Dynamic social support networks of younger black men who have sex with men with new HIV infection.

Rising rates of HIV infection among younger black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) in the USA have generated a public health emergency. Living with HIV requires deep and persistent social support often available only from close confidants. Enlisting endogenous support network members into the care of HIV-infected YBMSM may help shape sustainable supportive environments, leading to long-term improvements in mental and HIV-specific health outcomes. The present study examined trends in support network change over time after new HIV diagnoses among 14 YBMSM. Participants completed a social network survey that utilized sociograms to record support confidants (SCs) preceding HIV diagnosis and at one and nine months postdiagnosis. Reported SCs included family of origin, friends, sex partners, and other associates. Analysis revealed three distinct patterns of change: high gain, high turnover, and stable networks. These patterns offer valuable insights into the social support of YBMSM during the period following diagnosis. This research underscores a growing movement to embrace key support figures in the lives of YBMSM, who may be critical to promoting overall health and adherence to HIV-care.

A potent activator of HIV-1 replication is present in the genital tract of a subset of HIV-1-infected and uninfected women.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: To determine whether the female genital tract contains factors that affect HIV-1 replication. Cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) samples were collected from HIV-1-seropositive and seronegative women and added to cell cultures. METHODS: HIV p24 production was used to measure the effects of CVL on replication of HIVMN in a T-cell line, of a primary isolate in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, or on HIV expression by the latently-infected monocytic U1 cell line. The effects of CVL on the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) were determined in 1G5 T cells by measuring luciferase activity. RESULTS: Increased replication of HIVMN and a primary isolate were observed in T cells cultured with CVL samples from three out of 38 HIV-infected women, one out of four uninfected high-risk women, and none of 12 low-risk women. The CVL factor increased replication by enhancing virus expression via activation of the HIV LTR. The HIV-inducing activity was highly stable to heat but was sensitive to proteases, indicating that the activity was distinct from heat-labile cytokines including tumour necrosis factor-alpha. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to show that a factor which can stimulate HIV-1 replication is present at biologically active levels in the reproductive tract of women. This factor could potentially affect sexual or vertical transmission of HIV-1 by altering genital tract virus load or virus expression.

Neonatal argininosuccinic aciduria with normal brain and kidney but absent liver argininosuccinate lyase activity.

An infant is described who died at 6 days of age with hyperammonemia and argininosuccinic acid in the urine. Argininosuccinic acid lyase (AL) was absent in liver, decreased in red blood cells, but normal in brain and kidney. The instability of AL in frozen stored tissues accounts for previous reports of deficient AL activity in the brain and kidney of neonates with this disease. The variation of AL activity in the tissues of this patient demonstrates that more than one gene locus either codes for the structure of this enzyme or regulates its biosynthesis in different organs.

The influence of nutrition on IGF-1 in tube-fed profoundly retarded adults.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine whether IGF-I concentrations are low in nonambulant profoundly retarded adults and to identify associated nutritional factors. METHODS: Serum IGF-I, albumin, pre-albumin, creatinine, zinc (Zn) and plasma amino acids were measured before and after a four-week 25% increase in formula in 25 individuals, divided into those fed by day (Group A) or by night (Group B). RESULTS: Circulating IGF-I was low in nine of the 22 subjects (40.9%) included in the analysis. Mean IGF-I increased 10.4% (p=0.004). Despite high intakes of essential amino acids and Zn, initial mean plasma tryptophan and phenylalanine were low, and serum Zn was low in 40.9% of subjects. Plasma tryptophan was low at both samplings and correlated with circulating IGF-I concentrations (p=0.02) at the beginning of the study. Serum IGF-I and Zn also correlated (p=0.02) initially. CONCLUSIONS: IGF-I is commonly low in this population and is associated with low plasma amino acid and Zn concentrations, despite high intakes of these nutrients. The causes and clinical implications of these abnormalities need further study.