Cases of Psychiatric Morbidity in Pediatric Patients After Remission of Cushing Syndrome.

Endogenous Cushing syndrome (CS) may have different effects in children than what has been described in adults. Previous studies of children and adolescents with CS have identified cognitive decline despite reversal of brain atrophy after remission of CS. Although the observations of parents of children and adolescents with CS support personality changes, significant psychopathology has not been described in the literature.

Virologic response using directly observed therapy in adolescents with HIV: an adherence tool.

Virologic response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) treatment of HIV infection depends on viral sensitivity to antiretrovirals and excellent medication adherence. Adolescents with vertically acquired HIV may require complicated regimens because of significant treatment experience and often have poor medication adherence. A retrospective chart review identified five adolescents with vertically acquired HIV and plasma HIV viral load rebound or nonresponse on a stable HAART regimen followed by a period of directly observed therapy (DOT) in a clinic or hospital setting with serial viral load measurements.

Transition from a pediatric HIV intramural clinical research program to adolescent and adult community-based care services:assessing transition readiness.

As treatment options have improved, there has been a significant increase in the life expectancy of HIV-infected children and adolescents. For most adolescents, the time comes when it is appropriate to transition from pediatric care to an adult or community-based provider. In response to a program closure, a transition readiness scale was developed.

Psychotropic medication use in human immunodeficiency virus-infected youth receiving treatment at a single institution.

A cross-sectional study designed to document the use of psychotropic medication in a population of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children and adolescents (n = 64) found 45% of the sample had been prescribed at least one psychotropic medication over a 4-year period. The most common medication category prescribed was antidepressants (30%), followed by stimulant-type medications (25%). This study suggests that psychotropic medications are commonly prescribed to HIV-infected children and adolescents.

Could human papillomaviruses be spread through blood?

The human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are epitheliotropic viruses that require the environment of a differentiating squamous epithelium for their life cycle. HPV infection through abrasion of the skin or sexual intercourse causes benign warts and sometimes cancer. HPV DNA detected in the blood has been interpreted as having originated from metastasized cancer cells.

Assessing medication adherence in adolescents with HIV when electronic monitoring is not feasible.

The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast three different methods for measuring self-reported antiretroviral medication adherence, correlate individual reports of adherence with measures of viral load, and identify the degree of concordance among self-reported medication adherence tools. Thirty-five adolescents between the ages of 11 and 21 years (mean age, 15.4) enrolled in National Cancer Institute (NCI) HIV primary treatment protocols participated in the study.