Mitochondrial DNA content of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in ART untreated & stavudine/zidovudine treated HIV-1-infected patients.

Background & Objectives: Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are known to cause mitochondrial toxicity. This study was done to estimate mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected, NRTI treated and antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve patients and evaluate the utility of mtDNA content as a biomarker of mitochondrial toxicity.

Methods: mtDNA content in PBMCs of 57 HIV-infected ART untreated and 30 ART treated with stavudine (d4T) or zidovudine (AZT) containing regimen were compared against 24 low-risk healthy controls (LoRHC).

Occult HBV infection in HIV-infected adults and evaluation of pooled NAT for HBV.

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection among HIV-infected persons and to evaluate the use of a pooling strategy to detect occult HBV infection in the setting of HIV infection. Five hundred and two HIV-positive individuals were tested for HBV, occult HBV and hepatitis C and D with serologic and nucleic acid testing (NAT). We also evaluated a pooled NAT strategy for screening occult HBV infection among the HIV-positive individuals.

Incidence of atazanavir- associated adverse drug reactions in second -line drugs treated south Indian HIV-1 infected patients.

Background: Ritonavir-boosted atazanavir (ATV/r) is the preferred second-line protease inhibitor (PI) option for HIV patients in resource-limited settings; its pattern of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) has not been much reported from India; hence, in this study, we have analyzed the incidence of ATV/r-associated ADRs in Southern Indian HIV-1-infected patients.

Methods: In this prospective study, 111 HIV patients treated with ATV/r were included with at least 2 years follow-up visits for the emergence of hyperbilirubinemia, hypertransaminasemia, and serum creatinine elevation. The causality assessment was done based on the WHO scale for the causality assessment of suspected ADR.

Synthesis and characterization of Mn-MCM-41--its catalytic activity for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes.

Mn-MCM-41 was synthesized in various (Si/Mn = 25, 50, 75 and 100) ratios, using manganese acetate as source for manganese by hydrothermal method and was calcined at 550 degrees C for 6 hrs. The physico-chemical characterizations of Mn-MCM-41 showed the formation of hexagonally arranged mesopores with high surface area. The calcined Mn-MCM-41 was used as catalytic templates for the growth of large amount of carbon nanotubes.