Role of Interferon-Gamma (Ifn-γ) in Immune Response Regulation in HIV-1 and HIV-1 + Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (Tb) Infected Patients

Publisher Copyright: © 2016 by Inga Januškevica. Copyright: Copyright 2016 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.The aim of this research was to investigate the role of IFN-γ in interaction between IL-10, IL-18, IL-1b, CD4 cell counts and HIV-1 RNA viral load in the development of HIV-1 in patients co-infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). The study was conducted by Rīga East Clinical University Hospital with data from the HIV-1 register, in collaboration with the RSU Joint Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Immunogenetics. 200 HIV-1 infected patients and 184 HIV-1 with TB co-infection patients divided in four groups were included in the study. IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-18, IL-1b levels were measured in serum with commercially enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA Vector-Best Corporation, Novosibirsk, Russia). CD4 cell counts were measured by flow Partec IVD cytometry (USA). HIV-1 RNA quantification was performed using the COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS Taqman HIV-1 Test (Germany). All groups were compared with each another. IFN-γ production was significantly lower, and IL-10 and CD4 cell counts were significantly higher, in HIV-1 patients without TB compared with the other groups. The group with HIV-1 and TB had significantly elevated IL-18 production. HIV patients with primary TB had significantly elevated IFN-γ production and HIV-1 RNA viral load and significantly lower IL-10 production.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Human leukocyte antigens class II alleles affecting the response to 5-7 year antiretroviral therapy in A Latvian cohort

Publisher Copyright: © 2019 Vladislavs Jasinskis et al., published by Sciendo 2019. Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Antiretroviral therapy (ART) aims at suppressing viral replication and strengthening immune system in patients with HIV-1. Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) are among factors responsible for effectiveness of ART. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of HLA Class II alleles on the response to long-time ART, assessed by a change in CD4 + T-cell count in relation to viral load. The sample included 69 patients (17 females and 52 males) aged 20 to 50 with HIV-1 infection, who were undergoing ART in the Latvian Centre of Infectious Diseases. The median period of observation was 5.7 years. CD4 + T-cell count and viral load were analysed at the baseline and end of the period of observation. HLA typing was performed by polymerase chain reaction with low resolution sequence specific primers. Multiple hierarchical linear regression analysis confirmed that an increase in HIV-1 viral load was associated with a decrease in the level of CD4 + T-cell count. In addition, HLA-DRB1∗04 and HLA-DQB1∗06:01 alleles contributed negatively to the level of CD4 + T-cell count.Peer reviewe

Hepatitis A virus subgenotypes in Latvia, 2008-2021

Funding Information: This research was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, as revised in 2013 [40]. Ethics Committees of Riga Stradins University (Reference: 4/08.09.2018), Riga East University Hospital (Reference: ZD/08–06/01–19/210) and Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia (Reference:6.1–3/8) approved the study. HAV cases were not directly involved in this study. Only data extracted from notifiable disease surveillance systems were used. All identifiable personal information was removed for privacy protection and therefore no informed consent was required. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s)BACKGROUND: In Latvia outbreaks of the HAV were observed between 2008 and early 2010 and again in 2017-2018. However, the risks of introducing and spreading infection still exist, as the virus spreads easily when personal hygiene is not followed. METHODS: To determine the spread of HAV subgenotypes in the territory of Latvia the VP1/P2A genomic region of HAV was amplified and sequenced for 259 case serum samples. The study carried out a molecular biological investigation and molecular epidemiological investigation. Demographic data (sex, age), disease data (hepatitis symptoms, hospitalization, vaccination) and epidemiology data (part of the outbreak, possible source of infection, recent travel) were collected. Based on the obtained sequences, the phylogenetic tree was built and analyzed for the homology and belonging to different isolated HAV clusters from other countries. RESULTS: From the obtained data, it was concluded that HAV subgenotype IA had 13 clusters and 12 sporadic cases, HAV subgenotype IB had eight clusters and 11 sporadic cases, HAV subgenotype IIIA had one cluster and nine sporadic cases. It was found that the sources of infection among the investigated cases were different, they were mostly associated with contact with a patient with HAV, travel, as well as between persons who inject drugs and men who have sex with men, and the prevalence of HAV similar sequences was observed in different years. It was concluded that patients with HAV subgenotype IA had the longest hospitalization duration and averaged 9.3 days, while patients with subgenotype IB - 7.3 days, subgenotype IIIA - 7.7 days. Analyzing the data on vaccination, it was found that mostly all were not vaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. CONCLUSIONS: All of this has led to the conclusion that the application of molecular biological methods of the HAV and a careful analysis of epidemiological data can help to better understand the ways of spreading the infection, investigate local outbreaks, detect cases of imported infection and track the recirculation of the virus.Peer reviewe

Graves’ disease as a manifestation of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in an HIV-1-infected adolescent patient : A case report

Funding Information: Paediatric Endocrinology Department staff, Children's Clinical University Hospital; Outpatient Department of the Latvian Centre of Infectious Diseases; Rare Diseases Centre, Children's Clinical University Hospital. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The AuthorsIntroduction: Although Graves' disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism in adolescents, it is very rare for it to result from the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor autoantibodies due to Graves' immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). Especially for paediatric patients, very little is known about the aetiology and complete pathogenesis of Graves’ IRIS. Furthermore, details of a valid treatment plan are severely lacking. The case report presented here is only the third for paediatric patients worldwide. Case presentation: We report on a Caucasian female adolescent who initially presented with non-specific complaints about discomfort and tightness in the anterior part of the neck and thyroid enlargement. Based on clinical, laboratory and thyroid ultrasound findings, she was diagnosed with GD. However, after several months of outpatient treatment, the patient's GD could still not be fully managed with conservative therapy alone. Only when the patient was hospitalized for the third time was it discovered that she had previously been diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus infection and had received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for the previous 29 months. Consequently, the production of autoantibodies to TSH receptors and abnormal changes in thyroid hormones had led to the development of GD and her final diagnosis was established as Graves' IRIS. Ultimately, a total thyroidectomy was performed. Discussion/conclusion: This case report demonstrates how fundamentally important it is to have full access to a patient's complete anamnesis and results of all previous investigations. Clinicians should be made aware of the potential existence of thyroid dysfunction and other autoimmune or infectious processes in paediatric patients initiating or reinitiating HAART. Further research is needed to optimize the treatment for such paediatric patients.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Interleukin 28B Gene Polymorphism and Association with Chronic Hepatitis C Therapy Results in Latvia

Introduction. With the standard treatment of chronic hepatitis C, sustained virological response (SVR) can be achieved only in half of all patients. Interleukin-28B appears to be involved in the control of HCV infection, and the genetic polymorphism of the encoding IL-28B gene may determine the efficacy of clearance of HCV. The aim of this paper was to detect IL-28B gene polymorphism in Latvia and to analyze therapy results. This is the first study on IL-28B gene polymorphism in Latvia. Material and Methods. There were 159 chronic viral hepatitis C patients included in the study. In order to detect IL-28B gene polymorphism, we used molecular biology techniques and methods: classical DNA separation, amplification by PCR, and standard sequencing. Genotype was defined as CC, CT, TC, or TT type. 142 patients were treated with the standard of care treatment. Results were analyzed according to IL-28B polymorphism. Results. There were 53 patients (33%) with CC genotype, 84 patients (53%) with CT/TC genotype, and 22 patients (14%) with TT genotype. 34 patients (74%) in CC genotype subgroup achieved SVR versus 50 patients (52%) in non-CC subgroups. In patients with genotype 1, SVR was achieved in 16 patients (84%) in CC subgroup versus 30 patients (47.6%) in non-CC subgroups, P = 0.007. Conclusions. The most common genotype of IL28B in Latvia is CT/TC, with an incidence of 53%. Patients with CC genotype achieved SVR more often than CT or TT subgroups. IL28B gene polymorphism therefore is a strong predictor of treatment result

Hepatits C Latvija: fakti un problemas

Available from Latvian Academic Library / LAL - Latvian Academic LibrarySIGLELVLatvi

Efficacy of biocide-based sanitizer in daily use during the COVID–19 pandemic

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a biocide-based disinfectant against pathogenic flora on the skin of the hands.Material and methodsThis is a prospective study of 30 participants from the general population. The questionnaire, interview data and results of two swab analysis were collected. All the data were statistically analysed.ResultsThe results showed that after the hand disinfection with the biocide based disinfectant, number of colonies on the participants’ skin decreased or completely disappeared, and a significant correlation was found between the number of colonies before and after disinfection. In case of Coagulase – negative staphylococcus the number of Colony – forming unit (CFU) significantly decreased [p<0,001]. Also Bacillus ssp. and Acinetobacter spp. were also found in 17.6 % (n=3) of the cases after the disinfection however the number of the colonies was significantly decreased [p=0,001; p=0,008].ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that a biocide-based disinfectant has high effectiveness against Gram positive, Gram negative, as well as fungal pathogens