scholarly journals Selenium deficiency and HIV infection

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefano Di Bella ◽  
Elisabetta Grilli ◽  
Maria Adriana Cataldo ◽  
Nicola Petrosillo

Selenium is a non-metallic chemical element of great important to human health. Low selenium levels in humans are associated with several pathological conditions and are a common finding in HIV infected individuals. We conducted a review of the literature to assess if selenium deficiency or selenium supplementation could play a role in modifying the clinical course of HIV disease. Several studies investigated the role of selenium in disease progression, morbidity and mortality in HIV infected individuals. Larger studies were conducted in countries with poor economic resources and limited access to HAART. According to the majority of published studies low selenium levels appear to have an association with mortality, and selenium supplementation appears to play a beneficial role on survival or on slowing disease progression among HIV infected individuals. The role of selenium supplementation on preventing hospital admission among HIV outpatients was also noticed. The literature suggests an association between selenium deficiency and development of HIV associated cardiomyopathy and furthermore, selenium supplementation appears to improve the cardiac function in HIV infected individuals with cardiomyopathy. However, there is conflicting evidence regarding the role selenium in modifying HIV viral load and immune status in HIV infection.

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (01) ◽  
pp. 005-018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arshi Munawwar ◽  
Sarman Singh

ABSTRACTOf eight human herpesviruses (HHVs), often, only herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) find mention in medical literature as both of these viruses are commonly associated with genital lesions and oral ulcers, commonly known as cold sores. However, role of human herpesviruses as copathogens and in aggravation and in the transmission of other human diseases, especially the Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has only very recently been recognized. Therefore, screening and treating subclinical HHV infections may offer slowing of HIV infection, disease progression, and its transmission. Beside HSV-1 and HSV-2, HHV-3 a causative agent of herpes zoster remained one of the first manifestations of HIV disease before the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). HHV-5 also known as human Cytomegalovirus infection remains a significant risk factor for HIV-associated mortality and morbidity even in HAART era. It is proposed that Cytomegalovirus viremia could be a better predictor of HIV disease progression than CD4+ T-lymphocyte count. The role of HHV-4 or Epstein–Burr virus and HHV-6, HHV-7, and HHV-8 is still being investigated in HIV disease progression. This review provides insight into the current understanding about these 8 HHVs, their co-pathogenesis, and role in HIV/ AIDS disease progression. The review also covers recent literature in favor and against administering anti-HHV treatment along with HAART for slower AIDS progression and interrupted sexual transmission.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (7) ◽  
pp. 1544-1547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles T. Robbins ◽  
Steven M. Parish ◽  
Barbara L. Robbins

Blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) is a linear function of blood selenium. GSH-Px activity per unit of selenium (Se) in mountain goats is approximately double that published for the domestic cow and horse. It is hypothesized that high GSH-Px activity per unit selenium in mountain goats reduces their dietary selenium requirement relative to the above domestic species and is an essential adaptation for occupying low-selenium environments. GSH-Px activity peaked 20–30 days after injections of 0.1 and 0.3 mg Se/kg. A higher dose of 0.5 mg Se/kg delayed and decreased the development of peak GSH-Px activity relative to the two lower injection groups. When acute pathology owing to a selenium deficiency is demonstrated in wildlife capture programs, passive selenium supplementation, such as with selenium-containing salt blocks, should begin weeks to months before capture to provide adequate time for GSH-Px development.


1987 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 497-502 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Goyens ◽  
J. Golstein ◽  
B. Nsombola ◽  
H. Vis ◽  
J. E. Dumont

Abstract. Myxoedematous endemic cretinism is prevalent in African goitre endemies. It has been related to a thyroid 'exhaustion' atrophy occurring near birth. It is proposed that this might result from the low resistance of a fragile tissue to enhanced H2O2 generation under intense thyroid stimulation by thyrotropin. In support of this hypothesis, low selenium and glutathione peroxidase serum levels have been found in the African endemic area of the Idjwi Island (Kivu, Zaire). Serum selenium and plasma glutathione peroxidase were lower in the area of high endemicity of goitre and cretinism (Northern part of the Island). However, only the former difference is statistically significant. These data thus suggest a role of oligoelements and oxygen toxicity in the pathogenesis of endemic cretinism.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Ross ◽  
Roger Ying ◽  
Connie L. Celum ◽  
Jared M. Baeten ◽  
Katherine K. Thomas ◽  
...  

AbstractIntroductionMathematical models of HIV transmission that incorporate the dynamics of disease progression can estimate the potential impact of adjunctive strategies to antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV treatment and prevention. Suppressive treatment of HIV-positive persons co-infected with herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) with valacyclovir, a medication directed against HSV-2, can lower HIV viral load, but the impact of valacyclovir on population HIV transmission has not been estimated.MethodsWe applied data on CD4 and viral load progression in ART-naïve persons studied in two HIV clinical trials to a novel, discrete-time Markov model. We validated our disease progression estimates using data from a trial of home-based HIV counseling and testing in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Finally, we applied our disease progression estimates to a dynamic transmission model estimating the impact of providing valacyclovir to ART-naïve individuals to reduce onward transmission of HIV in three scenarios of different ART and valacyclovir population coverage. We assumed that valacyclovir reduced HIV viral load by 1.23 log copies/μL, and that persons treated with valacyclovir initiated ART more rapidly when their CD4 fell below 500 due to improved retention in pre-ART care.ResultsThe average duration of HIV infection following acute infection was 9.5 years. The duration of disease after acute infection and before reaching CD4 200 cells/μL was 2.53 years longer for females than males. Relative to a baseline of community HIV testing and counseling and ART initiation at CD4 <=500 cells/μL, valacyclovir with increased linkage to care resulted in 166,000 fewer HIV infections over ten years, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $4,696 per HIV infection averted. The Test and Treat scenario with 70% ART coverage and no valacyclovir resulted in 202,000 fewer HIV infections at an ICER of $6,579.ConclusionEven when compared with initiation of valacyclovir, a safe drug that reduces HIV viral load, universal treatment for HIV is the optimal strategy for averting new infections and increasing public health benefit. Universal HIV treatment should be pursued by all countries to most effectively and efficiently reduce the HIV burden.


2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 1198-1208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donghyun Kang ◽  
Jeeyeon Lee ◽  
Cuiyan Wu ◽  
Xiong Guo ◽  
Byeong Jae Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract As an essential nutrient and trace element, selenium is required for living organisms and its beneficial roles in human health have been well recognized. The role of selenium is mainly played through selenoproteins synthesized by the selenium metabolic system. Selenoproteins have a wide range of cellular functions including regulation of selenium transport, thyroid hormones, immunity, and redox homeostasis. Selenium deficiency contributes to various diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, liver disease, and arthropathy—Kashin–Beck disease (KBD) and osteoarthritis (OA). A skeletal developmental disorder, KBD has been reported in low-selenium areas of China, North Korea, and the Siberian region of Russia, and can be alleviated by selenium supplementation. OA, the most common form of arthritis, is a degenerative disease caused by an imbalance in matrix metabolism and is characterized by cartilage destruction. Oxidative stress serves as a major cause of the initiation of OA pathogenesis. Selenium deficiency and dysregulation of selenoproteins are associated with impairments to redox homeostasis in cartilage. We review the recently explored roles of selenium metabolism and selenoproteins in cartilage with an emphasis on two arthropathies, KBD and OA. Moreover, we discuss the potential of therapeutic strategies targeting the biological functions of selenium and selenoproteins for OA treatment.


2020 ◽  
pp. 5-13
Author(s):  
L. Guseva

The article considers urgent problem of modern society – progressive increase in the number of people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Epidemiological characteristics of the pathogen are given, clinical signs of the disease and a modern strategy aimed at reducing the number of infected people are presented. The role of specialists with secondary medical education in the implementation of the Strategy aimed at combating the spread of HIV infection epidemic in the Russian Federation is emphasized.


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