Recurrent stroke risk and cerebral microbleed burden in ischemic stroke and TIA: A meta-analysis.

Objective: To determine associations between cerebral microbleed (CMB) burden with recurrent ischemic stroke (IS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) risk after IS or TIA.

Methods: We identified prospective studies of patients with IS or TIA that investigated CMBs and stroke (ICH and IS) risk during ≥3 months follow-up. Authors provided aggregate summary-level data on stroke outcomes, with CMBs categorized according to burden (single, 2-4, and ≥5 CMBs) and distribution.

Parkin disease: a clinicopathologic entity?

Importance: Mutations in the gene encoding parkin (PARK2) are the most common cause of autosomal recessive juvenile-onset and young-onset parkinsonism. The few available detailed neuropathologic reports suggest that homozygous and compound heterozygous parkin mutations are characterized by severe substantia nigra pars compacta neuronal loss.

Objective: To investigate whether parkin-linked parkinsonism is a different clinicopathologic entity to Parkinson disease (PD).

Predictors of having a resistance test following confirmed virological failure of combination antiretroviral therapy: data from EuroSIDA.

Background: Guidelines suggest that patients on continuous antiretroviral therapy for >4 months with current viral load (VL)>1,000 copies/ml should be tested for resistance. There are limited data showing the frequency of resistance testing in routine clinical practice following these recommendations.

Methods: In EuroSIDA, virological failure (VF) was defined as confirmed VL>1,000 copies/ml after ≥ 4 months continuous use of any antiretroviral in a ≥ 3-drug regimen started during or after 2002.

Factors associated with the development of cytomegalovirus infection following solid organ transplantation.

Background: Infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains a potentially serious complication in transplant patients. In this study we explored the risk factors for CMV infection in the 12 months following a solid organ transplantation (n = 242) in patients monitored for CMV infection from 2004 to 2007.

Methods: CMV infection was defined as 2 consecutive quantifiable CMV-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) values or 1 measurement of >3000 copies/ml.

Low-frequency K103N strengthens the impact of transmitted drug resistance on virologic responses to first-line efavirenz or nevirapine-based highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background: There are conflicting data on the impact of low-frequency transmitted drug-resistant mutants on responses to first-line highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Methods: Patients started nevirapine or efavirenz with two or more nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors in 1998-2007 without a prior resistance test at a median 1.0 (interquartile range, 0.

The ability of four genotypic interpretation systems to predict virological response to ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors.

Background: : Limited information exists on the prognostic value of genotypic interpretation systems (GISs) for ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors (PI/rs). We compared PI/r resistance levels ascribed by four GIS and examined their abilities to predict HIV-RNA reductions after starting a PI/r-based regimen (baseline).

Methods: : Data on viraemic (HIV-RNA > 500 copies/ml) patients starting a PI/r with a baseline resistance test were combined from an observational cohort study (EuroSIDA) and three randomized trials (MaxCmin1; MaxCmin2 and COLATE).