Circulating microRNA profiles predict the severity of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients.

We aimed to examine the circulating microRNA (miRNA) profile of hospitalized COVID-19 patients and evaluate its potential as a source of biomarkers for the management of the disease. This was an observational and multicenter study that included 84 patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for SARS-CoV-2 recruited during the first pandemic wave in Spain (March-June 2020). Patients were stratified according to disease severity: hospitalized patients admitted to the clinical wards without requiring critical care and patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Comparison of real-time and droplet digital PCR to detect and quantify SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma.

Background: The presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma has been linked to disease severity and mortality. We compared RT-qPCR to droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma from COVID-19 patients (mild, moderate, and critical disease).

Methods: The presence/concentration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in plasma was compared in three groups of COVID-19 patients (30 outpatients, 30 ward patients and 30 ICU patients) using both RT-qPCR and ddPCR.

Viral RNA load in plasma is associated with critical illness and a dysregulated host response in COVID-19.

Background: COVID-19 can course with respiratory and extrapulmonary disease. SARS-CoV-2 RNA is detected in respiratory samples but also in blood, stool and urine. Severe COVID-19 is characterized by a dysregulated host response to this virus.

Trends in pulmonary embolism in patients infected with HIV during the combination antiretroviral therapy era in Spain: A nationwide population-based study.

Chronic infections are a major factor in the development of pulmonary embolism (PE). We aimed to evaluate the trends of PE-related hospitalizations and PE-related deaths in people living with HIV (PLWH) during the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) through a retrospective study in Spain. Data were collected from the Minimum Basic Data Set (MBDS) between 1997 and 2013.

Epidemiological trends of sepsis in the twenty-first century (2000-2013): an analysis of incidence, mortality, and associated costs in Spain.

Background: Sepsis has represented a substantial health care and economic burden worldwide during the previous several decades. Our aim was to analyze the epidemiological trends of hospital admissions, deaths, hospital resource expenditures, and associated costs related to sepsis during the twenty-first century in Spain.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all sepsis-related hospitalizations in Spanish public hospitals from 2000 to 2013.

Epidemiological trends of deep venous thrombosis in HIV-infected subjects (1997-2013): A nationwide population-based study in Spain.

Background: Chronic infections may be a triggering factor as well as a risk factor of deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The purpose of this study was to analyze the epidemiological trends of hospital admissions related to DVT in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients during the combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) era, in relation to hepatitis C virus (HCV) serological status.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study using the Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set.

Stroke in HIV-infected individuals with and without HCV coinfection in Spain in the combination antiretroviral therapy era.

The incidence of stroke in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals has been well analyzed in recent epidemiological studies. However, little is known about the specific contribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to stroke among HIV-infected individuals. The aims of this study were to analyze trends in the incidence rates of stroke in HIV-infected individuals during the combination antiretroviral (cART) era in Spain and to categorize them by the presence or absence of HCV coinfection.

IL7RA polymorphisms predict the CD4+ recovery in HIV patients on cART.

Background: The IL7RA polymorphisms have recently been associated with CD4+ T-cell decline in untreated HIV-infected subjects and CD4+ T-cell recovery in patients on combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether IL7RA polymorphisms are associated with CD4+ T-cell recovery in HIV-infected patients on long-term cART.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective study in 151 naïve cART patients with severe immunodeficiency (CD4+ counts ≤200 cells/mm(3) ).

PPARγ2 Pro12Ala polymorphism was associated with favorable cardiometabolic risk profile in HIV/HCV coinfected patients: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-2 gene (PPARγ2) rs1801282 (Pro12Ala) polymorphism has been associated with lower risk of metabolic disturbance and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the association between the Pro12Ala polymorphism and cardiometabolic risk factors in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study on 257 HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

SLC30A8 rs13266634 polymorphism is related to a favorable cardiometabolic lipid profile in HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients.

Objective: To analyze the relationship of SLC30A8 rs13266634 polymorphism with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients.

Design: Cross-sectional study in 260 HIV/HVC-coinfected patients.

Methods: SLC30A8 polymorphisms were genotyped by GoldenGate assay.

Prediction of hepatic fibrosis in patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus based on genetic markers.

Objective: To assess the ability of the cirrhosis risk score (CRS) to predict liver fibrosis progression in HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patients.

Design: Retrospective follow-up study.

Methods: Based on a minimum follow-up time of 10 years with HCV infection, 190 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were classified according to their METAVIR score: (1) 25 nonprogressor patients who did not develop fibrosis (F0) and (2) 165 progressor patients who developed fibrosis (F ≥ 1).

European mitochondrial haplogroups are associated with CD4+ T cell recovery in HIV-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy.

Background: There is substantial interindividual variability in the rate and extent of CD4+ T cell recovery after starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The aim of our study was to determine whether mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups are associated with recovery of CD4+ in HIV-infected patients on cART.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study on 275 cART-naive patients with CD4+ counts <350 cells/mm(3), who were followed-up during at least 24 months after initiating cART.

Rate of candidiasis among HIV-infected children in Spain in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (1997-2008).

Background: Candidiasis is the most common opportunistic infection seen in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. The aim of our study was to estimate the candidiasis rate and evaluate its trend in HIV-infected children in Spain during the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) compared to HIV-uninfected children.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study.

IL28B polymorphisms are associated with severity of liver disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus.

Objective: To evaluate the association of IL28B polymorphisms and severity of liver disease among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfected patients.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study on 223 patients. Liver biopsies were evaluated according to Metavir score.

Bacterial DNA translocation and liver disease severity among HIV-infected patients with chronic hepatitis C.

We carried out a cross-sectional study to explore whether bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA (bactDNA) shows association with severity of liver disease among human immunodeficiency virus/hepatitis C virus coinfected patients. Patients with advanced fibrosis (F3/F4), moderate activity grade (A2/A3), and high fibrosis progression rate (FPR > 0.15) had higher values of plasma bactDNA levels than did patients without these markers of liver disease (P < 0.

Trend of pneumonia incidence among children infected with HIV in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.

We performed a retrospective study using a cross-sectional design for each year from 1997 to 2008 to evaluate the trend in pneumonia rates among HIV-infected children in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era in Spain. We found that rate of pneumonia decreased among HIV-Infected children in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era but still remained higher than in the general population. Non-AIDS-defining pneumonia remains a significant health problem for HIV-infected children.

Plasma IL-6 and IL-9 predict the failure of interferon-α plus ribavirin therapy in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Background: The cytokine profile plays an important role in treatment outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and probably modulates the immune response against HCV. The aim of this study was to evaluate which cytokines affect the response to interferon-α (IFN-α) and ribavirin therapy and how these cytokines change 72 weeks after starting anti-HCV therapy in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective follow-up study of 65 patients on anti-HCV therapy.

High plasma CXCL10 levels are associated with HCV-genotype 1, and higher insulin resistance, fibrosis, and HIV viral load in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Background: CXCL10 may contribute to the host immune response against the hepatitis C virus (HCV), liver disease progression, and response to HCV antiviral therapy. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship among virological, immunological, and clinical characteristics with plasma CXCL10 levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV-coinfected patients.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study on 144 patients.

Reduction in mycobacterial disease among HIV-infected children in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era (1997-2008).

Background: HIV-infected children are at increased risk of developing mycobacterial disease. The aim of this study was to estimate the change in mycobacterial disease rate in HIV-infected children and adolescents in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study.

European mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and metabolic disorders in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups play an important role in susceptibility to metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 248 HIV/hepatitis C virus-coinfected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy to investigate whether mtDNA haplogroups had any influence on metabolic disorders. mtDNA genotyping was performed using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform.

European mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and liver fibrosis in HIV and hepatitis C virus coinfected patients.

Background: HIV infection, hepatitis C virus (HCV) liver disease, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms are three possibly interrelated factors that might be associated with progression of liver disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether mtDNA haplogroups had any influence on liver fibrosis progression in HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 231 patients who were genotyped via Sequenom's MassARRAY platform (San Diego, California, USA).

Epidemiologic trends of cancer diagnoses among HIV-infected children in Spain from 1997 to 2008.

Background: The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has influenced the incidence of cancer in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the pattern of cancer rates in HIV-infected children on HAART during over a decade of follow-up.

Patients And Methods: We carried out a case-control study.

High plasma fractalkine (CX3CL1) levels are associated with severe liver disease in HIV/HCV co-infected patients with HCV genotype 1.

Background: Inappropriate persistence of chemokines expression in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can drive tissue damage, intrahepatic inflammation, and liver cell injury. The aim of study was to study the association of plasma fractalkine (CX3CL1) levels with fibrosis stage and necroinflammatory activity grade of liver biopsies in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV co-infected patients with HCV genotype 1.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study on 125 patients.

Sustained virological response to interferon-α plus ribavirin decreases inflammation and endothelial dysfunction markers in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antiviral therapy might lead to decreased chronic immune activation and endothelial dysfunction associated with cardiovascular risk. The aim was to evaluate the effect of HCV eradication on serum markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction markers in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective study of 69 HIV/HCV co-infected patients on interferon (IFN)-α plus ribavirin.