Seaweed and soy foods are consumed daily in Japan, where breast cancer rates for postmenopausal women are significantly lower than in the West. Likely mechanisms include differences in diet, ...especially soy consumption, and estrogen metabolism. Fifteen healthy postmenopausal women participated in this double-blind trial of seaweed supplementation with soy challenge. Participants were randomized to 7 wk of either 5 g/d seaweed (Alaria) or placebo (maltodextrin). During wk 7, participants also consumed a daily soy protein isolate (2 mg isoflavones/kg body weight). After a 3-wk washout period, participants were crossed over to the alternate supplement schedule. There was an inverse correlation between seaweed dose (mg/kg body weight) and serum estradiol (E2) (seaweed-placebo = y = 0.28 x dose - 42.8; r = 0.70; P = 0.003), which was linear across the range of weights. Soy supplementation increased urinary daidzein, glycitein, genistein, and O-desmethylangolensin (P = 0.0001) and decreased matairesinol and enterolactone (P < 0.05). Soy and seaweed plus soy (SeaSoy) increased urinary excretion of 2-hydroxyestrogen (2-OHE) (P = 0.0001) and the ratio of 2-OHE:16α-hydroxyestrone (16αOHE₁) (P = 0.01). For the 5 equol excretors, soy increased urinary equol excretion (P = 0.0001); the combination of SeaSoy further increased equol excretion by 58% (P = 0.0001). Equol producers also had a 315% increase in 2:16 ratio (P = 0.001) with SeaSoy. Seaweed favorably alters estrogen and phytoestrogen metabolism and these changes likely include modulation of colonic bacteria.
The enhanced-sensitivity Trofile assay (Monogram Biosciences) was used to retest coreceptor use at both study screening and study entry for 118 treatment-experienced subjects in AIDS Clinical Trials ...Group A5211 who had CCR5-tropic (R5) virus detected by the original Trofile assay at study screening. Among 90 recipients of vicriviroc, a significantly (P<.001) greater mean reduction in HIV-1 RNA was observed in 72 subjects with R5 virus versus 15 subjects reclassified as having dual/mixed-tropic viruses at screening: −1.11 versus −0.09 log10 copies/mL at day 14 and −1.91 versus −0.57 log10 copies/mL at week 24, respectively. Results suggest that the enhanced-sensitivity assay is a better screening tool for determining patient eligibility for CCR5 antagonist therapy
BCCT.core (Breast Cancer Conservative Treatment. cosmetic results) is a software created for the objective evaluation of aesthetic result of breast cancer conservative treatment using a single ...patient frontal photography. The lack of volume information has been one criticism, as the use of 3D information might improve accuracy in aesthetic evaluation. In this study, we have evaluated the added value of 3D information to two methods of aesthetic evaluation: a panel of experts; and an augmented version of the computational model - BCCT.core3d.
Within the scope of EU Seventh Framework Programme Project PICTURE, 2D and 3D images from 106 patients from three clinical centres were evaluated by a panel of 17 experts and the BCCT.core. Agreement between all methods was calculated using the kappa (K) and weighted kappa (wK) statistics.
Subjective agreement between 2D and 3D individual evaluation was fair to moderate. The agreement between the expert classification and the BCCT.core software with both 2D and 3D features was also fair to moderate.
The inclusion of 3D images did not add significant information to the aesthetic evaluation either by the panel or the software. Evaluation of aesthetic outcome can be performed using of the BCCT.core software, with a single frontal image.
An investigation is currently underway to explore and control an outbreak of Bacillus anthracis among drug users (mainly injecting) in Scotland. Contaminated heroin or a contaminated cutting agent ...mixed with the heroin is considered to be the most likely source and vehicle of infection. Heroin users have been advised of the risk. The risk to the general public is regarded as very low.
Lipoatrophy is prevalent on thymidine nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (tNRTIs). A pilot trial showed that uridine (NucleomaxX) increased limb fat.
A5229 was a multicenter trial in which ...HIV-infected individuals with lipoatrophy on tNRTI regimens were randomized to NucleomaxX or placebo. Primary endpoint was change in limb fat from baseline to week 48. The study was powered to detect 400-g difference between arms at week 48. A stratified Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to assess between-arm differences.
The 165 participants were 91% men, 62% white; median age 49 years, CD4 cell count 506 cells/μl, and limb fat 3037 g; 81% had HIV-1 RNA 50 copies/ml or less; 76% were on zidovudine (ZDV). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Only 59% completed 48 weeks of treatment; however, only three participants (one on uridine) discontinued due to toxicity (diarrhea). In intent to treat, there was no difference for changes in limb fat between treatments at week 24 or week 48. On as-treated analysis, uridine resulted in an increase in %limb fat vs. placebo (3.4 vs. -0.8%, P = 0.01) at week 24 but not at week 48 (1.8 vs. 3.8%, P = 0.93). Similar results were seen when limiting the analysis to patients with at least 80% adherence. The results were not related to severity of lipoatrophy or type of tNRTI. No changes were found in facial anthropometrics, fasting lipids, trunk fat, CD4 cell count, or HIV RNA.
We found a modest transient improvement in limb fat after 24 weeks of uridine. The lack of sustained efficacy at week 48 was not due to changes in adherence or reduction in sample size. Uridine was well tolerated and did not impair virologic control.
There is a search for plant based alternatives to synthetic chemicals to control pests in crop plants were started from any years back. In this study, the efficacy of common ferns to control the ...whitefly, Aleurodicus rugioperculatus Martin (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in coconut plantation was investigated. The whiteflies are prevalent throughout the year in the coconut fields and cause severe losses to the farmers. Ferns such as Adiantum caudatum, Hemionitis opposita, Pteris biaurita, Thelypteris meeboldii and Nephrolepis cordifoliawere evaluated for their efficacy in the control of the whitefly, A. rugioperculatus. The aqueous extracts of the ferns were screened at different concentrations viz., 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0% against A. rugioperculatus under laboratory conditions. Extracts from H. opposita and Thelypteris meeboldii showed the maximum mortality rate of 87% followed by Nephrolepis cordifolia (86%), Adiantum caudatum (83%) and Pteris biaurita (77%) at 5% concentration after 96 hours of treatment. The phytochemical screening of the extracts showed a qualitatively increased level of saponins in H. opposita and T. meeboldii. Reduced chlorophyll, carbohydrate and amino acid content were observed in the whitefly's infested leaves and increased protein content was observed in the infested leaves. Based on the study, the aqueous extracts of H. opposita and T. meeboldii can be recommended for the whitefly control in coconut plantations
The impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on hepatitis C virus (HCV) is unknown. We analysed changes in HCV RNA and the frequency of hepatotoxicity in co-infected patient enrolling ...in AIDS Clinical Trials Group trials, and determined whether HCV impairs successful immune reconstitution in these populations.
In a prospective analysis of co-infected patients completing at least 16 weeks of HAART in four trials, and co-infected patients with available stored plasma from two other completed HAART trials, HCV RNA was measured at baseline and to week 48. A retrospective analysis of immune recovery in 40 HCV-RNA-positive and 129 HCV-RNA-negative patients from a single trial was performed.
Prospective analysis: 60 patients completed at least 16 weeks of HAART. The mean HCV-RNA level increased 0.35 log IU/ml at week 16 and 0.43 log IU/ml at week 48. When stratified by baseline CD4 cell count, subjects' HCV-RNA levels increased 0.43 and 0.59 log IU/ml at weeks 16 and 48 for entry CD4 cell counts < 350 cells/mm, but only 0.26 and 0.1 log IU/ml at weeks 16 and 48 for entry CD4 cell counts > 350 cells/mm. Severe alanine aminotransferase elevations occurred in only 3.3%. Retrospective analysis: HCV co-infection had no effect on the overall mean CD4 cell increase at weeks 16 or 48 compared with uninfected controls.
In HCV-co-infected patients undergoing HAART, immune recovery is associated with a persistent increase in HCV RNA, especially with baseline CD4 cell counts < 350 cells/mm. HCV co-infection did not antagonize the CD4 cell response to HAART.
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is an anabolic hormone important for growth and development. However, high-circulating serum concentrations in adults are associated with increased risk of ...postmenopausal breast cancer. Nutritional status and specific foods influence serum IGF-1 concentrations. Breast cancer incidence is typically low in Asian countries where soy is commonly consumed. Paradoxically, soy supplement trials in American women have reported significant increases in IGF-1. Seaweed also is consumed regularly in Asian countries where breast cancer risk is low. We investigated the possibility that seaweed could modify soy-associated increases in IGF-1 in American women. Thirty healthy postmenopausal women (mean age 58 yr) participated in this 14-wk double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial. Participants consumed 5 g/day placebo or seaweed (Alaria esculenta) in capsules for 7 wk. During the 7th wk, a high-soy protein isolate powder was added (2 mg/kg body weight aglycone equivalent isoflavones). Overnight fasting blood samples were collected after each intervention period. Soy significantly increased serum IGF-1 concentrations compared to the placebo (21.2 nmol/L for soy vs. 16.9 nmol/L for placebo; P = 0.0001). The combination of seaweed and soy significantly reduced this increase by about 40% (21.2 nmol/L for soy alone vs. 19.4 nmol/L; P = 0.01). Concurrent seaweed and soy consumption may be important in modifying the effect of soy on IGF-1 serum concentrations.
An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred in the greater Toronto area between February and June 2003. We describe the clinical, laboratory, and epidemiologic features of ...children who were admitted to the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, with a presumptive diagnosis of suspect or probable SARS.
A prospective investigational study protocol was established for the management of children with a presumptive diagnosis of suspect or probable SARS. All were ultimately classified as having probable SARS, suspect SARS, or another cause on the basis of their epidemiologic exposure, clinical and radiologic features, and results of microbiologic investigations.
Twenty-five children were included; 10 were classified as probable SARS and 5 were classified as suspect SARS, and in 10 another cause was identified. The exposure consisted of direct contact with at least 1 adult probable SARS case in 11 children, travel from a World Health Organization-designated affected area in Asia in 9 children, and presence in a Toronto area hospital in which secondary SARS spread had occurred in 5 children. The predominant clinical manifestations of probable cases were fever, cough, and rhinorrhea. With the exception of 1 teenager, none of the children developed respiratory distress or an oxygen requirement, and all made full recoveries. Mild focal alveolar infiltrates were the predominant chest radiograph abnormality. Lymphopenia; neutropenia; thrombocytopenia; and elevated alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatine kinase were present in some cases. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were negative for the SARS-associated coronavirus by an in-house reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in all 25 children.
Our results indicate that SARS is a relatively mild and nonspecific respiratory illness in previously healthy young children. The presence of fever in conjunction with a SARS exposure history should prompt one to consider SARS as a possible diagnosis in children irrespective of the presence or absence of respiratory symptoms. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis of nasopharyngeal specimens seems to be of little utility for the diagnosis of SARS during the early symptomatic phase of this illness in young children.
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