HIV RNA testing in the context of nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis.

Background: The specificity and positive predictive value of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA assays have not been evaluated in the setting of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP).

Methods: Plasma from subjects enrolled in a nonoccupational PEP study was tested with 2 branched-chain DNA (bDNA) assays, 2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, and a transcription-mediated amplification (TMA) assay. Assay specificity and positive predictive value were determined for subjects who remained negative for HIV antibody for >or=3 months.

Short-term effects of cannabinoids in patients with HIV-1 infection: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Cannabinoid use could potentially alter HIV RNA levels by two mechanisms: immune modulation or cannabinoid-protease inhibitor interactions (because both share cytochrome P-450 metabolic pathways).

Objective: To determine the short-term effects of smoked marijuana on the viral load in HIV-infected patients.

Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, 21-day intervention trial.