HIV and HCV positive serostatus were negatively associated with network member providing emotional support, and positively associated with network member providing material support. In addition, HCV positivity was associated with network member DMXAA manufacturer being an active drug user known for more than 10 years and network member being male kin networks, even after adjusting for individual demographic factors and risk behaviors.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest that social network factors are significantly linked to HIV and HCV status among IDUs in Southern India and highlight the mixed effects of social capital on health. Future HIV/HCV prevention efforts should incorporate IDU peers to alter drug network injection risk norms. For drug users who have minimal network support, support groups and other informal and formal support mechanisms may be need to help them with health care and psychological support needs for dealing with HIV/HCV. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“PURPOSE: To assess and compare the morphologic changes in the anterior segment in eyes with nuclear or cortical age-related cataract using ML323 molecular weight Scheimpflug imaging.
SETTING: Peking University
People’s Hospital, Beijing, China.
DESIGN: Case-control study.
METHODS: Patients with nuclear or cortical age-related cataract were recruited. The grade of nuclear opalescence or cortical opacity was assessed using the Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III). A
group of elderly subjects with a clear lens and normal vision served as the control group. Anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior chamber volume (ACV), and lens thickness were evaluated using Scheimpflug imaging (Pentacam).
RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-nine patients (330 eyes) were recruited. Thirty eyes were enrolled for each nuclear opalescence and cortical grade. The control group comprised 30 eyes (19 subjects). In eyes with age-related cataract, 17-AAG inhibitor lens thickness increased with an increase in cortical opacity, whereas the ACD and ACV values decreased. The ACD was inversely correlated with LOCS Ill grades for nuclear opalescence (r = -0.197, P = .004), nuclear color (r = -0.195, P = .005), and cortical opacity (r = -0.508, P<.005). There were significant differences in lens thickness, ACD, and ACV between nuclear color, nuclear opalescence, and cortical opacity for LOCS Ill grades 3, 4, and 5, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: There were significant differences in lens thickness, ACD, and ACV between nuclear and cortical age-related cataracts. The ACD decreased more in eyes with cortical cataract, suggesting that the risk for angle-closure glaucoma may be greater in cases of cortical opacity in which lens expansion is greater.”
“Liquid crystalline polymers (LCPs) have been synthesized from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and 4-acetoxybenzoic acid (OB) through melt step-growth polymerization.