Factors associated with social deprivation among older persons living with HIV.

Aging persons living with HIV may develop multiple health problems, including comorbidities, and altered physical and mental health, earlier than non-infected people. They may also experience social deprivation. We assessed the prevalence of social deprivation and its relationship with health indicators in older persons living with HIV. An 18-month, multicenter, cross-sectional study was carried out between 2013 and 2014 focusing on patients ≥50-years of age followed-up in 12 dedicated HIV medical hospital units located in the South of France and involved the VISAGE study group. Social deprivation was measured with the EPICES (Evaluation of Deprivation and Inequalities in Health Examination Centers) score (ES) and defined as ES ≥30.17. The following data were recorded: health indicators (gender, age, body mass index), comorbidities, frailty markers, socioeconomic, behavioral and age-related variables. Among 509 patients recruited, 494 completed the ES social deprivation evaluation. Mean age was 58.5 ± 7.0 years and 72.9% were male. The prevalence of social deprivation was 49.0%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that higher social deprivation was significantly linked to alcohol consumption (OR = 4.07 [95%CI: 1.23-13.48]), risk of depression (OR = 3.59 [95%CI: 2.26-5.70]), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (OR = 3.10 [95%CI: 1.36-7.09]), hepatitis C (OR = 1.96 [95%CI: 1.10-3.52]), and chronic pain (OR = 1.11 [95%CI: 1.01-1.21]). Social deprivation was not related to HIV status. Our study showed that not only did older patients with HIV suffer from social deprivation, but they also received little support from social workers. Physicians should be aware of this situation and should systematically evaluate social deprivation in order to provide comprehensive targeted care involving global, social, and psychological support to reduce the burden of social deprivation.

Intradermal injection of a Tat Oyi-based therapeutic HIV vaccine reduces of 1.5 log copies/mL the HIV RNA rebound median and no HIV DNA rebound following cART interruption in a phase I/II randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: A Tat Oyi vaccine preparation was administered with informed consent to 48 long-term HIV-1 infected volunteers whose viral loads had been suppressed by antiretroviral therapy (cART). These volunteers were randomized in double-blind method into four groups (n = 12) that were injected intradermally with 0, 11, 33, or 99 µg of synthetic Tat Oyi proteins in buffer without adjuvant at times designated by month 0 (M0), M1 and M2, respectively. The volunteers then underwent a structured treatment interruption between M5 and M7. RESULTS: The primary outcomes of this phase I/IIa clinical trial were the safety and lowering the extent of HIV RNA rebound after cART interruption. Only one undesirable event possibly due to vaccination was observed. The 33 µg dose was most effective at lowering the extent of HIV RNA and DNA rebound (Mann and Whitney test, p = 0.07 and p = 0.001). Immune responses against Tat were increased at M5 and this correlated with a low HIV RNA rebound at M6 (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study suggests in vivo that extracellular Tat activates and protects HIV infected cells. The Tat Oyi vaccine in association with cART may provide an efficient means of controlling the HIV-infected cell reservoir.

Identification of a highly conserved surface on Tat variants.

Extracellular Tat is suspected to protect HIV-1-infected cells from cellular immunity. Seropositive patients are unable to produce neutralizing antibodies against Tat, and Tat is still secreted under antiviral treatment. In mice, the Tat OYI vaccine candidate generates neutralizing antibodies such as the mAb 7G12. A peptide called MIMOOX was designed from fragments of Tat OYI identified as the possible binding site for mAb 7G12. MIMOOX was chemically synthesized, and its structure was stabilized with a disulfide bridge. Circular dichroism spectra showed that MIMOOX had mainly ß turns but no α helix as Tat OYI. MIMOOX was recognized by mAb 7G12 in ELISA only in reduced conditions. Moreover, a competitive recognition assay with mAb 7G12 between MIMOOX and Tat variants showed that MIMOOX mimics a highly conserved surface in Tat variants. Rat immunizations with MIMOOX induce antibodies recognizing Tat variants from the main HIV-1 subtypes and confirm the Tat OYI vaccine approach.

Frailty phenotype is associated with antiretroviral exposure among older persons living with HIV.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This multicentre, cross-sectional study was carried out in the South of France to assess the association between frailty phenotype and antiretroviral therapy (ART) in older persons living with HIV (PLWHIV). Sociodemographic and HIV data, geriatric assessment, comorbidities, behavioral and age-related variables and the five frailty markers of Fried were recorded. Exposure to any pharmacological class of ART and all regimens were retrieved from medical records. RECENT FINDINGS: The 509 PLWHIV analysed (72.7% male) received a mean of 6.01 ART regimens and 12.5 years exposure to ART. The prevalence of at least one frailty marker [frail and prefrail phenotype (FPFP)] was 66.4%. Duration of exposure to protease inhibitors and reverse transcriptase inhibitors, number of ART regimens and comorbidities, dyslipidaemia, cancer, depression, falls, disability and pain were significantly associated with FPFP by univariate analysis. In logistic regression multivariable analysis, independent predictors for FPFP were a large number of ART regimens, presence of cancer and pain. No significant association was found with HIV-related parameters neither with ART class and duration. SUMMARY: A significant association was found between FPFP and a large number of different ART regimens among older PLWHIV. The burden of cancer and pain in these patients shows the importance of comprehensive care.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new heterocyclic quinolinones as anti-parasite and anti-HIV drug candidates.

We have synthesized quinolinones with potential antiparasitic and anti-HIV activities by an original two-step method involving microwave irradiation and have evaluated their activities against Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania donovani, Trichomonas vaginalis, and HIV. None of the tested compounds had been previously described using this method of synthesis. One of the compounds had interesting antiparasitic and anti-HIV activity, which could be improved by substitution with different radicals.

[Frailty phenotype in older people living with HIV: concepts, prevention and issues]. / Le phénotype de fragilité chez les personnes vieillissantes avec le VIH : concepts, prévention et enjeux de prise en charge.

The life-span of people aging with HIV (PHIV) tends to reach people without infection, reflecting the effectiveness and tolerance of antiretroviral treatment and improvement of multidisciplinary management. Comorbidities or HIV-inflammaging seems to be the main determinants of frailty phenotype in PHIV. Prevalence of frailty in PHIV is frequent (5% from 28%) and appears earlier than in general population (50 versus 65 years). Almost half of people with HIV present prefrail phenotype before 50 years. The usefulness of integrate routinely measures of frailty phenotype is not yet known but several data are encouraging in terms of feasibility and prediction. Early determination of frailty in PHIV could lead to target interventions to improve global health and decrease adverse outcomes such as incapacities and early death.

A retrospective analysis of characteristic features of responder patients to autologous serum eye drops in routine care.

PURPOSE: Autologous serum eye drops (ASEDs) are used worldwide to treat dry eye disease (DED). However, the biological composition of ASEDs has not been well investigated, and effectiveness predictive factors remain to be identified. The main objective of this study was to compare the response of patients treated with ASEDs biologically characterized and used for DED routine care. METHODS: This retrospective observational study was conducted in a single university hospital, and included 50 patients (87 eyes) with DED refractory to conventional treatment and resulting from various etiologies with Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) ≥ 20. Each patient used eight drops a day per treated eye with 20% diluted ASEDs. Undiluted serum extensive biological characterizations were performed, and symptoms were recorded before the initiation of ASEDs and closer to the sixth month of treatment. Responders were defined as presenting an improvement from baseline ≥14 points in OSDI and/or ≥1 grade in corneal fluorescence staining for all eyes treated. RESULTS: The OSDI and the Oxford scale were significantly reduced from 68.7 ±â€¯23.2 to 54.8 ±â€¯25.7 and 3.2 ±â€¯1.5 to 2.1 ±â€¯1.3 (p ≤ 0.0001), respectively. A total of 68% of the patients were responders. Nonresponding patients had significantly higher epidermal growth factor concentrations in the serum compared to responders (p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: ASED administration resulted in significant clinical improvement in the management of DED. Biological differences observed between responders and nonresponders suggested that a better understanding of the biological activity of ASEDs is still required.

Frail and pre-frail phenotype is associated with pain in older HIV-infected patients.

As HIV-infected patients grow older, some accumulate multiple health problems earlier than the noninfected ones in particular frailty phenotypes. Patients with frailty phenotype are at higher risk of adverse outcomes (worsening mobility, disability, hospitalization, and death within three years).Our study aimed to evaluate prevalence of frailty in elderly HIV-infected patients and to assess whether frailty is associated with HIV and geriatric factors, comorbidities, and precariousness in a French cohort of older HIV infected.This 18-month cross-sectional multicenter study carried in 2013 to 2014 had involved 502 HIV-infected patients aged 50 years and older, cared in 18 HIV-dedicated hospital medical units, located in South of France.Prevalence of frailty was 6.3% and of pre-frailty 57.2%. Low physical activity and weakness were the main frailty markers, respectively 49.4% and 19.9%. In univariate models, precariousness, duration of HIV antiretroviral treatment >15 years, 2 comorbidities or more, risk of depression, activities of daily living disability, and presence of pain were significantly associated with frail and pre-frail phenotype. Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that only pain was significantly different between frail and pre frail phenotype versus non frail phenotype (odds ratio = 1.2; P = .002).Our study is the first showing a significant association between pain and frailty phenotype in older patients infected by HIV. As frailty phenotype could be potentially reversible, a better understanding of the underlying determinant is warranted. Further studies are needed to confirm these first findings.

Severe Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Patients Treated for Hepatitis C With Sofosbuvir.

Development of direct-acting antiviral agents against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has changed the management of chronic HCV infection. We report three cases of newly diagnosed or exacerbated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients treated with sofosbuvir. All patients had PAH-associated comorbidities (HIV coinfection in two, portal hypertension in one) and one was already being treated for PAH. At admission, all patients presented with syncope, World Health Organization functional class IV, right-sided heart failure, and extremely severe hemodynamic parameters. After specific PAH therapy, the clinical and hemodynamic properties for all patients were improved. Severity and acuteness of PAH, as well as chronology, could suggest a causal link between HCV treatment and PAH onset. We hypothesize that suppression of HCV replication promotes a decrease in vasodilatory inflammatory mediators leading to worsening of underlying PAH. The current report suggests that sofosbuvir-based therapy may be associated with severe PAH.

New treatment options for lupus - a focus on belimumab.

Belimumab is the first biologic approved for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Belimumab is the first of a new class of drug targeting B cell-stimulating factors or their receptors to reach the market. Its target, BLyS, also known as BAFF (B cell-activating factor from the tumor necrosis factor family), is a type II transmembrane protein that exists in both membrane-bound and soluble forms. Additionally to a robust rational from murine experiments conducted in lupus prone mice, BLyS circulating levels are increased in SLE patients. After the negative results of a Phase II trial, two Phase III trials met their primary endpoints. Some SLE patients are still refractory to the standard options of care or necessitate prolonged high-dose corticotherapy and/or long-term immunosuppressive regimens. However, some experts still feel that the effect of this biologic might not be clinically relevant and blame the use of the new systemic lupus response index as well as the discrepancies between both trials and the noninclusion of the severe form of the disease as nephritis. In this review, we aim to discuss the characteristics of belimumab, critically evaluate the different steps of its development, and consider its future place in the arsenal against SLE, taking into account the patients' perspectives.

Seasonal variations of systemic lupus erythematosus flares in southern France.

OBJECTIVE: Exposure to sunlight is one of the environmental factors involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. We investigated whether there is seasonal variation in the incidence of cutaneous and noncutaneous severe lupus flares in southern France. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical and biological data from all SLE patients hospitalized for a flare of the disease during a two year period in our centre and collected corresponding meteorological data from the official website of MeteoFrance. RESULTS: Forty one patients, mean age 36.7 ± 13.8 years, were included. Twenty-six patients (63.4%) had kidney biopsy performed, showing in all cases proliferative nephritis, associated with membranous nephritis in 9 (22%). We found a clear seasonal pattern for overall lupus flares with 39% of flares occurred in Spring. Among patients without any cutaneous involvement, this seasonal pattern was still observed (p=0.024). Patients under antimalarials presented flares significantly later in the sunny season than those without (respectively median in July versus May, p=0.044). There were strong positive correlations between occurrence of lupus flares and maximum temperature increase (ρ=0.87, p<0.001), minimum temperature increase (ρ=0.87, p<0.001), and duration of sunshine increase (ρ=0.78, p=0.003). These correlations were also observed in patients with renal flares. CONCLUSION: We confirmed a seasonal pattern for lupus flares among patients living in Southern France, with most flares in spring, in correlation with an increase in temperature and duration of sunshine. A similar seasonal pattern was observed in patients with no cutaneous involvement and with visceral involvement.

Antiretroviral therapy does not block the secretion of the human immunodeficiency virus tat protein.

Tat is a viral protein secreted from HIV infected cells and extra cellular Tat is suspected to prevent destruction of HIV infected cells from cells of the cellular immunity. The effect of anti retroviral therapy (ART) on Tat secretion has never been investigated. In this study, we tested for antibody reactivity against Tat variants representative of the main HIV subtypes in HIV positive patients receiving ART with undetectable viral loads ( < 40 copies/mL) over the course of one year with a blood sampling every three months. For each of theses five blood sampling, an average of 50 % of patients had Anti-Tat IgG, it turned out that 86% of patients could recognize Tat at least in one blood sampling during the course of the study. Amazingly, anti-Tat IgG appeared and/or disappeared in 66 % of patients. Only 20% had anti-Tat IgG remaining persistently while 14% were consistently without anti Tat IgG in the five blood sampling. No significant correlation was found between anti-Tat IgG and CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell and B cell counts revealing the incapacity of these anti Tat IgG to neutralize extra cellular Tat. Interestingly the absence and then the appearance of anti-Tat IgG in patients suggest the presence of HIV infected cells in the blood that may constitute a significant reservoir of HIV infected cells. As a conclusion antiretroviral therapy does not block the secretion of Tat and may explain why HIV infected cells can survive in spite of an effective ART treatment.

HIV-1 infected patients have antibodies recognizing folded Tat.

Tat is a regulatory viral protein known as transactivator of HIV-1 genes but Tat is also secreted in the blood from HIV-1 infected cells. Extra cellular Tat can cross cellular membranes to trigger apoptosis and might explain the incapacity of the cellular immunity to eliminate HIV-1 infected cells. There is a controversy regarding Tat structure with studies suggesting that Tat would be a naturally unfolded protein. Here, we show that synthetic Tat variants need to be folded to have a transactivation activity in a cellular assay but this folding is unstable regarding the buffers and/or pH used as solvent. We show also that the recognition of a Tat variant versus peptides, covering its sequence, was different. Using an indirect ELISA method with 40 sera from volunteer HIV-1 infected patients, we show that Tat was recognized by 19 human sera either exclusively (n=8) or with Tat peptides (n=11). Dot Blot showed that unfolded Tat was no longer detectable by sera of the first group (n=8) compared to folded Tat. As a conclusion, this study suggests that Tat could be a naturally folded protein in the blood of HIV infected patients.

Polymorphism at position -308 of the tumor necrosis factor alpha gene influences outcome of infliximab therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether the G-to-A polymorphism at position -308 in the promoter of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) gene influences response to infliximab therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We genotyped 59 RA patients by polymerase chain reaction and subdivided them into two groups: those with the A/A or A/G genotype and those with the G/G genotype. We compared the groups' clinical responses to infliximab treatment after 22 weeks, using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28). RESULTS: We found that 42% of patients in the A/A and A/G group and 81% of patients in the G/G group had improvement of at least 1.2 in the DAS28 score (P = 0.0086). The average improvement in the DAS28 score was 1.24 in the A/A and A/G patients and 2.29 in the G/G patients (P = 0.029). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that patients with a TNFalpha -308G/G genotype are better infliximab responders than are patients with A/A or A/G genotypes. TNFalpha -308 genotyping may be a useful tool for predicting response to infliximab treatment.