Survival of an AIDS cohort in Thailand (2000-2005).

This study investigates the survival from the time of diagnosis to death of 98,876 men and 57,316 women between the ages of 15 and 96 years who received medical care at public and private hospitals in Thailand after being diagnosed with symptomatic HIV-positive or AIDS between 2000 and 2005 from all regions of Thailand. Using a retrospective cohort study, risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are estimated by the Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for age, gender, marital status, occupation, region of residence, and year of diagnosis. Significant increased risk of mortality is observed for patients diagnosed with AIDS as compared to those with symptomatic HIV-positive, the risk being approximately twofold for men (RR=2.

Treatment of hepatitis C virus infection: updated Swedish Consensus recommendations.

In a recent expert meeting, Swedish recommendations for the treatment of HCV infection were upgraded. The panel recommends vaccination against both hepatitis A and B in patients with HCV. Therapy for symptomatic acute HCV infection should be initiated if spontaneous resolution has not occurred within 12 weeks, whereas asymptomatic acute HCV should be treated upon detection.

Neurological disorders in HIV-infected children in India.

Unlabelled: There are few studies of HIV-related neurological disorders from centres in low-income countries where facilities are available for detailed investigation.

Methods: Records of all patients attending the paediatric HIV outpatient department at B. J.

The Impact of HIV and Malaria Coinfection: What Is Known and Suggested Venues for Further Study.

HIV and malaria have similar global distributions. Annually, 500 million are infected and 1 million die because of malaria. 33 million have HIV and 2 million die from it each year.

Total antioxidant capacity--a novel early bio-chemical marker of oxidative stress in HIV infected individuals.

Background: Oxidative stress induced by the production of reactive oxygen species may play a critical role in the stimulation of HIV replication and the development of immunodeficiency. This study was conducted as there are limited and inconclusive studies on the significance of a novel early marker of oxidative stress which can reflect the total antioxidant capacity in HIV patients,

Methods: Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and lipid peroxidation were evaluated in 50 HIV-1 seropositive patients (including HIV-1 symptomatics and asymptomatics). Controls included 50 age and sex matched and apparently healthy HIV-1 seronegative subjects.

Early initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy fails to reverse immunovirological abnormalities in gut-associated lymphoid tissue induced by acute HIV infection.

Background: During the acute phase of HIV infection, large CD4+ T-cell depletion occurs in the gastrointestinal tract. The kinetics of CD4+ T-cell decrease and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-mediated immune reconstitution were evaluated.

Methods: Rectosigmoid colonic (RSC) biopsies and blood samples of nine patients with acute HIV infection were collected.

Kinetics of expansion of epitope-specific T cell responses during primary HIV-1 infection.

Multiple lines of evidence support a role for CD8(+) T cells in control of acute/early HIV replication; however, features of the primary HIV-specific CD8(+) T cell response that may impact on the efficiency of containment of early viral replication remain poorly defined. In this study, we performed a novel, comprehensive analysis of the kinetics of expansion of components of the HIV-specific CD8(+) T cell response in 21 acutely infected individuals. Epitope-specific T cell responses expanded asynchronously during primary infection in all subjects.

The univariate and bivariate impact of HIV/AIDS on the quality of life: a cross sectional study in the Hubei Province-Central China.

This study is aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) for individuals living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Hubei province-central China by using WHOQOL-BREF instrument (Chinese version). One hundred and thirty six respondents (HIV/AIDS individuals) attending out-patient department of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese CDC) were administered a structured questionnaire developed by investigators. QOL was evaluated by using WHOQOL-BREF instrument (Chinese version).

[Sequences of human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV)].

The clinical profile of HIV infection has changed from lethal disease, gradually destroying patient's immunologic system and progressing inevitably to AIDS, into a chronic manageable condition as it is now. The introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy in 1996 dramatically improved prognosis. In developed countries the estimated survival for a young person diagnosed with HIV infection in the late highly active antiretroviral therapy approaches the survival of general population.

[Role of endovascular treatment of symptomatic splanchnic artery stenoses in HIV patients: report of three cases].

Patients with HIV or AIDS frequently present with GI symptoms, sometimes due to early and diffuse atherosclerosis. We report 3 cases of HIV patients with abdominal pain due to severe splanchnic arterial stenosis. Only one patient presented typical clinical findings of mesenteric ischemic.

Prevalence of Leishmania infection in adult HIV/AIDS patients treated in a tertiary-level care center in Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil.

In order to estimate the magnitude of Leishmania/HIV co-infection, patients with HIV/AIDS at the Brasilia University Hospital, DF, Brazil were used as subjects in a cross-sectional study. One hundred and sixty-three patients were enrolled, seven of whom had visceral leishmaniasis (VL). One hundred and twelve patients (68.

Seroprevalence of west nile virus in ghana.

The epidemiology of West Nile virus (WNV) in Ghana, sub-Saharan Africa, and its relevance to transfusion were newly assessed. A total of 1324 plasma samples from five Ghanaian populations, including 529 children (<6 y old, pre-transfusion) and 795 adults (236 blood donors, 226 HIV-infected or non-infected pregnant women, 203 HIV symptomatic patients, and 130 AIDS patients) were screened for WNV RNA. No WNV RNA was detected, but 4.

[Testing services for sexually transmitted infections in Japan, public funding for HIV testing compared to public funding for other STI testing].

HIV and other STIs testing services of public funded setting have not been integrated in Japan. Public health centers and other public funded testing sites provide free anonymous HIV test. This has been playing an important role to confirm almost half of asymptomatic patients.

Serum concentration of acute phase protein and lipid profile in HIV-1 seropositive patients and its relationship to the progression of the disease.

Aims And Objectives: To evaluate the effect of HIV-1 infection and its progression on lipid profiles, acute-phase proteins and to determine which of the parameters may serve as an early indicator of the progression of HIV infection.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on sixty-two HIV-1 infected subjects attending HIV clinic, the patients consisted of 29 males and 33 females aged between 20-60 years (mean age 31+/- 7 years) who were screened for HIV-1 by ELISA test. Absolute CD4+ T lymphocyte was counted and HIV infected individuals were classified according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Criteria; CD4+ counts e"500/mm3 (asymptomatic), CD4+ counts 200-499/mm3 (symptomatic) and CD4+ counts d"199/mm3 (symptomatic) with full blown AIDS.

Symptomatic hyperlactataemia in adults on antiretroviral therapy: a single-centre experience.

Objective: There are limited data on symptomatic hyperlactataemia caused by antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings. We assessed individuals who developed symptomatic hyperlactataemia on ART in an outpatient clinic in South Africa.

Design: A retrospective record review was performed on patients attending the clinic from January 2004 to December 2005.

Durability of stavudine, lamivudine and nevirapine among advanced HIV-1 infected patients with/without prior co-administration of rifampicin: a 144-week prospective study.

Background: To date, data on the durability of a regimen of stavudine, lamivudine and nevirapine are very limited, particularly from the resource-limited settings.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted among 140 antiretroviral-naïve patients who were enrolled to initiate d4T, 3TC and NVP between November 2004 and March 2005. The objectives were to determine immunological and virological responses after 144 weeks of antiretroviral therapy.

Early mortality among adults accessing antiretroviral treatment programmes in sub-Saharan Africa.

Two-thirds of the world's HIV-infected people live in sub-Saharan Africa, and more than 1.5 million of them die annually. As access to antiretroviral treatment has expanded within the region; early pessimism concerning the delivery of antiretroviral treatment using a large-scale public health approach has, at least in the short term, proved to be broadly unfounded.

[A pioneer in the fight against AIDS in Nigeria].

The Association MVS (French acronym for Mieux Vivre avec le Sida) founded by a physician in Niger in 1994 was the first entity to provide medical and psychological care to symptomatic HIV-infected patients from Niger as well as neighboring countries (Nigeria, Burkina Faso). It has often been at the forefront by offering voluntary screening, undertaking patient management as early as 1998, decentralizing in 2003, and setting up a innovative training facility. Despite these achievements and a solid reputation for excellence in Niger, the Association MVS receives practically no government funding with state subsidies accounting for only 1% of the budget in the last two years.

Impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the neurodevelopment of preschool-aged children in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Objectives: Pediatric HIV infection is a growing problem in most regions of the world. Data on the effects of HIV on the neurodevelopment of children in resource-poor settings are scarce but necessary to guide interventions. The purpose of this study was to compare the neurodevelopment of preschool-aged HIV-infected, HIV-affected (HIV-uninfected AIDS orphans and HIV-uninfected children whose mother had symptomatic AIDS), and healthy control children in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Neurosyphilis in a clinical cohort of HIV-1-infected patients.

Objectives: To describe the risk factors, clinical presentation, and long-term follow up of patients enrolled in a clinical cohort of HIV-infected patients who were diagnosed and treated for neurosyphilis.

Methods: Comprehensive demographic, clinical, and therapeutic data were collected prospectively on all patients between 1990 and 2006. Patients were diagnosed with neurosyphilis if they had positive syphilis serologies and any of the following: (a) one or more cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities on lumbar puncture [white blood cells >10/microl; protein >50 mg/dl; reactive venereal diseases research laboratory], (b) an otherwise unexplained neurological finding.

A consequence of the syphilis epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM): neurosyphilis in Los Angeles, 2001-2004.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology and clinical findings of neurosyphilis (NS) cases diagnosed during the current syphilis epidemic occurring predominantly among men who have sex with men.

Methods: Syphilis cases reported to the health department were reviewed for diagnosis of NS, cerebrospinal fluid venereal disease research laboratory results, and/or treatment for NS.

Results: During 2001-2004, 7083 cases of syphilis were diagnosed in Los Angeles.

Neurosyphilis in HIV-infected patients: clinical manifestations, serum venereal disease research laboratory titers, and associated factors to symptomatic neurosyphilis.

Goal: To describe clinical and laboratory features of human immunodeficiency infection (HIV)-infected patients with neurosyphilis.

Study Design: Retrospective study of 27 consecutive cases of HIV-infected patients with a positive Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Results: Median of age was 36 years and 89% were men.

Antiretroviral therapy of late presenters with advanced HIV disease.

Potent antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically improved the prognosis of HIV-1-infected individuals. However, 10% to 30% of patients in Western countries still present late for care, when CD4 T cells are below 200 cells/mm(3) and symptomatic HIV disease has occurred. Clinical considerations for advanced HIV disease are paramount as morbidity and mortality are directly correlated with a low initial CD4 T cell count, which is commonly associated with the simultaneous occurrence of co-morbidities, particularly opportunistic infections.

Neutropenia and human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection: analysis of 43 cases.

Background: Neutropenia has been reported in patients with early asymptomatic HIV infection as well as in those with more advance HIV-related immunodeficiency. As with other peripheral cytopenias in the setting of HIV infection, multiple aetiologies may be present either singly or in combination. The study aims to determine the prevalence of Neutropenia and the association with the level of deterioration of CD4+ T lymphocyte subset in antiretroviral naïve HIV-1 infected patients.

Otosyphilis in HIV-coinfected individuals: a case series from Toronto, Canada.

We sought to identify and review the clinical features and treatment outcomes of eight recent cases of otosyphilis in HIV-positive patients seen in Toronto. All patients reported tinnitus, and seven (87.5%) reported subjective hearing loss.