Occult hepatitis B virus infection among Mexican human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected patients.

Aim: To determine the frequency of occult hepatitis B infection (OHBI) in a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1+/ hepatitis B surface antigen negative (HBsAg)- patients from Mexico.

Methods: We investigated the presence of OHBI in 49 HIV-1+/HBsAg- patients. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was analyzed using nested PCR to amplify the Core (C) region and by real-time PCR to amplify a region of the S and X genes.

Prospective, randomized, open label trial of Efavirenz vs Lopinavir/Ritonavir in HIV+ treatment-naive subjects with CD4+<200 cell/mm3 in Mexico.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of efavirenz (EFV) vs lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) in combination with azidothymidine/lamivudine in antiretroviral therapy naive, HIV+ individuals presenting for care with CD4 counts <200/mm.

Methods: Prospective, randomized, open label, multicenter trial in Mexico. HIV-infected subjects with CD4 <200/mm were randomized to receive open label EFV or LPV/r plus azidothymidine/lamivudine (fixed-dose combination) for 48 weeks.