Neurocognitive Functioning is Impaired in Perinatally HIV-Infected Youth.

Background: The present study examined neurocognitive differences between Perinatally HIV (PHIV)-infected-youth and age and gender matched healthy controls. Despite early, long-term anti-viral treatment (ART), significant neurocognitive deficiencies remain for PHIV-infected-youth reaching adulthood compared to controls.

Methods: Participants were assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery.

"We Are Not Different than Others": A Qualitative Study of the Lived Experience of Hispanic Adolescents and Young Adults Living with Perinatally Acquired HIV.

Though Hispanic youth with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) comprise 14% of those living with PHIV, little research has documented their lived experiences. Eighteen Hispanic adolescents and young adults (AYA) with PHIV were recruited from two pediatric infectious disease clinics in California (mean age = 20.8 years, 12 females and 6 males).

White matter of perinatally HIV infected older youths shows low frequency fluctuations that may reflect glial cycling.

In perinatally HIV-infected (PHIV) children, neurodevelopment occurs in the presence of HIV-infection, and even with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) the brain can be a reservoir for latent HIV. Consequently, patients often demonstrate long-term cognitive deficits and developmental delay, which may be reflected in altered functional brain activity. Our objective was to examine brain function in PHIV on cART by quantifying the amplitude of low frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo).

Influence of sickle cell disease on susceptibility to HIV infection.

People with sickle cell disease (SCD) are reported to have low rates of HIV infection, slower progression to AIDS and lower HIV-associated mortality compared to the general population. Mechanisms of potential resistance to HIV in SCD are incompletely understood. We retrospectively reviewed the Transfusion Safety Study to compare HIV status between people with SCD and other congenital anemias who were routinely exposed to blood products during the high-risk period before HIV screening implementation.

Low maternal vitamin D is associated with increased risk of congenital and peri/postnatal transmission of Cytomegalovirus in women with HIV.

Background: CMV infection of the fetus or neonate can lead to devastating disease, and there are no effective prevention strategies to date. Vitamin D is a potent immunomodulator, supports antiviral immune responses, and plays an important role in placental immunity.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study to evaluate the impact of low maternal vitamin D on congenital and early postnatal transmission of CMV among HIV-infected, non-breastfeeding women and their HIV exposed but negative infants from an urban HIV clinic.

Association of HLA Genotype With T-Cell Activation in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and HIV/Hepatitis C Virus-Coinfected Women.

Background: Global immune activation and HLA alleles are each associated with the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus .

Methods: We evaluated the relationship between 44 HLA class I and 28 class II alleles and percentages of activated CD8 (CD8+CD38+DR+) and CD4 (CD4+CD38+DR+) T cells in 586 women who were naive to highly active antiretroviral therapy. We used linear generalized estimating equation regression models, adjusting for race/ethnicity, age, HIV load, and hepatitis C virus infection and controlling for multiplicity using a false discovery rate threshold of 0.

Low Bioactive Vitamin D Is Associated with Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension in a Cohort of Pregnant HIV-Infected Women Sampled Over a 23-Year Period.

Objective: To examine the association of vitamin D insufficiency and risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women.

Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating the impact of low maternal vitamin D levels on PIH and perinatal outcomes among HIV-infected pregnant women receiving care at an urban HIV center from 1991 to 2014.

Results: A total of 366 pregnant women were included, of which 11% developed PIH.

Impact of Hepatitis C Virus on the Circulating Levels of IL-7 in HIV-1 Coinfected Women.

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes an alteration in T-cell maturation and activation in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Because interleukin 7 (IL-7) is a major cytokine controlling T-cell homeostasis, we analyzed the potential influence of HCV coinfection on circulating IL-7 levels in HIV-infected women before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Design And Methods: This prospective study included 56 HIV monoinfected, 55 HIV/HCV coinfected without HCV viremia, 132 HIV/HCV coinfected with HCV viremia, and 61 HIV/HCV-uninfected women for whom plasma levels of IL-7 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at 1 or more follow-up visits before and after HAART.

Systemic Immune Activation and HIV Shedding in the Female Genital Tract.

Background: Plasma HIV RNA is the most significant determinant of cervical HIV shedding. However, shedding is also associated with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and cervical inflammation. The mechanism by which this occurs is poorly understood.

Association of HIV clinical disease progression with profiles of early immune activation: results from a cluster analysis approach.

Objective: CD4 and CD8 T-cell activation are independent predictors of AIDS. The complete activation profile of both T-cell subtypes and their predictive value for AIDS risk is largely unknown.

Design: A total of 564 AIDS-free women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study were followed over 6.

Leukoreduction and ultraviolet treatment reduce both the magnitude and the duration of the HLA antibody response.

Background: Both leukoreduction and ultraviolet (UV) light treatment of blood products have been shown to reduce the incidence of HLA antibody development in recipients, but the impact of these treatments on the magnitude and persistence of the antibody response is less clear.

Study Design And Methods: Longitudinal samples from 319 subjects taken from four different study cohorts were evaluated for HLA antibodies to determine the effects of leukoreduction and UV treatment on HLA antibody generation and persistence.

Results: Subjects receiving leukoreduced or UV-treated blood products were less likely to generate Class I HLA antibodies, and those receiving leukoreduced blood were also less likely to generate Class II HLA antibodies.

A comparison of MSM stigma, HIV stigma and depression in HIV-positive Latino and African American men who have sex with men (MSM).

Little research has examined differences in HIV stigma versus MSM stigma and the role of these stigmas in depression for HIV-positive Latino and African American men who have sex with men (MSM), subgroups disproportionately impacted by HIV in the US. MSM stigma, HIV stigma, depression, stress and social support were examined among HIV-positive Latino (n = 100) and African American (n = 99) MSM patients at five HIV clinics in Los Angeles County, California. In multiple regression models, Latino MSM had higher HIV stigma scores (p = 0.

The effect of prenatal highly active antiretroviral therapy on the transmission of congenital and perinatal/early postnatal cytomegalovirus among HIV-infected and HIV-exposed infants.

Background: Before highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) rates were higher among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-exposed infants than unexposed infants. This study examines congenital and perinatal/early postnatal (P/EP) CMV among HIV-exposed infants pre- and post- HAART.

Methods: Infants born to HIV-infected women were evaluated for congenital CMV (CMV-positive culture in first 3 weeks of life) and P/EP CMV (positive culture in first 6 months of life).

Detection of host immune responses in acute phase sera of spontaneous resolution versus persistent hepatitis C virus infection.

Prior to the identification of hepatitis C virus (HCV), transfusion-transmission was common. Viral transmission in subjects with a known date of infection allows the study of the immune responses to acute HCV infection. We analysed 39 soluble immune factors in serum samples from subjects with transfusion-transmitted HCV.

Permissive and protective factors associated with presence, level, and longitudinal pattern of cervicovaginal HIV shedding.

Background: Cervicovaginal HIV level (CV-VL) influences HIV transmission. Plasma viral load (PVL) correlates with CV-VL, but discordance is frequent. We evaluated how PVL, behavioral, immunological, and local factors/conditions individually and collectively correlate with CV-VL.

HIV/HCV co-infection: pathogenesis, clinical complications, treatment, and new therapeutic technologies.

World-wide, hepatitis C virus (HCV) accounts for approximately 130 million chronic infections, with an overall 3% prevalence. Four to 5 million persons are co-infected with HIV. It is well established that HIV has a negative impact on the natural history of HCV, including a higher rate of viral persistence, increased viral load, and more rapid progression to fibrosis, end-stage liver disease, and death.

Do social support, stress, disclosure and stigma influence retention in HIV care for Latino and African American men who have sex with men and women?

Limited research has examined the role that social support, stress, stigma and HIV disclosure play in retention in HIV care for African Americans and Latinos. Among 398 Latino and African American men who have sex with men (MSM) and women, the major predictor of retention in HIV care was disclosure of HIV status to more social network members (OR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.

Transfusion transmission of highly prevalent commensal human viruses.

Background: Anellovirus species Torque teno virus (TTV), Torque teno mini virus (TTMV), and Torque teno midi virus (TTMDV) and flavivirus GBV-C are highly prevalent and genetically diverse chronic human viral infections that have not yet been associated with disease.

Study Design And Methods: To determine if these commensal viruses are transmitted by blood transfusions, we genetically analyzed viral species in cryopreserved samples from blood donors and corresponding pre- and posttransfusion samples from recipients enrolled in the Transfusion-Transmitted Viruses Study cohort.

Results: All 24 individuals in 12 donor-recipient pairs were infected with TTV, while 16 were infected with TTMV, 15 with TTMDV, and four with GBV-C.

Activation of CD8 T cells predicts progression of HIV infection in women coinfected with hepatitis C virus.

Background: Because activation of T cells is associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pathogenesis, CD4 and CD8 activation levels in patients coinfected with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) may explain conflicting reports regarding effects of HCV on HIV disease progression.

Methods: Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression models were used to study the risk of incident clinical AIDS and AIDS-related deaths among 813 HCV-negative women with HIV infection, 87 HCV-positive nonviremic women with HIV coinfection, and 407 HCV-positive viremic women with HIV coinfection (median follow-up time, 5.2 years).

Social support, stress and social network characteristics among HIV-positive Latino and African American women and men who have sex with men.

Social support and stress have been poorly characterized for persons with HIV, particularly for racial/ethnic minorities. To address this gap, data on general and HIV-specific support and stress and social network characteristics were collected for 399 African American and Latino women and men who have sex with men (MSM) in Los Angeles County. African American (mean = 41; SD = 17) and Latina (mean = 40; SD = 19) women reported the highest general support.

Using social networks to recruit an HIV vaccine preparedness cohort.

Objectives: To evaluate a social network approach to develop an adolescent cohort for HIV vaccine preparedness and investigate characteristics that influence recruitment.

Methods: We summarize baseline data from a prospective cohort study that included 4 sessions over 6 months. Fifty-nine HIV-infected adolescent and adult patients of a family-based HIV clinic named significant others and indicated willingness to involve them in this study.

Long-term serologic follow-up of isolated hepatitis B core antibody in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected women.

Background: Isolated antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) is a common serologic finding in persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but the outcome and clinical significance are uncertain.

Methods: We performed repeated hepatitis B virus (HBV) serologic tests on women who participated in the Women's Interagency HIV Study and who had isolated anti-HBc at study entry.

Results: Repeated serologic tests were performed for 322 women (282 HIV-infected and 40 HIV-uninfected) at a median of 7.

Lack of evidence for human herpesvirus-8 transmission via blood transfusion in a historical US cohort.

Background: Recent studies have found evidence of occasional human herpesvirus (HHV)-8 transmission via blood transfusion. However, because these studies were conducted outside the United States or did not have linked donor-recipient pairs, they have a limited ability to inform US blood-banking policy.

Methods: We investigated HHV-8 transmission via blood transfusion in the United States by conducting HHV-8 serologic testing among participants of the Transfusion-Transmitted Viruses Study (TTVS), who enrolled during the 1970s.

Correlates of perinatal depression in HIV-infected women.

Maternal perinatal depression (PND) may interfere with effective perinatal HIV care. In order to begin examining the prevalence and characteristics of PND in HIV-infected women, we analyzed data from the medical records of all HIV-infected women who had received perinatal care in the Maternal-Child and Adolescent Center for Infectious Diseases and Virology at LAC/USC Medical Center from 1997 through 2006. Data from 273 individual women (328 live births) were analyzed.