Liver-related Events in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected Persons With Occult Cirrhosis.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are at increased risk of liver-related mortality. The effect of occult cirrhosis (OcC), defined as preclinical compensated cirrhosis without any clinical findings, on liver-related events is unknown.

Methods: HIV-infected patients from 2 Canadian cohorts underwent transient elastography (TE) examination and were classified as (1) OcC (TE ≥13 kPa with no sign of cirrhosis, including absence of thrombocytopenia and signs of advanced liver disease on ultrasound or gastroscopy); (2) overt cirrhosis (OvC) (TE ≥13 kPa with signs of cirrhosis); or (3) noncirrhotic patients (TE <13 kPa).

Hepatic steatosis progresses faster in HIV mono-infected than HIV/HCV co-infected patients and is associated with liver fibrosis.

Background & Aims: Hepatic steatosis (HS) seems common in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, the relative effect of HIV, as well as hepatitis C virus (HCV) in those co-infected, and the influence of HS on liver fibrosis progression are unclear.

Methods: The LIVEr disease in HIV (LIVEHIV) is a Canadian prospective cohort study using transient elastography and associated controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) to screen for HS and liver fibrosis, in unselected HIV-infected adults.

Rapid innate control of antigen abrogates adaptive immunity.

Natural killer (NK) cells provide an immediate first line of defence against viral infections. Memory responses, maintained by CD4(+) T cells, require exposure to viral antigen and provide long-term protection against future infections. It is known that NK cells can promote the development of the adaptive response through cytokine production and cross-talk with antigen-presenting cells.

Psychological distress and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Renfrew and Paisley (MIDSPAN) study.

Background: This study examined whether psychological distress might be a predictor of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Method: The relation between psychological distress at baseline, measured by the general health questionnaire (GHQ), and chronic bronchitis three years later, as measured by the Medical Research Council (MRC) bronchitis questionnaire and forced expiratory flow in one second (FEV(1)), was examined in 1682 men and 2203 women from the Renfrew and Paisley (MIDSPAN) study. The analyses were run on men and women separately and adjustments were made for age, socioeconomic position, and lung function at baseline (FEV(1)).