Factors Associated with Maternal-Child Transmission of HIV-1 in Southeastern Brazil: A Retrospective Study.

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is the main mode of HIV-1 acquisition among young children worldwide. The goals of this study were to estimate the proportion of HIV MTCT and to identify factors associated with transmission. We reviewed data for HIV-infected pregnant women that had been reported to the National Information on Reportable Diseases System (SINAN) in Espírito Santo state, Brazil, between January 2007 and December 2012. HIV cases in children were followed until age 18 months. The proportion of women who transmitted HIV to their babies was 14% (95% CI 11-17%). In a multivariate logistic regression model, pregnant women who had lower than primary school education (OR 2.74; 95% CI 1.31-5.71), had 2 or more pregnancies during the study period (OR 2.28; 95% CI 1.07-4.84), had emergency cesarean delivery (OR 4.32; 95% CI 1.57-11.9), and did not receive antiretroviral therapy during prenatal care (OR 2.41; 95% CI 1.09-5.31) had higher odds of HIV MTCT. Effort should be made to encourage health care workers and pregnant women to use services for the prevention of MTCT.

Mortality Rate and Predictors in Children Under 15 Years Old Who Acquired HIV from Mother to Child Transmission in Paraguay.

We estimated mortality rate and predictors of death in children and adolescents who acquired HIV through mother-to-child transmission in Paraguay. In 2000-2014, we conducted a cohort study among children and adolescents aged < 15 years. We abstracted data from medical records and death certificates. We used the Cox proportional hazards model for the multivariable analysis of mortality predictors. A total of 302 subjects were included in the survey; 216 (71.5%) were younger than 5 years, 148 (51.0%) were male, and 214 (70.9%) resided in the Asunción metropolitan area. There were 52 (17.2%) deaths, resulting in an overall mortality rate of 2.06 deaths per 100 person-years. The children and adolescents with hemoglobin levels ≤ 9 g/dL at baseline had a 2-times higher hazard of death compared with those who had levels > 9 g/dL (HR 2.27, 95% CI 1.01-5.10). The mortality of HIV-infected children and adolescents in Paraguay is high, and anemia is associated with mortality. Improving prenatal screening to find cases earlier and improving pediatric follow-up are needed.

Effects of Advancing Gestation and Non-Caucasian Race on Ductus Arteriosus Gene Expression.

OBJECTIVE: To identify genes affected by advancing gestation and racial/ethnic origin in human ductus arteriosus (DA). STUDY DESIGN: We collected 3 sets of DA tissue (n = 93, n = 89, n = 91; total = 273 fetuses) from second trimester pregnancies. We examined four genes, with DNA polymorphisms that distribute along racial lines, to identify "Caucasian" and "non-Caucasian" DA. We used real time polymerase chain reaction to measure RNA expression of 48 candidate genes involved in functional closure of the DA, and used multivariable regression analyses to examine the relationships between advancing gestation, "non-Caucasian" race, and gene expression. RESULTS: Mature gestation and non-Caucasian race are significant predictors for identifying infants who will close their patent DA when treated with indomethacin. Advancing gestation consistently altered gene expression in pathways involved with oxygen-induced constriction (eg, calcium-channels, potassium-channels, and endothelin signaling), contractile protein maturation, tissue remodeling, and prostaglandin and nitric oxide signaling in all 3 tissue sets. None of the pathways involved with oxygen-induced constriction appeared to be altered in "non-Caucasian" DA. Two genes, SLCO2A1 and NOS3, (involved with prostaglandin reuptake/metabolism and nitric oxide production, respectively) were consistently decreased in "non-Caucasian" DA. CONCLUSIONS: Prostaglandins and nitric oxide are the most important vasodilators opposing DA closure. Indomethacin inhibits prostaglandin production, but not nitric oxide production. Because decreased SLCO2A1 and NOS3 expression can lead to increased prostaglandin and decreased nitric oxide concentrations, we speculate that prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation may play a more dominant role in maintaining the "non-Caucasian" patent DA, making it more likely to close when inhibited by indomethacin.

Relationship between circulating platelet counts and ductus arteriosus patency after indomethacin treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether low platelet counts are related to the incidence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) after indomethacin treatment in preterm human infants. STUDY DESIGN: Multivariable logistic regression modeling was used for a cohort of 497 infants, who received indomethacin (within 15 hours of birth). RESULTS: Platelet counts were not related to the incidence of permanent closure after indomethacin constriction. There was a relationship between platelet counts and the initial degree of constriction; however, this relationship appeared to be primarily influenced by the high end of the platelet distribution curve. PDA incidence was similar in infants with platelet counts < 50 × 109/L and those with platelet counts above this range. Only when platelet counts were consistently >230 ×109/L was there a decrease in PDA incidence. CONCLUSION: In contrast to the evidence in mice, low circulating platelet counts do not affect permanent ductus closure (or ductus reopening) in human preterm infants.