Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Utility of Cryptococcal Antigen Screening and Evolution of Asymptomatic Cryptococcal Antigenemia among HIV-Infected Women Starting Antiretroviral Therapy in Thailand
Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) remains a significant HIV-associated opportunistic infection in Southeast Asia and Africa, with a high burden of disease and a high mortality rate despite the availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART). We retrospectively examined the utility of cryptococcal antigen screening to identify risk for CM among 211 Thai women initiating ART. Antigenemia prevalence was 11% (n = 9) among 84 women with a CD4 count <100 cells/mm3. Screening identified all women who later developed CM. Cryptococcal antigen titers decreased over time with ART. Our study confirmed findings from previous studies in Thai...
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - September 17, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Kwan, C. K., Leelawiwat, W., Intalapaporn, P., Anekthananon, T., Raengsakulrach, B., Peters, P. J., McNicholl, J. M., Park, B. J., McConnell, M. S., Weidle, P. J. Tags: HIV Clinical Management Source Type: research

Self-Reported Preconception Care of HIV-Positive Women of Reproductive Potential: A Retrospective Study
Conclusions: Preconception care in our cohort was suboptimal. We recommend that counseling on healthy preconception should be part of routine HIV care. (Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC))
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - September 17, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Loutfy, M. R., Blitz, S., Zhang, Y., Hart, T. A., Walmsley, S. L., Smaill, F. M., Rachlis, A. R., Yudin, M. H., Angel, J. B., Ralph, E. D., Tharao, W., Raboud, J. M., for the Ontario HIV Fertility Research Team Tags: Sexual & amp;amp; Reproductive Health Source Type: research

Elements of Condom-Use Decision Making among South African Men Who Have Sex with Men
South African men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk for HIV infection, and male condoms are fundamental to HIV prevention programs. We explored condom use experiences through in-depth interviews with 34 South African MSM from Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. For data analysis, we generated a codebook and used the constant comparison method. Condom use reinforcing elements included use of alternative sexual strategies, having a high level of self-worth that was linked to protective behaviors, and use of ready-made condom negotiation scripts. Elements inhibiting condom use included perceiving substantial decline...
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - September 17, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Siegler, A. J., Voux, A. d., Phaswana-Mafuya, N., Bekker, L.-G., Sullivan, P. S., Baral, S. D., Winskell, K., Kose, Z., Wirtz, A. L., Stephenson, R. Tags: Sexual & amp;amp; Reproductive Health Source Type: research

Glioblastoma Multiforme in an HIV-Infected Patient: An Unexpected Diagnosis
We reported a case of glioblastoma multiforme in a 42-year-old female patient with HIV infection, who had a rapid progression to AIDS. She was diagnosed with an intracerebral mass and treated as neurotoxoplasmosis with improvement in the first week of therapy. On the fourth week she had a clinical worsening evolving to death, receiving the diagnosis at necropsy. (Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC))
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - September 17, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Oliveira, V. C. M. d., Gomes, T., Ferreira, L. C. L., Damian, M. M., Silva, V. M. F. Q., Araujo, J. R., Safe, I. P., Ramasawmy, R. Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research

A Case of Cerebellar Ataxia Associated with HIV Infection
Cerebellar complications of HIV infection primarily manifested in ataxia, usually arise as the result of cerebellar lesions due to opportunistic infections, vasculitis or neoplastic processes. A 28 year old female known to have HIV infection for last four years, presented to our hospital with progressive unsteadiness in walking, slurring of speech and intention tremors for the last two months. There was no family history of similar complaints, and she was on Anti retroviral treatment for last one and a half years. The results of examination were notable for severe dysarthria, slow saccades, a conspicuous dysmetria and dysd...
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - September 17, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Anand, K. S., Wadhwa, A., Garg, J. Tags: Case Reports Source Type: research

Role of Education in HIV Clinical Outcomes in a Tuberculosis Endemic Setting
This study evaluated how educational attainment impacts clinical outcomes of HIV-positive patients in Durban, South Africa. The authors conducted a prospective study of 466 adult HIV-positive patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) at an urban TB-HIV clinic from October 2004 to June 2007. The level of educational attainment (highest grade completed) was assessed at ART initiation. The authors measured tuberculosis treatment outcomes as well as death, lost to follow-up, viral suppression (HIV RNA <400 copies/mL), and immunologic response (CD4 ≥200 cells/mm3) at 6, 12, and 24 months after ART initiation. After...
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - September 17, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Cohen, G. M., Werner, L., Gengiah, S., Naidoo, K. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research

Global Policy Review of Recommendations on Cotrimoxazole Prophylaxis among People Living with HIV
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Treatment 2015 calls for expanded access to HIV care and treatment, including cotrimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT), for prevention of HIV-related morbidity and mortality. We review 115 national guidelines from 92 countries for recommendations on CPT for adults and adolescents and determine the level of consistency with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Of the 66 countries with recommendations, 5 (8%) countries recommend lifelong CPT for people living with HIV; 19 (29%) countries recommend a CD4 count threshold of ≤350 cells/mm3 or WHO clinical stage...
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - September 17, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Gupta, S., Granich, R., Hersh, B., Lepere, P., Samb, B. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research

Welfare Homes for Patients Living with HIV/AIDS in Andalusia
Conclusion: The AWHs perform an important role in the care of certain types of patients with HIV infection. They require human and material resources to be able to tackle the immense difficulties associated with this group of patients. (Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC))
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - September 17, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Ivanova, R., Vergara, S., Milla, M., Lozano, F., Santos, J. Tags: Short Communications Source Type: research

JIAPAC Mourns the Loss of Joep M. A. Lange, MD, PHD
(Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC))
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - September 17, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Zuniga, J. M. Tags: Editor ' s Statement Source Type: research

Law and Pediatric HIV Testing: Realizing the Right to Health in Kenya
Realization of the right to health occurs along a continuum including national ratification of international treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of the Child, passage of domestic laws and policies that may specify modes of implementation and enforcement such as Kenya’s Constitution and HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act, and actual implementation of domestic laws and policies such as through the regulation and delivery of health services. The stages heuristic theoretical framework describes the public policy continuum as consisting of marked stages: agenda setting, policy formulation, policy implementa...
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - August 1, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Verani, A. R., Orago, A. S. S., Kariuki, C. N., Muraguri, N., Koros, D., Marston, B., De Cock, K. M. Tags: Legal & amp;amp; Public Policy Source Type: research

"Notify Your Partners--It's the Law": HIV Providers and Mandatory Disclosure
This study compared provider attitudes and practices in relation to counseling clients about mandatory disclosure in North Carolina and Alabama, the 2 states with similar HIV epidemiology but different laws for HIV control. Personal interviews were conducted with 20 providers in each state (n = 40). The results were analyzed in a qualitative, cross-comparison method to identify patterns of convergence or difference. Providers in both states believed that clients often failed to notify sexual partners and were secretive if questioned about disclosure. Differences in counseling styles and procedures for each state were notew...
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - August 1, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Lichtenstein, B., Whetten, K., Rubenstein, C. Tags: Legal & amp;amp; Public Policy Source Type: research

Long-Term Outcome of Second-Line Antiretroviral Therapy in Resource-Limited Settings
There is limited information on efficacy and durability of second-line antiretroviral therapy (2NL) beyond 12 months in resource-limited settings. A total of 73 patients were enrolled into a prospective 2NL observational cohort in Nigeria. Second-line antiretroviral therapy consisted of lopinavir/ritonavir plus nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Time on 2NL ranged from 15 to 31 months. Genotypes were retrospectively done and not available to guide second-line regimen choice. At enrollment, median CD4 count was 121 cells/mm3, and median time on first-line antiretroviral therapy (1SL) was 24 months. At 6 to 9 month...
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - August 1, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Osinusi-Adekanmbi, O., Stafford, K., Ukpaka, A., Salami, D., Ajayi, S., Ndembi, N., Abimiku, A., Nwizu, C., Gilliam, B., Redfield, R., Amoroso, A. Tags: Antiretroviral Therapy Source Type: research

Evaluation of an HIV Adherence Counseling Program in La Romana, Dominican Republic
Research has demonstrated that adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) results in lower rates of morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection, yet adherence remains a challenge in resource-limited settings like the Dominican Republic. Clínica de Familia La Romana addressed this problem with an education-based adherence program for adult patients new to ART, and this retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the impact of this intervention. Appointment adherence and biological markers were assessed in cases and controls through 12 months. A total of 101 participants were included, with 61 controls and 4...
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - August 1, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Winter, M. C., Halpern, M., Brozovich, A., Neu, N. Tags: Antiretroviral Therapy Source Type: research

Ritonavir-Boosted Lopinavir as Maintenance Monotherapy in HIV-Infected Patients Who Achieved Viral Suppression during a Second-Line Protease Inhibitor-Based Regimen: A Pilot Randomized Trial (BIDI-MONO)
Eligibility criteria were (1) having previously failed first-line nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor–based regimens and (2) having achieved virologic suppression >6 months while receiving a protease inhibitor (PI)-based regimen as second-line treatment. Eligible participants were randomized to receive either (1) ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (LPV/r) monotherapy (n = 29) or (2) LPV/r with optimized background regimens (OBRs; n = 31). Median duration of viral suppression before randomization was 45 months. At week 48, viral suppression during LPV/r monotherapy was 86.2% and did not differ from the suppressi...
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - August 1, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Siripassorn, K., Chottanapund, S., Prasithsirikul, W., Manosuthi, W. Tags: Antiretroviral Therapy Source Type: research

The Effect of Depressive Symptoms and CD4 Count on Adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Sub-Saharan Africa
Conclusions: These results indicate that mental health and clinical parameters are significant factors in determining patients’ adherence to their HAART, which need to be more aggressively addressed as a critical component of care and treatment support. (Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC))
Source: Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (JIAPAC) - August 1, 2014 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Memiah, P., Shumba, C., Etienne-Mesubi, M., Agbor, S., Hossain, M. B., Komba, P., Niyang, M., Biadgilign, S. Tags: Antiretroviral Therapy Source Type: research