An enabling act.

Infection with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) can be associated with hematologic malignancy, inflammatory syndromes, or infectious complications. Herein, we bring attention to HTLV-1 infection complications as we discuss a case of disseminated cryptococcosis in a patient with HTLV-1-associated T cell lymphoma.

Frequency of occult high-grade squamous intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cancer within anal condylomata in men who have sex with men.

Human papillomavirus causes anal condylomata, high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia, and anal squamous cell cancer. We found high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia or squamous cell cancer in 75 (47%) of 159 HIV-seropositive men who have sex with men (MSM) and in 42 (26%) of 160 HIV-seronegative MSM with anal condylomata meriting surgery (P<.001, determined by use of the chi(2) test). Anal condylomata in MSM often harbor high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia and squamous cell cancer.

Monoclonal antibody hNM01 in HIV-infected patients: a phase I study.

BACKGROUND: hNM01 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to the V(3) region of the HIV-1 envelope protein gp120. This binding leads to the activation of complement and the disruption of the viral envelope. OBJECTIVES AND STUDY DESIGN: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical responses of the individuals when treated with the humanized antibody NMO1. In this phase I study, four HIV-1 infected patients with CD4 counts between 50 and 500 cells/mul received a total of four doses of hNM01 in an intrapatient dose escalation fashion: day 1-0.2 mg/kg, day 15-1 mg/kg, day 29-5 mg/kg, and day 43-5mg/kg. Patients were required to have virus that reacted to hNM01 by a virion capture assay and to have a viral load > or =15,000 copies/mL. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The antibody was well-tolerated; no significant adverse events were observed even at the highest dose tolerated. None of the patient developed either human anti-hNM01 (anti-idiotype) or human anti-rat antibodies. The mean elimination half-life was 153 h (6.4 days). During hNMO1 therapy effects were observed on CD4 cell counts and plasma viral loads and further dose finding trials are necessary to better determine the therapeutic activity of hNM01 in HIV-infected individuals.

Syphilis in the HIV era.

The incidence of syphilis has consistently increased from 2000 to 2002. We report a case of acquired syphilis with symptoms of Tullio phenomenon in a patient concurrently diagnosed with HIV infection. The resurgence of syphilis in HIV-positive groups at high risk has public health implications for prevention of both diseases.

High resolution anoscopy findings for men who have sex with men: inaccuracy of anal cytology as a predictor of histologic high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia and the impact of HIV serostatus.

We compared the pathological diagnoses obtained by anal Papanicolaou (Pap) smear with those obtained by anal biopsy or by surgical excision for 153 men who have sex with men (MSM). Analysis of these paired specimens showed that anal Pap smears were an inaccurate predictor of high-grade anal dysplasia, regardless of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serostatus. The presence of any abnormal anal cytological finding indicates a potential for high-grade dysplasia on histological examination of MSM.