Behavioural survey and street-based HIV and HCV rapid testing programme among transgender sex workers.

Background: Transgender women sex workers (TGW-SW) are disproportionally affected by HIV and have reduced access to testing. Moreover, information regarding their behaviours and health needs is scarce.

Methods: A behavioural survey and a targeted testing programme in prostitution sites were conducted in Milan and Monza areas.

HPV 16 and 18 contribute to development of anal dysplasia in HIV infection irrespective of gender and sexual orientation.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was too investigate prevalence and persistence of human papilloma virus (HPV) and cytological abnormalities (CAs) in the anal swabs of people living with HIV (PLWH): men who have sex with men (MSM), men who have sex with women (MSW) and women (W).

Methods: Between March 2010 and January 2019, an anal swab for cytological and HPV genotyping tests was offered to all PLWH attending our clinic. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of infection.

Evaluation of adhesion molecules and immune parameters in HIV-infected patients treated with an atazanavir/ritonavir- compared with a lopinavir/ritonavir-based regimen.

Objectives: To evaluate changes in pro-atherosclerotic biomarkers and endothelial function in patients initiating two different PI-based regimens as part of ART.

Design: Prospective randomized 24 week study. Treatment-naive HIV-infected patients with CD4+ T cell count >250 cells/mm3 started PI-based regimens including atazanavir/ritonavir (Group A) or lopinavir/ritonavir (Group B) and were followed up in an observational follow-up study until week 96.

Acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection Presenting With Bilateral Interstitial Pneumonia: Case Report and Discussion of Potential HIV-Induced Interstitial Pneumonia.

A 50-year-old man was admitted to intensive care unit because of acute respiratory failure due interstitial pneumonia; after admission, a diagnosis of acute human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection was made. Clinical and radiological improvement was observed only after introduction of antiretroviral treatment. We discuss the hypothesis of interstitial pneumonia induced by the acute HIV-1 infection.

Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease among Patients Developing Mild Renal Impairment during Tenofovir-Containing Antiretroviral Treatment.

Background: Tenofovir (TDF) can cause kidney injury through tubular dysfunction, with or without drop of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Whether mild eGFR reductions during treatment should be considered a reason for prompt TDF discontinuation, however, remains unclear.

Methods: Patients with normal pre-TDF eGFR levels, who had developed mild renal impairment (i.

Evaluation of the Prognostic Value of Impaired Renal Function on Clinical Progression in a Large Cohort of HIV-Infected People Seen for Care in Italy.

Whilst renal dysfunction, especially mild impairment (60 View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Changes in subcutaneous adipose tissue microRNA expression in HIV-infected patients.

Objectives: We evaluated the possibility that a pattern of abnormal microRNA (miRNA) expression could be fuelling the mechanisms causing HIV-associated lipodystrophy (HAL).

Methods: In this case-control study, samples of subcutaneous adipose tissue from eight consecutive HIV-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy with HAL (cases) were compared with those of eight HIV-negative subjects (controls). Human miRNA microarrays were used to probe the transcriptomes of the samples.

Metabolic syndrome in human immunodeficiency virus-positive subjects: prevalence, phenotype, and related alterations in arterial structure and function.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection itself and highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) have been proposed to be associated with a higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome, but, to date, prevalence and phenotype of metabolic syndrome among HIV subjects and the related structural and functional vascular alterations are not conclusively defined.

Methods: We analyzed the data of 108 HIV-infected subjects without known cardiovascular risk factors: 72 were on HAART (group A, age 46.5±7.

Unmasking tuberculosis in the era of antiretroviral treatment.

Tuberculosis (TB) can develop soon after antiretroviral treatment initiation, as the result of restoration of the anti-TB specific immune response. This form of the disease is often defined as "unmasked TB", and it represents a major challenge for severely immune-suppressed HIV-infected subjects initiating treatment. Emergence of previously unrecognised TB disease occurs frequently in countries where TB/HIV co-infection is common, and where antiretroviral treatment has become increasingly accessible.

Decreased mitochondrial DNA content in subcutaneous fat from HIV-infected women taking antiretroviral therapy as measured at delivery.

Background: Increasing numbers of pregnant HIV-positive women are receiving combination antiretroviral regimens for preventing mother-to-child virus transmission or for treating the infection itself. Several studies have demonstrated that nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) induce mitochondrial toxicity by several mechanisms, including depletion of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). By the quantification of mtDNA levels, we studied mitochondrial toxicity in HIV-positive women at delivery and the possible correlations with antiretroviral regimens, viroimmunological and metabolic parameters.

Qualitative immune modulation by interleukin-2 (IL-2) adjuvant therapy in immunological non responder HIV-infected patients.

Background: Treatment of HIV-infected patients with interleukin-2 (IL-2) produces significant increases in CD4 T cell counts; however an associated qualitative improvement in cells function has yet to be conclusively demonstrated. By measuring mycobacterial killing activity, we evaluated IL-2-mediated functional immune enhancement ex vivo in immunological non-responders (INRs).

Methods And Findings: PBMC from 12 immunological non-responders (INRs) (CD4+<200/µl, HIV-RNA<50 cp/ml) on combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) were collected at baseline, and after 3 IL-2 cycles.

Ultrasonographic backscatter of the carotid artery wall in patients with HIV infection: a pilot study.

Aims: The aim of our study was to measure carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and risk factors associated with its development and progression, and to evaluate arterial wall characteristics through integrated backscatter analysis (IBS) in HIV patients.

Methods: Perspective cohort study enrolling 44 HIV patients treated with antiretroviral drugs who underwent standard B Mode cIMT measurement and tissue characterization of carotid wall by means of dedicated software by acoustic densitometry, at time 0 and 2 years later.

Major Findings: Cross-sectional evaluation performed at baseline found that cIMT value correlated significantly with age (r = 0.

CD4+ T cell depletion, immune activation and increased production of regulatory T cells in the thymus of HIV-infected individuals.

Mechanisms by which HIV affects the thymus are multiple and only partially known, and the role of thymic dysfunction in HIV/AIDS immunopathogenesis remains poorly understood. To evaluate the effects of HIV infection on intra-thymic precursors of T cells in HIV-infected adults, we conducted a detailed immunophenotypic study of thymic tissue isolated from 7 HIV-infected and 10 HIV-negative adults who were to undergo heart surgery. We found that thymuses of HIV-infected individuals were characterized by a relative depletion of CD4+ single positive T cells and a corresponding enrichment of CD8+ single positive T cells.

HIV coinfection and antiretroviral therapy enhances liver steatosis in patients with hepatitis C, but only in those infected by HCV genotype other than 3.

Background: Liver steatosis is a common finding in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and is associated with an increased progression of the disease. However, HCV genotype 3 steatosis presents a peculiar and virus-induced pathogenesis. We analysed the effect of HIV coinfection and antiretroviral therapy on hepatic steatosis and the effect of the steatosis on fibrosis in patients with or without HCV genotype 3 infection.

Trough concentrations of lopinavir, nelfinavir, and nevirapine with standard dosing in human immunodeficiency virus-infected pregnant women receiving 3-drug combination regimens.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the plasma drug concentrations in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and to define the rate of occurrence of subtherapeutic concentrations for some commonly used antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy. We evaluated HIV-infected women (n = 68) in the third trimester of pregnancy in steady-state treatment with an HAART regimen administrated on a twice a day basis, which included 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors plus nelfinavir (NFV), lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r), or nevirapine (NVP). Blood samples were collected at predose (C(trough)).