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As the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment landscape continues to evolve, the prolonged life expectancy and long-term exposure to antiretroviral drugs have modified the burden associated with living with HIV.To better understand the current treatment and comorbidity burden in people living with HIV (PLWH).Peer-reviewed systematic literature reviews (SLRs) between 2017 and 2020 that included US studies and examined drug adherence/pill burden, resistance burden, or comorbidities in PLWH were identified. Methods and findings were extracted for the overall studies and examined in the subset of US studies.Among 665 publications identified, 47 met the inclusion criteria (drug adherence/pill burden: 5; resistance: 3; comorbidities: 40). While antiretroviral drug adherence levels varied across SLRs, single-tablet regimens (STR) were associated with higher adherence versus multiple-tablet regimens. STRs were also associated with lower risk of treatment discontinuation, higher cost-effectiveness, and lower risk of hospitalization. Longer survival resulted in a high comorbidity burden, with non-AIDS causes accounting for 47% of deaths among PLWH in the US. HIV doubled the risk of cardiovascular disease and was associated with other health problems, including bone and muscle diseases, depression, and cancers. Several antiretroviral regimens were associated with chronic diseases, including cardiometabolic conditions. Lifetime HIV costs are substantially increasing, driven by antiretroviral, adverse event, and comorbidity treatment costs cumulated due to longer survival times.There is a considerable burden associated with HIV and antiretroviral treatment, highlighting the benefits of less complex and safer regimens, and the unmet need for effective preventative interventions.

With advances in HIV treatment, people with HIV (PWH) are living longer but experience aging-related comorbidities, including cognitive deficits, at higher rates than the general population. Previous studies have shown alterations in lysosomal proteins in blood from PWH with severe dementia. However, these markers have not been evaluated in PWH with milder neurocognitive impairment. We sought to determine whether levels of the lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin B (CatB) and its endogenous inhibitor cystatin B (CysB) were altered in PWH with neurocognitive impairment and whether antiretroviral therapy (ART) further influenced these levels. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from the tenofovir arm of a multicenter clinical trial in which ART-naive, HIV+ participants received treatment for 48 weeks (ACTG A5303, NCT01400412). PWH were divided by neurocognitive status (eg, with or without neurocognitive impairment) before ART initiation. Intracellular levels of CatB and CysB were measured in T cells and monocytes by means of flow cytometry. Levels of CysB were significantly decreased in both CD4 + T cells and CD8 + T cells after 48 weeks of ART in HIV+ participants without neurocognitive impairment but not in participants with neurocognitive impairment. Levels of CysB were increased in CD14 + monocytes from the participants with neurocognitive impairment after ART. Levels of CysB and CatB positively correlated regardless of HIV, neurocognitive status, or exposure to ART. These findings suggest that CysB has the potential to provide mechanistic insight into HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders or provide a molecular target for systemic monitoring or treatment of neurocognitive impairment in the context of ART and should be investigated further.

Disparities in SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance have limited our understanding of the viral population dynamics and may delay identification of globally important variants. Despite being the most populated country in Africa, Nigeria has remained critically under sampled. Here, we report sequences from 378 SARS-CoV-2 isolates collected in Oyo State, Nigeria between July 2020 and August 2021. In early 2021, most isolates belonged to the Alpha “variant of concern” (VOC) or the Eta lineage. Eta outcompeted Alpha in Nigeria and across West Africa, persisting in the region even after expansion of an otherwise rare Delta sub-lineage. Spike protein from the Eta variant conferred increased infectivity and decreased neutralization by convalescent sera in vitro. Phylodynamic reconstructions suggest that Eta originated in West Africa before spreading globally and represented a VOC in early 2021. These results demonstrate a distinct distribution of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Nigeria, and emphasize the need for improved genomic surveillance worldwide.

BackgroundNigeria is one of six countries with half the global burden of youth living with HIV. Interventions to date have been inadequate as AIDS-related deaths in Nigeria’s youth have remained unchanged in recent years. The iCARE Nigeria HIV treatment support intervention, a combination of peer navigation and SMS text message medication reminders to promote viral suppression, demonstrated initial efficacy and feasibility in a pilot trial among youth living with HIV in Nigeria. This paper describes the study protocol for the large-scale trial of the intervention.MethodsThe iCARE Nigeria-Treatment study is a randomized stepped wedge trial of a combination (peer navigation and text message reminder) intervention, delivered to youth over a period of 48 weeks to promote viral suppression. Youth receiving HIV treatment at six clinical sites in the North Central and South Western regions of Nigeria were recruited for participation. Eligibility criteria included registration as a patient at participating clinics, aged 15-24 years, on antiretroviral therapy for at least three months, ability to understand and read English, Hausa, Pidgin English, or Yoruba, and intent to remain a patient at the study site during the study period. The six clinic sites were divided into three clusters and randomized to a sequence of control and intervention periods for comparison. The primary outcome is plasma HIV-1 viral load suppression, defined as viral load ≤ 200 copies/mL, in the intervention period versus the control period at 48 weeks of intervention.DiscussionEvidence-based interventions to promote viral load suppression among youth in Nigeria are needed. This study will determine efficacy of a combination intervention (peer navigation and text message reminder) and collect data on potential implementation barriers and facilitators to inform scale-up if efficacy is confirmed.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT 04950153, retrospectively registered July 6, 2021, https://clinicaltrials.gov/.

Sleep disturbance is common among persons living with HIV (PLWH) causing significant health impacts. Nigeria recently switched from efavirenz to dolutegravir (DTG) for first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of sleep disturbance and to determine factors associated with sleep disturbance among treatment-experienced PLWH. Using a cross-sectional study design and systematic random sampling, 300 participants were recruited from the Infectious Diseases Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria (IDI). Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data regarding sociodemographic, sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; PSQI), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7; GAD-7), and psychoactive substance use. HIV-specific data were retrieved from IDI's medical records. The relationship between the PSQI score and the scores on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were explored with the Pearson correlation coefficient. Chi-square global tests of independence were used to assess factors associated with sleep disturbance and a multivariable binary logistic model was used to determine independent predictors of sleep disturbance. The mean age of the sample was 44.5 ± 11.4 (years), the average duration of HIV diagnosis was 8.13 ± 5.33 (years) and the majority were on DTG-based regimens (95%). Depression and anxiety were present in 14 and 17.3%, respectively. Prevalence of sleep disturbance (PSQI score of 6 or more) was 21.7%. Higher PSQI scores were associated with higher PHQ-9 scores (r = 0.526; p < 0.001) and higher GAD-7 scores (r = 0.529; p < 0.001). Sleep disturbance was associated with age (χ2 = 4.483, p = 0.038), marital status (χ2 = 7.187, p < 0.01), depression (χ2 = 46.589, p < 0.001), and anxiety (χ2 = 38.379, p < 0.001). There was no significant association between sleep disturbance and HIV clinical stage at diagnosis, virological suppression status, and ART regimen type (p > 0.05), whereas tea intake was associated with an absence of sleep disturbance (χ2 = 6.334, p < 0.014). Age (>45 years), depression and anxiety were associated with higher odds of sleep disturbance among PLWH. Sleep disturbance remains common among PLWH in the DTG era. Depression and anxiety are significant factors associated with sleep disturbance. Assessing these factors in future studies may improve the sleep health of PLWH.

Nigeria has the fourth-largest HIV epidemic globally, yet high levels of social stigma inhibit HIV testing among Nigerian youths and young men who have sex with men (MSM).To report pilot data from iCARE Nigeria (Intensive Combination Approach to Roll Back the Epidemic in Nigerian Adolescents), a combination intervention using social media and peer navigation to promote HIV testing and linkage to care among high-risk youths and young men (hereinafter referred to as young men), including predominantly young MSM.This nonrandomized controlled study assessed an organizational and community-level 12-month, preintervention-postintervention pilot trial of a combination intervention designed to increase HIV testing uptake, increase the rate of identified seropositive cases, and improve linkage to care among young men, including MSM, using social media outreach and peer navigation. Data were collected from June 1, 2019, to May 30, 2020. Participants were young men aged 15 to 24 years in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria, and surrounding areas. Frequencies and percentages were examined, and a Fisher exact test was used to evaluate outcomes compared with historical surveillance data. Linkage to care was defined as 2 clinic visits, including HIV confirmation, within 2 months of a positive rapid test result.Four peer navigators conducted social media outreach promoting sexual health and guiding individuals to HIV counseling and rapid testing in clinical, community, or home-based settings.Primary outcomes included the number of young men tested for HIV at university-based iCARE catchment clinics or by iCARE peer navigators in the community, the postintervention HIV seroprevalence of these groups, and linkage to care of participants diagnosed with HIV infection.A total of 339 participants underwent testing for HIV (mean [SD] age, 21.7 [1.9] years), with 283 (83.5%) referred through social media. The main referral sources for social media were WhatsApp (124 [43.8%]), Facebook (101 [35.7%]), and Grindr (57 [20.1%]). Regarding testing location, participants chose home (134 [39.5%]), community-based (202 [59.6%]), or clinic (3 [0.9%]) settings. Eighty-six participants reported no prior HIV testing. Thirty-six participants (10.6%) were confirmed as HIV seropositive; among those, 18 (50.0%) reported negative test results within the past year, and 31 (86.1%) were linked to care. In two 6-month follow-up periods, the intervention increased HIV testing by 42% and 31%, respectively, and seroprevalence increased compared with historical trends with odds ratios of 3.37 (95% CI, 1.43-8.02; P = .002) and 2.74 (95% CI, 1.10-7.11; P = .02), respectively.These findings suggest that use of iCARE Nigeria was associated with increased HIV testing and linkage to care in a high-risk, difficult-to-reach population, making it a promising combination intervention for young MSM.isrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN94590823.

Disparities in SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance have limited our understanding of the viral population dynamics and may delay identification of globally important variants. Despite being the most populated country in Africa, Nigeria has remained critically under sampled. Here, we report sequences from 378 SARS-CoV-2 isolates collected in Oyo State, Nigeria between July 2020 and August 2021. In early 2021, most isolates belonged to the Alpha "variant of concern" (VOC) or the Eta lineage. Eta outcompeted Alpha in Nigeria and across West Africa, persisting in the region even after expansion of an otherwise rare Delta sub-lineage. Spike protein from the Eta variant conferred increased infectivity and decreased neutralization by convalescent sera in vitro. Phylodynamic reconstructions suggest that Eta originated in West Africa before spreading globally and represented a VOC in early 2021. These results demonstrate a distinct distribution of SARS-CoV-2 lineages in Nigeria, and emphasize the need for improved genomic surveillance worldwide.

This chapter investigates how iatrogenic alteration of the immune system occurs with use of corticosteroids or noncorticosteroid immunosuppressants. Although there is overlap, noncorticosteroid immunosuppressants can be broadly divided into cytotoxic antineoplastic drugs and immunosuppressants used in transplantation. Because some of the cells or biologic pathways targeted by therapeutic immunosuppressive agents are essential for the body's defenses against pathogenic microorganisms, the use of immunosuppressants involves walking a fine line between therapy and iatrogenic harm. The mechanism of action of the immunosuppressant, the dosage used, the length of therapy, and underlying disease(s) all affect the type and severity of subsequent infections. These factors also inform decisions on immunization, prophylaxis, or empirical therapy in high-risk patients.

Background Cabotegravir (CAB) plus rilpivirine (RPV) is the first complete long-acting (LA) regimen recommended by treatment guidelines for the maintenance of HIV-1 virologic suppression. CAB+RPV LA dosed every 4 weeks (Q4W) or every 8 weeks (Q8W) demonstrated noninferior efficacy in multinational Phase 3/3b trials. This post hoc descriptive analysis summarizes efficacy, virologic outcomes, safety, and treatment preference for US and Canadian (CAN) participants through Week (W) 48. Methods This analysis focuses on data for US/CAN participants naive to CAB+RPV (n=376) from the larger pooled population of the ATLAS, FLAIR, and ATLAS-2M Phase 3/3b studies (N=1245). Endpoints included the proportion of participants with plasma HIV-1 RNA ≥ 50 and < 50 c/mL at W48 (FDA Snapshot algorithm), incidence of confirmed virologic failure (CVF; 2 consecutive HIV-1 RNA ≥ 200 c/mL), safety, and treatment preference through W48. Results 376 US/CAN participants received CAB+RPV LA Q4W or Q8W. Median (range) age was 39y (20–74); 14.9% were female, 66.0% were White. At W48, 93.1% (350/376) maintained virologic suppression (HIV-1 RNA < 50 c/mL), 1.9% (7/376) had HIV-1 RNA ≥ 50 c/mL, and 0.8% (3/376) met the CVF criterion, consistent with the overall global pooled population (Table 1). Two of the three participants with CVF had ≥ 2 of the three baseline factors (archived RPV resistance-associated mutations [RAMs], HIV subtype A6/A1, body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m2) previously associated with CVF. Among the US/CAN participants with a single baseline factor, none met CVF. Overall, archived RPV RAMs were observed in 3.2% (12/376), HIV subtype A6/A1 in 1.1% (4/376), and BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 in 26.3% (99/376) of participants. Safety and injection site reaction findings were similar to the overall pooled population (Table 2). Most participants (120/134, 89.6%) preferred LA over oral dosing (7/134, 5.2%). Table 1. Snapshot outcomes following CAB+RPV LA Q4W and Q8W at Week 48 in participants naive to CAB+RPV from ATLAS, FLAIR, and ATLAS-2M (ITT-E population) Table 2. Safety summary through Week 48 following CAB+RPV LA Q4W and Q8W or comparator ART in participants naive to CAB+RPV from ATLAS, FLAIR, and ATLAS-2M Conclusion In US/CAN Phase 3/3b trial participants, CAB+RPV LA was highly effective and well tolerated, with outcomes consistent with the overall pooled population. Baseline prevalence of archived RPV RAMs and subtype A6/A1 was low and aligned with regional prevalence/surveillance data. CAB+RPV LA provides a tolerable and effective injectable LA treatment option for virologically suppressed US/CAN individuals with HIV. Disclosures Babafemi O. Taiwo, MBBS, Gilead (Consultant)Merck (Consultant)ViiV Healthcare (Consultant) Darrell Tan, MD PhD, Abbvie (Grant/Research Support)Gilead (Grant/Research Support)GlaxoSmithKline (Scientific Research Study Investigator)ViiV Healthcare (Grant/Research Support) Parul Patel, PharmD, GlaxoSmithKline (Shareholder)ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Paula Teichner, PharmD, GlaxoSmithKline (Shareholder)ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Joseph Polli, PhD, FAAPS, GlaxoSmithKline (Shareholder)ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Louise Garside, PhD, GlaxoSmithKline (Employee) Ronald D’Amico, DO, MSc, GlaxoSmithKline (Shareholder)ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Christine L. Talarico, M.S., GlaxoSmithKline (Shareholder)ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Rodica Van Solingen-Ristea, MD, Janssen Research and Development (Employee)ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Bryan Baugh, MD, Janssen, Johnson & Johnson (Employee, Shareholder) William Spreen, PharmD, GlaxoSmithKline (Shareholder)ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Michael Aboud, MBChB, MRCP, GlaxoSmithKline (Shareholder)ViiV Healthcare (Employee) Matthew Bosse, DO, GlaxoSmithKline (Shareholder)ViiV Healthcare (Employee)

OBJECTIVE We compared bone mineral density (BMD) changes and their correlates, between men and women participating in two randomized trials of initial [antiretroviral therapy (ART)] regimens, with or without tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF). METHODS Covariates in linear regression models of 48-week hip and spine %BMD changes, by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, included baseline and 48-week changes in plasma viral load, CD4 cells, plasma C-terminal telopeptide, procollagen 1 N-terminal propeptide and glomerular filtration rates, and the 48-week area under the curve of fractional excretion of phosphate. RESULTS Despite overall hip and spine BMD declines of 2.8 and 2.9%, respectively, plasma viral load suppression to less than 50 vs. at least 50 copies/ml was associated 1.0% (P = 0.02) and 0.8% (P = 0.01) less BMD decline. Women had lower baseline spine (P = 0.04; n = 59 women, 418 men) and hip BMD (P = 0.01) in adjusted models, with 1.7% more hip decline on ART than men (P = 0.001). Serum phosphate was positively associated with baseline spine BMD in women (P = 0.03) but not men, and area under the curve of fractional excretion of phosphate was negatively associated with spine BMD changes, particularly in women randomized to TDF regimens (P = 0.03 and 0.054 for interactions by sex, and randomization to TDF vs. non-TDF regimens, respectively; n = 44 women, 326 men). Women also had 0.6% (P = 0.004) more hip BMD decline than men associated with each 100 CD4 cells/μl increase on ART (P = 0.02; n = 49 women, 379 men). CONCLUSION Women randomized to TDF-containing ART had accentuated spine loss associated with phosphaturia, and accentuated hip loss associated with CD4 restoration, regardless of TDF exposure. Viral load suppression reduced bone loss.

A 78-year-old woman with a long-term ankle spacer with antibacterials developed an intra-articular Candida auris infection. Treatment with systemic antifungal therapy plus an amphotericin B moulded cement spacer was successful.

Darunavir (TMC114) is a second-generation, sulfonamide, nonpeptidic protease inhibitor (PI) with a unique, flexible, 3-dimensional structure that contributes to it high potency and slow selection of resistant virus. Darunavir has to be coadministered with low-dose ritonavir and food to optimize its pharmacokinetics. Ritonavir-boosted darunavir is effective in many heavily pretreated patients, including those with multiple PI resistance mutations. In vitro, the coexistence of numerous PI mutations was required for its virological potency to be significantly reduced. Preliminary findings suggest that it is active against some tipranavir-resistant strains.

The term "primary HIV infection" refers to the period from initial infection with the human immunodeficiency virus to complete seroconversion. It is a period of extreme infectiousness. The occurrence and severity of symptoms during primary HIV infection correlate with the rapidity of clinical and immunologic decline. Treatment of patients during primary infection may improve immune preservation and reconstitution. In this review article, we present information that will help clinicians understand, recognize, and diagnose primary HIV infection. The current approach to management of primary HIV infection is based more on expert opinion than clinical trial results, though ongoing clinical trials should provide more information about this syndrome.