The Alzheimer's disease-8 and Montreal Cognitive Assessment as screening tools for neurocognitive impairment in HIV-infected persons.

The diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated neurocognitive impairment is time-intensive and often omitted in busy outpatient settings. Brief screening tools are needed. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Alzheimer's disease (AD)-8 have been used in neurodegenerative disorders. We evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of these brief screening tools in HIV-infected persons. The AD-8, MoCA, and formal neuropsychological testing were administered to 200 HIV-infected patients who were followed at a single institution. Normalized scores on formal neuropsychological testing were used to define neurocognitive impairment. The sensitivity and specificity of the MoCA and AD-8 were assessed to diagnose the impairment. Neurocognitive impairment was highly prevalent in this cohort: 127 persons (64 %) were diagnosed with neurocognitive impairment based on formal testing. Using the AD-8 and MoCA, 113 (57 %) and 101 (51 %) persons were identified with neurocognitive impairment, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of MoCA were 63 % and 71 %, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of AD-8 were 61 % and 51 %, respectively. Our findings highlight that brief screening tools correlate with formal neuropsychological testing. However, the sensitivities of these screening tools are lower than desired. Nevertheless, given their ease in administration, these tools could assist as a first line for identifying individuals who may subsequently require formal neuropsychological testing.

The Safety and Immunogenicity of an Interleukin-12-Enhanced Multiantigen DNA Vaccine Delivered by Electroporation for the Treatment of HIV-1 Infection.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic vaccination is being studied in eradication and "functional cure" strategies for HIV-1. The Profectus Biosciences multiantigen (MAG) HIV-1 DNA vaccine encodes HIV-1 Gag/Pol, Nef/Tat/Vif, and Envelope, and interleukin-12 (IL-12) and is delivered by electroporation combined with intramuscular injection (IM-EP). METHODS: Sixty-two HIV-1-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy (plasma HIV-1 RNA levels ≤ 200 copies/mL; CD4(+) T-cell counts ≥ 500 cells/mm(3)) were randomly allocated 5:1 to receive vaccine or placebo. At weeks 0, 4, and 12, 4 consecutive cohorts received 3000 µg HIV MAG pDNA with 0, 50, 250, or 1000 µg of IL-12 pDNA by IM-EP. A fifth cohort received HIV MAG pDNA and 1000 µg of IL-12 pDNA by standard IM injection. RESULTS: CD4(+) T cells expressing IL-2 in response to Gag and Pol and interferon-γ responses to Gag, Pol, and Env increased from baseline to week 14 in the low-dose (50-µg) IL-12 arm vs. placebo (P < 0.05; intracellular cytokine staining). The total increase in the IL-2-expressing CD4 T-cell responses to any antigen was also higher in the low-dose IL-12 arm vs. placebo (P = 0.04). Cytokine responses by CD8 T cells to HIV antigens were not increased in any vaccine arm relative to placebo. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-1 MAG/low-dose IL-12 DNA vaccine delivered by IM-EP augmented CD4(+) but not CD8(+) T-cell responses to multiple HIV-1 antigens.

Sensation seeking and HIV serodiscordant couples.

Studies have shown that a modest percentage of HIV serodiscordant couples continue to practice unprotected sex. This study examined sensation seeking and unprotected sex practices among this group. Objectives of the study were to describe unprotected sex practices among HIV serodiscordant couples and assess sensation seeking and unprotected sex with other psychosocial covariates. The method used was a survey of HIV-negative individuals in serodiscordant relationships. Results of the study were that approximately 50% of individuals did not use condoms for penetrative sex within the 3 months of being surveyed. The odds ratio between sensation seeking and unprotected sex was 3.51 to 5.09, depending on the sensation seeking subscale. Negative beliefs regarding condom use were also related (odds ratio, 1.28). Variables such as extroversion, sex under the influence of drugs/alcohol, beliefs in susceptibility to HIV infection, and the ability to perform safer-sex practices were not related to unprotected sex. The conclusions were that sensation seeking may help explain the failure of risk-reduction methods in this subgroup and may suggest new approaches to address this problem.