The direct costs of HIV/AIDS care

We reviewed published studies reporting the direct medical costs of treating HIV-infected people in countries using highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Of 543 potentially relevant studies, only nine provided adequate data to make a meaningful statement about costs. Within studies, people with more advanced disease incurred higher total costs. Valid comparisons of total direct medical costs between studies were not possible because of differences in the specific components included, the heterogeneous nature of study populations in terms of disease stage, the sources and methods used to estimate unit costs, and the level of aggregation at which results were reported. The advent of HAART has major implications for the cost of treating HIV-infected individuals. Although this information is important for planning purposes, only a small number of published studies provide useful estimates of the direct cost. A useful method of estimating resource use and costs is computer simulation.     

Is glycemic variability important to assessing antidiabetes therapies?

Traditionally, statistical estimation of glycemic variability includes computing standard deviation of glucose readings or related statistics (eg, M value, mean amplitude of glucose excursions, and so forth). We advocate an alternative approach using risk measures of variability, which have substantial clinical and numerical advantages. In addition, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data have clinically important inherent temporal structure that should be taken into consideration. Thus, temporal variability methods are discussed for the analysis and interpretation of CGM output.     

TIPSS for variceal hemorrhage after living related liver transplantation： A dangerous indication

The introduction of transjugular intrahepatic portal-systemic stent-shunt(TIPSS)has been a majorbreakthrough in the treatment of portal hypertension,which has evolved to a large extent,into a routineprocedure.A 21-year-old male patient with progressivegraft fibrosis/cirrhosis requiring TIPSS for varicealhemorrhage in the esophagus due to portal hypertensionwas unresponsive to conventional measures twoyears after living related liver transplantation(LDLT).Subsequently,variceal hemorrhage was controlled,however,liver function decreased dramatically withconsecutive multi organ failure.CT scan revealedsubstantial necrosis in the liver.The patient underwentsuccessful"high urgent"cadaveric liver transplantationand was discharged on postoperative d 20 in a stablecondition.     

HCV genotype 4 in Belgium: three distinct patterns among patients from European and African origin

BACKGROUND: Considered uncommon in western countries some years ago, hepatitis C virus of genotype 4 is now spreading in some areas of Europe. This is assumed to be due to immigration from a region of high prevalence for this genotype and to propagation among drug users. In the south of Belgium, genotype 4 currently accounts for 10% of hepatitis C virus patients and its prevalence is increasing with time. OBJECTIVE: To better define the genotype 4 carriers' characteristics. METHODS: In a database comprising 1726 viraemic hepatitis C virus patients, the files of 85 genotype 4 carriers were reviewed. RESULTS: Beside the African (58%) and European drug user (15%) subgroups classically described, a third subgroup consisting of European nondrug users (26%) was identified as peculiar: these patients were older, had been mostly contaminated sporadically, presented a great diversity of subtypes, and were mainly of Italian origin. In this subgroup, contamination was supposed to be ancient, having occurred probably in Italy before immigration into Belgium. By contrast, European drug users were infected with only two subtypes (4c/4d and 4), an observation in favour of recent spread. Africans had a great diversity of subtypes, were young, and were mostly contaminated sporadically in their home countries. Despite their epidemiological differences, the clinical management, and in particular the rates of eligibility for treatment, were similar for these three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Three different patterns of genotype 4 carriers were observed, corresponding to three different spreading profiles. They did not induce, however, different clinical management.     

Dietary measures and exercise training contribute to improvement of endothelial function and atherosclerosis even in patients given intensive pharmacologic therapy

PURPOSE: Atherosclerosis contributes to cardiovascular mortality and morbidity even with aggressive lipid management. Our objective is to determine whether a combined pharmacological and lifestyle intervention can improve atherosclerosis. METHODS: We conducted a 2-year observational study at a specialized clinic in a tertiary care hospital. One hundred fifty-six subjects with coronary disease were enrolled in an intensive pharmacological management and lifestyle measures (including counseling and exercise training) program designed to reach specific targets. The main outcome measures were carotid intima media thickness and plaque area; brachial artery flow-mediated dilation; nitroglycerin-mediated dilation; flow-mediated dilation-nitroglycerin-mediated dilation ratio; laboratory parameters including lipids, glucose, creatinine, and homocysteine; and physical fitness. RESULTS: At completion, there were improvements in lipids and physical fitness. There were no overall changes in flow-mediated dilation, nitroglycerin-mediated dilation, or carotid intima media thickness in the entire cohort. However, multivariate logistic regression showed that dietary and exercise variables, such as increasing fiber intake and reducing body weight and body fat percentage, were independent predictors of improvements in endothelial function and carotid plaque burden. CONCLUSIONS: Even in the setting of intensive pharmacological therapy, lifestyle interventions, including exercise training and dietary changes, are important determinants of improved endothelial function and atherosclerosis.