Inhibition of HIV-1 infection with curcumin conjugated PEG-citrate dendrimer; a new nano formulation.

BACKGROUND: Nano-drug delivery systems have become a promising approach to overcoming problems such as low solubility and cellular uptake of drugs. Along with various delivery devices, dendrimers are widely used through their unique features. PEG-citrate dendrimers are biocompatible and nontoxic, with the ability to improve drug solubility. Curcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenol, has multiple beneficial properties, such as antiviral activities. However, its optimum potential has been significantly hampered due to its poor water solubility, which leads to reduced bioavailability. So, the present study attempted to address this issue and investigate its antiviral effects against HIV-1. METHOD: The G2 PEG-citrate dendrimer was synthesized. Then, curcumin was conjugated to it directly. FTIR, HNMR, DLS, and LCMS characterized the structure of products. The conjugate displayed an intense yellow color. In addition, increased aqueous solubility and cell permeability of curcumin were achieved based on flow cytometry results. So, it could be a suitable vehicle for improving the therapeutic applications of curcumin. Moreover, cell toxicity was assessed using XTT method. Ultimately, the SCR HIV system provided an opportunity to evaluate the level of HIV-1 inhibition by the curcumin-dendrimer conjugate using a p24 HIV ELISA kit. RESULTS: The results demonstrated a 50% up to 90% inhibition of HIV proliferation at 12 µm and 60 µm, respectively. Inhibition of HIV-1 at concentrations much lower than CC50 (300 µM) indicates a high potential of curcumin-dendrimer conjugate against this virus. CONCLUSION: Thereby, curcumin-dendrimer conjugate proves to be a promising tool to use in HIV-1 therapy.

Susceptibility to lenacapavir, fostemsavir and broadly neutralizing antibodies in French primary HIV-1 infected patients in 2020-2023.

Surveillance studies of Transmitted Drug Resistance (TDR) are crucial in tracking the evolution of HIV epidemiology. Our aim was to investigate TDR to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), protease inhibitors (PIs), integrase inhibitors (INIs), as well as to new drugs: lenacapavir, fostemsavir. Predictive sensitivity was evaluated for maraviroc and broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) (zinlirvimab and teropavimab). Between 2020 and 2023, 85 people with HIV (PWH) were diagnosed with primary HIV-1 infection (PHI). Pol and env sequences were analyzed and TDR was characterized according to the French ANRS algorithm. The genotypic-based prediction of bNAbs sensitivity was based on HIV env amino acid signatures I108, I201, F353 for teropavimab and N325, N332, H330 for zinlirvimab. TDR to NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs and INIs was evidenced in 8.2%, 12.9%, 4.7%, and 5.9% strains, respectively. Ten viruses were CXCR4/dual mix. All viruses were susceptible to lenacapavir (100%) and 52% harbored resistance to fostemsavir. The genotypic profile was associated with a predictive positive value (PPV) > 83% of susceptibility to both teropavimab and zinlirvimab for 23 viruses (31%), while 22 (29%) had a PPV between 62% and 75%, suggesting reduced susceptibility to both bNAbs as soon as primary infection. The surveillance of TDR evidenced at the time of PHI is important with regard to new strategies for HIV patients with virological failure and global implementation of PrEP using NRTI, INI such as recently approved injectable cabotegravir, and future long-acting drugs such as lenacapavir and bNAbs.

Time to major adverse drug reactions and its predictors among children on antiretroviral treatment at northwest Amhara selected public hospitals northwest; Ethiopia, 2023.

BACKGROUND: Adverse drug reaction is one of the emerging challenges in antiretroviral treatment. Determining the incidence rate and predictors among children on antiretroviral treatment (ART) is essential to improve treatment outcomes and minimize harm. And also, evidence regarding the time to major adverse drug reactions and its predictors among children on antiretroviral treatment is limited in Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the time to major adverse drug reaction and its predictors among children on antiretroviral treatment at selected public hospitals in Northwest Amhara, Ethiopia, 2023. METHOD: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 380 children on antiretroviral treatment who enrolled from June 27, 2017, to May 31, 2022. Data was collected using a structured data extraction checklist. Data were entered into Epidata 4.6 and analyzed using STATA 14. The incidence rate of major adverse drug reactions was determined per person/months. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify predictors of major adverse drug responses. A p-value less than 0.05 with a 95% CI was used to declare statistical significance. RESULT: The minimum and maximum follow-up time was 6 and 59 months, respectively. The study participants were followed for a total of 9916 person-months. The incidence rate of major adverse drug reactions was 3.5 /1000 person-months. Advanced clinical stages of HIV/AIDS (III and IV) [adjusted hazard ratio = 7.3, 95% CI: 2.74-19.60)], poor treatment adherence [adjusted hazard ratio = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.21-0.42], taking antiretroviral treatment twice and more [adjusted hazard ratio = 3.43, 955 CI: (1.26-9.33)] and not taking opportunistic infection prophylaxis [adjusted hazard ratio = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.23-0.52)] were predictors of major adverse drug reactions. CONCLUSION: The incidence rate of major adverse drug reactions among children on antiretroviral treatment was congruent with studies in Ethiopia. Advanced clinical stages of HIV/AIDS, poor treatment adherence, taking antiretroviral treatment medications twice or more, and not taking opportunistic infection prophylaxis were predictors of major adverse drug reactions.

High efficacy of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) in Black adults in the United States, including those with pre-existing HIV resistance and suboptimal adherence.

BRAAVE (NCT03631732), a Phase 3b, multicenter, open-label US study, demonstrated the efficacy of switching to bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) among Black individuals with suppressed HIV through 48 weeks. Here, 72-week resistance, adherence, and virologic outcomes are presented. Enrollment criteria permitted nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-resistance (R), protease inhibitor (PI)-R, and certain nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI)-R (M184V/I allowed; ≥3 thymidine analog mutations [TAMs] excluded); but excluded primary integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-R. Pre-existing resistance was determined using historical genotypes and retrospective baseline proviral DNA genotyping. Adherence, virologic outcomes, and viral blips were assessed. Of 489 participants receiving B/F/TAF with ≥1 post-switch HIV-1 RNA measurement: pre-existing NRTI-R (15% of participants), M184V/I (11%), ≥1 TAMs (8%), NNRTI-R (22%), and PI-R (13%) were observed; pre-existing INSTI-R substitutions (2%) were detected post-randomization; mean viral blip frequency was 0.9% across all timepoints (unassociated with virologic failure); 24% of participants had <95% adherence (98% of whom had HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL at last visit); none had treatment-emergent study-drug resistance. Overall, 99% of participants, including all with baseline NRTI-R/INSTI-R, had HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL at the last visit, demonstrating that B/F/TAF maintained virologic suppression through 72 weeks regardless of pre-existing resistance, viral blips, and suboptimal adherence.

Predictors of change in CD4 cell count over time for HIV/AIDS patients on ART follow-up in northern Ethiopia: a retrospective longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: HIV has an effect on lowering CD4 cell count, which lowers the ability to resist contamination. For patients on ART in areas with limited resources, the CD4 cell count assessment is crucial for determining treatment responses and therapeutic decisions. The volatility of CD4 counts following the introduction of ART over time is still largely uncharacterized, and there are few fresh datasets on CD4 cell count progressions. The goal of this study was to identify the key factors that change over time in CD4 cells for HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART follow-up in northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A total of 216 HIV/AIDS patients who initiated ART in the Mekelle General Hospital between 2013 and 2016 were involved using systematic random selection techniques. An examination of exploratory data was used to describe the individual profiles of HIV patients. A multivariable random intercept and slope linear mixed regression analysis regarded predictor variables to be statistically significant if their p-value was less than 0.05. RESULTS: The random intercept and slope linear mixed model result indicated that there were statistically significant predictors of baseline CD4 cell count (ß = 0.0125, P-value = 0.001*) and bedridden functional status (ß = -2.459, p = 0.02*) on the change of CD4 cell count over time in HIV/AIDS patients at the 5% significance level. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in CD4 counts were influenced by the baseline CD4 cell count and the functional status of being bedridden. Because their CD4 cell counts were lower at baseline and they had a functional status of bedridden, the majority of HIV/AIDS patients on ART had substantial predictors on the change of CD4 cell count over time. So, public health service providers should give exceptional guidance and attention is also necessary for those patients who have lower baseline CD4 cell count and bedridden functional status.

Treatment failure among Sub-Sahara African children living with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral treatment failure is a global issue, particularly in developing countries such as Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior research findings were highly variable and inconsistent across areas. As a result, the goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the pooled prevalence of treatment failure among children receiving antiretroviral medication in Sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: To find qualifying papers, we searched databases (such as PubMed, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library). The data were retrieved using Microsoft Excel and exported to STATA Version 14 for analysis. To check for publication bias, we employed Egger and Begg's regression tests. A random-effects model was used to assess the pooled prevalence of treatment failure due to high levels of variability. RESULTS: Following the removal of duplicated articles and quality screening, a total of 33 primary articles were determined to be appropriate for inclusion in the final analysis for this study. Overall, the pooled prevalence of treatment failure among HIV-infected children was 25.86% (95% CI: 21.46, 30.26). There is great variety across the included studies, with the majority of them being conducted in Ethiopia. Cameroon had the greatest pooled prevalence of treatment failure among HIV-infected children, at 39.41% (95% CI: 21.54, 57.28), while Ethiopia had the lowest, at 13.77% (95% CI: 10.08, 17.47). CONCLUSIONS: The pooled estimate prevalence of treatment failure among HIV-infected children in Sub-Saharan Africa was high. The implementation of national and international policies and strategies on ART clinic care services should be given special focus in order to reduce treatment failure in children living with HIV/AIDS. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The protocol has been registered in the PROSPERO database under the registration number CRD-429011.

Sociodemographic and Clinical Predictors of Weight Gain During the First Year of Antiretroviral Therapy among Adults Living With HIV in Urban Tanzania.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved the survival of people living with HIV (PLHIV) but this success has been accompanied by an increase in noncommunicable diseases. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 4000 adult PLHIV who were initiating ART in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to assess weight gain during the first year of treatment and associated sociodemographic and clinical factors. Anthropometric data were collected at ART initiation and monthly follow-up visits. The mean weight gain during the first year of treatment was 2.6 ± 0.3 kg, and the prevalence of overweight or obesity increased from 26.3% at baseline to 40.7%. Female sex, greater household wealth, lower CD4-T-cell counts, higher WHO HIV disease stage, and pulmonary tuberculosis were associated with a greater increase in body mass index (P < .05). Weight gain following ART initiation was common but was greater among females and PLHIV with advanced HIV or comorbidities.

Switching to Low Neurotoxic Antiretrovirals to Improve Neurocognition Among People Living With HIV-1-Associated Neurocognitive Disorder: The MARAND-X Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive (NC) impairment is multifactorial, and antiretroviral (ARV) neurotoxicity may contribute. However, interventional pharmacological studies are limited. METHODS: Single-blind, randomized (1:1), controlled trial to assess the change of NC performance (Global Deficit Score, GDS, and domain scores) in PLWH with NC impairment randomized to continue their standard of care treatment or to switch to a less neurotoxic ARV regimen: darunavir/cobicistat, maraviroc, emtricitabine (MARAND-X). Participants had plasma and cerebrospinal fluid HIV RNA< 50 copies/mL, R5-tropic HIV, and were on ARV regimens that did not include efavirenz and darunavir. The change of resting-state electroencephalography was also evaluated. The outcomes were assessed at week 24 of the intervention through tests for longitudinal paired data and mixed-effect models. RESULTS: Thirty-eight participants were enrolled and 28 completed the follow-up. Global Deficit Score improved over time but with no difference between arms in longitudinal adjusted models. Perceptual functions improved in the MARAND-X, while long-term memory improved only in participants within the MARAND-X for whom the central nervous system penetration-effectiveness (CNS penetration effectiveness) score increased by ≥3. No significant changes in resting-state electroencephalography were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In this small but well-controlled study, the use of less neurotoxic ARV showed no major beneficial effect over an unchanged regimen. The beneficial effects on the memory domain of increasing CNS penetration effectiveness score suggest that ARV neuropenetration may have a role in cognitive function.

HIV drug resistance: analysis of viral genotypes and mutation loci in people living with HIV in Chongqing, China (2016-2023).

BACKGROUND: Large-scale HIV genotype drug resistance study has not been conducted in Chongqing. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on people living with HIV(PLWH) who received HIV-1 genotype resistance testing at Chongqing Public Health Medical Center from May 2016 to June 2023. The HIV-1pol gene was amplified through RT-PCR and analyzed in terms of genotypic drug resistance. RESULTS: Of the 3015 PLWH tested for HIV-1 drug resistance, 1405 (46.6%) were resistant to at least one antiviral drug. Among non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), 43.8% were resistant, compared to 29.5% for nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and 3.4% for protease inhibitors (PIs). V179D/E and K103N/S were identified as the common mutation sites in the NNRTIs class of drugs, M184V/I and K65R/N were reported as the most common mutation sites in NRTIs, while thymidine analogue mutation (TAM) group was identified in 373 samples. L10FIV was the most common mutation in PIs. The dominant HIV-1 subtype was CRF07_BC. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistance in Chongqing underscores the imperative for rigorous surveillance of the local HIV epidemic. Furthermore, TAMs are associated with HIV-1 multidrug resistance, and timely detection of drug resistance is helpful to reduce the emergence and spread of such drug-resistant strains.

A qualitative study on reasons for women's loss and resumption of Option B plus care in Ethiopia.

Loss to follow-up (LTFU) from Option B plus, a lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) for pregnant women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), irrespective of their clinical stage and CD4 count, threatens the elimination of vertical transmission of the virus from mothers to their infants. However, evidence on reasons for LTFU and resumption after LTFU to Option B plus care among women has been limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study explored why women were LTFU from the service and what made them resume or refuse resumption after LTFU in Ethiopia. An exploratory, descriptive qualitative study using 46 in-depth interviews was employed among purposely selected women who were lost from Option B plus care or resumed care after LTFU, health care providers, and mother support group (MSG) members working in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission unit. A thematic analysis using an inductive approach was used to analyze the data and build subthemes and themes. Open Code Version 4.03 software assists in data management, from open coding to developing themes and sub-themes. We found that low socioeconomic status, poor relationship with husband and/or family, lack of support from partners, family members, or government, HIV-related stigma, and discrimination, lack of awareness on HIV treatment and perceived drug side effects, religious belief, shortage of drug supply, inadequate service access, and fear of confidentiality breach by healthcare workers were major reasons for LTFU. Healthcare workers' dedication to tracing lost women, partner encouragement, and feeling sick prompted women to resume care after LTFU. This study highlighted financial burdens, partner violence, and societal and health service-related factors discouraged compliance to retention among women in Option B plus care in Ethiopia. Women's empowerment and partner engagement were of vital importance to retain them in care and eliminate vertical transmission of the virus among infants born to HIV-positive women.

Reported Side Effects and Adherence of Daily HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Users in Ontario, Canada: An Analysis of the Ontario Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Cohort Study.

Side effects are a common concern of current and potential HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) users, potentially leading to missed doses. We examined the relationship between reported side effects and adherence in the Ontario PrEP Cohort Study (ON-PrEP). In total, 600 predominantly gay (87.3%), White (65.8%), and male (95.0%) participants completed questionnaires assessing the presence and severity of five side effect categories (nausea, diarrhea, headache, abdominal pain, and "other") as well as their adherence to daily PrEP (any missed doses in the previous 4 days). In total, 175 participants (29%) ever reported experiencing side effects: most commonly diarrhea (7.5% of study visits), and most were of mild severity. Lower incomes (p = 0.01), identifying as bisexual (p = 0.04), and baseline concern about side effects (p < 0.001) were associated with ever reporting side effects. The odds of reporting any side effects decreased by a factor of 0.44 (95% confidence interval 0.25-0.80) with each additional year of PrEP use, however 1 in 10 participants still reported side effects after 1 year of use. The odds of reporting optimal adherence were 0.48 (0.28-0.83) times lower for participants reporting any side effects, 0.67 (0.51-0.89) times lower per additional side effect category reported, and 0.78 (0.65-0.97) times lower per incremental increase in side effect severity ratings. We found some evidence of interaction between side effect measures and duration of PrEP use, suggesting that these relationships were stronger for participants taking PrEP for longer. Clinicians should make efforts to ascertain patients' experience of side effects and consider risk counseling and alternative PrEP regimens to promote adherence.

Effects of the timing of maternal antiretroviral therapy initiation, CD4 count, and HIV viral load on birth outcomes in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa: A secondary data analysis.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) use during pregnancy is essential to prevent vertical transmission of HIV, but it may also increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes. This study investigated the impact of both maternal HIV infection and the timing of ART initiation on birth outcomes in women living with HIV in South Africa. METHODS: This secondary data analysis examined the dataset from an earlier cohort study involving 1709 pregnant women living with HIV who delivered their babies at three major maternity centres in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa between September 2015 and May 2018. The associations between adverse birth outcomes (stillbirth, preterm birth, very preterm birth, and low birth weight) and the timing of maternal ART initiation, peripartum CD4 count, and HIV viral load were examined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The observed rates of stillbirth, preterm birth, very preterm birth, and low birth weight were 1.4%, 33.5%, 5.4% and 18.0%, respectively. In the multivariable analysis, low birth weight was associated with ART initiated during the second trimester (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.85), low-level viraemia (21-999 copies/ml) (aOR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.17-2.22), and high-level viraemia (≥1000 copies/ml) (aOR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.66-2.38) during the peripartum period. Preterm birth was associated with low-level viraemia (aOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.16-1.79) and a CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm3 (aOR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.01-1.82). Very preterm birth was associated with detectable maternal viraemia. CONCLUSION: Adverse birth outcomes are common among pregnant women living with HIV, especially those with unsuppressed viraemia. Clinicians and programme managers should prioritise timeous ART initiation and virological suppression in all pregnant women living with HIV.

Cost-effectiveness of pretreatment HIV drug resistance testing in people living with HIV in Iran.

INTRODUCTION: HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) is an important challenge in the fight against HIV/AIDS and can threaten progress toward achieving the target of HIV elimination by 2030. Genotyping pretreatment HIVDR testing (DRT) has been proposed as a potential solution. However, the cost-effectiveness of this intervention needs to be evaluated to determine its feasibility and potential impact on healthcare systems. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of DRT among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Iran. METHODS: 1000 hypothetical PLHIV were simulated in terms of cost and effectiveness based on quality-adjusted life Years (QALY). The Markov Model was developed to calculate incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) using TreeAge Pro 2020. Deterministic and probabilistic analyses were performed for sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: Results showed that compared to not performing pretreatment HIVDR testing, this intervention gained 0.035999 QALY with an incremental cost of 1,695.32 USD. The ICER was calculated as 47,093.53 USD, indicating that pretreatment DRT was not cost-effective. The probability of opportunistic infection (OI) in people with viral failure, the effectiveness of Dolutegravir in people without drug resistance, and the quality of life (QoL) of people in the AIDS stage were found to be the most important variables affecting ICER. With an increasing willingness to pay more than 53,000 USD, pretreatment DRT testing will become cost-effective. CONCLUSION: Based on our findings, pretreatment HIVDR testing is not currently cost-effective in Iran as it imposes high costs on healthcare systems with few benefits for People living with HIV (PLHIV). However, if resources are available, drug resistance testing can be a valuable tool in generating HIV molecular data and molecular surveillance of HIV.

Viral load suppression and HIV-1 drug resistance mutations in persons with HIV on TLD/TAFED in Zambia.

BACKGROUND: An increase in the prevalence of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) has been reported in recent years, especially in persons on non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) due to their low genetic barrier to mutations. However, there is a paucity of epidemiological data quantifying HIVDR in the era of new drugs like dolutegravir (DTG) in sub-Saharan Africa. We, therefore, sought to determine the prevalence and correlates of viral load (VL) suppression in adult people with HIV (PWH) on a fixed-dose combination of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/lamivudine/dolutegravir (TLD) or tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine/dolutegravir (TAFED) and describe patterns of mutations in individuals failing treatment. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 384 adults living with HIV aged ≥15 years between 5th June 2023 and 10th August 2023. Demographic, laboratory and clinical data were collected from electronic health records using a data collection form. Viral load suppression was defined as plasma HIV-1 RNA VL of <1000 copies/ml after being on ART for ≥ 6 months. SPSS version 22 to analyze the data. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were the statistical methods used. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age was 22 (IQR 18, 38) years, and 66.1% (n = 254) were females. VL suppression was 90.4% (n = 347); (95% confidence interval (CI) 87.6%-93.6%) after switching to TLD/TAFED. Among the virally suppressed, the majority (67.1%, n = 233) were female. Those who missed ≥2 doses in the last 30 days prior to the most recent review were less likely to attain viral suppression compared to those who did not miss any dose (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.047; 95% CI 0.016-0.136; p<0.001). Four participants had resistance mutations to lamivudine and tenofovir. The most common NRTI mutations were M184MV and K65R while K101E was the most common NNRTI mutation. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that viral suppression was high after switching to TLD/TAFED; but lower than the last 95% target of the UNAIDS. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy was a significant correlate of VL suppression. We, therefore, recommend prompt switching of PWH to TLD/TAFED regimen and close monitoring to enhance adherence to therapy.

A randomised control trial of BIC/F/TAF vs DRV/c/F/TAF in context of HIV test-and-treat, BicTnT.

BACKGROUND: Head-to-head data for bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/F/TAF; B) and darunavir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (DRV/c/F/TAF; D) are lacking in the context of rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. This study, BIC-T&T, evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of B vs D in a UK test-and-treat setting. SETTING: BIC-T&T was a randomised, open-label, multi-centre, study in which participants initiated ART within 14 days after confirmed HIV-1 diagnosis before baseline laboratory. METHODS: The primary endpoint is the virological response (HIV RNA < 50copies/mL) at week 12 by time-weighted average change in log10 HIV RNA recorded in viral load assays from treatment initiation to week 12, using two-sample Wilcoxon rank-sum test. RESULTS: 36 participants were randomised: 94% were male, 53% white; mean (SD) age was 35 years (11.8). Baseline mean (±SD) log10 HIV-RNA was 4.79 (± 0.87) log10 copies/mL and CD4 505 (±253) cells/mm3. The mean (±SD) time from confirmed HIV diagnosis to ART initiation was 7.9 (± 3.7) days. The time-weighted mean decrease in log10 HIV RNA from treatment initiation to week 12 was significantly greater in B in comparison to D (3.1 vs. 2.6 log10 copies/mL, p < 0.001). Both regimens demonstrated good tolerability with infrequent laboratory abnormalities and no grade 3 or 4 adverse events. CONCLUSION: In this first head-to-head study in the context of ART initiation, HIV RNA decline from baseline to week 12 was significantly more rapid for BIC/F/TAF compared with DRV/c/F/TAF.

Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus drug resistance and factors associated with high viral load among adolescents on antiretroviral therapy in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Resistance to antiretrovirals against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) poses a threat to zero transmission of HIV by 2030. Few studies have been conducted on HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) mutations targeting adolescents. We determined the prevalence, pattern of HIVDR mutations, and factors associated with unsuppressed HIV viral load among adolescents on antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS: From March to June 2020, we conducted a cross-sectional study at the Infectious Disease Clinic in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. HIV-1 viral load was tested using m2000rt Real-Time HIV-1 assay. A sample with a viral load equal or more than 1,000 copies/ml was tested for HIVDR mutations. We determined the factors associated with unsuppressed viral load using logistic regression. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: We enrolled 131 participants with a median age (interquartile range) of 15 (13-18) years. Of all, 24(18.3%) had a viral load above 1000 copies/ml. HIVDR mutations were found in 19/24(68.4%). Mutation to protease inhibitors, nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors, and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors were 1(5.2%), 9(47.4%), and 11(57.9%), respectively. Non-antiretroviral therapy and orphanages were independently associated with unsuppressed viral load. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HIVDR and unsuppressed HIV viral load among adolescents are relatively high. The use of non-antiretroviral therapy and orphanage influenced the persistence of high viral load. Strategies for surveillance of HIVDR early warning signs should be devised among adolescents.

Induced abortion incidence and associated factors in a cohort of women living with HIV in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, 1996-2016.

BACKGROUND: Abortion is a public health problem in Latin America and is more common among women living with HIV. OBJECTIVE: to verify the incidence and factors associated with induced abortion in a cohort of women living with HIV assisted in a reference service for care for individuals with HIV/AIDS in Rio de Janeiro/Brazil. METHODS: Prospective cohort during the period 1996-2016. We estimated the incidence of induced abortions during follow-up in the cohort by calculating person-time incidence rates [per 100 persons-years (PY)] and investigated the factors associated with the outcome "induced abortion" using a generalized linear mixed model. RESULTS: 753 women and 210 pregnancies were included in the present analysis. We estimated an induced abortion incidence rate of 0.68/100 persons-years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.47; 0.94) in the study period, with a significant reduction after 2006. The main factors associated with an induced abortion were currently living with a partner (adjusted OR [AdjOR] 0.32 95% CI: 0.10-0.98), number of children (2 children AdjOR 0.12, 95% CI: 0.02-0.95) and the type of antiretroviral treatment used (regimen without Efavirenz: AdjOR: 0.11, 95% CI 0.02-0.70). CONCLUSIONS: We showed a significant reduction in the incidence of induced abortions in a cohort of women living with HIV in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, probably due to a decrease in the incidence of pregnancies observed in the same period. The factors associated with a lower occurrence of induced abortion suggest a good integration between the clinical and reproductive assistance offered to those women.