The cervicovaginal HIV-1 RNA level was positively correlated with plasma HIV-1 RNA and negatively with the CD4 cell count. The use of HAART was significantly associated with below-detectable levels of HIV-1 RNA in both plasma and the genital tract. HIV-1 RNA suppression in the genital tract may occur rapidly after initiating therapy.

Among patients undergoing cardiac surgery after thoracic radiation, radiation exposure is heterogeneous, and therefore these patients cannot be managed and assessed as a single uniform cohort. Extensively irradiated patients are more likely to develop radiation heart disease, which increases perioperative morbidity and decreases short- and long-term survival.

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Endothelial barrier dysfunction is an important contributor to the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Even though approaches that target the prevention and repair of endothelial barrier dysfunction are clearly needed, our understanding of the molecular regulation of pulmonary microvascular endothelial permeability remains incomplete. Cultured pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells represent an attractive paradigm for the study of barrier function. Here, we describe a method for the harvest, identification and culture of human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVEC). HLMVEC thus obtained, grow as a monolayer, exhibit contact inhibition and have the typical cobblestone appearance. They express endothelial proteins, such as von Willebrand Factor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase and take up acetylated LDL. Furthermore, HLMVEC respond predictably and with superior sensitivity to the barrier disruptive effects of Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial products, thrombin, vascular endothelial growth factor and microtubule disrupting agents. These HLMVEC present an in-house-derived alternative to commercially available human cells for the study of mechanisms contributing to ALI and ARDS.

This clinical research study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a new herbal product, EstroG-100, containing a mixture of standardized extracts of Cynanchum wilfordii, Phlomis umbrosa and Angelica gigas, on menopausal symptoms. This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed for 12 weeks with 64 pre-, peri- and postmenopausal White Hispanic, White non-Hispanic and African American women who were randomly allocated to either the EstroG-100 group (n = 31) or the placebo group (n =  33). Primary end-points were the mean change in scores of the Kupperman menopause index (KMI) that evaluates 11 symptoms, and the mean change in scores of vaginal dryness. The mean KMI score was significantly reduced in the EstroG-100 group from 29.5 ± 7.4 at baseline to 11.3 ± 5.8 (p < 0.01) compared with change of the placebo group (29.2 ± 6.6 at baseline vs 23.7 ± 7.7 at week 12). The constituting symptoms of vasomotor, paresthesia, insomnia, nervousness, melancholia, vertigo, fatigue and rheumatic pain were significantly improved in the EstroG-100 group in comparison with the placebo group (p < 0.05). Statistically significant improvement in vaginal dryness in the EstroG-100 group was also observed compared with that of the placebo group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, EstroG-100 significantly improved the menopausal symptoms of pre-, peri- and post-menopausal women without weight gain or any serious side effects.

The advent of permanent hemodialysis access has made possible the use of chronic hemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease. Although autogenous arteriovenous fistulae remain the conduit of choice, their construction is not always feasible. Prosthetic grafts made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) are typically the second-line choice for hemoaccess. However, these grafts suffer from decreased rates of patency and an increased number of complications. Although thrombosis is the most common complication, infection of PTFE grafts accounts for a significant number of hospitalizations and uses a large amount of healthcare resources. In this monograph, we address infectious complications of PTFE hemoaccess grafts and present a review of the recent literature.

OBS may increase the diagnostic specificity of conventional MRI when differentiating meningioma from other dural-based pathologies, while the addition of FDG-PET differentiates benign from malignant lesions.