205 research outputs found
Safety and efficacy trial of adipose-tissue derived oral preparation V-6 Immunitor (V-6): results of open-label, two-month, follow-up study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic inflammations, atherosclerosis and obesity, are major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Immune modulation of the inflammatory response has shown promise in animal models of atherogenesis and metabolic disease. Tableted dietary supplement, V-6, containing pooled antigens derived from pig adipose tissue has been administered daily to 12 volunteers for 2 months.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>No significant changes were observed in liver ALT and AST enzymes, i.e., 28 vs 23.8 IU and 22.6 vs 24.8 IU, with p = 0.07 and p = 0.49, respectively. Creatinine decreased; 0.88 vs 0.84 mg/dL (p = 0.05) while BUN moved upward; 14.5 vs 17.5 mg/dL (p = 0.01), but both values remained within normal range. Blood glucose remained within normal range; 96.1 vs 101.1 mg/dL (p = 0.04). Complete blood cell analysis has not revealed any change except slight increase in hemoglobin; 13.13 to 13.96 g/dL (p = 0.0002); hematocrit and red blood cells count 40.3 to 42.3% (p = 0.02) and 5.15 to 5.35 × 10<sup>6 </sup>cells/mm<sup>3 </sup>(p = 0.03) respectively. Blood pressure systolic and diastolic values were not affected, i.e., 116.1 vs 116.3 (p = 0.12) and 76.8 vs 76.6 (p = 0.99). Body weight and body mass index (BMI) remained same; 66.4 vs 66.3 kg (p = 0.47) and 25.7 vs 25.6 kg/m<sup>2 </sup>(p = 0.2). Body fat deposit indices, such as abdomen; mid-arm; and thigh circumferences declined by 3.5 cm (p = 0.008); 1.2 cm (p = 0.004); and 3.0 cm (p = 0.0007) respectively. The total cholesterol and LDL levels did not change; 195.5 vs 195.1 (-0.2%; p = 0.8) and 113.4 vs 120.3 (6.1%; p = 0.08) respectively. Triglycerides have been reduced but not statistically significant; 168.1 vs 118 mg/dL (-29.8%; p = 0.2). In contrast, HDL content had risen by 29.7% from 39.4 to 51.1 mg/dL in all 12 patients (p = 0.000003). TG/HDL ratio - a marker of insulin resistance - was reduced from 4.78 to 2.56 (-46.5%; p = 0.04).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results demonstrate that V-6 is safe and has a potential as an anti-atherogenic and overweight/obesity immune intervention.</p
Serodeconversion of HIV Antibody-Positive AIDS Patients Following Treatment with V-1 Immunitor
It is extremely rare when HIV seropositive adult patients experience spontaneous loss
of antibodies, that is, seroreversion. The disappearance of HIV antibodies was occasionally
attributed to iatrogenic intervention—serodeconversion. Such interventions include:
HAART; oral interferon; Chinese herbal remedies; and therapeutic AIDS vaccines
derived from pooled blood. Oral therapeutic, alloimmune AIDS vaccine, V-1 Immunitor
(V1), was administered to 60000 HIV-positive Thai patients. The administration of V1
resulted in serodeconversion among 23 individuals. The patient group consisted of 9
females (39%) and 14 males (61%) including two 2-year-old boys. The age range was
2–58 years with mean/median 29/29.3 years. Patients were tested seropositive for HIV
at least once before being enrolled on V1. The duration of treatment until discovery of
seronegative status ranged between 2 weeks and 15 months with average/median 7.2/8
months. Time to seronegativity was correlated with baseline disease stage (R = 0.62; P = .002). The seronegative status was positively associated with V1-induced
undetectable or low viral load (R = 0.65; P = .0008). The odds ratio analysis comparing
the outcome of our study with published surveys of diagnostic accuracy of laboratory
tests suggested that the probability of HIV antibody testing error was remote
(P < .000001). The possible causes responsible for this unusual phenomenon are
discussed
Recent developments in biotech industry outside of the USA and Western Europe: Report from BIO 2005
The BIO 2005 international convention is the largest gathering of the
biotech industry in the world. This year it was held on June 19-22
inside the behemoth Convention Center in downtown Philadelphia,
bringing together 18,730 executives, investors, consultants, lawyers,
politicians, scientists, and dreamers from 56 countries. More than 500
media representatives covered the event. Biotechnology research and
findings presented by countries outside the USA and Western Europe has
begun to make a significant impact on these annual BIO gatherings. The
achievements of some of these countries are briefly reviewed
Pilot trial of oral therapeutic HIV vaccine, V-1 Immunitor, on HIV and HIV/HCV patients in Russia
Normalization of elevated liver enzymes due to V-1 Immunitor therapy
V-1 Immunitor (V1) is an oral AIDS vaccine currently being used as a
therapeutic modality by HIV-positive patients. Upon interim analysis of
phase I safety trial it has been discovered that patients who had
elevated liver enzymes aspartate (AST/SGOT) and alanine (ALT/SGPT)
aminotransferases have experienced the reduction of enzyme levels back
to normal. Two other hepatitis markers alkaline phosphatase and
bilirubin have also decreased. V1's effect may be hepatitis-specific
since liver enzymes in normal patients treated with V1 have not changed
and three patients who were Hepatitis B antigen positive at baseline
became negative after therapy. The results suggest that V1
supplementation reduces hepatic damage caused by hepatitis viral
infection
Phase IIb randomized trial of adjunct immunotherapy in patients with first-diagnosed tuberculosis, relapsed and multi-drug-resistant (MDR) TB
Placebo-controlled, randomized, phase 2b trial was conducted in 34 adults comprising 18 first-diagnosed (52.9%), 6 relapsed (17.6%), and 10 MDR-TB (29.4%) cases to investigate the safety and efficacy of an oral immune adjunct (V5). The immunotherapy (N = 24) and placebo (N = 10) arms received once-daily tablet of V5 or placebo for one month in addition to conventional anti-TB therapy (ATT) administered under directly observed therapy (DOT)
CCR5: From Natural Resistance to a New Anti-HIV Strategy
The C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5) is a key player in HIV infection due to its major involvement in the infection process. Investigations into the role of the CCR5 coreceptor first focused on its binding to the virus and the molecular mechanisms leading to the entry and spread of HIV. The identification of naturally occurring CCR5 mutations has allowed scientists to address the CCR5 molecule as a promising target to prevent or limit HIV infection in vivo. Naturally occurring CCR5-specific antibodies have been found in exposed but uninfected people, and in a subset of HIV seropositive people who show long-term control of the infection. This suggests that natural autoimmunity to the CCR5 coreceptor exists and may play a role in HIV control. Such natural immunity has prompted strategies aimed at achieving anti-HIV humoral responses through CCR5 targeting, which will be described here
Antimicrobial Peptides and Skin: A Paradigm of Translational Medicine
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small, cationic, amphiphilic peptides with broad-spectrum microbicidal activity against both bacteria and fungi. In mammals, AMPs form the first line of host defense against infections and generally play an important role as effector agents of the innate immune system. The AMP era was born more than 6 decades ago when the first cationic cyclic peptide antibiotics, namely polymyxins and tyrothricin, found their way into clinical use. Due to the good clinical experience in the treatment of, for example, infections of mucus membranes as well as the subsequent understanding of mode of action, AMPs are now considered for treatment of inflammatory skin diseases and for improving healing of infected wounds. Based on the preclinical findings, including pathobiochemistry and molecular medicine, targeted therapy strategies are developed and first results indicate that AMPs influence processes of diseased skin. Importantly, in contrast to other antibiotics, AMPs do not seem to propagate the development of antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms. Therefore, AMPs should be tested in clinical trials for their efficacy and tolerability in inflammatory skin diseases and chronic wounds. Apart from possible fields of application, these peptides appear suited as an example of the paradigm of translational medicine for skin diseases which is today seen as a `two-way road' - from bench to bedside and backwards from bedside to bench. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base
Parameters of human immunodeficiency virus infection of human cervical tissue and inhibition by vaginal virucides
Inflammatory arthritis in HIV positive patients: A practical guide
Background: Musculoskeletal manifestations of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been described since the outset of the global HIV epidemic. Articular syndromes that have been described in association with HIV include HIV-associated arthropathy, seronegative spondyloarthropathies (SPA) (reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and undifferentiated SPA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and painful articular syndrome.
Methods: We carried out a computer-assisted search of PubMed for the medical literature from January 1981 to January 2015 using the keywords HIV, acquired immune-deficiency syndrome, rheumatic manifestations, arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, anti-TNF and disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. Only English language literature was included and only studies involving adult human subjects were assessed.
Results: There are challenges in the management of inflammatory arthritis in patients who are HIV-positive, including difficulties in the assessment of disease activity and limited information on the safety of immunosuppressive drugs in these individuals.
Conclusions: This review focuses on the clinical characteristics of the inflammatory articular syndromes that have been described in association with HIV infection and discusses the therapeutic options for these patients
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