Objectives We examined whether the timing of initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in routine clinical practice reflected treatment guidelines, which have evolved towards recommending starting therapy at lower CD...
详细信息
Objectives We examined whether the timing of initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in routine clinical practice reflected treatment guidelines, which have evolved towards recommending starting therapy at lower CD4 cell counts. Methods We analysed longitudinal data on 10 820 patients enrolled in the UK Collaborative HIV Cohort (UK CHIC) Study, which includes seven large clinical centres in south-east England. CD4 cell and viral load measurements performed in the period between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2003 were classified according to whether ART was subsequently initiated or deferred, to estimate the probability of ART initiation by CD4 count and viral load over time. The effect of nonclinical factors (age, sex, ethnicity, and exposure category) was analysed by logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate the proportion of patients who had initiated ART by a particular CD4 count among 'early' presenters (initial CD4 cell count > 500 cells/mu L). Results There was a tendency to initiate ART at lower CD4 cell counts over time in the years 1997-2000, especially in the range 200-500 cells/mu L, with little change thereafter. An estimated 34% of HIV-infected individuals having presented early initiated ART at a CD4 count < 200 cells/mu L. We also found an independent influence of viral load, which was particularly pronounced for CD4 < 350 cells/mu L. Use of injection drugs was the only nonclinical factor associated with initiation of ART at lower CD4 cell counts. Conclusions The initiation of ART in the clinics included in this analysis reflected evolving treatment guidelines. However, an unexpectedly high proportion of patients started ART at lower CD4 counts than recommended, which is only partly explained by late presentation.
MOND, H.G., et al. : The World Survey of Cardiac Pacing and Cardioverter Defibrillators: Calendar Year 1997-Asian Pacific, Middle East, South America, and Canada. A comprehensive cardiac pacing and ICD survey for the ...
详细信息
MOND, H.G., et al. : The World Survey of Cardiac Pacing and Cardioverter Defibrillators: Calendar Year 1997-Asian Pacific, Middle East, South America, and Canada. A comprehensive cardiac pacing and ICD survey for the Asian Pacific region, Middle East, South America, and Canada was undertaken for calendar year 1997. Thirteen countries in the Asian Pacific region contributed to the survey. There were also two countries from the Middle East, three from South America, and Canada. Accurate numbers of new implants and replacements were obtained for cardiac pacemakers. In the Asian Pacific region, Japan with almost 20,000 implants, had the largest number of pacemaker implants, but Australia had the highest implant rate with 345 new implants per million population. However, Canada and Uruguay had higher new implant rates per million. The major indication for implantation of a cardiac pacemaker was high degree atrioventricular block. There was a high incidence of single chamber ventricular pacing in the developing countries of Asia. Only a few countries used substantial numbers of single lead VDD and AAIR pacing systems. Pacing leads were predominantly transvenous, bipolar, passive fixation, and steroid eluting. Activefixation leads were also used in the atrium. With ICD use, Australia had the highest new implant rate per million population. The major indications were sudden death and ventricular arrhythmias. A group of enthusiastic survey coordinators has now been established. It is hoped to continue physician and country recruitment, particularly in the Middle East and South American regions to establish a fully global experience of cardiac pacing and ICD use.
During February 1997 the crisis that had been building up in Albania, as a series of ill-founded pyramid savings schemes collapsed, erupted into angry demonstrations, culminating in armed revolts. In early March the r...
详细信息
During February 1997 the crisis that had been building up in Albania, as a series of ill-founded pyramid savings schemes collapsed, erupted into angry demonstrations, culminating in armed revolts. In early March the revolts quickly spread to most of the south of the country. Public buildings were attacked and burned, prisoners were released from jail, and effective control of a wide area passed into the hands of armed gangs. For a few weeks journalists traveled the country and sent back words and pictures. Then Albania disappeared again from headlines and television screens until elections were held at the end of June. In between there was a period of seeming non-events, little more than an interregnum, that was in reality a distinct phase in its own right. [...]
In 1997, Hong Kong's sovereignty will go back to China. The United Kingdom has granted 50000 families the right of abode to settle here. It is estimated that these 50000 families will consist of approximately 2250...
详细信息
In 1997, Hong Kong's sovereignty will go back to China. The United Kingdom has granted 50000 families the right of abode to settle here. It is estimated that these 50000 families will consist of approximately 225000 people in all. Hepatitis B virus infection is extremely common in Hong Kong - 50 per cent of the local population have been infected by the virus. Should the Department of Health consider implementing and introducing a screening and immunization programme? What is the current level of understanding about the virus among the Chinese community and health care professionals in the United Kingdom? Findings from a health promotion project have revealed that there is a gap in health care professionals' and patients' understanding of the issue. There is a need to raise awareness, to provide more information for health care professionals and patients, and to give serious consideration to a screening and vaccination programme.
Korean chaebol firms, characterized by excessive debt financing and overinvestment, experienced restructuring after the 1997 crisis. By reducing debt financing and thus overinvestment, they tried to reorganize financi...
详细信息
Korean chaebol firms, characterized by excessive debt financing and overinvestment, experienced restructuring after the 1997 crisis. By reducing debt financing and thus overinvestment, they tried to reorganize financing structure and ownership structure. Chaebols' debt reduction turns out to have improved performance. However, polarization between chaebol and non-chaebol firms has become more significant. Even after the crisis, firms that give higher cash flows to a controlling shareholder take more capital investment, indicating that agency problems still exist within chaebols. Chaebol-affiliated firms continue to be more active in R&D than non-chaebol firms. However, the pattern is limited to the group of top 10 chaebols after the crisis.
This bachelors thesis deals with the primary and secondary causes and possible features of the riots in Albania in 1997. As the primary cause of the conflict the crash of the pyramid schemes and the subsequent economi...
详细信息
This bachelors thesis deals with the primary and secondary causes and possible features of the riots in Albania in 1997. As the primary cause of the conflict the crash of the pyramid schemes and the subsequent economic collapse are identified. The thesis aims to prove that the first step toward the conflict was made earlier. The lack of democratic transformation and dysfunctional state apparatus after the fall of communism has become a prerequisite for the outbreak of the conflict. From March 1992 to June 1997 the Democratic Party reigned under the leadership of Sali Berisha. Since the post-communist transformation took place mainly in the first half of the nineties, it is assumed that the Democratic Party with Sali Berisha was instrumental in the emergence of the conflict. The hypothesis is that President Berisha not only caused, but also deliberately deepened the conflict. Two Albanian ethnicities Ghegs and Tosks play an important role in determining the causes of the conflict. Their relations are not completely idyllic and during the historic events rivalry and tension have frequently resurfaced. In the time of communism problems between Ghegs and Tosks were pushed into the background and therefore the thesis assumes that during the post-communist transformation disputes between Ghegs and Tosks...
暂无评论