Daily cannabis and reduced risk of steatosis in human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus‐co‐infected patients (ANRS CO13‐HEPAVIH)

Liver steatosis is common in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)‐hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐co‐infected patients. Some recent studies have found that cannabis use is negatively associated with insulin resistance in the general population and in HIV‐HCV‐co‐infected patients. Given the causal link between insulin resistance and steatosis, we hypothesized that cannabis use has a positive impact on steatosis. Therefore, we aimed to study whether cannabis use in this population was associated with a reduced risk of steatosis, measured by ultrasound examination. ANRS CO13‐HEPAVIH is a French nationwide multicentre cohort of HIV‐HCV‐co‐infected patients. Medical and socio‐behavioural data from clinical follow‐up visits and annual self‐administered questionnaires were prospectively collected. A cross‐sectional analysis was conducted using data from the first visit where both ultrasound examination data for steatosis (positive or negative diagnosis) and data on cannabis use were available. A logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between cannabis use and steatosis. Among study sample patients (n = 838), 40.1% had steatosis. Fourteen per cent reported daily cannabis use, 11.7% regular use and 74.7% no use or occasional use (“never or sometimes”). Daily cannabis use was independently associated with a reduced prevalence of steatosis (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI] = 0.64 [0.42;0.99]; P = .046), after adjusting for body mass index, hazardous alcohol consumption and current or lifetime use of lamivudine/zidovudine. Daily cannabis use may be a protective factor against steatosis in HIV‐HCV‐co‐infected patients. These findings confirm the need for a clinical evaluation of cannabis‐based pharmacotherapies in this population. Eudract.ema.europa.eu number, DGS050367.     

Prevalence of transfusion-transmitted Chagas disease among multitransfused patients in Brazil

Background

Prevalence and risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis infection among young men in Switzerland is still unknown. The objective of the present study was to assess prevalence and risk factors for C. trachomatis infection in young Swiss men.

Methods

517 young Swiss men were enrolled in this cross-sectional study during their compulsory military recruitment. Participants completed a questionnaire and gave urine samples which were screened for C. trachomatis DNA by PCR. Genotyping of positive samples was done by amplification and sequencing the ompA gene.

Results

The prevalence of chlamydial infection among young Swiss male was 1.2% (95% confidence interval [95%CI], 0.4–2.5%). C. trachomatis infection was only identified among the 306 men having multiple sexual partner. Although frequent, neither unprotected sex (absence of condom use), nor alcohol and drug abuse were associated with chlamydial infection. Men living in cities were more frequently infected (2.9%, 95%CI 0.8–7.4%) than men living in rural areas (0.5%, 95%CI 0.1–1.9%, p = 0.046). Moreover, naturalised Swiss citizens were more often positive (4.9%, 95%CI 1.3–12.5%) than native-born Swiss men (0.5%, 95%CI 0.1–1.7%, p = 0.003).

Conclusion

In comparison with other countries, the prevalence of chlamydial infection in men is extremely low in Switzerland, despite a significant prevalence of risky sexual behaviour. C. trachomatis infection was especially prevalent in men with multiple sexual partners. Further research is required (i) to define which subgroup of the general population should be routinely screened, and (ii) to test whether such a targeted screening strategy will be effective to reduce the prevalence of chlamydial infection among this population.     

Altered DNA methylation profile in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Rationale: DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mechanism, which often occurs in response to environmental stimuli and is crucial in regulating gene expression. It is likely that epigenetic alterations contribute to pathogenesis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Objectives: To determine the DNA methylation changes in IPF and their effects on gene expression. Methods: Total DNA methylation and DNA methyltransferase expression were compared in IPF and normal control lung tissues. IPF and normal tissues were subjected to comparative analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation and RNA expression using DNA hybridization to the Illumina HumanMethylation27 BeadChip and RNA hybridization to Illumina HumanHT-12 BeadChip. Functional analyses of differentially expressed and differentially methylated genes were done. Selected genes were validated at DNA, RNA, and protein levels. Measurements and Main Results: DNA methylation status was altered in IPF. IPF samples demonstrated higher DNA methyltransferase expression without observed alterations in global DNA methylation. Genome-wide differences in DNA methylation status and RNA expression were demonstrated by array hybridization. Among the genes whose DNA methylation status and RNA expression were both significantly altered, 16 genes were hypermethylated in DNA associated with decreased mRNA expression or vice versa. We validated CLDN5, ZNF467, TP53INP1, and DDAH1 genes at the level of DNA methylation status, RNA, and protein-level expression. Conclusions: Changes in DNA methylation correspond to altered mRNA expression of a number of genes, some with known and others with previously uncharacterized roles in IPF, suggesting that DNA methylation is important in the pathogenesis of IPF.     

HPLC法测定加替沙星注射液的含量

采用HPLC法测定加替沙星注射液含量。方法精密，准确度高，重现性好。在4.4μg/ml-21.4μg/ml浓度范围内线性关系好。回收率为99.8%，RSD为0.7%。操作简便，结果准确。     

Virological characterization of an infection with a dual-tropic, multidrug-resistant HIV-1 and further evolution on antiretroviral therapy

We studied a case of recent infection with multidrug-resistant (MDR) HIV-1. Over 16 months off-therapy, the CD4 cell count decreased from 419 to 184 cells/mul. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) then led to an incomplete virological response but to an immunological benefit, concurrently with a shift to CCR5-only tropism and a reduction in replication capacity. ART, even if suboptimal, can be of interest in the case of MDR virus infection.     

CD4 cell recovery in treated HIV-2-infected adults is lower than expected: results from the French ANRS CO5 HIV-2 cohort

In 61 antiretroviral-naive HIV-2-infected patients starting triple therapy at a median CD4 cell count of 136 cells/microl, the median increase was 41 cells/microl at month 12, which was no different among those on protease inhibitors or triple nucleoside analogues. Despite virological response, as the median plasma load was under the detectable threshold from month 3, CD4 cell recovery remained poor in treated HIV-2 infection. Our results raise the question of the optimal regimen to recommend in HIV-2-infected patients.     

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