Hypogonadism and liver fibrosis in HIV-infected patients.

PURPOSE: Hypogonadism is frequent in HIV-infected men and might impact on metabolic and sexual health. Low testosterone results from either primary testicular damage, secondary hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, or from liver-derived sex-hormone-binding-globulin (SHBG) elevation, with consequent reduction of free testosterone. The relationship between liver fibrosis and hypogonadism in HIV-infected men is unknown. Aim of our study was to determine the prevalence and type of hypogonadism in a cohort of HIV-infected men and its relationship with liver fibrosis. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional retrospective study including 107 HIV-infected men (median age 54 years) with hypogonadal symptoms. Based on total testosterone (TT), calculated free testosterone, and luteinizing hormone, five categories were identified: eugonadism, primary, secondary, normogonadotropic and compensated hypogonadism. Estimates of liver fibrosis were performed by aspartate aminotransferase (AST)-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) scores. RESULTS: Hypogonadism was found in 32/107 patients (30.8%), with normogonadotropic (10/107, 9.3%) and compensated (17/107, 15.8%) being the most frequent forms. Patients with secondary/normogonadotropic hypogonadism had higher body mass index (BMI) (p < 0001). Patients with compensated hypogonadism had longer HIV infection duration (p = 0.031), higher APRI (p = 0.035) and FIB-4 scores (p = 0.008), and higher HCV co-infection. Univariate analysis showed a direct significant correlation between APRI and TT (p = 0.006) and SHBG (p = 0.002), and between FIB-4 and SHBG (p = 0.045). Multivariate analysis showed that SHBG was independently associated with both liver fibrosis scores. CONCLUSION: Overt and compensated hypogonadism are frequently observed among HIV-infected men. Whereas obesity is related to secondary hypogonadism, high SHBG levels, related to liver fibrosis degree and HCV co-infection, are responsible for compensated forms.

Lymphocyte homeostasis is maintained in perinatally HIV-infected patients after three decades of life.

BACKGROUND: While immunosenescence, defined as reduced production of new lymphocytes, restriction of T-cell receptor repertoire and telomeres shortening, has been extensively evaluated in HIV-infected children and adults, no data about these parameters are available in perinatally-infected patients with very long-lasting HIV infection. METHODS: We compared thymic and bone marrow output, telomere length (measured by Real-Time PCR) and T-cell receptor repertoire (determined by spectratyping) of 21 perinatally HIV-infected subjects (with a median of 27 years of infection) with those of 19 age-matched non-perinatally HIV-infected patients and 40 healthy controls. All patients received a combined antiretroviral therapy. RESULTS: While thymic and bone marrow output were not different among the analyzed groups, telomere length in peripheral blood cells and T-cell receptor diversity were significantly lower in HIV-perinatally and non-perinatally infected individuals compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: In HIV-infected subjects, a normal thymic output together with a reduced telomere length and a restricted T-cell receptor repertoire could be explained by the shift of newly produced cells into memory subsets. This phenomenon may allow to control viral infection and maintain peripheral homeostasis.

Left Frontoparietal Control Network Connectivity Moderates the Effect of Amyloid on Cognitive Decline in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease: The A4 Study.

BACKGROUND: Stronger resting-state functional connectivity of the default mode and frontoparietal control networks has been associated with cognitive resilience to Alzheimer's disease related pathology and neurodegeneration in smaller cohort studies. OBJECTIVES: We investigated whether these networks are associated with longitudinal CR to AD biomarkers of beta-amyloid (Aß). DESIGN: Longitudinal mixed. SETTING: The Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease (A4) study and its natural history observation arm, the Longitudinal Evaluation of Amyloid Risk and Neurodegeneration (LEARN) study. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 1,021 cognitively unimpaired older adults (mean age = 71.2 years [SD = 4.7 years], 61% women, 42% APOEε4 carriers, 52% Aß positive). MEASUREMENTS: Global cognitive performance (Preclinical Alzheimer's Cognitive Composite) was assessed over an average 5.4 year follow-up period (SD = 2 years). Cortical Aß and functional connectivity (left and right frontoparietal control and default mode networks) were estimated from fMRI and PET, respectively, at baseline. Covariates included baseline age, APOEε4 carrier status, years of education, adjusted gray matter volume, head motion, study group, cumulative treatment exposure, and cognitive test version. RESULTS: Mixed effects models revealed that functional connectivity of the left frontoparietal control network moderated the negative effect of Aß on cognitive change (p = .025) such that stronger connectivity was associated with reduced Aß-related cognitive decline. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate a potential protective effect of functional connectivity in preclinical AD, such that stronger connectivity in this network is associated with slower Aß-related cognitive decline.

Greater White Matter Hyperintensity Volume Is Associated with the Number of Microhemorrhages in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Increased white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume visible on MRI is a common finding in Alzheimer's disease (AD). We hypothesized that WMH in preclinical AD is associated with the presence of advanced vessel amyloidosis manifested as microhemorrhages (MCH). OBJECTIVES: 1) To assess the relationship between baseline WMH volume and baseline MCH. 2) To assess the relationship between longitudinal WMH accumulation and last MRI MCH during the double-blind phase of the A4 trial. DESIGN: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 study comparing solanezumab with placebo given as infusions once every 4 weeks over 4.5 years in subjects with preclinical AD, defined as having evidence of elevated brain amyloid before the stage of clinically evident cognitive impairment, with an optional open-label extension period. SETTING: Anti-Amyloid Treatment in Asymptomatic Alzheimer's Disease (A4) study. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of 1157 cognitively unimpaired older adults (mean age = 71.9 years [SD = 4.8 years], 59% women, 59% APOE ε4 carriers). MEASUREMENTS: A linear regression model was used to assess the impact of baseline MCH amount (0, 1, 2+) on WMH volume. A linear mixed-effects model was used to assess the impact of last MRI MCH on longitudinal WMH. All models were corrected for age, sex, grey matter volume, cortical amyloid PET, APOE ε4 status, and treatment group. RESULTS: Baseline WMH volume was greater in individuals with more than one MCH compared to those with no MCH (t=4.8, p<0.001). The longitudinal increase in WMH amongst individuals with one (t=2.3, p=0.025) and more than one MCH (t=6.7, p<0.001) at the last MRI was greater than those with no MCH. CONCLUSION: These results indicate a strong association between WMH and MCH, a common manifestation of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and ARIA-H. These results suggest that increased WMH volume may represent an early sign of vessel amyloidosis, likely prior to the emergence of MCH.

Sevoflurane provides better recovery than propofol plus fentanyl in anaesthesia for day-care surgery.

To compare ease of maintenance and recovery characteristics of sevoflurane and propofol plus fentanyl in day-care anaesthesia, 60 outpatients undergoing elective surgery of up to 3 h duration were randomized to receive sevoflurane or propofol as their primary anaesthetic. Induction was always carried out with propofol, but a fentanyl bolus 5 microg kg-1 was added in the propofol group. Anaesthesia was supplemented with up to 70% N2O. Significantly shorter times to extubation (10.03 min +/- 3.2 SD vs. 17.2 +/- 7.3; P < 0.001) and emergence (10.4 +/- 3.1 vs. 16.8 +/- 6.4; P < 0.001) were observed in the sevoflurane group. Patients treated with sevoflurane felt less confused, showed better performances in the digit symbol substitution test and achieved higher modified Aldrete scores sooner in the post-operative course. Maintenance of anaesthesia with sevoflurane produces faster emergence and recovery than propofol plus fentanyl after anaesthesia of short to intermediate duration.