Spectroscopic analysis of metabolic profile in patients with relapsed multiple sclerosis

Introduction. Managing patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RMS) remains a pressing issue. Objective. To detect the reversible metabolic changes of the brain matter in patients with clinically exacerbated RMS and to follow them up after intravenous glucocorticoid (IVGC) treatment. Materials and methods. Neurological examination and neuroimaging in the RMS patients included expanded disability status scale (EDSS) scoring, conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-NMR spectroscopy) before and after IVGC treatment. Multivoxel 1H-NMR spectroscopy was used to assess metabolism in the centra semiovale and cingulate gyri. Results. Based on the multivoxel 1H-NMR spectroscopy, relative metabolite concentrations in the grey and white matter statistically differed within the study cohort before and after the IVGC treatment. The N-acetylaspartate/choline ratio significantly recovered and the choline/creatine ratio decreased in the anterior cingulate gyri in 27% of patients. The brainstem function score significantly improved in the metabolic response group as compared to the non-metabolic response group. Conclusion. We should study the potential predictors of RMS activity and the IVGC response to select the RMS relapses when pulse-therapy with IVGCs is definitely indicated. Spectroscopy may reveal RMS pathogenesis variability earlier than conventional MRI

Intraoperative computed tomography perfusion navigation for maximal resection of high grade gliomas: a prospective non-randomized trial

Background: The main purpose of surgery for glioblastoma is to ensure the maximally possible cytoreduction. Computed tomography perfusion imaging has non-invasive tools for assessment of tumor blood flow and allows for visualization of the tumor borders and its most malignant zones. Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative computed tomography perfusion navigation (ICTPN) during surgery for high grade gliomas. Materials and methods: This prospective non-randomized study included 142 patients (76 men and 66 women) with morphologically verified diagnosis of glioblastoma or diffuse astrocytoma grade 4 (World Health Organization 2021 criteria), who had surgery from 2016 to 2022. The ICTPN-based procedures were performed in 94 patients, with 55 with gross total and 39 with subtotal tumor resection. The control group included 48 patients with non-ICTPN-based surgical procedures. All patients were treated with standard adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. The efficacy of surgery was assessed every 3 months. The study endpoint was any tumor progression. The duration of the follow-up was 15 months. Baseline and contrast-enhanced preoperative imaging and postoperative follow-up assessments were performed with a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner (General Electric Discovery W750). ICTPN was done with a 32 slice computed tomography scanner (Toshiba Aquilion LB). Results: In the totally resected ICTPN group, the mean duration of the relapse-free period was 13.05 months; the relapse-free survival at 6 and 12 months was 92 and 55%, respectively (p 0.001). These results were significantly better than those in the subtotally resected ICTPN patients (8.98 months, 66 and 9%, respectively; log rank test for Kaplan-Meier curves, p 0.001) and in non-ICTPN patients (5.81 months, 23 and 0%, respectively, log rank test, p 0.001). Conclusion: ICTPN enables a more objective assessment of the tumor borders and the extent of its resection, as well as relapse-free survival benefits for the patients

Clinical Outcomes in Persons Coinfected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus: Impact of Hepatitis C Virus Treatment

Background: A hepatitis C (HCV) cure is associated with changes in lipids and inflammatory biomarkers, but its impact on clinical endpoints among treated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/HCV coinfected persons is unclear. Methods: People living with HIV from EuroSIDA with a known HCV status after January 2001 were classified into strata based on time-updated HCV RNA measurements and HCV treatment, as either HCV antibody-negative; spontaneously resolved HCV; chronic, untreated HCV; cured HCV (HCV RNA-negative); or HCV treatment failures (HCV RNA-positive). Poisson regression was used to compare incidence rates between HCV groups for end-stage liver disease (ESLD; including hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]), non-acquired immunodeficiency virus defining malignancy (NADM; excluding HCC), and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Results: There were 16 618 persons included (median follow-up 8.3 years, interquartile range 3.1-13.7). There were 887 CVD, 902 NADM, and 436 ESLD events; crude incidence rates/1000 person-years follow-up were 6.4 (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.0-6.9) for CVD, 6.5 (95% CI 6.1-6.9) for NADM, and 3.1 (95% CI 2.8-3.4) for ESLD. After adjustment, there were no differences in incidence rates of NADM or CVD across the 5 groups. HCV-negative individuals (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 0.22, 95% CI 0.14-0.34) and those with spontaneous clearance (aIRR 0.61, 95% CI 0.36-1.02) had reduced rates of ESLD compared to cured individuals. Persons with chronic, untreated HCV infections (aIRR 1.47, 95% CI 1.02-2.13) or treatment failure (aIRR 1.80, 95% CI 1.22-2.66) had significantly raised rates of ESLD, compared to those who were cured. Conclusions: Incidences of NADM or CVD were independent of HCV group, whereas those cured had substantially lower incidences of ESLD, underlining he importance of successful HCV treatment for reducing ESLD

Observational cohort study of rilpivirine (RPV) utilization in Europe

Introduction: Data on safety and effectiveness of RPV from the real-world setting as well as comparisons with other NNRTIs such as efavirenz (EFV) remain scarce. Methods: Participants of EuroSIDA were included if they had started a RPV- or an EFV-containing regimen over November 2011-December 2017. Statistical testing was conducted using non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test and Chi-square test. A logistic regression model was used to compare participants’ characteristics by treatment group. Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to estimate the cumulative risk of virological failure (VF, two consecutive values > 50 copies/mL). Results: 1,355 PLWH who started a RPV-based regimen (11% ART-naïve), as well as 333 initiating an EFV-containing regimen were included. Participants who started RPV differed from those starting EFV for demographics (age, geographical region) and immune-virological profiles (CD4 count, HIV RNA). The cumulative risk of VF for the RPV-based group was 4.5% (95% CI 3.3–5.7%) by 2 years from starting treatment (71 total VF events). Five out of 15 (33%) with resistance data available in the RPV group showed resistance-associated mutations vs. 3/13 (23%) among those in the EFV group. Discontinuations due to intolerance/toxicity were reported for 73 (15%) of RPV- vs. 45 (30%) of EFV-treated participants (p = 0.0001). The main difference was for toxicity of central nervous system (CNS, 3% vs. 22%, p 50 copies/mL and resistance in participants treated with RPV were similar to those reported by other studies. RPV safety profile was favourable with less frequent discontinuation due to toxicity than EFV (especially for CNS)

Uptake and effectiveness of two-drug compared with three-drug antiretroviral regimens among HIV-positive individuals in Europe

Objective: To assess the use of two-drug antiretroviral regimens (2DR) and virologic and immunologic outcomes compared with three-drug regimens (3DR) in the EuroSIDA cohort. Design: Multicentre, prospective cohort study. Methods: Logistic regression was used to analyse the uptake and outcomes among HIV-positive individuals who started or switched to a 2DR compared with those on a 3DR. Virologic outcomes were assessed on-treatment as the proportion of individuals with controlled viral load (<400 copies/ml), or with a composite modified FDA snapshot endpoint (mFDA), with mFDA success defined as controlled viral load at 6 months or 12 months for individuals with a known viral load, no regimen changes, AIDS or death. Immunologic response was defined as a 100 cells/mu l or a 25% increase in CD4(+) cell counts from baseline. Results: Between 1 July 2010 and 31 December 2016, 423 individuals started or switched to a 2DR (eight antiretroviral-naive) and 4347 started a 3DR (566 naive). Individuals on 2DR tended to have suppressed viral load, higher CD4(+) cell counts and more comorbidities at baseline compared with those on 3DR. There were no differences in the proportions of individuals who obtained on-treatment or mFDA success, and no significant differences in the adjusted odds ratios for mFDA success or immunologic responses between the 2DR and 3DR groups at 6 months or 12 months. Conclusion: In routine clinical practice, 2DR were largely used for virologically suppressed individuals with higher cumulative exposure to antiretrovirals and comorbidities. Virologic and immunologic outcomes were similar among those on 2DR or 3DR, although confounding by indication cannot be fully excluded due to the observational nature of the study

Observational cohort study of rilpivirine (RPV) utilization in Europe

Altres ajuts: ViiV Healthcare LLC; Janssen Scientific Affairs; Janssen R&D; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp; Gilead Sciences; The Swiss National Science Foundation (148522); the Danish National Research Foundation and by the International Cohort Consortium of Infectious Disease (RESPOND) (DNRF126).Introduction: Data on safety and effectiveness of RPV from the real-world setting as well as comparisons with other NNRTIs such as efavirenz (EFV) remain scarce. Methods: Participants of EuroSIDA were included if they had started a RPV- or an EFV-containing regimen over November 2011-December 2017. Statistical testing was conducted using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test. A logistic regression model was used to compare participants' characteristics by treatment group. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate the cumulative risk of virological failure (VF, two consecutive values > 50 copies/mL). Results: 1,355 PLWH who started a RPV-based regimen (11% ART-naïve), as well as 333 initiating an EFV-containing regimen were included. Participants who started RPV differed from those starting EFV for demographics (age, geographical region) and immune-virological profiles (CD4 count, HIV RNA). The cumulative risk of VF for the RPV-based group was 4.5% (95% CI 3.3-5.7%) by 2 years from starting treatment (71 total VF events). Five out of 15 (33%) with resistance data available in the RPV group showed resistance-associated mutations vs. 3/13 (23%) among those in the EFV group. Discontinuations due to intolerance/toxicity were reported for 73 (15%) of RPV- vs. 45 (30%) of EFV-treated participants (p = 0.0001). The main difference was for toxicity of central nervous system (CNS, 3% vs. 22%, p 50 copies/mL and resistance in participants treated with RPV were similar to those reported by other studies. RPV safety profile was favourable with less frequent discontinuation due to toxicity than EFV (especially for CNS)