Effectiveness of symptom screening and incidence of tuberculosis among adults and children living with HIV infection in India.

BACKGROUND WHO recommends the use of a simplified symptom-based algorithm for screening for tuberculosis (TB) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). We assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of this algorithm and determined the prevalence and incidence of TB among PLHIV attending antiretroviral treatment (ART) centres in India. METHODS We did a prospective multicentric implementation research study in four states of India. To rule out TB, we administered the WHO symptom-screen algorithm to all PLHIV every month for 6 months. If they were found to be symptomatic any time during this period, they were referred for investigations for TB. A case of TB diagnosed during the first month of screening was taken as a prevalent case while those detected TB in the subsequent 5 months were considered cases of incident TB. We calculated the incidence rate using the person-years method. Results . Between May 2012 and October 2013, a total of 6099 adults and 1662 children living with HIV were screened for TB at the ART centres of four states. Of the 6099 adult PLHIV, 1815 (30%) had at least one symptom suggestive of TB, of whom only 634 (35%) were referred for investigations of TB. Of those referred, 97 (15%) PLHIV were diagnosed with TB. Overall, the prevalence of undiagnosed TB was 0.84 person-years and in the subsequent period, the incidence of TB was 2.4/100 person-years (95% CI 1.90-3.10). Among 1662 children, 434 (26%) had at least one symptom suggestive of TB. But only 57 (13%) children were referred for investigations of TB and 13 (23%) of them were diagnosed with TB. The prevalence of TB among children was 0.5% and its incidence among them was 2.7/100 person-years (95% CI 1.60-4.30). CONCLUSION Prevalence and incidence of TB is high among PLHIV attending ART centres. This emphasizes the need to strengthen regular screening for symptoms of TB and further referral of those symptomatic for diagnosis of TB

Effectiveness of isoniazid preventive therapy on incidence of tuberculosis among HIV-infected adults in programme setting

Background & objectives: As India and other developing countries are scaling up isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in their national programmes, we studied the feasibility and performance of IPT in terms of treatment adherence, outcome and post-treatment effect when given under programmatic settings. Methods: A multicentre, prospective pilot study was initiated among adults living with HIV on isoniazid 300 mg with pyridoxine 50 mg after ruling out active tuberculosis (TB). Symptom review and counselling were done monthly during IPT and for six-month post-IPT. The TB incidence rate was calculated and risk factors were identified. Results: Among 4528 adults living with HIV who initiated IPT, 4015 (89%) successfully completed IPT. IPT was terminated in 121 adults (3%) due to grade 2 or above adverse events. Twenty five PLHIVs developed TB while on IPT. The incidence of TB while on IPT was 1.17/100 person-years (p-y) [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8-1.73] as compared to TB incidence of 2.42/100 p-y (95% CI 1.90-3.10) during the pre-IPT period at these centres (P=0.017). The incidence of TB post-IPT was 0.64/100 p-y (95% CI 0.04-1.12). No single factor was significantly associated with the development of TB. Interpretation & conclusions: Under programmatic settings, completion of IPT treatment was high, adverse events minimal with good post-treatment protection. After ruling out TB, IPT should be offered to all PLHIVs, irrespective of their antiretroviral therapy (ART) status. Scaling-up of IPT services including active case finding, periodic counselling on adherence and re-training of ART staff should be prioritized to reduce the TB burden in this community

Telomere length and bipolar disorder

Variation in telomere length is heritable and is currently considered a promising biomarker of susceptibility for neuropsychiatric disorders, particularly because of its association with memory function and hippocampal morphology. Here, we investigate telomere length in connection to familial risk and disease expression in bipolar disorder (BD). We used quantitative polymerase chain reactions and a telomere-sequence to single-copy-gene-sequence ratio method to determine telomere length in genomic DNA extracted from buccal smears from 63 patients with BD, 74 first-degree relatives (49 relatives had no lifetime psychopathology and 25 had a non-BD mood disorder) and 80 unrelated healthy individuals. Participants also underwent magnetic resonance imaging to determine hippocampal volumes and cognitive assessment to evaluate episodic memory using the verbal paired associates test. Telomere length was shorter in psychiatrically-well relatives (p=0.007) compared to unrelated healthy participants. Telomere length was also shorter in relatives (regardless of psychiatric status; p<0.01) and patients with BD not on lithium (p=0.02) compared to lithium-treated patients with BD. In the entire sample, telomere length was positively associated with left and right hippocampal volume and with delayed recall. This study provides evidence that shortened telomere length is associated with familial risk for BD. Lithium may have neuroprotective properties that require further investigation using prospective designs

Acute kidney injury in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

BACKGROUND: Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated acute kidney injury (ICPi-AKI) has emerged as an important toxicity among patients with cancer. METHODS: We collected data on 429 patients with ICPi-AKI and 429 control patients who received ICPis contemporaneously but who did not develop ICPi-AKI from 30 sites in 10 countries. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of ICPi-AKI and its recovery. A multivariable Cox model was used to estimate the effect of ICPi rechallenge versus no rechallenge on survival following ICPi-AKI. RESULTS: ICPi-AKI occurred at a median of 16 weeks (IQR 8-32) following ICPi initiation. Lower baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use, and extrarenal immune-related adverse events (irAEs) were each associated with a higher risk of ICPi-AKI. Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis was the most common lesion on kidney biopsy (125/151 biopsied patients [82.7%]). Renal recovery occurred in 276 patients (64.3%) at a median of 7 weeks (IQR 3-10) following ICPi-AKI. Treatment with corticosteroids within 14 days following ICPi-AKI diagnosis was associated with higher odds of renal recovery (adjusted OR 2.64; 95% CI 1.58 to 4.41). Among patients treated with corticosteroids, early initiation of corticosteroids (within 3 days of ICPi-AKI) was associated with a higher odds of renal recovery compared with later initiation (more than 3 days following ICPi-AKI) (adjusted OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.16 to 3.79). Of 121 patients rechallenged, 20 (16.5%) developed recurrent ICPi-AKI. There was no difference in survival among patients rechallenged versus those not rechallenged following ICPi-AKI. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who developed ICPi-AKI were more likely to have impaired renal function at baseline, use a PPI, and have extrarenal irAEs. Two-thirds of patients had renal recovery following ICPi-AKI. Treatment with corticosteroids was associated with improved renal recovery

Sexual dysfunction, Depression and Quality of Life in Female Patients with HIV Infection

Objective: In India, psychological aspect of HIV infection in women is poorly understood. The purposes of this study were to evaluate sexual dysfunction, depression rate and health-related quality of life and evaluate the association between these three major domains in a group of HIV+ subjects in Mysore, India. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 85 female HIV+ patients who had referred to voluntary counseling and testing were recruited based on convenience sampling from May to December 2014. The purpose of the study was explained and interested individuals provided informed consent and completed validated questionnaires [Female sexual functional index (FSFI), Hamilton rating scale of Depression, HIV/AIDS Targeted- quality of life Instrument scale(HATQoL)}.Results: Average age of the participants was 33 ± 07 years, duration of HIV was 3.54±1.79 years, CD4 count was 524±176 cells/mm3 and 20.0% were very severely depressed. Logistic regression indicated that Duration of HIV had effect on FSFI and depression (p&lt;0.0001). FSFI was significantly correlated with Depression in all domains and HAT-QoL was significantly correlated with female sexual dysfunction. Pearson’s correlation coefficients showed significant association between the Duration of HIV and the domains of FSFI and Depression (r= -0.712, r=-0.674); between FSFI and Depression (r= -0.935) and between HAT-QoL (r= 0.232). The CD4 count was not significantly associated with any of the major domains. Conclusion: Sexual function and depression showed association with quality of life and duration of HIV. Effective treatment of depression and sexual function may improve the quality of life of HIV-infected person

INCIDENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF RENAL IMPAIRMENT IN HIV-1 INFECTED PATIENTS RECEIVING TENOFOVIR BASED ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY IN A SOUTH INDIAN HOSPITAL

Objective: To identify the incidence and risk factors of tenofovir (TDF) induced nephrotoxicity among People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) receiving TDF-based anti-retroviral therapy (ART) in a South Indian Hospital.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among HIV-infected ART naïve patients taking TDF as part of either a first-line or second-line ART between July 2013 and June 2015 at Asha kirana Hospital Mysore, India.Results: A total of 380 patients have been initiated on TDF-based ART. Out of these, 335 patients were on tenofovir+lamivudine+efavirenz, 30 patients were on the tenofovir+lamivudine+nevirapine regimen and 25 patients were on tenofovir+lamivudine+atazanavir/ritonavir regimen. Renal impairment was documented for 35 patients with 9.21% incidence. 34% of renal impaired patients had a severe impairment with eGFR&lt;30 ml/min. Elderly patients (&gt;61 y) had higher chances of developing TDF toxicity compared to adult patients (P=0.0018). Other possible risk factors for TDF-induced renal impairment was CD4&gt;200 (P=0.003). TDF was withdrawn and substituted with Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI) drug following the diagnosis of renal impairment.Conclusion: TDF-associated renal impairment was not uncommon in real-life practice and considered as a frequent complication during treatment with TDF. Risk factors for developing renal impairment include increasing age and CD4&gt;200 cells

Differences in Evolution of HIV-1 Subtype C Reverse Transcriptase Between Children and Adults Likely Explained by Maturity of Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Responses.

In this study HIV-1 subtype C-infected adults demonstrated higher purifying selection on their viral populations in reverse transcriptase (RT) than infected children. This difference is likely explained by more mature cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses in adults, which may have implications for the development of drug resistance in the RT region