IntroductionResearch in India has extensively examined the factors associated with non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) with limited focus on examining the relationship between adherence to ART regimen and survival status of HIV infected patients. This study examines the effect of optimal adherence to ART on survival status of HIV infected patients attending ART centers in Jharkhand, India.Materials and MethodsData from a cohort of 239 HIV infected individuals who were initiated ART in 2007 were compiled from medical records retrospectively for 36 months. Socio-demographic characteristics, CD4 T cell count, presence of opportunistic infections at the time of ART initiation and ART regimen intake and survival status was collected periodically. Optimal adherence was assessed using pill count methods; patients who took <95% of the specified regimens were identified as non-adherent. Cox-proportional hazard model was used to determine the relative hazards of mortality.ResultsMore than three-fourths of the patients were male, on an average 34 year old and median CD4 T cell count was 118 cells/cmm at the time of ART registration. About 57% of the patients registered for ART were found to be adherent to ART. A total of 104 patients died in 358.5 patient-years of observation resulting in a mortality rate of 29 per 100 patient-years (95% confidence interval (CI): 23.9–35.2) and median survival time of 6.5 months (CI: 2.7–10.9). The mortality rate was higher among patients who were non-adherent to ART (64.5, CI: 50.5–82.4) than who were adherent (15.4, CI: 11.3–21.0). The risk of mortality was fourfold higher among individuals who were non-adherent to ART than who were adherent (Adjusted hazard ratio: 3.9, CI: 2.6–6.0).ConclusionAdherence to ART is associated with a higher chance of survival of HIV infected patients, ascertaining the need for interventions to improve the ART adherence and early initiation of ART.

T-cell antigens [CD5,CD1a,CD8] define early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ETP-ALL). To understand immature T-ALL of which ETP-ALL is part, we used these antigens to subcategorize non-ETP T-ALL for examining expression of myeloid/stem cell antigens (M/S) and clinical features. Using CD5 (+/-) to start categorization, we studied 69 routinely immunophenotyped patients with T-ALL. CD5(-) was a homogenous (CD8,CD1a)(-) M/S(+) ETP-ALL group (n = 9). CD5(+) cases were (CD8,CD1a)(-) pre-T-ALL (n = 22) or (CD8,CD1a)(+) (n = 38) thymic/cortical T-ALL; M/S(+) 20/22 (90.91%) in former and 22/38 (57.89%) in latter (P = 0.007). ETP- and pre-T-ALL together (CD1a(-) ,CD5(-/+) immature T-ALL group) were nearly always M/S(+) (29/31; 93.55%). In multivariate analysis, only ETP-ALL predicted poor overall survival (P = 0.02). We conclude (i) CD5 negativity in T-ALL almost always means ETP-ALL. CD1a and CD8 negativity, as much as CD5, marks immaturity in T-ALL, and the CD5(+/-) /CD1a(-) /CD8(-) immature T-ALL group needs further study to understand the biology of the T-ALL-myeloid interface. (ii) ETP-ALL patients may be pre-T-ALL if CD2(+) ; CD2(+) , conversely, CD5(-) /CD1a(-) /CD8(-) pre-T ALL patients are ETP-ALL. (iii) Immunophenotypic workup of T-ALL must not omit CD1a, CD5, CD8 and CD2, and positivity of antigens should preferably be defined as recommended for ETP-ALL, so that this entity can be better evaluated in future studies of immature T-ALL, a group to which ETP-ALL belongs. (iv) ETP-ALL has poor prognosis.

The grafting of poly(acrylonitri1e) onto guar gum in aqueous medium initiated by the potassium presulfate/ascorbic acid redox system has been studied gravimetrically at the temperature of 35 + 0.2"C in the presence of atmospheric oxygen. A plausible mechanism of graft copolymerization has been suggested on the basis of experimental results. The effect of grafting on the water and saline retention capacities has been studied and compared with the values obtained for ungrafted guar gum.

Meditation treatment was associated with significant improvements in quality of life, anxiety reduction, and blood pressure control.

Background: Glycemic control remains the major therapeutic objective for prevention of target organ damage and other complications arising from diabetes. In addition, elucidation of various determinants of poor glycemic control may contribute to a clearer understanding of modifiable antecedents of diabetes-related complications and help to achieve improved diabetic control and patient outcomes.Method: Two hundred twenty patients of Type II diabetes mellitus were taken after Informed consent. Patients who fulfill Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria were participated for the study. A Case record form was administered to these patients, which included details regarding the socio-demographic, anthropometric, metabolic, disease profile and diabetes self-care practices of the Type II diabetic patients.