Life expectancy of HIV-infected patients followed at the largest hospital in Guinea-Bissau is one-fourth of life expectancy of the background population.

Purpose: To estimate the life expectancy (LE) of HIV-infected patients in the West African country Guinea-Bissau and compare it with the background population.

Methods: Using data from the largest HIV outpatient clinic at the Hospital Nacional Simão Mendes in the capital Bissau, a retrospective observational cohort study was performed. The study included patients attending the clinic between June 2005 and January 2018.

HTLV infected individuals have increased B-cell activation and proinflammatory regulatory T-cells.

Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) affects the human immune system in many ways, most notably by inducing proliferation of infected CD4 + T cells, but several other cell types are also affected. To characterize the effects of HTLV infection, we analysed blood samples from HTLV-infected individuals by flow cytometry. Samples were collected from visitors at the HIV clinic in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

Discriminatory rapid tests cause HIV-type misclassification-evaluation of three rapid tests using clinical samples from Guinea-Bissau.

Background: Discrimination among HIV types is important because HIV-2 is naturally resistant to some of the first-line drugs used in the treatment of HIV-1. We evaluated three assays for HIV-type discriminatory capacity: SD Bioline HIV 1/2 3.0 (Bioline), First Response HIV 1-2-0 Card Test (First Response) and Genie III HIV-1/HIV-2 (Genie III).

Political instability and supply-side barriers undermine the potential for high participation in HIV testing for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission in Guinea-Bissau: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends HIV testing is included in routine screening tests for all pregnant women in order to prevent mother-to-child-transmission of HIV and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: To assess the proportion of women approached and tested for HIV at delivery and factors associated with non-testing at the maternity ward of the Simão Mendes National Hospital (HNSM) in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study among women presenting for delivery from June 2008 until May 2013.

Protease Inhibitors or NNRTIs as First-Line HIV-1 Treatment in West Africa (PIONA): A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are recommended as part of first-line treatment for HIV-1 in Africa. However, NNRTI-based regimens are more prone to resistance development than protease inhibitors (PIs) in a context in which drug interruptions are frequent. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of NNRTIs with PIs in HIV-1-infected patients in Guinea-Bissau.

Soluble Macrophage Mannose Receptor (sCD206/sMR) as a Biomarker in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

Macrophages play important roles during human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, reflected by changes in macrophage-activation biomarker soluble CD163 (sCD163). Here, we present data on the novel macrophage-activation biomarker soluble mannose receptor/CD206 (sCD206) in HIV infection. We investigated sCD206 blood levels at baseline and follow-up with/without antiretroviral therapy (ART), in 212 patients with HIV type 1 (HIV-1), HIV type 2 (HIV-2), or dual infection.

Increased mortality among HIV infected patients with cryptococcal antigenemia in Guinea-Bissau.

Cryptococcal antigenemia may precede development of cryptococcal meningitis and death among patients with advanced HIV infection. Among 200 retrospectively and randomly selected ART-naïve patients with CD4 counts < 100 cells/μl from Guinea-Bissau, 20 (10%) had a positive cryptococcal antigen test. Self-reported headache and fever were predictors of a positive test, while cryptococcal antigenemia was a strong predictor of death within the first year of follow-up, MRR 2.

The influence of human leukocyte antigen-types on disease progression among HIV-2 infected patients in Guinea-Bissau.

Objectives: HIV-2 is endemic in West Africa and is characterized by lower transmissibility because of lower viral load, and HIV-2-infected persons usually have a slower progression to AIDS. The mechanisms behind the slower disease progression are unknown. The main objective was to identify specific HLA class I and II alleles that may influence the disease progression of HIV-2 infection.

Assessing factors for loss to follow-up of HIV infected patients in Guinea-Bissau.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to ascertain vital status of patients considered lost to follow-up at an HIV clinic in Guinea-Bissau, and describe reasons for loss to follow-up (LTFU).

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional sample of a prospective cohort, carried out between May 15, 2013, and January 31, 2014. Patients lost to follow-up, who lived within the area of the Bandim Health Project, a demographic surveillance site (DSS), were eligible for inclusion.

Afri-Can Forum 2 : Johannesburg, South Africa. 16-18 February 2015.

A1 Introduction to the 2nd synchronicity forum of GHRI/CHVI-funded Canadian and African HIV prevention and vaccine teams O1 Voluntary medical male circumcision for prevention of heterosexual transmission of HIV in adult males in Soweto: What do indicators and incidence rate show? Hillary Mukudu, Neil Martinson, Benn Sartorius O2 Developing a peer-led community mobilization program for sex workers in Soweto: HIV risk and demographics Jenny Coetzee, Janan Dietrich, Kgaugelo Mokgatswana, Rachel Jewkes, Glenda E. Gray O3 Salient beliefs about adherence: A qualitative survey conducted as part of the demonstration study on "treatment as prevention" (TasP) and "pre-exposure prophylaxis" (PrEP) among female sex workers (FSWS) in Cotonou, Benin Marylène Dugas, Luc Béhanzin, Fernand A. Guédou, Marie-Pierre Gagnon, Michel Alary O4 Relative perception of risk as a driver of unsafe sexual practices among key populations: Cases of fisherfolk and women and their partners involved in multiple sexual partnerships in Uganda Rwamahe Rutakumwa, Martin Mbonye, Thadeus Kiwanuka, Sarah Nakamanya, Richard Muhumuza, Winfred Nalukenge, Janet Seeley O5 Exploring the acceptability of new biomedical HIV prevention technologies among MSM, adolescents and heterosexual adults in South Africa Millicent Atujuna, Melissa Wallace, Ben Brown, Linda Gail Bekker, Peter A.

Clinical presentation and opportunistic infections in HIV-1, HIV-2 and HIV-1/2 dual seropositive patients in Guinea-Bissau.

Background: Better understanding of HIV-2 infection is likely to affect the patient care in areas where HIV-2 is prevalent. In this study, we aimed to characterize the clinical presentations among HIV-1, HIV-2 and HIV-1/2 dual seropositive patients.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, newly diagnosed HIV patients attending the HIV outpatient clinic at Hospital Nacional Simão Mendes in Guinea-Bissau were enrolled.

Differential effects of sex in a West African cohort of HIV-1, HIV-2 and HIV-1/2 dually infected patients: men are worse off.

Objectives: Several studies have reported conflicting effects of sex on HIV-1 infection. We describe differences in baseline characteristics and assess the impact of sex on HIV progression among patients at a clinic with many HIV-2 and HIV-1/2 dually infected patients.

Methods: This study utilised a retrospective cohort of treatment-naïve adults at the largest HIV clinic in Guinea-Bissau from 6 June 2005 to 1 December 2013.

Lack of awareness of treatment failure among HIV-1-infected patients in Guinea-Bissau - a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: With more people receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART), the need to detect treatment failure and switch to second-line ART has also increased. We assessed CD4 cell counts (as a marker of treatment failure), determined the rate of switching to second-line treatment and evaluated mortality related to treatment failure among HIV-infected patients in Guinea-Bissau.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, adult patients infected with HIV-1 receiving ≥6 months of ART at an HIV clinic in Bissau were included from June 2005 to July 2014 and followed until January 2015.

Challenges facing HIV treatment in Guinea-Bissau: the benefits of international research collaborations.

Problem: The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa has improved the quality of life of millions of people and reduced mortality. However, substantial problems with the infrastructure for ART delivery remain.

Approach: Clinicians and researchers at an HIV clinic in Guinea-Bissau identified problems with the delivery of ART by establishing a clinical database and by collaborating with international researchers.

Cohort Profile: The Bissau HIV Cohort-a cohort of HIV-1, HIV-2 and co-infected patients.

The West African country Guinea-Bissau is home to the world's highest prevalence of HIV-2, and its HIV-1 prevalence is rising. Other chronic viral infections like human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and hepatitis B virus are common as well. The Bissau HIV Cohort was started in 2007 to gain new insights into the overall effect of introducing antiretroviral treatment in a treatment-naïve population with concomitant infection with three retroviruses (HIV-1, HIV-2 and HTLV-1) and tuberculosis.

Hepatitis B and Delta virus are prevalent but often subclinical co-infections among HIV infected patients in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) may lead to accelerated hepatic disease progression with higher rates of liver cirrhosis and liver-related mortality compared with HBV mono-infection. Co or super-infection with hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) may worsen the liver disease and complicate treatment possibilities.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study we included HIV-infected individuals who had a routine blood analysis performed at an HIV clinic in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau between the 28th of April and 30th of September 2011.

Performance of 3 rapid tests for discrimination between HIV-1 and HIV-2 in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa.

As HIV-2 is intrinsically resistant to nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, it is mandatory to discriminate between HIV types before initiating antiretroviral treatment. Guinea-Bissau has the world's highest prevalence of HIV-2 and HIV-1/HIV-2 dually infected individuals. We evaluated 3 rapid tests for discrimination between HIV-1, HIV-2, and dual infections among 219 patients from Guinea-Bissau by comparing with the gold standard (INNO-LIA).

Therapeutic vaccination using cationic liposome-adjuvanted HIV type 1 peptides representing HLA-supertype-restricted subdominant T cell epitopes: safety, immunogenicity, and feasibility in Guinea-Bissau.

We have designed a therapeutic HIV-1 vaccine concept based on peptides together with the adjuvant CAF01. Peptides represented 15 HLA-supertype-restricted subdominant and conserved CD8 T cell epitopes and three CD4 T-helper cell epitopes. In this phase I clinical trial, safety and immunogenicity were assessed in untreated HIV-1-infected individuals in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa.

Barriers and facilitators to antiretroviral therapy adherence among patients with HIV in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau: A qualitative study.

Adherence is a decisive factor in achieving a successful response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV infection. No previous studies have been conducted regarding HIV treatment adherence in Guinea-Bissau. In this study we assessed barriers and facilitators to patient ART adherence.