Ultracompact metalens-based beam-focusing fiber-optic device with a large numerical aperture.

Conventional optical fibers have good light conduction and transmission properties, and have been widely used in the fields of long-distance fiber-optic communication and sensing. However, due to the dielectric properties of the fiber core and cladding materials, the spot size of the transmitted light is dispersive, which greatly limits the application areas of optical fiber. The emergence of metalenses based on artificial periodic micro-nanostructures is opening the door to a variety of fiber innovations. We demonstrate an ultracompact beam-focusing fiber-optic device based on a composite structure of a single-mode fiber (SMF), a multimode fiber (MMF), and a metalens consisting of periodic micro-nano silicon column structures. Convergent beams with numerical apertures (NAs) of up to 0.64@air and a focal length of 63.6 µm are produced by the metalens on the MMF end face. The metalens-based fiber-optic beam-focusing device could find new applications in optical imaging, particle capture and manipulation, sensing, and fiber lasers.

Compact magnetic field sensor based on plasmonic fiber-tip.

A plasmonic fiber-tip based on the metallic metasurface and the multimode fiber (MMF) alleviates the limitation of the inevitable large sensing size caused by fiber side wall functionalization. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) based on metasurface on the fiber-tip provides a promising way to manipulate and interrogate the transmitted and reflection light in sub-wavelength range. Combining the advantages of plasmonic fiber-tip and magnetic fluid, a compact magnetic field fiber-optic sensor is proposed and verified by experiments. The developed fiber-optic magnetic field sensor has linear response and high magnetic strength sensitivity of 0.532 nm/mT over a range of 0-20 mT. In addition, the results also prove the feasibility of pseudo-vector magnetic field sensing.

Ofatumumab in combination with ICE or DHAP chemotherapy in relapsed or refractory intermediate grade B-cell lymphoma.

Standard treatment of transplant-eligible patients with relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) consists of rituximab and platinum-based chemotherapy, either ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) or dexamethasone, cytarabine, and cisplatin (DHAP), with autologous transplant consolidation for those with chemosensitive disease. Nonetheless, outcomes are suboptimal for patients failing rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP). We performed a multi-center phase II trial investigating the safety and efficacy of ofatumumab, a monoclonal antibody against CD20, combined with ICE or DHAP second-line therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL, grade 3b follicular lymphoma, or transformed follicular lymphoma. Sixty-one patients were treated with either ofatumumab-ICE (35) or ofatumumab-DHAP (26). The overall response rate (ORR) was 61%, and the complete response (CR) rate was 37%. In patients with 2 or 3 adverse risk factors according to the second-line, age-adjusted, international prognostic index, the ORR was 59% and CR 31%, and in patients with early-relapsing or primary refractory disease, the ORR was 55% and CR 30%. Toxicity was largely hematologic, and stem cell mobilization was successful in 43 of 45 patients. Substitution of ofatumumab for rituximab in standard second-line regimens following failure of R-CHOP is a promising approach. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00823719.

Rupture Risk Assessment of Cervical Spinal Manipulations on Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque by a 3D Fluid-Structure Interaction Model.

METHOD: The FSI model, based on MRI data of an atherosclerosis patient, was used to simulate the deformations of the plaque and lumen during the process of two kinds of typical cSMT (the high-speed, low-amplitude spinal manipulation and the cervical rotatory manipulation). The biomechanical parameters were recorded, such as the highest wall shear stress (WSS), the maximum plaque wall stress (PWS), the wall tensile stress (Von mises stress, VWTS), and the strain. RESULT: The max_WSS was 33.77 kPa in the most extensive deformation. The highest WSS region on the plaque surface was also the highest PWS region. The max_PWS in a 12% stretch was 55.11 kPa, which was lower than the rupture threshold. The max_VWTS of the cap in 12% stretch which approached the fracture stress level was 116.75 kPa. Moreover, the vessel's max_VWTS values in 10% and 12% stretch were 554.21 and 855.19 kPa. They were higher than the fracture threshold, which might cause media fracture. Meanwhile, the 7% stretched strain was 0.29, closed to the smallest experimental green strains at rupture. CONCLUSION: The carotid arteries' higher stretch generated the higher stress level of the plaque. Cervical rotatory manipulation might cause plaque at a high risk of rupture in deformation after 12% stretch and more. Lower deformation of the plaque and artery caused by the high-speed, low-amplitude spinal manipulation might be safer.

Virologic response and safety of the abacavir/lamivudine fixed-dose formulation as part of highly active antiretroviral therapy: analyses of six clinical studies.

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed virologic response and safety data from six recent clinical studies conducted in antiretroviral-naïve subjects treated with ABC/3TC or its components to assess the impact of baseline viral load on efficacy and safety endpoints used in the ACTG5202 protocol. METHODS: Primary endpoints were time to virologic failure (confirmed HIV-1 RNA > or = 1,000 copies/mL at 16-24 weeks or > or = 200 copies/mL at > or = 24 weeks) and time to first grade 3 or 4 adverse event or laboratory abnormality that was at least one grade higher than at baseline. The survival distributions of both endpoints were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method overall and by baseline viral load (<100,000 vs. 100,000 copies/mL). A weighted mean of the virologic response and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by inverse-variance weighting for baseline viral load 100,000 copies/mL across studies. RESULTS: For subjects with baseline HIV-1 RNA 100,000 copies/mL, the rate of virologic survival ranged from 87% to 95% by 48 weeks. Few subjects treated with ABC/3TC developed grade 3 or 4 adverse events, laboratory toxicities, or changes in lipid levels. The weighted mean (CI) for the pooled virologic response was 91% (87%-96%). CONCLUSION: Based on the A5202 endpoints, ABC/3TC-containing regimens in this analysis had a high rate of virologic survival and were generally well tolerated in antiretroviral-naïve subjects regardless of baseline viral load. The pooled virologic response for ABC/3TC in our analysis is higher than the A5202 estimate.

Fosamprenavir or atazanavir once daily boosted with ritonavir 100 mg, plus tenofovir/emtricitabine, for the initial treatment of HIV infection: 48-week results of ALERT.

BACKGROUND: Once-daily (QD) ritonavir 100 mg-boosted fosamprenavir 1400 mg (FPV/r100) or atazanavir 300 mg (ATV/r100), plus tenofovir/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) 300 mg/200 mg, have not been compared as initial antiretroviral treatment. To address this data gap, we conducted an open-label, multicenter 48-week study (ALERT) in 106 antiretroviral-naïve, HIV-infected patients (median HIV-1 RNA 4.9 log10 copies/mL; CD4+ count 191 cells/mm3) randomly assigned to the FPV/r100 or ATV/r100 regimens. RESULTS: At baseline, the FPV/r100 or ATV/r100 arms were well-matched for HIV-1 RNA (median, 4.9 log10 copies/mL [both]), CD4+ count (mean, 176 vs 205 cells/mm3). At week 48, intent-to-treat: missing/discontinuation = failure analysis showed similar responses to FPV/r100 and ATV/r100 (HIV-1 RNA < 50 copies/mL: 75% (40/53) vs 83% (44/53), p = 0.34 [Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test]); mean CD4+ count change-from-baseline: +170 vs +183 cells/mm3, p = 0.398 [Wilcoxon rank sum test]). Fasting total/LDL/HDL-cholesterol changes-from-baseline were also similar, although week 48 median fasting triglycerides were higher with FPV/r100 (150 vs 131 mg/dL). FPV/r100-treated patients experienced fewer treatment-related grade 2-4 adverse events (15% vs 57%), with differences driven by ATV-related hyperbilirubinemia. Three patients discontinued TDF/FTC because their GFR decreased to <50 mL/min. CONCLUSION: The all-QD regimens of FPV/r100 and ATV/r100, plus TDF/FTC, provided similar virologic, CD4+ response, and fasting total/LDL/HDL-cholesterol changes through 48 weeks. Fewer FPV/r100-treated patients experienced treatment-related grade 2-4 adverse events.

Prevalence of antiretroviral drug resistance and resistance-associated mutations in antiretroviral therapy-naïve HIV-infected individuals from 40 United States cities.

BACKGROUND: Transmission of drug-resistant HIV strains to antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve subjects can negatively impact therapy response. As treatment strategies and utilization of antiretroviral drugs evolve, patterns of transmitted mutations may shift. METHOD: Paired genotypic and phenotypic susceptibility data were retrospectively analyzed for 317 ART-naïve, HIV-infected subjects from 40 small and major metropolitan cities in the Northeastern, Midwestern, Southern, Southwestern, and Northwestern United States during 2003. RESULTS: Using current (January 2007) PhenoSense cutoffs, HIV-from 8% of subjects had reduced susceptibility to > or = 1 drug. By class, < 1% had reduced susceptibility to protease inhibitors (PIs), and 1% had reduced susceptibility to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs); reduced susceptibility to > or = 1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTIs) was seen in 7% of subjects, with 4% of all subjects having reduced susceptibility to all NNRTIs. IAS-USA-defined NRTI, NNRTI, and/or major PI HIV-drug resistance-associated mutations were detected for 0% of the subjects. HIV risk factors included homosexual contact (74%), heterosexual contact (28%), and injectable drug use/transfusion/other (7%). Reduced susceptibility to > or = 1 drug was significantly higher (p = .034) for white subjects than African Americans and Hispanics/others. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of drug resistance in these ART-naïve subjects suggests that transmitted resistance is occurring widely within the United States. HIV genotyping and/or phenotyping for antiretroviral-naïve patients seeking treatment should be considered, especially if the therapy will include an NNRTI.

Ofatumumab Versus Rituximab Salvage Chemoimmunotherapy in Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: The ORCHARRD Study.

Purpose We compared the efficacy of ofatumumab (O) versus rituximab (R) in combination with cisplatin, cytarabine, and dexamethasone (DHAP) salvage treatment, followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Patients and Methods Patients with CD20+ DLBCL age ≥ 18 years who had experienced their first relapse or who were refractory to first-line R-CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone)-like treatment were randomly assigned between three cycles of R-DHAP or O-DHAP. Either O 1,000 mg or R 375 mg/m2 was administered for a total of four infusions (days 1 and 8 of cycle 1; day 1 of cycles 2 and 3 of DHAP). Patients who experienced a response after two cycles of treatment received the third cycle, followed by high-dose therapy and ASCT. Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS), with failure to achieve a response after cycle 2 included as an event. Results Between March 2010 and December 2013, 447 patients were randomly assigned. Median age was 57 years (range, 18 to 83 years); 17% were age ≥ 65 years; 63% had stage III and IV disease; 71% did not achieve complete response (CR) or experience response for < 1 year on first-line R-CHOP. Response rate for O-DHAP was 38% (CR, 15%) versus 42% (CR, 22%) for R-DHAP. ASCT on protocol was completed by 74 patients (33%) in the O arm and 83 patients (37%) in the R arm. PFS, event-free survival, and overall survival were not significantly different between O-DHAP versus R-DHAP: PFS at 2 years was 24% versus 26% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; 95% CI, 0.89 to 1.42; P = .33); event-free survival at 2 years was 16% versus 18% (HR, 1.10; P = .35); and overall survival at 2 years was 41% versus 38% (HR, 0.90; P = .38). Positron emission tomography negativity before ASCT was highly predictive for superior outcome. Conclusion No difference in efficacy was found between O-DHAP and R-DHAP as salvage treatment of relapsed or refractory DLBCL.

Once-weekly ofatumumab in untreated or relapsed Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia: an open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study.

BACKGROUND: The development of more effective and safer treatments, especially non-chemotherapeutics, is needed for patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia. The aim of the study was to assess the safety and clinical activity of intravenous ofatumumab monotherapy for untreated and relapsed Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia. METHODS: We did a phase 2, open-label, single-arm study at six centres (hospitals and cancer clinics) in the USA. Patients aged at least 18 years who were diagnosed with untreated or relapsed Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia and required treatment, received up to three cycles of weekly ofatumumab for 5 weeks. For cycle 1, patients received one of two treatment regimens. Group A received ofatumumab 300 mg during week 1 followed by 1000 mg during weeks 2-4. Because of the acceptable safety of the 1000 mg dose in treatment group A and clinical activity of the 2000 mg dose established in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, the study was amended on Dec 9, 2009, to change cycle 1 for group B who received ofatumumab 300 mg during week 1 and 2000 mg during weeks 2-5. We followed up patients during weeks 5-16 for treatment group A and during weeks 6-16 for treatment group B (no treatment was given during this follow-up). Patients in both groups with stable disease or a minor response after 16 weeks were eligible to then receive a redosing cycle of ofatumumab 300 mg during week 1 and 2000 mg during weeks 2-5. We followed up patients during weeks 6-16 after the redosing cycle (no treatment was given during this follow-up). Patients responding to cycle 1 or the redosing cycle who developed disease progression within 36 months could receive cycle 2 of ofatumumab 300 mg during week 1 and 2000 mg during weeks 2-5. The primary endpoint for this study was the proportion of patients who achieved an overall response (complete responses plus partial responses plus minor responses) after each treatment cycle in the intent-to-treat population every 4 weeks starting at week 8. This trial is registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00811733, and is now complete. FINDINGS: Between March 17, 2009, and Feb 24, 2011, we enrolled and assigned 37 patients to treatment (15 in treatment group A and 22 in treatment group B). All 37 were included in the efficacy and safety analyses. 19 (51%, 95% CI 34·4-68·1) of 37 patients achieved an overall response after cycle 1 and 22 (59%, 42·1-75·2) of 37 achieved an overall response after the redosing cycle; 15 (41%) with partial responses, seven (19%) with minor responses. 13 patients received treatment cycle 2; ten (77%) of the 13 achieved a response. All 37 patients had at least one adverse event; 16 (43%) patients had events of grade 3 or more (30 grade 3, one grade 4). The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were infusion reactions (four [11%] of 37), chest pain (two [5%] of 37), haemolysis (two [5%] of 37), and neutropenia (two [5%] of 37). Two (9%) of 22 patients (both in treatment group B) had an IgM flare. 12 patients reported serious adverse events; haemolysis and pyrexia were the most common (each occurring in two [5%] of 37 patients). INTERPRETATION: A high proportion of patients achieved an overall response with ofatumumab monotherapy and this treatment was well tolerated, with a low incidence of IgM flare. This therapy might be a non-chemotherapeutic treatment option for patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia, especially those with high IgM concentrations. FUNDING: GlaxoSmithKline and Genmab.

Fosamprenavir clinical study meta-analysis in ART-naïve subjects: rare occurrence of virologic failure and selection of protease-associated mutations.

BACKGROUND: In recent ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor (PI) studies, high efficacy rates have been observed, with few PI mutations detected. METHOD: To better understand the types of mutations observed and their phenotypic impact and the likelihood of virologic failure (VF) on a regimen that includes either a ritonavir-boosted or unboosted PI, fosamprenavir, a meta-analysis of three studies (NEAT, SOLO, and KLEAN) of 922 ART-naïve participants receiving boosted (FPV/r) or unboosted fosamprenavir (FPV) plus abacavir/lamivudine was performed. 70% of participants by the missing and discontinuation equals failure analysis and 95% by the observed analysis had HIV-RNA <400 copies/mL through 48 weeks. Paired genotypes (baseline and follow-up) were obtained for 74/85 participants meeting VF analysis criteria. RESULTS: FPV-associated resistance mutations were detected in 5/74 patients with VF, with 4/5 receiving unboosted FPV; in four patients viruses developed I54L or M and one developed the V32I+I47V combination. No virus from patients with VF receiving FPV/r had reduced FPV susceptibility (RS), whereas virus from 3/4 of participants with VF who received unboosted FPV and who acquired FPV mutations had FPV RS. Little PI cross-resistance was detected in the VF virus; RS was observed for lopinavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir, atazanavir, and indinavir in 0, 0, 2, 0, and 1 of 5 subjects, respectively. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that inclusion of FPV as part of an initial HIV-treatment regimen is associated with low rates of VF. Selection of FPV resistance-associated mutations is unlikely, especially for FPV/r-containing regimens. If selection of FPV-associated mutations does occur, a second-line PI-containing regimen can be easily constructed.

Pilot study of once-daily simplification therapy with abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine and efavirenz for treatment of HIV-1 infection.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the efficacy and safety of the abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine fixed-dose combination tablet administered as two tablets once daily (qd) versus one tablet twice daily (bid) in combination with efavirenz (EFV). METHOD: This was a prospective, randomized, open-label, multicenter study with a 24-week treatment period in 7 outpatient HIV clinics in the United States. Patients currently receiving an initial regimen of abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine bid plus EFV qd for at least 6 months with HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL for at least 3 months and a screening CD4+ cell count > or = 200 cells/mm3 were eligible. Thirty-six patients enrolled, and 35 (97%) completed the study. Participants were randomized to switch to 2 tablets of abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine qd plus EFV qd (QD arm) or continue current treatment (BID arm) for 24 weeks. RESULTS: Efficacy, safety, and adherence were evaluated. Median baseline CD4+ cell count was 521 cells/mm3. At week 24, HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL was achieved for 94% of participants in the QD arm and 89% in the BID arm by intent-to-treat, missing = failure analysis (95% confidence interval for difference: > or = 0.29 to +0.18, p = 1.000). At week 24, median CD4+ cell count change from baseline was +26 cells/mm3 for the QD arm and -39 cells/mm3 for BID arm. One patient randomized to the QD arm met virologic failure criteria (confirmed HIV-1 RNA >120 copies/mL) at week 20 and viral genotype showed M184V. After failure, this patient revealed he never took EFV throughout the entire study after randomization, effectively receiving only abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine qd alone. Median adherence was slightly higher in the QD arm, although both arms had broad variability and overlapping interquartile ranges. Adverse events were infrequent and occurred with similar frequency between arms; treatment-related adverse events were abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea, headache, and abnormal dreams (1 patient [3%] for each adverse event). No patients withdrew due to adverse events, and no abacavir hypersensitivity reactions were reported. CONCLUSION: In this pilot study of patients suppressed on abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine bid plus EFV, 94% of participants switching to abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine qd plus EFV maintained virologic suppression, compared to 89% of participants continuing abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine bid plus EFV.

Abacavir, efavirenz, didanosine, with or without hydroxyurea, in HIV-infected adults failing initial nucleoside/protease inhibitor-containing regimens.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyurea (HU) is an immunomodulatory agent that has been documented to enhance the antiretroviral activity of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, such as abacavir (ABC) and didanosine (ddI), and would be expected to improve virologic efficacy. METHODS: A 48-week, phase IV, multicenter, open-label, proof-of-concept clinical trial was conducted to evaluate second-line, protease inhibitor (PI)-sparing therapy with ABC/efavirenz (EFV)/ddI plus HU or without HU in HIV-infected subjects failing to achieve HIV-1 RNA < or = 400 copies/mL after > or = 16 weeks of treatment with lamivudine/zidovudine or lamivudine/stavudine, plus 1 or 2 PIs. Subjects were assigned to ABC (300 mg twice daily)/ EFV (600 mg once daily)/ ddI (400 mg once daily) plus HU (500 mg twice daily) (n = 30) or this regimen without HU (n = 24). RESULTS: Baseline mean HIV-1 RNA was 3.86 log10 copies/mL and CD4+ cell count was 345 cells/mm3. A similar percentage of subjects in the non-HU arm (58%) and HU arm (53%) completed the study. Intent-to-treat: missing = failure analysis showed no differences in proportions of subjects in the non-HU and HU arms achieving undetectable plasma HIV-1 RNA levels at week 24 (< 400 copies/mL: 58% [14/24] vs 57% [17/30], P = 0.899; < 50 copies/mL (50% [12/24] vs 47% [14/30], P = 0.780). Median change from baseline in CD4+ cell count in the non-HU and HU arms at week 48 was +114 cells/mm3 and -63 cells/mm3 (P = 0.007), respectively. Both regimens were generally well tolerated, although more subjects in the HU arm withdrew prematurely from the study due to adverse events (23% vs 4%). Four cases of possible ABC-related hypersensitivity were observed. CONCLUSION: ABC/EFV/ddI was an effective and well-tolerated second-line regimen for nucleoside/PI-experienced HIV-infected subjects. The addition of HU blunted the CD4+ cell response, did not appear to enhance antiviral activity, and resulted in more treatment-limiting adverse events.

Genotypic and phenotypic cross-resistance patterns to lopinavir and amprenavir in protease inhibitor-experienced patients with HIV viremia.

Genotypic correlates of reduced phenotypic susceptibility to amprenavir (APV) and lopinavir (LPV) were examined in 271 HIV isolates from 207 protease inhibitor (PI)-experienced subjects. All samples were from LPV-naive subjects; two were from APV-experienced subjects. Using a fold resistance (FR) of <2.5, 179 (66%) were APV susceptible. Using FRs of <2.5 and <10, 107 (39%) and 194 (72%), respectively, were LPV susceptible. The I84V mutation was the strongest APV resistance marker in PI-experienced subjects in both univariate and multivariate analyses, with an increased relative incidence (RI) of 6.9 with >2.5 FR. Mutations L10I (RI, 1.7), M46I (RI, 2.3), and L90M (RI, 1.9, but 65% linked with the I84V) were associated with decreased APV susceptibility in the univariate analysis (p < 0.001). Mutations L10I, G48V, I54T, I54V, and V82A were significantly associated with decreased LPV susceptibility (p < 0.001 for each) and had increased RIs of 2.2, 4.4, 13, 4.6, and 3.2, respectively. Decreased susceptibility to LPV (FR, >or=10) was significantly associated with prior exposure to the following PIs: ritonavir (RTV) (p < 0.001), saquinavir (SQV) (p < 0.001), nelfinavir (NFV) (p = 0.008), and indinavir (IDV) (p = 0.028). Decreased APV susceptibility (FR, >or=2.5) was significantly associated with prior exposure to RTV (p = 0.009), NFV (p = 0.003), and IDV (p = 0.021) but not with prior SQV (p = 0.103). These results suggest that APV and LPV have different cross-resistance mutation patterns that may help determine choice of PI therapy after therapy failure.

Pharmacodynamic effects of zidovudine 600 mg once/day versus 300 mg twice/day in therapy-naïve patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the virologic activity of zidovudine monotherapy administered as 600 mg once/day versus 300 mg twice/day. DESIGN: Phase II, randomized (1:1), open-label study. SETTING: Thirteen medical centers in the United States. PATIENTS: Thirty-two antiretroviral-naive patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). INTERVENTION: Patients were administered either zidovudine 600 mg every 24 hours (16 patients) or 300 mg every 12 hours (16 patients) for 13 days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Plasma HIV-1 RNA concentration was measured daily. Study end points were between-group differences in change from baseline of log10-transformed HIV-1 RNA and in rates of viral load decline measured by the slope of HIV-1 RNA over time. At baseline, mean HIV-1 RNA was similar in the once/day and twice/day groups (4.33 and 4.40 log10 copies/ml, respectively). At day 14, a trend toward lower mean reduction in HIV-1 RNA from baseline was observed in the once/day group (-0.585, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.728 to -0.442 log10 copies/ml) compared with the twice/day group (-0.849, 95% CI -1.067 to -0.630 log10 copies/ml, p=0.056). Viral load reduction also tended to be slower in the once/day group, as indicated by the smaller slope of viral load decline in the once/day group than in the twice/day group during days 1-14 (-0.045 vs -0.065 logic copies/ml/day, p=0.065). Both zidovudine regimens were similarly well tolerated. CONCLUSION: Zidovudine 600 mg once/day has antiviral activity, although less pronounced and more slowly achieved than that seen with zidovudine 300 mg twice/day. No differences were observed between the two treatment groups with respect to safety profile or tolerability

Twice-daily amprenavir 1200 mg versus amprenavir 600 mg/ritonavir 100 mg, in combination with at least 2 other antiretroviral drugs, in HIV-1-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: Low-dose ritonavir (RTV) boosts plasma amprenavir (APV) exposure. Little has been published on the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of APV 600 mg/RTV 100 mg (APV600/RTV) twice daily (BID) compared to APV 1200 mg BID (APV1200). METHODS: ESS40011 was a 24-week, multicenter, open-label, clinical trial in which antiretroviral therapy-naïve and -experienced HIV-1-infected adults were randomized 3:1 to receive either APV600/RTV BID or APV1200 BID, in combination with > or = 2 non-protease inhibitor antiretroviral drugs. Non-inferiority of the APV600/RTV regimen to the APV1200 regimen was established if the 95% lower confidence limit for the difference in proportion of patients achieving HIV-1 RNA <200 copies/mL at week 24 with APV 600/RTV minus APV1200 was > or =-0.12. Late in the conduct of the trial, patients not yet completing 24 weeks of therapy were given the option of continuing treatment for an additional 24-week period. RESULTS: 211 patients were randomized, 158 to APV600/RTV and 53 to APV1200. At week 24, APV600/RTV was similar to or better than APV1200 (HIV-1 RNA <200 copies/mL in 62% [73/118] vs 53% [20/38] of patients; intent-to-treat: observed analysis). In the APV600/RTV arm, significantly more patients achieved HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL (48% [57/118] vs 29% [11/38] with APV1200, P = 0.04), and greater mean reduction from baseline in HIV-1 RNA was observed (-2.21 vs -1.59 log10 copies/mL, P = 0.028). The two treatment arms were similar with respect to mean overall change from baseline in CD4+ count, frequency of drug-related grade 1-4 adverse events, and frequency of discontinuing treatment due to adverse events (most commonly nausea, diarrhea, vomiting or fatigue; 7% vs 8%), although a lower proportion of patients in the APV600/RTV arm experienced drug-related oral/perioral paresthesia (2% vs 8%). Eleven (73%) of 15 patients who had HIV-1 RNA <200 copies/mL at week 24 and chose to continue study treatment maintained this level of virologic suppression at follow-up 24 weeks later. CONCLUSIONS: APV600 RTV BID was similar to or better than APV1200 BID in virologic response. Virologic results in a small number of patients who continued treatment for 24 weeks post-study suggest that virologic suppression with APV600 RTV BID is durable.

Stavudine-associated peripheral neuropathy in zidovudine-naïve patients: effect of stavudine exposure and antiretroviral experience.

A post hoc analysis of safety data from study protocol NZT40012 assessed the incidence of conditions defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 86 zidovudine-naïve, antiretroviral-experienced patients with HIV-1 infection who responded poorly (plasma HIV-1 RNA > 1000 copies/mL) despite at least 4 months' treatment with stavudine-containing regimens. Peripheral neuropathy occurred in 21%; other conditions were seen less frequently (candidiasis [13%], herpes zoster [12%], diarrhea lasting > 1 month [9%], Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia [9%], and wasting syndrome [8%]). The incidence of peripheral neuropathy rose significantly with the number of drugs comprising treatment regimens (> or = 4 vs 1-3; P = .013) and tended to be higher in patients with longer exposure to stavudine (29% with > or = 24 months' exposure vs 13% with < 24 months). Because peripheral neuropathy was observed with such high frequency, vigilance for signs and symptoms of this condition appears warranted if stavudine-containing regimens are to be continued.

Characteristics of foot fractures in HIV-infected patients previously treated with tenofovir versus non-tenofovir-containing highly active antiretroviral therapy.

In a retrospective case series study, medical records were evaluated for all male patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosed over a one-year period with foot fractures (n = 30) confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging at a Los Angeles outpatient private practice rheumatology clinic. Proportionally more patients had received tenofovir prefracture (17 [57%]) than those who had not (13 [43%]). At fracture diagnosis, these two groups were similar in median age (49 versus 48 years), HIV-1 RNA (both 1.7 log(10) copies/mL), CD4 count (300 versus 364/mm(3)), time between HIV diagnosis and foot fracture (both 17 years), family history of degenerative bone disease (24% versus 23%), prevalence of malabsorption syndrome, renal failure, calcium deficiency, or vitamin D deficiency, and concurrent use of bisphosphonates, calcitonin, and diuretics. However, more tenofovir-treated patients had osteoporosis (35% versus 8%), stress-type fractures (53% versus 31%), concurrent fractures (12% versus 0%), wasting syndrome (29% versus 15%), truncal obesity (18% versus 8%), smoked cigarettes (more than one pack/day for more than one year; 35% versus 8%), dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) T scores < -2.4 (denoting osteoporosis) at the femur (24% versus 9%) and spine (47% versus 36%), and had received protease inhibitors (71% versus 46%), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (24% versus 0%), prednisone (24% versus 0%), testosterone (47% versus 23%), and teriparatide (29% versus 8%). Median time from tenofovir initiation until fracture was 2.57 (range 1.17-5.69) years. In conclusion, more foot fractures were observed in tenofovir-treated patients than in non-tenofovir-treated patients with HIV infection. Comorbidities and/or coadministered drugs may have been contributory.

Comparison of once-daily fosamprenavir boosted with either 100 or 200 mg of ritonavir, in combination with abacavir/lamivudine: 96-week results from COL100758.

The long-term efficacy of once-daily (qd) fosamprenavir (FPV) 1400 mg boosted by ritonavir 100 mg (FPV/r100) has not been evaluated previously. A 96-week open-label, randomized, multicenter study compared the efficacy/safety of FPV/r100 with FPV 1400 mg boosted by ritonavir 200 mg qd (FPV/r200), plus abacavir/lamivudine 600 mg/300 mg qd, in antiretroviral-naive, HIV-infected patients with viral load (VL)> or =1000 copies/ml. Primary endpoints were proportion of patients achieving VL <400 copies/ml or discontinuing for drug-related reasons. In the intent-to-treat:exposed (ITT-E) population, missing = failure (M = F), and observed approaches were used to assess between-arm differences in VL responses by Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test and CD4(+) count by Wilcoxon rank-sum test. One hundred and fifteen (115) patients enrolled, with 58 on FPV/r100 (median VL 4.7 log(10) copies/ml; CD4(+) count 259 cells/mm(3)) and 57 on FPV/r200 (median VL 4.9 log(10) copies/ml; CD4(+) count 179 cells/mm(3)). Fewer FPV/r100-treated patients discontinued treatment prematurely (12 vs. 24) and experienced virologic failure (5 vs. 8, none developing major protease inhibitor resistance mutations). At week 96, more FPV/r100-treated patients had VL <400 copies/ml [ITT-E,M = F: 78% (45/58) vs. 53% (30/57), p = 0.006; observed: 98% (45/46) vs. 94% (30/32)] and VL<50 copies/ml [ITT-E,M = F: 66% (38/58) vs. 53% (30/57); observed: 83% (38/46) vs. 94% (30/32)]. The FPV/r100 and FPV/r200 arms were similar at week 96 regarding median change from baseline in CD4(+) count (+265 vs. +260 cells/mm(3)) and total cholesterol (+33 vs. +35 mg/dl), and in total-cholesterol:HDL-cholesterol ratio (4.0 vs. 4.1) and type/frequency of treatment-related grade 2-4 adverse events, although FPV/r100 was associated with a lower elevation in triglycerides (+27 vs. +48 mg/dl). In conclusion, through 96 weeks, FPV/r100 was more effective and prompted less elevation in triglycerides than FPV/r200.

First large, multicenter, open-label study utilizing HLA-B*5701 screening for abacavir hypersensitivity in North America.

A hypersensitivity reaction is associated with abacavir in approximately 2-8% of exposed patients. The frequency of the HLA-B*5701 allele varies across racial groups and significantly correlates with risk of hypersensitivity. Studies in Europe and Western Australia demonstrated that prospective screening can significantly reduce the rate of hypersensitivity by avoiding the use of abacavir in patients carrying the HLA-B*5701 allele. Prospective HLA-B*5701 screening in a large, racially diverse North American population resulted in less than 1% of individuals diagnosed with a suspected abacavir hypersensitivity reaction (ABC HSR) and no positive skin patch test through 30 weeks among HLA-B*5701-negative individuals.

Long-term results of initial therapy with abacavir and Lamivudine combined with Efavirenz, Amprenavir/Ritonavir, or Stavudine.

OBJECTIVE: To compare alternative class-sparing antiretroviral regimens in treatment-naive subjects. DESIGN: Open-label, multicenter, randomized trial of up to 3 consecutive treatment regimens over 96 weeks. METHODS: Two hundred ninety-one subjects received abacavir (ABC) and lamivudine and efavirenz (nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NNRTIs]), ritonavir-boosted amprenavir (protease inhibitor [PI]), or stavudine (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor [NRTI]) by random assignment. The primary end points were the percentages of subjects with plasma HIV-1 RNA levels <400 copies/mL and time to treatment failure over 96 weeks. RESULTS: Ninety percent of subjects completed 96 weeks of follow-up, and 79% remained on study treatment. At week 96, there were no differences between arms in the percentages of subjects with plasma HIV-1 RNA levels <400 and <50 copies/mL, mean changes in plasma HIV-1 RNA levels, time to treatment failure, time to first or second virologic failure, or CD4 cell counts. The NNRTI arm had a greater percentages of subjects with RNA levels