Preliminary report on the provision of HIV care to war refugees with HIV who are migrating from Ukraine: data from the ECEE Network Group.

The ECEE Network Group investigated early provision of HIV care to war refugees migrating from Ukraine in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) through an online survey. Fourteen countries admitting war refugees from Ukraine on March 31, 2022, completed the survey. Most centers (86%) organized provision of same day antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least 30 days (77%), but indicated that it may affect the local HIV care. CEE countries put effective emergency mechanisms, which need continuation with international support.

Meeting the WHO 90% target: antiretroviral treatment efficacy in Poland is associated with baseline clinical patient characteristics.

INTRODUCTION: Modern combined antiretroviral therapies (cART) allow to effectively suppress HIV-1 viral load, with the 90% virologic success rate, meeting the WHO target in most clinical settings. The aim of this study was to analyse antiretroviral treatment efficacy in Poland and to identify variables associated with virologic suppression. M: ethods Cross-sectional data on 5152 (56.92% of the countrywide treated at the time-point of analysis) patients on cART for more than six months with at least one HIV-RNA measurement in 2016 were collected from 14 Polish centres. Patients' characteristics and treatment type-based outcomes were analysed for the virologic suppression thresholds of <50 and <200 HIV-RNA copies/ml. CART was categorized into two nucleos(t)ide (2NRTI) plus non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase (NNRTI) inhibitors, 2NRTI plus protease (PI) inhibitor, 2NRTI plus integrase (InI) inhibitor, nucleos(t)ide sparing PI/r+InI and three drug class regimens. For statistics Chi-square and U-Mann Whitney tests and adjusted multivariate logistic regression models were used. RESULTS: Virologic suppression rates of <50 copies/mL were observed in 4672 (90.68%) and <200 copies/mL in 4934 (95.77%) individuals. In univariate analyses, for the suppression threshold <50 copies/mL higher efficacy was noted for 2NRTI+NNRTI-based combinations (94.73%) compared to 2NRTI+PI (89.93%), 2NRTI+InI (90.61%), nucleos(t)ide sparing PI/r+InI (82.02%) and three drug class regimens (74.49%) (p < 0.0001), with less pronounced but significant differences for the threshold of 200 copies/mL [2NRTI+NNRTI-97.61%, 2NRTI+PI-95.27%, 2NRTI+InI-96.61%, PI/r+InI- 95.51% and 86.22% for three drug class cART) (p < 0.0001). However, in multivariate model, virologic efficacy for viral load <50 copies/mL was similar across treatment groups with significant influence by history of AIDS [OR:1.48 (95%CI:1.01-2.17) if AIDS diagnosed, p = 0.046], viral load < 5 log copies/mL at care entry [OR:1.47 (95%CI:1.08-2.01), p = 0.016], baseline lymphocyte CD4 count ≥200 cells/µL [OR:1.72 (95%CI:1.04-2.78), p = 0.034] and negative HCV serology [OR:1.97 (95%CI:1.29-2.94), p = 0.002]. For viral load threshold <200 copies/mL higher likelihood of virologic success was only associated with baseline lymphocyte CD4 count ≥200 cells/µL [OR:2.08 (95%CI:1.01-4.35), p = 0.049] and negative HCV status [OR:2.84 (95%CI:1.52-5.26), p = 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Proportion of virologically suppressed patients is in line with WHO treatment target confirming successful application of antiretroviral treatment strategy in Poland. Virological suppression rates depend on baseline patient characteristics, which should guide individualized antiretroviral tre0atment decisions.

First case of imported African tick-bite fever in Poland - Case report.

This is the first report of a case of African tick bite fever (ATBF) imported to Poland from South-Africa. The patient presented with fever of 38.4(o)C, generalized maculopapular rash and single eschar. Diagnosis was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from eschar biopsies. The patient recovered without any sequelae after 7 days treatment with doxycycline.

[Botulism in the past and today--clinical aspects]. / Zatrucie jadem kielbasianym dawniej i dzis--aspekty kliniczne.

In this paper we review the most recent approach to clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of botulism.

[Botulism in the past and today--etiological, epidemiological and pathogenic aspects]. / Zatrucie jadem kielbasianym dawniej i dzis--aspekty etiologiczne, epidemiologiczne i patogenetyczne.

In this paper we review the most recent approach to etiology, epidemiology and pathogenesis of botulism.

Dynamics of proinflammatory cytokines serum levels during viral hepatitis type A.

In this study we assessed the dynamics concerning IL-2, sLL-2R and IL-4 serum levels in the course of an acute viral hepatitis A infection. The study group consisted of 48 persons. The serum concentrations of IL-2, sIL-2R and IL-4 were assessed with the use of ELISA methods. In patients the assessments were done twice--in the first and third week of the hospitalisation. In the control group, which consisted of 24 healthy persons the assessments were done once. The obtained data were analysed with the use of c-Cochran and Cox statistical test. We observed a statistically important decrease in IL-2 and IL-4 serum levels in patients with acute viral hepatitis A infection in the first week of the hospitalisation compared to values observed in the control group. We also observed an increase in sIL-2R levels in the course of the disease. The dynamics of IL-2, sIL-2R and IL-4 serum levels in patients with acute hepatitis A infection was of a random type. The assessment of IL-2, sIL-2R and IL-4 serum levels can be helpful in examining the cellular response in viral hepatitis A infection.

[Concentration of sVAP in serum of patients with different forms of Lyme borreliosis]. / Stezenie sVAP-1 w surowicy krwi w wybranych postaciach klinicznych boreliozy z Lyme.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our work was to assess the serum concentration of soluble VAP-1 (sVAP-1) in patients with arthral type of borreliosis and erythema migrans. METHODS: We included in our study 30 patients in the age of 17-53 years who were treated for erythema migrans and 30 patients in the age of 25-63 years who were diagnosed with arthral type of borreliosis. The control group consisted of 30 healthy blood donors. The diagnosis of borreliosis was made on the basis of anamnesis, physical examination and additional tests, one of which proved the existence of IgM and IgG antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi antigen present in the serum of patients. All samples for investigations were taken in a single collection manner. The serum concentration of sVAP-1 protein was assessed with ELISA method. All data were analysed statistically. We assumed 5% risk of conclusion error. CONCLUSIONS: 1. We did not observe an increase in serum sVAP-1 concentration in patients with erythema migrans compared to the control group. All observed differences in the serum level of this protein seemed to be random ones. 2. We showed a statistically important increase in soluble sVAP-1 serum concentration in patients with arthral type of borreliosis compared to the control group.

[Clinical and epidemiological analysis of patients with botulism hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Disease, Medical University of Lublin in 1990-2000]. / Epidemiologia i klinika zatruc jadem kielbasianym chorych leczonych w Klinice Chorób Zakaznych Akademii Medycznej w Lublinie w latach 1990-2000.

In the paper we presented results of clinical and epidemiological analysis of 32 patients with botulism hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lublin in 1990-2000. In the studied group, the relationships between botulism incidence and sex and place of residence were not significant. The incubation period ranged from 7 hours to 5 days (average 36 hrs). The clinical manifestations of botulism were typical in all cases. In one female patient the course of disease was complicated. She developed right-sided bronchopneumonia and left-sided purulent parotitis. The type B botulinum toxin occurred more frequently than the other types and the cases without serological confirmation (Chi 2 = 6.125 p = 0.01). It was found in serum of 23 patients (in 2 cases together with the type A toxin). The type E toxin was found in serum of one patient. The presence of toxin in serum was not detected in 8 patients. In all patients trivalent (types A, B and E) equine antitoxin was administered. The dose ranged from 50 to 150 cm3. Symptomatic treatment was given in all cases. Nobody required mechanical ventilation. The duration of hospitalization ranged from 5 to 28 days (average 16.6 days). A few patients complained of long-lasting blurred vision or dry mouth.