Retrospective analysis of antiretroviral HIV treatment success based on medical history or guided by the reverse hybridisation LiPA HIV genotyping system

The changes in viral load and CD4(+) count at 3 and 6 months in a group of 166 HIV-infected patients was evaluated. The new therapy was chosen based on the medical history procedures for 70 patients, and in 96 patients it was guided by the partial or complete result of the line probe assay (LiPA) HIV RT and Protease resistance tests. The absolute difference from the baseline of the log viral load at 3 and 6 months was significantly different between the two groups when adjusted for baseline viral load (P < 0.0001) and stayed significant when intention-to-treat analysis was carried out (P < 0.001). The absolute difference of the CD4(+) count was not significantly different when adjusted for baseline CD4(+) (P = 0.854, 3 months; P = 0.06, 6 months). The proportion of patients with a viral load 相似文献   

Complementary DNA sequence of the HLA‐B*3924 allele1

We have isolated the complete coding region of HLA‐B*39 from a Spanish Caucasoid, using a new PCR primer for its 5′ untranslated region. The cDNA matched partial genomic sequences of B*3924, an allele whose distribution appears to be restricted to Mediterranean and Arabian Caucasoids. A single amino acid change exclusive to B*3924 (threonine‐98) distinguishes it from B*3903.     

Lower serum vitamin E concentrations in major depression. Another marker of lowered antioxidant defenses in that illness

OBJECTIVE: Major depression is associated with defective antioxidant defenses. Vitamin E is the major fat soluble antioxidant in the body. The aim of the present study is to examine serum vitamin E concentrations in major depressed patients versus normal volunteers. METHOD: Serum vitamin E concentrations were measured in 26 healthy volunteers and 42 major depressed patients by means of HPLC. Since vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin, and serum vitamin E concentrations are strongly related to these of low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides, we have adjusted the results for possible differences in these lipids. The numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes were measured. RESULTS: Patients with major depression had significantly lower serum vitamin E concentrations than healthy controls. The area under the ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curve was 83%. There were significant and negative correlations between serum vitamin E and number of total leukocytes and neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS: Major depression is accompanied by significantly lower serum vitamin E concentrations, suggesting lower antioxidant defenses against lipid peroxidation. The results could, in part, explain previous findings, which suggest increased lipid peroxidation in major depression.     

Apoptosis and apoptosis-associated perturbations of peripheral blood lymphocytes during HIV infection: comparison between AIDS patients and asymptomatic long-term non-progressors

This study was designed to compare the degree of lymphocyte apoptosis and Fas-Fas ligand (FasL) expression in AIDS patients and long-term non-progressors (LTNPs) and correlate these parameters with apoptosis-associated perturbations in lymphocyte function. LTNPs had a lower frequency of apoptotic CD4+ and CD8+ T cells compared with subjects with AIDS. This correlated with a lower frequency of cells expressing Fas and FasL. The frequency of selected lymphocyte populations exhibiting a disrupted mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim) and increased superoxide generation was lower in LTNPs than in patients with AIDS; these abnormalities were associated with lower levels of caspase-1 activation in LTNPs. The results indicate a significantly reduced level of apoptosis and apoptosis-associated parameters in LTNPs than in patients developing AIDS. Based on these findings, a crucial role for mitochondria can be predicted in the process of lymphocyte apoptosis during the evolution of AIDS.     

Cotrimoxazole therapy ofToxoplasma gondii encephalitis in AIDS patients

Twenty-four consecutive HIV-positive patients affected byToxoplasma gondii encephalitis received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (cotrimoxazole) as acute-phase treatment. Two dosage regimens of cotrimoxazole were used: 40 mg/kg/day (12 patients) or 120 mg/kg/day (12 patients) of total compound (trimethoprim plus sulfamethoxazole). Clinical and radiological responses to treatment were evaluated, and the product-limit method for survival data analysis was used. Eighteen of 24 patients showed both a clinical and radiological response (75 % response rate). There were no differences in response rates between patients receiving the two dosage regimens of cotrimoxazole. Adverse reaction consisted of leukopenia (two cases) and skin rash (three cases) which led to the discontinuation of the drug in one case. These results suggest that a randomized, controlled clinical trial should be carried out comparing cotrimoxazole versus sulfadiazine-pyrimethamine in AIDS patients withToxoplasma gondii encephalitis.Deceased.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel gene of Candida albicans,CDR1, conferring multiple resistance to drugs and antifungals

By functional complementation of a PDR5 null mutant of Saccharomyces cervisiae, we have cloned and sequenced the multidrug-resistance gene CDR1 of Candida albicans. Transformation by CDR1 of a PDR5-disrupted host hypersensitive to cycloheximide and chloramphenicol resulted in resistance to cycloheximide, chloramphenicol and other drugs, such as the antifungal miconazole, with collateral hypersensitivity to oligomycin, nystatin and 2,4 dinitrophenol. Our results also demonstrate the presence of several PDR5 complementing genes in C. albicans, displaying multidrug-resistance patterns different from PDR5 and CDR1. The nucleotide sequence of CDR1 revealed that, like PDR5, it encodes a putative membrane pump belonging to the ABC (ATP-binding cassette) superfamily. CDR1 encodes a 1501-residue protein of 169.9 kDa whose predicted structural organization is characterized by two homologous halves, each comprising a hydrophobic region with a set of six transmembrane stretches, preceded by a hydrophilic nucleotide binding fold.     

Hurthle cell adenoma of the mediastinum: intraoperative cytology and differential diagnosis with correlative gross, histology, and ancillary studies

A 66-year-old man was found to have a 7.5 cm mediastinal mass detected on routine chest X-rays as part of his preoperative work up for an inguinal hernia repair. An orthotopic (normally located) nongoitrous thyroid gland without evidence of connection to the mediastinal mass was also identified. The clinical differential diagnoses included lymphoma, thymoma, and germ cell tumor. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy smears and touch imprints of the mediastinal mass showed a loosely cohesive, highly cellular population of relatively uniform cells with abundant granular cytoplasm, low nuclear to cytoplasmic (N/C) ratios, and prominent nucleoli consistent with a Hurthle cell (HC) neoplasm. Subsequently, the diagnosis of HC adenoma was confirmed on the surgically excised mediastinal mass. To the best of our knowledge, the surgical pathology and cytologic features of an HC adenoma of the mediastinum have not been reported in the literature. The gross, histologic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic (EM) findings, in addition to the cytologic features, are presented along with a differential diagnosis of this mediastinal neoplasm.     

GPR34-mediated sensing of lysophosphatidylserine released by apoptotic neutrophils activates type 3 innate lymphoid cells to mediate tissue repair

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