Indirect protection in adults ≥18 years of age from pediatric pneumococcal vaccination: a review.

Introduction: Infant immunization programs using pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have reduced the rates of pneumococcal disease through direct vaccine-induced protection in vaccinated children and through indirect protection in non-vaccinated children and adults.

Areas Covered: This review summarizes current evidence on the indirect protection of adults conferred by pediatric pneumococcal vaccination, including the impact on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence and mortality, pneumonia admissions, and nasopharyngeal carriage prevalence. Factors affecting indirect protection against IPD are also discussed.

Evaluation of risk factors and diseases associated with metabolic and atherosclerotic disorders in different abdominal fat distribution patterns assessed by CT-scan.

Obesity is defined as an increase in body fat composition.

Reproductive health perspectives of young women with perinatally and behaviourally acquired HIV: A qualitative study.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to describe the sexual and reproductive goals of female adolescents with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in an urban cohort and decipher if they vary depending on the mode of HIV acquisition.

Methods: We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 25 Black and/or Hispanic/Latinx female adolescents living with HIV (14 perinatally, 11 behaviourally acquired) aged 17-25 years who have access to care and antiretroviral therapy at an urban public hospitals (NYC, NY). Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed using thematic analysis.

Investigation of EEG changes before and after phototherapy in infants with severe hyperbilirubinemia.

Background: Despite the known effect of hyperbilirubinemia in neonates, the effect of phototherapy on electroencephalography (EEG) remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to determine the alteration of electroencephalography in infants with hyperbilirubinemia before and after phototherapy.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on infants of≥35 weeks of gestation with hyperbilirubinemia.

Empathy score among medical students in Mashhad, Iran: study of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy.

Background: Empathy is one of the essential components of physician-patient relationship that has a significant effect on treatment outcomes.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the empathy score among medical students in Mashhad, Iran.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study in 2015, 624 medical students at Mashhad University of Medical Science (Iran) completed the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE).

The Prevalence and Characteristics of Frequent Attenders in Primary Health Care in A'Dakhiliyah Governorate of Oman.

Objectives: Frequent attenders (FAs) in general practice receive significant attention in primary care research due to the financial costs associated with the higher utilization of health care services. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of FAs in Oman by studying the overall rates of adult patient visits to primary health care centers (PHCs) and identify the characteristics of this group of patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study including all adults aged 18 years and above who visited general practitioner clinics at four selected PHCs in the A'Dakhiliyah governorate of Oman.

Combination of interleukin-10 gene promoter polymorphisms with HLA-DRB1*15 allele is associated with multiple sclerosis.

Background & Objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is common in some ethnic groups. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokine that may be an important regulator in MS disease pathogenesis. IL-10 promoter includes several single nucleotide polymorphisms and the level of IL-10 expression is related to these polymorphisms.

Antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected adolescents: clinical and pharmacologic challenges.

With the currently available combined antiretroviral therapy regimens, durable suppression of viral replication, preservation of immune function and normalizing life expectancy, are all becoming achievable goals. Teenagers and young adults living with HIV present unique clinical and pharmacologic challenges to optimizing antiretroviral treatment outcomes. Areas covered: In this expert review of the topic, we examine recent clinical trial data and draw on our program's 25 year experience working with both perinatally and behaviorally HIV infected adolescents.

Use of Integrase Inhibitors in HIV-Infected Children and Adolescents.

Resistance to antiretroviral drugs is an increasingly prevalent challenge affecting both the adult and pediatric HIV-infected populations. Though data on the safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of newer antiretroviral agents in children typically lags behind adult data, newer agents are becoming available for use in HIV-infected children who are failing to respond to or are experiencing toxicities with traditional antiretroviral regimens. Integrase strand transfer inhibitors are one such new class of antiretrovirals.

Association of differentiation state of CD4+ T cells and disease progression in HIV-1 perinatally infected children.

Background: In the USA, most HIV-1 infected children are on antiretroviral drug regimens, with many individuals surviving through adolescence and into adulthood. The course of HIV-1 infection in these children is variable, and understudied.

Methodology/principal Findings: We determined whether qualitative differences in immune cell subsets could explain a slower disease course in long term survivors with no evidence of immune suppression (LTS-NS; CD4%≥25%) compared to those with severe immune suppression (LTS-SS; CD4%≤15%).

Immunodominance of HIV-1 specific CD8+ T-cell responses is related to disease progression rate in vertically infected adolescents.

Background: HIV-1 vertically infected children in the USA are living into adolescence and beyond with the widespread use of antiretroviral drugs. These patients exhibit striking differences in the rate of HIV-1 disease progression which could provide insights into mechanisms of control. We hypothesized that differences in the pattern of immunodomination including breadth, magnitude and polyfunctionality of HIV-1 specific CD8+ T cell response could partially explain differences in progression rate.

Pregnancy in women with perinatally acquired HIV-infection: outcomes and challenges.

This is a retrospective comparison of pregnant women with perinatally acquired HIV-infection (PAH) with a cohort of pregnant women with behaviorally acquired HIV-infection (BAH). PAH cases (11 women) included all pregnant adolescents followed at our HIV clinic from January 2000 to January 2009. BAH cases (27 women) were randomly selected from all deliveries within the study period at the same institution.

Profile of darunavir in the treatment of HIV-infected pediatric and adolescent patients.

The introduction of protease inhibitors (PI) containing antiretroviral regimens in the treatment of HIV infection in infants, children, and adolescents has dramatically decreased morbidity and mortality. Darunavir, the latest PI to be FDA approved for pediatric patients older than 6 years and currently the preferred PI for use in adult patients, was added as an alternative PI for use in children based on a combination of data from both adult and pediatric trials. This review of darunavir in the treatment of HIV-infected children and adolescents looks at the major published clinical trials findings, pharmacokinetic and resistance studies, and preliminary data on use in younger children.

Proliferative glomerulonephritis in lupus patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: a difficult clinical challenge.

Objectives: To describe the unusual occurrence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with nephritis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals.

Methods: Chart review-based report of a case of SLE with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (DPGN) in an HIV-infected man, together with a literature review of previously published cases. We searched the English language medical literature from 1987 to 2009 using the following PubMed and Medline terms: "SLE," "HIV," "DPGN.

Elevated levels of vitamin B12 and folate in vertically infected children with HIV-1.

Objective: Neurologic and hematologic abnormalities are common in HIV-infected children and may be related to concomitant deficiencies in serum B12 and folate, which are highly prevalent in HIV-infected adults. We sought to determine the prevalence of B12 and folate deficiencies in HIV-infected children in the United States.

Methods: Cross-sectional information on demographics, folate and B12 levels, hematological parameters, concurrent CD4%, HIV-viral load and antiretroviral regimens were abstracted from the medical records of 103 vertically infected children followed in an outpatient pediatric HIV clinic in the Bronx, during 2001-2002.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections in children infected with HIV.

We evaluated the prevalence and transmission mode of hepatitis B and C in an inner-city, pediatric cohort of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons, as well as the demographic characteristics of the cohort. Hepatitis B or C was found in 13 (5.8%) of 228 children.

Natural killer cells in perinatally HIV-1-infected children exhibit less degranulation compared to HIV-1-exposed uninfected children and their expression of KIR2DL3, NKG2C, and NKp46 correlates with disease severity.

NK cells play an integral role in the innate immune response by targeting virally infected and transformed cells with direct killing and providing help to adaptive responses through cytokine secretion. Whereas recent studies have focused on NK cells in HIV-1-infected adults, the role of NK cells in perinatally HIV-1-infected children is less studied. Using multiparametric flow cytometric analysis, we assessed the number, phenotype, and function of NK cell subsets in the peripheral blood of perinatally HIV-1-infected children on highly active antiretroviral therapy and compared them to perinatally exposed but uninfected children.

Use of a protein-based tissue adhesive as an aid for the surgical reconstruction of advanced and recurrent skin cancer tumors to the head and neck region: a technical report.

Background: Patients with advanced skin cancer present a unique challenge to neurosurgeons. Treatment involves aggressive surgical intervention and lengthy reconstructive procedures with considerable morbidity to obtain adequate and safe oncological margins. We reviewed our experience with BioGlue Surgical Adhesive, a protein-based adhesive, as an adjunct in free tissue transfer procedures to prevent CSF leakage and seroma formation.

Strong HIV-1-specific T cell responses in HIV-1-exposed uninfected infants and neonates revealed after regulatory T cell removal.

Background: In utero transmission of HIV-1 occurs on average in only 3%-15% of HIV-1-exposed neonates born to mothers not on antiretroviral drug therapy. Thus, despite potential exposure, the majority of infants remain uninfected. Weak HIV-1-specific T-cell responses have been detected in children exposed to HIV-1, and potentially contribute to protection against infection.

Partial treatment interruption of protease inhibitor-based highly active antiretroviral therapy regimens in HIV-infected children.

Treatment guidelines for HIV-infected children recommend using combinations of reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) and protease inhibitors (PIs). Successful suppression of HIV replication and adherence to these regimens are often suboptimal because of multiple factors. For patients with detectable viremia and limited treatment options, therapy simplification consisting of RTIs, referred to as partial treatment interruption (PTI), may represent a temporizing option.

Partial treatment interruption of protease inhibitors augments HIV-specific immune responses in vertically infected pediatric patients.

Background: Although highly active antiretroviral therapy has significantly reduced morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected children, it often fails to completely suppress viral replication, thereby allowing the emergence of drug-resistant variants. Protease inhibitor (PI) based therapy has been hypothesized to depress cell-mediated immune responses by reducing antigen presentation.

Objectives: To determine the effects of partial treatment interruption (PTI) of PI on HIV-specific cellular immune responses in children.

Circadian rhythm sleep disorders as a possible side effect of fluvoxamine.

Sleep problems, day somnolence, and fatigue as a result of psychotropic drugs are very common. Psychiatrists usually consider these effects a result of insomnia and treat them by prescribing sleeping pills or other benzodiazepine agents. We describe here 10 cases of circadian rhythm sleep disorders (CRSD)--and not merely insomnia--as a possible side effect of fluvoxamine (FVA).

VH3 gene expression in children with HIV infection.

Objective: To study immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (V(H)) gene expression in HIV-uninfected (HIV-) and HIV-infected (HIV+) children.

Methods: A retrospective, observational study was performed by PCR-ELISA to examine IgM and IgG V(H) gene family expression among peripheral CD19-positive B cells. The subjects were 10 HIV+ children with, and 11 HIV+ children without a history of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and 12 HIV- children.