ColEval: Honeybee COLony Structure EVALuation for Field Surveys.

Methods for the evaluation and comparison of the structure of numerous honeybee colonies are needed for the development of applied and fundamental field research, as well as to evaluate how the structure and activity of honeybee colonies evolve over time. ColEval complements existing methods, as it uses an online reference image bank for (human) learning and training purposes. ColEval is based on the evaluation of the surface area percentage occupied by different components of a honeybee colony: adult worker bees, open and capped brood, honey, nectar, and pollen. This method is an essential tool for the description of the evolution in the size of honeybee colonies. The procedure makes allowances for tendencies between different observers and uses them to calculate accurate measurements of honeybee colony evaluation. ColEval thus allows for a posteriori comparison of under- or over-evaluation made by different observers working on the same project; it is thus possible to eliminate observer bias in the measurements and to conduct large surveys.

Incidence, medical and socio-behavioural predictors of psychiatric events in an 11-year follow-up of HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: Psychiatric disorders are relatively common among HIV-infected patients. However, there are few studies about their potential risk factors. This analysis aimed to measure the incidence of severe psychiatric events (PE) among patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) of the French APROCO-COPILOTE (ANRS CO8) cohort, and to identify the medical and socio-behavioural correlates of their first episode of depression, suicide or suicide attempt (D/S/SA). METHODS: APROCO-COPILOTE is a cohort of patients started on a protease inhibitor regimen between 1997 and 1999, with prospective medical standardized records and self-administered questionnaires collecting socio-demographic and socio-behavioural data. This analysis included all 11-year follow-up visits for 1,095 patients having completed baseline self-administered questionnaires. A proportional hazard Cox model was used to identify the correlates of a first D/S/SA event. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of severe PE remained low: 50 patients experienced 67 events (incidence rate [95% CI] =1.04 [0.82, 1.32] per 100 person-years). Depression (n=16), suicides (n=5) and suicide attempts (n=14) were the most frequently diagnosed PE (0.54 [0.39, 0.76] per 100 person-years) among 25 patients. Multivariate results showed that unemployment, unstable housing, detectable viral load and smoking more than 20 cigarettes/day were independently associated with D/S/SA. CONCLUSIONS: Although the incidence of severe PE remained relatively low among the patients of APROCO-COPILOTE cohort, this study's results underline a clinically important problem in HIV-infected patients receiving cART. Furthermore, our findings not only emphasize the importance of comprehensive care, especially for socially vulnerable patients, but may also help future studies designed to assess the effectiveness of interventions in reducing the risk of PE during cART.

Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic evidence for the interaction of HAlOH with water molecules.

The complex HAlOH:(H(2)O) has been detected by matrix-isolation IR spectroscopy. This complex was speculated to be the species responsible for the chemiluminescent glow associated with the explosion of trimethyl aluminum or aluminum grenades in the upper atomosphere. Theoretical studies suggest that HAlOH:(H(2)O)(n) is a critical precursor in the formation of H(2) in the reaction of Al with liquid water. In our study, Al atoms were reacted with mixtures of D(2)O/He or H(2)(17)O/He in an adamantane matrix in a metal-atom reactor, known as a rotating cryostat, maintained at 77 K and at <10(-6) Torr. In addition to DAlOD and HAlOH, which formed from the reaction of Al atoms with adventitious water, EPR analysis of the Al-D(2)O/He reaction mixture from 77 to 290 K showed that HAlOH:(D(2)O) and DAlOD:(D(2)O) formed. The experimental nuclear hyperfine interactions (hfis) for these species were in close agreement with those calculated using the B3LYP density functional method and the 6-311+G(2df,p) basis set. The effect of complexation is to lower the Al hfi of HAlOH and DAlOD by ca. 8%, the H hfi of HAlOH by ca. 28%, and the D hfi of DAlOD by ca. 35%.

Activation of C-O and C-C bonds and formation of novel HAlOH-ether complexes: an EPR study of the reaction of ground-state Al atoms with methylethyl ether and diethyl ether.

Reaction mixtures, containing Al atoms and methylethyl ether (MEE) or diethyl ether (DEE) in an adamantane matrix, were prepared with the aid of a metal-atom reactor known as a rotating cryostat. The EPR spectra of the resulting products were recorded from 77-260 K, at 10 K intervals. Al atoms were found to insert into methyl-O, ethyl-O, and C-C bonds to form CH(3)AlOCH(2)CH(3), CH(3)OAlCH(2)CH(3), and CH(3)OCH(2)AlCH(3), respectively, in the case of MEE while DEE produced CH(3)CH(2)AlOCH(2)CH(3) and CH(3)AlCH(2)OCH(2)CH(3), respectively. From the intensity of the transition lines attributed to the Al atom C-O insertion products of MEE, insertion into the methyl-O bond is preferred. The Al hyperfine interaction (hfi) extracted from the EPR spectra of the C-O insertion products was greater than that of the C-C insertion products, that is, 5.4% greater for the DEE system and 7% greater for the MEE system. The increase in Al hfi is thought to arise from the increased electron-withdrawing ability of the substituents bonded to Al. Besides HAlOH, resulting from the reaction of Al atoms with adventitious water, novel mixed HAlOH:MEE and HAlOH:DEE complexes were identified with the aid of isotopic studies involving H(2)(17)O and D(2)O. The Al and H hfi of HAlOH were found to decrease upon complex formation. These findings are consistent with the nuclear hfi calculated using a density functional theory (DFT) method with close agreement between theory and experiment occurring at the B3LYP level using a 6-311+G(2df,p) basis set.

Risk factors of chronic kidney disease in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The main aim of this study was determining the risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in HIV-1-infected patients. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Patients were followed from seven large HIV reference centers in France that maintain prospective databases on HIV-1-infected patients. The main outcome was the time to CKD defined as two consecutive measures of estimated GFR ≤60 ml/min per 1.73 m² over ≥3 months. A Cox's model with delayed entry was used to search predictive factors of time to CKD. RESULTS: From 1993 to 2006, 349 out of 7378 patients were found to have CKD. Of these, 166 had hypertension, 33 had diabetes, and 26 were antiretroviral therapy-naïve. Occurrence of acute kidney injury (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.40) and hypertension (HR = 2.39) were strongly associated with an increased risk of CKD. Patients with a durable level of CD4 count >200 cells/mm³ had a lower risk of CKD (HR = 0.63). Recent exposure to indinavir (HR = 2.03), totenofovir (HR = 1.55), and abacavir (HR = 1.37) were associated with an increased risk of CKD. Past exposure to tenofovir was also associated with an increased risk of CKD (HR = 2.23), and a trend toward significance was observed for past exposure to indinavir (HR = 1.28). CONCLUSIONS: CKD was not rare in HIV-infected patients and occurs preferentially in HIV-infected patients exposed to certain ARVs, specifically abacavir, indinavir and tenofovir. This requires closer monitoring of renal function in patients exposed to one of these drugs.

Disturbance of apolipoprotein B100 containing lipoprotein metabolism in severe hyperlipidemic and lipodystrophic HIV patients on combined antiretroviral therapy: evidences of insulin resistance effect.

The aim was to study the mechanisms involved in the dyslipidemia associated with lipodystrophy in HIV infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART). We investigated the in vivo kinetics of apolipoprotein B100 (apoB) containing lipoproteins using a 14 h primed constant infusion of [5,5,5, (2)H(3)] leucine and compartmental modelling in normolipidemic without lipodystrophy (7 patients, NLD) or dyslipidemic with lipodystrophy (7 patients, LD) treated with ART. Subjects in group LD showed higher plasma triglycerides (5.73+/-3.58 vs 1.29+/-0.54 g/L, p<0.005), total cholesterol (2.98+/-0.95 vs 1.74+/-0.26 g/L, p<0.05), apoB (1.49+/-1.11 vs 0.51+/-0.11 g/L, p<0.005) and apolipoprotein CIII in apoB containing lipoproteins (117.7+/-42.2 vs 22.6+/-23.9 g/L, p<0.005). LD subjects exhibited an insulin resistant as observed by higher HOMA (3.44+/-1.62 vs 1.60+/-0.61, p<0.05). They exhibited an increase in VLDL (1.24+/-0.33 vs 0.80+/-0.21 mg/kg/h, p<0.05), decrease in IDL (0.20+/-0.10 vs 0.48+/-0.24 mg/kg/h, p<0.05) and no difference in LDL (0.38+/-0.19 vs 0.45+/-0.25 mg/kg/h) production rate. LD subject also showed a dramatic decrease in transformation of VLDL to IDL (0.013+/-0.010 vs 0.258+/-0.206 h(-1), p<0.005) and IDL to LDL (0.088+/-0.093 vs 0.366+/-0.189 h(-1), p<0.05) and a decrease in fractional catabolic rate (FCR) of VLDL (0.199+/-0.132 vs 0.555+/-0.398 h(-1), p<0.05), IDL (0.110+/-0.08 vs 0.523+/-0.275 h(-1), p<0.05) and LDL (0.010+/-0.005 vs 0.025+/-0.014 h(-1), p<0.05). These disturbances, overproduction and an overall delayed catabolism of apoB, are similar to those observed using the same protocol in insulin resistant subjects. Our study suggests that metabolic disturbance of apoB100 observed in lipodystrophic HIV in combined antiretroviral therapy are consecutive to insulin resistance induced by the treatment.

[Lopinavir/ritonavir in HIV-infected patient with long-term virological failure: immunovirological response and tolerance in 121 patients of the ANRS CO8 Aproco-Copilote cohort]. / Lopinavir/ritonavir chez le patient infecté par le VIH en situation d'échec virologique prolongé: évolution immunovirologique et tolérance chez 121 patients de la cohorte ANRS CO8 Aproco-Copilote.

OBJECTIVE: This study was made to determine the immunovirological outcome and tolerance to lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) in HIV-infected protease inhibitors-experienced patients with long-term virological failure. DESIGN: Prospective follow-up was implemented for the French cohort ANRS CO8 Aproco-Copilote of 121 patients starting an LPV/r-containing regimen after a median duration of virological failure of 30.6 months. At baseline the median HIV-RNA plasma level was 4.1 log(10) copies/ml and the median CD4 cell count was 273/mm(3). RESULTS: On initiation of LPV/r, these patients were heavily pre-treated: 62% had received at least 4 NRTI, 65% at least 1 NNRTI, and 33% at least 3 PI. On prescription of LPV/r, the associated antiretroviral regimen was: no drug to which patients were previously naïve in 49 cases (40%), at least one new drug in 72 cases: 1 NRTI (n=42), 2 NRTI (n=22), 1 NNRTI (n=10), at least one new PI (n=6), enfuvirtide (n=2). The median HIV-RNA level was 2 log(10) copies/ml at M4 and M12, 1.7 log(10) copies/ml at M24 with respectively 74, 71 and 85% of patients achieving plasma HIV-RNA below 2.7 log(10) copies/ml. The median CD4 cell count was 385 and 429/mm(3) at M12 and M24 respectively. Among patients with genotypic testing at the time of LPV/r initiation, Ninety-five percent had at the most 5 protease mutations known to reduce LPV/r susceptibility. Thirty serious adverse events were reported but only 6 were related to LPV/r. CONCLUSION: The use of LPV/r in HIV-infected patients failing multiple antiretroviral regimens provided a potent and durable immunovirological response.

Efficacy and tolerability of a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-sparing combination of lopinavir/ritonavir and efavirenz in HIV-1-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: Recommended antiretroviral regimens include a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) component. Class cross-resistance and mitochondrial toxicity are recognized as problems with this class of antiretrovirals. METHODS: In a pilot open-label study, 65 antiretroviral-naive and 21 experienced but nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-naive HIV-1-infected adults were given a combination of lopinavir/ritonavir (533.3/133.3 mg twice daily) and efavirenz (600 mg once daily) for 48 weeks. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean viral load was 4.84 log10 copies/mL and the mean CD4 count was 311 cells/mm. At week 24, the proportions of patients with a viral load <400 copies/mL were 78% and 93% using an intent-to-treat and on-treatment analysis, respectively. At week 48, proportions were 73% and 97%, respectively. Treatment discontinuation occurred in 21 patients during the 48-week period, with 33% of those attributable to drug-related adverse effects. A viral load >400 copies/mL at week 24 or 48 was associated with nonadherence in 3 patients and virologic failure in 1 patient. After an increase during the first 8 weeks, fasting lipid levels remained stable up to 48 weeks. CONCLUSION: The lopinavir/ritonavir-efavirenz combination is associated with a high rate of virologic response and should be compared with more classic NRTI-containing regimens in randomized and controlled clinical trials.