Death Sentence Research Articles

Is autophagy always a death sentence? A case study of highly selective cytoplasmic degradation during phloemogenesis.

The transformation of sieve elements (SEs) from meristematic cells, equipped with a full complement of organelles, to specialized transport tubes devoid of a nucleus, has long been enigmatic. We hypothesized a strong involvement of various degradation pathways, particularly macroautophagy in this context, emphasizing the importance of autophagic selectivity in the remaining viability of these cells. Experiments were performed on pioneer roots of Populus trichocarpa cultivated in rhizotrons under field conditions. Through anatomical, ultrastructural and molecular analyses, we delineate the stages of phloemogenesis and the concurrent alterations in the cytoplasmic composition of SEs. Notably, we observed not only macroautophagic structures, but also the formation of autophagic plastids, the selective degradation of specific organelles, vacuole disruption and the release of vacuolar contents. These events initially lead to localized reductions in cytoplasm density, but organelle-rich cytoplasmic phase is safeguarded from the extensive damage by a membrane system derived from the endoplasmic reticulum. SE ultimately develops into a conduit containing electron-translucent cytoplasm. Eventually, mature SE is a tube filled only by the translucent cytoplasm, with sparse organelles tethered to the cell wall. Although the activation of programmed cell death pathways was postulated, the persistence of SEs indicates that protoplast depletion is meticulously regulated by hitherto unidentified mechanisms. This research elucidates the sequential processes occurring in these cells during phloemogenesis and unveils novel insights into the mechanisms of selective autophagy.

History and Development of Death Sentencing in Indonesia: Current Policy and Regulations

The controversies on death sentencing are not new. The debates over the existence of death sentencing policies and regulations can be flashed back to the existence of human beings. Many instruments have been created, discussed, and agreed upon to protect the use of death penalty sentencing through manifesting human rights. Death sentencing, under the current view, cannot be seen and treated outside the scope of human rights issues. Indonesia has issued Law No.1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code. Meanwhile, many countries have tried to abolish the use of death sentencing, and this new law on criminal law has incorporated death sentencing in its provisions and applications by courts. The research aims to discuss the death sentencing policies and regulations in Indonesia before and after the new Criminal Code issuance in 2023. The research is normative legal research that discusses death sentencing in Indonesia. The data used in this research are secondary, which consists of primary, secondary, and tertiary legal sources. Primary legal sources will consist of laws and regulations that were and are currently applicable. Secondary legal sources are writings and journal articles that discuss death sentencing in Indonesia, besides Law No.1 of 2023. Tertiary legal sources are other sources outside the above scope that may be useful to provide more understanding of the subject matters, such as web-based sources. Analysis was conducted using a qualitative approach to describe and explain the conceptual norm and its application to death sentencing. Findings and discussion proved that irrespective of the debate over the morality of death sentencing, Indonesia still recognized the use of death sentencing in some instances, such as premeditated murder, corruption, terrorism, narcotics, and illegal drug trafficking. They came from court decisions that followed prior laws and legislations before promulgating the new Criminal Code 2023.

Death Row: an In-depth Examination of Life in a Death Cell and the Legitimacy of Capital Punishment

The concept of "death row" in prisons highlights the intricate interplay of legal and ethical dilemmas related to capital punishment. These specialized cells, located in the secure areas of correctional facilities, are designed to oversee inmates sentenced to death through strict regulations and confinement. In 2023, India saw a notable increase in its death row population, partly due to new and pending death sentences. While awaiting execution, these prisoners often face prolonged isolation, resulting in serious psychological effects like depression and anxiety. Critics contend that such conditions constitute cruel and inhumane treatment, violating human rights. There have been many cases around the world where individuals who were executed were later exonerated. Ongoing debates about the effectiveness and moral implications of the death penalty have intensified calls for reform and its elimination, making death row a contentious aspect of modern correctional systems. International organizations are advocating for humane treatment and underscoring the need for judicial reforms and a re-evaluation of death row practices.

Capital Punishment Repeal in England: A Paradigm Shift towards Restorative Justice and Human Dignity

The inherent disgracefulness of death consciously inflicted upon a person by his fellows, may make the death sentence highly untenable, from a strict humanitarian prospective. It’s here where the concerned state authorities come into action and claim that if at all the death sentence is to be retained, its imposition must be with utmost human decency ensuring evolved standards. However, the movement away from brutal and cruel punishment has been a slow yet steady process. With the gradual evolving standards of human decency and dignity, the law needs to be changed with the changing dynamism of the dynamic society. Nonetheless, the American society, being one of the oldest civilizations in the world owes to itself that the agony at the exact point of execution should be kept to the minimum. This becomes more crucial when execution is the outcome of a judicial verdict. Courts play a vital role in major social reform, and that we as a society do have certain expectations from the very independent and impartial organ of the state. Moreover, history is a witness to significant social reforms bought by amendments to the prevalent law, through judicial process. Effective judicial intervention in social controversy requires a consensus on the goals and objectives of social change, at a time in history when as a society it is our failure to agree with the goals and purpose of social change that is one of the principal causes of social unrest. Judges have traditionally been very careful to emphasize that their role is not to make the law, merely to apply it. But it is apparent that judges play a significant role in the development of law through the interpretation of both common law principles and legislative provisions. The phrase “judicial responsibility” means not just the responsibility to uphold the law; it means the overarching responsibility to do justice. Courts should realize that as long as there is life, there is room for reform

Talking morphine: Pain and prognosis in Indian cancer care.

Pain can be a pervasive feature of cancer, particularly in regions such as India, where the disease is rarely detected in its early stages. Yet over recent decades, morphine, a "gold standard" pain medicine, has been rarely used in India. This article draws on anthropological discussions of clinical disclosure in Indian cancer care to complicate assertions that this is because pain is missed or ignored by healthcare workers. Instead, in a context where the disclosing of prognoses is partial and indirect, I argue that morphine has gained a communicative function. Typically withheld until the "end of life", the drug has come to be read as a death sentence. It has become an analgesic and a prognosis. It is an object that talks in situations where direct communication is often avoided.

Do not Punish, Show Mercy: Clemency for the Condemned in Soviet Lithuania in 1954–1990

The article is concerned with the process of granting mercy to prisoners on death row in Soviet Lithuania. The Group for Granting Mercy consisting of members of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the LSSR and other Soviet institutions (the Supreme Court of the LSSR, Public Prosecutor’s Department etc.) had the right to grant (or not to grant) mercy to convicts. From 1954 the group deliberated on a permanent basis requests for mercy of condemned criminals; from 1957 it deliberated clemency requests of political prisoners sentenced to death. Every individual facing the death penalty had the right to request for clemency. Besides, such requests were often submitted by his/her family, lawyers or other persons interested in the case. The strategy of clemency requests is different for different categories of the condemned: criminals sentenced to death were inclined to appeal to feelings, wrote about their young age, no criminal past, and being under the influence; economic criminals employed legal motifs and collaboration with the investigators; condemned to death political prisoners used a certain period of time (most often the time when they were in hiding) when their attitude to the Soviet regime was not hostile and it could serve as an evidence that they could be pardoned, could improve their behaviour and become “Soviet people”. Mostly clemency requests of condemned to death criminals (31.2 % of women) were granted; requests of economic (15.4 %) or political (7.1%) prisoners with capital sentences were fewer. Over the period under discussion, the Group for Granting Mercy of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the LSSR deliberated a total of 301 requests for mercy submitted by the condemned to death, out of whom 77 individuals were pardoned. Seven more persons were absolved by the Presidium of the supreme Council of the USSR, which had more powers. Consequently, a total of 84 persons sentenced to death had their sentence commuted in the LSSS (27.9 % of all persons under death sentence).

Inner Prison of the NKGB (MGB, KGB) of Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic 1944–1959

This study discloses the 1944-1959 period history of the inner prison of NKGB (Narodny Komissariat Gosudarstvennoy bezopasnosti, English translation – The People‘s Commissariat for State Security) of Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, including MGB (Ministerstvo Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti, English translation – the Ministry for State Security) and KGB (Komitet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti, English translation – Committee for State Security) as users of this prison. The significance of this prison in the common system of prisons under State Security Institutions is analysed as well as the cases of collaboration with the prisons operating under Ministry of Internal Affairs. Inner prison routine is analysed: living conditions of prisoners, regime, etc. Direct links between the work of the Interrogation Division of the NKGB (MGB, KGB) of Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic and inner prison are disclosed, as well as the procedure of execution at the inner prison. The inner prison was the most important prison of the Soviet secret police organization (Cheka) in Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic – political prisoners of special importance were imprisoned there and interrogated in the Interrogation Division located in the same building. In the first post-war years, the inner prison was overcrowded, and prison conditions were poor. They improved just at the end of the fifth decade, because the number of imprisoned persons decreased, and bunks were installed in the cells. In the first post-war decade, during interrogation sessions, employees at the Interrogation Division used to apply not only psychological violence against prisoners, but physical violence as well. In 1953, officially, physical torture measures were prohibited, still cases of physical torturing of prisoners happened even much later. In the period 1944–1969, death sentences were carried out in the inner prison. Over one quarter of the last century, 1 019 persons were executed. Although an official method of carrying out the capital punishment used to be squad firing, the investigation of remains of those executed and buried in the burial grounds in Tuskulėnai, show that people who had been sentenced to death penalty, sometimes, during first post-war years at least, were just tortured to death.

Abstract B046: Factors influencing patient decision-making to complete Low Dose CT screening for lung cancer

Abstract As part of a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) to increase lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose CT scan (LDCT) within the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma’s tribal health system, we conducted a qualitative study to explore the barriers behind patient decisions to forego screening. Thirty eligible participants who had been in the RCT for at least one year were identified as LCS completers (n=7) or non-completers (n=23). A single interviewer completed all interviews using a semi-structured interview guide, designed to explore experiences, barriers/facilitators to LCS, factors influencing screening decisions, and suggested strategies for expanding the LCS program into the community. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Most non-completers reported having no conversations about the availability of LCS with their primary care provider (PCP) or receiving any information about the LCS program. In contrast, the completers all reported PCP-initiated discussions about the LCS program, their risk factors, and an overview of the testing process. Key themes that emerged included fears, e.g., being unsure about what the test involves, afraid of being diagnosed with lung cancer and what might follow, and afraid of dying. Some voiced concerns, e.g., feeling guilty as active smokers and being stigmatized should they be diagnosed with lung cancer. Many participants posited that there was no reason for screening without symptoms. Lack of understanding, especially about cancer care, was identified as a contributing factor. Suggested strategies to increase the reach into the community included using existing infrastructure within Choctaw Nation, such as disseminating information through the tribal newsletter, inserts in prescription refills, and notifications via the patient portal. Community education programs at local community centers, particularly around senior citizen meals, were offered as strategies to change the perception that lung cancer is a death sentence. Hosting an informational booth at the annual tribal Labor Day festival was commonly suggested. In conclusion, multiple reasons were cited for forgoing LDCT screening. In this tribal setting, findings are similar to ones documented in other settings. This suggests that interventions to overcome these challenges may build off known evidence-based interventions, such as the recommendations for cancer prevention documented by the Community Preventive Services Task Force. Addressing fears through multiple educational approaches and adapting strategies from the American Lung Association to address stigma could lead to enhanced interventions. Finally, capitalizing on tribal resources (newsletter) and tribal events to increase LCS awareness may be promising strategies to improve screening in the local tribal setting. Citation Format: Kathleen Dwyer, Zsolt Nagykaldi, Mark Doescher, Dorothy A. Rhoades. Factors influencing patient decision-making to complete Low Dose CT screening for lung cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B046.

Before the Fire Burns: Trials for Superstition, Magic, and Witchcraft in Sixteenth-Century Bologna

This article investigates the factors that provoked the trial and death sentence of four witches in Bologna in 1559. That is, it aims to elucidate how a witch hunt (albeit a small one) was triggered in a context where demonology was present, but the persecution of witchcraft had been kept at a relatively moderate level (and continued to be so after that). Scholarly contributions on witchcraft and witch hunts are now innumerable, but in general, scholars have focused on the social relations between the alleged witches and the community in which they lived, on the theological culture of the judges, or even on the deep roots of the sabbath. An analysis of a series of trials for magical and superstitious practices held in Bologna shortly before the 1559 convictions reveals how it was possible to move from simple sorcery to actual witchcraft. This transition was accomplished both because of the malefic nature of some of the spells practiced by the defendants and because of the intervention of diocesan judges who, for various reasons, were more determined than their predecessors to prosecute witchcraft harshly. Although the link between simple superstition and witchcraft has already been explored to some extent, it emerges with particular clarity in these events.

Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)-Delivered Exosomal TAT and BiTE Molecule CD4-αCD3 Facilitate the Elimination of CD4 T Cells Harboring Latent HIV-1.

Combinatorial antiretroviral therapy (cART) has transformed HIV infection from a death sentence to a controllable chronic disease, but cannot eliminate the virus. Latent HIV-1 reservoirs are the major obstacles to cure HIV-1 infection. Previously, we engineered exosomal Tat (Exo-Tat) to reactivate latent HIV-1 from the reservoir of resting CD4+ T cells. Here, we present an HIV-1 eradication platform, which uses our previously described Exo-Tat to activate latent virus from resting CD4+ T cells guided by the specific binding domain of CD4 in interleukin 16 (IL16), attached to the N-terminus of exosome surface protein lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 variant B (Lamp2B). Cells with HIV-1 surface protein gp120 expressed on the cell membranes are then targeted for immune cytolysis by a BiTE molecule CD4-αCD3, which colocalizes the gp120 surface protein of HIV-1 and the CD3 of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Using primary blood cells obtained from antiretroviral treated individuals, we find that this combined approach led to a significant reduction in replication-competent HIV-1 in infected CD4+ T cells in a clonal in vitro cell system. Furthermore, adeno-associated virus serotype DJ (AAV-DJ) was used to deliver Exo-Tat, IL16lamp2b and CD4-αCD3 genes by constructing them in one AAV-DJ vector (the plasmid was named pEliminator). The coculture of T cells from HIV-1 patients with Huh-7 cells infected with AAV-Eliminator viruses led to the clearance of HIV-1 reservoir cells in the in vitro experiment, which could have implications for reducing the viral reservoir in vivo, indicating that Eliminator AAV viruses have the potential to be developed into therapeutic biologics to cure HIV-1 infection.

Sentiment analysis on twitter about the death penalty using the support vector machine method

It is estimated that 175 million people in Indonesia utilize the Internet, according to the most recent We Are Social survey. 160 million of them are internet users who utilize social media, according to this data. It is estimated that 19.5 million Indonesians use Twitter. This is consistent with the numerous tweets that users have posted on Twitter about a variety of topics, including politics, music, health, and education. The death penalty is still one of the most popular subjects that is addressed on Twitter. When a judge rules that someone will be executed as retribution for a crime they have committed, this is referred to as the death penalty. As a result, sentiment analysis utilizing the Support Vector Machine technique with linear kernel features and Python programming was used to study public opinions on the death sentence. To improve the accuracy of the results obtained, data labeling on 848 data that were received through the scraping process was done manually in this study. Positive data is categorized as belonging to the class that supports the death sentence, while negative data is categorized as belonging to the class that opposes it. The study that was done shows an 8:2 difference between the training and test data. After preprocessing a dataset containing 758 data points, of which 606 will be utilized for training and 152 for testing, we obtain 91% accuracy, 91% precision, 100% recall, and 95% f1-score

Cancer as a death sentence: How to accept the inevitability of death and finally begin to live here and now during the last year

Cancer as a death sentence: How to accept the inevitability of death and finally begin to live here and now during the last year

Cancer Care Gap: Examining Cancer Mortality-Incidence Rate Ratio in Sub-Saharan Africa

PURPOSE The 2022 global burden of cancer estimate released by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) showed a huge burden of 20million new cancer cases and 9.7 million cancer deaths, a threat to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals target on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Africa accounts for only 5.9% of new global cases and 7.8% of cancer mortalities; however, these figures belie the enormous premature death that has made cancer a death sentence in Africa. A five-year survival rate measures cancer survival. However, due to the scarcity of follow-up data in Africa, the Mortality-Incidence Rate Ratio (MIR) which has an inverse relationship with survival has become a useful substitute for making comparisons on a global scale. The study's purpose is to compare the cancer MIR in Africa with other continents and disaggregate MIR in Sub-Saharan Africa across gender and major cancer sites. METHODS Data on Age Standardized Incidence Rate (World)-ASIR and Age Standardized Mortality Rate (World)-ASMR for six continents and the top five cancer sites in Africa (Breast, Prostrate, Cervix, Liver, and Colorectal) were extracted from the IARC Global Cancer Observatory (Cancer Today). MIR (calculated as the ratio of ASIR/ASMR) comparisons were done using Microsoft Excel 2021. RESULTS The average global cancer MIR is0.47. Africa has an estimated MIR of 0.67, which is more than double those of North America (0.23) and Oceania (0.23), and far above those of Europe (0.38), Latin America and the Caribbean (0.46). The high figure of Asia, 0.54, is well below the African Cancer MIR. Among the top five cancer sites in Sub-Sahara Africa, the liver has the highest MIR (0.95 compared to global MIR of 0.86) followed by the cervix (0.75 compared to global MIR of 0.50), Colorectal (0.73 compared to global MIR 0.44), prostrate (0.60 compare global MIR 0.38) and Breast (0.52 compare global MIR0.25). Disaggregated by gender, cancer MIR is higher in Sub-Saharan Africa for both sexes above the global average (Male 0.72 compared global MIR0.52; Female 0.67 compared global MIR 0.41). CONCLUSION The Mortality-Incidence rate ratio in Sub-Sahara Africa is alarmingly high compared to the global figure, reflecting a huge disparity in cancer care outcomes. A concerted effort to bridge the care gap in Sub-Sahara Africa is required to achieve the SDGs' NCD target, which aims to reduce premature death by a third.

Comparative Legal Analysis of The Death Penalty Provisions In Indonesia: The State Of Pancasila Law's Perspective (Case Study of Law Numbers 1 Of 1946 And Law Number 1 of 2023 Concerning The Criminal Code)

The death penalty is one tool used by law enforcement to deal with significant crimes. Its purpose is to deter criminals from committing similar crimes in the future and to make those who have not engaged them feel fearful of doing so. Following the reforms, the Republic of Indonesia's legal politics evolved into one that supports democracy. The surface issues concern how the death sentence laws are seen from the standpoint of the Pancasila legal state. This study aims to compare regulatory policies regarding the death penalty from the perspective of Pancasila's legal system. Normative juridical research is the analytical tool employed to explore this issue. The findings of this study, specifically the death penalty clauses included in Law Number 1 of 1946 and Law Number 1 of 2023 governing the Criminal Code, contain many different things that were initially the basic criminal death penalty, which were changed to special criminal penalties. There are also several relationships and comparisons between certain crimes because the principle of legality is still in effect. In the Indonesian context, the view of life is Pancasila, a joint agreement or consensus between the majority of the Indonesian nation.

Qualities of Mercy: Capital Punishment and the Royal Prerogative in Familial Cases in the Chosŏn Records of Adjudications (Simnirok)

This article examines how royal mercy is articulated in homicide cases involving the family in the Records of Adjudications (Simnirok), a collection of over one thousand capital offenses reviewed by King Chŏngjo (r. 1776–1800) of Chosŏn Korea (1392–1910). Simni (“adjudications”) review comprised case memorials by provincial and metropolitan authorities and the royal judgments written in response to them. It was the king’s prerogative to endorse or commute any death sentence issued by officials below, and Chŏngjo’s judgments often find grounds for leniency. Previous studies of the Simnirok have examined the collection in light of late Chosŏn jurisprudence and social history, but have rarely subjected the narrative constructions and discursive strategies of the king with respect to highly contentious facts to close analysis. By examining select cases in the Simnirok involving domestic battery, adultery, and filial vengeance, this article examines how the “truth” behind each case and its legal implications are contextualized, constructed, or contested in view of orthodox values that are often patriarchal, and how Chŏngjo’s judgments project the persona of a benevolent and circumspect Confucian sage ruler who grants mercy largely within the bounds of the law.

“What you're hearing from all of us is simplify the language”: A focus group study on biomarker testing in oncology.

e13540 Background: In oncology, somatic biomarker testing is increasingly driving treatment decision-making. Exploration of patients’ understanding of, and perspectives on, biomarker testing has been limited, yet these are needed to improve health education and communication about biomarkers. Our objectives were to explore the perspectives of patients with gynecologic cancers on biomarker and genetic testing and to identify factors that influenced their decision-making on testing. Methods: Patients with gynecologic cancer enrolled in the University of Pennsylvania’s Biobank were invited to participate. Of the 82 patients contacted, 7 participated in 3 focus groups in fall 2023. Participants reviewed educational materials (pamphlet, slide set) about biomarker testing based on the Cancer Precision Medicine Commons’ patient education materials, explored understanding and perspectives around biomarker testing, and then discussed barriers and facilitators to testing. Thematic analyses by two researchers were performed using verbatim transcripts. Results: All patients strongly agreed that both genetic and biomarker testing were important after a gynecologic cancer diagnosis and impacted their treatment options. However, patients did not understand what a biomarker was and expressed confusion over terms and testing methods, labeling unknown terms as “jargon.” 85% of participants had received germline genetic testing, and 85% received biomarker testing, with the remaining participants uncertain about testing status. Participants utilized a variety of resources such as the Internet, peer forums, articles on the patient portal, discussions with clinicians, and scientific papers to understand their cancer diagnosis and the role of genetic and biomarker testing. They mentioned fear (i.e., seeing low survival rates for ovarian cancer online as a “death sentence”) and financial circumstances as key barriers to accessing genetic or biomarker testing. Patients desired simple tailored written materials that were relevant from diagnosis to across the disease course. Conclusions: Patients understand the importance of biomarker testing in oncology but reported difficulties understanding existing resources. Current online resources had jargon and induced fear in some participants. Work to develop patient-centered resources on biomarker testing is needed.

Analysing Capital Punishment in India: A Comparative Study of Capital Punishment and Life Imprisonment

This review paper explores the complex and contentious issue of life imprisonment versus the death sentence, examining their respective merits and drawbacks. Through a comprehensive analysis of case studies and judicial decisions, this paper evaluates the ethical, legal, and practical implications of both forms of punishment

Analisis Psikologis pada Naskah Monolog HARI TERAKHIR SEORANG TERPIDANA MATI Karya Victor Hugo

Psychology in the Monologue Script "The Last Day of a Death Row Convict" by Victor Hugo discusses the psychology of the main character in the text. This script shows the main character who is on death row and experiencing significant psychological changes. This analysis uses a psychoanalytic approach to understand how the main character faces the death penalty and how these psychological changes influence his behavior. The results of the analysis show that the main character experiences complex and dynamic psychological changes. He experienced depression, hopelessness, and anxiety related to the death sentence he faced. The conclusion of this analysis is that Victor Hugo's "The Last Day of a Death Row Convict" presents a complex and dynamic main psychological character. Psychoanalysis helps understand how the main character faces the death penalty and how these psychological changes influence his behavior. The results of this analysis can be used to understand the psychology of individuals who face difficult situations and how they develop strategies to deal with these situations.

HIV-Associated Hypertension: Risks, Mechanisms, and Knowledge Gaps.

HIV type 1 (HIV-1) is the causative agent of AIDS. Since the start of the epidemic, HIV/AIDS has been responsible for ≈40 million deaths. Additionally, an estimated 39 million people are currently infected with the virus. HIV-1 primarily infects immune cells, such as CD4+ (cluster of differentiation 4+) T lymphocytes (T cells), and as a consequence, the number of CD4+ T cells progressively declines in people living with HIV. Within a span of ≈10 years, HIV-1 infection leads to the systemic failure of the immune system and progression to AIDS. Fortunately, potent antiviral therapy effectively controls HIV-1 infection and prevents AIDS-related deaths. The efficacy of the current antiviral therapy regimens has transformed the outcome of HIV/AIDS from a death sentence to a chronic disease with a prolonged lifespan of people living with HIV. However, antiviral therapy is not curative, is challenged by virus resistance, can be toxic, and, most importantly, requires lifelong adherence. Furthermore, the improved lifespan has resulted in an increased incidence of non-AIDS-related morbidities in people living with HIV including cardiovascular diseases, renal disease, liver disease, bone disease, cancer, and neurological conditions. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge of the cardiovascular comorbidities associated with HIV-1 infection, with a particular focus on hypertension. We also discuss the potential mechanisms known to drive HIV-1-associated hypertension and the knowledge gaps in our understanding of this comorbid condition. Finally, we suggest several directions of future research to better understand the factors, pathways, and mechanisms underlying HIV-1-associated hypertension in the post-antiviral therapy era.

Viešųjų bausmių taikymas vagims Vilniaus pilies teisme (XVIII amžiaus antrojoje pusėje)

The aim of this article is to discuss the practice of administering public punishments to thieves in the court of Vilnius Castle in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania’s (GDL) central voivodeship in the second half of the 18th century. The aim is to find out to what extent this practice complied with the laws that were in force in the state at that time and to what extent it reflected the humanisation postulates of criminal law that were spreading in the 18th century. The study is based on the court files of the Vilnius Castle Court stored in the Lithuanian State Historical Archives. The Third Statute of Lithuania, approved in 1588, and its provisions regarding the crime of theft still remained in force in the second half of the 18th century. This legal code provided for death, mutilation and flogging for those convicted of theft. In the second half of the 18th century, 36 thieves (all men, one of whom, Kazimieras Jančiauskas, was punished twice) were sentenced to public punishment by the Vilnius Castle Court. The most frequent punishment (49%) was flogging (18 cases), in some cases with the additional punishments of banishment from the city (8 cases) and branding (2 cases). Ten thieves (27%) were sentenced to death, which, as is common in such cases, had to be carried out on the gallows. Nine thieves (24%) were sentenced to fixed-terms (3 to 10 years) or indeterminate (life) prison sentences, to be carried out outside the GDL in Kamjaneć-Podilśkyj. Thus, in cases of theft, the Vilnius Castle Court applied rather severe punishments, basically referring to the relevant norms of the Third Statute of Lithuania, and also, apparently, partly following the tradition of dealing with such cases (in cases where the punishment of flogging was imposed instead of the death penalty). An exception was the use of imprisonment, which was not provided for in the laws of the GDL, but in this case it was only episodic as it was applied in a single sentence in 1782 and originated from the regulation issued by the Permanent Council.Instead of corporal punishments (mostly the death sentence), the philosophers of the Englightenment era proposed the use of imprisonment which would allow to realise the newly defined concept of the repressional punishment – the resocialization of the offender, as well as to implement the principles of proportionality of punishment to the crime committed and the utility of punishment (by using the convicted person for labour). These principles were largely absent from the Vilnius Castle Court’s sentences in the theft cases (except in one case). It is indeed the case that the Court sometimes did make reference to the defendants’ possibility to reform themselves; however, it did not arise from the ideas of Enlightement. The main objectives of punishment still remained the restoration of justice and prevention of crime. As many as 23 out of the 36 convicts (64 per cent) were to be eliminated from society to varying degrees (10 were to lose their lives, 8 were to be banished, 5 were to be sentenced to life imprisonment); therefore it is not possible to talk about resocialisation in this case. The principle of proportionality of punishment was also apparently not implemented when in similar cases the convicted received a different number of lashes. All this can probably be explained by society’s attachment to its own law (in particular to the Third Lithuanian Statute) and to a judicial practice which got established throughout centuries.