Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Höhn

Publications and source records attributed to C Höhn.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Switch to efavirenz in a protease inhibitor-containing regimen.

PURPOSE: This report evaluated the efficacy and safety of switching from a protease inhibitor (PI)-containing HIV treatment regimen to an efavirenz (EFV)-containing regimen. METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed data from 64 patients, with a plasma viral load (VL) less than 50 copies/mL and CD4+ counts >200 cells/mL at baseline, who had been taking a regimen consisting of a PI and two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs; d4T/3TC [n = 45]; AZT/3TC [n = 19]) for a median of 27.5 months (range, 6-41 months) and who chose to substitute EFV for the PIs in the regimens. Statistical analyses were performed by Wilcoxon test. Fat atrophy was evaluated by physician's assessment and patients' subjective self-estimation with the criteria of well being and body state. RESULTS: 57 patients completed 36 weeks on the EFV regimen; 4 patients changed therapy but continued EFV, 2 moved to another area, and 1 discontinued EFV. During the first weeks of therapy, 56.3% of patients suffered from moderate nervous system symptoms. The plasma VL of 63 patients remained at <50 copies/mL at final analysis. Compared with time of switching to EFV, analysis at 36 weeks showed no statistically significant change from 626+/-283 to 643+/-296 cells/mL in mean absolute CD4+ cells and a statistically significant increase from 26.8+/-9.6% to 28.0+/-9.1% in relative CD4+ cells. There was a statistically significant reduction in relative CD8+CD38+ from 62.2+/-16.3% at time of switching to EFV to 55.1+/-15.0% at week 36. At baseline, 27 patients suffered from lipodystrophy, including fat atrophy and fat accumulation. After 36 weeks, nine patients showed intensified fat atrophy. In contrast, five patients improved their state concerning fat redistribution and 13 patients showed no alterations. CONCLUSION: The switch to a non-PI-containing regimen with EFV offers a good drug alternative for patients with suppressed viral load, problems of adherence, and/or adverse events due to PIs but not for patients suffering from lipoatrophy caused by nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. The intention of such a switch aims at the avoidance of fatal mutations in HIV.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Selected aspects of the life situation of elderly women and men in West and East Germany].

The current and future expected aging process of the population in Germany affects women more than men. This is equally true for West and East Germany. The demographic development in Germany will cause a confrontation with the problems of aging persons in our society to be ever more essential. This also includes the analysis of the living situation of older women and men. In this contribution two significant aspects of the living situation of older persons in West- and East Germany are being discussed; the income situation and household- and marital status structures. A German-German comparison shows that older women in the new federal states already have higher pension qualifying periods than women in the old federal states. Decisive causes for this are different personal labour force biographies. In total, the income situation of the elderly in East Germany is less favourable as a result of formerly no or at best, minimal possibilities for investments. In addition, it is evident (and this applies to all of Germany) that women have poorer financial starting positions for arranging their life situation in old age than do men. Additionally, there are more women than men who live alone in old age. One-person households of the aged are predominantly female households. Differences according to sex which are analyzed in the article result in different consequences for life in old age. Precisely what this might look like in the final analysis depends not only on the old people themselves, but also on the opportunities that the society in which they live provides for them.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗