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A letter to the editor commenting on the study of clinical characteristics of aquagenic pruritus in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms is presented.

Mobile phone text messages (SMS) are a promising method of health promotion, but a simple and low cost way to obtain phone numbers is required to reach a wide population. We conducted a randomised controlled trial with simultaneous brief interventions to (i) evaluate effectiveness of messages related to safer sex and sun safety and (ii) pilot the use of mobile advertising for health promotion. Mobile advertising subscribers aged 16–29 years residing in Victoria, Australia (n = 7606) were randomised to the ‘sex’ or ‘sun’ group and received eight messages during the 2008–2009 summer period. Changes in sex- and sun-related knowledge and behaviour were measured by questionnaires completed on mobile phones. At follow-up, the sex group had significantly higher sexual health knowledge and fewer sexual partners than the sun group. The sun group had no change in hat-wearing frequency compared with a significant decline in hat-wearing frequency in the sex group. This is the first study of mobile advertising for health promotion, which can successfully reach most young people. Challenges experienced with project implementation and evaluation should be considered as new technological approaches to health promotion continue to be expanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Multiple host factors may influence CD4(+) T cell reconstitution in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients after suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART). We hypothesized that residual immune activation and polymorphisms in the interleukin 7 (IL-7) receptor [alpha] (IL-7R[alpha]) gene were important for immune recovery. METHODS: We examined HIV-infected patients receiving suppressive ART (n = 96) for their IL-7R[alpha] haplotypes and measured levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), soluble CD14, and IL-7 in plasma samples collected before and after ART initiation. Levels of soluble IL-7R[alpha] were measured in HIV-infected patients with IL-7R[alpha] haplotype 2 (n = 11) and those without IL-7R[alpha] haplotype 2 (n = 22). Multivariate analysis was used to identify variables associated with faster recovery to CD4(+) T cell counts of >500 and >200 cells/[mu]L. RESULTS: Both LPS and soluble CD14 levels were significantly decreased with ART (P < .001, respectively) but remained elevated compared with uninfected controls. In a multivariate analysis, faster recovery to a CD4(+) T cell count of >500 cells/[mu]L was significantly associated with higher baseline CD4(+) T cell count, younger age, lower pre-ART LPS level, higher pre-ART soluble CD14 level, lower pre-ART IL-7 level, and IL-7R[alpha] haplotype 2 (hazard ratio, 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-2.19; P = .034). HIV-infected patients with haplotype 2 had significantly lower soluble IL-7R[alpha] levels compared with those of patients without haplotype 2 (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Both the extent of immune depletion prior to ART and IL-7R[alpha] haplotype 2 are important determinants of time to CD4(+) T cell recovery to counts of >500 cells/[mu]L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]