical components of FAAR are amorphous SiO2 (66.38 wt %) and unburned carbon (20 wt %). Attempts were made for its application as a reinforcing filler for ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber in this article. Surface modification for FAAR by silane coupling agent (Si69) was carried out. The effect of surface modification and unburned carbon existing in FAAR on the performance of FAAR was characterized by Fourier transform infrared and dispersibility test. The results indicated that surface modification could reduce the hydrophilicity of FAAR and unburned carbon also had positive effect on the dispersion of FAAR particles in kerosene. The effect of partial replacement of carbon black by FAAR on the curing behavior, mechanical properties, and morphological characteristics of EPDM rubber was also studied. It was proved that with partial replacement of carbon black by FAAR, the cure time (t90) and maximum torque (MH) of EPDM composites increased with the content of FAAR. The mechanical properties were significantly improved when 15 wt % of carbon black was replaced by FAAR. SEM micrographs confirmed that surface modification can improve the compatibility between FAAR and rubber matrix. Unburned carbon existing in FAAR was also beneficial to the interface bonding. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Synthesis and Pharmacological Screening of Novel meso‐Substituted Porphyrin Analogs
Authors: Fadda Ahmed A. , El‐Mekawy Rasha E. , El‐Shafei Ahmed I. , Freeman Harold 
Published: November 2012

AbstractA novel series of mesotetrakis[aryl]‐21H,23H‐porphyrin derivatives 2a–j was synthesized from the condensation of aldehyde derivatives 1a–j with pyrrole in the presence of p‐toluenesulfonic acid. The synthesized porphyrins were considered as a model to study the free radical‐induced damage of biological membranes and the protective effects of these porphyrins. It was found that these compounds effectively inhibit the free radical‐induced oxidative hemolysis of red blood cells. Compounds 2c and 2d which bear a sulfur atom, a nitro group, and a chlorine atom exhibited markedly higher antihemolysis activity than the other analogous. Compounds 2a, 2c, 2d, and 2j showed the highest protection activity against DNA damage induced by the bleomycin–iron complex. Compounds 2d, 2f, 2i, and 2j were proved to exhibit antioxidative activity.