Viral hepatitis and HIV-associated tuberculosis: risk factors and TB treatment outcomes in Thailand.

Background: The occurrence of tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and viral hepatitis infections in the same patient poses unique clinical and public health challenges, because medications to treat TB and HIV are hepatotoxic. We conducted an observational study to evaluate risk factors for HBsAg and/or anti-HCV reactivity and to assess differences in adverse events and TB treatment outcomes among HIV-infected TB patients.

Methods: Patients were evaluated at the beginning, during, and at the end of TB treatment.

Performance of the BACTEC MGIT 960 compared with solid media for detection of Mycobacterium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Controlled trials have demonstrated that liquid media culture (LMC) is superior to solid media culture for diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), but there is limited evidence about its performance in resource-limited settings. We evaluated the performance of LMC in a demonstration project in Bangkok, Thailand. Sputum specimens from persons with suspected or clinically diagnosed tuberculosis were inoculated in parallel on solid (Lowenstein-Jensen [LJ]) and liquid (mycobacterial growth indicator tube [MGIT 960]) media.

Phase I/II study of a candidate vaccine designed against the B and E subtypes of HIV-1.

A phase I/II trial of a candidate vaccine to prevent HIV infection was carried out in Bangkok, Thailand, testing AIDSVAX B/E (VaxGen, Inc., Brisbane, CA), a bivalent subunit vaccine prepared by combining recombinant gp120 from a subtype B virus (HIV-1MN) with gp120 from a subtype E virus (HIV-1A244) in alum adjuvant. The studies provide human data on the immunogenicity of various dose combination of non-subtype B vaccine antigens.

Early markers of HIV-1 disease progression in a prospective cohort of seroconverters in Bangkok, Thailand: implications for vaccine trials.

Background: Some candidate HIV-1 vaccines may not prevent HIV-1 infection but may alter the course of disease. Surrogate endpoints based on early laboratory makers in HIV-1-infected persons who are antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive will be useful for evaluating vaccine efficacy in slowing disease progression (VEp). We examined pretreatment HIV-1 viral loads and CD4 cell counts in recent HIV-1 seroconverters to inform selection of these endpoints.