HIV/AIDS and its treatment often alter body composition and result in poorer physical functioning. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a moderate-intensity exercise program on body ...composition and the hormones and cytokines associated with adverse health outcomes. HIV-infected males (N=111) were randomized to an exercise group (EX) who completed 6 weeks of moderate-intensity exercise training, or to a nonintervention control group (CON). In pre- and postintervention, body composition was estimated via DXA, peak strength was assessed, and resting blood samples were obtained. There was a decrease in salivary cortisol at wake (P=0.025) in the EX and a trend (P=0.07) for a decrease 1 hour after waking. The EX had a significant increase in lean tissue mass (LTM) (P<0.001) following the intervention. Those in the EX below median body fat (20%) increased LTM (P=0.014) only, while those above 20% decreased fat mass (P=0.02), total fat (N=0.009), and trunk fat (P=0.001), while also increasing LTM (P=0.027). Peak strength increased between 14% and 28% on all exercises in the EX group. These data indicate that 6 weeks of moderate-intensity exercise training can decrease salivary cortisol levels, improve physical performance, and improve body composition in HIV-infected men.
Physical inactivity is a major public health problem that has been associated with the increased risk of several diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. ...At least 60% of the world’s population currently fails to meet physical activity recommendations. The purpose of the Physically Ready for Invigorating Movement Everyday (PRIME) study was to examine and compare the effects that 24 months of two lifestyle physical activity interventions, PRIME G (lifestyle group) and PRIME C (lifestyle correspondence), and a standard gymnasium-based intervention (PRIME SC) would have on physical activity levels in previously sedentary individuals. In comparing the changes in physical activity within each of the three intervention groups, PRIME G, C, and SC increased their physical activity levels from baseline to 260, 246, and 205 minutes per week after 6 months and to 277, 277, and 270 minutes per week after 24 months, respectively (all p<.0001). PRIME SC also had a significant increase from month 6 to month 24 of 65 minutes per week (p=.0117). The only significant difference observed between the groups was the change between PRIME G and PRIME SC at month 6 (p=.0388). The only differences seen when comparing the changes in anthropometrics were detected between the intervention groups. PRIME C (-2.47cm) had a significant decrease in waist circumference (WC) in comparison to PRIME G (+0.3cm) and SC (-0.89cm) at month 6 (p=.0243 and p=.0401, respectively) and PRIME C (91.09cm) also had a significant difference in WC compared to PRIME SC (94.86cm) at month 24 (p=.0290). We also compared the changes in physical activity to the changes in each of the anthropometric variables from baseline to month 6 and from month 6 to month 24. We saw a negative correlation between changes in physical activity and changes in body mass index (BMI) and body weight (WT) from baseline to month 6 (p=.0394 and p=.0211, respectively). These data indicate that both lifestyle physical activity interventions based on behavioral modification and gym-based interventions can increase physical activity levels and results in beneficial effects in BMI, WC, and WT. Finally, these results suggest that implementing a lifestyle physical activity intervention may be the best strategy for improving both physical activity levels.
The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has both extended life expectancy and reduced morbidity in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). These changes have resulted in the ...emergence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and associated risk factors as a threat to the health of PLWHA. The major components of CVD risk associated with HIV infection include HIV, HAART, nonmodifiable factors such as genetics or environment, and modifiable risk factors such as inactivity and poor diet. Physical activity has been shown to be beneficial in reducing the risk of CVD through its effect on numerous modifiable risk factors, including functional aerobic impairment, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance, obesity, and atherosclerotic inflammation. A growing body of evidence indicates that exercise has similar benefits for these modifiable CVD risk factors that are exacerbated in PLWHA.
Complex humanitarian emergencies lack a mechanism to coordinate, communicate, assess, and evaluate response and outcome for the major participants (United Nations, Intenational Committee of the Red ...Cross, non-governmental organizations and military forces). Success in these emergencies will depend on the ability to accomplish agreed upon measures of effectiveness (MOEs). A recent civil-military humanitarian exercise demonstrated the ability of participants to develop consensus-driven MOEs. These MOEs combined security measures utilized by the military with humanitarian indicators recognized by relief organizations. Measures of effectiveness have the potential to be a unifying disaster management tool and a partial solution to the communication and coordination problems inherent in these complex emergencies.
Cordylobia anthropophaga causing erythematous cutaneous myiasis in child, brief case report, treatment technique described, diagnostically important to military medical personnel: Nairobi, Kenya ...(United States military dependent)
Immune-based therapy for metastatic breast cancer has had limited success, particularly in molecular subtypes with low somatic mutations rates. Strategies to augment T-cell infiltration of tumors ...include vaccines targeting established oncogenic drivers such as the genomic amplification of HER2. We constructed a vaccine based on a novel alphaviral vector encoding a portion of HER2 (VRP-HER2).
In preclinical studies, mice were immunized with VRP-HER2 before or after implantation of hHER2
tumor cells and HER2-specific immune responses and antitumor function were evaluated. We tested VRP-HER2 in a phase I clinical trial where subjects with advanced HER2-overexpressing malignancies in cohort 1 received VRP-HER2 every 2 weeks for a total of 3 doses. In cohort 2, subjects received the same schedule concurrently with a HER2-targeted therapy.
Vaccination in preclinical models with VRP-HER2 induced HER2-specific T cells and antibodies while inhibiting tumor growth. VRP-HER2 was well tolerated in patients and vaccination induced HER2-specific T cells and antibodies. Although a phase I study, there was 1 partial response and 2 patients with continued stable disease. Median OS was 50.2 months in cohort 1 (
= 4) and 32.7 months in cohort 2 (
= 18). Perforin expression by memory CD8 T cells post-vaccination significantly correlated with improved PFS.
VRP-HER2 increased HER2-specific memory CD8 T cells and had antitumor effects in preclinical and clinical studies. The expansion of HER2-specific memory CD8 T cells in vaccinated patients was significantly correlated with increased PFS. Subsequent studies will seek to enhance T-cell activity by combining with anti-PD-1.
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