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J Alix

Publications and source records attributed to J Alix.

12 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

The HIV infection in Europe: large East-West disparity.

In 2001, western Europe faces an endemic situation for AIDS (22.8 cases per million population) and for HIV infection (54.9 cases per million), the most affected groups remaining injecting drug users and the homo/bisexual men. However, numbers of new HIV diagnoses are increasing among persons infected through heterosexual contact. Central Europe have been relatively spared, with AIDS incidence under 6 cases per million per year, and new HIV diagnoses between 7 and 10 cases per million. On the other hand, eastern Europe shows an epidemic increase in the number of newly diagnosed HIV infections (233 cases in 1994, around 100,000 reported cases in 2001, ie 349 cases per million population) affecting all countries.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2001

Surveillance of HIV/AIDS in Europe: update at end 2000.

In the Western area of Europe, AIDS incidence decreased by 12% in 2000 compared to 1999 (22 cases per million population). In the Eastern area, the incidence of notified cases remained low, but newly diagnosed cases are still rising. In the Centre, the rates of AIDS cases and HIV infections remain low. EuroHIV (European Centre for the Epidemiological of AIDS) coordinates the surveillance of AIDS in the WHO European Region since 1984 and of newly diagnosed HIV infection since 1999. The main findings of the latest update at end 2000 are presented here. To take into account the diversity of the epidemiological situation in the region, countries have been grouped into three geographic areas: the West (the 15 countries of the European Union plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Israel, Malta) the East (the 15 Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union) and the Centre (the remaining countries of the region).

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

The HIV epidemic associated with injecting drug use in Europe: geographic and time trends.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the magnitude and trends of the HIV epidemic associated with injecting drug use in Europe. METHODS: AIDS cases associated with injecting drug users (IDU) diagnosed through 1995 were analysed, including IDU, homo-/bisexual IDU, heterosexual partners of IDU and children whose mothers were IDU. HIV seroprevalence studies among IDU were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 171,932 cumulative AIDS cases, 73,119 (43%) were IDU-associated (IDU, 89.0%; homo-/bisexual IDU, 3.5%: heterosexual partners of IDU, 6.2%; children with IDU mothers, 1.4%). Over 90% of IDU-associated cases were concentrated in south-western European countries with considerably higher rates in Spain (124 cases per million in 1995) than elsewhere (Italy, 68 per million; Portugal, 42 per million; France, 38 per million). During 1990-1995, incidence increased at an average annual rate of 11% overall and > 23% in central and eastern Europe; overall, incidence increased in older persons (12%) while decreasing in those aged 13-24 years (by 6%). HIV prevalence in IDU showed considerable geographic variation across and within countries. In several countries of western Europe, prevalence decreased. In the former Soviet Union, large HIV outbreaks have recently been detected among IDU through systematic HIV testing (e.g., in Ukraine, 6750 HIV infections were diagnosed in IDU tested during 1995-1996). CONCLUSIONS: IDU have played a major role in the spread of HIV in Europe. In several western European countries, the incidence of HIV acquired through drug use has declined following high rates in mid-1980s. Studies to assess current transmission are needed and prevention efforts must be maintained. In eastern Europe, emerging epidemics reinforce the urgency for prevention.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

AIDS trends in Europe: decrease in the west, increase in the east.

In 1996, 24 920 AIDS cases were reported in the WHO European Region, bringing the cumulative total to 185 808 cases including 6969 (4%) paediatric cases (<13 years). For the first time since the start of the epidemic, the annual number of cases reported d

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

Prevalence of HIV-2 infection in Europe.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is primarily caused by HIV-1. Another type of virus, HIV-2, is found mainly in certain West African countries In Europe, most of the cases of HIV-2 infection described have been in people from Africa. The objective of this study was

Journal Article↗
PubMed1984

Electrophysiological study of single Leydig cells freshly isolated from rat testis. I. Technical approach and recordings of the membrane potential in standard solution.

Single Leydig cells were isolated from rat testis by a collagenase digestion procedure and purified through a 21,000 g self generated densities gradient of 35% Percoll. A method including collagen and fibronectin was proposed to attach freshly prepared Leydig cells to the bottom of plastic Petri dishes. Four hours after the isolation of the cells, it was simultaneously possible to determine their membrane potential by a standard electrophysiological technique using intracellular microelectrodes and to judge cellular integrity by direct microscopic observations. In standard Earle's solution, changes of membrane potentials appeared to be biphasic. On 198 impaled cells, 18 +/- 1 S after the impalement was effective, the membrane potential reached a most negative value (MP1) (-37.6 +/- 0.7 mV), followed by a gradual depolarization to a steady state (MP2) (-25.1 +/- 0.6 mV) which remained constant for a few minutes. In standard Earle's solution, the membrane resistance was low or decreasing towards the most negative potential, then it increased towards the steady potential. At this state, the average value of the cell input resistance was 65.9 +/- 6.0 M omega (n = 16). No action potential was observed either in standard Earle's solution or under a depolarizing current state. It was concluded that the electrophysiological characteristics of the Leydig cell are similar to those of fibroblasts and macrophages, three types of cells with the same mesenchymal origin, present in the interstitial tissue of the rat testis. But the resting potential of the Leydig cell is higher and this secreting cell does not elicit hyperpolarizing oscillations at the steady state, under mechanical or electrical stimuli.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Some technical improvements for the voltage clamp with the double sucrose gap.

A new double sucrose gap chamber using electrodes of high stability and low resistance is described. The size of each sucrose gap and the central node can be modified independently so that this chamber is suitable for research on multicellular or unicellular excitable preparation under voltage clamp conditions. The shape of the central channel is made so as to reduce the series resistance between the preparation and the recording electrode to a minimum. A window made in the floor of the chamber allows to observe the preparation under a microscope.

Electrodes↗