Austrian syndrome: report of two new cases and literature review.

In April 2004, Rammeloo et al. reported a child-aortic-valve endocarditis following pneumococcal meningitis. Classically, the association of pneumococcal pneumonia along with meningitis and infectious endocarditis (IE) is known as Austrian syndrome.

Pacemaker infection due to Aspergillus: report of two cases and literature review.

Background: Aspergillus infections of pacing systems are extremely uncommon, and most cases reported are characterized by an aggressive behavior that may lead to death of the patient.

Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to assess the incidence of pacemaker infection due to Aspergillus in a defined population.

Methods: A retrospective review of the case histories of all patients who underwent pacemaker implantation in the reference center for a defined population over a 13-year period was undertaken.

[Epidemiological characteristics of new HIV infections compared with AIDS cases. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in the Basque Country].

Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of new cases of HIV infection diagnosed from 1997-2001 and compare them with AIDS cases (1991-2001).

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected on new cases of HIV infection detected in the Basque Country (1997-2001) and were compared with AIDS cases (1991-2001).

Results: A total of 912 new cases of HIV infection were diagnosed.

Infective endocarditis due to Streptococcus bovis in a series of nonaddict patients: clinical and morphological characteristics of 20 cases and review of the literature.

Background And Objectives: Controversy frequently exists about the actual frequency of Streptococcus bovis infective endocarditis (IE), its incidence of malignancy and its outcome. Consequently, the characteristics of S bovis IE were examined in an unselected population of nondrug-addicted patients. The literature was also reviewed.

Factors influencing the development of lipodystrophy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.

238 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) were studied, 67 of whom (28.2%) developed lipodystrophy. The presence of hyperlipidaemia (p = 0.

Sexual dysfunction in HIV-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Sexual disturbances develop in some patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). To evaluate sexual dysfunction and the influence that different antiretrovirals could have on those parameters, we conducted a prospective study in patients with stable clinical condition attending an HIV outpatient clinic. A total of 351 evaluations were performed in 189 HIV-infected men, who were interviewed about symptoms of sexual dysfunction.

Association between sexual disturbances and sexual hormones with specific antiretroviral drugs.

Sexual disturbances have been related to protease inhibitor therapy, but the effect of specific protease or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors is largely unknown. We analysed the rate of sexual dysfunction and the sexual hormonal profile in patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy. All antiretroviral drugs were associated with different degrees of sexual dysfunction; the highest rates with indinavir and the lowest with nevirapine.

Adrenal function in the human immunodeficiency virus-infected patient.

Although clinical manifestations of adrenal dysfunction are uncommon in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), subclinical functional abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis are frequent. Patients infected with HIV usually have higher basal serum cortisol and lower serum dehydroepiandrosterone concentrations than HIV-seronegative individuals. This imbalance has been related to progression of the infection by inducing a shift from T(H)1 to T(H)2 immunologic responses.

Serum prolactin concentrations in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

Purpose: To analyze the prevalence, effects of HAART, and implications of hyperprolactinemia in HIV-infected patients.

Method: 192 HIV-infected men in stable clinical condition who underwent 355 measurements of prolactin were prospectively studied. Other clinical, immunologic, virologic, and laboratory parameters were also evaluated at the time of each prolactin measurement.

Sexual hormones in HIV-infected patients: the influence of antiretroviral therapy.

A total of 351 determinations of sexual hormones were carried out in 189 HIV-infected men in stable clinical condition. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) was associated with increased levels of both testosterone and 17beta-estradiol, but not with luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Protease inhibitors were more associated with testosterone, and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors with 17beta-estradiol.