Evaluation of 4-(4-Fluorobenzyl)piperazin-1-yl]-Based Compounds as Competitive Tyrosinase Inhibitors Endowed with Antimelanogenic Effects.

There is a considerable attention for the development of inhibitors of tyrosinase (TYR) as therapeutic strategy for the treatment of hyperpigmentation disorders in humans. Continuing in our efforts to identify TYR inhibitors, we describe the design, synthesis and pharmacophore exploration of new small molecules structurally characterized by the presence of the 4-fluorobenzylpiperazine moiety as key pharmacophoric feature for the inhibition of TYR from Agaricus bisporus (AbTYR). Our investigations resulted in the discovery of the competitive inhibitor [4-(4-fluorobenzyl)piperazin-1-yl]-(3-chloro-2-nitro-phenyl)methanone 26 (IC =0.

Early assessment of weight velocity can support frontline health workers in predicting malnutrition in HIV-exposed infants: preliminary results from a DREAM cohort in Malawi.

Background: Children born to HIV-positive mothers are particularly susceptible to malnutrition. Currently, monitoring programs rely on punctual anthropometric measurements to assess child growth. Growth velocities could be an additional tool in identifying critical time windows for prevention and implementation of early intervention for malnutrition.

Elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV Infection: The Drug Resource Enhancement against AIDS and Malnutrition Model.

The Drug Resource Enhancement against AIDS and Malnutrition Program (DREAM) gathered professionals in the field of Elimination of HIV-Mother-To-Child Transmission (EMTCT) in Maputo in 2013 to discuss obstacles and solutions for the elimination of HIV vertical transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. During this workshop, the benefits of administrating combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) to HIV positive women from pregnancy throughout breastfeeding were reviewed. cART is capable of reducing vertical transmission to less than 5% at 24 months of age, as well as maternal mortality and infant mortality in both HIV infected and exposed populations to levels similar to those of uninfected individuals.

Reduction of maternal mortality with highly active antiretroviral therapy in a large cohort of HIV-infected pregnant women in Malawi and Mozambique.

Background: HIV infection is a major contributor to maternal mortality in resource-limited settings. The Drug Resource Enhancement Against AIDS and Malnutrition Programme has been promoting HAART use during pregnancy and postpartum for Prevention-of-mother-to-child-HIV transmission (PMTCT) irrespective of maternal CD4 cell counts since 2002.

Methods: Records for all HIV+ pregnancies followed in Mozambique and Malawi from 6/2002 to 6/2010 were reviewed.

Nutritional rehabilitation of HIV-exposed infants in Malawi: results from the drug resources enhancement against AIDS and malnutrition program.

Infant malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa is a public health priority and a challenge in high HIV prevalence areas. The Drug Resources Enhancement Against AIDS and Malnutrition program, with multiple medical centers in Sub-Saharan Africa, developed an innovative intervention for the surveillance and control of malnutrition. In a pilot initiative, 36 HIV-exposed children were evaluated at baseline upon presentation for malnutrition and at six months post- treatment.

Correlation between HIV-1 viral load quantification in plasma, dried blood spots, and dried plasma spots using the Roche COBAS Taqman assay.

Background: The use of simplified methods for viral load determination could greatly increase access to treatment monitoring of HIV patients in resource-limited countries.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to optimize and evaluate the performance of the Roche COBAS Taqman assay in HIV-RNA quantification from dried blood spots (DBS) and dried plasma spots (DPS).

Study Design: EDTA blood samples from 108 HIV-infected women were used to prepare 129 DBS and 76 DPS on Whatman 903 card.

Comparison of HIV type 1 sequences from plasma, cell-free breast milk, and cell-associated breast milk viral populations in treated and untreated women in Mozambique.

We analyzed the sequences of the HIV viral populations obtained from plasma, cell-free breast milk, and breast milk cells of HAART-treated (23) and untreated (30) HIV-infected women to obtain information about the origin of the breast milk virus. Sequence analyses of viruses were performed using the TruGene HIV-1 assay. Direct sequences of the reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (PR) genes were analyzed using the Phylip 3.

Incidence and predictors of death, retention, and switch to second-line regimens in antiretroviral- treated patients in sub-Saharan African Sites with comprehensive monitoring availability.

Background: Antiretroviral treatment programs in sub-Saharan Africa have high rates of early mortality and loss to follow-up. Switching to second-line regimens is often delayed because of limited access to laboratory monitoring.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed of a cohort of adults who initiated a standard first-line antiretroviral treatment at 5 public sector sites in 3 African countries.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in human beta-defensin-1 gene in Mozambican HIV-1-infected women and correlation with virologic parameters.

We analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 5'-untranslated region (-44C/G and -52G/A) of the beta-defensin-1 gene in 78 Mozambican HIV-1-infected mothers. We observed significantly lower levels of HIV-1 RNA in breast milk, but not in plasma, in women with the -52GG genotype versus women with the -52GA and -52AA genotypes, supporting the hypothesis that different expression of beta-defensins could have an impact on viral replication in breast milk.

Evaluating adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy with use of pill counts and viral load measurement in the drug resources enhancement against AIDS and malnutrition program in Mozambique.

Background: Maintaining treatment adherence among the growing number of patients receiving antiretroviral treatment in Africa is a dramatic challenge. The objective of our study was to explore the results of a computerized pill count method and to test the validity, sensitivity, and specificity of this method with respect to viral load measurement in an African setting.

Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study involving patients who received first-line highly active antiretroviral therapy in Mozambique from 1 April 2005 through 31 March 2006.

Triple antiretroviral prophylaxis administered during pregnancy and after delivery significantly reduces breast milk viral load: a study within the Drug Resource Enhancement Against AIDS and Malnutrition Program.

Background: The administration of antiretroviral therapy to lactating women could represent a possible strategy to reduce postnatal HIV transmission. In this study, we assessed the effect of antiretroviral treatment on breast milk viral load and determined plasma and breast milk drug concentrations in pregnant women receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Methods: We studied 40 women receiving zidovudine, lamivudine, and nevirapine from 28 weeks of gestation to 1 month postpartum (group A) and 40 untreated pregnant women (group B).

Effects of Helichrysum italicum extract on growth and enzymatic activity of Staphylococcus aureus.

Helichrysum italicum G. Don (Compositae) is a shrub commonly found in dry, sandy and stony areas of Mediterranean regions. This plant is known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antimicrobial activity.