HIF-1α targeted deletion in myeloid cells decreases MDSC accumulation and alters microbiome in neonatal mice.

The newborn's immune system is faced with the challenge of having to learn quickly to fight off infectious agents, but tolerating the colonization of the body surfaces with commensals without reacting with an excessive inflammatory response. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are innate immune cells with suppressive activity on other immune cells that regulate fetal-maternal tolerance during pregnancy and control intestinal inflammation in neonates. Until now, nothing is known about the role of MDSC in microbiome establishment.

Salivary gland function in HIV-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine if HAART alters salivary oral host defense in HIV(+) men.

Study Design: Whole, parotid, and submandibular/sublingual saliva was collected from 39 healthy men and 147 HIV(+) patients with mild to moderate immune dysfunction (69 treated with HAART [HAART(+)]; 78 not treated [HAART(-)]). Salivary flow rates, anticandidal activities, electrolytes, and antimicrobial/antifungal proteins were determined.

Salivary secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor increases in HIV infection.

Background: Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) is an antimicrobial protein found in saliva and having anti-HIV activity. The concentrations of SLPI in parotid and submandibular/sublingual (SMSL) saliva were determined in an HIV(+) population and compared with uninfected controls. The effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the concentrations in saliva was determined.

Long-term efficacy of routine access to antiretroviral-resistance testing in HIV type 1-infected patients: results of the clinical efficacy of resistance testing trial.

The long-term efficacy of making resistance testing routinely available to clinicians has not been established. We conducted a clinical trial at 6 US military hospitals in which volunteers infected with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 were randomized to have routine access to phenotype resistance testing (PT arm), access to genotype resistance testing (GT arm), or no access to either test (VB arm). The primary outcome measure was time to persistent treatment failure despite change(s) in antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen.

Diverse HIV-1 subtypes and clinical, laboratory and behavioral factors in a recently infected US military cohort.

Objective: To describe the demographics, risk behaviors, and HIV-1 subtypes in a large cohort of recently HIV-infected military personnel.

Design: Descriptive, cross-sectional study.

Methods: US military personnel with recent HIV seroconversion from six medical referral centers were enrolled with a self-administered questionnaire, CD4 cell counts, syphilis and hepatitis B serologies, plasma viral RNA levels, and HIV-1 subtype nucleic acid sequencing.

What is the shelf life of physician-mixed antibiotic-impregnated calcium sulfate pellets?

This pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the short-term in vitro antimicrobial stability of both vancomycin- and tobramycin-impregnated calcium sulfate pellets mixed and stored in a clinical setting. Powdered tobramycin sulfate (500 mg) and vancomycin hydrochloride (500 mg) were blended into separate basins containing 25 g of surgical-grade calcium sulfate powder, then mixed with 8 mL of sterile saline. From this admixture, 6.

Correlates of human herpesvirus-8 seropositivity among U.S. military members recently infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

Background: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), the cause of Kaposi's sarcoma, is common among HIV-infected persons. The exact route of transmission of HHV-8 in various populations is still debated.

Goal: The goal was to define the correlates of HHV-8 infection among men recently infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

HIV-1 infection and AIDS dementia are influenced by a mutant MCP-1 allele linked to increased monocyte infiltration of tissues and MCP-1 levels.

Studies in humans and in experimental models of HIV-1 infection indicate an important role for monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1; also known as CC chemokine ligand 2), a potent chemoattractant and activator of mononuclear phagocytes (MP) in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated dementia (HAD). We determined the influence of genetic variation in MCP-1 on HIV-1 pathogenesis in large cohorts of HIV-1-infected adults and children. In adults, homozygosity for the MCP-1 -2578G allele was associated with a 50% reduction in the risk of acquiring HIV-1.