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ABSTRACTThis mixed method study examined hope and depression among pandemic graduates using Locus of Hope Theory. Phase one examined the relationship of internal and external locus of hope dimensions on the depressive symptoms of 101 pandemic graduates through an online survey. Analysis revealed that 66.3% of the sample had moderate to severe levels of depression. Among the four dimensions, only internal hope was significantly associated with depression. Phase two involved 12 participants screened to have high hope scores. They were asked to participate in focus group discussions regarding their sources of hope. Despite the non-significant relationship between external loci of hope and depression in phase one, responses in the qualitative phase provided evidence for external sources of hope (family, peers, and spiritual being) during the pandemic. Practical implications are discussed.

Background: Since the introduction of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), the life expectancy and health quality for patients infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have significantly improved. Nevertheless, as a result of not only the deleterious effects of the virus itself and prolonged ART, but also the effects of aging, cardiovascular diseases have emerged as one of the most common causes of death among these patients. Objective: The purpose of this review is to explore the new insights on the spectrum of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in HIV infection, with emphasis on the factors that contribute to the atherosclerotic process and its role in the development of acute coronary syndrome in the setting of infection. Methods: A literature search using PubMed, ScienceDirect and Web of Science was performed. Articles up to Mar, 2017, were selected for inclusion. The search was conducted using MeSH terms, with the following key terms: [human immunodeficiency virus AND (cardiovascular disease OR coronary heart disease) AND (antiretroviral therapy AND (cardiovascular disease OR coronary heart disease))]. Results: Clinical cardiovascular disease tends to appear approximately 10 years before in infected individuals, when compared to the general population. The pathogenesis behind the cardiovascular, HIV-associated complications is complex and multifactorial, involving traditional CVD risk factors, as well as factors associated with the virus itself - immune activation and chronic inflammation – and the metabolic disorders related to ART regimens. Conclusion: Determining the cardiovascular risk among HIV-infected patients, as well as targeting and treating conditions that predispose to CVD, are now emerging concerns among physicians.

ABSTRACTListeria monocytogenescan be used to deliver protein antigens or DNA and mRNA encoding such antigens directly into the cytosol of host cells because of its intracellular lifestyle. In this study, we compare the in vivo efficiencies of activation of antigen-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells when the antigen is secreted by L. monocytogenesor when antigen-encoding plasmid DNA or mRNA is released by self-destructing strains of L. monocytogenes. Infection of mice with self-destructing L. monocytogenescarriers delivering mRNA that encodes a nonsecreted form of ovalbumin (OVA) resulted in a significant OVA-specific CD8 T-cell response. In contrast, infection with L. monocytogenesdelivering OVA-encoding DNA failed to generate specific T cells. Secretion of OVA by the carrier bacteria yielded the strongest immune response involving OVA-specific CD8 and CD4 T cells. In addition, we investigated the antigen delivery capacity of a self-destructing, virulence-attenuated L. monocytogenes aroA/Bmutant. In contrast to the wild-type strain, this mutant exhibited only marginal liver toxicity when high doses (5 × 107CFU per animal administered intravenously) were used, and it was also able to deliver sufficient amounts of secreted OVA into mice. Therefore, the results presented here could lay the groundwork for a rational combination of L. monocytogenesas an attenuated carrier for the delivery of protein and nucleic acid vaccines in novel vaccination strategies.

Previous Randomised controlled trials (RCT) evaluating chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in non-hospitalised COVID-19 patients have found no significant difference in hospitalisation rates. However, low statistical power precluded definitive answers.

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common type of cancer worldwide with high incidences in Asia, Central, and South American countries. This patchy distribution means that GC studies are neglected by large research centers from developed countries. The need for further understanding of this complex disease, including the local importance of epidemiological factors and the rich ancestral admixture found in Brazil, stimulated the implementation of the GE4GAC project. GE4GAC aims to embrace epidemiological, clinical, molecular and microbiological data from Brazilian controls and patients with malignant and pre-malignant gastric disease. In this letter, we summarize the main goals of the project, including subject and sample accrual and current findings.