HIV-Associated Genital Immune Biomarkers in the Female Sex Worker Population: A Pilot Study.

Problem: Female sex workers (FSW) experience a disproportionately high burden of HIV infection, yet characterization of the vaginal immune microenvironment that may impact biological risk is not well studied among FSW in the United States. Additionally, feasible methodology for collecting biological materials has not been evaluated in this population.

Methods: We enrolled 10 FSW (5 premenopausal, 5 postmenopausal) who participated in a survey and provided vaginal swabs.

Clinical outcomes and risk factors for immune recovery and all-cause mortality in Latin Americans living with HIV with virological success: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Immune reconstitution following antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation is crucial to prevent AIDS and non-AIDS-related comorbidities. Patients with suppressed viraemia who fail to restore cellular immunity are exposed to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality during long-term follow-up, although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We aim to describe clinical outcomes and factors associated with the worse immune recovery and all-cause mortality in people living with HIV (PLWH) from Latin America following ART initiation.

The impact of earthquakes in Latin America on the continuity of HIV care: A retrospective observational cohort study.

Objectives: As earthquakes occur frequently in Latin America and can cause significant disruptions in HIV care, we sought to analyze patterns of HIV care for adults at Latin American clinical sites experiencing a significant earthquake within the past two decades.

Study Design: Retrospective clinical cohort study.

Methods: Adults receiving HIV care at sites experiencing at least a "moderate intensity" (Modified Mercalli scale) earthquake in the Caribbean, Central and South America network for HIV epidemiology (CCASAnet) contributed data from 2003 to 2017.

Non-timely referral of women aged 40 to 69 to preventive medicine for breast cancer detection and its association with the BI-RADS classification.

Purpose: In the first level of health care, the timely detection of breast cancer is essential to prevent the progression of the disease, obtain optimal treatment and improve the prognosis and survival of patients. The objective of this study was to analyze the opportunity in referral to the Preventive Medicine Modules offered to women aged 40 to 69 years of the Family Medicine Unit 1, of the Mexican Social Security Institute, Decentralized Administrative Operation Body, Aguascalientes, Mexico, by their family physician, and its impact in the findings of mammographic screening according to the BI-RADS classification. Methods This was a cross-sectional comparative study of 412 mammograms performed on women aged 40 to 69, who were treated in the preventive medicine modules from January 2019 to June 2021.

Socio-Demographic, Clinical, and Mortality Differences between HIV-Infected and HIV/HTLV-1 Co-Infected Patients in Peru.

Background And Aims: In Peru, the estimated prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human T-lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1) co-infection has been reported to be as high as 18%. Despite the endemicity of HTLV-1 in Peru, few studies have assessed the impact of HIV/HTLV-1 co-infection. Our study compared socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, and mortality rates between HIV-infected and HIV/HTLV-1 co-infected patients.

Long-term impact on cardiopulmonary function and quality of life among patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in a 6-month follow-up period in Lima, Peru: FUNCTION cohort study protocol.

Introduction: The sequelae of COVID-19 have been described as a multisystemic condition, with a great impact on the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems with abnormalities in pulmonary function tests, such as lower diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLco) levels and pathological patterns in spirometry; persistence of radiological lesions; cardiac involvement such as myocarditis and pericarditis; and an increase in mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. Several factors, such as infection severity during the acute phase as well as vaccination status, have shown some variable effects on these post-COVID-19 conditions, mainly at a clinical level such as symptoms persistence. Longitudinal assessments and reversibility of changes across the spectrum of disease severity are required to understand the long-term impact of COVID-19.

First case report of gastric outlet obstruction due to aortofemoral bypass Dacron graft erosion of the duodenum treated with neo aortoiliac system procedure.

Introduction: Gastric outlet obstruction is an uncommon complication of surgical treatment of aortoiliac occlusive disease with aortofemoral bypass. The most frequent presenting feature of duodenal erosion due to aortic synthetic graft is upper gastrointestinal bleeding, which can range from a minor "herald" bleed to exsanguinating hemorrhage.

Case Presentation: A 64-year-old male patient with an aortofemoral Dacron bypass due to aortoiliac occlusive disease TASC II D with a chronic graft infection required emergency resection of the right limb of the Dacron graft two years ago.

HIV and antiretroviral treatment knowledge gaps and psychosocial burden among persons living with HIV in Lima, Peru.

This study aims to describe knowledge on HIV and antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and psychosocial factors among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Lima, Perú, to explore characteristics associated to this knowledge, and determine its impact on sustained viral suppression. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 171 PLWH at the largest referral health care center in Lima. The psychosocial factors measured were depression, risk of alcoholism, use of illegal drugs and disclosure.

Clinical, Radiological and Functional Characteristics of Pulmonary Diseases among HTLV-1 Infected Patients without Prior Active Tuberculosis Infection.

The lifelong infection with the human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) has been associated with a variety of clinical manifestations; one of the less-explored is HTLV-1-associated pulmonary disease. Imaging of lung damage caused by the HTLV-1 hyperinflammatory cascade can be similar to sequelae from TB infection. Our study aims to describe the pulmonary lesions of HTLV-1-positive patients without past or current active TB and evaluate pulmonary function.

[Challenges to the continuity of care of people living with HIV throughout the COVID-19 crisis in Peru].

The COVID-19 pandemic and societal response implemented may interact with the ongoing HIV epidemic in multiple ways. There are approximately 87000 people living with HIV (PLWH) who are at risk of developing COVID-19 in Peru and 67,000 of them are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and at risk of limitations in their access to ART, compromising their adherence and their health during the pandemic. Finally, the potential effect of the pandemic on the mental health of PLWH is not documented.

Clinical situation of Venezuelan migrants living with HIV in a hospital in Lima, Peru.

Due to a huge crisis extensive to health services many Venezuelan people living with HIV (PLWH) had migrated abroad, including Peru where favorable laws were in place until June 2019. We describe the health status and epidemiological trends of PLWH from Venezuela at an HIV program in Lima. We analyzed baseline and follow-up data of all Venezuelan PLWH enrolled in our HIV program from January 2017 to December 2019.

Oxygen saturation as a predictor of mortality in hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 in a public hospital in Lima, Peru.

Introduction: Peru is among the top ten countries with the highest number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases worldwide. The aim of the study was to describe the clinical features of hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 and to determine the prognostic factors associated with in-hospital mortality.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to Hospital Cayetano Heredia; a tertiary care hospital in Lima, Peru.

Impact of fractures and orthopedic surgeries in patients with HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis.

Introduction: In patients with HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) gait disturbance is a predominant feature that leads to falls and fractures, which can further aggravate disability. We sought to evaluate the impact of fractures and orthopedic surgeries in patients with HAM/TSP.

Methods: We retrieved the medical records of HAM/TSP patients enrolled in our study center's HTLV-1 clinical cohort between 1989-2018.

Frequency of non-communicable diseases in people 50 years of age and older receiving HIV care in Latin America.

Background: A growing population of older adults with HIV will increase demands on HIV-related healthcare. Nearly a quarter of people receiving care for HIV in Latin America are currently 50 years or older, yet little is known about the frequency of comorbidities in this population. We estimated the prevalence and incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among people 50 years of age or older (≥50yo) receiving HIV care during 2000-2015 in six centers affiliated with the Caribbean, Central and South American network for HIV epidemiology (CCASAnet).

Early-Onset HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis.

Background: Vertical transmission of HTLV-1 could lead to the early development of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). This significantly affects quality of life and increases morbimortality.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with early-onset HAM/TSP, defined as disease onset before 20 years of age.

Self-audits as alternatives to travel-audits for improving data quality in the Caribbean, Central and South America network for HIV epidemiology.

Introduction: Audits play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of observational cohort data. While previous work has validated the audit process, sending trained auditors to sites ("travel-audits") can be costly. We investigate the efficacy of training sites to conduct "self-audits.

The Population Impact of Late Presentation With Advanced HIV Disease and Delayed Antiretroviral Therapy in Adults Receiving HIV Care in Latin America.

Late presentation to care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease are common in Latin America. We estimated the impact of these conditions on mortality in the region. We included adults enrolled during 2001-2014 at HIV care clinics.

Strongyloides stercoralis infection after the use of emergency corticosteroids: a case report on hyperinfection syndrome.

Background: In clinical practice, identification of a case of severe asthma exacerbation prompts initiation of corticosteroids. However, not all that wheezes is asthma.

Case Presentation: A 61-year-old man from the Peruvian Amazon presented with progressive dyspnea, abdominal pain, and cough for the past week.

Early Retention in Care Neither Mediates Nor Modifies the Effect of Sex and Sexual Mode of HIV Acquisition on HIV Survival in the Americas.

Early retention in care, sex, and sexual mode of HIV acquisition has been associated with mortality risk among persons living with HIV (PLWH). We assessed whether early retention in care mediates or modifies the association between mortality and sex and sexual mode of HIV acquisition among PLWH on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Americas. ART-naïve, adult PLWH (≥18 years) enrolling at Caribbean, Central and South America network for HIV epidemiology (CCASAnet) and Vanderbilt Comprehensive Care Clinic sites 2000-2015, starting ART, and with ≥1 visit after ART-start were included.

HIV screening among newly diagnosed TB patients: a cross sectional study in Lima, Peru.

Background: Since 2006, the Peruvian National TB program (NTP) recommends voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for all tuberculosis (TB) patients. Responding to the differential burden of both diseases in Peru, TB is managed in peripheral health facilities while HIV is managed in referral centers. This study aims to determine the coverage of HIV screening among TB patients and the characteristics of persons not screened.

Evaluating the care cascade after antiretroviral therapy initiation in Latin America.

Accelerating antiretroviral therapy (ART) administration, improving retention, and achieving viral suppression in low- and middle-income countries must be prioritized. We evaluated trends and disparities in these milestones in a large Latin American cohort. Adults starting ART (ART) from 2003 to 2014 at Caribbean, Central, and South America network for HIV epidemiology sites were assessed for care cascade outcomes: CD4 cell count >200 cells/mm at ART; retention (≥1 visit at one year after ART); viral suppression (≥1 HIV-1 RNA <200 copies/ml at one year after ART).

[Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension due to didanosina. A rare case].

Liver involvement is usually seen in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), especially in patients coinfected with hepatitis B or C, in alcohol abuse, etc. However, there is a group of patients who develop liver involvement and portal hypertension of unspecified cause. Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) is a liver disorder recently described, but potentially serious.

Incidence of virological failure and major regimen change of initial combination antiretroviral therapy in the Latin America and the Caribbean: an observational cohort study.

Background: Access to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is expanding in Latin America (Mexico, Central America, and South America) and the Caribbean. We assessed the incidence of and factors associated with regimen failure and regimen change of initial ART in this region.

Methods: This observational cohort study included antiretroviral-naive adults starting ART from 2000 to 2014 at sites in seven countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.