What Is This Summary About?: This is a summary of an article about an ongoing study called the BICSTaR study.The BICSTaR study includes people with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) who are taking a medicine called bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (shortened to B/F/TAF). B/F/TAF is a single tablet that contains 3 different drugs for the treatment of HIV.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Public Health
February 2024
Background: To effectively control the HIV epidemic and meet global targets, policymakers recommend the rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Our study aims to investigate the effect of rapid ART programs on individuals diagnosed with HIV, considering varying coverage and initiation days after diagnosis, and compare it to standard-of-care ART treatment in Turkey.
Methods: We used a dynamic compartmental model to simulate the dynamics of HIV infection in Turkey.
We present the interim results of the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of the two-dose schedules of TURKOVAC versus CoronaVac. This was a randomized, observer-blinded, non-inferiority trial (NCT04942405). Volunteers were 18-55 years old and randomized at a 1:1 ratio to receive either TURKOVAC or CoronaVac at Day 0 and Day 28, both of which are 3 μg/0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Efficacy of elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil (E/C/F/TDF) in treatment-naïve and experienced patients with HIV infection was demonstrated in phase 3 trials. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate effectiveness and safety of E/C/F/TDF in real world settings.
Methods: Retrospective, observational data collected by the Turkish ACTHIV-IST study group between May 2015 and December 2016 were analysed.
Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic has substantially changed lives and presented several barriers to health services. HIV care continuum needs a high rate of diagnosis, effective treatment, and sustained suppression of viral replication. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected these three steps of HIV care.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAim: To observe the clinical course of symptomatic pregnant women diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19.
Methods: This study analyzed the clinical and laboratory results of 27 patients with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 and 25 patients with a suspected COVID-19 diagnosis based on their symptoms and chest computed tomography (CT) findings. The patients' coagulation parameters and acute-phase reactants were evaluated both before and after treatment.
Background: Long life expectancy in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH) caused an increase in comorbidities and co-medications. We aimed to analyse comedications and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive PLWH in the era of integrase inhibitors.
Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted between January 2016-August 2019.
Background: Cancer is responsible for elevated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related mortality but there are insufficient data about cancer in HIV-positive patients in Turkey.
Aims: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and mortality of cancer among people living with HIVand AIDS patients in Istanbul, Turkey.
Methods: Between January 1998 and December 2016, people living with HIVand AIDS patients were enrolled in this study by the ACTHIV-IST Study Group, which consists of 5 centres to follow-up HIV-positive patients in Istanbul.
Cent Eur J Public Health
September 2019
Objective: Late presentation of the patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with less favourable treatment responses, more accelerated clinical progression, and a higher mortality risk. Although HIV prevalence is low in Turkey, it is steadily increasing and the information about late presentation among HIV-positives is limited. We aimed to analyze the status of late presentation among HIV-positive patients in Turkey.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe aimed to assess the 24-week virological and immunological success of the treatment of treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients included in the Action against HIV in Istanbul (ACTHIV-IST) database. The ACTHIV-IST database was screened retrospectively from January 2012 to January 2014. The data for these patients such as age, sex, treatment-naive or treatment-experienced status, date of diagnosis, date of commencing antiretroviral therapy, antiretroviral therapy regimen, CD4+ cell count, and viral load before and after therapy were analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study aimed to examine the changes in HIV demographics over time in an exceptionally low prevalence population, with particular emphasis on men who have sex with men (MSM).
Methods: A total of 1292 newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients registered in the ACTHIV-IST Study Group database between 2000 and 2014 were included. The changes occurring over time in the characteristics of patients at the time of initial admission were examined retrospectively.
Objective: Data on syphilis seroprevalence among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients are unavailable in Turkey although they have common transmission routes. Our study is oriented towards the assessment of the seroprevalence of syphilis and the related risk factors in the HIV/AIDS patients followed in our outpatient clinic.
Materials: Newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases (n = 308) who attended our outpatient clinic between January 2006 and April 2013 were included in the study.
Background: Rate of coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) varies in different countries. This may be attributable to common transmission routes as well as social, economic, and cultural factors.
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of HCV infection among HIV-positive patients in Istanbul, Turkey.
The aim of the study was to report the epidemiological profile of HIV-1 positive patients from, Istanbul, Turkey, which has one of the lowest HIV-1/AIDS prevalences in Europe. The patients were followed by ACTHIV-IST group which was established by the Infectious Diseases Departments of five teaching hospitals (three university hospitals and two public hospitals) in Istanbul, Turkey. The HIV-1 positive patients were added to the standard patient files in all of the centers; these files were then transferred to the ACTHIV-IST database in the Internet.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Recent studies showed a high frequency of low bone mineral density (BMD) in HIV-infected patients and no reports have been issued in Turkey. Our aim was to evaluate BMD and risk factors for osteopenia/osteoporosis in HIV-infected patients that attended an outpatient clinic in Istanbul, Turkey.
Method: In order to determine the prevalence of BMD, 126 HIV-infected patients had been studied with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
Background: Isolated antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) is frequent in HIV-infected patients, and it may be a marker of occult hepatitis B. We aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of isolated anti-HBc among HIV-infected patients in Turkey, which is classified as an intermediate HBV, low HIV endemic region.
Method: HIV/AIDS patients followed by the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Outpatient Clinic of Haseki Training and Research Hospital between January 2006 and March 2011 were included in this study.
Introduction: In this study, we aimed to compare the HBV seroprevalances of voluntary blood donors and the healthy persons who required premarital screening.
Methodology: HBsAg ELISA results were collected retrospectively from the records of 9,949 blood donors and 954 healthy persons who required premarital screening.
Results: HBsAg was detected in 182 of 9,949 (%1.
Objective: Our aim was to determine the Toxoplasma gondii IgG seroprevalence in HIV/AIDS patients who applied to our outpatient clinic.
Methods: Between January 2006 and June 2010, 164 HIV/AIDS patients were tested for Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies by using the ELISA method.
Results: Of the total of 164 HIV/AIDS patients, 135 were male, 29 were female with a mean age of 36 years (range: 20-72 years).
Background: In Turkey, the first HIV/AIDS case was reported in 1985. Although HIV/AIDS incidence has been increasing, only 3,671 cases have been documented to date in this country, with a population of 71,517,100. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiologic and clinical features of patients with HIV infection and AIDS followed during a 3.
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