'We are no longer called club members but caregivers': Involving youth in HIV and AIDS caregiving in rural Zambia.

This study assessed the strategy of building young people's capacity to provide care and support to people living with HIV and AIDS in rural Zambia. Members of youth anti-AIDS clubs in schools and communities were trained as adjunct caregivers using a locally developed curriculum that allowed them to explore and challenge gendered notions of caregiving and emphasized networking with existing resources. Results show that caregiving increased among males (47% to 82%) and females (41% to 78%). Both sexes provided similar caregiving services, including help with household chores and personal care tasks. Youth also undertook activities with children to decrease their isolation, help them stay in school, and reach additional services. While clients and caregivers reported positive aspects of the programme, both reported frustration with the youths' inability to meet material needs. This study demonstrates that trained youth already involved in anti-AIDS efforts can meet a range of care needs and be valuable assets to their community. It also highlights the importance of communicating clearly what youth can and cannot do, ongoing monitoring and support of youth caregivers, and involving community leaders to give youth credibility and access to local resources.

[Clinical evaluation of Chymodiactin and post-marketing surveillance]. / Klinische Prüfung von Chymodiactin und Post-Marketing Surveillance.

After a short summary of the development of chemonucleolysis technique and of Chymodiactin, the result of a randomized double-blind placebo controlled trial, conducted in the USA with Chymodiactin in 108 patients with monosegmental lumbar disc hernia and an open multicentre-study in 1498 patients, are shown. Furthermore an interim evaluation is presented of an open controlled multicentre-study with Chymodiactin, started in Germany in 1983. The results of these three clinical studies as well as the post-marketing surveillance pending in the USA demonstrate that chemonucleolysis with Chymodiactin is a secure technique with good results, representing a valuable enrichment in the treatment of lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus.

Antibody formation after vaccination with adsorbed and non-adsorbed A/New Jersey/8/76 influenza vaccines.

A study was carried out to determine the titres of haemagglutination inhibiting and neuraminidase antibodies after vaccination of 90 subjects, aged 19 to 35 years, with three aluminium oxide adsorbate and three fluid monovalent influenza A/New Jersey/8/76 vaccines with 54, 108 and 216 IU/dose. Blood samples were taken 1, 3 and 6 months after vaccination. The serological findings showed that adsorbate vaccines induced higher antibody titres than did fluid vaccines with double the antigen content. 'Unprimed persons' reacted to the adsorbate vaccine vaccination with a much higher antibody formation response.