ABSTRACT
Purpose: An update on opportunistic infections/co-infections (OIs/CIs) is essential to understand the success of highly active antiretroviral therapy offered by the government agencies in reducing AIDS-related OIs/CIs. Hence, the present study aimed to evaluate the frequency of OIs/CIs in HIV-positive individuals at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai. Its’ association with CD4 counts, anti-retroviral treatment and on HIV transmission was also determined. Materials and Methods: An observational study was designed to evaluate different OIs/CIs in individuals, who tested positive for HIV infection at the ICTC/Shakti Clinic of Seth G.S. Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai. Data analysis was done with the use of SPSS software (version 19.0, SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). P value was considered signifi cant if it is < 0.05. Results: Heterosexual contact was the major route of transmission among the enrolled 185 individuals. Ninety (48.06%) HIV-infected individuals were with OIs/CIs. Tuberculosis (TB) was the most common OI (68.8%). Other CIs noted were Herpes zoster, syphilis, hepatitis C and B, malaria, typhoid and dengue. The median CD4 count in HIV-positive individuals with TB was 337 ± 248 cells/μl, and 67.7% of individuals with OIs/CIs had low CD4 counts (<400 cells/μl). Individuals in 31-40 years of age group had signifi cantly (P = 0.01) more OIs/CIs. More (53.7%) spouse/children of HIV-positive individuals without OIs/CIs were HIV-1 positive. Low proportions of individuals with or without OIs/CIs were on ART. Conclusion: Nearly half of HIV-infected individuals were with OIs/ CIs. Initiation of free ART programme since 2004 possibly associated with the type and rate of OIs/CIs. Tuberculosis and multiple OIs/CIs were associated with low CD4 counts. Infection was high in 31-40 years age group. Most of the spouses of individuals without OIs/CIs were HIV positive, indirectly indicates lack of condom use or lack of awareness of condom use.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: Polymorphism in cytokine genes may affect its production, which play an important role in modulation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Evaluation of these polymorphisms might help to understand why some individuals remain uninfected in spite of several exposures to HIV infection, such as the negative spouses of discordant couples. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of 22 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 13 cytokine genes and their receptors with HIV infection in serodiscordant couples, attending the Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre of a Municipality Hospital. Materials and Methods: At the end of at least 2 years of follow up, 42 couples were confirmed as being serodiscordant. Genotyping was carried out in blood samples of these couples using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific amplification method. Results: Significantly high frequency of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist IL-1RA mspa 11100 CC ( P = 0.04), tumor necrosis factor-alpha TNF-α −238 AG ( P = 0.01) and IL-4 −33 TT ( P = 0.01) was observed in HIV seropositives (HSP) while frequency of TNF-α −238 GG ( P = 0.02) was significantly high among the exposed uninfected (EU). However, application of Bonferroni correction identified only two SNPs i.e., TNF-α −238 AG and IL-4 −33 TT to be significantly associated with the acquisition of HIV. In remaining cytokine genes, no significant association was observed. Conclusion: Our study highlighted possible association of certain specific polymorphisms with HIV transmission, whereas presence or absence of certain other polymorphism in EU individuals might be offering protection from HIV infection. These variations at the genetic level might help to explore new insights into treatment and HIV prevention strategies.