Effect of combined antiretroviral therapy on the prevalence of anal human papillomavirus infection in human immunodeficiency virus-infected men who have sex with men / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) on anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who sex with men (MSM).Methods HIV-infected MSM naive of cART who visited Wuhan Dermatological Hospital from June 2012 to December 2013 were enrolled in a longitudinal study before starting cART,including 81 HIV-positive and 50 HIV-negative cases.HPV infection situations between HIV-positive and HIV-negative MSM were compared.And anal HPV infection rate and condyloma acuminate incidence of HIV-positive MSM before and after cART were also compared.HPV genotyping was performed by universal primer PCR and reverse dot hybridization.The statistical analysis was done by t test or x2 test.Results The prevalence rates of HPV infection,high-risk HPV infection and multiple HPV subtypes infection in HIV-positive MSM were all significantly higher than those in HIV-negative MSM (91.4 ％ vs 62.0 ％,75.3 ％ vs 30.0 ％,56.8 ％ vs 20.0 ％,respectively,x2 =16.75,26.05,and 19.10,respectively,all P＜0.05).The prevalence rates of anal HPV infection,high-risk HPV infection and multiple HPV subtypes infection in 77 HIV-positive MSM at month 36 of cART were all significantly decreased than baseline (90.9％ vs 74.0％,75.3％ vs 44.2％ and 57.1％ vs 41.5％,respectively,x2 =7.590,15.551,and 3.741,respectively,all P＜0.05).HPV16 and HPV43 infection rates were reduced from 27.3％ at baseline to 15.6％ and 13.0％,respectively at month 36 of cART (x2 =16.92 and 14.86,respectively,both P＜0.05).Condyloma acuminate incidence also reduced from 16.9％ at baseline to 5.2％ at month 36 (x2 =4.069,P＜0.05).Conclusions The prevalence of anal HPV infection in HIV-positive MSM is higher than HIV-negative MSM.cART could reduce the prevalence of anal HPV infection rate and condyloma acuminate incidence,especially high-risk HPV infection.

High levels of Zinc-α-2-Glycoprotein among Omani AIDS patients on combined antiretroviral therapy

Objective: To investigate the levels of zinc-α-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) among Omani AIDS patients receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Methods: A total of 80 Omani AIDS patients (45 males and 35 females), average age of 36 years, who were receiving cART at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman, were tested for the levels of ZAG. In addition, 80 healthy blood donors (46 males and 34 females), average age of 26 years, attending the SQUH Blood Bank, were tested in parallel as a control group. Measurement of the ZAG levels was performed using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Results: The ZAG levels were found to be significantly higher among AIDS patients compared to the healthy individuals (P=0.033). A total of 56 (70%) of the AIDS patients were found to have higher levels of ZAG and 16 (20%) AIDS patients were found to have high ZAG levels, which are significantly (P > 0.031) associated with weight loss. Conclusions: ZAG levels are high among Omani AIDS patients on cART and this necessitates the measurement of ZAG on routine basis, as it is associated with weight loss.

High levels of Zinc-α-2-Glycoprotein among Omani AIDS patients on combined antiretroviral therapy

Objective:To investigate the levels of zinc-α-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) among Omani AIDS patients receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). Methods:A total of 80 Omani AIDS patients (45 males and 35 females), average age of 36 years, who were receiving cART at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman, were tested for the levels of ZAG. In addition, 80 healthy blood donors (46 males and 34 females), average age of 26 years, attending the SQUH Blood Bank, were tested in parallel as a control group. Measurement of the ZAG levels was performed using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Results:The ZAG levels were found to be significantly higher among AIDS patients compared to the healthy individuals (P=0.033). A total of 56 (70%) of the AIDS patients were found to have higher levels of ZAG and 16 (20%) AIDS patients were found to have high ZAG levels, which are significantly (P>0.031) associated with weight loss. Conclusions:ZAG levels are high among Omani AIDS patients on cART and this necessitates the measurement of ZAG on routine basis, as it is associated with weight loss.

High levels of Zinc-α-2-Glycoprotein among Omani AIDS patients on combined antiretroviral therapy

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the levels of zinc-α-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) among Omani AIDS patients receiving combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 80 Omani AIDS patients (45 males and 35 females), average age of 36 years, who were receiving cART at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH), Muscat, Oman, were tested for the levels of ZAG. In addition, 80 healthy blood donors (46 males and 34 females), average age of 26 years, attending the SQUH Blood Bank, were tested in parallel as a control group. Measurement of the ZAG levels was performed using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ZAG levels were found to be significantly higher among AIDS patients compared to the healthy individuals (P=0.033). A total of 56 (70%) of the AIDS patients were found to have higher levels of ZAG and 16 (20%) AIDS patients were found to have high ZAG levels, which are significantly (P>0.031) associated with weight loss.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>ZAG levels are high among Omani AIDS patients on cART and this necessitates the measurement of ZAG on routine basis, as it is associated with weight loss.</p>

Clinical Factors Associated with Carotid Plaque and Intima-Medial Thickness in HIV-Infected Patients

PURPOSE: HIV-infected patients are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, which may be mediated in part by inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors of carotid plaque, and clinical factors associated with carotid atherosclerosis measured by carotid intima-medial thickness (cIMT) in HIV patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and cardiometabolic factors as well as cIMT were prospectively measured in 145 HIV-infected participants who had received combined antiretroviral therapy for > or =6 months. The mean value of the bilateral average cIMT level was used as Mean-IMT in the analysis, and the greatest value among the measured cIMT levels was used as Max-IMT. RESULTS: Among 145 patients, 34 (23.4%) had carotid plaque. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed three independent risk factors of carotid plaque: old age [odds ratio (OR) 6.16, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09-34.88; p=0.040], hypertension (OR 12.62, 95% CI 1.72-92.49; p=0.013) and higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.16; p=0.039). Levels of estimated glomerular filtration rate were inversely associated with Mean-IMT (r=-0.379, p<0.001) and Max-IMT (r=-0.389, p<0.001). Stepwise multivariate regression analyses revealed that age, total cholesterol and fasting glucose were positively correlated with cIMT, independent of other risk factors. CONCLUSION: The presence of hypertension, old age and a higher level of LDL-C were independent risk factors of carotid plaque among HIV-infected subjects.

Risk factors of death in HIV/HCV co-infected patients with combined antiretroviral therapy / 中华临床感染病杂志

Objective To analyze the incidence,mortality and risk factors of death in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).Methods A total of 427 HIV/HCV co-infected patients admitted to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University or local disease prevention and control canters from January 2003 to December 2010 were enrolled in the study.The demographic and clinical data of patients were retrospectively studied.Cox progressive regression model was used for data analysis,and Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate the effect of end-stage liver diseases on the death.Results of 427 HIV/HCV co-infected patients,53 ( 12.4％ ) died during the follow-up,in which 28 (52.8％) died of liver-related diseases.Male gender ( RR =2.63,P =0.05 ),infection via blood transfusion ( RR =2.15,P =0.04),baseline CD4 + T cells ＜50 cells/μL ( RR =2.83,P =0.02),HIV RNA≥ 104copies/mL at the end of follow-up (RR =2.79,P =0.00 ) and complicated with end-stage liver disease ( RR =7.79,P =0.00) were significantly related to the death.Duration of cART ＞ 5 years is a protective factor for the death ( RR =0.03,P =0.00).Themortality of patients complicated with end-stage liver diseases was 52.7％ ( 29/55 ).Conclusion Liver disease-related death has become the leading cause of death in HIV/HCV co-infected patients,and patients with end-stage liver diseases are of high risk of death.

Dyslipidemia in HIV-infected individuals

Metabolic complications continue to play a major role in the management of HIV infection. Dyslipidemia associated with HIV infection and with the use of combined antiretroviral therapy includes elevations in triglycerides, reduced high-density cholesterol, and variable increases in low-density and total cholesterol. The association between dyslipidemia and specific antiretroviral agents has been underscored. Multiple pathogenic mechanisms by which HIV and antiretroviral agents lead to dyslipidemia have been hypothesized, but they are still controversial. The potential clinical and pathological consequences of HIV-associated hyperlipidemia are not completely known, but several studies reported an increased risk of coronary artery disease in HIV-positive individuals receiving combined antiretroviral therapy. HIV-infected persons who have hyperlipidemia should be managed similarly to those without HIV infection in accordance with the National Cholesterol Education Program. Life style changes are the primary target. Statins and fibrates and/or modification in antiretroviral therapy are possible approaches to this problem.