Long-term safety and efficacy of nevirapine-based approaches in HIV type 1-infected patients.

Using a multicenter, cross-sectional, observation study, the long-term safety, metabolic profile, and viral efficacy of nevirapine (NVP)-based approaches in HIV-1-infected patients treated for at least 2 years were assessed. For 4 months, all consecutive HIV-1-infected patients who had been receiving an NVP-containing regimen for at least 2 years were recruited. A total of 613 patients were included with a median follow-up period of 43 months (IQR: 31-51).

Genotypic and phenotypic resistance patterns at virological failure in a simplification trial with nevirapine, efavirenz or abacavir.

Background: The NEFA Study was a randomized study comparing nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV) or abacavir (ABC) as substitutes for protease inhibitors in a large group of HIV-1-infected patients successfully treated with antiretroviral regimens containing protease inhibitors.

Objective: To evaluate genotype and phenotype resistance patterns among patients who have experienced virological failure under one of the three study arms.

Methods: Patients with virological failure, defined as two consecutive determinations of HIV-1 RNA > 200 copies/ml, were analysed for phenotypic susceptibility and HIV-1 mutations.

Failure of cetirizine to prevent nevirapine-associated rash: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial for the GESIDA 26/01 Study.

Objectives: Rash is the most frequent adverse event associated with nevirapine. The use of antihistamines remains unclear in this setting. A double-blind placebo-controlled study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of cetirizine in the prevention of nevirapine rash.

Health-related quality of life in HIV-infected naive patients treated with nelfinavir or nevirapine associated with ZDV/3TC (the COMBINE-QoL substudy).

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess differences in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in HIV-infected naive patients treated with two HAART regimens at 12 months.

Method: The MOS-HIV questionnaire was used to measure HRQoL in a subgroup of 127 patients included in the COMBINE study, which was an open-label, randomized, multicenter study comparing zidovudine (ZDV) and lamivudine (3TC) plus nelfinavir (NFV) or nevirapine (NVP) regimens in HIV-infected naive patients. 63 patients were included in the ZDV/3TC/NFV arm and 64 in the ZDV/3TC/NVP arm.

Improvement of dyslipidemia in patients switching from stavudine to tenofovir: preliminary results.

In a prospective, multicentre, switch study to identify the most frequently occurring nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-associated toxicities that cause NRTI withdrawal in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients, among those who underwent stavudine substitution by tenofovir, 271 had hypertriglyceridemia and 193 had hypercholesterolemia. After 12 weeks of switching from stavudine to tenofovir, triglyceride and cholesterol levels showed significant de-creases, which suggests that such a switch may reverse, at least partly, stavudine-associated dyslipidaemia.

Safety and efficacy of sevelamer in the treatment of uncontrolled hyperphosphataemia of haemodialysis patients.

Background/aim: The treatment of hyperphosphataemia is of major importance in the management of patients on dialysis. Traditional phosphate binders can be associated with undesirable effects. Recently, a new non-absorbable phosphate-binding polymer, sevelamer hydrochloride, has been available.

Substitution of nevirapine, efavirenz, or abacavir for protease inhibitors in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Background: We assessed the strategy of substituting nevirapine, efavirenz, or abacavir for a protease inhibitor in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in whom virologic suppression had been achieved.

Methods: We randomly assigned 460 adults who were taking two nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors and at least one protease inhibitor and whose plasma HIV-1 RNA levels had been less than 200 copies per milliliter for at least the previous six months to switch from the protease inhibitor to nevirapine (155 patients), efavirenz (156), or abacavir (149). The primary end point was death, progression to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or an increase in HIV-1 RNA levels to 200 copies or more per milliliter.

Alternation of antiretroviral drug regimens for HIV infection. A randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Mathematical modeling has suggested that alternating antiretroviral regimens while patients' viral load remains suppressed would minimize HIV resistance mutations.

Objective: To compare alternation of antiretroviral regimens with the current standard of switching regimens after viral load rebound.

Design: Randomized, multicenter, open-label, pilot trial.

A randomized clinical trial comparing nelfinavir or nevirapine associated to zidovudine/lamivudine in HIV-infected naive patients (the Combine Study).

Background: Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-containing regimens may be a valid alternative to protease inhibitor-containing regimens for initial antiretroviral therapy, but to date few studies comparing these two strategies have been performed.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nelfinavir or nevirapine associated to zidovudine/lamivudine in HIV-infected naive patients.

Design: Randomized, open-label, multicentre trial.

Severe interaction between ritonavir and acenocoumarol.

Objective: To report a clinically severe interaction between ritonavir (RTV) and acenocoumarol resulting in a decrease in the anticoagulant effect severe enough to eventually preclude RTV administration.

Case Summary: An asymptomatic, HIV-infected, 46-year-old man with mitraortic prosthetic valves receiving acenocoumarol therapy started stavudine, lamivudine, and RTV 600 mg twice daily. His international normalized ratio (INR) decreased dramatically (the opposite of what should be expected).

Synthesis and Characterization of the First Cyclic Monothioether Derivative of 1,2-o-Carborane and Its Reactivity toward Phosphine Transition Metal Complexes.

The first cyclic monothioether derivative of [C(2)B(9)H(12)](-) has been synthesized from 1-(SH)-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(11). Reaction of the latter with (n)BuLi and 1,3-dibromopropane leads to 1,2-&mgr;-(S(CH(2))(3))-1,2-C(2)B(10)H(10). Partial degradation leads to [7,8-&mgr;-(S(CH(2))(3))-7,8-C(2)B(9)H(10)](-).

[Dementia syndrome and risk factors in adults older than 60 years old residing in Habana].

Introduction: The dementias and Alzheimer's disease are a growing problem in countries with a long life expectancy.

Objective: To find the prevalence of the dementia syndrome in the population aged over 60 years in the municipality of Marianao, La Habana, during the first three months of 1998, and the relationship with certain associated biosocial factors.

Patients And Methods: A descriptive transversal study in which 799 elderly persons were assessed in their homes, out of a population of 22,590 elderly persons, by means of conglomerate sampling in two stages.

[Determinants associated wtih the presence of risk behaviors in HIV infected patients].

Background: Determinants associated with risk behaviours are evaluated in a known HIV-infected population not belonging to the great metropolitan nuclei.

Patients And Methods: 110 unselected HIV+ patients were interviewed, including 77 variables. Their association with sharing needles, and unprotected sex is analysed.

[The role of the cerebral coherence in the progress of the patient with Alzheimer's disease].

Introduction: Coherence is a quantitative measurement used to express the degree of functional connection between two or more cerebral regions.

Material And Methods: We studied 27 patients with Alzheimer's disease (EA), diagnosed according to the criteria of the NINCDS-ADRDA group. Inter and intrahemispheric cerebral coherence was analyzed to evaluate its usefulness for differentiation between different patient sub-groups, according to the GDS and MMSE scales, age and length of illness.

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia associated with acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

A patient with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) associated with acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is described. Although mycoplasmas have occasionally been associated with bronchiolitis obliterans, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first well-documented case of BOOP associated with M. pneumoniae infection.

Efficacy and safety of alpha-interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C in HIV-infected patients. HIV-Hepatitis Spanish Study Group.

The efficacy and safety of recombinant alpha-interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) was assessed in 57 HIV-infected individuals with CD4+ T cells above 200/mm3 and compared to the response obtained in 21 HIV-negative patients with CHC. IFN 5 megaU was given three times a week subcutaneously for 3 months. In responding patients, IFN 3 megaU three times a week was additionally administered for 9 months.