"Bouncing back to life: A perspective of living arrangement among adolescents with HIV''.

Background: Most research on adolescent focuses on the risk associated with the illness. Very little research has been carried out on adolescents who have been diagnosed with HIV since birth. With recent advances with ART treatment, life span of these children has increased, and there are lots of protective factors in the environment influencing the resilience.

An Optimized Tat/Rev Induced Limiting Dilution Assay for the Characterization of HIV-1 Latent Reservoirs.

The administration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) leads to a rapid reduction in plasma viral load in HIV-1 seropositive subjects. However, when ART is suspended, the virus rebounds due to the presence of a latent viral reservoir. Several techniques have been developed to characterize this latent viral reservoir.

Erratum: Correction Notice: An Optimized Tat/Rev Induced Limiting Dilution Assay for the Characterization of HIV-1 Latent Reservoirs.

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Molecular Characterization of the Gene of Vertically Transmitted HIV-1 Strains in Children with Virological Failure.

HIV-1 gene sequences were analyzed from 77 HIV-1 positive children infected perinatally and exhibiting virological failure (VF). Viral subtyping, phylogenetic analysis, and genotypic drug resistance analysis were carried out on samples collected before start of anti retroviral treatment (ART) (baseline, BL), and at 12 months post-ART initiation (M12). Subtype C was found to be most predominant, seen in 75 of the 77 (97.

Scrotal ulcers in an infant with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection.

The majority of cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) manifest non-specific mucocutaneous features. We report the case of a 3-month-old infant presenting with purpura, acral desquamation, and scrotal ulcers. Scrotal ulcers have not been previously reported in MIS-C and add to the spectrum of cutaneous findings associated with the disorder.

Telegenetics: The experience of an Indian center (Centre for Human Genetics) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Because of the lockdowns and restrictions placed on non-emergency medical services due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were prompted to set up telegenetic services for patients and families with genetic disorders. Genetic medicine poses special challenges because the unit of consultation and counseling is often the family and not just the individual. We describe here our experience over eight months in 2020 in evaluating 539 families with genetic disorders on a virtual platform.

An Improved Tat/Rev Induced Limiting Dilution Assay With Enhanced Sensitivity and Breadth of Detection.

Tat/Rev Induced Limiting Dilution Assay (TILDA) is instrumental in estimating the size of latent reservoirs of HIV-1. Here, we report an optimized TILDA containing a broader detection range compared to the reported methods and high sensitivity. Giving priority to sequence conservation, we positioned the two forward primers and the probe in exon-1 of HIV-1.

Transition of Children with Perinatally Acquired HIV-Infection into Adulthood: Social Outcome and Quality of Life.

Objectives: In India, access to free anti-retroviral therapy has improved the survival of perinatally human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected children resulting in the transition of many such children to adulthood. This study aims to understand the social-outcomes and quality of life (QOL) among these adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in two tertiary HIV care centers in south India.

High Prevalence of Lipid Abnormalities and Insulin Resistance Among Antiretroviral Naïve HIV-infected Children in India.

Background: As large numbers of children are accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in India, we evaluated the dietary intake, growth pattern and risk of metabolic complications like dyslipidemia and insulin resistance among ART-naïve HIV-infected children (CLHIV).

Methods: CLHIV 2-12 years of age, at the time of initiating ART in Chennai and Bangalore, were assessed for their dietary intake, anthropometry, blood CD4 cell count, HIV-1 viral load, fasting serum lipids, glucose and insulin. Homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance was derived.

Disclosure of HIV Status to Infected Children in South India: Perspectives of Caregivers.

This study was designed to examine the rates of HIV serostatus disclosure in a sample of HIV-infected children in the state of Karnataka in South India, their reactions to learning their HIV-positive status and the reasons for and barriers to disclosure from the point of view of their caregivers. We enrolled 233 HIV-infected children, aged 5-18 years and their caregivers between July 2011 and February 2013 at HIV clinics in three tertiary care centers. Caregiver interviews included information about demographic characteristics, medical history, type of disclosure to the child and other related factors, including disclosure barriers.

Parental concerns on disclosure of HIV status to children living with HIV: children's perspective.

Disclosure is an important component of comprehensive management of children living with HIV infection (CLHIV). Many parental concerns are barriers for disclosure in children and only few studies addresses children's perspective on these concerns. Our study aims to understand children's perspective on parental concerns for disclosure and assess the knowledge of HIV.

Predictors of Mortality and Mortality Rate in a Cohort of Children Living with HIV from India.

Objectives: To study the predictors of mortality and mortality rate in a clinical cohort of Children Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection (CLHIV) from India.

Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis of CLHIV aged between 2 mo and 18 y registered during January 2004 through December 2014 at Pediatric Centre of Excellence (PCOE), Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health (IGICH), was conducted using standard data collection sheet. Demographic and clinical characteristics of all eligible children were analyzed.

Low Serum Concentrations of Rifampicin and Pyrazinamide Associated with Poor Treatment Outcomes in Children with Tuberculosis Related to HIV Status.

Objectives: To compare the pharmacokinetics of rifampicin (RMP), isoniazid (INH) and pyrazinamide (PZA) between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected children with tuberculosis (TB) and correlate it with TB treatment outcome.

Methods: HIV-uninfected (n = 84) and HIV-infected (n = 77) children with TB receiving standard thrice weekly treatment were recruited from 6 hospitals in India. Semi-intensive pharmacokinetic sampling was performed during intensive phase of TB treatment after directly observed administration of drugs.

Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Children Living with HIV in South India.

Adherence to ART, fundamental to treatment success, has been poorly studied in India. Caregivers of children attending HIV clinics in southern India were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Adherence was assessed using a visual analogue scale representing past-month adherence and treatment interruptions >48 h during the past 3 months.

Nevirapine-related adverse events among children switched from efavirenz to nevirapine as compared to children who were started on nevirapine-based antiretroviral therapy directly.

In this retrospective study, incidence of nevirapine (NVP) toxicity in children who were switched from efavirenz (EFV) to NVP (treatment experienced [TE] group) was compared with that of children who had started NVP-based antiretroviral therapy directly (treatment naïve [TN] group). This study also identified risk factors associated with development of NVP toxicity in children. The incidence and risk of developing NVP toxicities were significantly higher in TE when compared to TN group.

Pharmacokinetics of first-line antituberculosis drugs in HIV-infected children with tuberculosis treated with intermittent regimens in India.

The objective of this report was to study the pharmacokinetics of rifampin (RMP), isoniazid (INH), and pyrazinamide (PZA) in HIV-infected children with tuberculosis (TB) treated with a thrice-weekly anti-TB regimen in the government program in India. Seventy-seven HIV-infected children with TB aged 1 to 15 years from six hospitals in India were recruited. During the intensive phase of TB treatment with directly observed administration of the drugs, a complete pharmacokinetic study was performed.