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Drug combo can block mother-to-infant HIV transmission, study suggests

ScienceDaily (June 20, 2012) ? Non-breastfed babies born to HIV-positive mothers who didn't receive antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy are routinely given zidovudine, commonly known as AZT, shortly after birth to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus that causes AIDS.

While effective, this strategy doesn't always protect the infant from acquiring the virus during the mother's labor and delivery. But a new UCLA-led study published June 21 in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that a two- or three-drug combination given to infants within 48 hours of birth can reduce the risk of such intrapartum HIV acquisition by about half, compared to AZT alone.

"Our research demonstrates that even in very high-risk situations where mothers are only identified as being HIV-positive when they give birth or shortly after birth, there is still an effective strategy that can be undertaken to prevent transmission of HIV to the baby," said Dr. Karin Nielsen-Saines, a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the study's lead investigator. "While giving AZT alone to the infant can reduce intrapartum transmission to some degree, our data demonstrates that with the use of two- or three-drug regimens to the baby, you can cut transmission to half of what can be achieved with AZT alone."

The study is the first randomized controlled study of post-exposure HIV prophylaxis for babies born in countries where the standard of care is to give the child AZT to prevent infection, said Nielsen-Saines, who is also a member of the UCLA AIDS Institute. Babies born to HIV-infected mothers who have not received antiretroviral therapy (ART) stand a 25 percent chance of becoming infected during the mother's pregnancy or at birth. Their chances increase to about 40 percent when they are breastfed, which is why HIV-positive women are advised not to breastfeed in many countries.

The study involved 1,684 formula-fed infants born to HIV-positive mothers in the United States, Brazil, Argentina and South Africa. Within 48 hours of birth, researchers assigned the newborns to one of three groups: 566 were placed in the AZT-alone group; 562 in an AZT plus nevirapine group; and 556 in a group receiving AZT, nelfinavir and lamivudine.

Of the 1,684 infants, 140 were found to be infected with HIV -- 97 were born with the infection (transmission occurred during pregnancy) and 43 were infected during the birth process.

Among the babies who became infected during the birth process, 24 in the AZT-alone group were found to be infected at 3 months of age, compared with 11 in the AZT/nevirapine group and 12 in the AZT/nelfinavir/lamivudine group. Using Kaplan-Meier statistics, this translated into a transmission of 4.8 percent in the AZT-alone group, 2.2 percent in the two-drug group and 2.4 percent in the three-drug group. (Kaplan-Meier estimates incorporate survival probabilities, time in follow-up and other factors.)

Therefore, giving two or three drugs to babies born to mothers who had received no HIV treatment significantly reduced HIV transmission, compared with AZT alone.

The researchers also found that the two-drug therapy was less toxic to the infants than the three-drug alternative.

Nielsen-Saines noted that the findings are applicable only to high-risk infants -- those whose mothers didn't receive antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy. Babies born to HIV-positive women who are being effectively treated with antiretrovirals throughout pregnancy already have a less than 1 percent chance of acquiring HIV from their mothers.

"Our results support combination ART regimens instead of zidovudine alone for prophylaxis in the infants of mothers who have not received antenatal ART," the researchers write. "Ease of use, reduced toxicity, availability, and low cost suggest that zidovudine plus nevirapine is an attractive option for prophylaxis in infants at high risk for perinatal HIV-1 infection."

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Development of the National Institutes of Health (NICHDHHSN267200800001C/ N01-HD-8-0001) sponsored the study, which was also supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U01 AI047986/ U01 AI068632).

Other study authors were D. Heather Watts, Valdilea G. Veloso, Yvonne Bryson, Esau C. Joao, Jose Henrique Pilotto, Glenda Gray, Gerhad Theron, Breno Santos, Rosana Fonseca, Regis Kreitchmann, Jorge Pinto, Marisa M. Mussi-Pinhata, Mariana Ceriotto, Daisy Machado, James Bethel, Marisa G. Morgado, Ruth Dickover, Margaret Camarca, Mark Mirochnick, George Siberry, Beatriz Grinsztejn, Ronaldo I. Moreira, Franciso I. Bastos, Jiahong Xu, Jack Moye and Lynne M. Mofenson.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences. The original article was written by Enrique Rivero.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Karin Nielsen-Saines et al. Three Postpartum Antiretroviral Regimens to Prevent Intrapartum HIV Infection. New England Journal of Medicine, June 21, 2012 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1108275

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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Universal, indie music publishers cut video deal

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How to Use Finance the Right Way ? Smart Finance Management

June 20th, 2012 by admin Leave a reply ?

The world of finance may seem tricky to many. However, equity investment, mergers and acquisitions, commercial and consumer loans, and strategic management are all very simple to understand. There are techniques available to ensure that consumers use each category wisely.

Commercial and Personal Loans

Commercial and personal loans are the most common form of finance; millions of people and companies all over the world apply for them every day. Personal loans can be used for any number of reasons, including debt consolidation. Personal loans should be acquired with discretion, however. Most consumers qualify for a number of repayment terms and varying interest rates. The goal of repayment should be to choose terms that fit within the budget and have the lowest interest rates available. Commercial loans are usually obtained for the purpose of starting or expanding a business. Proper evaluation by investors is key to ensuring the success of the business for the purpose of repayment.

Equity Investment

Equity investing is one of the most common forms of asset management. Home equity has been a common investing tool for years and it continues to be a valuable player in many consumer portfolios. The housing market fluctuates from year to year but in most cases, home value appreciates with proper care and upkeep. Home equity can be relied upon for many reasons but one of the most common uses for home equity is retirement. It is important to only dip into a home?s equity when absolutely necessary; many consumers who mortgage properties for frivolous reasons find themselves in over their heads and facing foreclosure.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Perhaps one of the more popular ways for companies to increase their revenue is with mergers and acquisitions. A merger occurs when a company joins forces with another in an attempt to generate more overhead revenue for both of the companies involved. Acquisitions occur when one company effectively ?takes over? or purchases another. This is often done when a failing company has resources that are desired by a well-to-do company. In these cases, it often proves beneficial for a company to purchase another, even if it is failing. This prevents bankruptcy for the failing company as well as needed resources for the purchaser.

Strategic Management

Strategic management refers to the process of outwitting the competition with smart financial planning, accurate placement of resources and timely responses to a fluctuating economy. All of the resources and revenue in the world do not do any good without proper re-investment in the company and its employees. A company that generates more revenue than all of its competition combined can still fail; proper investment and strategic management can avoid this.?Financial advisors?and investment experts are great ways to properly manage the assets of a company.

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Let's Talk About Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony's Chinese Film

By Rembert Browne on June 19, 2012 6:08 PM ET

Jacob Langston/Orlando Sentinel/MCT via Getty Images

Some news, from the Shanghai Daily:

For the first time, the NBA is partnering with a non-US film studio to release a major film overseas, the producers announced at a global press conference last night in the city.

Go on, SD.

"Amazing," a production by the Shanghai Film Group, tells the story of a fictional world known as "The Sixth Sense." It uses basketball imagery to combine the visual elements of a video game with a movie, akin to the 2010 American science fiction film "Tron: Legacy."

Who's in it, Shang Dai?

In addition to an all-star cast including Chinese actors Huang Xiaoming, Huang Yi, Charles Chen and Amber Kuo, "Amazing" is joined by American actor Eric Mabius and NBA stars Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Yi Jianlian and former star Scottie Pippen.

Can I watch the trailer?

Samsung SE-218BB Ultrathin Optical Disc Drive

With the rise of ultrabooks, the internal optical drive is no longer the mainstay it once was. So should disc devotees sacrifice their beloved CDs and DVDs or remain mired in the past? Lucky for them, few portable optical drives solve this conundrum with as much panache as the Samsung SE-218BB Ultrathin Optical Disc Drive ($59.99 list). Not only does its attractive, svelte design mirror the ultrabook aesthetic, it also eschews the cumbersome Y connector typical of portable optical drives and boasts quick, quiet performance. Although the SE-218BB doesn't offer Blu-ray compatibility like the Editors' Choice?winning Pioneer BDR-XD04 ($149.99 direct, 4 stars), it does what it's supposed to, and looks good in the process.

Design and Features

Samsung touts the SE-218BB as the world's thinnest portable optical drive, and there's little reason for us to doubt that claim. Measuring by 0.55 by 5.75 by 5.5 inches (HWD) and weighing just under nine ounces, the SE-218BB is markedly slimmer than the HP dvd550s ($69.99 direct, 3 stars) and can fit easily into any laptop bag. It has a super-thin black plastic chassis and faux?brushed aluminum lid embossed with a Samsung logo that thankfully does little to detract from the device's elegant, subdued look. Like the HP dvd550s and the Lite-On eNAU708 ($39.99 list, 3.5 stars), the SE-218BB is intended for horizontal placement and sports a tray-loading design.

Another attribute of the SE-218BB is the fact that it uses a standard USB 2.0 cable instead of the Y connector most portable optical drives employ. This is a huge plus as the lengths of each strand in Y connectors tend to be unevenly distributed, which can make it difficult to conveniently position the drive near your system. Because the included cable can easily be replaced with a longer one, this potential headache is sidestepped entirely.

Unlike the HP dvd550s or the HP dvd560s ($70 street, 3 stars), the SE-218BB is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems. A caveat, however: The included software applications (Nero 10 Multimedia Suite Essentials, and Cyberlink's PowerDVD and PowerDirector) only work with Windows, so Mac owners will need to use a different utility to read and write discs.

Performance

The SE-218BB doesn't just look good?it also performs well. During testing, it emitted minimal noise beyond the sound of the spinning disc. Moreover, the four rubberized feet on the drive's underside adeptly absorb vibrations, resulting in a drive that will remain inconspicuous even when you're out and about. The SE-218BB also remained cool throughout testing; during software installation, its temperature hovered around 83 degrees Fahrenheit (as measured with a Fluke IR thermometer), and even when burning DVDs it stayed at about 85 degrees. I encountered no problems during multimedia playing and burning. (Samsung advertises write speeds ranging from 6X for dual-layer DVDs to 24X for CD-RWs.)

One shortcoming with the drive may affect some users. Samsung claims that the SE-218BB supports USB-equipped Android tablets that run on Honeycomb 3.1 or later, a group limited to the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet, Asus Transformer, and Acer Iconia. When I attempted to test the SE-218BB with the last the tablet failed to recognize the drive, both in and out of AV mode (achieved by holding the eject button when the tray is open). Ultimately, this is a minor hiccup, as the SE-218BB is geared mainly toward the ultrabook crowd, but it's worth noting.

If there were a yearbook for portable optical drives, the Samsung SE-218BB Ultrathin Portable DVD Writer would easily be voted "best dressed" in its class, thanks to its attractive, slender design. But would it also be named "most likely to succeed"? For those unconcerned with Blu-ray functionality, the answer is an unequivocal yes. It performs well, eliminates the cumbersome Y connector from the picture, and is compatible with both Windows and Mac?all for a reasonable price. On the other hand, if purchasing a future-proofed drive is paramount for you, the lack of Blu-ray functionality seals the SE-218BB's fate. We tend to fall in the latter camp, so the Editors' Choice Pioneer BDR-XD04 remains the portable drive to beat. That said, for those simply looking to add DVD functionality to their ultrabooks, the SE-218BB stands near the top of the heap.

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Samsung SE-218BB Ultrathin Optical Disc Drive with several other DVD burners side by side.

More DVD burner reviews:
??? Samsung SE-218BB Ultrathin Optical Disc Drive
??? Plextor PlexEasy DVD
??? Lite-On eNAU708
??? Plextor External Blu-ray PX-LB950UE
??? HP dvd550s
?? more

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PFT: Hargrove says it's not his voice in video

AP

Chad Ochocinco is changing his name, again.? Or at least his style.

Again.

In his first media availability as a member of the Miami Dolphins, Ochocinco said he plans to revert to the attitude that made him what he was, earlier in his career.

?It?s about my getting back to the basics, going back to the root of how it all started,? Ochocinco told reporters Tuesday, via video remarks posted at the team?s website.? ?Not as far as playing at home in Miami but as far as my game goes, and getting back to what we?re all used to seeing.? You know, the basic fundamentals of how I became what I am.? I think I kind of lost that, and I?m looking to go back to Chad Johnson and just make it live again.?

He?s right that he ?kind of lost? who he was, whether because he was trying to hard too fit in with a Patriots team that looks down on a player drawing too much attention to himself.? Chad constantly seemed to be paralyzed by fear of saying the wrong thing, running the wrong route, rubbing someone the wrong way.

Ochocinco also seemed a bit restrained in his Tuesday remarks, but a hint of the old Chad came through from time to time.? Like when Chad said he?s ?developing Brokeback Mountain-type chemistry with the players,? a term he once used in Cincinnati to describe his relationship with quarterback Carson Palmer.

Chad also playfully deflected whether he?ll be the team?s No. 1 receiver:? ?I was never good in math, so I?m not good with numbers, either.?

He also articulated an important reason for joining the Dolphins.? He said that Miami always has been his team of choice when playing video football.

?Since 1988, I?ve always played Madden, I?ve always used the Dolphins, no matter where I was, no matter where I was playing,? Chad said.

It will likely be slightly more complicated than a game of Madden for Chad to get back to being the guy he once was.? Whether that happens depends in large part on how much the Dolphins are willing to encourage him to be himself.

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