Cytomegalovirus-specific CD8+ T-cell responses are associated with arterial blood pressure in people living with HIV.

People living with HIV (PLHIV) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and immunity against cytomegalovirus (CMV) may be a contributing factor. We hypothesized that enhanced T-cell responses against CMV and CMV-IgG antibody-levels are associated with higher arterial blood pressure in PLHIV. We assessed serum CMV-IgG, systolic- (SBP) and diastolic- (DBP) blood pressure, pulse pressure (PP), traditional risk factors, activated CD8+ T-cells (CD38+HLA-DR+), senescent CD8+ T-cells (CD28-CD57+) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in 60 PLHIV and 31 HIV-uninfected controls matched on age, gender, education and comorbidity.

Effect of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG Supplementation on Intestinal Inflammation Assessed by PET/MRI Scans and Gut Microbiota Composition in HIV-Infected Individuals.

Background: Alterations in the gut microbiome have been associated with inflammation and increased cardiovascular risk in HIV-infected individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) on intestinal inflammation, gut microbiota composition, and systemic markers of microbial translocation and inflammation in HIV-infected individuals.

Methods: This prospective, clinical interventional trial included 45 individuals [15 combination antiretroviral treatment (cART) naive and 30 cART treated] who ingested LGG twice daily at a dosage of 6 × 109 colony-forming units per capsule for a period of 8 weeks.

Cytomegalovirus-Specific CD4+ T-cell Responses and CMV-IgG Levels Are Associated With Neurocognitive Impairment in People Living With HIV.

Background: Mechanisms leading to neurocognitive impairment (NCI) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) on stable combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) remain unknown. We investigated the association between immunity against cytomegalovirus (CMV), HIV-specific variables, and NCI in PLWHIV on stable cART and with low comorbidity.

Methods: Fifty-two PLWHIV on stable cART and 31 HIV-uninfected controls matched on age, sex, education, and comorbidity were tested with a neurocognitive test battery, and CMV-immunoglobulin G (CMV-IgG) levels were measured.

Cytomegalovirus-specific T-cells are associated with immune senescence, but not with systemic inflammation, in people living with HIV.

In people living with HIV (PLWHIV), coinfection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been associated with inflammation, immunological ageing, and increased risk of severe non-AIDS related comorbidity. The effect of CMV-specific immune responses on systemic inflammation, immune activation and T-cell senescence was evaluated in 53 PLWHIV treated with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Activated-, terminally differentiated-, naïve-, and senescent T-cells were assessed by flow cytometry, and plasma levels of CMV IgG, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and soluble-CD14 were measured.

MicroRNA-210, MicroRNA-331, and MicroRNA-7 Are Differentially Regulated in Treated HIV-1-Infected Individuals and Are Associated With Markers of Systemic Inflammation.

Objective: Inflammation may contribute to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in HIV-1 infection. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of inflammation. In treated HIV-1-infected individuals, we aimed to identify differentially expressed miRNAs with known roles in inflammation and CVD risk and to investigate associations between these and systemic inflammation.

Marker of Endothelial Dysfunction Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Is Elevated in HIV Infection but Not Associated With Subclinical Atherosclerosis.

Background: Cardiovascular disease contributes to excess morbidity and mortality in HIV infection, and endothelial dysfunction may contribute to this pattern. We aimed to determine the endothelial function in treated and untreated HIV-infected individuals and investigate potential associations with viral replication, immune activation, coagulation, platelet function, and subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA, marker of endothelial dysfunction) and soluble CD14 (sCD14, marker of monocyte activation) were measured in plasma from two previously established cross-sectional cohorts: cohort A including 50 untreated and 50 antiretroviral therapy (ART)-treated HIV-infected individuals with previously assessed coagulation and platelet function and cohort B including 105 HIV-infected individuals on ART and 105 uninfected controls with previously assessed coronary artery calcium score, myocardial perfusion defects, and carotid intima-media thickness.

Soluble CD14 in cerebrospinal fluid is associated with markers of inflammation and axonal damage in untreated HIV-infected patients: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Background: HIV-associated cognitive impairment has declined since the introduction of combination antiretroviral treatment (cART). However, milder forms of cognitive impairment persist. Inflammation in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been associated with cognitive impairment, and CSF neurofilament light chain protein (NFL) and CSF neopterin concentrations are increased in those patients.

Lower Self-Reported Quality of Life in HIV-Infected Patients on cART and With Low Comorbidity Compared With Healthy Controls.

Background: Self-reported quality of life (QoL) has previously been found to be impaired in patients living with HIV and associated with viral replication, degree of immunodeficiency, and comorbidity. We aimed at investigating QoL in a group of HIV-infected patients with suppressed viral replication and with low comorbidity, compared with healthy controls. We furthermore aimed to identify factors associated with QoL.

Monocyte activation, but not microbial translocation, is independently associated with markers of endovascular dysfunction in HIV-infected patients receiving cART.

Background: Microbial translocation has been suggested as a driver of cardiovascular disease in HIV infection. We hypothesized that microbial translocation and the resulting monocyte activation would be associated with markers of endovascular dysfunction.

Methods: In 60 HIV-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy, plasma levels of lipopolysaccharide, soluble CD14 (sCD14), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) were measured.

Microbial translocation and cardiometabolic risk factors in HIV infection.

The widespread access to antiretroviral treatment during the past decades has transformed HIV infection from a lethal disease to a chronic condition, in which the relative burden of non-AIDS-related chronic disorders such as cardiovascular disease, malignancy, renal, liver, and bone disease has increased. The adjusted relative risk for myocardial infarction is reported to be around 2-fold compared to that of the general population, which over time is likely to translate into increased absolute risk in an aging population. Thus, delineating potentially HIV-specific pathogenetic mechanisms is crucial in order to tailor novel strategies for prophylaxis and treatment.

Normal physical activity obliterates the deleterious effects of a high-caloric intake.

A high-caloric intake combined with a sedentary lifestyle is an important player in the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The present study was undertaken to examine if the level of physical activity has impact on the metabolic effects of a high-caloric (+2,000 kcal/day) intake. Therefore, healthy individuals on a high-caloric intake were randomized to either 10,000 or 1,500 steps/day for 14 days.

Microbial translocation in HIV infection is associated with dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and risk of myocardial infarction.

Objective: Microbial translocation has been suggested to be a driver of immune activation and inflammation. It is hypothesized that microbial translocation may be related to dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and the risk of coronary heart disease in HIV-infected individuals.

Design: Cross-sectional study of 60 HIV-infected patients on combination antiretroviral therapy with viral suppression >2 years and 31 healthy age-matched controls.

Persisting inflammation and chronic immune activation but intact cognitive function in HIV-infected patients after long-term treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy.

Objectives: Impaired cognitive function in HIV-infected patients has been suggested. Treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) restores CD4⁺ cell counts and suppresses viral replication, but immune activation and inflammation may persist. The aim of the study was to examine if cognitive function in HIV-infected patients was related to immune activation and inflammation.

Cognitive functions in middle aged individuals are related to metabolic disturbances and aerobic capacity: a cross-sectional study.

Aims: Metabolic disturbances may contribute to cognitive dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes. We investigated the relation between cognitive impairment and metabolic deteriorations, low physical fitness, low-grade inflammation and abdominal obesity in middle aged individuals.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including 40 to 65 year-old patients with type 2 diabetes and limited co morbidity (N = 56), age-matched individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (N = 56) as well as age-matched controls with normal glucose tolerance (N = 72).

Circulating levels of HMGB1 are correlated strongly with MD2 in HIV-infection: possible implication for TLR4-signalling and chronic immune activation.

Progressive HIV infection is characterized by profound enterocyte damage, microbial translocation and chronic immune activation. We aimed to test whether High Mobility Group Box protein 1(HMGB1), a marker of cell death, alone, or in combination with LPS, might contribute to HIV-associated immune activation and progression. Altogether, 29 untreated HIV-infected individuals, 25 inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and 30 controls were included.

Challenges in diagnosing tuberculosis in children.

Introduction: Clinical investigations of childhood tuberculosis (TB) are challenged by the paucibacillary nature of the disease and the difficulties in obtaining specimens. We investigated the challenges in diagnosing TB in children in a low-incidence country.

Material And Methods: The data were retrieved retrospectively from the paediatric departments at Danish university hospitals from April 2004 to March 2009 using the diagnosis code A15.

An investigation of multidisciplinary complex health care interventions--steps towards an integrative treatment model in the rehabilitation of people with multiple sclerosis.

Background: The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Society initiated a large-scale bridge building and integrative treatment project to take place from 2004-2010 at a specialized Multiple Sclerosis (MS) hospital. In this project, a team of five conventional health care practitioners and five alternative practitioners was set up to work together in developing and offering individualized treatments to 200 people with MS. The purpose of this paper is to present results from the six year treatment collaboration process regarding the development of an integrative treatment model.

Increased shelterin mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and skeletal muscle following an ultra-long-distance running event.

Located at the end of chromosomes, telomeres are progressively shortened with each replication of DNA during aging. Integral to the regulation of telomere length is a group of proteins making up the shelterin complex, whose tissue-specific function during physiological stress is not well understood. In this study, we examine the mRNA and protein levels of proteins within and associated with the shelterin complex in subjects (n = 8, mean age = 44 yr) who completed a physiological stress of seven marathons in 7 days.

Synthetic musk fragrances in trout from Danish fish farms and human milk.

Synthetic musk compounds used in detergents and cosmetics include nitro and polycyclic musk compounds. These compounds are discharged after use via domestic wastewater and sewage treatment plants to the aquatic environment. Quantitative detection of nitro musk and polycyclic musk compounds by GC/HRMS in Danish farmed trout and human milk from primiparous mothers are reported.