Current HIV Research - Volume 9, Issue 1, 2011

RhoA-derived peptides have been shown to have antiviral activity against both human respiratory syncytial virus and human parainfluenza virus-3. The present study investigates the toxicity, anti-HIV-1 activity and mechanism of action of a RhoA-derived peptide (RhoA 77-95). The efficacy of this peptide was compared to a scrambled peptide of the same amino acid composition and Enfuvirtide, a HIV entry inhibitor. Our data show Read More

Chronic immune activation driven by microbial translocation from a damaged gut plays a fundamental role in HIV-1 progression. However, the exact link between a leaky gut and immune activation remains to be established. A growing body of evidence suggests that high mobility group box protein-1 (HMGB1) may be involved in this process. HMGB1 is a DNA binding protein present in every nucleated cell, which might be acti Read More

The aim of this study was to assess morphological and morphometrical alterations of oral squamous epithelial cells in type 1 HIV infected individuals. Oral smears were collected from tongue and buccal mucosa of 30 HIV infected (experimental) and 30 non-infected (control) individuals by liquid-based exfoliative cytology. The cells were morphologically analyzed and the nuclear area (NA), the cytoplasmic area (CA) and t Read More

Viral population in a long term non progressor carrying CRF02-AG HIV-1 virus variants with a truncated RT gene and attenuated virus replication was analyzed. The proportion of mutant and wild-type RT sequences was determined by clonal analysis of HIV-1 DNA and RNA from blood samples and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) culture supernatants. Recombinant HIV-1 strains were generated by reverse genetics to Read More

Aim: To evaluate the effect of antiretroviral treatment on aminotransferase serum levels in treatment-naïve patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study in treatment-naive patients infected with HIV. Patients were excluded if they had consumed alcohol during the last three months or had an opportunistic disease or co-infection. All 54 enrolled patients were ev Read More

Cryptococcoma is a rare entity, characterized by solid, space-occupying masses, usually found in the brain. It has been reported in the setting of “paradoxical” immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. A case of retroperitoneal cryptococcoma in a HIV-infected woman with a clinical history of disseminated cryptococcosis on antifungal maintenance therapy is described.

Given the decline in mortality among HIV-infected patients, it has become increasingly important to consider delayed disease-related and/or anti-HIV therapy-related adverse effects, such as lipodystrophy, when choosing initial therapy. Data from the MONARK trial allowed for comparison of the potential lipodystrophic effects of lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) monotherapy with those of triple therapy with LPV/r plus zidovudine (ZDV Read More

Background: Raltegravir has demonstrated potent and durable efficacy and a favorable safety profile in 3 phase III studies in treatment-naive and treatment-experienced patients with HIV-1 infection. This manuscript provides a review of the raltegravir safety profile using data from these and other studies in the clinical development program. Methods: Comprehensive 96-week safety data from STARTMRK (raltegravir versus ef Read More

Although hepatitis B serology screening has been recommended for HIV care, it has not been routinely performed. We aimed to assess compliance and timing of hepatitis B serology screening among HIV-infected patients in a resource-limited setting. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Thailand. Compliance, timing of hepatitis B serology screening, and factors associated with no HBsAg screening were determined. A tota Read More

Liver injury in the HIV-positive population has been classically associated with hepatitis B or C viruses (HBV and HCV). While HBV or HCV co-infections have represented “Pillars of Hercules” for hepatic disease (not further beyond), it is now time to move forward and shed light on liver disease in HIV-infected patients without HBV or HCV co-infections. Indeed, over the last years, liver disease in HIV-mono-infected patient Read More