Oral Health Survey in Burundi; Evaluation of the Caries Experience in Schoolchildren Using the DMFT Index.

There are no data on oral health in the population of Burundi. This study aimed to describe the oral health status of schoolchildren in Burundi using the dmft/DMFT index for the first time. The study was designed as a cross-sectional population-based epidemiological survey.

Normalization of immune activation in lymphoid tissue following highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Although significant progress has been made in understanding immune reconstitution in peripheral blood following highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), less is known about immune changes in lymphoid tissue. Here, the expression of cytokine proteins (interferon gamma [IFN-gamma], interleukin [IL]-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-1alpha, and IL-1beta) and surface antigens (CD4, CD8, CD1a, CD68) as well as cellular proviral HIV-1 DNA were determined in sequential tonsil biopsies before and at 4, 12, and 48 to 56 weeks posttherapy by quantitative in situ image analysis and fluorescent in situ 5;-nuclease assay (FISNA). Despite plasma virus suppression, a fraction of tonsil cells harbored pro-viral DNA for up to 1 year.

Maximum suppression of HIV replication leads to the restoration of HIV-specific responses in early HIV disease.

Objectives: It is predicted that HIV-infected individuals in early HIV disease are the most likely group to achieve immune reconstitution following highly active antiretroviral treatment. We assessed whether suppression of HIV replication in this group would improve immune function.

Methods: Seventeen antiretroviral-naïve patients in early HIV disease were evaluated for immune function and lymphocyte phenotyping using standard immunological assays.

Immune reconstitution in the HAART era, Part 2: Implications for practice.

As discussed in Part 1 of this series, HIV infection alters the function of the immune system. These alterations include declines in CD4-positive lymphocyte counts, disturbances in the function of the CD4-positive lymphocyte, diminished delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test responses and cell-mediated immune responses, phenotypic changes in lymphocytes, and changes in cytoxic T-lymphocyte and natural killer cell function. Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically improved CD4-positive lymphocyte counts and quality of life, there have been unforeseen consequences of immune reconstitution.

Immune reconstitution in the HAART era, Part 1: Immune abnormalities in HIV/AIDS.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically altered the course of HIV infection. HAART has been associated with a substantial decrease in HIV-related morbidity and mortality and an improved quality of life for many persons living with HIV/AIDS. This improvement is due to suppression of viral replication and subsequent repletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes.

Early reduction of immune activation in lymphoid tissue following highly active HIV therapy.

Objective: To evaluate immune reconstitution within HIV-infected lymphoid tissue during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Design And Methods: In situ cellular responses were studied in sequential tonsillar biopsies in three asymptomatic HIV-infected (CD4 cells greater than 400 x 10(6)/l) antiretroviral treatment-naive volunteers enrolled in a clinical trial to determine the early effect of HAART. Computerized image analysis was used to study immunohistochemically stained sequential tonsil sections for the patterns of local cytokine production, chemokine receptor expression and cellular distribution.