Comparison of liver biopsy and noninvasive techniques for liver fibrosis assessment in patients infected with HCV-genotype 4 in Egypt.

In Egypt, as elsewhere, liver biopsy (LB) remains the gold standard to assess liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and is required to decide whether a treatment should be proposed. Many of its disadvantages have led to develop noninvasive methods to replace LB. These new methods should be evaluated in Egypt, where circulating virus genotype 4 (G4), increased body mass index and co-infection with schistosomiasis may interfere with liver fibrosis assessment.

Apolipoprotein H expression is associated with IL28B genotype and viral clearance in hepatitis C virus infection.

Background & Aims: HCV requires host lipid metabolism for replication, and apolipoproteins have been implicated in the response to treatment.

Methods: We examined plasma apolipoprotein concentrations in three cohorts of patients: mono-infected patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis C (aHCV); those undergoing treatment for chronic hepatitis C (cHCV); and HIV/HCV co-infected patients being treated for their chronic hepatitis C. We also evaluated associations between apolipoproteins and IL28B polymorphisms, a defined genetic determinant of viral clearance.

Association between elevated coffee consumption and daily chocolate intake with normal liver enzymes in HIV-HCV infected individuals: results from the ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort study.

Background & Aims: We used longitudinal data from the ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH cohort study of HIV-HCV co-infected individuals to investigate whether polyphenol rich food intake through coffee and/or daily chocolate consumption could play a role in reducing liver enzymes levels.

Methods: Longitudinal data collection included self-administered questionnaires and medical data (aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) liver enzymes). Two analyses were performed to assess the association between coffee (≥3 cups a day) and daily chocolate intake and abnormal values of AST and ALT (AST or ALT >2.

Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) of HIV infection in France: a nationwide cross-sectional study (PREVIC study).

Although preliminary studies showed that preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) lowers the HIV transmission in individuals with HIV, confirmative trials are ongoing and PrEP is not routinely recommended. The aim of this study was to assess whether individuals with HIV share antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for PrEP and to describe awareness and discussion on PrEP in this population. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in France in 23 representative departments of infectious diseases and internal medicine.

CXCL10 antagonism and plasma sDPPIV correlate with increasing liver disease in chronic HCV genotype 4 infected patients.

Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection worldwide. CXCL10 is a potent chemoattractant that directs effector lymphocytes to sites of inflammation. It has been reported that plasma CXCL10 is processed by dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPPIV) thus leading to the generation of an antagonist form.

Liver stiffness values in HIV-infected patients with isolated anti-hepatitis B core antibodies.

Background: Hepatitis B reactivation has been observed in HIV-infected patients with isolated anti-HBc. However, the impact of isolated anti-HBc on liver fibrosis is not known in this population.

Methods: We investigated liver stiffness values (LSV) in a population of HIV-infected patients with isolated anti-HBc, and attempted to identify risk factors for high values.

HIV-1 tropism and liver fibrosis in HIV-HCV co-infected patients.

Background And Aims: Hepatic stellate cells, the major producers of extracellular matrix in the liver, and hepatocytes bear CXCR4 and CCR5, the two main co-receptors for entry of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In vitro studies suggest that HIV-envelope proteins can modulate the replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and fibrogenesis. We investigated the influence of HIV tropism on liver fibrosis and the concentration of HCV RNA in HIV-HCV co-infected patients.

Antiretroviral therapy and sustained virological response to HCV therapy are associated with slower liver fibrosis progression in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients: study from the ANRS CO 13 HEPAVIH cohort.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe changes in repeated liver stiffness (LS) measurements and to assess the determinants of increase in LS in HIV-HCV-coinfected patients.

Methods: HIV-HCV-coinfected adults enrolled in the ANRS CO 13 HEPAVIH cohort, for whom two results of LS, evaluated over ≥24 months, were available. Patients with unreliable LS results were not included.

[Malaria among immigrants, experience of a Parisian hospital (2006-2010)].

In recent days immigrants represent the main risk group for imported malaria in northern countries. Most of them are migrants returning to their country of origin to visit friends and relatives (VFR). We retrospectively examined the main clinical, biological, and therapeutic data of all malaria cases in immigrants from 2006 to 2010 in Tenon hospital, Paris.

Learning curve of vesico-urinary ultrasonography in Schistosoma haematobium infection with WHO practical guide: a "simple to learn" examination.

In developing countries, it is difficult to rally a radiologist to conduct field studies. Here, we report how a radiologist taught a clinician to carry out the ultrasound examination as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) record sheet for Schistosoma haematobium related lesions. In a population infected with S.

Reproducibility of liver stiffness measurements in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients in Egypt.

Elastometry has demonstrated good accuracy, but little is known about its reproducibility. The aim of this study was to assess the intra- and inter-operator reproducibility of liver stiffness measurement among hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients in Egypt. The study was conducted among HCV-infected patients referred for treatment evaluation in two hepatitis treatment centres of Cairo.

Correlates of poor perceived health among individuals living with HIV and HBV chronic infections: a longitudinal assessment.

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects up to 14% of people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) and is associated with a higher risk of non-AIDS death. While great advances have been made in the therapeutic management of co-infection with HIV and HBV, nothing is known about perceived health in people living with HIV and HBV. This study aimed at characterizing individuals with poor perceived overall health among 308 HIV-HBV co-infected individuals enrolled between May 2002 and May 2003 in a three-year French cohort.

Liver fibrosis changes in HIV-HBV-coinfected patients: clinical, biochemical and histological effect of long-term tenofovir disoproxil fumarate use.

Background: Data on liver fibrosis evolution in HIV-HBV-coinfected patients treated with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) are scarce. The effect of TDF on liver fibrosis in 148 HIV-HBV-coinfected patients was prospectively evaluated using Fibrometer∆ scores and liver biopsies in a subset of patients.

Methods: The mean change from baseline (Δ) in Fibrometer score was modelled using a generalized estimating equation.

The French national prospective cohort of patients co-infected with HIV and HCV (ANRS CO13 HEPAVIH): early findings, 2006-2010.

Background: In France, it is estimated that 24% of HIV-infected patients are also infected with HCV. Longitudinal studies addressing clinical and public health questions related to HIV-HCV co-infection (HIV-HCV clinical progression and its determinants including genetic dimension, patients' experience with these two diseases and their treatments) are limited. The ANRS CO 13 HEPAVIH cohort was set up to explore these critical questions.

Lopinavir/ritonavir monotherapy versus current treatment continuation for maintenance therapy of HIV-1 infection: the KALESOLO trial.

Objectives: We evaluated a monotherapy maintenance regimen with lopinavir/ritonavir versus continuing current combined antiretroviral treatment (cART) in HIV patients with suppressed plasma HIV-1 RNA.

Patients And Methods: This was an open-label, non-inferiority, multicentre trial in 23 sites in France. Adults were randomized if they had no history of virological failure while receiving a protease inhibitor, maintained HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL for at least 6 months and did not change cART during the last 3 months.

Long-term follow-up of 11 protease inhibitor (PI)-naïve and PI-treated HIV-infected patients harbouring virus with insertions in the HIV-1 protease gene.

Objectives: Amino acid insertions in the protease gene have been reported rarely, and mainly in patients receiving protease inhibitors (PIs). The aim of the study was to assess the long-term viro-immunological follow-up of HIV-infected patients harbouring virus with protease insertions.

Methods: Cases of virus exhibiting protease insertions were identified in routine resistance genotyping tests.

Factors predictive of virological failure on atazanavir in 310 HIV-infected patients.

We examined factors associated with virological failure in 310 HIV-infected patients receiving atazanavir (ATV). Independent links were identified with virological failure under ATV: virological failure previous history (P = 0.006) and ATV underdosing (P = 0.

Serologic response to hepatitis B vaccination in HIV-Infected patients with isolated positivity for antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen.

We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccination among 40 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with isolated positivity for antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen. No baseline factors were found to be predictive of an anamnestic response, which occurred in 32.5% of the patients.

Role of treatment for depressive symptoms in relieving the impact of fatigue in HIV-HCV co-infected patients: ANRS Co13 Hepavih, France, 2006-2008.

Fatigue is a major component of quality of life (QOL) and is associated with depression in HIV-HCV co-infected individuals. We investigated whether treating depressive symptoms (DS) could mitigate the impact of fatigue on daily functioning in co-infected patients, even those at an advanced stage of disease. The analysis was conducted on enrollment data of 328 HIV-HCV co-infected patients recruited in the French nationwide ANRS CO 13 HEPAVIH cohort.

Longitudinal evaluation of viral interactions in treated HIV-hepatitis B co-infected patients with additional hepatitis C and D virus.

Virological interactions of hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis D (HDV) viruses in HIV-infected patients have been poorly characterized especially under treatment influences. Undetection rates of hepatitis viruses were longitudinally analyzed in a 3-year cohort of 308 HIV-HBV co-infected patients and compared using Generalized Estimating Equation models adjusted for age, HIV-RNA, CD4 cell-count and antiviral treatment. Chronic hepatitis co-infection in HIV-infected patients (age years, SD) was: 265 HBV (40.