scholarly journals Early Atherosclerosis in HIV Infected Subjects on Suppressive Antiretroviral Treatment: Role of Osteoprotegerin

ISRN AIDS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra D’Abramo ◽  
Claudia D’Agostino ◽  
Alessandra Oliva ◽  
Marco Iannetta ◽  
Gabriella D’Ettorre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Antiretroviral Treatment ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Framingham Score ◽  
Hiv Negative

Cardiovascular disease is increased in HIV-infected patients. Cytokines such as osteoprotegerin are implicated in atherosclerosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of osteoprotegerin in the development and progression of atherosclerosis in HIV infected subjects on suppressive antiretroviral treatment. We enrolled 76 patients; 35 HIV infected men on suppressive Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy with Framingham score <10%; 21 HIV negative individuals matched for age, gender, and Framingham score, and 20 subjects with Framingham score >10% as control groups. HIV positive subjects underwent echocardiography, electrocardiography, and heart multidetector computed tomography, whereas in HIV negative subjects, tomography was only performed in case of any abnormalities either in echocardiography or electrocardiography. In HIV positive patients, computed tomography showed stenosis in 51.4% of the subjects. Osteoprotegerin plasma levels were higher in HIV-infected patients than those in healthy controls but lower than in HIV negative subjects with Framingham score >10%. Higher osteoprotegerin plasma levels were found in HIV positive patients with grade I stenosis than in patients with grade II/III stenosis. In conclusion, in HIV infected subjects with Framingham score <10%, osteoprotegerin plasma concentrations are associated with atherosclerosis, in particular at the early stage of the process.

HIV-Specific Differences in Outcome of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal: A Multicentric Cohort Study of HIV-Positive Patients Receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 2550-2557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Oehler-Jänne ◽  
Florence Huguet ◽  
Sawyna Provencher ◽  
Burkhardt Seifert ◽  
Laura Negretti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Anal Carcinoma ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Similar Response ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Hiv Negative

PurposeTo define clinical outcome after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) of anal carcinoma in HIV-infected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).Patients and MethodsA multicentric cohort comparison of 40 HIV-positive patients with HAART and 81 HIV-negative patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) or CRT was retrospectively performed. Local disease control (LC), relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), toxicity, and prognostic factors were investigated.ResultsHIV-positive patients were younger (mean age, 48 v 62 years; P < .0005), predominantly male (93% v 25%; P < .0005), and with early-stage (P = .06) and large-cell histology (90% v 67%; P = .005) disease. RT or CRT resulted in complete response in 92% (HIV positive) and 96% (HIV negative) of cases. Five-year OS was 61% (95% CI, 44% to 78%) in HIV-positive and 65% (95% CI, 53% to 77%) in HIV-negative patients (median follow-up, 36 months). Five-year LC was 38% (95% CI, 5% to 71%) in HIV-positive and 87% (95% CI, 79% to 95%) in HIV-negative patients (P = .008) compromising CSS and sphincter preservation. Grade 3/4 acute skin (35% v 17% [HIV negative]; P = .04) and hematologic (33% v 12% [HIV negative]; P = .08) toxicity together approximated 50% in HIV-positive patients. RFS in HIV-positive patients was associated with RT dose (P = .08) and severe acute skin toxicity (P = .04).ConclusionLong-term LC and acute toxicity represent major clinical challenges in HIV-positive patients with anal carcinoma. Even if fluoropyrimidine-based CRT is feasible and may result in similar response rates and OS as in HIV-negative patients, improved treatment strategies with better long-term outcome are warranted.

Plasma Levels of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-Selectin, and P-Selectin in 99 HIV-Positive Patients Versus 51 HIV-Negative Healthy Controls

2009 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 430-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Calza ◽  
Daria Pocaterra ◽  
Michele Pavoni ◽  
Vincenzo Colangeli ◽  
Roberto Manfredi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Hiv Negative

scholarly journals Tubercular meningitis with hydrocephalus with HIV co-infection: role of cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedures

2015 ◽  
Vol 122 (5) ◽  
pp. 1087-1095 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raman Mohan Sharma ◽  
Nupur Pruthi ◽  
Arivazhagan Arimappamagan ◽  
Sampath Somanna ◽  
Bhagavathula Indira Devi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Tubercular Meningitis ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome ◽  
Shunt Placement ◽  
Poor Outcome ◽  
Hiv Negative

OBJECT Hydrocephalus is one of the commonest complications of tubercular meningitis (TBM), and its incidence is increasing with the HIV epidemic. Literature evaluating the role of ventriculoperitoneal shunts in HIV-positive patients with TBM and their long-term prognosis is scarce. METHODS Between June 2002 and October 2012, 30 HIV-positive patients with TBM and hydrocephalus underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement. Thirty age-, sex-, and grade-matched HIV-negative patients with TBM and hydrocephalus were randomly selected as the control group. Outcome was analyzed at discharge (short-term outcome) and at follow-up (long-term outcome). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to look for predictors of outcome; p < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS There were no differences in the clinical, radiological, or biochemical parameters between the 2 groups. Short-term outcome was better in the HIV-negative group (76.7% improvement) than in the HIV-positive group (70%). However, the long-term outcome in HIV-positive patients was very poor (66.7% mortality and 76.2% poor outcome) compared with HIV-negative patients (30.8% mortality and 34.6% poor outcome). Seropositivity for HIV is an independent predictor of poor outcome both in univariate and multivariate analyses (p = 0.038). However, in contrast to previous reports, of 5 patients with TBM in good Palur grades among the HIV-positive patients, 4 (80%) had good outcome following shunt placement. CONCLUSIONS The authors recommend that shunt treatment should not be performed in HIV-positive patients in poor Palur grade with hydrocephalus. A trial of external ventricular drainage should be undertaken in such patients, and shunt treatment should be performed only if there is any improvement. However, HIV-positive patients in good Palur grades should undergo VP shunt placement, as these patients have better outcomes than previously reported.

scholarly journals The role of chest computed tomography in the management of COVID-19: A review of results and recommendations

2020 ◽  
Vol 245 (13) ◽  
pp. 1096-1103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly D Wong ◽  
Theresa Thai ◽  
Yuhua Li ◽  
Hong Liu
Keyword(s):  
Computed Tomography ◽  
Early Detection ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Chest Ct ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Chest Computed Tomography ◽  
Severity Of The Disease ◽  
The Impact

The rapid and dramatic increase in confirmed cases of COVID-19 has led to a global pandemic. Early detection and containment are currently the most effective methods for controlling the outbreak. A positive diagnosis is determined by laboratory real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) testing, but the use of chest computed tomography (CT) has also been indicated as an important tool for detection and management of the disease. Numerous studies reviewed in this paper largely concur in their findings that the early hallmarks of COVID-19 infection are ground-glass opacities (GGOs), often with a bilateral and peripheral lung distribution. In addition, most studies demonstrated similar CT findings related to the progression of the disease, starting with GGOs in early disease, followed by the development of crazy paving in middle stages and finally increasing consolidation in the later stages of the disease. Studies have reported a low rate of misdiagnosis by chest CT, as well as a high rate of misdiagnosis by the rRT-PCR tests. Specifically, chest CT provides more accurate results in the early stages of COVID-19, when it is critical to begin treatment as well as isolate the patient to avoid the spread of the virus. While rRT-PCR will probably remain the definitive final test for COVID-19, until it is more readily available and can consistently provide higher sensitivity, the use of chest CT for early stage detection has proven valuable in avoiding misdiagnosis as well as monitoring the progression of the disease. With the understanding of the role of chest CT, researchers are beginning to apply deep learning and other algorithms to differentiate between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 CT scans, determine the severity of the disease to guide the course of treatment, and investigate numerous additional COVID-19 applications. Impact statement The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been worldwide, and clinicians and researchers around the world have been working to develop effective and efficient methods for early detection as well as monitoring of the disease progression. This minireview compiles the various agency and expert recommendations, along with results from studies published in numerous countries, in an effort to facilitate the research in imaging technology development to benefit the detection and monitoring of COVID-19. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review paper on the topic, and it provides a brief, yet comprehensive analysis.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Associated Squamous Cell Cancer of the Anus: Epidemiology and Outcomes in the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Era

2008 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 474-479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Y. Chiao ◽  
Thomas P. Giordano ◽  
Peter Richardson ◽  
Hashem B. El-Serag
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Cell Cancer ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Administrative Databases ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Hiv Negative

Purpose To evaluate and determine predictors of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) outcomes in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era for HIV-positive and -negative individuals using large national Veterans Affairs (VA) Administration databases. Patients and Methods We used the VA administrative databases to perform a retrospective cohort study in 1,184 veterans diagnosed with SCCA between 1998 and 2004. We calculated HIV infection rates and used logistic regression to identify epidemiologic factors that were associated with HIV infection. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were calculated to compare survival between HIV-positive and HIV-negative veterans. Results In our cohort, 175 patients (15%) were HIV positive. The median age of the HIV-negative and -positive patients was 63 and 49 years, respectively (P < .001). Individuals with HIV were eight times more likely to be male (P = .01) and three times more likely to be African American (P < .001). There were no differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals in the receipt of treatment. The 2-year observed survival rates were 77% and 75% among HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals, respectively. In multivariate Cox analysis, significant predictors of survival were age, sex, metastasis at diagnosis, and comorbidity score. HIV infection did not affect survival. Conclusion A noteworthy proportion of individuals with SCCA in the VA system are HIV positive. HIV-associated SCCA seems mainly to be a disease among younger men. Survival of SCCA is equivalent between HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals in the HAART era. Treatment should not be withheld or deintensified based on HIV status.

scholarly journals Relationship between the Cervical Microbiome, HIV Status, and Precancerous Lesions

mBio ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cameron Klein ◽  
Daniela Gonzalez ◽  
Kandali Samwel ◽  
Crispin Kahesa ◽  
Julius Mwaiselage ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Positive ◽  
High Grade ◽  
Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions ◽  
Cervical Lesions ◽  
Cervical Cancers ◽  
Bacterial Microbiome ◽  
Bacterial Richness ◽  
Intraepithelial Lesions ◽  
Hiv Negative

ABSTRACT Nearly all cervical cancers are causally associated with human papillomavirus (HPV). The burden of HPV-associated dysplasias in sub-Saharan Africa is influenced by HIV. To investigate the role of the bacterial microbiome in cervical dysplasia, cytobrush samples were collected directly from cervical lesions of 144 Tanzanian women. The V4 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and deep sequenced. Alpha diversity metrics (Chao1, PD whole tree, and operational taxonomic unit [OTU] estimates) displayed significantly higher bacterial richness in HIV-positive patients (P = 0.01) than in HIV-negative patients. In HIV-positive patients, there was higher bacterial richness in patients with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) (P = 0.13) than those without lesions. The most abundant OTUs associated with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions were Mycoplasmatales, Pseudomonadales, and Staphylococcus. We suggest that a chronic mycoplasma infection of the cervix may contribute to HPV-dependent dysplasia by sustained inflammatory signals. IMPORTANCE HPV is known to be the causal agent in the majority of cervical cancers. However, the role of the cervical bacterial microbiome in cervical cancer is not clear. To investigate that possibility, we collected cervical cytobrush samples from 144 Tanzanian women and performed deep sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA genes. We found that HIV-positive patients had greater bacterial richness (P = 0.01) than HIV-negative patients. We also observed that women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) had greater cervical bacterial diversity than women with cytologically normal cervices. Data from our precise sampling of cervical lesions leads us to propose that Mycoplasma contributes to a cervical microbiome status that promotes HPV-related cervical lesions. These results suggest a greater influence of the bacterial microbiota on the outcome of HPV infection than previously thought.

EFFECTS OF PINEALECTOMY ON THE SECRETION OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE, TESTOSTERONE AND PROLACTIN IN RAMS EXPOSED TO VARIOUS LIGHTING RÉGIMES

1979 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 397-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. K. BARRELL ◽  
K. R. LAPWOOD
Keyword(s):  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Pineal Gland ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Peak Plasma ◽  
Plasma Concentrations

Two experiments were carried out to study the effects of controlled lighting régimes on plasma levels of LH, testosterone and prolactin in Romney rams. In the second experiment the rams were either pinealectomized or sham-operated so that the role of the pineal gland in mediating seasonal changes in reproduction could be examined. Levels of testosterone and prolactin were considerably influenced by the lighting schedule. Peak plasma concentrations of testosterone were associated with periods during which the daily photoperiod decreased, whereas plasma levels of prolactin showed a pattern of changes approximately in phase with the lighting cycles. Mean plasma concentrations of LH were low in all groups of rams, which made the detection of significant effects of any treatment very unlikely. Pinealectomy reduced the effects of changes in the daily photoperiod on the patterns of secretion of testosterone and prolactin. These findings establish the pineal gland as an organ which influences the endocrine responses of rams to photoperiodic stimuli and it is concluded that the pineal gland is probably important as a mediator of seasonal reproductive changes in these animals.

scholarly journals Levels of Macrophage Inflammatory Protein 1α (MIP-1α) and MIP-1β in Intervillous Blood Plasma Samples from Women with Placental Malaria and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection

2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 631-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujittra Chaisavaneeyakorn ◽  
Julie M. Moore ◽  
Lisa Mirel ◽  
Caroline Othoro ◽  
Juliana Otieno ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Hiv Infection ◽  
Blood Plasma ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Placental Malaria ◽  
Hiv Positive ◽  
Inflammatory Protein ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Macrophage Inflammatory Protein ◽  
Hiv Negative

ABSTRACT Macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) and MIP-1β play an important role in modulating immune responses. To understand their importance in immunity to placental malaria (PM) and in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-PM coinfection, we investigated levels of these chemokines in the placental intervillous blood plasma (IVB plasma) and cord blood plasma of HIV-negative PM-negative, HIV-negative PM-positive, HIV-positive PM-negative, and HIV-positive PM-positive women. Compared to HIV-negative PM-negative women, the MIP-1β concentration in IVB plasma was significantly elevated in HIV-negative PM-positive women and HIV-positive PM-positive women, but it was unaltered in HIV-positive PM-negative women. Also, PM-infected women, irrespective of their HIV status, had significantly higher levels of MIP-1β than HIV-positive PM-negative women. The MIP-1α level was not altered in association with either infection. The IVB plasma levels of MIP-1α and MIP-1β positively correlated with the cord blood plasma levels of these chemokines. As with IVB plasma, only cord plasma from PM-infected mothers had significantly elevated levels of MIP-1β compared to PM-negative mothers, irrespective of their HIV infection status. MIP-1β and MIP-1α levels in PM-positive women were positively associated with parasite density and malaria pigment levels. Regardless of HIV serostatus, the IVB MIP-1β level was significantly lower in women with PM-associated anemia. In summary, an elevated level of MIP-1β was associated with PM. HIV infection did not significantly alter these two chemokine levels in IVB plasma.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document