Cell-free DNA methylation-based inflammation score as a marker for hepatocellular carcinoma among people living with HIV.

Background: People living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at a greater risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), potentially due to the stimulation of inflammation by HIV infection. Inflammation-related DNA methylation signatures obtained in liquid biopsy, such as circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA), may serve as promising minimally invasive biomarkers that can inform diagnosis of HCC.

Methods: Using data from 249 individuals with HIV (114 individuals with normal liver conditions, 69 with fibrosis, 30 with cirrhosis, and 36 with HCC), we constructed a cfDNA methylation-based inflammation score (inflammation-DNAm score) based on 54 CpGs previously associated with circulating C-reactive protein concentrations.

Analytic performance of ScreenFire HPV RS assay Zebra BioDome format and its potential for large-scale population HPV screening.

Background: Easy-to-use, rapid, scalable, high-throughput, and cost-effective HPV tests are urgently needed for low-resource settings. Atila Biosystems' high-throughput, cost-effective, and clinically validated ScreenFire HPV Risk Stratification (RS) assay identifies 13 high risk HPV (hrHPV) in 4 groups based on their oncogenic risk (i.e.

Antiretroviral therapy retention, adherence, and clinical outcomes among postpartum women with HIV in Nigeria.

While research involving pregnant women with HIV has largely focused on the antepartum and intrapartum periods, few studies in Nigeria have examined the clinical outcomes of these women postpartum. This study aimed to evaluate antiretroviral therapy retention, adherence, and viral suppression among postpartum women in Nigeria. This retrospective clinical data analysis included women with a delivery record at the antenatal HIV clinic at Jos University Teaching Hospital between 2013 and 2017.

Pretreatment and Acquired Drug Resistance in Children With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 in Jos, Nigeria.

We determined pretreatment and acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug resistance among children with HIV type 1 (HIV-1) in Jos, Nigeria. The majority (71%) of those who failed first-line antiretroviral therapy were on a nevirapine-containing regimen. The prevalence of pretreatment (48%) and acquired (76%) HIV drug resistance mutations was high in our study.

Chikungunya virus antepartum transmission and abnormal infant outcomes in a cohort of pregnant women in Nigeria.

Objectives: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a reemerging global public health concern, which causes acute febrile illness, rash, and arthralgia and may affect both mothers and infants during pregnancy. Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of CHIKV in Africa remains understudied.

Methods: Our cohort study screened 1006 pregnant women with a Zika/dengue/CHIKV rapid test at two clinics in Nigeria between 2019 and 2022.

Arbovirus surveillance in pregnant women in north-central Nigeria, 2019-2022.

Background: The adverse impact of Zika (ZIKV), dengue (DENV), and chikungunya (CHIKV) virus infection in pregnancy has been recognized in Latin America and Asia but is not well studied in Africa. Although originally discovered in sub-Saharan Africa the non-specific clinical presentation of arbovirus infection may have hampered our detection of adverse clinical outcomes and outbreak.

Objective: This prospective study of arbovirus infection in pregnant women in north-central Nigeria sought to characterize the prevalence of acute arbovirus infection and determine the impact on pregnancy and infant outcomes.

Chikungunya virus antepartum transmission and abnormal infant outcomes in Nigeria.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has become a global public health concern since the reemergence of the Indian Ocean lineage and expansion of the Asian genotype. CHIKV infection causes acute febrile illness, rash, and arthralgia and during pregnancy may affect both mothers and infants. The mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of CHIKV in Africa remains understudied.

Arbovirus surveillance in pregnant women in north-central Nigeria, 2019-2022.

The adverse impact of Zika (ZIKV), dengue (DENV), and chikungunya (CHIKV) virus infection in pregnancy has been recognized in Latin America and Asia but is not well studied in Africa. In Nigeria, we screened 1006 pregnant women for ZIKV, DENV and CHIKV IgM/IgG by rapid test (2019-2022). Women with acute infection were recruited for prospective study and infants were examined for any abnormalities from delivery through six months.

Vaginal microbiome community state types and high-risk human papillomaviruses in cervical precancer and cancer in North-central Nigeria.

Background: High risk human papillomaviruses (HR-HPV) have a causal role in cervical oncogenesis, and HIV-mediated immune suppression allows HR-HPV to persist. We studied whether vaginal microbiome community state types (CSTs) are associated with high-grade precancer and/or invasive cervical cancer (HSIL/ICC).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of adult women with cervical cancer screening (CCS) at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) in Jos, Nigeria, between January 2020 and February 2022.

Hepatocellular carcinoma presentation and prognosis among Nigerian adults with and without HIV.

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an increasing cause of mortality in Nigeria among persons with HIV (PLH), as access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) improves. In this study we describe clinical, radiological, and laboratory characteristics in Nigerian adults with HCC, with and without HIV, and examine how HIV impacts survival.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted between August 2018 and November 2021 at two Nigerian hospitals [Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)].

Accelerated Epigenetic Age Among Women with Invasive Cervical Cancer and HIV-Infection in Nigeria.

Background: Invasive cervical cancer (ICC) is a serious public health burden in Nigeria, where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) remains highly prevalent. Previous research suggested that epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) could play a role in detection of HIV-associated ICC. However, little research has been conducted on this topic in Africa where the population is most severely affected by HIV-associated ICC.

Subclinical atherosclerosis and associated risk factors among HIV-infected adults in Jos, North Central Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is evolving into a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where the burden of HIV remains high. Atherosclerosis underlie progression to CVD. We therefore examined the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis and its association with traditional and non-traditional risk factors for CVD in Nigerian HIV-infected adults.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant women with and without HIV in Jos, Nigeria.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in pregnant women with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Jos, Nigeria.

Methods: This comparative cross-sectional study of pregnant women was undertaken between 1 November 2017 and 30 April 2018. Informed consent was obtained, demographic data and predictors for HBV were collected, and all women were screened for HIV and HBV.

Rifabutin pharmacokinetics and safety among TB/HIV-coinfected children receiving lopinavir/ritonavir-containing second-line ART.

Background: Treatment options are limited for TB/HIV-coinfected children who require PI-based ART. Rifabutin is the preferred rifamycin for adults on PIs, but the one study evaluating rifabutin with PIs among children was stopped early due to severe neutropenia.

Methods: We evaluated rifabutin safety and plasma pharmacokinetics among coinfected children 3-15 years of age receiving rifabutin 2.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria.

Objectives: The study sought to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Hepatitis B surface antigenemia (HBsAg) positivity among pregnant women in Jos, Nigeria.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among the pregnant population in five healthcare facilities in Jos, between November 1, 2017 and April 30, 2018. Informed consent was obtained, and data on sociodemographic and risk factors for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were collected.

Profile of congenital heart disease in infants born following exposure to preeclampsia.

Background: Events in pregnancy play an important role in predisposing the newborn to the risk of developing CHD. This study evaluated the association between maternal preeclampsia and her offspring risk of CHD.

Methods: This is a cohort study of 90 sex-matched neonates (45 each born to women with preeclampsia and normal pregnancy) in Jos, Nigeria.

Low levels of HIV-1 drug resistance mutations in patients who achieved viral re-suppression without regimen switch: a retrospective study.

Background: We identified a HIV-positive cohort in virologic failure (VF) who re-suppressed without drug switch. We characterized their drug resistance mutations (DRM) and adherence profiles to learn how to better manage HIV drug resistance. A retrospective cohort study utilizing clinical data and stored samples.

Changes in liver stiffness after ART initiation in HIV-infected Nigerian adults with and without chronic HBV.

Background: There are limited data from sub-Saharan Africa on long-term liver fibrosis changes in HIV- and HIV/HBV-infected individuals.

Objectives: To assess the effects of ART on liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using transient elastography (TE) in HIV- and HIV/HBV-infected Nigerian adults and examine factors associated with fibrosis regression.

Methods: We included ART-naive HIV- and HIV/HBV-infected adults (≥18 years) enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal study of liver disease between July 2011 and February 2015 at Jos University Teaching Hospital HIV Care and Treatment Centre in Nigeria.

The role of point-of-care viral load monitoring in achieving the target of 90% suppression in HIV-infected patients in Nigeria: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 goal envisions 90% of all people receiving antiretroviral therapy to be virally suppressed by 2020. Implied in that goal is that viral load be quantified for all patients receiving treatment, which is a challenging undertaking given the complexity and high cost of standard-of-care viral load testing methods. Recently developed point-of-care viral load testing devices offer new promise to improve access to viral load testing by bringing the test closer to the patient and also returning results faster, often same-day.