People living with HIV on ART have accurate perception of lipodystrophy signs: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The prevalence of lipodystrophy ranges from 31 to 65%, depending on the criteria adopted for diagnosis. The usual methods applied in the diagnosis vary from self-perception, medical examination, skinfolds measurements, or even imaging assessment for confirmation of fat distribution changes. Although several methods have been developed, there is no gold standard for characterization of LA and LH, or mixed forms.

Alcohol Drinking Pattern: A Comparison between HIV-Infected Patients and Individuals from the General Population.

Background: Alcohol consumption is highly prevalent in the general population and among HIV-infected population. This study aimed to compare the pattern of alcohol consumption and to describe characteristics associated with heavy alcohol consumption in individuals from the general population with patients infected with HIV.

Methods: Participants for this analysis came from a population-based cross-sectional study and from a consecutive sampling of patients infected with HIV.

Biochemical non-invasive assessment of liver fibrosis cannot replace biopsy in HIV-HCV coinfected patients.

Background And Rationale: The liver biopsy has been considered the gold standard for the diagnosis and quantification of fibrosis. However, this method presents limitations. In addition, the non-invasive evaluation of liver fibrosis is a challenge.

Association of blood pressure and hypertension with alcohol consumption in HIV-infected white and nonwhite patients.

Introduction: Although alcohol abuse is associated with hypertension in whites and nonwhites, it has been scarcely investigated in HIV-infected patients.

Objective: To investigate whether the association of alcohol abuse with hypertension is influenced by skin color in HIV-infected individuals.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in HIV-infected individuals aged 18 years or older.

Risk of coronary heart disease among HIV-infected patients: a multicenter study in Brazil.

Cardiovascular disease has emerged as a crescent problem among HIV-infected population. This study aimed to determine the 10-year risk of coronary heart disease using the Framingham risk score among HIV-infected patients from three regions of Brazil. This is a pooled analysis of three cohort studies, which enrolled 3,829 individuals, 59% were men, 66% had white skin color, and mean age 39.

Metabolic syndrome and population attributable risk among HIV/AIDS patients: comparison between NCEP-ATPIII, IDF and AHA/NHLBI definitions.

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is based on the same individual components, but has received several amendments to the original definition. In this study, we verified the prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to different criteria, and the impact of each component on the diagnostic.

Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled HIV infected patients from a HIV/AIDS reference Center in southern Brazil.

Physical activity: do patients infected with HIV practice? How much? A systematic review.

Several studies have suggested that aerobic physical activity is safe and beneficial for HIV-infected adults. However, there is information lacking regarding whether HIV-infected patients practice physical activity and to what extent. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to determine the prevalence of physical activity, sedentary lifestyle or lack of physical activity in non-experimental conditions performed by HIV-infected subjects.

Independent predictors of metabolic syndrome in HIV-infected patients.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. However, a few studies have assessed its prevalence and risk factors among HIV patients from developing countries. The aim of this study was to identify independent risk factors for metabolic syndrome by the criteria of the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) among HIV-infected men and women.

Absence of occult hepatitis B among blood donors in southern Brazil.

Background: Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is characterized by the detection of HBV DNA in serum and/or in liver in the absence of detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The reported prevalence of occult hepatitis B varies markedly among populations and according to the sensitivity of the HBV DNA assay. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence of occult hepatitis B among HCV-infected and non-infected blood donors in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, using a highly sensitive real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

Co-infection by hepatitis C virus in HIV-infected patients in southern Brazil: genotype distribution and clinical correlates.

Background: Prevalence rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection, the distribution of HCV genotypes, and the frequency of spontaneous resolution of hepatitis C in patients infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) have a worldwide disparity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) in patients with HIV, the proportion and correlates of infection by different HCV genotypes, and rates of spontaneous resolution of HCV infection.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1143 HIV patients under follow-up in a HIV/AIDS outpatient reference center of the Brazilian public health system.

Liver glutathione depletion after preservation and reperfusion in human liver transplantation.

Purpose: The oxidative stress is an important mechanism responsible for dysfunction after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Glutathione (GSH) low levels after cold storage render the grafts vulnerable to reperfusion injury. Aim of this study was to evaluate GSH and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) liver concentrations, the hepatocellular injury and function in optimal and suboptimal grafts after human OLT.

Risk factors for hepatitis C virus infection among blood donors in southern Brazil: a case-control study.

Background: In Brazil, it is estimated that between 2.5 and 4.9% of the general population present anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies, which corresponds to as many as 3.