Determinants of vaccine immunity in the cohort of human immunodeficiency virus-infected children living in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children are at increased risk of infections caused by vaccine preventable pathogens, and specific immunization recommendations have been issued. METHODS: A prospective national multicenter study assessed how these recommendations are followed in Switzerland and how immunization history correlates with vaccine immunity. RESULTS: Among 87 HIV-infected children (mean age: 11.1 years) followed in the 5 Swiss university hospitals and 1 regional hospital, most (76%) had CD4 T cells >25%, were receiving highly active antiretroviral treatment (79%) and had undetectable viral load (60%). Immunization coverage was lower than in the general population and many lacked serum antibodies to vaccine-preventable pathogens, including measles (54%), varicella (39%), and hepatitis B (65%). The presence of vaccine antibodies correlated most significantly with having an up-to-date immunization history (P<0.05). An up-to-date immunization history was not related to age, immunologic stage, or viremia but to the referral medical center. CONCLUSIONS: All pediatricians in charge of HIV-infected children are urged to identify missing immunizations in this high-risk population.

CIRAS News, Fall 2003, Vol. 39, no. 1

CIRAS is to enhance the performance of Iowa industry, and associated entities, through education and technology-based services. This newsletter holds information regarding these services.

Efficiency of five biosolids to supply nitrogen and phosphorus to ryegrass

Biosolids have been considered satisfactory to supply crops and plant nutrients. The ideal biosolids application rate should result in high crop yields and nutrient uptake, and leave low concentrations of nutrients in soils to avoid environmental problems. The objective of this study was to estimate the capacity of five biosolids to supply N and P to ryegrass (Lolium perenne) after a single application of either fertilizers or biosolids to a Spodosol and an Oxisol. Results showed that 6% - 36% of N and 3% - 7% of P applied as biosolids were recovered in plants grown on the Spodosol, while the range on the Oxisol was 26%-75% for N and 1.2%-3.7% for phosphorus. Biosolids' efficiency on supplying N and P to plants was similar to fertilizer on the Spodosol, but on the Oxisol it refrained to 65%-67% fertilizer's efficiency. After a single application of biosolids followed by six consecutive harvests, 25%-94% of the N and 93%-99% of the P were not used by plants and remain in the soils.

Soja em sucessão a adubos verdes no sistema de plantio direto e convencional em solo de Cerrado

A adubação verde é uma prática em que se procura preservar a qualidade do ambiente sem prescindir de produtividades elevadas das culturas e do retorno econômico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho da cultura da soja em sucessão a adubos verdes nos sistemas de plantio direto e de preparo convencional do solo (uma gradagem pesada + duas gradagens leves). O experimento foi realizado num Latossolo Vermelho distrófico, originalmente sob vegetação de Cerrado em Selvíria, MS. Utilizaram-se quatro adubos verdes: mucuna-preta, guandu, crotalária e milheto, e área de pousio (vegetação espontânea). O cultivo de diferentes adubos verdes na primavera não influencia a produtividade da soja em sucessão, tanto em plantio direto quanto no sistema de preparo convencional do solo. Em ano com precipitação normal, o preparo convencional do solo proporciona maior produtividade da soja do que o sistema de plantio direto.

CIRAS News, Spring 2004, Vol. 39, no. 3

CIRAS is to enhance the performance of Iowa industry, and associated entities, through education and technology-based services. This newsletter holds information regarding these services.

CIRAS News, Summer 2004, Vol. 39, no. 4

CIRAS is to enhance the performance of Iowa industry, and associated entities, through education and technology-based services. This newsletter holds information regarding these services.

CIRAS News, Winter 2004, Vol. 39, no. 2

CIRAS is to enhance the performance of Iowa industry, and associated entities, through education and technology-based services. This newsletter holds information regarding these services.

Adubação verde e sistemas de manejo do solo na produtividade do algodoeiro

A adoção de sistemas de manejo conservacionistas e a sucessão de culturas com adubos verdes são práticas que visam preservar a qualidade do solo e do ambiente, sem prescindir da obtenção de produtividade elevada das culturas de interesse econômico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de sistemas de manejo do solo e adubos verdes na produtividade do algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L.). O experimento foi realizado num Latossolo Vermelho distrófico, originalmente sob vegetação de Cerrado. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, em esquema de parcela subdividida e quatro repetições. Nas parcelas, utilizaram-se quatro adubos verdes: mucuna-preta, guandu, crotalária e milheto, e área de pousio (vegetação espontânea). Nas subparcelas foram adotados dois sistemas de manejo do solo: plantio direto e preparo convencional (uma gradagem pesada + duas gradagens leves). Os sistemas de manejo do solo não interferiram na produtividade do algodoeiro. O algodoeiro apresentou produtividade semelhante quando cultivado em sucessão a diferentes espécies de adubos verdes, no sistema de plantio direto e convencional de preparo do solo.

Survival after lung metastasectomy in colorectal cancer patients with previously resected liver metastases

Objective: Resection of hepatic metastases is indicated in selected Stage IV colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. A minority will eventually develop pulmonary metastases and may be candidates for lung surgery. The aim of this study was to assess clinical outcome, and identify parameters predicting survival after pulmonary metastasectomy, in patients who underwent prior resection of hepatic CRC metastases.Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 27 consecutive patients (median age 62 [range 33-75] years) who underwent resection of pulmonary metastases from CRC in two institutions from 1996 to 2009. All patients considered in the analysis had previously undergone colorectal and hepatic surgery with curative intent, and were considered cured in both locations (R0).Results: Median follow-up was 32 (range 3-69) months after resection of lung metastases and 65 (range 19-146) months after resection of primary CRC. Eleven (40?7%) patients had their primary tumors located in the rectum, and 12 (44%) patients presented initially with synchronous liver metastases (stage IV). Median disease-free interval between primary colorectal tumor and development of first metastasis was 6 (range 0-50) months. At the time of last follow-up, seven patients only (26%) were alive without evidence of recurrence. Three- and 5-year overall survival rates after lung surgery were 56% and 39%, respectively. Median survival after pulmonary metastasectomy was 46 months. In multivariate analysis, the number of pulmonary lesions was significantly correlated with survival (log-rank test, p = 0?035).Conclusion: Resection of lung metastases from CRC patients is compatible with prolonged (median = 4 years) survival, even when those patients had undergone prior resection of liver metastases. While prolonged, disease-free survival remains the exception, patients presentin

Airway stenting with the LT-Mold? for severe glotto-subglottic stenosis or intractable aspiration: experience in 65 cases.

The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of stenting in upper airway reconstructions for benign laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) with a newly designed prosthesis, the LT-Mold?. The LT-Mold and its proper use during open surgery and endoscopy are described, and the experience gathered from a prospectively collected database on 65 patients treated for complex LTS or severe aspiration is reported. This series is compared to the results of other stenting methods. All patients were available for evaluation. In all but one case, the prosthesis was removed at the end of the study. The new prosthesis did not induce any stent-related trauma to the supraglottis, glottis and subglottis. Before adding a distal round-shaped silicone cap to the LT-Mold, granulation tissue was usually seen at the stent-mucosal interface at the tracheostoma level. In 14 cases, there has been a spontaneous extrusion of the prosthesis through the mouth; this problem was solved by fixing the prosthesis through the reinforced portion of the prosthesis at the cap level and by adding one fixation stitch in the supraglottis. We have to document the loss of the silicone cap in three cases. This problem was resolved by designing a new prototype with an integrated cap, glued with a slow hardening silicone glue. Fifty-four (83 %) of 65 patients were decannulated after a mean duration of stenting of 3 months (range 1-12 months). The mean follow-up after decannulation was 23 months (range 1 month to 10 years). The experience gathered with the LT-Mold shows that long-term stenting for complex LTS is safely achieved when the prosthesis is used with its distal integrated silicone cap. The softness and smoothness of the prosthesis with a round-shaped configuration of both extremities help avoid ulceration and granulation tissue formation in the reconstructed airway. Adequate fixation is mandatory to avoid extrusion.

Girl Connection newsletters (Iowa Commission on the Status of Women)

The Girl Connection newsletter was published from 2000 to 2011.