Disturbances in the IgG Antibody Profile in HIV-Exposed Uninfected Infants Associated with Maternal Factors.

Over the last 20 years, the incidence of vertical HIV transmission has decreased from 25%-42% to less than 1%. Although there are no signs of infection, the health of HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) infants is notoriously affected during the first months of life, with opportunistic infections being the most common disease. Some studies have reported effects on the vertical transfer of antibodies, but little is known about the subclass distribution of these antibodies. We proposed to evaluate the total IgG concentration and its subclasses in HIV+ mothers and HEU pairs and to determine which maternal factors condition their levels. In this study, plasma from 69 HEU newborns, their mothers, and 71 control pairs was quantified via immunoassays for each IgG isotype. Furthermore, we followed the antibody profile of HEUs throughout the first year of life. We showed that mothers present an antibody profile characterized by high concentrations of IgG1 and IgG3 but reduced IgG2, and HEU infants are born with an IgG subclass profile similar to that of their maternal pair. Interestingly, this passively transferred profile could remain influenced even during their own antibody production in HEU infants, depending on maternal conditions such as CD4+ T-cell counts and maternal antiretroviral treatment. Our findings indicate that HEU infants exhibit an altered IgG subclass profile influenced by maternal factors, potentially contributing to their increased susceptibility to infections.

Psychological distress, anxiety, depression, stress level, and coping style in HIV-pregnant women in Mexico.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the presence of psychological distress (PD) and its association with the mental health and coping styles of pregnant women living with HIV (PWLWH). METHOD: An observational, cross-sectional descriptive study was performed. Seventy-three PWLWH were included. Patients responded to a psychometric battery for PD, depression, anxiety, stress, and coping style evaluation. The scales used in the study were: Goldberg's 30-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Zung Depression Self-Measurement Scale (ZDS), Nowack Stress Profile, Lazarus and Folkman's Coping Styles Questionnaire. RESULTS: PD was observed in 31.5% of the participants. PD-positive patients showed a higher probability of presenting traits of depression and anxiety and medium/high stress levels. Besides, they preferentially used emotion-focused coping styles. CONCLUSION: PD is associated with a higher probability of presenting anxiety and depression in PWLWH. Emotion-focused coping style could be a factor in decision-making associated with risk behaviors in PWLWH.

Impaired T helper cell responses in human immunodeficiency virus-exposed uninfected newborns.

INTRODUCTION: HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) newborns suffer from higher risks of opportunistic infections during the first months of life compared to HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) newborns. Alterations in thymic mass, amounts of T helper (Th) cells, T-cell receptor diversity, and activation markers have been found in HEU newborns, suggesting alterations in T cell ontogeny and differentiation. However, little is known about the ability of these cells to produce specialized Th responses from CD4+ T cells. METHOD: To characterize the Th cell profile, we evaluated the frequency of Th1 (CD183+ CD194- CD196- /CXCR3+ CCR4- CCR6- ), Th2 (CD183- CD194+ CD196- /CXCR3- CCR4+ CCR6- ), Th17 (CD183- CD194+ CD196+ /CXCR3- CCR4+ CCR6+ ), and CD4+ CD25++ blood T-cell phenotypes in 50 HEU and 25 HUU newborns. Early activation markers on CD4+ T cells and the Th cytokine profile produced from mononuclear cells under polyclonal T cell stimulation were also studied. Additionally, we probed the ability of CD4+ T cells to differentiate into interferon (IFN)-γ-producing Th1 CD4+ T cells in vitro. RESULTS: Lower percentages of differentiated Th1 , Th2 , Th17, and CD4+ CD25++ T cells were found in blood from HEU newborns than in blood from HUU newborns. However, polyclonally stimulated Th cells showed a similar ability to express CD69 and CD279 but produced less secreted interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4. Interestingly, under Th1 differentiation conditions, the percentages of CD4+ IFN-γ+ T cells and soluble IFN-γ were higher in HEU newborns than in HUU newborns. CONCLUSION: HEU neonates are born with reduced proportions of differentiated Th1 /Th2 /Th17 and CD4+ CD25++ T cells, but the intrinsic abilities of CD4+ T cells to acquire a Th1 profile are not affected by the adverse maternal milieu during development.

Simultaneous quantification of four antiretroviral drugs in breast milk samples from HIV-positive women by an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method.

The primary strategy to avoid mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) through breastfeeding is administration of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to HIV-positive pregnant women. Because significant changes in the pharmacokinetics of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs occur during pregnancy, quantifying HAART and the viral load in breast milk in this population is essential. Here, we developed an analytical assay for the simultaneous quantification of four ARV drugs in breast milk using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We validated this method following Mexican and international guidelines. ARV drugs. We extracted the ARV drugs from 200 µL samples of breast milk and detected these drugs in a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer with positive electrospray ionization. The validated concentration ranges (ng/mL) for zidovudine, lamivudine, lopinavir, and ritonavir were 12.5-750, 50-2500, 100-5000 and 5 to 250, respectively. Additionally, the absolute recovery percentages (and matrix effects) were 91.4 (8.39), 88.78 (28.75), 91.38 (11.77) and 89.78 (12.37), respectively. We determined that ARV drugs are stable for 24 h at 8°C and 24°C for 15 days at -80°C. This methodology had the capacity for simultaneous detection; separation; and accurate, precise quantification of ARV drugs in human breast milk samples according to Mexican standard laws and United States Food and Drug Administration guidelines.

Factores relacionados con la falta de lectura de carteles que difunden prueba para detectar VIH en gestantes / Factors related to the not reading information posters about the HIV detection test in pregnant women

Objetivo: identificar los factores que se relacionan con la falta de lectura en dos carteles diseñados para difundir pruebas de escrutinio que detectan el VIH en gestantes. Métodos: estudio descriptivo en gestantes ingresadas en un instituto de tercer nivel de atención. Se diseñaron y colocaron carteles de difusión sobre la aplicación gratuita de la prueba de escrutinio oral para detectar seropositividad al VIH en gestantes. Se analizaron variables sociodemográficas, religión, edad materna y trimestre de embarazo. Para evaluar la lectura o no del cartel se construyó y aplicó un cuestionario, previamente probado, donde se identificó el número de mujeres que declararon haber visto y leído los carteles así como sus datos sociodemográficos. Se aplicaron un total de 475 cuestionarios. Resultados: de las siete variables incluidas en el cuestionario, se encontró que la edad, la religión y el trimestre de embarazo al ingreso a la institución, tuvieron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la frecuencia de no lectura del cartel. Conclusiones: es necesario generar alternativas comunicacionales enfocadas a aquellos grupos menos receptivos de la información a través de conocer los factores que influyen en la lectura o no de información. Las acciones de educación para la salud siguen formando parte fundamental en la toma de conciencia y modificación de conductas en la población, por lo que estas deben considerar y combinar no solo elementos educativos sino también psicológicos, culturales, comunicacionales y sociodemográficos con la finalidad de impactar de mejor manera el ámbito de la salud individual y social.

Objective: to identify the factors associated with unreading of two posters designed to spread screening tests that detect HIV in a pregnant woman. Methods: descriptive study conducted in hospitalized pregnant women in a tertiary care institution, in which posters were designed and placed to provide information on the free performance of oral screening test to detect HIV seropositivity in pregnant women. Sociodemographic variables, religion, maternal age and pregnancy trimester were analyzed. For evaluating whether the poster was read or not, a previously tested questionnaire was designed and applied to identify the number of women who reported having seen and read the signs and their basic demographic data. The total number of questionnaires was 475. Results: of the seven variables included in the questionnaire, it was found that age, religion and pregnancy trimester on admission to the institution had statistically significant differences in the frequency of unread poster. Conclusions: it is necessary to generate alternative communications targeted at those least receptive groups to information through knowing the factors that have an effect on reading or not of some information. Health education actions remain a fundamental part in raising awareness and in behavioral change in the population, so these should consider and combine not only educational elements but also psychological, cultural, communication and sociodemographic ones in order to have a better impact on the individual and social health.

Veinte años de experiencia en el manejo de la mujer embarazada infectada por VIH/SIDA en el Instituto Nacional de Perinatología / 20 years of experience in the management of pregnant women infected by HIV/AIDS at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología

Introducción. Objetivos: revisar las recomendaciones internacionales e informar la experiencia que se tiene en el manejo y seguimiento de mujeres embarazadas infectadas por virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH)/síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA) en el Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes (INPerIER). Métodos. Se presenta la experiencia clínica de 20 años (1988-2008) en el manejo de una cohorte de mujeres embarazadas infectadas por VIH atendidas en el INPerIER; con un enfoque a diferentes escenarios de mujeres embarazadas con VIH/SIDA y profilaxis antirretroviral, así como los avances para la atención de éstas. Resultados. El artículo describe el impacto que diversas estrategias a nivel mundial han tenido en los últimos 20 años para disminuir la transmisión perinatal del VIH y se documenta una tasa de transmisión de 0% a partir del año 1998 en la atención de las mujeres embarazadas infectadas por VIH en el INPerIER, lo cual, comparado a nivel mundial, muestra que el manejo es el óptimo. Conclusiones. Las intervenciones médicas para la detección, el inicio de la profilaxis antirretroviral y del tratamiento durante la gestación, han permitido disminuir la transmisión perinatal a menos de 2%.

Introduction. We undertook this study to review the international recommendations and report the experience at the Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes (INPerIER) in the management of pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Methods. We reviewed medical records of 200 pregnant women with HIV/AIDS receiving care at INPerIER from 1988-2008 with specific focus on different scenarios of pregnant HIV/AIDS patients and different modes of antiretroviral prophylaxis. Treatment advances are also presented. Results. The impact of diverse worldwide strategies can serve to decrease perinatal transmission of HIV. We report our experience at INPerIER in demonstrating a decrease in the rate of vertical transmission between 1988 and 1998 to 0%. Conclusions. Early medical interventions with antiretroviral therapy has allowed us to reduce vertical transmission in pregnant women with HIV/AIDS to <2% over a 20-year period and to 0% since 1998.