AIDS
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Multicenter Study
Chronic hepatitis B and other correlates of spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus among HIV-infected people with hemophilia.
To identify correlates of spontaneous hepatitis C virus (HCV) clearance among people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection. ⋯ HCV clearance is unambiguously and markedly increased with chronic HBV infection among HIV co-infected people.
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Multicenter Study
Treatment acceleration program and the experience of the DREAM program in prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
The Drug Resource Enhancement against AIDS and Malnutrition (DREAM) program is a large antiretroviral therapy treatment program financed by the Treatment Acceleration Program (TAP) of the World Bank. In addition to provision of antiretroviral treatment to individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa, one major aspect of the DREAM program is nutritional supplementation and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. ⋯ The DREAM HIV-1 PMTCT protocol was safe and efficacious in reducing transmission in infants of 1 and 6 months of age. Results were comparable to those from developed countries. Breastfeeding among HIV-1 infected mothers receiving HAART posed no additional risk of late postnatal HIV-1 transmission to the infant by 6 months of age.
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Multicenter Study
Use of antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited countries in 2006: distribution and uptake of first- and second-line regimens.
To address the information gap on current use of antiretroviral drugs (ARTs) in developing countries. ⋯ This survey has provided valuable information on the uptake of ARTs in developing countries and will help forecast future demand. Reporting for second-line and pediatric antiretroviral therapy should improve as national programs gain more experience. The current availability of active pharmaceutical ingredients appears to be sufficient to meet current demand. Further work is needed for an understanding of switching rates.
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Multicenter Study
Polymorphisms in Toll-like receptor 9 influence the clinical course of HIV-1 infection.
The clinical course of HIV-1 infection is highly variable among individuals, at least in part as a result of genetic polymorphisms in the host. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) have a key role in innate immunity and mutations in the genes encoding these receptors have been associated with increased or decreased susceptibility to infections. ⋯ Rapid progression of HIV-1 infection was associated with TLR9 polymorphisms. Because of its potential implications for intervention strategies and vaccine developments, additional epidemiological and experimental studies are needed to confirm this association.
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Multicenter Study
National adult antiretroviral therapy guidelines in resource-limited countries: concordance with 2003 WHO guidelines?
To investigate the existence of national adult antiretroviral therapy (ART) guidelines in 43 World Health Organization (WHO) '3 by 5' focus countries and compare their content with the 2003 WHO ART guidelines. ⋯ Most countries had developed national ART guidelines as part of a comprehensive national HIV program. Concordance with WHO recommendations was strong on starting first-line ART regimens and routine monitoring but lower for second-line recommendations.