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Biomedical subjects

P Reiss

Publications and source records attributed to P Reiss.

120 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

Antibody response to the viral negative factor (nef) in HIV-1 infection: a correlate of levels of HIV-1 expression.

Antibody responses against the nef gene product of HIV-1 were determined in sequential sera from a longitudinally studied cohort of 194 initially asymptomatic HIV-1-seropositive individuals and 72 individuals who seroconverted for antibodies to HIV-1 structural proteins (gag/env). In the majority of men, nef-specific antibodies, once detected, persisted (67.6%). In some men, nef-specific antibodies were only transiently (6.8%), or intermittently (5.3%), detectable. No nef-specific antibodies were found in the remaining men (20.3%). Nef-specific antibodies were elicited early in infection, but rarely (2/72 men) prior to seroconversion for antibodies to HIV-1 structural proteins. An absent, transient, or intermittent nef-specific antibody response was significantly associated with the absence or disappearance of antibodies to HIV-1 core proteins, with (re)appearance and persistence of HIV-1 core antigen and with the presence of low CD4+ cell numbers, i.e. profiles previously shown to be predictive of rapid disease progression. Although more cases of AIDS and AIDS-related disease (21/86 versus 28/180) occurred in the nef-specific antibody-negative group than in the nef-specific antibody-positive group, this difference did not reach significance.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Lack of activity of zidovudine in AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma.

The efficacy of zidovudine (AZT) for treatment of patients with Kaposi's sarcoma as the initial manifestation of AIDS was determined in a non-randomized, phase-II clinical trial. Twenty-two patients were treated with zidovudine (300 mg 4 times daily for 8 weeks). In patients with stable disease or showing a response, treatment was continued. After 12 weeks the total daily dose was changed to 1000 mg. Only two of all 22 evaluable patients achieved a response (one complete and one partial response), of only brief duration (2 and 4 months, respectively). There was no such association between antiretroviral activity, increase in CD4+ cells and tumour response, as was reported during treatment with human recombinant interferon alpha (IFN-alpha). These findings do not support the use of zidovudine as a first-line treatment for patients with AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Disseminated cat-scratch disease in a patient with AIDS.

A patient with AIDS developed subcutaneous nodules and associated osteolytic lesions with negative stains and cultures for bacteria, fungi and parasites. Flucloxacillin was not effective but treatment with vancomycin was associated with improvement. Six months later the patient became severely ill, with fever, malaise and multiple skin and laryngeal papules. Cat-scratch disease was diagnosed from the typical epithelioid angiomatosis seen in skin biopsies with bacterium-like structures in the Warthin-Starry stain. Retrospectively these typical structures were also seen in earlier biopsies. All lesions improved after therapy with erythromycin had been instituted.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Evaluation of Subcutaneous Proleukin (interleukin-2) in a Randomized International Trial (ESPRIT): geographical and gender differences in the baseline characteristics of participants.

BACKGROUND: ESPRIT, is a phase III, open-label, randomized, international clinical trial evaluating the effects of subcutaneous recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) plus antiretroviral therapy (ART) versus ART alone on HIV-disease progression and death in HIV-1-infected individuals with CD4+ T-cells > or =300 cells/microL. OBJECTIVES: To describe the baseline characteristics of participants randomized to ESPRIT overall and by geographic location. METHOD: Baseline characteristics of randomized participants were summarized by region. RESULTS: 4,150 patients were enrolled in ESPRIT from 254 sites in 25 countries. 41%, 27%, 16%, 11%, and 5% were enrolled in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Australia, respectively. The median age was 40 years, 81% were men, and 76%, 11%, and 9% were Caucasian, Asian, and African American or African, respectively. 44% of women enrolled (n = 769) were enrolled in Thailand and Argentina. Overall, 55% and 38% of the cohort acquired HIV through male homosexual and heterosexual contact, respectively. 25% had a prior history of AIDS-defining illness; Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, M. tuberculosis, and esophageal candida were most commonly reported. Median nadir and baseline CD4+ T-cell counts were 199 and 458 cells/muL, respectively. 6% and 13% were hepatitis B or C virus coinfected, respectively. Median duration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) was 4.2 years; the longest median duration was in Australia (5.2 years) and the shortest was in Asia (2.3 years). 17%, 13%, and 69% of participants began ART before 1995, between 1996 and 1997, and from 1998 onward, respectively. 86% used ART from two or more ART classes, with 49% using a protease inhibitor-based regimen and 46% using a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimen. 78% had plasma HIV RNA below detection (<500 cp/mL). CONCLUSION: ESPRIT has enrolled a diverse population of HIV-infected individuals including large populations of women and patients of African-American/African and Asian ethnicity often underrepresented in HIV research. As a consequence, the results of the study may have wide global applicability.

Adult↗