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In this retrospective study on 141 HIV-positive subjects, allergy was studied by a specific questionnaire and the Phadia-Top-Test, an in vitro screening test detecting specific IgE; both were correlated to the patient's history, clinical symptoms and the treatment used. Allergy was studied in reference to HIV-negative controls and in relation to the clinical and biological subgroups of HIV patients. The application of the x2 test demonstrated a high incidence of allergy and a specific relation to the HIV infection compared to the controls as well as in relation to the clinical stage of the infection. Atopy was not specifically related to the HIV infection despite the higher frequency found in the AIDS-IKEL group. A significant number (21%) of patients with T4 > 300/μ1 considered immunocompetent presented clinical manifestations of AIDS-IKEL and 100% of these patients were allergic. A significant number (19%) of patients with T4 < 300/μ1 considered immunodeficient were asymptomatic and 75% of them were allergic. Thus allergic symptoms may transiently be the only clinical manifestations in HIV infection and possibly a co-factor for the evolution of the disease due to the immunomodulatory function of the mediators, the cytokines and the proteases released during allergic reaction.

Cocaine remains the second most commonly used and trafficked illicit drug in the world after cannabis. This psychostimulant drug has become an essential part of the world drug scene with a different use among countries. Prevalence of cocaine use (lifetime, last year, last month use) is particulary high among males aged between 15 and 34 years. Five per cent of cocaine users will develop a substance- dependence during the first year of use, and 20% of these will become long-term cocaine-dependent patients. The number of patients entering drug treatment for primary cocaine use has been increasing in Europe for several years. Cocaine addiction is a worldwide public health problem, which has somatic, psychological, psychiatric, socio-economic and judicial complications. This article aims to provide the clinician with a detailed description of the clinical aspects, the adverse effects and the complications of cocaine addiction. Literature searches were conducted for the period from January 1985 to February 2012 using PubMed, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and Google Scholar.

In this retrospective study 141 HIV positive subjects were included. Allergy was studied by a specific questionnaire and the Phadia Top Test, an in vitro screening test for specific IgE. Both were related to the patients' history, clinical symptoms and the treatment used. Allergy was studied in reference to HIV negative controls and in relation to the clinical and biological subgroups of HIV patients. The statistical analysis (x 2 test) demonstrated a relationship between allergy and HIV infection and the clinical stage of AIDS-IKEL among patients with CD4300 microliters, which may suggest that allergy contributes to the functional deficiency of these cells. We also demonstrated a high frequency of hypersensitivity reactions (75%) in HIV asymptomatic patients with CD4300 microliters, which indicates that allergy could contribute to the early destruction of these cells. The allergic patients declared to be hypersensitive before contamination. Both mechanisms, functional deficiency and destruction of CD4 T-lymphocytes could be the result of the mediators, cytokines and enzymes released from the mast cells during IgE allergic reaction. Thus this study demonstrated that allergy could be a predisposing factor for the contamination and a polyvalent co-factor for the clinical and biologic evolution of HIV infection.

This multicenter retrospective study concerns 594 cases of HIV-1 positive patients. The majority were asymptomatic. Some had Aids-related complex and some had AIDS. They were all seen in seven hospitals of the western outskirts of Paris and in one Paris hospital between 1983 and 1988. There was a predominance of homosexuals and of cases of AIDS in the center of Paris. Intravenous (IV) drug users and asymptomatic cases were more numerous in the city outskirts, a reflection of the populations at risk around each hospital. The proportion of cases of AIDS was lower among IV drug users than among homosexuals or bisexuals probably due to the fact that the viral infection was discovered at an earlier stage in a population contaminated at a later date or to the tendency to ask for the test "systematically" in drug addicts. 22% of the cases were women with a sex ratio of 3.5. HIV infection was attributed to use of intravenous drugs in 51% and to heterosexual transmission in 18% of the women. But the incidence of heterosexual transmission increased significantly, essentially in women. Overall, the incidence of infection by the HIV 1 has decreased since 1986. A number of recent publications seem to indicate the same tendency. But this fundamental observation remains to be validated by further studies. The yearly incidence of AIDS increases. The 5 year calculated actuarial rate of probability of remaining asymptomatic decreased to 40% in 385 initially asymptomatic patients.

The fast growth of AIDS augurs, in the coming years, that the surgical complications will become more frequent. Of some 680 patients under medical treatment for HIV, in Laennec’s Hospital, 106 were op

To define the medical characteristics of intravascular drug users in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, we examined 280 men, of whom 235 were infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), being treated in a rehabilitation center. The patients used mainly opium, often in shooting galleries (50%). The prevalence of oral candidiasis (58%) and zoster infection (20%) was high in HIV-seropositive patients, whereas oral hairy leukoplasia and Kaposi's sarcoma were absent. The prevalence of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome was 24%. More than 80% of the patients had infections with hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, cytomegalovirus, or human T cell lym- photropic virus type-1. The CD4 1 cell counts correlated well with viral load. Only HIV-1 subtype E was detected in the 30 patients tested. A cohort study of HIV-infected subjects in this population seems feasible, and would permit introduction of anti-retroviral therapy The large number of HIV-seronegative subjects sharing the same at-risk practices as the HIV-infected subjects raises the possibility of natural protection in this population.

In the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I) there were 3,479 persons aged 65-74 years corresponding to 12,773,000 in this age group in the total population. Presented here are major findings on the nutritional status of this age group in respect to 1) dietary intake (based on a 24-hour recall) and dietary frequency, 2) selected biochemical and hematological tests, 3) prevalences of clinical signs associated with deficiencies of nine essential nutrients, and 4) selected anthropometric measurements. These findings will be presented by sex, two racial groups (black and white), and two income groups (poverty index ratio (PIR) below and above unity). Some correlations between clinical signs and dietary intake comparing persons with signs and those without signs are shown. Some trends between dietary intake and biochemical values, on the one hand, and biochemical values and clinical signs, on the other hand, will be touched upon. The findings are discussed in relation to dietary adequacy and nutritional risk of the different subgroups. Some paradoxical results are discussed and the need for urgent research on the so-called secondary or conditioned deficiencies specifically in this age group are pointed out.

A histopathologic and immunopathologic study of changes in small vessels has been carried out on 168 amputated lower extremities. No difference was found in respect to the frequency of thrombotic or atheromatous lesions among the various clinical disease categories necessitating amputation. An increased frequency of inflammatory lesions of small vessels was found only in cases of osteomyelitis. The frequency of hemodynamic lesions was highest in nondiabetic subjects with arteriosclerosis, and second highest in diabetic subjects with arteriosclerosis, followed by thromboangiitis obliterans. Proliferative endothelial lesions were encountered most frequently in diabetes with arteriosclerosis, in osteogenic sarcoma, and in osteomyelitis. Such proliferative lesions were encountered in 80 per cent of diabetic subjects and in 20 per cent of nondiabetic individuals. Fluorescent insulin binding by small vessels was found in 70 per cent of diabetic subjects with proliferative vascular lesions and in only 30 per cent of diabetic individuals without this proliferative microangiopathy. Such insulin binding was observed in 54 per cent of diabetic subjects and in only about 15 per cent of nondiabetic patients. The binding of fluorescent rabbit antihuman globulin was observed in 56 per cent of diabetic subjects and in 22 per cent of nondiabetic patients. These findings are discussed in relation to the thesis that there may be diseases of immune origin primarily involving small peripheral vessels. The peripheral vascular disease of diabetes is particularly stressed here because it is probably the most common form of such disease of immune origin. Such pathologic processes in small vessels may secondarily involve large cognate system arteries, either by creating an increased peripheral resistance to the flow of blood or when lesions involve the vasa vasorum, there may be impairment of local nutrition. Either or both of these phenomena could intensify the development of arteriosclerosis of large trunk arteries. Although no attempt has been made here to justify or negate the existence of thromboangiitis obliterans as a disease entity, it has been pointed out that at least some cases with this diagnosis may have a similar immune origin.

Eight percent of Negroes between the ages of 45 to 59 had hepatomegaly. Tongue signs and absent knee and ankle jerks were more prevalent in Negroes ages 45 to 74; they also had lower urinary excretion of thiamine and riboflavin than Whites. Bowed legs and knock knees were more frequent in Negroes ages 1 to 17 and Negro women 18 to 44. Prevalence of bleeding, swollen gums was highest in Negroes ages 45 to 59. Both grade I and II goiter were more prevalent in Negroes at all ages except men 18 to 59. Chvostek's sign indicating possible calcium deficiency was more frequent in Negroes at all ages with two exceptions. Major anthropometric findings will also be presented.

The effects of race, age, and sex on selected blood components for 429 black and white adults over 34 year in southwest Mississippi were studied. Fasting blood was collected early in the morning. Whole blood was used for the determination of hematocrit and hemoglobin. The sera were used for the analysis of iron, glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, vitamin C, alkaline phosphatase, and protein and its fractions such as albumin, alpha-, beta-, and gamma-globulins. The data of whites versus blacks, males versus females, and those under versus over 60 years were compared. A significant racial difference was observed for all selected blood components except alpha-1-globulin, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase. Albumin, alpha-2-globulin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum iron, triglycerides, and vitamin C were significantly higher in whites than in blacks and total protein, beta-1- and gamma-globulins and glucose were significantly higher in blacks than in whites. Males had higher levels of alpha-1- and gamma-globulins, hemoglobin, and hematocrit, and females had higher levels of cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase. Those 60 years and over had higher gamma-globulin and alkaline phosphatase, while adults under 60 years had higher hematocrit. Although results of this study showed significant differences between the races for certain blood parameters and suggest that these differences should be considered in determining guidelines for nutritional evaluation and criteria of diagnosing diseases, further studies are needed to determine the contributions of environment, economic status, and nutritional status to these differences.

Some of the major findings from the First Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the United States were presented related to the Nutritional Status of the American people. These findings cover a range from possible deficiencies to possible escesses. Among the deficiencies, iron is the most frequent, affecting particularly young children and women of childbearing age as reflected by relatively low intakes and relatively high prevalences of low hemoglobin values and percent transferrin saturations. Mean hemoglobin values of blacks were significantly lower than those of whites in spite of higher iron intakes in many black females. Low mean intakes of calcium in black women were found associated with higher prevalences of Chvostek's sign, and low mean vitamin A intakes in younger black men and women of all ages were associated with follicular hyperkeratosis. On the excess side of the range were total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol intakes which are among the highest known. These high intakes are associated with relatively high serum cholesterol levels and a high frequency of obesity. Obesity in white women aged 20-45 years was associated with a lower reported caloric intake and a lower exercise score.

Mean serum magnesium values with one standard deviation are presented for 224 women during pregnancy and 1559 women taking birth control pills, with 4145 women, aged 15-49 years, as controls. In addition, similar data are presented for 2,884 women, aged 50-74 years, after menopause. All these women were surveyed in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in the United States of America, 1971-1974 (NHANES I). Information on use of birth control pills is based on two questions taken from the NHANES I medical history interview. Pregnant women had significantly lower serum magnesium values than controls (nonpregnant and no birth control pills), regardless of age or race. Women on the pill also showed significantly lower serum magnesium values than other nonpregnant women of similar age, but the differences were much smaller than those between pregnant women and controls. Women older than 50 years (postmenopausal women) had significantly higher serum magnesium values than premenopausal women. These findings are compared with similar findings from other studies in the United States and other parts of the world.

Serum magnesium has been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in a national sample of the United States population between 1971 and 1974. Mean values and percentile distributions are presented for ages 1-74 in males and females in two racial groups. Mean values decreased in both sexes from age 1 to ages 12-24. In females, they increased again after age 25, while males showed little change after age 17. Small sex differences were observed between ages 18 and 45, with men having higher levels than women. Both white males and females had higher serum levels than black males and females of the same age. These differences were statistically significant in many age groups, particularly in young and middle-aged adults. These data are unique inasmuch as they represent the only broad population measurements of serum magnesium in the United States. No comparable data exist as far as is known. The values shown can be considered as normative for the U.S. population. A review of the literature with comparable data was done and results are included; a discussion of the findings from these studies is presented.

Blood pressure levels are influenced by diet, an important extrinsic factor. Evidence for this influence comes mainly from the treatment of hypertension by various dietary regimens over the past forty years. 1–6 It was not known, however, whether apparently healthy people, comparable in other important aspects (such as age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status) but eating different diets, would also show this influence of diet on their blood pressure levels. In a previous paper 70 the author reviewed sixty-three papers appearing in the medical and anthropological literature of the last forty-five years, dealing with blood pressure measurements in Chinese and American people, 7–21 in relation to diet and blood pressure 22–39 and some constitutional factors such as weight, height, body build, and blood pressure. 40–69 From this review it became apparent that roughly comparable groups of Chinese students 7–17 in China had a considerable lower blood pressure than Caucasian students in the United States. 18–21 There was some suggestive evidence that differences in diet may affect blood pressure levels in a few highly selected groups. 22–25 Furthermore, there were some indications that such intrinsic factors as weight and body build have a bearing on blood pressure. None of these tentative conclusions, however, was supported by sufficient evidence. Therefore, answers were sought to these questions. 1.1. Do comparable groups of Chinese have significantly lower blood pressure than Caucasians? 2.2. Do differences in diet account for differences in blood pressure, if any, between such groups? 3.3. What other factors may play a role in determining differences in blood pressure, if any, in these two racial groups?