Thermoreversible gel as a candidate barrier to prevent the transmission of HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus type 2.

BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) caused by HIV, herpes simplex virus (HSV), and other pathogens are spreading dramatically. The need to develop active products and vehicles to reduce this epidemic is urgent. GOAL: The efficacy of a thermoreversible gel formulation as a possible barrier to prevent the transmission of pathogens causing STDs was evaluated. STUDY DESIGN: This evaluation investigated the ability of the gel formulation to prevent infection of susceptible cells by HIV-1 and HSV-2 in vitro, the diffusion of radiolabeled herpes virus and micelles of polymer through an insertion membrane, and the electron microscopic appearance of herpes virus and gel alone or mixed together. RESULTS: The gel formulation prevents infection of susceptible cells by HIV-1 and HSV-2. It acts as an effective artificial physical barrier against the herpes virus within the first 4 hours of incubation. Herpes virus is coated by the gel or entrapped within micelles of the gel, which could hinder its attachment to target cells and inhibit its infectivity. CONCLUSION: This thermoreversible gel formulation represents an attractive matrix for the incorporation of microbicides to prevent the spread of STDs.

[History of "L" as in latex]. / Histoire d'L comme latex.

After an anecdotal study of allergy in latex collectors, the author raises the problem of food allergy to latex, in particular in those populations that are historically hypersensitive to the mites that they ingest.

[State of the art on allergy to the cat: a review of the literature]. / Le point sur l'allergie au chat: revue bibliographique.

There are now seven cat allergens. The major, Feld is present in squames, skin and urine, but not in serum albumin. Recent studies have shown that its base is in sebum. It can float in the atmosphere on very small, light particles indefinitely and is deposited on clothes, curtains and carpets in considerable amounts. Immunotherapy, often the cause of collateral accidents, in the best cases only gives a transitory reduction of conjunctival and pituitary sensitisation. It has no proven activity in asthma and the biological data do not change logically during treatment. Prevention consists of total exclusion, which is very difficult to effect.

Twenty years of randomized clinical trials of manipulative therapy for back pain: a review.

Manipulative therapy has been one of the most intensively studied approaches to back pain management. This paper reviews 20 years of randomized clinical trials of manipulative therapy, and addresses the following issues: for what condition were these patients treated? What was the population studied, and were workers included? Was a specific technique, spinal manipulation, or a more global approach the object of the trial? Finally, were there long-term outcome measures? The 21 randomized clinical trials reviewed here provide some indication that manipulative therapy offers some positive short-term results; it is not clear at this point whether long-term effects of the treatment have been adequately evaluated. Lack of specificity in the description of samples makes it impossible to conclude on the benefit of spinal manipulation for workers. Whether manipulation is solely responsible for the changes mentioned in these studies, independently of the global approach put forth by its practitioners, is also an open question that awaits further study.