Human immunodeficiency virus

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) are the most epidemic blood-borne viruses, posing threats to human health and causing economic losses to nations for combating the infection transmission. The diagnostic methodologies that depend on the detection of viral nucleic acids are much more expensive, but they are more accurate than serological testing. AIM: To develop a rapid, cost-effective, and accurate diagnostic multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for simultaneous detection of HCV, HBV, and HIV-1...

Critically ill patients are a vulnerable group at high risk of developing secondary infections. High disease severity, prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay, sepsis, and multiple drugs with immunosuppressive activity make these patients prone to immuneparesis and increase the risk of various opportunistic infections, including cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV seroconversion has been reported in up to 33% of ICU patients, but its impact on patient outcomes remains a matter of debate. Even though there are guidelines regarding the management of CMV infection in immunosuppressive patients with human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immuno deficiency syndrome, the need for treatment and therapeutic approaches in immunocompetent critically ill patients is still ambiguous...

Prevention of transfusion-transmitted viral infections and insurance of safe blood transfusion are the main goals of all blood banks worldwide. Despite the high sensitivity and specificity of currently used enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, viral transmission could still occur during the window period. Introducing viral individual donation nucleic acid testing (ID-NAT) can greatly decrease such risk providing an additional layer in securing blood transfusion...

Various opportunistic infections develop during immunodeficiency due to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The treatment options for malignant lymphoma (ML) and toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) are completely different; therefore, their discrimination is critical. A 25-year-old female of foreign nationality had been experiencing headaches for several weeks and suddenly developed convulsions. Brain computed tomography revealed multiple intracranial lesions; therefore, the patient was referred to the neurosurgery department...

Selenium is an essential trace element that exists in inorganic forms (selenite and selenates) and organic forms (selenoamino acids, seleno peptides, and selenoproteins). Selenium is known to aid in the function of the immune system for populations where human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is endemic, as studies suggest that a lack of selenium is associated with a higher risk of mortality among those with HIV. In a recent study conducted in Zambia, adults had a median plasma selenium concentration of 0.27 μmol/L (IQR 0...

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)-associated diseases include Kaposi sarcoma (KS), multicentric Castleman disease (MCD), germinotropic lymphoproliferative disorder (GLPD), Kaposi sarcoma inflammatory cytokine syndrome (KICS), HHV8-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (HHV8+ DLBCL), primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and extra-cavitary PEL (ECPEL). We report the case of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative male treated for cutaneous KS, who developed generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, pleural and abdominal effusions, renal insufficiency, and pancytopenia...

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an enormous global health threat stemming from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection. Up to now, the tremendous advances in combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) have shifted HIV-1 infection from a fatal illness into a manageable chronic disorder. However, the presence of latent reservoirs, the multifaceted nature of HIV-1, drug resistance, severe off-target effects, poor adherence, and high cost restrict the efficacy of current cART targeting the distinct stages of the virus life cycle...

Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1)-associated neurocognitive disorders (HANDs) remain prevalent in HIV-1-infected individuals despite the evident success of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). The mechanisms underlying HAND prevalence in the cART era remain perplexing. Ample evidence indicates that HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein protein 120 (gp120), a potent neurotoxin, plays a pivotal role in HAND pathogenesis. Methamphetamine (Meth) abuse exacerbates HANDs, but how this occurs is not fully understood...

Conventional cancer clinical trials can be time-consuming and expensive, often yielding results with limited applicability to real-world scenarios and presenting challenges for patient participation. Real-world data (RWD) studies offer a promising solution to address evidence gaps and provide essential information about the effects of cancer treatments in real-world settings. The distinction between RWD and data derived from randomized clinical trials lies in the method of data collection, as RWD by definition are obtained at the point of care...

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) co-morbidity continues to be a serious worldwide health issue, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Studies on the quality of life (QOL) of TB/HIV co-infected patients guide stakeholders on the delivery of patient-centred healthcare. This study evaluated QOL of TB/HIV co-infected individuals and its contributing factors. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among TB/HIV co-infected patients, receiving treatment at clinics in the Northern Region of Ghana...

The risk of transfusion-transmitted infection (TTI) has always existed because transfused blood products are biological materials derived from humans. To prevent TTIs, screening strategies have been developed for various infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus, contributing significantly to reducing TTI globally. Nevertheless, septic transfusion reactions (STRs) due to bacterial contamination remain an unresolved issue. Various infectious diseases can be transmitted through blood products, and preventive and selective screening strategies have been applied across different regions...

INTRODUCTION: Tobacco contributes to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (PWHs). Nonetheless, medications for tobacco use disorder are widely underused, particularly among PWHs. We sought to characterize the extent to which insurance barriers impacted access to medications for tobacco use disorder and, in comparison, to access to antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of data on individuals enrolled in a randomized clinical trial to address tobacco use involving nicotine replacement therapy and, for some, additionally, varenicline or bupropion...

AIM: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) nursing has become more prominent with the increase in chronic HIV infections. This study examined articles related to HIV nursing to determine how the profession has developed and its future direction. DESIGN: A bibliometric analysis was conducted. METHODS: HIV nursing-related articles published in the Web of Science core collection between 1999 and 2022 were searched. VOSviewer was used to identify the contributions of countries, institutions and authors in HIV-related care...

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the presence of Epstein-Barr virus type 1 (EBV-1) DNA in patients living with HIV, before and after three different topical therapy protocols for oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL). METHODS: The sample consisted of five patients treated with topical solution of 25% podophyllin resin; six with 25% podophyllin resin plus 5% acyclovir cream; and four with 25% podophyllin resin plus 1% penciclovir cream. DNA was extracted from OHL scrapings and amplified by the PCR using specific primers for EBV-1 (EBNA-1)...

Non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining cancers (NADCs) are malignancies in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWHIV) and are not primarily due to the host's immunodeficiency. There is renewed clinical interest in long-term morbidities in PLWHIV as well as malignancies that occur in this population. We herein describe a 36-year-old woman with a 2-year history of an anal wound and right breast mass. She had been diagnosed with HIV infection prior to the development of these lesions. Clinical and laboratory evaluations led to diagnoses of breast and anal cancers...

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) become expanded in different pathological conditions including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and this may worsen the disease status and accelerate disease progression. In HIV infection, MDSCs suppress anti-HIV immune responses and hamper immune reconstitution. Understanding the factors and mechanisms of MDSC expansion during HIV infection is central to understanding the pathophysiology of HIV infection. This may pave the way to developing new therapeutic targets or strategies...

Although the significance of chemical modifications on RNA is acknowledged, the evolutionary benefits and specific roles in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) replication remain elusive. Most studies have provided only population-averaged values of modifications for fragmented RNAs at low resolution and have relied on indirect analyses of phenotypic effects by perturbing host effectors. Here we analysed chemical modifications on HIV-1 RNAs at the full-length, single RNA level and nucleotide resolution using direct RNA sequencing methods...

Nearly half of the deaths among hospitalized human immuno deficiency virus-infected patients in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era have been attributed to liver disease. This may range from an asymptomatic mild increase of liver enzymes to cirrhosis and liver failure. Different works of literature elucidated both retroviral infection and the adverse effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy as a cause of hepatotoxicity. Individual adaptations to medications and environmental exposures, shaped by cultural norms and genetic predispositions, could potentially modulate the risk and progression of liver disease in this population...

In the 1970s, human papillomaviruses (HPV) were ascertained as the aetiologic agents of cervical carcinoma. Subsequently, an association with HPV was established in other epithelial tumours, including squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). HPV has demonstrated a high potential for inducing oropharyngeal tumours, with HPV-16 infection posing a significant oncogenic risk. People living with HIV (PLWH) are identified as being at a higher risk of HPV infection and the subsequent development of HPV-associated tumours of the oropharynx...

OBJECTIVES: The characteristics of men who have sex with men (either exclusively or with both men and women; MSM) who engaged in casual sex among Chinese male university students have not been compared with the characteristics of men who have sex with only women (MSW). This information is important for tailoring targeted behavioral interventions to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission in this subgroup of MSM. METHODS: Data were derived from a large cross-sectional electronic questionnaire survey conducted at 13 universities in Zhejiang Province, China, in 2018...