Vitamin B12 deficiency presenting as progressive blindness in a 33-year-old HIV-positive female patient on Efavirenz-based regimen: case report.

Optic neuritis is a rare presentation of vitamin B12 deficiency. We describe a 33-year-old female patient living with HIV presenting with progressive loss of vision for 1 week. She had a history of severe peripheral neuropathy that was managed with vitamin B12-containing tablets approximately three years before presenting with progressive loss of vision.

The bacterial profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern in respiratory tract samples from art-experienced HIV-positive adults in Uganda.

Introduction: Microbial infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV (PLWH). Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are responsible for approximately 70% of illnesses among PLWH. Drug resistant bacteria are highly prevalent among PLWH and this is a public health concern.

Long-Term Benefits from Early Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation in HIV Infection.

Background: For people with HIV and CD4 counts >500 cells/mm, early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces serious AIDS and serious non-AIDS (SNA) risk compared with deferral of treatment until CD4 counts are <350 cells/mm. Whether excess risk of AIDS and SNA persists once ART is initiated for those who defer treatment is uncertain.

Methods: The Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Treatment (START) trial, as previously reported, randomly assigned 4684 ART-naive HIV-positive adults with CD4 counts .

The Association of Baseline Plasma SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Antigen Level and Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19.

Background: Levels of plasma SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) antigen may be an important biomarker in patients with COVID-19 and enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of COVID-19.

Objective: To evaluate whether levels of plasma antigen can predict short-term clinical outcomes and identify clinical and viral factors associated with plasma antigen levels in hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2.

Design: Cross-sectional study of baseline plasma antigen level from 2540 participants enrolled in the TICO (Therapeutics for Inpatients With COVID-19) platform trial from August 2020 to November 2021, with additional data on day 5 outcome and time to discharge.

Efficacy and Safety of Ensovibep for Adults Hospitalized With COVID-19 : A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Ensovibep (MP0420) is a designed ankyrin repeat protein, a novel class of engineered proteins, under investigation as a treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objective: To investigate if ensovibep, in addition to remdesivir and other standard care, improves clinical outcomes among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with standard care alone.

Design: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

Antiretroviral Initiation at ≥800 CD4+ Cells/mm3 Associated With Lower Human Immunodeficiency Virus Reservoir Size.

Background: Identifying factors that determine the frequency of latently infected CD4+ T cells on antiretroviral therapy (ART) may inform strategies for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cure. We investigated the role of CD4+ count at ART initiation for HIV persistence on ART.

Methods: Among participants of the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Treatment Study, we enrolled people with HIV (PWH) who initiated ART with CD4+ T-cell counts of 500-599, 600-799, or ≥ 800 cells/mm3.

Prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among people living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy in Uganda.

Introduction: antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved survival of People Living with HIV (PLWH); however, this has resulted in an increasingly high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD) like hypertension. Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebral vascular disease, which are both associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. We studied the prevalence and factors associated with hypertension among PLWH on ART.

Cotrimoxazole reduces systemic inflammation in HIV infection by altering the gut microbiome and immune activation.

Long-term cotrimoxazole prophylaxis reduces mortality and morbidity in HIV infection, but the mechanisms underlying these clinical benefits are unclear. Here, we investigate the impact of cotrimoxazole on systemic inflammation, an independent driver of HIV mortality. In HIV-positive Ugandan and Zimbabwean children receiving antiretroviral therapy, we show that plasma inflammatory markers were lower after randomization to continue ( = 144) versus stop ( = 149) cotrimoxazole.

Discontinuing cotrimoxazole preventive therapy in HIV-infected adults who are stable on antiretroviral treatment in Uganda (COSTOP): A randomised placebo controlled trial.

Background: Cotrimoxazole (CTX) preventive therapy (CPT) reduces opportunistic infections and malaria in HIV-infected patients. In Africa, policies on sustained CPT during antiretroviral therapy (ART) differ between countries. We assessed the safety of discontinuing CPT in stable patients on ART in Uganda.

Cardiometabolic risk among HIV-POSITIVE Ugandan adults: prevalence, predictors and effect of long-term antiretroviral therapy.

Introduction: We investigated the prevalence, predictors of and effect of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) regimen on cardiometabolic risk among HIV-positive Ugandan adults at enrolment into a prospective cohort to study the Complications of Long-Term ART (CoLTART).

Methods: We collected data on cardiometabolic risk factors including dyslipidemia, hypertension, hyperglycemia, obesity and calculated the mean atherogenic index for Plasma (AIP) and 10 year Framingham risk score (FHS). Exposures were: ART regimen, duration on ART, demographic, socio-economic, behavioral, and life-style factors including smoking, physical activity and diet (including fruit and vegetables consumption).

From antiretroviral therapy access to provision of third line regimens: evidence of HIV Drug resistance mutations to first and second line regimens among Ugandan adults.

Background: HIV care programs in resource-limited settings have hitherto concentrated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) access, but HIV drug resistance is emerging. In a cross-sectional study of HIV-positive adults on ART for ≥6 months enrolled into a prospective cohort in Uganda, plasma HIV RNA was measured and genotyped if ≥1000 copies/ml. Identified Drug resistance mutations (DRMs) were interpreted using the Stanford database, 2009 WHO list of DRMs and the IAS 2014 update on DRMs, and examined and tabulated by ART drug classes.

Reduced bacterial skin infections in HIV-infected African children randomized to long-term cotrimoxazole prophylaxis.

Objective: To evaluate whether cotrimoxazole prophylaxis prevents common skin conditions in HIV-infected children.

Design: Open-label randomized controlled trial of continuing versus stopping daily cotrimoxazole (post-hoc analysis).

Setting: Three sites in Uganda and one in Zimbabwe.

A randomized trial of prolonged co-trimoxazole in HIV-infected children in Africa.

Background: Co-trimoxazole (fixed-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole) prophylaxis administered before antiretroviral therapy (ART) reduces morbidity in children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We investigated whether children and adolescents receiving long-term ART in sub-Saharan Africa could discontinue co-trimoxazole.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, noninferiority trial of stopping versus continuing daily open-label co-trimoxazole in children and adolescents in Uganda and Zimbabwe.

Hospitalization for severe malnutrition among HIV-infected children starting antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: To describe early hospitalization for severe malnutrition in HIV-infected children initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Design: Randomized trial of induction-maintenance and monitoring strategies in HIV-infected children.

Setting: Three tertiary hospitals in Uganda and one in Zimbabwe.