Causes and risk factors of death among people who inject drugs in Indonesia, Ukraine and Vietnam: findings from HPTN 074 randomized trial.

INTRODUCTION: The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 074 study demonstrated a positive effect of an integrated systems navigation and psychosocial counseling intervention on HIV treatment initiation, viral suppression, medication assisted treatment (MAT) enrollment, and risk of death among people who inject drugs (PWID). In this sub-study, we analyzed the incidence, causes, and predictors of death among HIV-infected and uninfected participants. METHODS: The HPTN 074 randomized clinical trial was conducted in Indonesia, Ukraine, and Vietnam. HIV-infected PWID with unsuppressed viral load (indexes) were recruited together with at least one of their HIV-negative injection partners. Indexes were randomized in a 1:3 ratio to the intervention or standard of care. RESULTS: The trial enrolled 502 index and 806 partner participants. Overall, 13% (66/502) of indexes and 3% (19/806) of partners died during follow-up (crude mortality rates 10.4 [95% CI 8.1-13.3] and 2.1 [1.3-3.3], respectively). These mortality rates were for indexes nearly 30 times and for partners 6 times higher than expected in a population of the same country, age, and gender (standardized mortality ratios 30.7 [23.7-39.0] and 5.8 [3.5-9.1], respectively). HIV-related causes, including a recent CD4 < 200 cells/µL, accounted for 50% of deaths among indexes. Among partners, medical conditions were the most common cause of death (47%). In the multivariable Cox model, the mortality among indexes was associated with sex (male versus female aHR = 4.2 [1.5-17.9]), CD4 count (≥ 200 versus < 200 cells/µL aHR = 0.3 [0.2-0.5]), depression (moderate-to-severe versus no/mild aHR = 2.6 [1.2-5.0]) and study arm (intervention versus control aHR = 0.4 [0.2-0.9]). Among partners, the study arm of the index remained the only significant predictor (intervention versus control aHR = 0.2 [0.0-0.9]) while controlling for the effect of MAT (never versus ever receiving MAT aHR = 2.4 [0.9-7.4]). CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm that both HIV-infected and uninfected PWID remain at a starkly elevated risk of death compared to general population. Mortality related to HIV and other causes can be significantly reduced by scaling-up ART and MAT. Access to these life-saving treatments can be effectively improved by flexible integrated interventions, such as the one developed and tested in HPTN 074.

Multiple Infection and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Superinfection Among Persons who Inject Drugs in Indonesia and Ukraine.

BACKGROUND: The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 074 study evaluated an integrated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment and prevention strategy among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Indonesia, Ukraine, and Vietnam. We previously detected multiple HIV infection in 3 of 7 (43%) of seroconverters with 3-8 HIV strains per person. In this report, we analyzed multiple HIV infection and HIV superinfection (SI) in the HPTN 074 cohort. METHODS: We analyzed samples from 70 participants in Indonesia and Ukraine who had viral load >400 copies/mL at enrollment and the final study visit (median follow-up, 2.5 years). HIV was characterized with Sanger sequencing, next-generation sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis. Additional methods were used to characterize a rare case of triple-variant SI. RESULTS: At enrollment, multiple infection was detected in only 3 of 58 (5.2%) participants with env sequence data. SI was detected in only 1 of 70 participants over 172.3 person-years of follow-up (SI incidence, 0.58/100 person-years [95% confidence interval, .015-3.2]). The SI case involved acquisition of 3 HIV strains with rapid selection of a strain with a single pol region cluster. CONCLUSIONS: These data from a large cohort of PWID suggest that intrahost viral selection and other factors may lead to underestimation of the frequency of multiple HIV infection and SI events.

The Profile of COVID-19 in Patients with Autoimmune Disease: A Case Series.

Autoimmune diseases are known to be a risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection. This is the first case series of patients with autoimmune disease suffering from COVID-19 infection in Jakarta, Indonesia. There were 12 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection in autoimmune patients from March 2020 until February 2021. We select 5 patients in this case series. Three of them had systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), one of them had rheumatoid arthritis, and one of them had ankylosing spondylitis. Three of them had high BSR Risk Stratification. Most of them had used daily steroid therapy. Fatigue, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and cough were the common symptoms found.  None of the patients were admitted to ICU, used mechanical ventilators, and all of them survived. Most of the patients were prescribed anti-coagulant therapy. This first comprehensive case series can provide valuable information regarding the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 infection in the Indonesian autoimmune disorder patient population.

Association between drug use and ART use among people living with HIV who inject drugs in Vietnam, Ukraine and Indonesia: results from HPTN 074.

Background and objective: Drug use type and frequency may affect Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) uptake for HIV-infected people who inject drugs (PWID). This paper assesses the association between self-reported baseline drug use and ART among HIV-infected PWID in Indonesia, Ukraine and Vietnam. Methods: Data on self-reported baseline drug use and ART among HIV-infected PWID at the 26- and 52-week follow-ups were extracted from the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 074, a randomized, controlled vanguard study to facilitate HIV treatment for PWID in Indonesia, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit by study site and the whole HPTN 074 sample, using a 0.5 type I error rate. Results: The response rate were 83.3% and 77.0% at 26th and 52th weeks. At 26-week, baseline use of over one non-opiate/non-stimulant drug was associated with lower odds of ART use among Indonesian participants (OR = 0.21, 95%CI: 0.05-0.82); and baseline injecting drugs for over 20 days in the previous month was associated with lower odds of ART use among all HPTN 074 sample (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.36-0.97). Conclusion: The association of a specific drug use pattern with later ART uptake implies the importance of medication-assisted treatment to enhance ART uptake and adherence among participants.

A scalable, integrated intervention to engage people who inject drugs in HIV care and medication-assisted treatment (HPTN 074): a randomised, controlled phase 3 feasibility and efficacy study.

BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs (PWID) have a high incidence of HIV, little access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and high mortality. We aimed to assess the feasibility of a future controlled trial based on the incidence of HIV, enrolment, retention, and uptake of the intervention, and the efficacy of an integrated and flexible intervention on ART use, viral suppression, and MAT use. METHODS: This randomised, controlled vanguard study was run in Kyiv, Ukraine (one community site), Thai Nguyen, Vietnam (two district health centre sites), and Jakarta, Indonesia (one hospital site). PWID who were HIV infected (index participants) and non-infected injection partners were recruited as PWID network units and were eligible for screening if they were aged 18-45 years (updated to 18-60 years 8 months into study), and active injection drug users. Further eligibility criteria for index participants included a viral load of 1000 copies per mL or higher, willingness and ability to recruit at least one injection partner who would be willing to participate. Index participants were randomly assigned via a computer generated sequence accessed through a secure web portal (3:1) to standard of care or intervention, stratified by site. Masking of assignment was not possible due to the nature of intervention. The intervention comprised systems navigation, psychosocial counselling, and ART at any CD4 count. Local ART and MAT services were used. Participants were followed up for 12-24 months. The primary objective was to assess the feasibility of a future randomised controlled trial. To achieve this aim we looked at the following endpoints: HIV incidence among injection partners in the standard of care group, and enrolment and retention of HIV-infected PWID and their injection partners and the uptake of the integrated intervention. The study was also designed to assess the feasibility, barriers, and uptake of the integrated intervention. Endpoints were assessed in a modified intention-to-treat popualtion after exclusion of ineligible participants. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02935296, and is active but not recruiting new participants. FINDINGS: Between Feb 5, 2015, and June 3, 2016, 3343 potential index participants were screened, of whom 502 (15%) were eligible and enrolled. 1171 injection partners were referred, and 806 (69%) were eligible and enrolled. Index participants were randomly assigned to intervention (126 [25%]) and standard of care (376 [75%]) groups. At week 52, most living index participants (389 [86%] of 451) and partners (567 [80%] of 710) were retained, and self-reported ART use was higher among index participants in the intervention group than those in the standard of care group (probability ratio [PR] 1·7, 95% CI 1·4-1·9). Viral suppression was also higher in the intervention group than in the standard of care group (PR 1·7, 95% CI 1·3-2·2). Index participants in the intervention group reported more MAT use at 52 weeks than those in the standard of care group (PR 1·7, 95% CI 1·3-2·2). Seven incident HIV infections occurred, and all in injection partners in the standard of care group (intervention incidence 0·0 per 100 person-years, 95% CI 0·0-1·7; standard of care incidence 1·0 per 100 person-years, 95% CI 0·4-2·1; incidence rate difference -1·0 per 100 person-years, 95% CI -2·1 to 1·1). No severe adverse events due to the intervention were recorded. INTERPRETATION: This vanguard study provides evidence that a flexible, scalable intervention increases ART and MAT use and reduces mortality among PWID. The low incidence of HIV in both groups impedes a future randomised, controlled trial, but given the strength of the effect of the intervention, its implementation among HIV-infected PWID should be considered. FUNDING: US National Institutes of Health.

Use of Antiretroviral Drug Testing to Assess the Accuracy of Self-reported Data from HIV-Infected People Who Inject Drugs.

We used antiretroviral (ARV) drug testing to evaluate the accuracy of self-reported data for HIV status and antiretroviral treatment (ART) among people who inject drugs enrolled in an HIV prevention trial. ARV drugs were detected in enrollment samples from 72/482 = 14.9% HIV-infected participants (39/52 = 75.0% who reported being on ART; 33/430 = 7.7% who reported not being on ART). Overall, 213/482 = 44.2% participants indicated that they were not aware of their HIV-positive status prior to study entry; of those, 30 had ARV drugs detected at enrollment, including 15 who also had ARV drugs detected at the screening visit. These participants were likely aware of their HIV-positive status at study entry but did not report this to study staff. This study shows that self-reported data on HIV testing history and ART may not be accurate and that ARV drug testing can help identify persons who are aware of their HIV-positive status and are on ART.

The effect of rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) on antiretroviral therapeutic adherence and mental health in women infected with HIV/AIDS.

AIM: To identify the effectiveness of rational-emotive-behavior-based therapy (REBT-based therapy) on improved mental health and antiretroviral (ART) therapeutic adherence in women infected with HIV/AIDS (female subjects with HIV/AIDS). METHODS: A randomized and single-blinded clinical trial in women infected with HIV/AIDS who had their treatment at the outpatient clinic of Pokdiksus AIDS RSCM and at the AIDS Comprehensive Diagnostic Unit of Dharmais Hospital was conducted between October 2011 and March 2012. A block randomization of 160 female subjects with AIDS was performed that resulted in a REBT-based treatment group (n=80) and a control group (n=80). The treatment group received REBT-based intervention of 8 sessions weekly including 6 individual-therapeutic sessions/week and 2 group-therapeutic sessions/week. Instruments used in the study were questionnaires on demography, ART adherence (measured by self report and pill count), and mental health (SRQ-20). Data were analyzed using Chi-Square test, Generalized Linear Model, and Generalized Estimating Equations. RESULTS: There were 148 respondents analyzed including in the REBT-based group (n=72) and in the control group (n=76) with mean age of 33-34 years. After 8 weeks of REBT-based intervention, there was improved (increased) mean value of the self-reported adherence score (self-report) compared to control group (100%; CI 95%,83.3-96.7 vs. 84%; CI 95%,77.5-87.8) and improved (decreased) SRQ-20 mean score in REBT-based treatment group compared to control group (2.9; CI 95%, 2.7-13.0 vs. 5.4; CI 95%: 5.0-13.6). ART adherence based on viral load titer was not analyzed in both group since most of VL titer were undetected (<400 copies/mL). GLM analysis showed decreased SRQ-20 mean score and increased mean value of self-reported ART adherence (self-report) in the REBT-based treatment group, which were more significant (p<0.000) than control group on the 8th week. GEE analysis showed that 1 point decrement of SRQ-20 would increase self-reported ART adherence as much as 0.722 point and the correlation was statistically significant (p<0.00). CONCLUSION: After 8 weeks of REBT-based intervention to female subjects with HIV/AIDS, there is a decrease of SRQ-20 mean score which may result in increased ART adherence mean score in the treatment group compared to the control.

Factors Associated with All-Cause 30-Day Mortality in Indonesian Inpatient COVID-19 Patients at Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital.

Introduction: Indonesia, as a developing country, has limited data on the factors associated with 30-day mortality in COVID-19 patients in Indonesia. As a matter of fact, study analyzing factors associated with 30-day mortality of COVID-19 infection in Indonesia has never been conducted. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature by conducting a large-scale analysis of factors associated with 30-day mortality in COVID-19 patients in Indonesia. Method: This study employed a single-center retrospective cohort observational design, and was conducted at Cipto Mangunkusumo National General Hospital between the years 2022 and 2023. Sampling was conducted using the consecutive sampling method. The study included patients aged 18 years and above who had been confirmed to have COVID-19 infection. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Result: Our study included a total of 644 patients, with 120 patients (18.6%) expiring within 30 days. In the multivariate analysis using the backward Wald method, severe COVID-19 (HR: 7.024; 95% CI: 3.971-12.744; p value: <0.0001), moderate COVID-19 infection (HR: 1.660; 95% CI: 1.048-2.629; p value: 0.031), liver cirrhosis (HR: 3.422; 95% CI: 1.208-9.691; p value: 0.021), female sex (HR: 1.738; 95% CI: 1.187-2.545; p value: 0.004), old age (HR: 2.139; 95% CI: 1.279-3.577; p value: 0.004), high leukocyte (HR: 11.502; 95% CI: 1.523-86.874; p value: 0.018), high NLR (HR: 1.720; 95% CI: 1.049-2.819; p value: 0.032), high CRP (HR: 1.906; 95% CI: 1.092-3.329; p value: 0.023), high procalcitonin (HR: 3.281; 95% CI: 1.780-6.049; p value: 0.001), and high creatinine (HR: 1.863; 95% CI: 1.240-2.800; p value: 0.003) were associated with 30-day mortality from COVID-19 infection. Subgroup analysis excluding cancer patients showed that age, D-Dimer, CRP, and PCT were associated with 30-day mortality in COVID-19 patients, while steroid therapy is protective. Conclusions: This study finds that COVID-19 severity, liver cirrhosis, sex, age, leukocyte, NLR, CRP, creatinine, and procalcitonin were associated with COVID-19 mortality within 30 days. These findings underscore the multifactorial nature of COVID-19 infection mortality. It is important, therefore, that patients which exhibit these factors should be treated more aggressively to prevent mortality.

Ocular diseases among HIV/AIDS patients in Jakarta, Indonesia.

We conducted a survey of ocular diseases among HIV/AIDS outpatients in Jakarta, Indonesia. This cross sectional study was conducted among 311 HIV/ AIDS patients presenting to three referral hospitals in Jakarta, Indonesia from September 2008 to May 2009. All subjects underwent ophthalmological examination, including visual acuity, intraocular pressure, eye movement, Schirmer's test and anterior and posterior segment evaluation. Most subjects (86%) were aged 20-40 years; and 77% were male. Intravenous drug use was the most common risk factor (48.9%) for HIV infection. At the time of enrollment, 85% of subjects were receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART); the median CD4+ T cell count prior to ART was 56 (0-757) cells/microl. The most common ocular manifestations were dry eye syndrome (54%), followed by toxoplasma retinochoroiditis (8.4%) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis (5.8%). Risk factors associated with ocular diseases were late HIV clinical stage (OR = 4.35 for clinical stage 4 vs 1; p = 0.001), co-infection (OR = 2.67 for 2 co-infections vs no co-infection; p = 0.009) and low CD4+ T cell count prior to ART (< 50 cells/microl vs > or = 200 cells/microl; p = 0.003). The CD4+ count at the first visit (p = 0.041) and clinical stage (p = 0.049) were associated with dry eyes. This study shows dry eyes were the most prevalent ocular disease among HIV/ AIDS patients in Jakarta. HIV clinical stage 3 or 4, co-infection with tuberculosis and hepatitis C infection and a CD4+ T cell count of <50 cells/microl were risk factors for ocular disease in HIV/AIDS patients.

Predicting Intention to Receive COVID-19 Vaccination in People Living with HIV using an Integrated Behavior Model.

People living with HIV (PLHIV) are considered a high-risk population for developing a severe form of COVID-19. Vaccination is still one of the most important modalities in combating the disease due to the lack of an effective treatment. This multicenter study was performed from September to December 2021 with the aim to analyze the intention of PLHIV to receive the COVID-19 vaccination based on an integrated behavior model (IBM) in Indonesia. Of a total of 470 participants, 75.6% of patients were intent to be vaccinated. The model that was designed in this study explains 43.4% of the variance in intention to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in PLHIV (adjusted R2 = 0.434). Furthermore, the determinants used included instrumental attitude (ß = 0.127, p < 0.05), subjective norm (ß = 0.497, p < 0.01), and perceived behavioral control (ß = 0.116, p < 0.01). This study concluded that an IBM could predict the intention of PLHIV to receive COVID-19 vaccination.

Quality of life people living with HIV/AIDS: outpatient in Kramat 128 Hospital Jakarta.

AIM: to provide an overview of the quality of life (OQL) for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Jakarta, particularly in the Kramat 128 Hospital, based on CD4 and viral load (VL) levels and the length of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. METHODS: a cross-sectional study performed at Kramat 128 Hospital Jakarta Outpatient Clinic from November 2010 to January 2011. Quality of life was assessed with the WHOQOL-BREF instrument. The data were analyzed using Chi-Square test, independent T-test, and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test. RESULTS: the mean score in four domains of QOL in descending order were psychological (72.27), physical health (70.10), environment (65.59), and social relationships (64.44). There were a significant differences in overall QOL (p=0.000) and general health (p=0.001) between lower and higher CD4 levels. Patients who were interviewed look healthy physically and psychologically, have a good QOL based on statistical analysis. Patients with undetectable VL levels had better in general health (p=0.012), and those with longer ARV therapy (>1 year) had better overall QOL (p=0.024) and general health (p=0.003). Analysis with four domains of QOL showed a significant relationship of CD4 levels with the physical health (p=0.001) and psychological domain (p=0.043). VL levels showed significant relationships with the four domains of QOL (p<0.05). Duration of ARV therapy showed a significant association only with physical health domain (p=0.015). CONCLUSION: higher CD4 levels, undetectable VL, and longer ARV therapy will increase patient's QOL. Higher QOL will make the patient have ability to cope with illness. So, a better QOL can be taken as indicator of successful ARV treatment.

Engaging People Who Inject Drugs Living With HIV in Antiretroviral Treatment and Medication for Opioid Use Disorder: Extended Follow-up of HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 074.

BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs (PWID) living with HIV experience inadequate access to antiretroviral treatment (ART) and medication for opioid use disorders (MOUD). HPTN 074 showed that an integrated intervention increased ART use and viral suppression over 52 weeks. To examine durability of ART, MOUD, and HIV viral suppression, participants could re-enroll for an extended follow-up period, during which standard-of-care (SOC) participants in need of support were offered the intervention. METHODS: Participants were recruited from Ukraine, Indonesia and Vietnam and randomly allocated 3:1 to SOC or intervention. Eligibility criteria included: HIV-positive; active injection drug use; 18-60 years of age; ≥1 HIV-uninfected injection partner; and viral load ≥1,000 copies/mL. Re-enrollment was offered to all available intervention and SOC arm participants, and SOC participants in need of support (off-ART or off-MOUD) were offered the intervention. RESULTS: The intervention continuation group re-enrolled 89 participants, and from week 52 to 104, viral suppression (<40 copies/mL) declined from 41% to 29% (estimated 9.4% decrease per year, 95% CI -17.0%; -1.8%). The in need of support group re-enrolled 94 participants and had increased ART (re-enrollment: 55%, week 26: 69%) and MOUD (re-enrollment: 16%, week 26: 25%) use, and viral suppression (re-enrollment: 40%, week 26: 49%). CONCLUSIONS: Viral suppression declined in year 2 for those who initially received the HPTN 074 intervention and improved maintenance support is warranted. Viral suppression and MOUD increased among in need participants who received intervention during the study extension. Continued efforts are needed for widespread implementation of this scalable, integrated intervention.

Factors Affecting Virological Outcome When First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy Is Reintroduced After Unplanned Interruption.

There is no guideline concerning choice of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-infected patients after unplanned interruption. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of HIV-infected patients reintroduced to first-line ART after having unplanned interruption for at least 1 month. Viral load was evaluated at 6 to 18 months after the reintroduction. There were 100 patients included in our study, and 55 of them achieved virological success. History of single interruption (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.51%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.82-16.68, P = .003) and CD4 count ≥200 cell/mm3 at the time of reintroduction (aOR 4.33, 95% CI 1.14-16.39, P = .031) increased likelihood to achieve virological success.

HIV drug resistance in persons who inject drugs enrolled in an HIV prevention trial in Indonesia, Ukraine, and Vietnam: HPTN 074.

BACKGROUND: Persons who inject drugs (PWID) have high HIV incidence and prevalence, and may have limited access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in some settings. We evaluated HIV drug resistance in PWID in a randomized clinical trial (HPTN 074). The study intervention included ART at any CD4 cell count with enhanced support for ART and substance use treatment. METHODS: HPTN 074 enrolled HIV-infected PWID (index participants) with viral loads ≥1,000 copies/mL and their HIV-uninfected injection-network partners in Indonesia, Ukraine, and Vietnam; the study limited enrollment of people who reported being on ART. HIV drug resistance testing and antiretroviral (ARV) drug testing were performed using samples collected from index participants at study enrollment. RESULTS: Fifty-four (12.0%) of 449 participants had HIV drug resistance; 29 (53.7%) of the 54 participants had multi-class resistance. Prevalence of resistance varied by study site and was associated with self-report of prior or current ART, detection of ARV drugs, and a history of incarceration. Resistance was detected in 10 (5.6%) of 177 newly diagnosed participants. Participants with resistance at enrollment were less likely to be virally suppressed after 52 weeks of follow-up, independent of study arm. CONCLUSIONS: In HPTN 074, many of the enrolled index participants had HIV drug resistance and more than half of those had multi-class resistance. Some newly-diagnosed participants had resistance, suggesting that they may have been infected with drug-resistant HIV strains. Behavioral and geographic factors were associated with baseline resistance. Baseline resistance was associated with reduced viral suppression during study follow-up. These findings indicate the need for enhanced HIV care in this high-risk population to achieve sustained viral suppression on ART.

Clinical manifestations and antiretroviral management of HIV/AIDS patients with tuberculosis co-infection in Kramat 128 Hospital.

AIM: to give a description of HIV-AIDS and tuberculosis co-infection in Jakarta, viewed from the perspective of virologic and immunologic status and the correct selection of antiretrovirals. METHODS: cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on the outpatient clinic of Kramat 128, from June to July 2007. Tuberculosis infection was confirmed chest X-ray or sputum acid fast smear. Viral load was determined by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and CD4 count done by flow cytometry. The data were then analyzed using SPSS 14th and Chi Square tests for proportional data. RESULTS: the study enrolled 130 patients with the prevalence of tuberculosis co-infection of 66.9% (n=87). The TB co-infected patients came with more clinical manifestations (3-4 manifestations) than the non co-infected ones (2-3 manifestations; p<0.001). They also underwent more hospitalizations (44.8% vs. 11.6%, p=0.003), had lower CD4 levels (126.49 cell/microL vs. 240.68 cell/microL; p=0.001) and more patients with CD4 levels of below 100 cell/microL (64.6% vs. 25.6%; p<0.001). The co-infected patients had more virologic failure than the non co-infected ones (38% vs. 12.5%; p=0.030), and so did the co-infected patients treated with nevirapine than those treated with efavirenz (37.8% vs. 6.3%; p=0.019). CONCLUSION: tuberculosis co-infection complicated the clinical management of People Living with HIV-AIDS (PLWHA) and the antiretroviral regimen selection in these patients need to be modified. Subsequent studies were needed to confirm this study result of superior efavirenz based therapy in the TB co-infected PLWHA.

Regional differences between people who inject drugs in an HIV prevention trial integrating treatment and prevention (HPTN 074): a baseline analysis.

INTRODUCTION: People who inject drugs (PWID) experience high HIV incidence and face significant barriers to engagement in HIV care and substance use treatment. Strategies for HIV treatment as prevention and substance use treatment present unique challenges in PWID that may vary regionally. Understanding differences in the risk structure for HIV transmission and disease progression among PWID is essential in developing and effectively targeting intervention strategies of HIV treatment as prevention. METHODS: We present a baseline analysis of HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 074, a two-arm, randomized controlled trial among PWID in Indonesia (n = 258), Ukraine (n = 457) and Vietnam (n = 439). HPTN 074 was designed to determine the feasibility, barriers and uptake of an integrated intervention combining health systems navigation and psychosocial counselling for the early engagement of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and substance use treatment for PWID living with HIV. Discordant PWID networks were enrolled, consisting of an HIV-positive index and their HIV-negative network injection partner(s). Among the enrolled cohort of 1154 participants (502 index participants and 652 network partners), we examine regional differences in the baseline risk structure, including sociodemographics, HIV and substance use treatment history, and injection and sexual risk behaviours. RESULTS: The majority of participants were male (87%), with 82% of the enrolled females coming from Ukraine. The overall mean age was 34 (IQR: 30, 38). Most commonly injected substances included illegally manufactured methadone in Ukraine (84.2%), and heroin in Indonesia (81.8%) and Vietnam (99.5%). Injection network sizes varied by region: median number of people with whom participants self-reported injecting drugs was 3 (IQR: 2, 5) in Indonesia, 5 (IQR: 3, 10) in Ukraine and 3 (IQR: 2, 4) in Vietnam. Hazardous alcohol use, assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test - Alcohol Consumption Questions (AUDIT-C), was prominent in Ukraine (54.7%) and Vietnam (26.4%). Reported sexual risk behaviours in the past month, including having two or more sex partners and giving/receiving money or drugs in exchange for sex, were uncommon among all participants and regions. CONCLUSIONS: While regional differences in risk structure exist, PWID particularly in Ukraine need immediate attention for risk reduction strategies. Substantial regional differences in risk structure will require flexible, tailored treatment as prevention interventions for distinct PWID populations.

Quality of life of HIV patients and influential factors.

AIM: To identify quality of life in HIV patients and to investigate associated factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional comparative study of HIV patients visiting the outpatient clinic at Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central Hospital and Dharmais Cancer Hospital was conducted between March and June 2003. Subjects were patients willing to fill in the SF-36 questionnaire, and willing to undergo physical examination and laboratory tests. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the determinant factors that dominantly affect the quality of life in HIV patients. RESULTS: From 107 HIV subjects, we found poor quality of life. The score of HIV patients' quality of life components was as follows: mean physical function 49.2, social function 46.4, limitations due to physical factor 43.2, limitations due to emotional factor 48.8, mental health 50.7, energy 48.8, pain 54.7 and general health 42.7. The mean quality of life score for physical components in HIV patients was 47.45 while the mean quality of life score for mental components was 48.075. Factors that dominantly contribute to the quality of life in HIV patients are, respectively, the presence of opportunistic infection (p=0.001 OR=5.297 CI 1.974-14.218) and ARV therapy for more than 3 months (p=0.048 OR=4.487 CI 1.011-19.908). CONCLUSION: Both physical and mental components in HIV patients demonstrated poor quality of life. Factors that dominantly contribute to the quality of life in HIV patients are, the presence of opportunistic infection and ARV therapy for more than 3 months.

The indonesian variants of CRF33_01B: Near-full length sequence analysis.

Cocirculation of subtype B and CRF01_AE in Southeast Asia has led to the establishment of new recombinant forms. In our previous study, we found five samples suspected of being recombinants between subtype B and CRF01_AE, and here, we analyzed near full-length sequences of two samples and compared them to known CRFs_01B, subtype B, and CRF01_AE. Five overlapped segments were amplified with nested PCR from PBMC DNA, sequenced, and analyzed for genome mosaicism. The two Indonesian samples, 07IDJKT189 and 07IDJKT194, showed genome-mosaic patterns similar to CRF33_01B references from Malaysia, with one short segment in the 3' end of the p31 integrase-coding region, which was rather more similar to subtype B than CRF01_AE, consisting of unclassified sequences. These results suggest gene-specific continuous diversification and spread of the CRF33_01B genomes in Southeast Asia.