No abstract

A longitudinal study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals followed-up in 13 centres was performed to assess the influence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) on the clinical and immunological evolution of HIV-infected patients. Eight-hundred and twelve HIV-infected patients with known HIV acquisition date, 89 co-infected with HCV, were included in the cohort. Clinical progression was defined as: 30% decrease of Karnofsky's index; and/or 20% body weight loss; and/or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining illness; and/or death (except by accident, suicide, or overdose). Immunological progression was defined as a decrease of initial CD4 count to below 200 mm(-3). If immunological progression was not statistically different between groups (P=0.25), clinical progression was significantly faster in HCV-HIV co-infected patients in univariate (P=0.02) and multivariable survival analysis (hazard ratio=1.63, P=0.03). This argues for active management of hepatitis C chronic infection among HCV-HIV co-infected patients.

Although there are benefits to a racially and culturally diverse teaching workforce, the music teaching profession remains predominantly White. Using an “opportunity gap” framework, this study aimed to discover what, if any, barriers to access to applying to university schools of music—a first step in becoming music teachers—exist according to high school students of color and their music teachers. Employing a collective case study methodology, the researchers observed classes, interviewed music teachers, and conducted focus groups in two high schools in a city in the northeast United States. Findings suggest that the teachers and students valued high standards, and they found local culture and community engagement to be an important aspect of their music education. However, ultimately students did not want to audition or found the process difficult for the following reasons: the audition process did not align with students’ values of community music making; there is an assumption that auditioning students have participated in prerequisite activities, including private instruction and honors ensembles; students did not possess knowledge of the unspoken rules of audition procedures; and participants found the university requirements, including nonmusic standards and transitioning to college, to be difficult. Based on these findings, changes to the audition and recruitment processes, including community engagement, are proposed.

Chimerism after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was investigated by flow cytometry analysis of red blood cells (RBCs) and of reticulocytes using a series of selected monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies directed against ABO, Rhesus, Kell, Duffy or MNSs antigens. The method allows the routine detection of less than 0.1% of positive cells in artificial mixed field populations. Blood samples from 135 patients undergoing BMT were investigated around days 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 180, and then every 6 months after transplantation. Characteristic patterns showing expression of donor red blood cell antigens (expansion markers) and concomitant decrease of recipient specific antigens (depletion markers) within days 16-20 were observed for 125 successfully engrafted patients. Distinct patterns were obtained in 10 patients. A delay in engraftment was evidenced in four patients by the absence of chimerism during the first 6 months without any sign of relapse. Re-appearance of recipient RBCs and reticulocytes was observed in five patients; it was consistent with relapse that was later confirmed by clinical, haematological and cytogenetic studies. Finally, a stable and partial chimerism with 20% of RBCs expressing a marker from the recipient was observed in one patient without any sign of relapse. The reported investigation demonstrated that flow cytometry of RBCs and reticulocytes represents a powerful method to efficiently monitor bone marrow transplanted patients on a long-term basis.

Increasing doses of adenosine were given by rapid intravenous bolus to seven patients with spontaneous supraventricular tachycardia. Adenosine restored sinus rhythm in 10 of 14 episodes of narrow complex tachycardia. In those patients in whom adenosine produced only transient ventricular slowing the underlying rhythm was atrial flutter. Transient dyspnoea occurred in all patients. In two patients taking dipyridamole the mean dose of adenosine which produced an electrophysiologic effect (restoration of sinus rhythm or ventricular slowing to under 100 beats min‐1) was 1.0 +/‐ 0.52 mg, whereas in other patients the mean dose was 8.8 +/‐ 2.6 mg, suggesting potentiation of the action of adenosine by dipyridamole.