Inflammation and Immune Activation in Antiretroviral-Treated Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected African Infants and Rotavirus Vaccine Responses.

Biomarkers of inflammation and immune activation were correlated with rotavirus vaccine responses in 68 human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)­infected (and 116 HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) African infants receiving pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5) in a clinical trial. Prevaccination, HIV-1+ infants had significantly higher concentrations of interferon γ (IFNγ), interleukin1ß, interleukin 2, interleukin 6, interleukin 10 (IL-10), and soluble CD14 compared with HEU infants. Postvaccination concentrations of neutralizing antibodies to RV5 were negatively correlated with prevaccination concentrations of IL-10 (RV5 surface proteins G1 and P1) and IFNγ (G1) in the HIV-1+ infants, whereas antirotavirus immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels were not. Heightened inflammation and immune activation in HIV-1+ infants did not alter IgA responses associated with protection from rotavirus disease.

Advanced Analysis Techniques Improve Infant Bone and Body Composition Measures by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a novel technique designed to reduce the negative impact of motion artifacts in infant dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. STUDY DESIGN: Using cross-sectional data from a large multicenter study, we developed and tested advanced methods for infant scan analysis. Newborns (n = 750) received spine and whole-body DXA scans with up to 3 attempts to acquire a motion free scan. Precision of infant DXA was estimated from visits with multiple valid scans. Accuracy of regional reflection, fusion, and omission techniques was estimated by comparing modified scans to unmodified valid scans. The effectiveness of the acquisition and analysis protocol was represented by the reduction in rate of failure to acquire valid results from infant visits. RESULTS: For infant whole-body DXA, arm reflection and all fusion techniques caused no significant changes to bone mineral content, bone mineral density, bone area, total mass, fat mass, lean mass, and percentage fat. Leg reflection and arm/leg dual-reflection caused significant changes to total mass, but the percentage change remained small. For infant spine DXA, fusion and omission caused no significant changes. Advanced analysis techniques reduced the failure rate of whole-body scanning from 20.8% to 9.3% and the failure rate of spine scanning from 8.9% to 2.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced analysis techniques significantly reduced the impact of motion artifacts on infant DXA scans. We suggest this protocol be used in future infant DXA research and clinical practice.

Morphologic and metabolic abnormalities in vertically HIV-infected children and youth.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the distribution of lipid and glucose abnormalities and altered fat distribution among vertically HIV-infected patients and controls. DESIGN: Cross-sectional multicenter study on HIV-infected (HIV-positive) patients, 7-24 years of age, stratified by Tanner stage and protease inhibitor use (protease inhibitor, n = 161 and non- protease inhibitor, n = 79) and seronegative controls (HIV-negative, n = 146). METHODS: Measurements included fasting lipids, glucose, insulin, 2-h oral glucose tolerance test, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, anthropometry, and antiretroviral therapy and medical histories. Multiple linear regression models were used to compare distributions between HIV-positive and HIV-negative groups. RESULTS: Both HIV-positive groups had long exposures to antiretroviral therapy. Protease inhibitor and nonprotease inhibitor groups had similar current CD4 cell count and HIV-1 RNA, but the protease inhibitor group had lower nadir CD4 cell count, higher peak HIV-1 RNA, and more advanced Centers for Disease Control disease stage. In adjusted analyses, both HIV-positive groups had significantly lower mean Z scores for height, weight, BMI, and total and limb fat than the HIV-negative group. Mean triglycerides were significantly higher and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol lower in both HIV-positive groups relative to the HIV-negative group. The protease inhibitor group also had significantly higher mean total, low-density lipoprotein, and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Mean fasting insulin was higher in both HIV-positive groups, and 2-h glucose and insulin were higher in the protease inhibitor group. Ritonavir was associated with increasing dyslipidemia and altered glucose metabolism. CONCLUSION: In a large group of vertically HIV-infected children and youth with extensive antiretroviral therapy exposure, height, weight, and total and limb fat were lower than in controls. There was a high prevalence of lipid abnormalities among those on protease inhibitors and evidence of developing insulin resistance, factors that may accelerate lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease.