Current HIV Research最新文献

Background: The study was conducted to analyze HIV dynamics across blood-retinal barrier (BRB) and the relevant risk factors for HIV-associated ocular complications.

Methods: This study included a case series of 40 HIV-positive patients with ocular lesions, which were studied retrospectively. Clinical and laboratory examinations included plasma and intraocular viral load (VL).

Results: HIV VL on paired aqueous/plasma samples was available for 40 patients. Aqueous VL was negatively associated with antiretroviral treatment (ART) duration (p = 0.02 and p < 0.05), and plasma VL was independent of ART duration (p = 0.53). An aqueous/plasma discordance was found in 19/40 (47.5%) patients, eight of whom (20%) had detectable aqueous VL despite a suppressed plasma VL (escape). There were significant differences in CD4+ T-lymphocyte levels (p = 0.011 and p < 0.05) and ART duration (p = 0.007 and p < 0.05) between the patients with HIV-associated ocular complications and the patients without.

Conclusion: This study provides a rationale for initiating ART early in the course of infection to reduce HIV VL in the aqueous humor, and raises the possibility of the ocular sanctuary where HIV replicates. Meanwhile, early and standard ART would be an optimal option to protect against ocular opportunistic infection.

Background: Eastern African countries are among the countries with a very high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate. High HIV/AIDS prevalence is a problem that has a detrimental effect on the economic development of these countries. Previous studies have generally examined the relationship of HIV/AIDS with life expectancy or economic growth. In this study, three different models have been established and the relationship of HIV/AIDS with economic growth, health expenditures, and life expectancy has been analyzed, and current econometric methods and policy recommendations have been developed according to the results.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between health expenditure, environmental degradation, life expectancy, HIV/AIDS, and economic growth.

Method: Annual data from 9 Eastern African countries for the period of 2000-2019 were used. Panel ARDL/PMG and Dumitrescu-Hurlin methods were used.

Results: HIV/AIDS negatively affects economic growth and life expectancy, and positively affects health expenditures. According to the causality results, HIV/AIDS is the cause of economic growth. In addition, a bidirectional causal relationship has been found between HIV/AIDS and life expectancy.

Conclusion: The main conclusion of the study is that HIV/AIDS plays a negative role in economic growth and life expectancy. Further steps must be taken to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS, which causes these factors to affect the well-being of the countries.

Background: The time elapsed since HIV infection diagnosis (TdiagHIV) affects the quality of life (QoL) and can get worse when chronic illnesses start.

Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular risk (CVR) on the QoL of people living with HIV (PLHIV).

Methods: Cross-sectional study, with 60 PLHIV followed at a Reference Center in the city of Jataí, Goiás, Brazil. Data collection involved sociodemographic, clinical, CVR, MetS, and QoL information. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with the BioEstat 5.3 program adopting p<0.05.

Results: There was a predominance of men (61.7%), aged ≤38 years (53.3%), with a TdiagHIV of 97.88±85.65 months and use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) of 80.13±69.37 months. The worst domain of QoL was concern about confidentiality (40 points), and the best was medication concerns (95 points). MetS predominated at 18.3% and a moderate CVR at 11.7%. MetS was positively associated with age >38 years, the female sex, with the lowest score in QoL for general function, and the highest for TdiagHIV and the use of ART (p<0.05). A moderate CRV was positively related to higher TdiagHIV and ART use, and low HDL-c, and the lowest score for QoL was found for trust in a professional (p<0.05).

Conclusion: PLHIV who are older, have a higher TdiagHIV, and use ART are more likely to develop MetS and moderate CVR. The presence of these diseases in PLHIV causes impairment in areas of QoL.

Background: COVID-19 has inevitably influenced health systems. HIV testing rates have been reduced, and access to antiretroviral treatment has been scaled down. We evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on the management of people living with HIV (PLWH) in Türkiye.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in three tertiary care hospitals. We compared the baseline characteristics at the first visit and viral suppression rates at the 24th week of new HIV diagnoses during the pandemic with those during the previous two years. To observe the effect of the pandemic on people living with HIV who were already in care, we compared the metabolic and clinical parameters like weight, blood pressure, blood lipid levels, fasting glucose levels, and liver and renal function tests, of the same people before and during the pandemic.

Results: The first group included 380 cases (127 diagnosed during the pandemic and 253 diagnosed during the previous year). The demographic characteristics were similar. The newly diagnosed PLWH during the pandemic had significantly higher baseline HIV RNA levels (p=0.005), a lower number of clinical visits (p=0.0005), and a lower number of cases with undetectable viral loads at 24 weeks of treatment (p=0.0005) than those diagnosed during the pre-pandemic period. The second group included 261 individuals with a mean follow-up duration of 24.7 (SD± 3.5; min- max 12-144) months. The comparison of laboratory parameters revealed that in the postpandemic period, virologic suppression was maintained at 90.1%, body mass index (p=0,0001), total cholesterol (p=0,0001), and LDL levels (p=0,0001) increased significantly, and creatinine levels decreased significantly (p=0,0001).

Conclusion: Our study showed that COVID-19 deteriorated the HIV management of PLHIV. Strengthening the medical infrastructure of basic services for PLWH is critical for future crises.

HIV infection is a worldwide epidemic. Antiretroviral therapy allows people living with HIV (PLHIV) increased longevity and a better quality of life. Among the various ways of monitoring the clinical evolution of PLHIV, handgrip strength (HGS) is a promising strategy, as this test can be used to assess the health condition quickly and at a low cost. In this sense, the present study aims to describe, through a literature review, the relationship between HGS and the clinical evolution of PLHIV, especially with morbimortality. Initially, it is highlighted that aging, HIV infection, and excess body fat are related to the loss of HGS in PLHIV. Furthermore, PLHIV is more likely to present cardiometabolic diseases that can be aggravated by reduced HGS. Thus, in people without positive HIV serology, low HGS indirectly, through the presence of risk factors or cardiometabolic diseases, or directly increases the chance of mortality. In conclusion, the lack of studies on this topic for PLHIV is highlighted, and more longitudinal studies, including control groups, are needed.

Background: HIV-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (HIV-PAH), a rare and fatal condition within the pulmonary arterial hypertension spectrum, is linked to HIV infection. While ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death form, is implicated in various lung diseases, its role in HIVPAH development remains unclear.

Methods: Leveraging Gene Expression Omnibus data, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells, including HIV-related DEGs (HIV-DEGs) and ferroptosis-related HIV-DEGs (FR-HIV-DEGs). PPI network analysis of FR-HIV-DEGs using CytoHubba in Cytoscape identified hub genes. We conducted functional and pathway enrichment analyses for FR-HIV-DEGs, HIV-DEGs, and hub genes. Diagnostic value assessment of hub genes utilized ROC curve analysis. Key genes were further screened, and external validation was performed. Additionally, we predicted a potential ceRNA regulatory network for key genes.

Results: 1372 DEGs were found, of which 228 were HIV-DEGs, and 20 were FR-HIV-DEGs. TP53, IL6, PTGS2, IL1B (downregulated), and PPARG (upregulated) were the five hub genes that were screened. TP53, IL6, and IL1B act as ferroptosis drivers, PTGS2 as a ferroptosis marker, and PPARG as a ferroptosis inhibitor. Enrichment analysis indicated biological processes enriched in "response to oxidative stress" and pathways enriched in "human cytomegalovirus infection." Key genes IL6 and PTGS2 exhibited strong predictive value via ROC curve analysis and external validation. The predicted ceRNA regulatory network identified miRNAs (has-mir-335-5p, has-mir-124-3p) targeting key genes and lncRNAs (XIST, NEAT1) targeting these miRNAs.

Conclusion: This study advances our understanding of potential mechanisms in HIV-PAH pathogenesis, emphasizing the involvement of ferroptosis. The findings offer valuable insights for future research in HIV-PAH.

Introduction: People living with HIV (PLHIV) suffer from a range of consequences related to infection, including hyperlipidemia and neurologic and sleep disorders. Supplements containing phenolic compounds with high antioxidant properties can reduce these side effects. Resveratrol is a phenolic compound that improves the symptoms of diabetes, cancer, and viral infections. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of resveratrol on hyperlipidemia and neurological problems in PLHIV in Iran.

Methods: In this double-blind, randomized clinical trial, 41 PLHIV were randomly assigned to two groups: a placebo group (n=21) and a resveratrol group (n=20). Triglyceride and cholesterol levels were determined for all the subjects before and one month after they used the medication. Additionally, standard questionnaires were used to evaluate the quality of sleep, stress, depression, and quality of life of the participants. The data were analyzed via analysis of covariance in Stata 17.0.

Results: The study population did not significantly differ in terms of age (p=0.49), sex (p=0.09), marital status (p=0.90), level of education (p=0.90), duration of HIV infection (p=0.54), or mode of HIV transmission (p=0.51). The administration of resveratrol did not affect psychological parameters or blood cholesterol (p=0.091) or triglyceride (p=0.932) levels.

Conclusion: The administration of resveratrol did not affect cholesterol or triglyceride levels or the rates of depression, anxiety, sleep quality, or quality of life in PLHIV. The resveratrol supplementation in a large-scale clinical study involving more patients for a longer course of treatment may have had more significant effects on the serum levels of lipids and psychological factors.

Background: The incorporation of anti-HIV drugs into polymer to form polymer-drug conjugates has been reported to result in improved therapeutic activity. Zidovudine, an anti-HIV drug, was explored alone and in combination with known drug molecules using polyamidoaminebased carriers.

Objective: Polymer-drug conjugates incorporated with zidovudine, cinnamic acid, and 4-aminosalicylic acid were prepared and evaluated for their potential efficacy in vitro against pseudo- HIV-1.

Methods: Aqueous Michael addition polymerization reaction was employed to prepare the conjugates. The conjugates were incorporated with zidovudine, cinnamic acid, and 4-aminosalicylic acid. They were characterized by SEM/EDX, XRD, FTIR, NMR, LC-MS, particle size analysis, in vitro analysis, computational studies, and in silico toxicity predictions.

Results: The conjugates displayed spherically shaped morphology. The in vitro findings showed that polymer-drug conjugates, T15 and T16, with a single drug were effective against pseudo- HIV-1 at high concentrations of 111.11 and 333.33 μg/mL, respectively. Molecular docking studies supported the in vitro results. Additionally, SwissADME, ProTox-II, and GUSAR (General Unrestricted Structure-Activity Relationships) analyses revealed that these compounds have promising antiviral potential.

Conclusion: The prepared polymer-drug conjugates with a single drug showed promising effects against the Pseudo-HIV-1, and the conjugates displayed features that make them potential anti- HIV therapeutics that require further studies.

Introduction: Living with HIV/AIDS is more difficult for gay, bisexual, and queer (GBQ) people as they face stigma on both the disease and sexuality, which puts significant stress on coping with stressors, and online platforms have become an alternative coping channel.

Methods: This study investigated the use of online coping strategies in moderating the HIV stigma mediated by sexual identity stigma on mental health in Malaysia. 123 GBQ people living with HIV between the ages of 20 and 39 participated in the study, responding to the HIV Stigma - Short Form Scale, adapted China MSM Stigma Scale, Online Coping Inventory, and DASS-21.

Result: Results were analyzed using OLS, and logistic regression path modeling showed a statistically significant indirect effect of sexual identity stigma mediating HIV stigma on depressive (ab = 0.1362), anxiety (ab = 0.1259), and stress (ab = 0.1636) levels. Problem-focused online coping strategy was found to moderate the indirect association between HIV stigma and depression levels via sexual identity stigma at low (β = 0.2110, SE = 0.0741, p<.05) and moderate levels (β = 0.1168, SE = 0.0465, p<.05). The findings demonstrated the compounding link between HIV and sexual identity stigmas on mental health and how online coping strategies can be used as a helpful coping resource to manage depressive symptoms for this community and mental health practitioners.

Conclusion: These findings can be beneficial to generate a better understanding of how double stigmas play a role in mental health and the types of online coping strategies adopted to process the stressors for GBQ individuals living with HIV in Malaysia.

Introduction: Behavioral risk factors in adolescents make them vulnerable to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although it is dissimilar to adults, adolescent HIV is less studied. This study aimed to determine various socio-demographic attributes and transmission dynamics associated with adolescent HIV in order to comment on how they differ from the overall epidemiology of HIV.

Methods: A record-based, comparative study was conducted using data from adolescents (ALHIV) and adults registered in all HIV centers across the Indian state of West Bengal over four years. The socio-demographic profile and modes of HIV transmission were studied. Transmission dynamics were compared between adolescent and non-adolescent beneficiaries, as well as male and female HIV-positive adolescents. The association of adolescent HIV burden with child marriage and adolescent pregnancy rates was also tested.

Results: More than 50% of AL-HIVs were students. While heterosexuality (87.17%) was the commonest route of HIV transmission in adults, parent-to-child transmission (PTCT) (51.69%) and blood transfusions (12.86%) were major routes in AL-HIVs; also, they were significantly more prone to get infected through these routes. PTCT was significantly lower, and transmission by needle syringes was higher in male adolescents than in their female counterparts. Districts with a higher prevalence of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy had a significantly higher burden of AL-HIV.

Conclusion: The transmission dynamics of adolescent HIV are largely different from those of adults, with PTCT and sociocultural issues playing significant roles. It is, therefore, essential to design targeted interventions to tackle the unique challenges of HIV in adolescents for more effective and comprehensive campaigns against the pandemic.