The overall objective of this study is to develop and evaluate a social group work empowerment programme which is aimed at alcohol dependent elderly people's needs and strengths. The thesis consists of four sections: Section A refers to the problem statement, research objectives and procedures which were followed. Furthermore the limitations of this study, the definition of key words as well as the composition of the research report are discussed. The problem statement can be condensed as follows: o Journals all over the world have been pleading for decades that alcohol dependent clients should be exposed to special developed treatment programmes. Opposed to this, it was found that treatment centres in South Africa use one programme for all their clients, irrespective of age. This entails an unfair and unjust service delivery model. From these findings a need for a specialized treatment programme for alcohol dependant clients was identified. o The strengths perspective has been successfully implemented in various service areas of social work. Unfortunately it has not yet been implemented in a controlled study with alcohol dependent elderly through group work services. The problem statement leads to four research aims. Developmental and Utilization Research (DR & U-model) was used as the overall research model. This model was implemented within a mixed methodological design model. Interviews and experimental research were used as quantitative approaches, although some qualitative data were also reported. A case study, as a qualitative approach, was also used. Literature studies were conducted on the themes of alcoholism, social group work, as well as the strengths perspective. Section B consists of the four articles that form the report about the research outcomes. Each article is a report about a particular sub-project of the research and each has, as a self-contained unit, an own research aim, research method and report. Each of these is linked with the central aim, objectives and content of the umbrella research project. The four articles are: Article 1: Profile of alcohol dependent elderly people A comprehensive profile of alcohol dependent elderly is drafted based on the results of interviews and case studies with 56 aged participants. Various strengths, such as a spouse, of alcohol dependent elderly were identified. On the other hand needs, such as effective communication skills, were also identified. Article 2: The nature and practice of a strengths perspective with alcohol dependent elderly people The history of the strengths perspective is outlined within a South African and international context. From the literature study as well as interviews with the aged participants (N=56) and social work practitioners (N=27) various strengths and qualities group work services with alcohol dependent elderly people. Opposed to this, it was found that although this perspective holds many advantages for the alcohol dependent elderly person, it is presently not practised at registered treatment centres in South Africa that were involved in this investigation. Advantages, disadvantages and principles of this perspective are also discussed. Article 3: A social group work empowerment programme with alcohol dependent elderly people A social group work empowerment programme was developed for alcohol dependent elderly, aimed at their special needs, strengths and challenges. The programme was developed in the spirit of empowerment, a strengths perspective, healing and wholeness, as well as music therapy. Thirteen group meetings, such as communication, conflict management, handling of mild depression, managing of loss, HIV/Aids and the aged person, as well as religion and spirituality in old age, were developed and presented to the client group. Special concerns for group work with the aged, such as to use a loud voice and to speak clearly, were identified from the literature and empirical research, and was taken into account during the programme presentation. Article 4: The effect of a social group work empowerment programme on the social functioning of alcohol dependent elderly people The programme was implemented with eight (N=8) aged participants in an experimental group. Eight (N=8) aged participants was in a comparative group and they received the current group work programme offered by the targeted treatment centre. The shortened Affectometer 2 (Kammann & Nett) and Personal Multi-Screening Inventory (Perspective College) were used as quantitative measuring tools at four occasions with both groups. Added to that, the experimental group completed a self-developed qualitative questionnaire once after intervention. According to the quantitative data neither the empowerment programme, nor the current group work programme improved the social function of the alcohol dependent elderly people The qualitative data showed exactly the opposite findings for the experimental group. In Section C a summary of the findings and conclusions of the full research project is provided. Furthermore some recommendations are provided, followed by a discussion on the contribution of the study. Section D consists of various addenda, such as the interview schedules that were used for data collection purposes. The thesis is concluded with a compound bibliography. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006

Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The overall objective of this study is to develop and evaluate a social group work empowerment programme which is aimed at alcohol dependent elderly people's needs and strengths. The thesis consists of four sections: Section A refers to the problem statement, research objectives and procedures which were followed. Furthermore the limitations of this study, the definition of key words as well as the composition of the research report are discussed. The problem statement can be condensed as follows: o Journals all over the world have been pleading for decades that alcohol dependent clients should be exposed to special developed treatment programmes. Opposed to this, it was found that treatment centres in South Africa use one programme for all their clients, irrespective of age. This entails an unfair and unjust service delivery model. From these findings a need for a specialized treatment programme for alcohol dependant clients was identified. o The strengths perspective has been successfully implemented in various service areas of social work. Unfortunately it has not yet been implemented in a controlled study with alcohol dependent elderly through group work services. The problem statement leads to four research aims. Developmental and Utilization Research (DR & U-model) was used as the overall research model. This model was implemented within a mixed methodological design model. Interviews and experimental research were used as quantitative approaches, although some qualitative data were also reported. A case study, as a qualitative approach, was also used. Literature studies were conducted on the themes of alcoholism, social group work, as well as the strengths perspective. Section B consists of the four articles that form the report about the research outcomes. Each article is a report about a particular sub-project of the research and each has, as a self-contained unit, an own research aim, research method and report. Each of these is linked with the central aim, objectives and content of the umbrella research project. The four articles are: Article 1: Profile of alcohol dependent elderly people A comprehensive profile of alcohol dependent elderly is drafted based on the results of interviews and case studies with 56 aged participants. Various strengths, such as a spouse, of alcohol dependent elderly were identified. On the other hand needs, such as effective communication skills, were also identified. Article 2: The nature and practice of a strengths perspective with alcohol dependent elderly people The history of the strengths perspective is outlined within a South African and international context. From the literature study as well as interviews with the aged participants (N=56) and social work practitioners (N=27) various strengths and qualities group work services with alcohol dependent elderly people. Opposed to this, it was found that although this perspective holds many advantages for the alcohol dependent elderly person, it is presently not practised at registered treatment centres in South Africa that were involved in this investigation. Advantages, disadvantages and principles of this perspective are also discussed. Article 3: A social group work empowerment programme with alcohol dependent elderly people A social group work empowerment programme was developed for alcohol dependent elderly, aimed at their special needs, strengths and challenges. The programme was developed in the spirit of empowerment, a strengths perspective, healing and wholeness, as well as music therapy. Thirteen group meetings, such as communication, conflict management, handling of mild depression, managing of loss, HIV/Aids and the aged person, as well as religion and spirituality in old age, were developed and presented to the client group. Special concerns for group work with the aged, such as to use a loud voice and to speak clearly, were identified from the literature and empirical research, and was taken into account during the programme presentation. Article 4: The effect of a social group work empowerment programme on the social functioning of alcohol dependent elderly people The programme was implemented with eight (N=8) aged participants in an experimental group. Eight (N=8) aged participants was in a comparative group and they received the current group work programme offered by the targeted treatment centre. The shortened Affectometer 2 (Kammann & Nett) and Personal Multi-Screening Inventory (Perspective College) were used as quantitative measuring tools at four occasions with both groups. Added to that, the experimental group completed a self-developed qualitative questionnaire once after intervention. According to the quantitative data neither the empowerment programme, nor the current group work programme improved the social function of the alcohol dependent elderly people The qualitative data showed exactly the opposite findings for the experimental group. In Section C a summary of the findings and conclusions of the full research project is provided. Furthermore some recommendations are provided, followed by a discussion on the contribution of the study. Section D consists of various addenda, such as the interview schedules that were used for data collection purposes. The thesis is concluded with a compound bibliography. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Social Work))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006

The study of skeletal differences between males and females has rarely taken into account the physical change in hard tissue characteristics with the onset of advanced age. Anatomical change through degenerative modification may pose a challenge when diagnosing the sex of an unknown individual, especially if age is unknown. The aim of this study was to establish whether sexual dimorphism changes with age. This issue was addressed by using three types of procedural analyses. Firstly, standard measuring techniques were utilized to determine sex from 593 individuals. Visual (morphological) assessment was then performed on 608 individuals using sexually dimorphic traits in the distal humerus and pelvis. Lastly, over 300 individuals were analyzed with geometric morphometries using four locations on the postcranial skeleton. Younger females and males (50 years of age and younger) were then compared to older individuals (over 50 years of age) to determine if sexual dimorphism was increasing or decreasing with the onset of age. Long bone measurements of the postcranial skeleton increased with the onset of age in the most osteoporotic sample (South African white females). Males exhibited an increase in size, mainly in the knee and elbow joints, and black females remained static in their measurements with age. Older white females especially can sometimes incorrectly be misclassified as males. Visual techniques indicated that all populations have similar non-metric morphology in the distal humerus and pelvis. Classification accuracies in females decreased when viewing the distal humerus, indicating a decrease in sexual dimorphism at this location. Females appeared static in their pelvic morphology with the onset of age. Males remained sexually dimorphic throughout life in the humerus and pelvis. Geometric morphometries showed that the morphology of the distal humerus is sexually dimorphic, and does not change with age. Morphometries also confirmed the marked sexual dimorphism in the pelvis, and showed virtually no change in sexual dimorphism when comparing young to old groups. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Anatomy / Unrestricted

Выпускная квалификационная работа посвящена исследованию феноменов самоактуализации, мотивации работающих пенсионеров в контексте удовлетворенности жизнью. Актуальность исследования заключается в недостаточной изученности данных феноменов, как и указанного возрастного периода в целом. Объектом исследования явилась самоактуализация личности в пенсионном возрасте. Предметом исследования стали самоактуализация личности и мотивация работающих пенсионеров в контексте удовлетворенности жизнью. Целью исследования стало выявление взаимосвязи между самоактуализацией, мотивацией и удовлетворенностью качеством жизни у людей пенсионного возраста в зависимости от их профессиональной занятости. В результате нами была выдвинута гипотеза, что между уровнями самоактуализации, мотивации и удовлетворенности качеством жизни у неработающих и работающих пенсионеров существует взаимосвязь, а также могут присутствовать различия в характере этой взаимосвязи. Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, выводов по главам, заключения, списка использованной литературы и приложений. Во введении раскрывается актуальность исследования, определяются объект и предмет исследования, ставятся цель и задачи, исходя из которых выдвигается гипотеза исследования. Также во введении указываются теоретико-методологические основания исследования, методы и эмпирическая база. В первой главе самоактуализация, мотивация и удовлетворенность качеством жизни в пенсионном возрасте рассмотрены в теоретических аспектах этих конструктов. Проведен теоретический анализ, в котором раскрыты понятия самоактуализации, мотивации и удовлетворенности качеством жизни в данном возрастном периоде. Выводы по первой главе представляют собой итоги по изучению теоретического материала. Вторая глава представляет собой эмпирическую часть исследования. В ней представлены: описание выборки испытуемых, методики исследования, сравнительный и корреляционный анализы. Выборка испытуемых состоит из 231 человека пенсионного возраста, разделенных по критерию профессиональной занятости. В качестве диагностического инструментария использовались методики: метод мотивационной индукции Ж. Нюттена, опросник по оценке удовлетворенности качеством жизни, самоактуализационный тест CAT. Выводы по второй главе включают в себя основные результаты эмпирического исследования. В заключении обобщены результаты по теоретической и эмпирической частям исследования. Обозначены выводы по выдвинутой гипотезе, а также обоснована практическая значимость исследования. / The final qualifying work is devoted to the study of the phenomena of self-actualization, motivation of working pensioners in the context of life satisfaction. The relevance of the study lies in the insufficient knowledge of these phenomena, as well as of the indicated age period as a whole. The object of the research was the self-actualization of a person at retirement age. The subject of the research was the self-actualization of the personality and the motivation of working pensioners in the context of life satisfaction. The aim of the study was to identify the relationship between self-actualization, motivation and satisfaction with the quality of life in people of retirement age, depending on their professional employment. As a result, we put forward a hypothesis that there is a relationship between the levels of self-actualization, motivation and satisfaction with the quality of life of non-working and working pensioners, and there may also be differences in the nature of this relationship. The master's thesis consists of an introduction, two chapters, chapter conclusions, a conclusion, a bibliography and annexes. The introduction reveals the relevance of the research, defines the object and subject of research, sets the goal and objectives, based on which the hypothesis of the research is put forward. Also, the introduction indicates the theoretical and methodological foundations of the study, methods and empirical base. In the first chapter, self-actualization, motivation, and satisfaction with the quality of life at retirement age are considered in the theoretical aspects of these constructs. A theoretical analysis is carried out, which reveals the concepts of self-actualization, motivation and satisfaction with the quality of life in a given age period. Conclusions for the first chapter represent the results of the study of theoretical material. The second chapter is the empirical part of the study. It presents: a description of the sample of subjects, research methods, comparative and correlation analyzes. The sample of subjects consists of 231 people of retirement age, divided by the criterion of professional employment. The following methods were used as diagnostic tools: the method of motivational induction by J. Nütten, a questionnaire for assessing satisfaction with the quality of life, and the self-actualization test CAT. The conclusions of the second chapter include the main findings of the empirical study. In the conclusion, the results of the theoretical and empirical parts of the study are summarized. The conclusions on the hypothesis put forward are indicated, and the practical significance of the study is substantiated.

A proporção de idosos portadores da síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (aids) tem aumentado de maneira importante nos últimos anos e, até a presente data, existem poucos estudos que abordam a infecção nessa população especial. As particularidades imunológicas decorrentes do fenômeno da imunossenescência podem acarretar mudanças significativas na evolução da infecção pelo HIV, bem como na resposta ao tratamento. O objetivo maior desta Tese foi avaliar o impacto da idade na recuperação funcional do sistema imune de pacientes com aids acima de 55 anos, quando tratados adequadamente com terapia anti-retroviral, caracterizando a resultante imunológica da idade avançada e da infecção pelo HIV. Para tanto, foram estudados quatro grupos experimentais: indivíduos jovens saudáveis ou com aids, e indivíduos acima de 55 anos saudáveis ou com aids. Todos os pacientes com aids estavam recebendo terapia anti-retroviral, em sucesso terapêutico. No primeiro artigo apresentado, avaliamos resposta linfoproliferativa e produção de citocinas in vitro e resposta humoral in vivo mediante desafio antigênico com toxóide tetânico (TT) em indivíduos previamente vacinados contra o tétano. Os resultados mostraram deficiências imunológicas significativas relacionadas à idade avançada no que diz respeito a produção de IgG anti-TT, resposta linfoproliferativa e produção de IFN-. Em contrapartida, a produção de IL-10 foi significativamente maior nos indivíduos acima de 55 anos, infectados ou não pelo HIV. No segundo artigo, foram caracterizadas as subpopulações de células T mediante estímulo policlonal ou específico com antígenos do envelope do HIV (Env). Em culturas não-estimuladas de PBMC do grupo com aids e idade avançada, observamos frequência reduzida de células T naive e de memória central, associada a aumento de células T efetoras. Quando estimuladas policlonalmente, essas culturas apresentaram deficiência na produção de IFN- e hiperprodução de IL-10, como na resposta ao TT. Mediante estímulo específico com Env, a citometria de fluxo revelou frequência elevada de células T CD4+FoxP3-CD152+ com forte marcação intracelular para IL-10, indicando predomínio do fenótipo Tr-1, e não das células Treg clássicas. Interessantemente, em ambos os artigos, a replicação viral in vitro foi significativamente menor nos pacientes com aids acima de 55 anos, condizendo com a excelente resposta virológica desses pacientes ao tratamento antirretroviral. A neutralização da IL-10 com anticorpo anti-IL-10 nas culturas ativadas pelos peptídeos Env aumentou de forma significativa a replicação viral no sobrenadante. Tanto na resposta ao TT quanto aos peptídeos Env, o bloqueio da IL-10 aumentou os níveis de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, mas não melhorou a produção de IFN- dos pacientes acima de 55 anos com aids. Coletivamente, os achados dessa Tese revelam distúrbios em vários segmentos da resposta imune, particularmente no compartimento Th1, de pacientes acima 55 anos com aids e adequadamente tratados, sugerindo que, para esses pacientes, a reconstituição imune pós-tratamento não ocorre com a mesma eficácia que no jovem. Apesar do aumento da produção de IL-10 provavelmente contribuir, ao menos em parte, para o controle virológico, pode comprometer a resposta tanto ao próprio HIV, quanto a outros desafios antigênicos, a exemplo do toxóide tetânico. Sugere-se, portanto, a necessidade de recomendações específicas de manejo clínico para esse grupo de pacientes / The proportion of aged persons living with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) has importantly increased in recent years and, up to the present moment, there are few studies that address the infection in this particular population. The immunological nuances resulting from the immunosenescence phenomenon may promote significant alterations in the clinical course of HIV infection, as well as in treatment response. The major purpose of this Thesis was to evaluate the impact of age on the functional immune recovery in aids patients aged more than 55 years, when adequately treated with anti-retroviral therapy, characterizing the immunological result of advanced age and HIV infection. Thus, four experimental groups were enrolled: healthy or HIV-infected young adults, and healthy or HIV-infected adults over 55 years old. All the HIV-infected patients had diagnosis of aids and were under anti-retroviral treatment with therapeutic success. In the first presented article, we evaluated the lymphoproliferative response and cytokine production in vitro and humoral response in vivo, after antigenic challenge with tetanus toxoid (TT) in previously immunized individuals against tetanus. The results revealed significant age-related immunological impairments concerning anti-TT IgG production, lymphoproliferative response and production of IFN-. On the other hand, the production of IL-10 significantly higher in individuals aged more the 55 years, HIV-infected or not. In the second article, T cell subsets were characterized after polyclonal activation or specific stimulus with antigens derived from the HIV envelope (Env). In fresh unstimulated PBMC cultures obtained from the aged aids patients, there was a reduced frequency of naïve and central memory T cells, associated with increased frequency of effector T cells. When polyclonally stimulated, these cultures showed deficient production of IFN- and hyperproduction of IL-10, like in response to TT. In Env-stimulated cultures, flow cytometry revealed high frequency of T CD4+FoxP3-CD152+ T cells with strong intracellular staining for IL-10, indicating a dominant Tr-1 phenotype, and not the classical Treg cells. Interestingly, in both articles, the viral replication in vitro was significantly lower aids patients over 55 years old, which is in consonance with their excellent virological response to anti-retroviral treatment. IL-10 neutralization with anti-IL-10 antibody in Env-activated cultures enhanced the viral replication in culture supernantants. Both in TT and in Env-peptides-stimulated cultures, the IL-10 blockade enhanced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but it did not improve IFN- production from aged aids patients. Altogether, the results reported in this Thesis reveal disturbances in several segments of the immune response, particularly in the Th1 compartment, of anti-retroviral-treated aids patients older than 55 years, suggesting that, for these patients, immune reconstitution after treatment does not occur with the same efficacy as in young patients. And although the enhanced IL-10 production probably contributes, at least in part, to the virological control, it can compromise the immune response both to HIV and to other antigenic challenges, such as tetanus toxoid. It is suggested, therefore, the need for specific recommendations regarding the clinical management of these patients

A proporção de idosos portadores da síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (aids) tem aumentado de maneira importante nos últimos anos e, até a presente data, existem poucos estudos que abordam a infecção nessa população especial. As particularidades imunológicas decorrentes do fenômeno da imunossenescência podem acarretar mudanças significativas na evolução da infecção pelo HIV, bem como na resposta ao tratamento. O objetivo maior desta Tese foi avaliar o impacto da idade na recuperação funcional do sistema imune de pacientes com aids acima de 55 anos, quando tratados adequadamente com terapia anti-retroviral, caracterizando a resultante imunológica da idade avançada e da infecção pelo HIV. Para tanto, foram estudados quatro grupos experimentais: indivíduos jovens saudáveis ou com aids, e indivíduos acima de 55 anos saudáveis ou com aids. Todos os pacientes com aids estavam recebendo terapia anti-retroviral, em sucesso terapêutico. No primeiro artigo apresentado, avaliamos resposta linfoproliferativa e produção de citocinas in vitro e resposta humoral in vivo mediante desafio antigênico com toxóide tetânico (TT) em indivíduos previamente vacinados contra o tétano. Os resultados mostraram deficiências imunológicas significativas relacionadas à idade avançada no que diz respeito a produção de IgG anti-TT, resposta linfoproliferativa e produção de IFN-. Em contrapartida, a produção de IL-10 foi significativamente maior nos indivíduos acima de 55 anos, infectados ou não pelo HIV. No segundo artigo, foram caracterizadas as subpopulações de células T mediante estímulo policlonal ou específico com antígenos do envelope do HIV (Env). Em culturas não-estimuladas de PBMC do grupo com aids e idade avançada, observamos frequência reduzida de células T naive e de memória central, associada a aumento de células T efetoras. Quando estimuladas policlonalmente, essas culturas apresentaram deficiência na produção de IFN- e hiperprodução de IL-10, como na resposta ao TT. Mediante estímulo específico com Env, a citometria de fluxo revelou frequência elevada de células T CD4+FoxP3-CD152+ com forte marcação intracelular para IL-10, indicando predomínio do fenótipo Tr-1, e não das células Treg clássicas. Interessantemente, em ambos os artigos, a replicação viral in vitro foi significativamente menor nos pacientes com aids acima de 55 anos, condizendo com a excelente resposta virológica desses pacientes ao tratamento antirretroviral. A neutralização da IL-10 com anticorpo anti-IL-10 nas culturas ativadas pelos peptídeos Env aumentou de forma significativa a replicação viral no sobrenadante. Tanto na resposta ao TT quanto aos peptídeos Env, o bloqueio da IL-10 aumentou os níveis de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, mas não melhorou a produção de IFN- dos pacientes acima de 55 anos com aids. Coletivamente, os achados dessa Tese revelam distúrbios em vários segmentos da resposta imune, particularmente no compartimento Th1, de pacientes acima 55 anos com aids e adequadamente tratados, sugerindo que, para esses pacientes, a reconstituição imune pós-tratamento não ocorre com a mesma eficácia que no jovem. Apesar do aumento da produção de IL-10 provavelmente contribuir, ao menos em parte, para o controle virológico, pode comprometer a resposta tanto ao próprio HIV, quanto a outros desafios antigênicos, a exemplo do toxóide tetânico. Sugere-se, portanto, a necessidade de recomendações específicas de manejo clínico para esse grupo de pacientes / The proportion of aged persons living with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (aids) has importantly increased in recent years and, up to the present moment, there are few studies that address the infection in this particular population. The immunological nuances resulting from the immunosenescence phenomenon may promote significant alterations in the clinical course of HIV infection, as well as in treatment response. The major purpose of this Thesis was to evaluate the impact of age on the functional immune recovery in aids patients aged more than 55 years, when adequately treated with anti-retroviral therapy, characterizing the immunological result of advanced age and HIV infection. Thus, four experimental groups were enrolled: healthy or HIV-infected young adults, and healthy or HIV-infected adults over 55 years old. All the HIV-infected patients had diagnosis of aids and were under anti-retroviral treatment with therapeutic success. In the first presented article, we evaluated the lymphoproliferative response and cytokine production in vitro and humoral response in vivo, after antigenic challenge with tetanus toxoid (TT) in previously immunized individuals against tetanus. The results revealed significant age-related immunological impairments concerning anti-TT IgG production, lymphoproliferative response and production of IFN-. On the other hand, the production of IL-10 significantly higher in individuals aged more the 55 years, HIV-infected or not. In the second article, T cell subsets were characterized after polyclonal activation or specific stimulus with antigens derived from the HIV envelope (Env). In fresh unstimulated PBMC cultures obtained from the aged aids patients, there was a reduced frequency of naïve and central memory T cells, associated with increased frequency of effector T cells. When polyclonally stimulated, these cultures showed deficient production of IFN- and hyperproduction of IL-10, like in response to TT. In Env-stimulated cultures, flow cytometry revealed high frequency of T CD4+FoxP3-CD152+ T cells with strong intracellular staining for IL-10, indicating a dominant Tr-1 phenotype, and not the classical Treg cells. Interestingly, in both articles, the viral replication in vitro was significantly lower aids patients over 55 years old, which is in consonance with their excellent virological response to anti-retroviral treatment. IL-10 neutralization with anti-IL-10 antibody in Env-activated cultures enhanced the viral replication in culture supernantants. Both in TT and in Env-peptides-stimulated cultures, the IL-10 blockade enhanced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but it did not improve IFN- production from aged aids patients. Altogether, the results reported in this Thesis reveal disturbances in several segments of the immune response, particularly in the Th1 compartment, of anti-retroviral-treated aids patients older than 55 years, suggesting that, for these patients, immune reconstitution after treatment does not occur with the same efficacy as in young patients. And although the enhanced IL-10 production probably contributes, at least in part, to the virological control, it can compromise the immune response both to HIV and to other antigenic challenges, such as tetanus toxoid. It is suggested, therefore, the need for specific recommendations regarding the clinical management of these patients

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

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