Multicentric study of the effect of pre-analytical variables in the quality of plasma samples stored in biobanks using different complementary proteomic methods.

Unlabelled: Analytical proteomics has experienced exponential progress in the last decade and can be expected to lead research studies on diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in the near future. Because the development of this type of analysis requires the use of a large number of human samples with a minimum of quality requirements, our objective was to identify appropriate indicators for quality control of plasma samples stored in biobanks for research in proteomics. To accomplish this, plasma samples from 100 healthy donors were obtained and processed according to the pre-analytical variables of: a) time delay for the first centrifugation of the original blood sample (4 or 24h) and b) number of freeze/thaw cycles (1, 2 or 3) of the processed plasma samples.

Correlation between different methods to measure microbial translocation and its association with immune activation in long-term suppressed HIV-1-infected individuals.

Introduction: Microbial translocation (MT) has been proposed as one of the triggering mechanisms of persistent immune activation associated to HIV-1 infection. Our objectives were to determine the correlation between different measurements of MT in suppressed HIV-1-infected individuals and to evaluate its correlation with immune activation.

Methods: Eighteen suppressed HIV-1-infected patients with CD4+ T-cell count above 350 cells per cubic millimeter and undetectable plasma viral load, included in antiretroviral treatment intensification clinical trials, were evaluated.

[New diagnosis of HIV infection in children].

Introduction: The number of children of immigrant origin in the last few years has increased the cohort of HIV-infected children in the Community of Madrid. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the new diagnosed children and describe the different subtypes of HIV-1.

Patients And Methods: The new diagnosed children were analysed from the year 1997, divided into 3 periods: P1 (1997-2000), P2 (2001-2004), P3 (2005-2009).

Impact on weight and height with the use of HAART in HIV-infected children.

Background: There are few data on long-term effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on weight and height in HIV-infected children.

Objectives: Our objective was to assess the effect of HAART on the weight and height of HIV-infected children over time in the Madrid cohort, and analyze possible factors associated with the effect.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective study of HIV-infected children starting HAART in 1997 or later.