Is short-term exposure to primary gaseous air pollutants associated with AIDS-related deaths? Evidence from a time-stratified case-crossover study.

Primary gaseous air pollutants have been associated with death from multiple causes, however, it remains unknown if they play a role in premature mortality among individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Data on HIV/AIDS patients were collected from the Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, with a total of 1,467 AIDS-related deaths (ARD) between 2013 and 2020. Daily mean sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO) were generated by artificial intelligence algorithms combined with big data. We employed a time-stratified case-crossover approach and conditional logistical regression models to investigate the acute effects of primary gaseous air pollutants on ARD. Per interquartile range increase in the concentrations of SO2 was significantly linked with ARD, with a corresponding odds ratio (OR) of 1.17 [95% confidence intervals (CIs): 1.01, 1.35] at lag 4 day. Furthermore, our findings indicated that males exhibited a heightened vulnerability to the adverse effects of SO2 and NO2, for example, the ORs were 1.24 (95% CIs: 1.05, 1.47) and 1.16 (95% CIs: 1.01, 1.34), respectively. Moreover, individuals aged over 65 years were more susceptible to SO2 and CO. Additionally, we identified the warm season as a sensitive period for mortality associated with SO2 and NO2. Our study furnished fresh evidence regarding the detrimental effects of primary gaseous air pollutants on ARD.

[Caring for people living with HIV in the Colombian Health System: patients, caregivers and health workers perspectives]. / Atención de las personas que viven con VIH en el Sistema de Salud Colombiano: perspectivas de pacientes, cuidadores y personal de salud.

OBJECTIVE: Health policies and programs for people living with HIV have been subordinated to current economic policies based on the neoliberal development model that shapes the current healthcare system. The study's objective was to analyze the influence of the Colombian health system on the care of people who lived with HIV enrolled in the Subsidized Regime through Benefit Plan Administrating Entities and treated in Neiva (Colombia). METHODS: A qualitative study framed within the framework of the Critical Discourse Analysis was conducted. Nineteen people participated, including HIV patients, non-formal caregivers, and health workers. The participants were recruited from two Health Service Providers Institutions in the city of Neiva. In-depth interviews were conducted. Data were coded, categorized and organized in Excel for analysis. RESULTS: The interpersonal relationship and the health system functioning were two phenomena that interfered with caring for people with HIV by favoring or imposing barriers to practices. Failures were found in the informative-educational process from the moment of diagnosis, stigmatization, and discrimination, particularly in non-HIV-specialized health institutions, and multiple barriers to access to health services. 55.5% of the patients expressed having been discriminated against by health personnel at some point since their diagnosis. 100% of the patients interviewed identified different types of barriers to health services, contextualized in improper treatment, untimely care and abuse of power; only 22.2% resorted to the filing of complaints, petition rights or guardianships to claim their right to health. CONCLUSIONS: Health care praxis is carried out regardless of patients' situation, forgetting that those from a lower socioeconomic level have greater structural vulnerability related to poverty. The lack of healthcare exacerbates health inequalities.

OBJECTIVE: Las políticas y programas de atención en salud a las personas que viven con VIH han obedecido a las políticas económicas vigentes, basadas en el modelo de desarrollo neoliberal y que configuran el actual sistema de salud. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la influencia del sistema de salud colombiano en la atención de las personas que vivían con VIH afiliadas a las Entidades Administradoras de Planes de Beneficio del Régimen Subsidiado, atendidos en Neiva (Colombia). METHODS: Se realizó un estudio cualitativo, enmarcado en el Análisis Crítico del Discurso. Participaron diecinueve personas entre pacientes con VIH, cuidadores no formales y personal de salud, captados de dos Instituciones Prestadoras de Servicios de Salud de la ciudad de Neiva, a quienes se les aplicó entrevistas en profundidad. Los datos fueron codificados, categorizados y organizados en Excel para su análisis. RESULTS: La relación interpersonal y el funcionamiento del sistema de salud fueron dos fenómenos que interfirieron en la atención de las personas con VIH, en cuanto a que favoreció o impuso barreras a las prácticas. Se encontraron fallos en el proceso informativo/educativo desde el momento del diagnóstico, estigma y discriminación, profundizado en las instituciones de salud no especializadas en VIH, así como múltiples barreras de acceso a los servicios de salud. El 55,5% de los pacientes expresó haber sido discriminados por el personal de salud en algún momento desde su diagnóstico. El 100% de pacientes entrevistados identificó barreras de diferente tipo para los servicios de salud, contextualizados en trato indebido, inoportunidad en la atención y abuso del poder; solo el 22,2% recurrió a la interposición de quejas, derechos de petición o tutelas para reclamar su derecho a la salud. CONCLUSIONS: La praxis de atención se realiza al margen de la situación de contexto de los pacientes, olvidando que son precisamente los ubicados en un nivel socioeconómico más bajo, quienes tienen mayor vulnerabilidad estructural relacionada con la pobreza, por lo que la falta de atención de salud exacerba las inequidades sanitarias.

Atención de las personas que viven con VIH en el Sistema de Salud Colombiano: perspectivas de pacientes, cuidadores y personal de salud / Caring for people living with HIV in the Colombian Health System: patients, caregivers and health workers perspectives

Fundamentos: las políticas y programas de atención en salud a las personas que viven con vih han obedecido a las políticas económicas vigentes, basadas en el modelo de desarrollo neoliberal y que configuran el actual sistema de salud. El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la influencia del sistema de salud colombiano en la atención de las personas que vivían con vih afiliadas a las entidades administradoras de planes de beneficio del régimen subsidiado, atendidos en neiva (colombia). Métodos: se realizó un estudio cualitativo, enmarcado en el análisis crítico del discurso. Participaron diecinueve personas entre pacientes con vih, cuidadores no formales y personal de salud, captados de dos instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud de la ciudad de neiva, a quienes se les aplicó entrevistas en profundidad. Los datos fueron codificados, categorizados y organizados en excel para su análisis.resultados: la relación interpersonal y el funcionamiento del sistema de salud fueron dos fenómenos que interfirieron en la atención de las personas con vih, en cuanto a que favoreció o impuso barreras a las prácticas. Se encontraron fallos en el proceso informativo/educativo desde el momento del diagnóstico, estigma y discriminación, profundizado en las instituciones de salud no especializadas en vih, así como múltiples barreras de acceso a los servicios de salud. El 55,5% de los pacientes expresó haber sido discriminados por el personal de salud en algún momento desde su diagnóstico. El 100% de pacientes entrevistados identificó barre-ras de diferente tipo para los servicios de salud, contextualizados en trato indebido, inoportunidad en la atención y abuso del poder; solo el 22,2% recurrió a la interposición de quejas, derechos de petición o tutelas para reclamar su derecho a la salud.conclusiones: la praxis de atención se realiza al margen de la situación de contexto de los pacientes, olvidando que son precisamente los ubicados en un nivel socioeconómico más bajo, quienes tienen mayor vulnerabilidad estructural relacionada con la pobreza, por lo que la falta de atención de salud exacerba las inequidades sanitarias.(AU)

Background: health policies and programs for people living with hiv have been subordinated to current economic policies based on the neoliberal development model that shapes the current healthcare system. The study’s objective was to analyze the influence of the colombian health system on the care of people who lived with hiv enrolled in the subsidized regime through benefit plan administrating entities and treated in neiva (colombia).methods: a qualitative study framed within the framework of the critical discourse analysis was conducted. Nineteen people parti-cipated, including hiv patients, non-formal caregivers, and health workers. The participants were recruited from two health service provi-ders institutions in the city of neiva. In-depth interviews were conducted. Data were coded, categorized and organized in excel for analysis.results: the interpersonal relationship and the health system functioning were two phenomena that interfered with caring for people with hiv by favoring or imposing barriers to practices. Failures were found in the informative-educational process from the moment of diagnosis, stigmatization, and discrimination, particularly in non-hiv-specialized health institutions, and multiple barriers to access to health services. 55.5% of the patients expressed having been discriminated against by health personnel at some point since their diagnosis. 100% of the patients interviewed identified different types of barriers to health services, contextualized in im-proper treatment, untimely care and abuse of power; only 22.2% resorted to the filing of complaints, petition rights or guardianships to claim their right to health.conclusions: health care praxis is carried out regardless of patients’ situation, forgetting that those from a lower socioecono-mic level have greater structural vulnerability related to poverty. The lack of healthcare exacerbates health inequalities.(AU)

Clinical Significance of Elevated KSHV Viral Load in HIV-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma Patients in South Africa.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is an AIDS-defining illness caused by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) predominantly in the context of HIV-related immune suppression. We aimed to explore the usefulness of KSHV DNA viral load (VL) measurement in predicting the severity, response to treatment and outcome of KS. We retrospectively assessed a cohort of KS patients (n = 94) receiving treatment at Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa. Demographic and clinical data, KS staging and response to treatment were extracted from patient files, while long-term survival was ascertained from hospital records. KSHV serology and VL and hIL-6 were determined empirically from patients' blood. All patients were HIV-positive adults, the majority of whom were on HAART at the time of recruitment. KSHV VL was detectable in 65 patients' blood (median: 280.5/106 cells (IQR: 69.7-1727.3)) and was highest in patients with S1 HIV-related systemic disease (median 1066.9/106 cells, IQR: 70.5-11,269.6). KSHV VL was associated with the S1 stage in a binomial regression controlling for confounders (adjusted odds ratio 5.55, 95% CI: 1.28-24.14, p = 0.022). A subset of six patients identified to have extremely high KSHV VLs was predominantly T1 stage with pulmonary KS, and most had died at follow-up. In our cohort, elevated KSHV VL is associated with systemic HIV-related illness in KS disease. Extremely high KSHV VLs warrant further investigation for patients potentially requiring intensive treatment and investigation for progression or diagnosis of concurrent KSHV lytic syndromes.

Survival after cryptococcosis in Germany: A retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2021.

Cryptococcosis is the most prevalent fungal infection of the central nervous system worldwide. We performed a retrospective multicenter cohort study to gain insights into the epidemiology of cryptococcosis in Germany. We describe the use of diagnostic tests, clinical management and patient outcome. We included 64 patients with underlying HIV infection (55%) or other predispositions. Molecular typing by MLST documented 20 individual sequence types among 42 typed isolates. A fatal outcome was documented in 14% of patients in the first two months after diagnosis.

Unusual Localization of AIDS-Related Kaposi's Sarcoma in a Heterosexual Male during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Report.

Kaposi's sarcoma is an AIDS-defining illness and remains the most frequent tumor arising in HIV-infected patients with multifactorial etiology. We present a case of a 30-year-old Caucasian male with an 18-year history of HIV infection. The patient was presented with a one-week history of fever, non-productive cough, and skin lesions. There was an associated weakness and weight loss in a duration of 6 months. Clinical examination showed fever, generalized lymphadenopathy, lower limb edema, ascites, and violaceous cutaneous eruption comprising patches, plaques, and nodules. He also had a red nodule on the left conjunctiva, as well as on his oral mucosa. His CD4+ count was below 10/mm3 and ARN-HIV viral load was above 100,000 c/mL, in relation to the antiretroviral failure after five drug regimens. The role of co-infections in oncogenesis and the course of Kaposi's sarcoma were considered in recent studies. Delayed diagnosis of Kaposi's sarcoma in the present case resulted in a negative impact for this patient during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of AIDS-Related Burkitt Lymphoma in China: A Retrospective Single-Center Study.

Objectives: Studies on the prognosis and risk stratification of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) - related Burkitt lymphoma (AR-BL) are rare. We aim to construct a novel model to improve the risk assessment of these patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 34 patients over the past 10 years and the factors associated with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated in univariate and multivariate Cox models. Then, the novel model consisting of screened factors was compared with the existing models. Results: With a 37-month median follow-up, the overall 2-year PFS and OS rates were 40.50% and 36.18%, respectively. The OS of patients who received chemotherapy was better compared with those without chemotherapy (P = .0012). Treatment with an etoposide, prednisone, oncovin, cyclophosphamide, and hydroxydaunorubicin-based regimen was associated with longer OS and PFS compared with a cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone-based regimen (OS, P = .0002; PFS, P = .0158). Chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.075; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.009-0.614) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) 2 to 4 (HR = 4.738; 95% CI, 1.178-19.061) were independent prognostic factors of OS in multivariate analysis and we established a novel prognostic risk stratification model named GZ8H model with chemotherapy and ECOG PS. Conclusion: GZ8H showed better stratification ability than the international prognostic index (IPI) or Burkitt lymphoma IPI (BL-IPI). Furthermore, the C-index of the nomogram used to predict OS was 0.884 in the entire cohort and the calibration curve showed excellent agreement between the predicted and actual results of OS. No human immunodeficiency virus-related factors were found to be associated with OS and PFS of AR-BL patients in our study. Overall, the clinical characteristics and outcomes in AR-BL were shown and prognostic factors for OS and PFS were identified in this study.

Características sociodemográficas y epidemiológicas de pacientes con inicio clínico de sida en Santiago de Cuba / Sociodemographic and epidemiological characteristics of patients with clinical onset of AIDS in Santiago de Cuba i: en

Introducción: Uno de los desafíos del milenio a nivel mundial es combatir el avance de la epidemia del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana/sida. Objetivo: Caracterizar a la población de pacientes con inicio clínico de sida según variables sociodemográficas y epidemiológicas. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional y descriptivo, desde el 2017 hasta el 2021, de 87 personas diagnosticadas con inicio clínico del sida en la provincia de Santiago de Cuba. En el análisis estadístico se emplearon medidas de tendencia central y de dispersión, así como la distribución de frecuencias absolutas y relativas; también, se computaron intervalos de confianza de 95 % para las proporciones de las variables seleccionadas. Resultados: La edad promedio en la serie fue de 42 años (79,3 %); asimismo, predominaron el sexo masculino (91,9 %), el estado civil soltero (91,9 %), la vinculación laboral (72,4 %), los colores de la piel mestizo (52,8 %) y negro (39,3 %) y la procedencia urbana (73,5 %). El coito anal fue la principal forma de contagio (84,0 %), en tanto la mayoría de los afectados de ambos sexos (65,2 % en el masculino y 66,7 % en el femenino) no usaban el preservativo y en los hombres primó la homosexualidad (55,0 %). Conclusiones: El inicio clínico del sida predominó en hombres jóvenes solteros, con vínculo laboral, entre los cuales fueron muy significativas las conductas sexuales de riesgo.

Introduction: One of the millennium challenges worldwide is to fight the advance of the human immunodeficiency virus/aids. Objective: To characterize the sick population with clinical onset of AIDS according to sociodemographic and epidemiologic variables. Methods: An observational and descriptive study was carried out, from 2017 to 2021, of 87 people diagnosed with clinical onset of AIDS in Santiago de Cuba province. In the statistical analysis, measures of central tendency and dispersion were used, as well as the distribution of absolute and relative frequencies; also, confidence intervals of 95% were computed for the proportions of selected variables. Results: The average age in the series was 42 years (79.3%), likewise, there was a prevalence of the male sex (91.9%), single as marital status (91.9%), working bond (72.4%), mixed race (52.8%) and black skin color (39.3%), and the urban origin (73.5%). The anal coitus was the main way of infection (84.0%), while the majority of the affected individuals of both sexes (65.2% in males and 66.7% in females) did not use condoms and homosexuality predominated among men (55.0%). Conclusions: The clinical onset of AIDS prevailed in young and single men, with working bond, among whom risky sexual behaviors were very significant.

The Burden of Hypertension in HIV-Infected Adults on Retroviral Therapy in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background and objective The global HIV epidemic has evolved in the past 30 years with a decline in mortality and morbidity and improved survival since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, this has brought on new challenges through the emergence of non-communicable disease (NCD) as a pandemic at par with, if not more serious than, HIV, and patients well maintained on ART are now faced with the increased risk of developing NCDs such as hypertension, which also require lifelong therapy. This study was designed to determine the burden of hypertension in patients under HIV care in Masvingo province, Zimbabwe. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted in six districts of Masvingo province based on the data collected from the electronic Patient Monitoring System (ePMS), along with an analysis of secondary data. Of the 94,821 records gathered, 877 met the inclusion criteria to be included in the study. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Stata statistical software and statistical analysis was performed using the χ2 test. Results The study revealed a hypertension prevalence of 7.64% among the 877 patients analyzed and the independent risk factors for the development of hypertension were determined to be the age of patients, with a one-year increase in age resulting in an 8% increase in the risk of developing hypertension, and the duration on ART, with a one-year increase on ART duration increasing the risk of hypertension by 27%, and an increase in BMI by a factor of 1 increasing the risk of getting hypertension by 9%. Conclusion Our findings showed that there are patients who have both hypertension and HIV on ART care, and they would need to be managed for both. There is a need for improved data collection of important variables that improve the quality of care of clients. Clinical management of HIV needs to evolve with the evolving needs of patients and NCD care has to be factored in.

Treatment outcomes of patients with classic and AIDS-related Kaposi Sarcoma: a single-center real-world experience.

The recommended first-line chemotherapy agents for managing Kaposi sarcoma (KS) in high-income countries are expensive and often unavailable in developing nations such as Peru. Limited data exist on whether management practices in these countries affect patient outcomes. We assessed the real-world treatment approaches and outcomes of patients with KS in Peru. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related KS (AIDS-related KS; n = 95) and classic KS (CKS; n = 81) diagnosed at a tertiary center between 2000 and 2014 in Lima, Peru. We used the Kaplan-Meier method to estimate overall survival (OS) rates. The median follow-up was 64 months for AIDS-related KS and 88 months for CKS. The median age of patients with AIDS-related KS was 35 years (range 20-63 years) and 70 years (range 33-91 years) for those with CKS. Most individuals had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of ≥ 2 (AIDS-related KS 75%; CKS 85%). Seventy-six percent and 40% of individuals with AIDS-related KS and CKS, respectively, received systemic chemotherapy. The most common first-line drug was paclitaxel, with relatively optimal overall response rates (ORRs) for AIDS-related KS (n = 64/72, 89%; ORR 61%) and CKS (n = 24/32, 75%; ORR 50%). The 5-year OS rates were 71% in the AIDS-related KS cohort and 81% in the CKS cohort. The findings from this real-world study may inform clinical practices and highlight the need for increased access to effective treatments and clinical trials for patients with KS in Peru and other developing countries.

Survival and prognostic factors of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in people living with HIV in modern ART era.

Background: The incidence of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in people living with HIV (PLWH) is 2%-4%. Currently, there is no effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of PML in PLWH, resulting in a mortality of up to 50%. This study aimed to identify risk factors of death and prognostic markers in people living with HIV with PML. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of AIDS-related PML individuals was conducted from January 1, 2015, to October 1, 2022, in Shanghai, China. PLWH who were diagnosed with PML for the first time were included. Kaplan-Meier curve and Cox regression were used to analyze the survival and its predictors. Levels of inflammatory markers and immune checkpoint inhibitors in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were measured in the prestored samples using bead-based multiplex assay Indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase was determined using ELISA. Results: Twenty of 71 subjects had initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) before PML onset and no patients discontinued ART during this period. In total, 34 patients (47.9%) had opportunistic infections (OIs), the median CD4+ T cell count was 73.0 (33.0-149.0) cells/µL. The estimated probability of survival at six months was 78% (95% confidential intervals [CIs]:0.63-0.85). OIs, low CD4+ T cell count were associated with lower estimated six-month survival (hazard ratio 8.01, 95% CIs: 1.80-35.00, P=0.006 and 5.01, 95% CIs:1.57-16.03, p=0.007). Indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase activity in CSF of non-survivors group were higher than survivors group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The survival rate of AIDS-related PML in the modern ART era was higher than the survival rate a decade ago. Low CD4+T cell count, OIs, were all associated with death of individuals with AIDS-related PML. The role of IDO in AIDS-related PML warrant further investigation.

Prevalence of and prognosis for poor immunological recovery by virally suppressed and aged HIV-infected patients.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) prolongs lifespan and decreases mortality of HIV infected patients. However, many patients do not achieve optimal immune reconstitution. The influence of non-optimal immune recovery on non-AIDS related diseases is not well defined in aged HIV-infected patients receiving ART. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Tianjin Second People's Hospital, China to evaluate the association of an inadequate immunological response and non-AIDS diseases in HIV infected patients ≥60 years of age and virally suppressed for at least 2 years by ART. Results: The study included patients (n = 666) who initiated ART between August 2009 and December 2020. The prevalence of patients with an inadequate immunological response was 29.6%. The percentage of non-AIDS diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes, tumor, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) was 32.9, 9.9, 31, 4.1, and 13%, respectively. In addition to baseline CD4+ T cell counts, CVD and tumor were associated with poor immune reconstitution in aged Chinese HIV-1 infected patients. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were AOR 2.45 (95% CI: 1.22-4.93) and 3.06 (95% CI: 1.09-8.56, p = 0.03). Inadequate immunological response was associated with greater mortality (AOR: 2.83, 95% CI: 1.42-5.67, p = 0.003) in this cohort. Conclusion: These results tend to demonstrate appropriate drug selection at ART initiation and prevention of non-AIDS complications during ART decreased mortality of and an inadequate immunological response in aged HIV infected patients.

Post Cryptococcal Moyamoya Syndrome in Adult Human Immunodeficiency Virus Patient With Anterior and Posterior Circulation Involvement: Case Report.

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare idiopathic progressive vaso-occlusive disease characterized by irreversible vascular occlusion and collateral development of distal internal carotid arteries. Initially perceived as an exclusive entity to the East Asian population, the disease is now being reported globally, affecting individuals of diverse ethnicities. We present a case of a 55-year-old African American male patient with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and a prior history of cryptococcal meningitis presenting to the emergency department with recurrent episodic headaches, which was refractory to routine medical therapy. Neuroimaging with computed tomography angiogram of the head and neck and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain led to the subsequent diagnosis of moyamoya syndrome (MMS). To our knowledge, MMS is uncommon in adult HIV/AIDS patients. It is crucial that clinicians are aware of the disease progression. For effective recognition and prevention of the condition, it is of utmost importance that clinicians possess a comprehensive understanding of the disease and its clinical manifestations.

Oral Lipid Nanocrystal Amphotericin B for Cryptococcal Meningitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Amphotericin B is the gold standard treatment for severe mycoses. A new orally delivered, less-toxic formulation of amphotericin has been developed. METHODS: In our randomized clinical trial, we tested oral lipid nanocrystal (LNC) amphotericin B (MAT2203, Matinas Biopharma) vs intravenous (IV) amphotericin for human immunodeficiency virus-associated cryptococcal meningitis in 4 sequential cohorts. Two pilot cohorts assessed safety and tolerability (n = 10 each), and 2 cohorts assessed efficacy with/without 2 IV loading doses (n = 40 each). The experimental arm received 1.8 g/d oral LNC amphotericin through 2 weeks with 100 mg/kg/d flucytosine, then 1.2 g/d LNC amphotericin through 6 weeks. The randomized control arm (n = 41) received 7 days of IV amphotericin with flucytosine, then 7 days of fluconazole 1200 mg/d. The primary end point was cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) early fungicidal activity (EFA). RESULTS: We randomized 80 participants to oral LNC amphotericin + flucytosine with (n = 40) and without (n = 40) 2 IV loading doses and 41 control participants to IV amphotericin + flucytosine. Mean EFA was 0.40 log10 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL/d for all-oral LNC amphotericin, 0.42 log10  Cryptococcus CFU/mL/d for oral LNC amphotericin with IV loading doses, and 0.46 log10 CFU/mL/d for IV amphotericin controls. LNC amphotericin groups achieved 2-week CSF sterility in 63% (44 of 70) vs 68% (23 of 34) of controls. The 18-week survival was 85% (34 of 40) with all-oral LNC amphotericin, 90% (36 of 40) with oral LNC amphotericin given IV loading doses, and 85% (35 of 41) with IV amphotericin.Grade 3-4 laboratory adverse events occurred less frequently in LNC amphotericin groups (41%) than the IV amphotericin group (61%, P = .05), particularly for anemia (21% vs 44%; P = .01) and potassium (5% vs 17%; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: This new oral amphotericin B LNC formulation appears promising for cryptococcal meningitis with antifungal activity, similar survival, and less toxicity than IV amphotericin. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT04031833.

A Rare Case of Primary Anorectal Hodgkin Lymphoma in an HIV-Positive Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Lymphoma is a well-known complication related to HIV infection; of these, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is the most common subtype with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) occurring less frequently. We present a rare case of a 35-year-old male with a history of HIV/AIDS well-controlled on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with an atypical HL presentation. He arrived at the emergency department with rectal bleeding, 30-pound unintentional weight loss, and subjective fever. CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis showed a circumferential mass extending from the mid-rectum to the anus, with extensive local lymphadenopathy. He underwent multiple biopsies of the mass and adjacent lymph nodes. The pathology report showed EBV-positive lymphoma with features of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) (positive for EBV-EBER by in-situ hybridization). He was started on A+AVD (brentuximab plus doxorubicin, vinblastine and dacarbazine). The patient tolerated the chemotherapy well without significant complications. We want to encourage physicians and providers to include anorectal HL in their differential diagnosis for HIV/AIDS patients with atypical rectal malignancy presentations and subsequent reporting of these cases.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Clonal Hematopoiesis.

The evolution of antiretroviral therapies (ART) has tremendously improved the life expectancy of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH), which is currently similar to the general population. However, as PLWH are now living longer, they exhibit various comorbidities such as a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defined malignancies. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is the acquisition of somatic mutations by the hematopoietic stem cells, rendering them survival and growth benefit, thus leading to their clonal dominance in the bone marrow. Recent epidemiologic studies have highlighted that PLWH have a higher prevalence of CH, which in turn is associated with increased CVD risk. Thus, a link between HIV infection and a higher risk for CVD might be explained through the induction of inflammatory signaling in the monocytes carrying CH mutations. Among the PLWH, CH is associated with an overall poorer control of HIV infection; an association that requires further mechanistic evaluation. Finally, CH is linked to an increased risk of progression to myeloid neoplasms including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which are associated with particularly poor outcomes among patients with HIV infection. These bidirectional associations require further molecular-level understanding, highlighting the need for more preclinical and prospective clinical studies. This review summarizes the current literature on the association between CH and HIV infection.

An updated systematic review of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis treatment strategies.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this systematic review is to provide updated evidence on the preferred induction therapy for the treatment of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis considering the most recent evidence available in order to inform the need for updates to WHO guidelines. METHODS: We searched Medline via PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library and clinicaltrials.gov for published or completed randomized clinical trials that evaluated induction treatment of first episode HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis from 9 July 2018 (date of last search) to 1 September 2021. RESULTS: One randomized clinical trial of 844 people with HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis met the inclusion criteria. Participants were randomized to: (1) amphotericin deoxycholate for 7 days, with flucytosine and fluconazole (control); or (2) a single dose of liposomal amphotericin 10 mg/kg with flucytosine and fluconazole (intervention). In the intention-to-treat analysis, 10-week mortality was 24.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 20.7-29.3%] in the single-dose liposomal amphotericin group compared with 28.7% (95% CI: 24.4-33.4%) in the control group. The absolute difference in 10-week mortality was -3.9% with an upper one-sided 95% CI of 1.2%, within the 10% pre-specified non-inferiority margin. Fewer participants had grade 3 and 4 adverse events in the intervention arm compared with the control arm (50.0% vs. 62.3%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In the single study included in this systematic review, single high-dose liposomal amphotericin B with flucytosine and fluconazole was non-inferior to the WHO-recommended standard of care induction therapy for HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis, with significantly fewer adverse events.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the care of people living with HIV and cancer at an oncologic center in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: People living with HIV(PLWH) and cancer are among the most vulnerable patients and require constant access to medical services. We compared the characteristics of PLWH and cancer in Mexico, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Patients admitted 1 year before (pre-pandemic) and 1 year after the start of the pandemic (pandemic) were included. Clinical characteristics, HIV-related variables, and 90-day mortality were compared. Data are described a proportions (N,%) and central tendency measures. A multiple regression model for variables associated with 90-day mortality was performed. RESULTS: Seventy-nine patients were seen in the pre-pandemic period; 92 during the pandemic. Main diagnoses were Kaposi Sarcoma and lymphoma. CD4+ cell count at diagnosis was lower during the pandemic: 81 cells/mm3 vs. 128 cells/mm3, p = .035. CD4+<100 cells/mm3 at first consultation increased from 41% to 58% during the pandemic (p = .041). Only BMI <20 kg/m2 was associated to death (aOR 8.27, 95%CI 1.74-39.25) (p = .008). The pandemic period was not associated with a higher 90-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: PLWH and cancer presented to care with advanced disease overall. This was more pronounced during the pandemic period. Mortality was associated with AIDS-related variables regardless of study period. This underscores the need for strategies to maintain in-person access to health-care services for PLWH.

Distribution and antifungal susceptibility profiles of Candida species isolated from people living with HIV/AIDS in a public hospital in Goiânia, GO, Brazil.

Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) is the most common opportunistic fungal infection of the oral cavity and is a significant clinical problem, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, such as people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Although Candida albicans is the most frequent pathogen, at least 30 species capable of causing infection have been described. Identifying the infecting organism is necessary because the species respond differently to therapy, and antifungal susceptibility testing is important to determine the appropriate treatment. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological, clinical, and mycological profiles of OPC in hospitalized PLWHA. Clinical samples were collected from 103 PLWHA with suspected candidiasis admitted to the Hospital Estadual of Doenças Tropicais/Hospital Anuar Auad of Goiania, Goias, Brazil, for 14 months. Candida species were identified using phenotypic microbiological techniques and molecular analysis performed by PCR using species-specific primers. The antifungal susceptibility pattern of the isolates against the six antifungal agents was determined using the broth microdilution method. Here, female individuals were the most affected by OPC, presenting a higher risk of oral colonization by Candida spp. The main clinical manifestation was pseudomembranous candidiasis. The number of cases of candidiasis was 87.3% (90/103), with C. albicans being the most common species, followed by C. tropicalis and C. glabrata. In the susceptibility pattern, non-albicans Candida showed higher resistance to than C. albicans. The fast and accurate identification of Candida spp. is very important to identify therapeutic agents for the treatment of oral candidiasis in PLWHA.

Stigma kills

@#Stigma due to an HIV diagnosis is a well-known phenomenon and is a major barrier to accessing care.1 Over the last forty years, HIV has been transformed from a fatal disease to a manageable one, thanks to the remarkable success of antiretroviral (ARV) medication.2 When people living with HIV (PLHIV) start ARV treatment early, their life expectancy is almost completely restored. Moreover, a suppressed viral load means that PLHIV are no longer able to infect other people.3 They can have children naturally without risk to their seronegative partner or their child. PLHIV nowadays are more likely to die with HIV, not of HIV. While a cure remains elusive, the successful global rollout of ARVs means that there is no good reason for a PLHIV to die of AIDS and its complications due to lack of access to proper treatment. The Philippine AIDS Law Republic Act 8504 and its successor, Republic Act 11116 explicitly states that the State should “ensure access to HIV and AIDS-related services by eliminating the climate of stigma and discrimination that surrounds the country’s HIV and AIDS situation, and the people directly and indirectly affected by it.” Unfortunately, despite this admonition, stigma remains a significant cause of delayed HIV testing and of not seeking treatment in our country. In this issue of the journal, Dr. De Los Santos and her colleagues examine the effect of healthcare facility stigma on PLHIV accessing care in the Philippines.4 They report that 81% of their Filipino PLHIV respondents experienced stigma, which is an unacceptably high number. They identify which facilities are more likely to be correlated with stigma and make suggestions on how to address this problem. This study is very timely and comes at a time when the Department of Health is shifting first line antiretrovirals to dolutegravir-based regimens.5 Dolutegravir-based treatment is associated with fewer side effects than efavirenz-based regimens and is much more durable against resistance.6 With an HIV transmitted-drug resistance rate of 11.7%, it is imperative that PLHIV are started on more durable regimens which they are less likely to discontinue.7 Properly addressing stigma means that more people will access care. Better regimens will ensure that people stay in care. This will go a long way towards minimizing the impact of HIV and AIDS on Filipino PLHIV. Stigma among PLHIV is a complicated subject matter. Aside from the stigma associated with diagnosis, there is also stigma associated with the mode of acquisition of the disease. The most-at-risk populations are highly stigmatized. Men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, and female sex workers experience additional stigma on top of the stigma from an HIV diagnosis.8 Aside from societal stigma, PLHIV are also prone to self-stigma.9 This phenomenon occurs when PLHIV believe they no longer deserve to live since they contracted the disease from deviant or sinful behavior. High rates of depression are found among these self-stigma sufferers. This significantly impacts the entire HIV healthcare cascade, starting from early diagnosis, to accessing treatment, and staying in care. The finding that Public Rural Health Units are the most stigmatizing healthcare facilities is very concerning since these are usually the only facilities available to PLHIV in far-flung areas. This needs to be addressed with better sensitivity training as well as concrete guidelines on avoiding stigma. It is very troubling that facilities that are supposed to cater to vulnerable populations inadvertently make it difficult for them to access care.10 Unfortunately, even facilities in urban areas are not immune to discrimination and stigmatizing behavior. I recall the experience of one of my early PLHIV patients who developed and eventually succumbed to a disseminated fungal infection.11 He told me that he had tried getting tested several years earlier but he had a traumatic experience in the government health facility that he accessed. He made a wrong turn and entered a different clinic in that hospital and when he asked for an HIV test, people recoiled from him in horror. Because of that terrible experience, he put off getting his HIV test for years until he started developing the fungal infection that eventually killed him. Had he been started on proper treatment earlier, he could have been saved. For me, it wasn’t just the fungus that killed him but it was the delay in diagnosis and care as a direct result of stigma. Addressing HIV-related stigma in our country entails a whole-of-society and a whole-of-nation approach. Mental health services to address self-stigma and depression should be standard of care not just among confirmed PLHIV but among the most-at-risk populations. Proactive education of all members of society, especially healthcare workers in facilities that diagnose and care for PLHIV is essential for ensuring sustained linkage to care. Ensuring that the majority of the PLHIV population are properly diagnosed, enrolled in treatment hubs, and have suppressed viral loads will ultimately lead to fewer transmissions and less AIDS-related deaths.