In this recent study, researchers in the United States conducted a study "To test the efficacy of a school-based human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted disease (HIV/STD) risk-reduction intervention for South African adolescents. A cluster-randomized, controlled design with assessments of self-reported sexual behavior collected before intervention and 3, 6, and 12 months after intervention."
Lymphadenopathy is one of the earliest and commonest manifestations in HIV patients. Fine needle aspiration cytology is an accurate, common procedure in the evaluation of lymphadenopathy in HIV-positive patients.
HIV physicians have limited time for cognitive screening. Here we developed an extra-brief, clinically based tool for predicting HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (HAND) in order to determine which HIV-positive individuals require a more comprehensive neurological/neuropsychological (NP) assessment.
Variable antiretroviral drug penetration into the genital tract may contribute to the differential evolution of HIV-1 and the emergence of drug resistance.
Although people infected with HIV produce many antibodies against the protein encapsulating the virus, most of these antibodies are strangely ineffective at fighting the disease. A new study suggests why some of the most common of these antibodies don't work: they target the protein in a form it takes after the virus has already invaded the cell, when it's too late, report researchers at Children's Hospital Boston and their colleagues.
Women with below-detectable PVL (plasma viral load) may have less risk of HIV sexual transmission on a population level, but may continue to be infectious on an individual level.
The RAINBOW survey is a multinational observational study assessing the tolerability and efficacy of ritonavir-boosted saquinavir (SQV/r), using the 500 mg film-coated SQV formulation, in routine clinical practice. This analysis presents data from the German subgroup of protease inhibitor (PI)-pretreated, but SQV-naive patients
To compare plasma antiretroviral concentrations in HIV-HCV co-infected and in matched HIV mono-infected patients. This was a cross-sectional, observational study.
We wished to study the resistance profile of etravirine, a novel non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) active against common human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) drug-resistant strains.
This article examines the sociodemographic/behavioral variables associated with low peer support of condom use and the relation between low peer support of condom use and unprotected anal sex for Black and Latino MSM in cities heavily impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic
The study analyzed the prevalence and determinants of HIV-risks among female sex workers (FSWs) in Croatia and Montenegro. Face-to-face interviews were carried out in Zagreb, Split, and Podgorica during the 2006-2008 period
The present study investigated medication adherence in an understudied population, adolescents with behaviorally acquired HIV, to improve upon prior methodological limitations using concurrent collection of HIV health status markers (viral load [VL]; percentage CD4 count [CD4%]) and multimethod adherence assessment.
This review summarizes recent advances and current gaps in understanding of innate immunity to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and identifies key scientific priorities to enable application of this knowledge to the development of novel prevention strategies (vaccines and microbicides).
The aim of this paper is to describe the experience of the first 7 years of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme in Mbale Regional Hospital, Eastern Uganda, with particular reference to the lessons learnt in changing from voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) to routine counselling and testing (RCT) for HIV testing in antenatal services.
Approximately 15% of HIV exposed seronegative individuals repeatedly resist infection, a phenomenon that has been observed in all investigated HIV-exposed cohorts. This brief report provides a limited historic perspective of the discovery of these cohorts and outlines some of the immunologic and genetic parameters that are associated with resistance.
The results obtained indicate that HIV prevalence affects social capital negatively. The empirical estimates suggest that a one standard deviation increase in HIV prevalence will lead to a decline of at least 1 per cent in trust, controlling for other determinants of social capital.
The HIV mutation patterns detected in plasma do not necessarily reflect those found in the cell-associated compartment, and may not be the same as those in different anatomical compartments...
Utilizing a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach is a potentially effective strategy for exploring the development, implementation, and evaluation of HIV interventions in African American churches.
We used genotypic and phenotypic assays to estimate the frequency of X4/DM viruses in 131 patients infected with non-subtype-B viruses at the time of primary HIV-1 infection (PHI). All patients were enrolled in the French PRIMO Cohort from 1996 to 2007," investigators in Paris, France report.
HIV-1 Vpu is an 81-residue protein with a single N-terminal transmembrane ™ helical segment that is involved in the release of new virions from host cell membranes. Vpu and its TM segment form ion channels in phospholipid bilayers, presumably by oligomerization of TM helices into a pore-like structure.
Women's disclosure of their HIV serostatus across social network ties was examined in a sample of women living in Los Angeles (n=234), using multivariate random intercept logistic regressions. Women with disclosure-averse attitudes were less likely to disclose, while women with higher CD4+ counts were significantly more likely to disclose, regardless of relationship type.
According to a study from Milan, Italy, "HIV-1 non-B subtypes have recently entered Western Europe following immigration from other regions. The distribution of non-B clades and their association with demographic factors, over the entire course of the HIV-1 epidemic, have not been fully investigated in Italy.
A new study, 'PowerON: the use of instant message counseling and the Internet to facilitate HIV/STD education and prevention,' is now available. According to a study from the United States, "In recent years, Internet-based or online counseling has emerged as an effective way to assess psychological disorders and discuss destructive behaviors with individuals or groups of individuals. This study explores the application of online counseling to HIV/STD risk-taking behavior among men who have sex with men (MSM).
Depressive symptoms are highly prevalent yet undertreated in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs). As part of a larger study of symptom self-management (N=1217), this study examined the prevalence, correlates, and characteristics (intensity, distress, and impact) of depressive symptoms, and the self-care strategies used to manage those symptoms in PLHAs in five countries.
This article reviews the literature on HIV-related interventions for U.S. women prisoners, with a focus on identifying strategies that enabled women to practice safer sex, reduce drug use, and to avoid recidivism
This article describes an ecology of health seeking behavior among Bronx residing HIV+ Caribbean immigrants participating in an arm of a U. S. government-funded multi-site evaluation of peer services in the utilization of HIV primary care.
The aim of this study was to use conventional breeding to increase the production in maize of the human monoclonal antibody 2G12, known to have potential therapeutic properties in the prevention of HIV-1 transmission. The recombinant antibody, together with a fluorescent marker, was introduced into two South African high-performing maize elite inbred lines by crossing them with a transgenic maize line that had been transformed with the monoclonal antibody 2G12.
Over the past decade, there has been increasing global attention to mitigating the impacts of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on children's lives. Within this context, developing and tracking global child vulnerability indicators in relation to HIV and AIDS has been critical in terms of assessing need and monitoring progress.
Examinations of demographic and social factors associated with homophobia and fear of AIDS are limited by the frequent use of homogeneous, college student samples and limited examination of interrelationships among variables. The present study examined community attitudes toward homosexuality and fear of HIV/AIDS as a function of age, education, race/ethnicity, religious affiliation, political party affiliation, and personal contact with homosexual individuals and persons living with HIV/AIDS
There is growing evidence of the association between gender-based violence and HIV from the perspective and experiences of women. The purpose of this study is to examine these associations from the perspective of young men living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
This study aimed to assess knowledge of and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS among a community in a semi-urban setting in Malaysia, to determine factors affecting perceptions toward people living with HIV in the community, and to provide baseline information for planning preventive measures against HIV/AIDS.
A report, The design and validation of a novel phenotypic assay to determine HIV-1 coreceptor usage of clinical isolates, is newly published data in Journal of Virological Methods.
New investigation results, 'Sexual mixing patterns and heterosexual HIV transmission among African Americans in the southeastern United States,' are detailed in a study published in Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.
Researchers detail in 'Factors related to female sex workers' willingness to utilize VCT service: a qualitative study in Jinan city, northern China,' new data in HIV/AIDS.
Research findings, 'An acceptability and safety study of the Duet cervical barrier and gel delivery system in Zimbabwe,' are discussed in a new report.
New research, 'The benefits of using a mixed methods approach--quantitative with qualitative--to identify client satisfaction and unmet needs in an HIV healthcare centre,' is the subject of a report. "Research into patient satisfaction with HIV ambulatory healthcare facilities is limited due to confidentiality restraints, the short history of the condition and the stigma attached. Furthermore, most satisfaction studies of this client group have not used mixed methods (quantitative with qualitative) despite its increasing use since the 1990s in healthcare research," scientists in Sydney, Australia report
A new study, 'Uncoating of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 requires prolyl isomerase Pin1,' is now available. "The process by which the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) conical core dissociates is called uncoating, but not much is known about this process. Here, we show that the uncoating process requires the interaction of the capsid (CA) protein with the peptidyl-prolyl isomerase Pin1 that specifically recognizes the phosphorylated serine/threonine residue followed by proline," scientists in Kumamoto, Japan report
New investigation results, 'Life in institutional care: the voices of children in a residential facility in Botswana,' are detailed in a study published in Aids Care. "As a result of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, there are now more than 12 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of these children have been absorbed into their extended families," researchers in Quebec, Canada report.
Fresh data on HIV/AIDS are presented in the report 'HIV transmission and high rates of late diagnoses among adults aged 50 years and over.' "Describe the epidemiology and impact of late diagnosis among older adults living with HIV and estimate age at infection. Comparative national analyses between individuals diagnosed when aged 50 years and over with individuals diagnosed prior to 50 years," investigators in London, the United Kingdom report.
A new study, 'Penicillium marneffei infection in an African man,' is now available. According to a study from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, "Penicilliosis is a systemic fungal infection caused by Penicillium marneffei. The infection is most commonly seen in Southeast Asia, Southern China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan."
According to recent research from Durban, South Africa, "Volunteer caregivers are a critical source of support for the majority of people living with HIV and AIDS in southern Africa, which has extremely high HIV/AIDS prevalence rates. While studies have shown that volunteer caregiving is associated with negative health and socio-economic outcomes, little is known about the positive experiences of volunteers in the home-based care context in South Africa."
New investigation results, 'The comparison of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 transmission between couples through blood or sex in central China,' are detailed in a study published in Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases.
According to recent research from the United States, "Although AIDS is a leading cause of death worldwide, the consequences of the pandemic are remarkably unequally distributed cross-nationally. This unequal global distribution of AIDS deaths should be of interest to sociologists because of the potential role of structural forces in accounting for these disparities.
Researchers detail in 'AIDS stigma as an obstacle to uptake of HIV testing: evidence from a Zimbabwean national population-based survey,' new data in HIV/AIDS.
Global Health Progress highlights ViiV Healthcare's announcement of a new series of initiatives, including improving access to medicines, to support people living with HIV/AIDS in the poorest and most vulnerable countries.
New research, 'The role of HIV nursing consultants in the care of HIV-infected patients in Dutch hospital outpatient clinics,' is the subject of a report. "In the Netherlands HIV nursing consultants have participated in HIV-care since 1985; their profession has changed with developments in HIV-treatment over time. The study goal was to gather information about their role in HIV-care and to provide an useful example to other (HIV-)care settings over the world," scientists in Utrecht, Netherlands report.
New research, 'Is the recommended once-daily dose of lamivudine optimal in West African HIV-infected children,' is the subject of a report. According to recent research published in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, "We aimed in this study to describe lamivudine concentration-time courses in treatment-naive children after once-daily administration, to study the effects of body weight and age on lamivudine pharmacokinetics, and to simulate an optimized administration scheme. For this purpose, lamivudine concentrations were measured in 49 children after at least 2 weeks of didanosine-lamivudine-efavirenz treatment."
A new study, 'Effect of hormonal contraceptive use on HIV progression in female HIV seroconverters in Rakai, Uganda,' is now available. According to a study from the United States, "To assess the association between hormonal contraceptive use and HIV progression. A retrospective analysis of 625 female HIV seroconverters from a Ugandan cohort study."
Data detailed in 'Relationship characteristics and motivations behind agreements among gay male couples: differences by agreement type and couple serostatus' have been presented. "Gay men in relationships are often overlooked in HIV prevention efforts, yet many engage in sexual behaviors that increase their HIV risk and some seroconvert as a result. While different aspects of gay male relationships have been studied, such as sexual agreements, relationship characteristics, and couple serostatus, little research combines these elements to examine HIV risk for this population," investigators in the United States report.
Research findings, 'The HIV/AIDS Surveillance Project mapping approach: an innovative approach for mapping and size estimation for groups at a higher risk of HIV in Pakistan,' are discussed in a new report. "We developed a mapping approach to gather data on distribution, number of settings, operational typologies and estimated size of female sex workers (FSWs), male sex workers, hijra sex workers and injection drug users in Pakistan. Data were collected across 12 major cities in Pakistan," investigators in Winnipeg, Canada report.
Investigators publish new data in the report 'Policy and practice, lost in transition: Reasons for high drop-out from pre-antiretroviral care in a resource-poor setting of eastern Uganda.' "This study explores reasons for drop-out from pre-ARV care in a resource-poor setting where premature death is a common consequence of delayed ARV initiation. In Iganga, Uganda, we conducted key informant interviews with staff at the pre-ARV clinic, focus group discussions with persons who looked after people living with HIV (PLWH) and in-depth interviews with PLWH half of whom had dropped out of pre-ARV care," scientists in Uganda report
Investigators publish new data in the report 'Safety and immunogenicity of novel recombinant BCG and modified vaccinia virus Ankara vaccines in neonate rhesus macaques.' According to recent research from Oxford, the United Kingdom, "Although major inroads into making antiretroviral therapy available in resource-poor countries have been made, there is an urgent need for an effective vaccine administered shortly after birth, which would protect infants from acquiring human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) through breast-feeding. Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is given to most infants at birth, and its recombinant form could be used to prime HIV-1-specific responses for a later boost by heterologous vectors delivering the same HIV-1-derived immunogen.
Research findings, 'Low-level exposure to HIV induces virus-specific T cell responses and immune activation in exposed HIV-seronegative individuals,' are discussed in a new report. According to recent research from Madrid, Spain, "HIV-specific T cells response and T cell activation are frequently seen in exposed seronegative individuals (ESN). In this study, we report HIV-specific response and level of T cell activation in ESN partners of HIV-infected patients presenting low or undetectable levels of HIV-RNA.
New research, 'Regional adipose tissue measured by MRI over 5 years in HIV-infected and control participants indicates persistence of HIV-associated lipoatrophy,' is the subject of a report. According to a study from the United States, "Peripheral fat loss and visceral fat gain have been reported in HIV infection. There are limited data on long-term change in adipose tissue in HIV-infected patients vs. controls.
New investigation results, 'Extensive hypertrophic lichen planus in an HIV positive patient,' are detailed in a study published in Dermatology Online Journal [electronic Resource]. According to recent research from Nairobi, Kenya, "Individuals who are infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) suffer from numerous dermatoses. These disorders are often more severe than those observed in non HIV-infected persons afflicted with the same diseases.
Current study results from the report, 'Late postnatal HIV infection in children born to HIV-1-infected mothers in a high-income country,' have been published. "To evaluate the risk of late postnatal HIV-1 infection in nonbreastfed children enrolled in the French ANRS Cohort CO01 (EPF). The EPF cohort has prospectively enrolled HIV-infected mother/child pairs with a low proportion of known breastfeeding (<0.2%)," scientists in Paris, France report.
As the perception of HIV/AIDS continues to shift from a terminal illness to a manageable disease, persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) are able to re-enter the workforce or remain in their current jobs for a longer period of time," scientists writing in the journal Career Development Quarterly report. Although this change is positive, it also raises many career concerns for PLWHAs. Using an ecological approach and the theory of work adjustment (Lofquist & Dawis, 1969, 1991), the authors provide suggestions for working with PLWHAs on career-related issues," wrote D.I. Dahlbeck and colleagues, University of Memphis.
Researchers detail in 'Why do health systems matter? Exploring links between health systems and HIV response: a case study from Russia,' new data in HIV/AIDS. According to recent research published in the journal Health Policy and Planning, "Studies on the relevance of stronger health systems to the success of vertical programmes has focused mainly on developing countries with fragile infrastructures and limited human resources. Research in middle-income, and particularly post-Soviet, settings has been scarce."
HIV circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) play an important role in the global and regional HIV epidemics, particularly in regions where multiple subtypes are circulating. To date, several (>40) CRFs are recognized worldwide with five currently circulating in Brazil," researchers in Sao Paulo, Brazil report.
Fresh data on HIV/AIDS are presented in the report 'AIDS and declining support for dependent elderly people in Africa: retrospective analysis using demographic and health surveys.' Researchers in the United States conducted a study "To determine the relation between the HIV/AIDS epidemic and support for dependent elderly people in Africa. Retrospective analysis using data from Demographic and Health Surveys."
FHSSA and the National Association of Social Workers have come together to share resources and information that may be potentially helpful to the other, to those providing care, and to individuals and families in sub-Saharan Africa suffering from HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-limiting illnesses.
New research, 'W-curve alignments for HIV-1 genomic comparisons,' is the subject of a report. "The W-curve was originally developed as a graphical visualization technique for viewing DNA and RNA sequences. Its ability to render features of DNA also makes it suitable for computational studies," researchers in the United States report.
New research, 'Intestinal parasitic infection of immunocompromised children with diarrhoea: clinical profile and therapeutic response,' is the subject of a report. According to a study from Jakarta, Indonesia, "Parasitic gastrointestinal infections have been variably reported among immunocompromised adults while data on children have been limited. This prospective cross-sectional study aimed to assess the clinical profile of intestinal parasitic infections among immunocompromised children with diarrhoea and their treatment response."
New research, 'Chronology and evolution of the HIV-1 subtype C epidemic in Ethiopia,' is the subject of a report. "To reconstruct the onset date and evolutionary history of the HIV-1 subtype C epidemic in Ethiopia -one of the earliest recorded subtype C epidemics in the world. HIV-1 C env sequences with a known sampling year isolated from HIV-1 positive patients from Ethiopia between 1984 and 2003," scientists writing in the journal Aids report.
Fresh data on HIV/AIDS are presented in the report 'Epitope specificities of broadly neutralizing plasmas from HIV-1 infected subjects.' "The characterization of the cross-reactive, or heterologous, neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses developed during HIV-1-infection is relevant to the development of an HIV vaccine. Here we summarize our recently published study where we characterized the cross-reactive NAb responses in two cohorts of anti-retroviral naive, healthy, acute and chronically HIV-infected subjects (N=39) and present new information regarding epitope specificities," scientists in the United States report
Investigators publish new data in the report 'Phylogeny and resistance profiles of HIV-1 POL sequences from rectal biopsies and blood.' "The phylogeny and resistance profiles of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) protease (PR) and reverse transcriptase (RT) sequences were compared among six patients with HIV-1 who had received numerous treatments. RNA and DNA fractions were obtained from concurrent blood and rectal biopsy samples," scientists writing in the Journal of Medical Virology report
According to recent research from the United States, "A growing body of literature highlights the association between women who have experienced intimate partner abuse (IPA) and their heightened risk for HIV/AIDS (human immune deficiency syndrome/acquired immune deficiency syndrome) infection. Finding HIV risk reduction strategies that are contextually relevant for this population is an important public policy priority.
According to recent research from the United States, "During the past two decades, there has been an increased use of community-based participatory research in public health activities, especially as part of efforts to understand health disparities affecting communities of color. This article describes the history and lessons learned of a long-standing community participatory project, Healthy African American Families (HAAF), in Los Angeles, California."
Despite growing evidence that the earlier people are diagnosed with HIV and get access to care, the better their clinical outcomes, many HIV-infected people in the United States and Canada are not receiving the care they need early enough. A study of nearly 45,000 patients in both countries highlighting this trend appears in the June 1, 2010, issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available online.
According to recent research published in the journal Culture Health & Sexuality, "HIV prevention discourses concern lives, the protection of bodily rights and people's active involvement in the policies and programmes that affect them. HIV prevention discourses also create lives, relying upon the deployment of normative sexual identities at the same time as they invite complex and fluid youth identities to embody the norms of prevention."
Researchers detail in 'Sexual risk behavior and drug use in two Chicago samples of men who have sex with men: 1997 vs. 2002,' new data in HIV/AIDS. "Employing data from two Chicago-based household probability samples of men who have sex with men (MSM) implemented 5 years apart (the 'UMHS 1997' and the '2002 MSM supplement' studies), we evaluated changes in risk behavior as well as the potential viability of two alternative perspectives for explaining these changes--risk management and safe-sex norm abandonment. We found significantly increased rates of unprotected insertive and receptive anal intercourse in the 2002 study," scientists in the United States report.
According to a study from the United States, "Although prisons have been noted as important venues for HIV testing, few studies have explored the factors within this context that may influence HIV test acceptance. Moreover, there is a dearth of research related to HIV and incarcerated populations in middle and low-income countries, where both the burden of HIV and the number of people incarcerated is higher compared to high-income countries."
Fresh data on public health are presented in the report 'Couple-oriented prenatal HIV counseling for HIV primary prevention: an acceptability study.' According to recent research published in the journal Bmc Public Health, "A large proportion of the 2.5 million new adult HIV infections that occurred worldwide in 2007 were in stable couples. Feasible and acceptable strategies to improve HIV prevention in a conjugal context are scarce."
According to a study from the United States, "We assessed the willingness of gay and bisexual men, who have high rates of anal cancer that might be prevented through regular screening, to receive anal Papanicolaou tests. We surveyed a national sample of men aged 18 to 59 years who self-identified as gay (n=236) or bisexual (n=70).
To determine healthcare access and costs for triply diagnosed adults, we examined baseline data from the HIV/AIDS Treatment Adherence, Health Outcomes and Cost Study, a multi-site cohort study of HIV+ adults with co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders conducted between 2000 and 2004.
According to recent research from the United States, "Despite significant advances in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the prevalence of neuroAIDS remains high. This is mainly attributed to inability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), thus resulting in insufficient drug concentration within the brain
New research, 'A forensic nursing protocol for initiating human immunodeficiency virus post-exposure prophylaxis following sexual assault,' is the subject of a report.
Little is known about pregnancy patterns and levels of HIV RNA in HIV-infected women conceiving on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with non-suppressed viral load (VL), nor about their therapeutic management. Linear mixed models were fitted to study changes in VL and potential associated factors including HAART type or duration and immune status among 127 women receiving HAART at conception with detectable VL enrolled in the prospective European Collaborative Study.
Raltegravir intensification of a three-drug suppressive HAART regimen resulted in a specific and transient increase in episomal DNAs in a large percentage of HAART-suppressed subjects.
A growing body of research has investigated the effectiveness of abstinence-only sexual education. There remains a dearth of research on the relevant sexual health information available to young men who have sex with men (YMSM)," scientists in the United States report.
While combination antiretroviral therapy (CART) has decreased the incidence of HIV-associated dementia, the severest form of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), mild neurocognitive disorder and asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment continue to persist, and there is evidence that neurocognitive deficits present even in acute HIV infection. Recent studies demonstrate that CART regimens with higher central nervous system (CNS) penetration effectiveness ranks may improve neurocognitive functioning.
According to recent research from the United States, "Peptide T20, which targets the HIV protein gp41, represents the first approved member of the class of HIV drugs known as membrane fusion inhibitors. However, mechanisms which lead to resistance through clinical use of T20 are not well-understood because the structure of the bound complex remains undetermined.
Access to oral health care for persons living with HIV/AIDS is limited. Academic dental institutions can play a significant role in addressing the problem," scientists writing in the Journal of Dental Education report.
The purpose of this review is to describe some of the more concerning metabolic complications associated with ARV in paediatric population: hyperlactataemia (HLA) syndromes, body shape abnormalities, disorders of glucose homeostasis and dyslipidaemia in HIV-infected children and adolescents.
The failure to increase CD4 T-cell counts in some HAART-treated HIV-infected patients with satisfactory virological responses has been related to low CD4 T-cell production, high turnover and death. However, the relative contribution of these factors is still unclear, strongly limiting the definition of appropriate therapeutic strategies for these patients, scientists in Spain report.
Scientific Significance: It is helpful to evaluate and predict the potential risk factors related with epidemic of HIV in China and provide theoretical evidence for HIV/AIDS health officers and policy makers to better construct target interventions and implement control measures.
Clinicians should be aware of the potential for this interaction, and extreme caution should be used when prescribing quetiapine and other atypical antipsychotic agents in HIV-positive patients who are receiving antiretroviral therapy.
Research findings, 'Comparison of polyclonal expansion methods to improve the recovery of cervical cytobrush-derived T cells from the female genital tract of HIV-infected women,' are discussed in a new report.
Research findings, 'Metabolic dysfunctions in non-antiretroviral treated HIV/AIDS patients,' are discussed in a new report. "AIDS related metabolic and morphologic disorders have been attributed to protease inhibitor based antiretroviral therapy. HIV/AIDS is however a multi-systemic disease with potential for alteration of metabolic and endocrine functions," scientists in Sokoto, Nigeria report.
According to recent research published in the American Journal of Public Health, "We sought to determine whether field outreach with motivational interviewing, as compared with traditional field outreach, leads to increases in HIV counseling and testing and rates of return for test results among young African American men who have sex with men (MSM).
Fresh data on HIV/AIDS are presented in the report 'How much will it cost? Estimation of resource needs and availability for HIV prevention, treatment and care for people who inject drugs in Asia.
Raltegravir in combination therapy has demonstrated potent suppression of HIV-1 with a favorable safety profile. This report provides 96-week efficacy and safety data from Protocol 005, a Phase II study," scientists in Barcelona, Spain report.
"Coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) contributes increasingly to the morbidity and mortality of persons infected with HIV. We assessed HCV infection screening practices and determined trends in the prevalence of HCV infection in the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS) from 1996 to 2007," scientists in the United States report.
According to recent research from Oxford, the United Kingdom, "HIV-PIs (HIV protease inhibitors) have proved to be of great benefit for the millions of people suffering from AIDS. However, one of the side effects of this component of combined highly active antiretroviral therapy is lipodystrophy, which affects a large number of the patients taking this class of drug. it has been shown that many of these protease inhibitors inhibit the ZMPSTE24 enzyme responsible for removing the farnesylated tail of prelamin A, which is a nuclear lamina component that has been implicated in some of the nuclear laminopathies."
According to a study from Australia, "The aim of the study was to explore the awareness of rectal microbicides, the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) and the willingness to participate in biomedical HIV prevention trials in a cohort of HIV-negative gay men. In a community-based cohort study, HIV-negative homosexually active men in Sydney, Australia were questioned about awareness of rectal microbicides, use of PREP, and willingness to participate in trials of such products."
Co-infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) poses a treatment challenge. In Western Europe and the United States, chronic HBV infection has been found in 6% of HIV-positive patients and this co-infection is well known to be associated with increased liver-related morbidity and mortality. However, factors associated with HBV surface antigen (HbsAg) loss in HIV and HBV co-infected patients remain unclear.
Current study results from the report, 'Identification of HIV-infected 12- to 24-year-old men and women in 15 US cities through venue-based testing,' have been published. "To test whether 'venue-based testing' could identify human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in US youth, 12 to 24 years of age, who were otherwise not aware of their infection.
A report, 'Comparison of once-daily versus twice-daily combination antiretroviral therapy in treatment-naive patients: results of AIDS clinical trials group (ACTG) A5073, a 48-week randomized controlled trial,' is newly published data in Clinical Infectious Diseases. "
Data detailed in 'Neisseria gonorrhoeae enhances HIV-1 infection of primary resting CD4+ T cells through TLR2 activation' have been presented. According to a study from the United States, "Sexually transmitted infections increase the likelihood of HIV-1 transmission. We investigated the effect of Neisseria gonorrheae (gonococcus [GC]) exposure on HIV replication in primary resting CD4(+) T cells, a major HIV target cell during the early stage of sexual transmission of HIV."
New research, 'Sorafenib therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma in an HIV-HCV coinfected patient: a case report,' is the subject of a report. "HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) share common modes of transmission, resulting in about 33% incidence of coinfection among people infected with HIV. The survival benefit from highly effective antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV infection is resulting in an increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in this population," scientists in Mantova, Italy report
Investigators publish new data in the report Sex after ART: sexual partnerships established by HIV-infected persons taking anti-retroviral therapy in Eastern Uganda.
Investigators publish new data in the report 'Periodontal disease and oral hygiene benefits in HIV seropositive and AIDS patients.' "The frequency of gingival and periodontal disease in HIV-seropositive and AIDS patients was investigated in order to evaluate the oral hygiene benefits of using mechanical therapy. thirty-two consenting HIV-positive patients were examined," scientists in Goiania, Brazil report
Researchers detail in 'Results of a safety and feasibility study of the diaphragm used with ACIDFORM Gel or K-Y Jelly,' new data in HIV/AIDS. "New strategies are needed for preventing HIV infection in women. One potential approach is female-initiated use of an effective topical microbicidal gel in combination with a cervical barrier such as the diaphragm," researchers in Johannesburg, South Africa report
In this recently published article, scientists in Barcelona, Spain conducted a study "To assess the effects of decreased antiretroviral therapy exposure on body fat and metabolic parameters. Substudy of the Strategies for Management of Anti-Retroviral Therapy study, in which participants were randomized to intermittent CD4-guided [Drug Conservation (DC) group] or to continuous [Viral Suppression (VS) group] antiretroviral therapy."
New findings from a Universite de Montreal and the Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute of Florida (VGTI) study, in collaboration with scientists from the NIH and the McGill University Health Center, may soon lead to an expansion of the drug arsenal used to fight HIV.
"Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is an important adverse event among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients taking highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The epidemiology of IRIS in Thailand has not been well examined, especially among adult HIV-infected patients," scientists in Bangkok, Thailand report
According to a study from the United States, "A randomized, open-label, multicenter study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic switch to a single-tablet formulation of efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir DF (EFV/FTC/TDF) among virologically suppressed, HIV-1-infected subjects. Eligible subjects on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) with HIV-1 RNA less than 200 copies per milliliter for 3 months or more were stratified by prior protease inhibitor (PI)- or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based therapy and randomized (2:1) to EFV/FTC/TDF or to stay on their baseline regimen (SBR)."
"Facial lipoatrophy can be a stigmatizing side effect of antiretroviral (AVR) treatment for HIV-infected patients. We sought to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of a new formulation of hyaluronic acid that can be injected in larger amounts and into deeper skin layers during 3 years of follow-up," scientists in Oslo, Norway report.
In this recent report published in the International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, researchers in the United States conducted a study "To determine the factors associated with resumption of sexual activity and regular menses after childbirth among women infected with HIV-1. Information on sociodemographic, behavioral. and clinical factors was obtained from 2 HIV perinatal studies (NVAZ and PEPI trials) conducted in Malawi, 2000-2009."
"Because of the emerging intersections of HIV infection and Alzheimer's disease, we examined cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers related of amyloid and tau metabolism in HIV-infected patients.
According to a study from Shenyang, People's Republic of China, "With the rising incidence of HIV/AIDS in China, nurses will increasingly be caring for patients with HIV/AIDS. Thus, it is necessary that they have enough knowledge to reduce the risk of occupationally acquired HIV infection and that they change their attitude to care for HIV/AIDS patients."
We analyzed data from the Australian Trial in Acute Hepatitis C-a prospective study of the natural history and treatment outcomes of patients with recent HCV infection. Participants eligible for the study had their first anti-HCV antibody-positive test result within the past 6 months and either acute clinical HCV within the past 12 months or documented anti-HCV seroconversion within 24 months. with HCV received pegylated interferon-alfa-2a (180 µg/wk, n=74); those with HCV/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection received pegylated interferon-alfa-2a (1,80 µg/wk) with ribavirin (n=35) for 24 weeks.
While the overall numbers are modest, our study shows that what used to be mostly a disease of white and black patients in San Diego is now largely a disease of Hispanics.
A new study of children in Ukraine has found that for the growing number of HIV-infected children, the quality of care and the relationship between children and their caregivers play an important role in their development. Based on their findings, the researchers highlight the importance of comprehensive but focused intervention efforts to improve these relationships by changing caregivers' working schedules and providing training to enhance the stability and sensitivity of care.
AIDS denialists refute that HIV causes AIDS, that antiretroviral drugs are useful, and lastly, that millions of people worldwide have died from AIDS. AIDS denialists represent a growing movement that has considerable visibility on the Internet. Despite their views, it is estimated that from 2000 to 2005, at least 330,000 South Africans died prematurely and 35,000 babies were infected with HIV as a result of former president Thabo Mbeki's decision to withhold antiretroviral drugs, based on advice from American AIDS denialists.
The researchers, from Imperial College London and Harvard University, have grown a crystal that reveals the structure of an enzyme called integrase, which is found in retroviruses like HIV. When HIV infects someone, it uses integrase to paste a copy of its genetic information into their DNA. Prior to the new study, which was funded by the Medical Research Council and the US National Institutes of Health, many researchers had tried and failed to work out the three-dimensional structure of integrase bound to viral DNA. New antiretroviral drugs for HIV work by blocking integrase, but scientists did not understand exactly how these drugs were working or how to improve them.
Investigators from Dartmouth Medical School (DMS) have reported results of a clinical trial showing that a new vaccine against tuberculosis, Mycobacterium vaccae (MV), is effective in preventing tuberculosis in people with HIV infection. The DarDar Health Study, named for Dartmouth and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, found that MV immunization reduced the rate of definite tuberculosis by 39 percent among 2,000 HIV-infected patients in Tanzania.
According to a study from Beijing, People's Republic of China, "Despite poor primary health care systems, free antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been available in China for >5 years. Virologic outcomes in Chinese patients receiving ART have not been described on a national level.
Variability in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression cannot be fully predicted by CD4(+) T cell counts or viral load (VL). Because central memory T (T-CM) cells play a critical role in the pathogenesis of simian immunodeficiency virus disease, we hypothesized that quantifying these cells in early HIV infection could provide prognostic information.
A new study from Zambia suggests that halting breastfeeding early causes more harm than good for children not infected with HIV who are born to HIV-positive mothers. Stopping breastfeeding before 18 months was associated with significant increases in mortality among these children.
Systemic pre-exposure administration of antiretroviral drugs provides protection against intravenous and rectal transmission of HIV in mice with human immune systems.
Two hundred seven patients were enrolled, 106 were seropositive for HIV There were 21 TB-related deaths in HIV positive subjects (24.7 deaths per 100 patient-years) and 2 (2.5 deaths per 100 patient-years) among HIV negative patients (rate ratio=9.76, P<0.001). Among HIV infected subjects, TB-related mortality tended to be lower in patients treated with HAART [hazard ratio (HR)=0.58, P=0.06].
The co-packaged RNA genomes of human immunodeficiency virus-1 recombine at a high rate. Recombination can mix mutations to generate viruses that escape immune response.
University of Michigan researchers have discovered the rules that dictate the three-dimensional shapes of RNA molecules, rules that are based not on complex chemical interactions but simply on geometry.
Gene therapy represents a new treatment paradigm for HIV that is potentially delivered by a safe, once-only therapeutic intervention. Using mathematical modelling, we assessed the possible impact of autologous haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) delivered, anti-HIV gene therapy.
Viral infection is a common cause of acute myocardial and pericardial disease; most of these patients are infected with enterovirus and are asymptomatic. Cardiac involvement in CMV infection is rare, with CMV-related pericarditis being reported mainly in patients who were immunocompromised as a result of autoimmune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or organ transplantation.
Circumcision, which substantially lowers HIV risk in men, also dramatically changes the bacterial communities of the penis, according to a study led by scientists at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and Johns Hopkins University and published Jan. 6 in the scientific journal PLoS ONE.
Recent epidemiological studies have proposed that male circumcision reduces the relative risk of acquiring HIV-1. Here, we evaluated the density of Langerhans' cell and degree of keratinization in the foreskins of Chinese preschool boys and adults.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common disorder of the genital tract in women characterized by an alteration of the normal acidic lactobacilli-predominant vaginal ecosystem to a vaginal environment dominated by Gardnerella vaginalis, mycoplasma species and anaerobes, with an increase in pH.
Free infectious HIV-1 is widely thought to be the major form of the virus in the blood of infected persons. U.S. Military HIV Research Program (MHRP) researchers, however, have demonstrated that essentially all of the infectious virus particles can bind to the surface of red blood cells isolated from each of 30 normal (non-infected) human donors.
Cyanogen bromide-mediated cleavage of two Met-Gln sites across the target anti-HIV sequence generated an HIV-1 fusion inhibitor (SC35EK) analog bearing an N-terminal pyroglutamate (pGlu) residue and a C-terminal homoserine lactone (Hsl) residue.
Gels may also provide partial barriers that slow virion diffusion from semen to vulnerable epithelium, increasing the time during which anti-HIV molecules can act. To explore the barrier function of microbicide gels, we developed a deterministic mathematical model for HIV diffusion through realistic gel distributions.
Although physician- and patient-rated diagnoses of lipoatrophy are currently used as a basis for inclusion into clinical trials, few studies have compared physician- or patient-rated lipoatrophy severity with objective measures. We aim to assess the validity of physician- and patient-rated diagnoses of lipoatrophy by evaluating the correlation between clinical assessments of lipoatrophy and objective fat indices.
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