The spectrum of esophagitis in patients living with HIV - a scoping review.

Esophageal lesions are common findings in disorders of the digestive tract in patients living with HIV, the most typical symptoms being odynophagia and/or dysphagia. This article provides a narrative review of the spectrum of esophagitis in patients living with HIV, focusing on fungal, viral, bacterial and non-infectious etiologies, as well as co-infections with viral hepatitis viruses. The article provides a comprehensive approach to the strategy of diagnosis and the role of upper digestive endoscopy and histopathological examination in the evaluation of esophageal pathology in patients living with HIV.

Antibiotic Prescribing in Dental Medicine-Best Practices for Successful Implementation.

With rising rates of antimicrobial resistance throughout the world, it is time to revisit antibiotic prescribing policies and practices, and dentistry is an important area for focused intervention, as it accounts for up to 15% of all antimicrobial prescriptions. In this narrative review, we have analyzed the current state of the knowledge, attitudes, and practice regarding antimicrobial use among dental professionals, and we have identified a set of seven recurring themes that drive inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in dental medicine. These include: 1.

A retrospective observational study of 1000 consecutive patients tested with the FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis panel: clinical diagnosis at discharge and microbiological findings.

FilmArray® Meningitis/Encephalitis panel (FAME-p) is used to diagnose central nervous system (CNS) infections. In this study, we investigated performance of FAME-p compared to comparator assays (CA), and for the first time, clinical diagnosis at discharge (CDD). 1000 consecutive patients with a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sample analyzed with FAME-p were identified.

Exposure to Biological Fluids in Dental Practice-Narrative Review on Appropriate Risk Assessment to Guide Post-Exposure Management.

Accidental exposure to blood or other biological fluids is a common occurrence in dentistry, and its post-exposure management is a key component of infection prevention and control programs designed to prevent the transmission of blood-borne pathogens such as hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This narrative review aims to comprehensively review the risk assessment process for each of these pathogens at all steps of the epidemiological process, i.e.

A case report of a chronic migraine patient treated with three different anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies: which parameters better represent the efficacy?

Objective: To report the efficacy of different anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) on headache frequency, intensity, and duration.

Background: Blockade of CGRP receptors or neuropeptide with anti-CGRP mAbs have been successfully used for several years for the prevention of chronic and episodic migraine. The response is usually assessed by improvement seen in the number of days with headache per month.

Acute severe hepatitis outbreak in children: A perfect storm. What do we know, and what questions remain?

During the first half of 2022, the World Health Organization reported an outbreak of acute severe hepatitis of unknown aetiology (AS-Hep-UA) in children, following initial alerts from the United Kingdom (UK) where a cluster of cases was first observed in previously well children aged <6 years. Sporadic cases were then reported across Europe and worldwide, although in most countries incidence did not increase above the expected baseline. There were no consistent epidemiological links between cases, and microbiological investigations ruled out known infectious causes of hepatitis.

Hepatitis of Unknown Origin and Etiology (Acute Non HepA-E Hepatitis) among Children in 2021/2022: Review of the Current Findings.

Several clusters and individual cases of acute hepatitis have been reported in the US, Europe and recently in Asia and Central America since October 2021. A laboratory investigation of the common viral hepatitis agents (HAV, HBV, HCV, HDV and HEV) yielded negative results prompting the use of the term "acute non HepA-E hepatitis" to describe this condition. The cases were characterized by the manifestations of acute hepatitis (abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice and very high levels of liver enzymes) affecting children with a median age of 3-4 years.

HIV-2 Neutralization Sensitivity in Relation to Co-Receptor Entry Pathways and Env Motifs.

HIV-2, compared to HIV-1, elicits potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies, and uses a broad range of co-receptors. However, both sensitivity to neutralization and breadth of co-receptor use varies between HIV-2 isolates, and the molecular background is still not fully understood. Thus, in the current study, we have deciphered relationships between HIV-2 neutralization sensitivity, co-receptor use and viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) molecular motifs.

Lack of knowledge regarding HPV and its relation to oropharyngeal cancer among medical students.

Background: Oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is an important cause of cancer-related mortality. Early detection of OPC results in a favorable prognosis and higher survival rates. Infection by high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for OPC with an upward trend globally.

An update on hepatitis C virus genotype distribution in Jordan: a 12-year retrospective study from a tertiary care teaching hospital in Amman.

Background: Nucleic acid hybridization (NAH) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a practical and reliable tool for virus genotyping. Genotype assignment is an important factor in the prediction of treatment success in chronic hepatitis C patients. The aim of this study was to determine the genotype distribution among HCV clinical isolates in Jordan between 2007 and 2018.

Dental students' awareness and attitudes toward HPV-related oral cancer: a cross sectional study at the University of Jordan.

Background: The incidence of human papilloma virus (HPV)-related oral cancer has recently increased worldwide. The role of dentists is of prime importance in the early detection of oral cancer which would result in a favourable outcome for the patients. The aim of the current study was to assess the knowledge, awareness and attitudes of dental students, interns and postgraduate maxillofacial residents at the University of Jordan (UJ) to different aspects of oral cancer, particularly those related to HPV.

Trends in Antimicrobial Drug Resistance of Isolates at Jordan University Hospital (2000⁻2018).

Antimicrobial drug resistance (AMR) in pneumococci complicates the treatment of serious pneumococcal infections. Country-specific AMR patterns can help to establish guidelines for empiric therapy. The aim of the current study was to analyze the distribution of AMR among isolates at Jordan University Hospital (JUH) during 2000⁻2018.

Cross-Reactive Antibodies With the Capacity to Mediate HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein-Targeted Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity Identified in HIV-2-Infected Individuals.

Disease progression of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is delayed by HIV type 2 (HIV-2) in individuals with dual HIV-1/HIV-2 infection. The protective mechanisms, however, are still to be revealed. In the current study we examined type-specific and cross-reactive antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) in HIV-1 and HIV-2 monoinfection or dual infection.

Genetic characterization of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission in the Middle East and North Africa.

Background: The HIV-1 spread in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has not been previously characterised using the phylogenetic approach. The aim of the current study was to investigate the genetic diversity and domestic transmission of HIV-1 in the MENA.

Methods: A total of 2036 HIV-1 sequences available in Genbank and collected in the MENA during 1988-2016 were used together with 715 HIV-1 reference sequences that were retrieved from Genbank based on genetic similarity with the MENA sequences.

Decreasing prevalence of transmitted drug resistance among ART-naive HIV-1-infected patients in Iceland, 1996-2012.

Resistance to antiretroviral drugs can complicate the management of HIV-1 infection and impair control of its spread. The aim of the current study was to investigate the prevalence and transmission of HIV-1 drug resistance among 106 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve patients diagnosed in Iceland (1996-2012). HIV-1 polymerase sequences were analysed using the Calibrated Population Resistance tool.

Automated image-based assay for evaluation of HIV neutralization and cell-to-cell fusion inhibition.

Background: Standardized techniques to detect HIV-neutralizing antibody responses are of great importance in the search for an HIV vaccine.

Methods: Here, we present a high-throughput, high-content automated plaque reduction (APR) assay based on automated microscopy and image analysis that allows evaluation of neutralization and inhibition of cell-cell fusion within the same assay. Neutralization of virus particles is measured as a reduction in the number of fluorescent plaques, and inhibition of cell-cell fusion as a reduction in plaque area.

Frequent intratype neutralization by plasma immunoglobulin a identified in HIV type 2 infection.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) is less transmissible and less pathogenic compared to HIV-1 and, when matched for CD4(+) T cell count, the plasma viral load in HIV-2-infected individuals is approximately one log lower than in HIV-1-infected individuals. The explanation for these observations is elusive, but differences in virus controlling immunity generated in the two infections may be contributing factors. In the present study, we investigated neutralization by immunoglobulin A (IgA), in parallel with IgG, purified from plasma of HIV-1, HIV-2, and HIV-1/HIV-2 dually (HIV-D) infected individuals.

Effect of complement on HIV-2 plasma antiviral activity is intratype specific and potent.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2)-infected individuals develop immunodeficiency with a considerable delay and transmit the virus at rates lower than HIV-1-infected persons. Conceivably, comparative studies on the immune responsiveness of HIV-1- and HIV-2-infected hosts may help to explain the differences in pathogenesis and transmission between the two types of infection. Previous studies have shown that the neutralizing antibody response is more potent and broader in HIV-2 than in HIV-1 infection.

Potent intratype neutralizing activity distinguishes human immunodeficiency virus type 2 (HIV-2) from HIV-1.

HIV-2 has a lower pathogenicity and transmission rate than HIV-1. Neutralizing antibodies could be contributing to these observations. Here we explored side by side the potency and breadth of intratype and intertype neutralizing activity (NAc) in plasma of 20 HIV-1-, 20 HIV-2-, and 11 dually HIV-1/2 (HIV-D)-seropositive individuals from Guinea-Bissau, West Africa.

Generation of neutralizing antibodies and divergence of SIVmac239 in cynomolgus macaques following short-term early antiretroviral therapy.

Neutralizing antibodies (NAb) able to react to heterologous viruses are generated during natural HIV-1 infection in some individuals. Further knowledge is required in order to understand the factors contributing to induction of cross-reactive NAb responses. Here a well-established model of experimental pathogenic infection in cynomolgus macaques, which reproduces long-lasting HIV-1 infection, was used to study the NAb response as well as the viral evolution of the highly neutralization-resistant SIVmac239.

A novel fungal pathogen under the spotlight--Acremonium spp. associated fungaemia in an immunocompetent host.

Acremonium spp. are filamentous, cosmopolitan fungi frequently isolated from plant debris and soil, they are known to result in invasive infections in the setting of severe immunosuppression. In this letter, we present a case of catheter-related fungaemia associated with Acremonium spp.