Increase in visceral adipose tissue in a woman living with HIV after introduction of integrase strand transfer inhibitor.

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are a class of antiretroviral drugs with high virologic efficacy and excellent tolerability. Recent evidence showed a possible link of dolutegravir-based regimens with weight gain, and a relationship between raltegravir use and changes in adipose tissue density and metabolic abnormalities, with an increased cardiovascular risk, has been suggested. We describe a case where dolutegravir monotherapy led to a decrease in adipose tissue density.

MOG antibody seropositivity in a patient with encephalitis: beyond the classical syndrome.

Background: The presence of circulating anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibodies (MOG-Abs) has been described in sera of patients with different inflammatory conditions of the central nervous system. In adults the core clinical feature is usually characterised by acute myelitis and/or optic neuritis. We here report an atypical case with serum and cerebrospinal fluid MOG-Abs and a clinical picture suggestive for acute encephalitis.

Multidrug-resistant Combined Infections in a Liver Transplanted Patient: Case Report.

We report a case of successfully treated multiple liver abscesses in a liver-transplanted patient, sustained by combined multidrug-resistant infections. Two months after a liver transplant, a computed tomography scan revealed the presence of multiple abscesses in the liver graft. Blood cultures and abscessual liver fluid were both positive for acquired colistin- and carbapenem- resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and an extended-spectrum of beta-lactamases-producing Enterobacter aerogenes.

Abacavir use and cardiovascular disease events: a meta-analysis of published and unpublished data.

Background: The use of abacavir (ABC) has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease in some cohort studies. However, no excess risk of myocardial infarction (MI) with ABC therapy has been observed in individual randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and in the aggregated clinical trials database maintained by the manufacturer of ABC.

Objective: To combine all the evidence from RCTs by means of meta-analysis to estimate the effect of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) containing ABC on MI and overall major cardiovascular events (CVEs).

Treatment of chronic hepatitis C in haemophilic patients with interferon and ribavirin: a meta-analysis.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among haemophilic patients who were treated with clotting factor concentrates before the availability of virus-inactivated factors in the mid 1980s. In order to analyse the effect of the current combination anti-HCV treatment [i.e.

Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor as an adjuvant for hepatitis B vaccination: a meta-analysis.

The efficacy of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to enhance the immune response to hepatitis B virus vaccine has been object of several reports. We searched for randomized controlled clinical trials comparing GM-CSF given concomitantly to hepatitis B virus vaccine to vaccine given alone or with placebo. Data on rates of seroconversion (anti-HBs titers >10 IU/ml) from 13 studies (734 subjects) produced combined estimates that favored GM-CSF as compared to controls: rate ratio after a single immunization was 1.

Thymidine kinase and deoxycytidine kinase activity in mononuclear cells from antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected patients.

Objective: To evaluate whether an inter-individual variability in the activity of thymidine kinase (TK) and deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), which are involved in the first step of phosphorylation of some nucleoside analogues, exists in antiretroviral-naive, HIV-seropositive patients.

Design: Forty-five randomly selected antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected patients were recruited, together with 26 healthy volunteers with no concurrent infection and under no pharmacological treatment.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from venous blood and their TK and dCK activities evaluated.

Detection of an early HIV-1 infection by HIV RNA testing in an Italian blood donor during the preseroconversion window period.

Background: The implementation of NAT technologies for HIV screening has further reduced the diagnostic window in recent HIV infection. There is still a debate regarding the cost effectiveness of genomic screening of blood donations for transfusion-transmitted viruses (HBV, HCV, HIV).

Study Design And Methods: Since October 2001, at the Transfusion Service of Verona, single-donation NAT testing for HCV and HIV-1 (Procleix TMA HIV-1/HCV Assay) of all blood donations has been performed.

Prevalence trend and correlates of HHV-8 infection in HIV-infected patients.

To assess the circulation of human herpesvirus (HHV)-8 infection over the years, two seroprevalence surveys were conducted, which tested sera from HIV-infected individuals recruited 10 years apart (206 individuals from 1986 to 1988 and 177 individuals from 1997 to 1998). For all patients, antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and HHV-8 lytic and latent antigens were evaluated.HHV-8 seroprevalence was higher among individuals recruited in the 1990s (31.

Recovery of long-term natural protection against reactivation of CMV retinitis in AIDS patients responding to highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Objectives: To see whether in severely immunosuppressed AIDS patients (with prior Cytomegalovirus retinal disease) who have significant increases in CD4+ lymphocytes following the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) anti-Cytomegalovirus (CMV) maintenance therapy can be withdrawn with no subsequent progression of CMV retinitis.

Methods: Eight patients with AIDS and one or more previous episodes of CMV retinitis interrupted anti-CMV maintenance therapy following the successful beginning of HAART. CD4 cell counts and HIV-RNA were monitored monthly while measurement of CMV antigenemia and ophthalmoscopy were carried every 2 weeks thereafter.

Twice-weekly dapsone for primary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in HIV-1 infection: efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetic data.

OBJECTIVES: In this study we evaluated the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety of dapsone given 100 mg twice weekly as primary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in patients with HIV-1 infection. METHODS: This was a prospective open trial, evaluating a total of 55 HIV-1-infected patients with CD4 cell counts below 200/mm3 and without previous episodes of PCP. Plasma concentrations of dapsone were determined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).

Stability of cefodizime in solution and compatibility with other injectable drugs.

The stability of cefodizime in five intravenous infusion fluids (0.9% sodium chloride, 5% dextrose in water, 10% dextrose in water, 5% amino acid injection, 3% polygeline) was studied at room temperature and at 4 degrees C. The compatibility of cefodizime with commonly used injectable drugs (ranitidine, metoclopramide, folinic acid, furosemide, aminophilline, methylprednisolone, betamethasone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, ketoprofen, noramidopyrine, acetylcysteine, digoxin, diazepam, acetylsalicylic acid, chlorpromazine, clonidine, clomipramine) was studied in 0.

Risk of reactivation of tuberculosis in the course of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Objectives: To establish, in a longitudinal study, whether reactivation of latent tuberculous infection takes place below an identifiable immunological threshold in subjects with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Methods: We followed up for 2 years 44 subjects with HIV infection who had a positive intradermal reaction to tuberculin. All subjects were asymptomatic at enrollment.

[Acute pneumonia and cell-mediated immunity in patients with HIV infection].

The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the correlation between T-cell immunity and pulmonary disorders in a group of Italian subjects with HIV infection. HIV-infected patients seen at the Institute of Infectious Diseases, University of Verona, were included in this study if they had a specific acute pneumonia, a CD4+ cell count and a CD4+/CD8+ ratio during the 60 days immediately before the onset of pulmonary disease. Cases receiving any antimicrobial prophylaxis were excluded.