Evaluation of viral suppression and medication-related burden among HIV-infected adults in a secondary care facility.

Background: People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) are prone to other health issues that may result from the disease or antiretroviral medicines. These persons experience other psychosocial aspects of the illness, which may negatively affect their quality of life and overall treatment outcomes. This study assessed the medication-related burden and virological response of adult PLHIV. Method: This cross-sectional study involved 417 HIV-positive adults who had been on combined antiretroviral therapy for at least a year at the State Specialist Hospital Gombe. Nigeria. Patient medication experience was measured using the Living with Medication Questionnaire version-3 (LMQ-3). Virological suppression was assessed at viral loads <1000 copies/ml and 20 copies/ml for undetectable HIV RNA levels. The LMQ-3 scores were compared with the participants' characteristics using independent t-tests or one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Regression analyses was employed to identify the predictors of viral suppression and medication-related burden. P value <0.05 at 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. Results: Of the 417 PLHIV included in this study, 271 (65%) were classified as WHO Stage 1 ART initiation, 93.8% achieved viral suppression with 291 (69.5%) whom were females. The majority of patients 382 (91.6%) were on a dolutegravir-based regimen, had no tuberculosis diagnosis at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation (82.5%) and were 6-10 years on ART (46.3%). Only 67.6% of the population had a moderate medication-related burden. Female sex (p < 0.0005), unsuppressed viral load (p = 0.01), second-line ART (p = 0.03), tuberculosis at ART initiation (p = 0.02), and employment (p = 0.003) were significantly associated with medication-related burden. The predictor of viral suppression was high degree of medication-related burden (AOR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02-0.59) while unsuppressed viral load (p = 0.01) and female gender (p = 0.002) were independent predictors of medication related burden. Conclusion: The findings from this study revealed that majority of the patients achieved viral suppression with moderate degree of medication-related burden. Targeted interventions should be directed toward younger patients, females and patients with unsuppressed viral loads.

Integrase inhibitor drugs during pregnancy and congenital anomalies: A case/non-case study from the global pharmacovigilance database VigiBase®.

In 2018, a significant neural tube defects (NTD) signal was reported after pre-conceptional exposure to dolutegravir, but was not confirmed in further analysis. Since 2019, dolutegravir-based regimen, an integrase inhibitor (INI), is recommended by WHO as the most-effective first-line therapy in all patients living with HIV. To explore the potential INI-related teratogenic effect, we searched disproportionate signals between exposure to INI-class drugs and congenital anomalies, compared to non-INI drugs, using the international pharmacovigilance database, VigiBase®. We selected all the reports registered in VigiBase® between 01/01/2007 and 30/03/2021 on any antiretroviral drug-related fetal or neonatal adverse drug reactions, declared either in children (<2 years) exposed in utero or in pregnant women (12-50 years). A case/non-case study was conducted to detected signals between congenital anomalies and prenatal exposure to any INI-class drug, compared to non-INI drugs, by estimating adjusted reporting odds ratios (aROR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). We identified 2521 unique reports, among which 664 (26.3%) were related to INI-class use. Overall, 520 congenital anomalies were cited from 327 unique reports, of whom 31.0% were INI-related. Compared to non-INI drugs, no significant disproportionate reporting signal between prenatal exposure to INI-class drugs and congenital anomalies was found (aROR 1.13; 95% CI:0.85-1.51). However, specific significant signals were reported for raltegravir/elvitegravir/dolutegravir drug exposure and urinary malformations (aROR 2.43; 95%CI:1.08-5.43), digestive malformations (aROR 3.09; 95%CI:1.22-7.84), and NTDs (aROR 3.02; 95%CI:1.09-8.37). Although specific congenital anomalies signals associated with raltegravir/elvitegravir/dolutegravir exposure were notified, causal relationship needs to be further investigated in prospective studies.

HIV-1 Integrase T218I/S Polymorphisms Do Not Reduce HIV-1 Integrase Inhibitors' Phenotypic Susceptibility.

The recently Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved cabotegravir (CAB) has demonstrated efficacy as an antiretroviral agent for HIV treatment and prevention, becoming an important tool to stop the epidemic in the United States of America (USA). However, the effectiveness of CAB can be compromised by the presence of specific integrase natural polymorphisms, including T97A, L74M, M50I, S119P, and E157Q, particularly when coupled with the primary drug-resistance mutations G140S and Q148H. CAB's recent approval as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may increase the number of individuals taking CAB, which, at the same time, could increase the number of epidemiological implications. In this context, where resistance mutations, natural polymorphisms, and the lack of drug-susceptibility studies prevail, it becomes imperative to comprehensively investigate concerns related to the use of CAB. We used molecular and cell-based assays to assess the impact of T218I and T218S in the context of major resistance mutations G140S/Q148H on infectivity, integration, and resistance to CAB. Our findings revealed that T218I and T218S, either individually or in combination with G140S/Q148H, did not significantly affect infectivity, integration, or resistance to CAB. Notably, these polymorphisms also exhibited neutrality concerning other widely used integrase inhibitors, namely raltegravir, elvitegravir, and dolutegravir. Thus, our study suggests that the T218I and T218S natural polymorphisms are unlikely to undermine the effectiveness of CAB as a treatment and PrEP strategy.

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors Are the Major Class of HIV Antiretroviral Therapeutics That Induce Neuropathic Pain in Mice.

The development of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has transformed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection from a lethal diagnosis into a chronic disease, and people living with HIV on cART can experience an almost normal life expectancy. However, these individuals often develop various complications that lead to a decreased quality of life, some of the most significant of which are neuropathic pain and the development of painful peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN). Critically, although cART is thought to induce pain pathogenesis, the relative contribution of different classes of antiretrovirals has not been systematically investigated. In this study, we measured the development of pathological pain and peripheral neuropathy in mice orally treated with distinct antiretrovirals at their translational dosages. Our results show that only nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), not other types of antiretrovirals such as proteinase inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, integrase strand transfer inhibitors, and CCR5 antagonists, induce pathological pain and PSN. Thus, these findings suggest that NRTIs are the major class of antiretrovirals in cART that promote the development of neuropathic pain. As NRTIs form the essential backbone of multiple different current cART regimens, it is of paramount clinical importance to better understand the underlying mechanism to facilitate the design of less toxic forms of these drugs and/or potential mitigation strategies.

Distinct profile of antiviral drugs effects in aortic and pulmonary endothelial cells revealed by high-content microscopy and cell painting assays.

Antiretroviral therapy have significantly improved the treatment of viral infections and reduced the associated mortality and morbidity rates. However, highly effective antiretroviral therapy (HAART) may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, which could be related to endothelial toxicity. Here, seven antiviral drugs (remdesivir, PF-00835231, ritonavir, lopinavir, efavirenz, zidovudine and abacavir) were characterized against aortic (HAEC) and pulmonary (hLMVEC) endothelial cells, using high-content microscopy. The colourimetric study (MTS test) revealed similar toxicity profiles of all antiviral drugs tested in the concentration range of 1 nM-50 µM in aortic and pulmonary endothelial cells. Conversely, the drugs' effects on morphological parameters were more pronounced in HAECs as compared with hLMVECs. Based on the antiviral drugs' effects on the cytoplasmic and nuclei architecture (analyzed by multiple pre-defined parameters including SER texture and STAR morphology), the studied compounds were classified into five distinct morphological subgroups, each linked to a specific cellular response profile. In relation to morphological subgroup classification, antiviral drugs induced a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, elevated ROS, changed lipid droplets/lysosomal content, decreased von Willebrand factor expression and micronuclei formation or dysregulated cellular autophagy. In conclusion, based on specific changes in endothelial cytoplasm, nuclei and subcellular morphology, the distinct endothelial response was identified for remdesivir, ritonavir, lopinavir, efavirenz, zidovudine and abacavir treatments. The effects detected in aortic endothelial cells were not detected in pulmonary endothelial cells. Taken together, high-content microscopy has proven to be a robust and informative method for endothelial drug profiling that may prove useful in predicting the organ-specific endothelial toxicity of various drugs.

Molecular mechanisms underpinning the protection against antiretroviral drug-induced sperm-endocrine aberrations and testicular toxicity: A review.

The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has revolutionized the treatment of HIV/AIDS worldwide. The HAART approach is the combination of two or more antiretroviral drugs of different classes and are responsible for patient's survival and declining death rates from HIV/AIDS and AIDS-related events. However, the severe and persistent reproductive side effect toxicity of HAART regimens is of great concern to patients within the reproductive age. Till date, the underlying pathophysiology of the HAART-induced reproductive toxicity remains unraveled. Nevertheless, preclinical studies show that oxidative stress and inflammation may be involved in HAART-induced sperm-endocrine deficit and reproductive aberrations. Studies are emerging demonstrating the efficacy of plant-based and non-plant products against the molecular alterations and testicular toxicity of HAART. The testicular mechanisms of mitigation by these products are associated with enhancement of testicular steroidogenesis, spermatogenesis, inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation. This review presents the toxic effects of HAART on spermatogenesis, reproductive hormones and testis integrity. It also provides insights on the molecular mechanisms underlying the mitigation of HAART testicular toxicity by plant-based and non-plant agents. However, effect of repurposing clinical drugs to combat HAART toxicity is unknown, and more mechanistic studies are evidently needed. Altogether, plant-based and non-plant products are potential agents for prevention of rampant endocrine dysfunction and testicular toxicity of HAART.

Pharmacokinetic and toxicological considerations affecting antiretroviral drug dosing in pregnant women.

INTRODUCTION: To prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) during pregnancy, the appropriate dosing regimens of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs need to be determined. Reliable data about pharmacokinetic (PK) characteristics of ARVs from randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are lacking, and post-marketing observational studies may offer valuable, but sometimes insufficient data, especially in pregnant people living with HIV (PLWHIV). This review article is focused PK and toxicological considerations affecting ARV dosing in pregnant PLWHIV. AREAS COVERED: In our search, we included studies focused on PKs of ARVs in pregnancy available on PubMed, abstracts from recent global conferences and data from modeling studies. There are no significant changes in PKs of nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors throughout pregnancy. In contrast, the PKs of PIs and INSTIs are more variable, especially in the second and third trimesters. EXPERT OPINION: Pregnant women are left out of RCTs. To the greatest extent possible, future research should include pregnant persons in RCTs, including PK studies, strictly considering maternal and fetal safety. Alternative innovative approaches/models need to be developed to obtain reliable data about rational pharmacotherapy of ARVs in the effective PMTCT of HIV, with maximum safety.

Adverse Drug Reactions and Prescription Patterns of Antiretroviral Drugs: A Longitudinal Observational Study From a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western India.

Background In 2018, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released interim guidelines, advising a change of regimens to dolutegravir-based first- and second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART), based on which, in 2021, the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) updated its guidelines to include the tenofovir + lamivudine + dolutegravir (TLD) regimen as a first line of therapy for all people living with HIV (PLHIV) and second- and third-line regimens to dolutegravir-based regimens. Considering this change of regimen, the adverse drug reaction (ADR) profiling and longitudinal prescription pattern of antiretroviral and concomitant medications in adult patients at the ART centre of a tertiary care hospital were assessed in this study. Methods Ninety-seven PLHIV out of all the patients who attended the ART centre from September 2021 to July 2022 were enrolled and followed up for six months. The ADRs that occurred during this period were collected along with details of prescription patterns and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Causality assessment for ADR was done using the World Health Organisation-Uppsala Monitoring Centre (WHO-UMC) scale. Results Seventy-eight percent (n=76 out of 97) of patients experienced at least one ADR, and 128 ADRs were seen in 97 patients. The most common ADRs were increased alkaline phosphatase (39.0%, n=128), dyslipidaemia (12.5%, n=128), and nephrotoxicity (10.1%, n=128). The drug most suspected of causing ADRs was dolutegravir (27.5%, n=342). The most common therapeutic regimen was TLD (71.2%, n=97). The most prescribed drug was lamivudine (30.6%, n=1183). The most prescribed concomitant medication was cotrimoxazole (15%, n=312). Conclusions Dolutegravir-based regimens have been implemented for PLHIV in a phased-out manner from previous non-dolutegravir-based ART regimens, which is in line with the recent NACO guidelines. However, it has also led to an increase in dolutegravir-associated ADRs like increased alkaline phosphatase, dyslipidaemia, and nephrotoxicity. Continuous monitoring of prescriptions and ADRs can add to our knowledge regarding their use and ADRs.

PROTAC-mediated degradation of HIV-1 Nef efficiently restores cell-surface CD4 and MHC-I expression and blocks HIV-1 replication.

The HIV-1 Nef accessory factor enhances the viral life cycle in vivo, promotes immune escape of HIV-infected cells, and represents an attractive antiretroviral drug target. However, Nef lacks enzymatic activity and an active site, complicating traditional occupancy-based drug development. Here we describe the development of proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) for the targeted degradation of Nef. Nef-binding compounds, based on an existing hydroxypyrazole core, were coupled to ligands for ubiquitin E3 ligases via flexible linkers. The resulting bivalent PROTACs induced formation of a ternary complex between Nef and the cereblon E3 ubiquitin ligase thalidomide-binding domain in vitro and triggered Nef degradation in a T cell expression system. Nef-directed PROTACs efficiently rescued Nef-mediated MHC-I and CD4 downregulation in T cells and suppressed HIV-1 replication in donor PBMCs. Targeted degradation is anticipated to reverse all HIV-1 Nef functions and may help restore adaptive immune responses against HIV-1 reservoir cells in vivo.

Exploring Darunavir, Rilpivirine and Etravirine as Potential Therapies for Bladder Cancer: Efficacy and Synergistic Effects.

This research explores the therapeutic efficacy of Darunavir (DRV), Rilpivirine (RPV), and Etravirine (ETV) against UM-UC-5 bladder cancer cells, addressing the critical need for innovative treatments in bladder cancer research. Through a comprehensive assessment of their individual and combined effects across diverse time intervals, ETV emerges as the most potent drug, with a lowest IC50 of 5.9 µM, closely followed by RPV (lowest IC50 of 9.6 µM), while DRV exhibits the least effectiveness (lowest IC50 of 25.6 µM). Notably, a significant synergistic effect is evident in the ETV and RPV combination, especially at 48 and 72 h for low concentrations. Synergies are also observed with ETV and DRV, albeit to a lesser extent and primarily at 48 h. Conversely, the DRV and RPV combination yields minimal effects, predominantly additive in nature. In summary, this pre-clinical investigation underscores the promising therapeutic potential of ETV and RPV, both as standalone treatments and in combination, hinting at repurposing opportunities in bladder cancer therapy, which could give a new treatment method for this disease that is faster and without as severe side effects as anticancer drugs. These findings represent a substantial stride in advancing personalized medicine within cancer research and will be further scrutinized in forthcoming studies.

Lamivudine, Doravirine, and Cabotegravir Downregulate the Expression of Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs), Inhibit Cell Growth, and Reduce Invasive Capability in Melanoma Cell Lines.

This study explores the impact of antiretroviral administration on the expression of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), cell growth, and invasive capability of human melanoma cell lines in culture. We investigated three antiretrovirals-lamivudine, doravirine, and cabotegravir-in A375, FO-1, and SK-Mel-28, BRAF-mutated, and in MeWo, P53-mutated, melanoma cell lines. The findings indicate a general capability of these drugs to downregulate the expression of HERV-K Pol and Env genes and hinder cell viability, mobility, and colony formation capacity of melanoma cells. The antiretroviral drugs also demonstrate selectivity against malignant cells, sparing normal human epithelial melanocytes. The study reveals that the integrase inhibitor cabotegravir is particularly effective in inhibiting cell growth and invasion across different cell lines in comparison with lamivudine and doravirine, which are inhibitors of the viral reverse transcriptase enzyme. The investigation further delves into the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects, highlighting the potential induction of ferroptosis, apoptosis, and alterations in cell cycle regulatory proteins. Our findings showed cytostatic effects principally revealed in A375, and SK-Mel-28 cell lines through a downregulation of retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation and/or cyclin D1 expression. Signs of ferroptosis were detected in both A375 cells and FO-1 cells by a decrease in glutathione peroxidase 4 and ferritin expression, as well as by an increase in transferrin protein levels. Apoptosis was also detected in FO-1 and SK-Mel-28, but only with cabotegravir treatment. Moreover, we explored the expression and activity of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) protein and its correlation with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Both the STING activity and PD-L1 expression were decreased, suggesting that the antiretroviral treatments may counteract the detrimental effects of PD-L1 expression activation through the STING/interferon pathway triggered by HERV-K. Finally, this study underscores the potential therapeutic significance of cabotegravir in melanoma treatment. The findings also raise the prospect of using antiretroviral drugs to downregulate PD-L1 expression, potentially enhancing the therapeutic responses of immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Advances in the transdermal delivery of antiretroviral drugs.

Antiretroviral therapy regimens are successful in stopping the advancement of human immunodeficiency virus infection to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, and other opportunistic infections. However, they do have significant disadvantages, including long-term treatment, limited oral bioavailability, inaccessibility to organs, non-adherence by patients, and the development of medication resistance. Because of the listed drawbacks of available routes and the availability of curative medicines for human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, advanced solutions are required. Antiretroviral therapy transdermal delivery is one of the current strategies that have attracted much attention from many researchers. In this narrative review, various in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo transdermal antiretroviral therapy delivery strategies were reviewed, such as transdermal patches and films, lipid-based nano-delivery systems, microneedles, chemical penetration enhancers, and iontophoresis, which showed promising results. Although the majority of studies on Antiretroviral transdermal delivery have produced hopeful findings, additional in-depth research on passive and physical enhancement techniques, both existing and new, is necessary to fully understand the potential of this route and to make it accessible to human immunodeficiency virus patients.

In vitro anti-HIV, cytotoxicity and nutritional analysis of Trianthema portulacastrum L. (Aizoaceae).

The development of antiretroviral therapy has brought a tremendous relief to the world as it minimizes mortality, reduces HIV transmission, and suppresses progression in infected patients. However, the orthodox antiretroviral therapy is faced with limitations which have necessitated a continuous search for more novel plant-based antiviral compounds, which can bypass the existing barriers created by drug resistance and target more viral proteins. Despite the edibility and enormous pharmacological benefits of T. portulacastrum, little is known about its nutrient profiles and potential use as a natural source of antiviral drug. This study focuses on the full feed analysis and anti-HIV potential of two biotypes of T. portulacastrum. Ethanolic extracts of both biotypes of T. portulacastrum (T01 and T02) had significant inhibitory effects on the level of replication of the HIV-1. Both extracts induced the inhibition of at least 50% of the HIV-1 viral load at considerably low IC50 values of 1.757 mg/mL (T01) and 1.205 mg/mL (T02) which is comparable to the AZT standard. The protein composition ranged between 8.63-22.69%; fat (1.84-4.33%); moisture (7.89-9.04%); fibre (23.84-49.98%); and carbohydrate content (38.54-70.14%). Mineral contents of tested T. portulacastrum varied considerably in different parts of the plant. Nitrogen N mineral ranged between 13.8-36.3 mg/g; sodium Na (2.0-14.0 mg/g); potassium K (14.0-82.0 mg/g); magnesium Mg (2.8-7.1 mg/g); calcium Ca (9.1-24.7 mg/g); phosphorus P (1.3-3.6 mg/g); iron Fe (193.5-984.0 ppm); zinc Zn (42.5-96.0 ppm); manganese Mn (28.5-167.5 ppm); and copper Cu (2.0-8.5 ppm). These mineral values are comparable or higher than values quoted for common vegetables, suggesting that T. portulacastrum is a nutrient-dense vegetable that could provide alternative sources of antiviral nutrients to HIV-infected individuals. Further studies are recommended to unravel key metabolites responsible for high nutrient profiles and antiretroviral effects in T. portulacastrum.

The Impact of Contemporary Antiretroviral Drugs on Atherosclerosis and Its Complications in People Living With HIV: A Systematic Review.

With the advent of modern antiretroviral therapy (ART), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been modified into a chronic manageable condition, prolonging the lifespan of people living with HIV (PLHIV). This has resulted in an increased non-AIDS-related morbidity in the HIV-infected population. Our aim is to study the role of contemporary ART in tackling the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in PLHIV. We searched through the databases of PubMed, PubMed Central, and Cochrane Library for pertinent articles using the medical subject headings (MeSH) "HIV infection", "Atherosclerosis", and "Antiretroviral agents". The articles published in the past five years were retrieved, screened for relevance, and assessed for quality before being included in the review. This review was performed following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The results indicate that the incidence of dyslipidemia with integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) is greater than with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and lesser than with protease inhibitors (PIs). INSTIs are indispensably associated with weight gain and obesity. High triglyceride (TG) and oxidized low-density lipoproteins to low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL/LDL) ratio levels and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are seen in patients taking PIs. A higher incidence of hypertension and metabolic syndrome (MetS) was noticed with INSTIs compared to NNRTIs. PI intake for >5 years increases the risk of subclinical atherosclerosis. Increased risk of myocardial infarction with INSTIs was observed in a study, while another study reported decreased risk. HIV infection independently increases the risk for atherosclerosis and CVD. Although contemporary ART decreases this enhanced risk, it inherently increases the risk for abnormal lipid profile, MetS, weight gain, and obesity. Further research into the risk of atherosclerosis and CVD with newer ART drugs is essential for decoding the underlying mechanisms and preventing adverse cardiac outcomes in PLHIV.

Nicotine, THC, and Dolutegravir Modulate E-Cigarette-Induced Changes in Addiction- and Inflammation-Associated Genes in Rat Brains and Astrocytes.

E-cigarette use has been marketed as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, as a means of smoking cessation, and are used at a higher rate than the general population in people with HIV (PWH). Early growth receptor 2 (EGR2) and Activity-Regulated Cytoskeleton-Associated Protein (ARC) have a role in addiction, synaptic plasticity, inflammation, and neurodegeneration. This study showed that 10 days of exposure to e-cigarette vapor altered gene expression in the brains of 6-month-old, male, Sprague Dawley rats. Specifically, the e-cigarette solvent vapor propylene glycol (PG) downregulated EGR2 and ARC mRNA expression in frontal cortex, an effect which was reversed by nicotine (NIC) and THC, suggesting that PG could have a protective role against NIC and cannabis dependence. However, in vitro, PG upregulated EGR2 and ARC mRNA expression at 18 h in cultured C6 rat astrocytes suggesting that PG may have neuroinflammatory effects. PG-induced upregulation of EGR2 and ARC mRNA was reversed by NIC but not THC. The HIV antiretroviral DTG reversed the effect NIC had on decreasing PG-induced upregulation of EGR2, which is concerning because EGR2 has been implicated in HIV latency reversal, T-cell apoptosis, and neuroinflammation, a process that underlies the development of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.

A Comparative Study of Antiretroviral (Lopinavir/Ritonavir) and Remdesivir Used in the Pandemic in Iraq on the Clinical Outcome in Patients with SARS-CoV-2.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which emerged in December 2019, has infected millions worldwide and caused many deaths. Due to its high mortality rate, several studies assessed the effectiveness of different drugs against COVID-19, mainly in reducing the hospitalization rate among the elderly and compromised patients. Lopinavir-ritonavir combination and remdesivir were among the medications used to treat COVID-19. Due to considerable differences in the effectiveness and clinical outcomes of the two treatments, this study aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between COVID-19 patients treated with antiretrovirals (lopinavir-ritonavir) and remdesivir. A total of 33 patients on lopinavir-ritonavir and 35 on remdesivir were selected for this study. A retrospective comparative analysis was conducted based on demographic characteristics, hospital stay, laboratory parameters of C-reactive protein (CRP) and plasma blood oxygen saturation (SPO2), clinical treatment, and a clinical outcome assessment extracted from hospital archive data. Both treatments improved patient outcomes, yet there was a significant difference between lopinavir-ritonavir and remdesivir groups in platelet count, CRP, SPO2, and monocyte results, with remdesivir showing better clinical outcomes. No significant difference was reported in white blood cells, lymphopenia, and lactate dehydrogenase between the two treatments. It is still necessary to conduct further research to determine how effective the two treatments are in treating severe COVID-19 cases due to the limited number of available studies and the inconsistency in research methods and measurements.

The Impact of Certain Pharmacogenetic Differences on the Metabolism of Antiretroviral Drugs Used in A Black South African Population.

BACKGROUND: Genetic polymorphism of drug-metabolising enzymes and transporters may influence the effect and toxicity of antiretroviral drugs. OBJECTIVES: To determine and compare the minimum allele frequency of 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with possible involvement in the metabolism of the antiretroviral drugs with other populations. To investigate the influence of these variants on Reverse transcriptase, Protease and Integrase strand transfer inhibitor drugs. METHOD: DNA samples were collected from 1489 subjects. All SNPs with a gene call score of > 0.6 were selected for genotyping. The R package calculated call rates, MAF and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), test p-values, and Chi-squared analysis were performed on the data. The Fisher's exact test compared the allele frequencies between the populations. RESULTS: The highest similarities in minimum allele frequency (MAF) were between the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological group (PURE), a Black population in South Africa, and the Yoruba and Luhya populations in Africa. The following SNPs were identified with a possible effect on metabolism: CYP2B6 rs28399494 (MAF 11%) is indicated in the toxicity of Efavirenz and Nevirapine. CYP3A5 rs776746 (MAF 17%) and CYP3A4 rs2749674 (MAF 23%) both cause an increase in the metabolism of the protease inhibitors. The very low MAF values for both SCL01B1 rs4149056 (MAF 0.6%) and ABCC rs717620 (MAF 2.8%) are indications that OATP1B1 transport function and glomerular filtration tempo will not be compromised. The high MAF value of 30% for UGTA1 rs10929302 can result in hyperbilirubinemia, which can decrease the clearance of Dolutegravir. CONCLUSION: These results show a possibility of kidney protection and an increase in bilirubin in this population.

Marcadores lipídicos en los pacientes con VIH/sida en tratamiento con inhibidores de la proteasa

Introducción: Las enfermedades cardiovasculares constituyen la principal causa de morbimortalidad a escala mundial. Otra enfermedad con impacto significativo en los sistemas de salud pública es el VIH/sida. Los pacientes infectados con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, tienen mayor riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades cardiovasculares. Posterior al tratamiento antirretroviral ha disminuido la incidencia de enfermedades oportunistas asociadas al VIH/sida, y se ha elevado la incidencia de enfermedades asociadas al envejecimiento, como la enfermedad cardiovascular. El uso de antirretrovirales inhibidores de la proteasa se asocia a hiperlipidemia y, por consiguiente, al aumento de complicaciones cardiovasculares. Objetivo: Determinar los marcadores lipídicos en pacientes con VIH/sida en tratamiento con inhibidores de la proteasa. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional, analítico, transversal en los pacientes con VIH/sida de la provincia de Matanzas, durante el período comprendido entre marzo y agosto de 2020, en el Laboratorio Clínico del Hospital Universitario Clínico Quirúrgico Comandante Faustino Pérez Hernández. Resultados: Se evaluaron los marcadores lipídicos como factor de riesgo cardiovascular asociado al tratamiento antirretroviral, siendo los triglicéridos el de mayor incidencia. Conclusiones: Se identificaron los marcadores lipídicos como factores de riesgo cardiovascular, en este caso la hipertrigliceridemia.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the main risk of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Another disease with significant impact on public health systems is HIV/AIDS. Patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. After antiretroviral treatment, the incidence of opportunistic diseases associated with HIV/AIDS has decreased and the incidence of diseases associated with aging such as cardiovascular disease has increased. The use of protease inhibitor antiretroviral drugs is associated with hyperlipidemia and a consequent increase in cardiovascular complications. Objective: To determine lipid markers in patients with HIV/AIDS undergoing treatment with protease inhibitors. Materials and method: An observational, analytical, cross-sectional study was carried out in patients with HIV/AIDS from the province of Matanzas during the period from March to August 2020, in the Clinical Laboratory of the Provincial Teaching Clinical Surgical Hospital Faustino Pérez Hernandez. Results: Lipid markers were evaluated as cardiovascular risk factor associated with antiretroviral treatment, with triglycerides being the one of highest incidence. Conclusions: Lipid markers were identified as cardiovascular risk factors; in this case hypertriglyceridemia.

Resistencia genotípica del HIV a los antirretrovirales en niños de Argentina entre 2006 y 2021 / HIV genotypic drug resistance to antiretrovirals in children in Argentina between 2006 and 2021

Introducción: La resistencia del HIV a los antirretrovirales (ARVs) es una de las principales causas de fallo terapéutico en niños, niñas y adolescentes que conviven con el virus. Desde el año 2006, el Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Retrovirus del Hospital Garrahan realiza el estudio genotípico de resistencia (ER) del HIV-1 a los ARVs a fin de identificar mutaciones que disminuyen la susceptibilidad del virus a los fármacos que componen el tratamiento ARV. Objetivos: El objetivo del trabajo fue estudiar el tipo y frecuencia de resistencia del HIV a los ARVs, a través de un análisis de 371 ER realizados entre los años 2006 y 2021 en niños, niñas y adolescentes con HIV-1 adquirido por transmisión vertical y con solicitud médica de ER por presentar fallo terapéutico. Resultados: Entre los años 2006 y 2013 la proporción de casos con resistencia a al menos una clase de fármaco ARV fue mayor al 90%, sugiriendo una asociación directa entre el fallo virológico y la disminución en la susceptibilidad del HIV-1 a uno o más componentes del TARV. A partir del año 2012, se observa una disminución progresiva del nivel de resistencia de HIV-1, llegando al 50% en 2021 (p<0.0001). La frecuencia de mutaciones de resistencia fue diferente para cada una de las clases de ARVs. Mientras que la resistencia a INNTR no sufrió cambios significativos a lo largo del período de estudio, oscilando entre 27% y 75%. La proporción de mutaciones a IPs en pacientes con fallo virológico disminuyó de 87% en 2006 a 17% en 2021 y para los INTR, disminuyó de 79% en 2006 a 45% en 2021. Conclusión: El nivel de resistencia a los ARVs ha disminuido de manera sustancial a lo largo de los últimos 16 años, probablemente por el uso de nuevos fármacos ARV con alta potencia que posibilitaron la intensificación de los tratamientos ARV y la implementación de criterios de fallo terapéutico más estrictos tanto a nivel clínico como virológico (AU)

Introduction: HIV resistance to antiretroviral (ARV) drugs is one of the main causes of therapeutic failure in children and adolescents living with the virus. Since 2006, the Cell Biology and Retrovirus Laboratory of the Garrahan Hospital has been performing the genotypic study of HIV-1 resistance to ARV drugs in order to identify mutations that reduce the susceptibility of the virus to the drugs that constitute ARV treatment. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the type and frequency of HIV resistance to ARV drugs through an analysis of 371 genotype studies performed between 2006 and 2021 in children and adolescents with HIV-1 acquired through motherto-child transmission and with medical request for genotype study due to therapeutic failure. Results: Between 2006 and 2013, the proportion of cases with resistance to at least one ARV drug class was greater than 90%, suggesting a direct association between virologic failure and decreased susceptibility of HIV-1 to one or more components of ART. From 2012 onwards, a progressive decrease in the level of HIV-1 resistance was observed, reaching 50% in 2021 (p<0.0001). The frequency of resistant mutations was different for each of the ARV classes, while resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) did not change significantly over the study period, ranging from 27% to 75%. The proportion of drug-resistant mutations to protease inhibitors (PI) in patients with virologic failure decreased from 87% in 2006 to 17% in 2021 and for NNRTIs from 79% in 2006 to 45% in 2021. Conclusion: The level of resistance to ARV drugs has decreased substantially over the last 16 years, probably due to the use of new ARV drugs with high potency that allowed the intensification of ARV treatments and the implementation of stricter criteria for therapeutic failure both clinically and virologically (AU)