85 research outputs found
Pathogenesis of the tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome : role of mycobacterial load and vitamin D status?
No full textResponse to "Case of yellow fever vaccine-associated viscerotropic disease with prolonged viremia, robust adaptive immune responses, and polymorphisms in CCR5 and RANTES genes" [letter]
No full textThe immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome and antiretroviral therapy
No full textAbstract: Although generally mild, severe immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome may complicate antiretroviral therapy, and it may be difficult to differentiate from treatment failure or toxicity. This article looks at diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of severe infectious manifestations of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome
Personal Productivity: The Eternal Quest
Get PDFabstract: As libraries are increasingly asked to do more with less, we all have more things to do and less time to do them. Sometimes, the tools we have to help -like email and smartphones - actually make things worse! The trick is connecting technology and techniques that can best help us to manage our time and productivity effectively.
In this presentation, Anali will lead an intrepid party on the eternal quest of improving personal productivity. Together, we’ll fight the email dragon, vanquish the time stealing goblins, and explore an arsenal of tools that help us get things done. By sharing ideas and best practices, we can each make connections to the techniques and tools will help us succeed on our quest!Presented at the Arizona Library Association Annual Conference, November 19, 2015, in Flagstaff, AZ
Global Education, Global Challenges: Licensing for the New American University
Get PDFThis is the author's final post-print. The version of record can be found at http://www.against-the-grain.com/2017/09/v29-4-global-education-global-challenges-licensing-for-the-new-american-university/
Building copyright confidence in instructional designers
Get PDFabstract: This case study describes the copyright challenges faced by instructional designers at Arizona State Universities, and the strategies implemented by an embedded scholarly communication librarian to address them.See published version at https://www.alastore.ala.org/content/coaching-copyright
Ustavnopravna vprašanja kontrole cen naftnih derivatov
Get PDFDue to noticeable price increases and corresponding volatility of oil and gas in recent years, public and political interest as concerns a stable provision of propellants augmented substantially. Such price fluctuations affect not only national economies but also actions of consumers. Relevant stakeholders on the market freely determine retail price of petroleum products in many countries. Nevertheless, it is quite common that the public and, consequently, politicians reject an option for dynamic price changes. This is often in stark contrast with a general policy and 92 ANALI PAZU HD, let. 2, 2/2016, 91‒111 Saša Zagorc guidelines of national competition regulators that an authoritative intervention in process of price determination is not necessary. Slovenia belonged for a long time to the group of countries with price control of petroleum products for end users despite the principled stance on free enterprise and free economic initiative. In this regard, author would like to establish an appropriate methodological approach, in line with the case law of the ECrtHR and the Constitutional Court, for a review of constitutionality and legality of executive measures. Author also assessed if the Government fully respected the principles of legality, foreseeability and strict proportionality of executive measures for price control of petroleum products.Zaradi relativno opaznega dviga in nihanja cen nafte in plina v zadnjih letih je povečan tudi interes javnosti in politike do preskrbe s pogonskimi gorivi, saj vpliva tako na ravnanje potrošnikov kot na delovanje nacionalnih gospodarstev. V vrsti držav je cena pogonskih goriv za končne uporabnike prepuščena ravnanju deležnikov na trgu. Vendar se zdi, da tudi v državah, kjer spremembe cen niso povezane s konkurenčnostjo, širša javnost in s tem politika na splošno zavračata spremenljivost cen pogonskih goriv, kar je v nasprotju s splošno politiko regulatorjev konkurence, da avtoritativno vmešavanje v postopke določanja cen v večini primerov ni potrebno. Slovenija je ena tistih držav, ki je uveljavila sistem kontrole cen pogonskih goriv navkljub načelni naklonjenosti svobodni gospodarski pobudi. Pri tem avtorja zanima, kakšen je, glede na veljavno zakonodajo in sodno prakso Evropskega sodišča za človekove pravice in Ustavnega sodišča Republike Slovenije, pravilen metodološki pristop k ocenjevanju ustavnosti in zakonitosti vladnih predpisov o oblikovanju cen naftnih derivatov. Avtor namerava proučiti tudi, ali so izvršilni organi pri sprejemanju predpisov zadostili načelu zakonitosti in načelu predvidljivosti predpisov ter izpolnili dolžnost preveritve, če obstajajo milejši ukrepi, kot so trenutno v veljavi v zvezi s cenami naftnih derivatov. 
Is vitamin D deficiency involved in the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome?
No full textAbstract Background About 20–30% of persons with HIV infection, especially those living in countries with limited resources, experience an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) after starting antiretroviral treatment. The active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, is a key player in the clearance of pathogens and influences the level of inflammation and macrophage activation. Presentation of the hypothesis We hypothesize that low availability of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, either due to vitamin D deficiency or due to polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor or in its activating/inactivating enzymes, contributes to the appearance of IRIS. Furthermore, drug interactions with the enzymatic pathways of vitamin D could favour the development of IRIS. Testing the hypothesis Our hypothesis could be explored by a case-control study to assess the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral treatment who develop and do not develop IRIS. Implications of the hypothesis If the role of vitamin D in IRIS is confirmed, we would be able to screen patients at risk for IRIS by screening for vitamin D deficiency. After confirmation by means of a clinical trial, vitamin D supplementation could be a cheap and safe way to reduce the incidence of IRIS.</p
Coping with TB immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome
No full textThe TB immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is a relatively frequent complication in HIV–TB-coinfected patients after they start highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). There are two forms of TB IRIS: the ‘paradoxical’ type (clinical worsening of a patient on TB treatment) and the ‘unmasking’ type (undiagnosed TB becoming apparent after starting HAART). Their pathogeneses are not fully understood, although, as the name suggests, IRIS following initiation of HAART is accompanied by an increase in immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The diagnosis of TB IRIS is mainly clinical; so far there are no laboratory tests able to diagnose or predict TB IRIS. Risk factors for TB IRIS include a low CD4+ lymphocyte count, disseminated TB infection at HAART initiation and a short interval between TB treatment and HAART initiation. TB IRIS complicates the treatment and care for HIV–TB-coinfected patients. In this paper, we discuss some aspects of pathogenesis and options for the treatment and prevention of TB IRIS
Corticosteroid therapy, vitamin D status, and inflammatory cytokine profile in the HIV-tuberculosis immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome
No full textAbstract: Background. Tuberculosis-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with hypercytokinemia. As adjunctive corticosteroid therapy and vitamin D have immunomodulatory properties, we investigated the relationship between cytokine/chemokine profiles, corticosteroid use, and vitamin D deficiency in TB-IRIS patients. Methods. Plasma from 39 TB-IRIS and 42 non-IRIS patients was collected during a prospective study of HIV-associated tuberculosis patients starting ART. In total, 26% of patients received corticosteroid (CTC) therapy pre-ART for severe tuberculosis. Concentrations of total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) and 14 cytokines/chemokines were determined at ART initiation and 2 weeks later. Results. Patients prescribed concurrent CTC had lower interferon gamma (IFN-gamma), IP-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, and IL-18 pre-ART (P <= .02). TB-IRIS presented at 12 days (median) of ART, irrespective of CTC use. In patients who developed TB-IRIS (not on CTC) IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p40, IL-18, IP-10, and TNF increased during 2 weeks (P <= .04) of ART. Vitamin D deficiency (total 25(OH) D <75 nmol/L) was highly prevalent (89%) at baseline. Although vitamin D deficiency at either baseline or 2 weeks was not associated with TB-IRIS, in those not on CTC the median 25(OH) D decreased during 2 weeks (P = .004) of ART. Severe vitamin D deficiency (total 25(OH) D <25 nmol/L) was associated with higher baseline TNF, IL-6, and IL-8 irrespective of IRIS status. Conclusions. CTC modifies the inflammatory profile of those who develop TB-IRIS. The association between severe vitamin D deficiency and elevated proinflammatory cytokines support a study of vitamin D supplementation in HIV-TB co-infected patients starting ART
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