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Objectives: The two currently available types of pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) used to treat hepatitis C have different pharmacokinetic properties. It is unclear how these differences affect response to therapy. We compared the effectiveness and safety of peg-IFN-alpha2a and peg-IFN-alpha2b, both with ribavirin, against chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in HIV-infected patients.Methods: From the GESIDA HIV/HCV cohort, we analysed patients treated with peg-IFN-alpha2a (n = 315) or peg-IFN-alpha2b (n = 242). The primary endpoint was a sustained virological response (SVR).Results: Both groups were well matched in baseline characteristics except for a higher frequency of injection drug users in the peg-IFN-alpha2b group than in the peg-IFN-alpha2a group (85% versus 76%; P = 0.01) and a higher frequency of bridging fibrosis and cirrhosis (F3-F4) in the peg-IFN-alpha2b group than in the peg-IFN-alpha2a group (42% versus 33%; P = 0.04). End-of-treatment response was significantly lower among patients treated with peg-IFN-alpha2b [40% versus 52%; odds ratio (OR), 1.63; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.16-2.29; P < 0.01]. However, no significant differences were found in SVR between patients treated with peg-IFN-alpha2b and those treated with peg-IFN-alpha2a (31% versus 33%; OR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.75-1.59; P = 0.655). Therapy was interrupted due to adverse events in 33 (14%) patients treated with peg-IFN-alpha2b and 47 (15%) patients treated with peg-IFN-alpha2a.Conclusions: No differences in effectiveness and safety were found between peg-IFN-alpha2b and peg-IFN-alpha2a for the treatment of chronic HCV infection in HIV-infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cornelia of Lange syndrome is an unusual polimalformative disorder that shows facial hypertrichosis, thin upper lip, micromelic extremities, intra-uterine growth restriction and postnatal growth retardation. This syndrome shows wide phenotypical findings and its etiology remains unknown. Most of the cases are sporadic and the diagnosis is fundamentally a clinical one.Clinical case: This is the case of a new born product of a G1 P0 A0, 16 year-old mother on her third trimester of pregnancy. Ultrasound showed symmetrical and severe intra-uterine growth restriction, oligohydramnios and altered circulation of the umbilical and cerebral arteries. Because of these findings, a cesarean section was performed at the Hospital of Universidad del Valle. The new born died after twenty minutes, and the autopsy was done 6 hours later.Discussion: The findings of the autopsy, radiology, kariotype and mother's clinical history indicated that this corresponded to a Cornelia of Lange syndrome type I or classic type. In accordance with literature review, features suggesting this entity in the obstetric sonography and in physical examination of the new born were selected since they can lead to an accurate diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity of natural radionuclides is unevenly distributed across the Earth's crust, with certain areas exhibiting significantly higher levels than others, known as High Background Radiation Areas (HBRAs). This study presents a statistical analysis of reported activity values for coastal sands globally. Through this statistical analysis, costal sands were classified into four categories based on their activity levels, providing a standardized framework to compare the natural radioactivity of these sands. This classification is a valuable tool for identifying populations exposed to different radiation levels, which is essential for the study of stochastic effects. The study proposes thresholds to define HBRAs as regions with activity values exceeding 203 Bq/kg for 238 U, 517 Bq/kg for 232 Th, or 960 Bq/kg for 40 K. Regions with lower values are classified as NonHBRAs. Further subdivision of these categories resulted in four distinct regions: NonHBRA - , NonHBRA + , HBRA - , and HBRA + . The activity values for these subdivisions are 92 Bq/kg and 2,903 Bq/kg for 238 U, 94 Bq/kg and 7,230 Bq/kg for 232 Th, and 901 Bq/kg and 2,298 Bq/kg for 40 K. By calculating the external dose rates from the reported activity data, a threshold of 357 nGy/h was identified as the dose boundary separating NonHBRAs from HBRAs. The values for the subdivisions resulted 101 nGy/h and 3,867 nGy/h. The study also explores the content of these natural radionuclides in relation to their bearing minerals and discusses correlations between the reported activity values and the characteristics of the sands. Additionally, the activity of the anthropogenic radionuclide 137 Cs (reported values ranging from the detection limit to 63 Bq/kg) is examined., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Studies on switching to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF)-based regimens raise concerns about a worse metabolic profile in people with HIV, even though most received tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in their previous regimen. This study aims to evaluate changes in lipid fractions, glucose, and serum markers for hepatic steatosis (HS) after switching from a TDF- or TAF-sparing regimen to bictegravir/emtricitabine/TAF (B/F/TAF)., Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of people with HIV who switched to B/F/TAF from TDF- or TAF-sparing regimens between January 2019 and May 2022 with at least 6 months of follow-up. The primary endpoint was the absolute change in lipid fractions at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were changes in lipid fractions at 12 months and changes in other metabolic parameters (glucose, creatinine, and HS based on the triglyceride-to-glucose [TyG] ratio at 6 and 12 months). Changes were analysed using mixed linear regression models with random intercept and time as a fixed effect., Results: The study included 259 people with HIV (median age 55 [interquartile range (IQR) 47-60] years; 80% male; 88% Caucasian; CD4+ T-cell count 675 [IQR 450-880] cells/mm 3 ; 84.3% HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL). In total, 63 patients (30%) had hypertension, 93 (44%) dyslipidaemia, 30 (14%) diabetes, and 45% obesity/overweight. Most (60%) switched from integrase inhibitor-based regimens, and 21% switched from a boosted regimen. At 6 months, significant reductions were observed in total cholesterol (-7.64 mg/dL [95% confidence interval (CI) -13.52 to -1.76; p = 0.002]), triglycerides (-23.4 [95% CI -42.07 to -4.65]; p = 0.003), and TyG ratio (-0.14 [95% CI -0.23 to -0.05]; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: In our real-life cohort, the effect of switching TDF-/TAF-sparing regimens to triple therapy with B/F/TAF improved total cholesterol, triglycerides, and serum markers of HS at 6 months and was neutral for the remaining metabolic parameters at 12 months., (© 2024 British HIV Association.)

Desertification and wastewater discharge are two global issues that severely threaten the sustainable use of available natural resources. This study aimed to explore the potential for transferring nutrients from municipal wastewater to drylands by inducing artificial biocrusts through the inoculation of wastewater-cultured Scytonema javanicum onto the sand surface in Gurbantunggut Desert. The results demonstrated that wastewater cultured S. javanicum effectively induced artificial biocrusts, achieving high photosynthetic biomass and nutrient accumulation (Chl-a, AP and OC) comparable to those induced by S. javanicum cultured in synthetic medium. In addition, the risk index (RI) value of 124.32 suggested a low ecological risk using wastewater cultured S. javanicum to induce artificial biocrusts. This study substantiates the feasibility of using municipal wastewater-cultured cyanobacteria to induce artificial biocrusts, thereby providing a dual benefit: enhancing soil stability in drylands and utilizing wastewater as a resource, thus presenting a significant stride towards the sustainable management of natural resources., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Rat hepatitis E virus (ratHEV; species Rocahepevirus ratti ) is considered a newly emerging cause of acute hepatitis of zoonotic origin. ratHEV infection of people living with HIV (PLWH) might portend a worse, as with hepatitis E virus (HEV; species Paslahepevirus balayani ), and consequently this group may constitute a high-risk population. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of ratHEV by measuring viral RNA and specific IgG antibodies in a large Spanish cohort of PLWH. Multicentre study conducted in Spain evaluating PLWHIV included in the Spanish AIDS Research Network (CoRIS). Patients were evaluated for ratHEV infection using PCR at baseline and anti-ratHEV IgG by dot blot analysis to evaluate exposure to ratHEV strains. Patients with detectable ratHEV RNA were followed-up to evaluate persistence of viremia and IgG seroconversion. Eight-hundred and forty-two individuals were tested. A total of 9 individuals showed specific IgG antibodies against ratHEV, supposing a prevalence of 1.1 (95% CI; 0.5%-2.1%). Of these, only one was reactive to HEV IgG antibodies by ELISA. One sample was positive for ratHEV RNA (prevalence of infection: 0.1%; 95% CI: 0.08%-0.7%). The case was a man who had sex with men exhibiting a slightly increased alanine transaminase level (49 IU/L) as only biochemical alteration. In the follow-up, the patients showed undetectable ratHEV RNA and seroconversion to specific ratHEV IgG antibodies. Our study shows that ratHEV is geographical broadly distributed in Spain, representing a potential zoonotic threat.

We studied the association of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups with weight and body mass index (BMI) gain at 96 weeks in 1019 treatment-naive persons with HIV (PWH) who initiated first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) since 2014. The mean increase in weight and BMI over the study period was 2.90 kg and 0.98 kg/m2, respectively. We found a significant adjusted association between the major UK mtDNA haplogroup and lower weight and BMI increase at 96 weeks after ART initiation. Our findings reveal a potential role for mitochondrial genetics in the complex phenomenon of weight gain after initial ART in PWH., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. J. B. reports honoraria for advice or public speaking from Gilead, Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK), Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD), ViiV Healthcare; and grants from Gilead, MSD, and ViiV Healthcare. I. J. reports honoraria for advice or public speaking from Gilead and ViiV Healthcare; grants from MSD; and support for attending meetings and/or travel from Gilead. J. C. L. reports honoraria for advice or public speaking from Gilead, MSD, and ViiV Healthcare; grants from ViiV Healthcare; and support for attending meetings and/or travel from ViiV Healthcare and MSD. P. D. reports honoraria for advice or public speaking from Gilead, MSD, Janssen, and ViiV Healthcare. A. P.-M. reports honoraria for public speaking and support for attending meetings and/or travel from Gilead, MSD, Jannsen, and ViiV Healthcare. S. M. reports honoraria for advice or public speaking from Gilead, GSK, Janssen, MSD, and ViiV Healthcare; and grants from Gilead, MSD, and ViiV Healthcare. M. L. M. reports honoraria for advice or public speaking from AbbVie, BMS, Gilead, Jannsen, and ViiV Healthcare; and support for attending meetings and/or travel from ViiV Healthcare and Janssen. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Liver fibrosis is a key determinant of the progression of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Its increasing prevalence and a lack of effective treatments make it a major health problem worldwide, particularly in people living with HIV, among whom the prevalence of advanced fibrosis is higher. We have published preclinical data showing that Rilpivirine (RPV), a widely used anti-HIV drug, selectively triggers hepatic stellate cell (HSC) inactivation and apoptosis through signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)1-mediated pathways, effects that clearly attenuate liver fibrosis and promote regeneration. We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study of RPV-induced effects on steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in liver biopsies from well-controlled HIV-infected subjects diagnosed with MASLD. Patients on RPV exhibited similar levels of HIV-related parameters to those not receiving this drug, while showing a tendency toward improved liver function and lipid profile, as well as an enhanced activation of STAT1 in hepatic non-parenchymal cells in those with identified liver injury. This protective effect, promoting STAT1-dependent HSC inactivation, was observed at different stages of MASLD. Our results suggest that RPV-based therapy is especially indicated in HIV-infected patients with MASLD-derived liver injury and highlight the potential of RPV as a new therapeutic strategy for liver diseases.

Introduction: Dolutegravir + rilpivirine (DTG + RPV) is an effective antiretroviral therapy regimen approved in clinical guidelines as a switch therapy for virologically suppressed people with HIV. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness and tolerability of DTG + RPV in women and men in real-world clinical practice., Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of treatment-experienced people with HIV from a large HIV unit who switched to DTG + RPV. We analysed treatment effectiveness, rates of adverse events and discontinuation, and metabolic changes after 48 weeks of treatment. HIV-RNA levels <50 copies/mL were analysed at 48 weeks using both intention-to treat analysis (where missing data were interpreted as failures) and per-protocol analysis (excluding those with missing data or changes due to reasons other than virological failure). Outcomes were compared between women and men based on sex at birth., Results: A total of 307 patients were selected (71 women and 236 men). No transgender people were included. At baseline, women had lived with HIV infection and received antiretroviral therapy for longer than men (23.2 vs 17.4 years and 18.9 vs 14.2 years, respectively). In the intention-to-treat analysis, 74.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 63.4-83.3%) of women and 83.5% (95% CI 78.2-87.7) of men had HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL. In the per-protocol analysis, 96.4% (95% CI 87.7-99) of women and 99% (95% CI 98.9-99.7) of men had HIV-RNA levels <50 copies/mL. Two women and two men had HIV-RNA >50 copies/mL at 48 weeks. Discontinuation due to adverse events was more frequent in women than in men: 12.7% vs 7.2% (p < 0.02). Neuropsychiatric and gastrointestinal events were the most frequently reported. A median (interquartile range) weight gain of 1.9 kg (0-4.2) in women and 1.2 kg (-1-3.1) in men was reported (median of differences between baseline visit and week 48); the remaining changes in metabolic parameters were neutral., Conclusions: DTG + RPV exhibited good and similar virological effectiveness in women and men in real-world settings. However, poorer tolerability and more treatment interruptions were observed in women., (© 2024 British HIV Association.)

Introduction: Due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) treatment and vaccination during the last decades in Spain, epidemiological and prognosis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) may have changed., Methods: Retrospective review of CHB-HIV coinfected patients in a single reference center in Madrid until year 2019. We compared incidence, epidemiological and clinical characteristics according diagnosis period (before 2000, 2000-2004, 2005-2009, 2010-2014, 2015-2019). A retrospective longitudinal study was done to assess mortality, related risk factors and hepatic decompensation., Results: Out of 5452 PLHIV, 160 had CHB (prevalence 2.92%; 95%CI 2.5-3.4), 85.6% were men, median age 32.1 (27-37.2). Incidence rate did not change over the years (2.4/100 patients-year). PLHIV with CHB diagnosed before year 2000 (n = 87) compared with those diagnosed between 2015 and 2019 (n = 11) were more often native-Spanish (90.8% vs. 18.2%), had infected using intravenous drugs (55.2% vs. 0), were coinfected with hepatitis C (40% vs. 9.1%) or hepatitis delta virus (30.4% vs. 0) and had more severe liver disease (cirrhosis 24.1% vs. 0). After a median follow-up of 20.4 years, 23 patients died (7.1/1000 patients-year) and 19 had liver decompensation (4.9/1000 patients-year). All deaths and liver decompensation occurred in patients diagnosed before year 2010. Mortality was associated with higher liver fibrosis in Fibroscan® (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.09)., Conclusion: The epidemiology of CHB in PLHIV in our cohort is changing with less native Spanish, more sexually transmitted cases and less coinfection with other hepatotropic virus. Patients diagnosed before 2010 have worst prognosis related to higher grades of liver fibrosis., (Copyright © 2022 Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has risen dramatically. Among people living with HIV (PLHIV), chronic disease (now >15 cases/1000 in the general population worldwide) and long-term exposure to antiretroviral therapy (ART) can alter metabolic processes early, favoring insulin resistance and T2DM. We retrospectively studied the incidence of T2DM and associated factors in the Cohort of the Spanish AIDS Research Network, a prospective cohort of PLHIV enrolled at diagnosis and before initiation of ART., Methods: PLHIV were aged >18 years and ART naive at inclusion. The incidence of new diagnoses of T2DM after initiation of ART (per 1000 person-years) was calculated. Predictors of a diagnosis of T2DM were identified by a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for statistically significant and clinically relevant variables., Results: Cumulative incidence was 5.9 (95% CI, 5.1-6.7) per 1000 person-years, increasing significantly in persons aged >50 years to 14.4 (95% CI, 10.4-19.3). Median time to diagnosis of T2DM was 27 months. Only age and higher education were significant. Interestingly, higher education was associated with a 33% reduction in the incidence of T2DM. Having received tenofovir disoproxil fumarate + (lamivudine or emtricitabine) + rilpivirine was almost significant as a protective factor (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, .24-1.01; P = .05)., Conclusions: The incidence of T2DM in PLHIV in Spain was high, especially in persons aged >50 years. Age was the factor most closely associated with onset, and educational level was the factor most associated with reduced risk. We highlight the lack of association between HIV-related factors and T2DM and show that, within nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, rilpivirine could prove more benign for metabolic comorbidities., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. M. L. M. reports lecture fees from Janssen, Gilead, MSD, and ViiV-Healthcare outside the submitted work. All other authors report no potential conflicts., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

The pivotal role of the native bacterial community in maintaining soil health, particularly in degraded tailings environments, is often overlooked. This study utilized peat, rich in microorganisms, to investigate its impact on soil function and native bacteria response in copper tailings-soil. Through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, changes in nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and microbial activity were assessed post one-year peat remediation. Results from FEAST and cluster analysis revealed that peat-derived species disproportionately influenced tailings microbial community remediation, supported by the microbial invasion theory. Tailings responded positively to these species, with optimal function achieved at 5 % peat dosage. Peat biomarkers (Actinobacteriota, Bacteroida, Chloroflexi, and Firmicutes) played key roles in heavy metal removal and nutrition fixation. The Random Forest model and co-occurrence network highlighted contributions from native rare species (Dependentiae and Latescibacterota) activated by peat addition. These insights underscore the resilience of rare taxa and provide a foundation for soil health restoration in tailings areas. By emphasizing the importance of peat as a potential exogenous solution for activating indigenous microbial functions, these findings offer valuable insights for developing effective and sustainable remediation strategies in mining-affected regions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), has emerged as an increasingly recognized problem among people living with HIV (PLWH). The gut-liver axis is considered to be strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of MASLD. We aimed to characterize the gut microbiota composition in PLWH and MASLD and compare it with that of two control groups: PLWH without MASLD and individuals with MASLD without HIV infection., Methods: We collected clinical data and stool samples from participants. Bacterial 16S rRNA genes were amplified, sequenced, and clustered into operational taxonomic unit. Alpha diversity was studied by Shannon and Simpson indexes. To study how different the gut microbiota composition is between the different groups, beta diversity estimation was evaluated by principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) using Bray-Curtis dissimilarity. To further analyze differences in microbiome composition we performed a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe)., Results: We included 30 HIV + MASLD + , 30 HIV + MASLD - and 20 HIV - MASLD + participants. Major butyrate producers, including Faecalibacterium , Ruminococcus , and Lachnospira dominated the microbiota in all three groups. Shannon's and Simpson's diversity metrics were higher among MASLD + individuals (Kruskal-Wallis p = 0.047). Beta diversity analysis showed distinct clustering in MASLD - , with MASLD + participants overlapping regardless of HIV status (ADONIS significance <0.001). MASLD was associated with increased homogeneity across individuals, in contrast to that observed in the HIV+NAFDL- group, in which the dispersion was higher (Permanova test, p value <0.001; ANOSIM, p value <0.001). MASLD but not HIV determined a different microbiota structure (HIV +MASLD- vs. HIV + MASLD + , q-value = 0.002; HIV - MASLD + vs. HIV + MASLD + , q-value = 0.930; and HIV - MASLD + vs. HIV + MASLD - , q-value < 0.001). The most abundant genera in MASLD- were Prevotella, Bacteroides, Dialister, Acidaminococcos, Alloprevotella , and Catenibacterium . In contrast, the most enriched genera in MASLD+ were Ruminococcus, Streptococcus, Holdemanella, Blautia , and Lactobacillus., Conclusions: We found a microbiome signature linked to MASLD, which had a greater influence on the overall structure of the gut microbiota than HIV status alone., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Martínez-Sanz, Talavera-Rodríguez, Díaz-Álvarez, Rosas Cancio-Suárez, Rodríguez, Alba, Montes, Martín-Mateos, Burgos-Santamaría, Moreno, Serrano-Villar and Sánchez-Conde.)

In recent years, the solid wastes from the coal industry have been widely used as soil amendments. Nevertheless, the impact of utilizing coal slime for copper tailing restoration in terms of plant growth, physicochemical characteristics of the tailing soil, and microbial succession remains uncertain.Herein, the coal slime was employed as a modifier into copper tailings. Their effect on the growth and physiological response of Ryegrass, and the soil physicochemical properties as well as the bacterial community structure were investigated. The results indicated that after a 30-day of restoration, the addition of coal slime at a ratio of 40% enhanced plant growth, with a 21.69% rise in chlorophyll content, and a 62.44% increase in peroxidase activity. The addition of 40% coal slime also increased the content of nutrient elements in copper tailings. Following a 20-day period of restoration, the concentrations of available copper and available zinc in the modified tailings decreased by 39.6% and 48.51%, respectively, with 40% of coal slime added. In the meantime, there was an observed augmentation in the species diversity of the bacterial community in the modified tailings. The alterations in both community structure and function were primarily influenced by variations in pH value, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and available copper. The addition of 40% coal slime makes the physicochemical properties and microbial community evolution of copper tailings reach a balance point. The utilization of coal slime has the potential to enhance the physicochemical characteristics of tailings and promote the proliferation of microbial communities, hence facilitating the soil evolution of two distinct solid waste materials. Consequently, the application of coal slime in the restoration of heavy metal tailings is a viable approach, offering both cost-effectiveness and efficacy as an enhancer., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a comorbidity that generally increases in people living with HIV (PLWH). This condition is usually accompanied by persistent inflammation and premature immune system aging. In this prospective cohort study, we describe a straightforward methodology for quantifying biomarkers of aging, such as DNA methylation and telomere length, in PLWH and in the context of another relevant condition, such as MAFLD. Fifty-seven samples in total, thirty-eight from PLWH and nineteen from non-PLWH participants with or without MAFLD, were obtained and subjected to DNA extraction from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Global DNA methylation and telomere length quantification were performed using an adapted enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and qPCR, respectively. The quantification results were analysed and corrected by clinically relevant variables in this context, such as age, sex, and metabolic syndrome. Our results show an increased association of these biomarkers in PLWH regardless of their MAFLD status. Thus, we propose including the quantification of these age-related factors in studies of comorbidities. This will allow a better understanding of the effect of comorbidities of HIV infection and MAFLD and prevent their effects in these populations in the future., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) benefit plant health by enhancing plant nutrient-use efficiency and protecting plants against biotic and abiotic stresses. This study aimed to isolate and characterize autochthonous PGPM from important agri-food crops and nonagricultural plants to formulate biofertilizers. Native microorganisms were isolated and evaluated for PGP traits (K, P, and Zn solubilization, N 2 -fixation, NH 3 -, IAA and siderophore production, and antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum ). Isolates were tested on radish and broccoli seedlings, evaluating 19 individual isolates and 12 microbial consortia. Potential bacteria were identified through DNA sequencing. In total, 798 bacteria and 209 fungi were isolated. Isolates showed higher mineral solubilization activity than other mechanisms; 399 bacteria and 156 fungi presented mineral solubilization. Bacteria were relevant for nitrogen fixation, siderophore, IAA (29-176 mg/L), and ammonia production, while fungi for Fusarium growth inhibition (40-69%). Twenty-four bacteria and eighteen fungi were selected for their PGP traits. Bacteria had significantly (ANOVA, p < 0.05) better effects on plants than fungi; treatments improved plant height (23.06-51.32%), leaf diameter (25.43-82.91%), and fresh weight (54.18-85.45%) in both crops. Most potential species belonged to Pseudomonas, Pantoea, Serratia, and Rahnella genera. This work validated a high-throughput approach to screening hundreds of rhizospheric microorganisms with PGP potential isolated from rhizospheric samples.

Background: Dolutegravir (DTG) plus lamivudine (3TC) has proven highly efficacious as a switching strategy in virologically suppressed people with HIV (PWH). As this strategy was introduced relatively recently, real-world, long-term durability studies are lacking., Methods: We performed a retrospective review of treatment-experienced patients who started DTG + 3TC in a cohort of PWH. HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL was analysed at 144 weeks in an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (missing = failure) and a per-protocol (PP) analysis (patients with missing data or changes for reasons other than virological failure were excluded)., Results: The study population comprised 358 PWH (19% women). Median age and time with HIV infection were 51.7 and 13.4 years, respectively. The median number of previous antiretroviral combinations was three. Previous virological failure was reported in 27.1% of patients, and the M184V resistance mutation was detected in 17 patients. At 144 weeks, the percentage of individuals with HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL was 77.4% (277/358) in the ITT analysis and 95.5% (277/290) in the PP analysis. A total of 68 participants were excluded from the PP analysis (data missing, 25, discontinuation due to toxicity, 19; other, 16; death, 8). Two people with virological failure selected resistance-associated mutations (M184V and M184V + R263K). HIV-RNA remained undetectable in 17 patients with a previous history of the M184V mutation., Conclusion: Our results confirm the real-world, long-term efficacy, tolerability and high genetic barrier of DTG + 3TC in treatment-experienced PWH. Although scarce, mutations causing resistance to nucleosides and integrase can emerge., (© 2023 British HIV Association.)

Introduction: Dolutegravir/rilpivirine (DTG/RPV) is an effective antiretroviral (ART) regimen endorsed by clinical trials as a switch therapy. The aim of our study was to analyse the efficacy and safety of DTG/RPV in real-world clinical practice., Methods: Observational, multicentre study of patients who started DTG/RPV. Efficacy, adverse events and metabolic changes at 48 weeks were analysed., Results: A total of 348 patients were included; median time of HIV infection was 21.1 years, 33.7% were AIDS cases; median nadir CD4 was 160 cells/μL; 90.5% had received ≥3 lines of ART and 179 (53.8%) had prior virological failure. Convenience (43.5%), toxicity/intolerance (28.4%) and interactions (17.0%) were the main reasons for starting DTG/RPV. Previous regimens were protease inhibitors (PI) (31.6%), non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) (20.4%) and integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) (14.9%). Efficacy (HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL) at 48 weeks was 89.7% (95% CI 86.1-92.6) by intention-to-treat (ITT) and 94.2% (95% CI 91.3-96.4) by on treatment (OT); 10 patients (3.1%) were not suppressed (3 had abandoned ART). There was a mean decrease in triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase; creatinine increased with a decrease in glomerular filtration rate., Conclusions: This study confirms the effectiveness, tolerability and safety of DTG/RPV in real-world clinical practice in a different population from clinical trials, with many years of infection, low CD4 nadir, several previous treatment lines, more than half with virological failures, and one-third diagnosed with AIDS. The switch to DTG/RPV was safe with few discontinuations due to adverse effects. Modifications of the lipid and liver profiles were favourable. There were no relevant changes in kidney function., (© 2023 British HIV Association.)

Introduction: The use of tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) has been associated with increased cholesterol and body weight. Real-life data on the metabolic effects of switching from a TAF-based triple regimen to a dolutegravir (DTG)-based two-drug regimen (2-DR) are scarce., Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who have switched from a triple TAF-based regimen to a 2-DR [DTG-lamivudine (DTG-3TC) or DTG- rilpivirine (DTG-RPV]) with at least 6 months of follow-up. The primary endpoint was the absolute change in lipid fractions at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were percentage changes in lipid fraction, effectiveness and safety at 6 and 12 months [intention to treat (ITT), missing = failures]., Results: A total of 118 patients (87 on DTG-3TC, 31 on DTG-RPV) were included. Median age was 51 years (interquartile range: 43-59), 86% were male, CD4 T-cell count was 692 cells/μL, and 98% viral load (VL) < 50 copies/mL. At 6 months there was a decrease in total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol of 10.7 mg/dL [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.2-19.1; p ≤ 0.001] and 8.3 mg/dL (95% CI: 0.74-15.9; p = 0.026), respectively. There was a reduction in cardiovascular risk from 4.5% at baseline to 4% at 12 months (p = 0.040). Virological effectiveness as determined by ITT analysis was 85.6% at 6 months and 66.1% at 12 months. Seven patients (5.9%) withdrew from the 2-DR and there was no virological failure., Conclusions: In real life, switching from a triple regimen with TAF to DTG-3TC or DTG-RPV dual therapy improves the lipid profile and is an effective and well-tolerated strategy., (© 2022 British HIV Association.)

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most important liver comorbidities in people living with HIV (PLWH). Factors that could lead to a higher prevalence of NAFLD or ease the onset of fibrosis are unclear., Methods: Cohort study of the Spanish HIV Research Network, which comprehends 46 hospitals and more than 15,000 PLWH. Primary objectives were to assess NAFLD prevalence and liver fibrosis according to hepatic steatosis index (HSI) and NAFLD fibrosis score, respectively. Factors associated with both were analysed., Results: A total of 4798 PLWH were included of whom 1461 (30.5%) showed an HSI>36; these patients had higher risk for significant fibrosis (OR 1.91; 95%CI 1.11-3.28). Factors associated with NAFLD were body mass index (OR 2.05; 95%CI 1.94-2.16) and diabetes (OR 4.68; 95%CI 2.17-10.08), while exposure to integrase strand transfer inhibitors showed a lower risk (OR 0.78; 95%CI 0.62-0.97). In patients with HSI>36, being female (OR 7.33; 95%CI 1.34-40), age (OR 1.22; 95%CI 1.11-1.34), body mass index (OR 1.35; 95%CI 1.18-1.54) and exposure to thymidine analogues (OR 75.4, 95%CI 6.9-823.5) were associated with a higher risk of significant fibrosis. However, exposure to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (OR 0.12, 95%CI 0.02-0.89) and time of exposure to protease inhibitors (OR 0.97, 95%CI 0.95-1) showed a lower risk., Conclusion: NAFLD prevalence was high in our cohort. Patients exposed to INSTI showed a lower risk of NAFLD. In patients with hepatic steatosis, exposure to thymidine analogues had 75-fold more risk of significant fibrosis while exposure to NNRTIs reduced this risk., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest JN has received fees for educational activities and/or consultancies and/or financial support for attending conferences from Abbvie, Gilead Science, Janssen-Cilag, Merck Sharp & Dohme and ViiV Healthcare out of the submitted work. AC has received fees for educational activities and/or consultancies and/or financial support for attending conferences from Gilead Science, Janssen-Cilag, Merck Sharp & Dohme and ViiV Healthcare out of the submitted work. PS has received fees for educational activities and/or consultancies and/or financial support for attending conferences from Gilead Science, Janssen-Cilag, Merck Sharp & Dohme and ViiV Healthcare outside of the submitted work. PS has received a grant from ViiV Healthcare outside of the submitted work. PA has received fees for educational activities and/or consultancies and/or financial support for attending conferences from Gilead Science, Janssen-Cilag and Merck Sharp & Dohme outside of the submitted work. VF has received fees for educational activities and/or consultancies and/or financial support for attending conferences from Gilead Science, Janssen-Cilag, Merck Sharp & Dohme and ViiV Healthcare outside of the submitted work. My institution has received grants in which VF has been the PI from ViiV Healthcare outside of the submitted work. BR, JG, VD, BP, MS, LR, NE, MLM, ISG, CA, RM and JB have nothing to declare., (Copyright © 2023 European Federation of Internal Medicine. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Since the introduction of modern antiretroviral treatment for HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), the pattern of autoimmune diseases (ADs) in people living with HIV (PWH) might have changed. This is a retrospective study in a cohort of 5,665 PWH at the HIV Clinic of Hospital Universitario La Paz (Spain) to estimate the prevalence of ADs from January 1990 to June 2020. We divided the timeline into four periods: <1996, 1996-2006, 2006-2015, and 2015-2020. In total 369 participants were diagnosed with at least one AD, with a prevalence of 5.3% (95% confidence interval 4.7-5.9). In total, 302 (81%) participants were diagnosed simultaneously or after HIV diagnosis. Most prevalent diseases were immune thrombopenia (IT) ( n  = 90), cutaneous psoriasis ( n  = 52), autoimmune thyroid disorders ( n  = 36), spondylarthritis ( n  = 24), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) ( n  = 21). There was a significant trend for more ADs in recent periods ( p  = .037). In recent years, participants with ADs were older, had a long time since HIV diagnosis, and had higher CD4 + T cell count and higher CD4 + T cell nadir (temporal linear trend p  < .001). There was a change in the pattern of ADs over time with a decrease in IT and an increase in spondylarthritis, arthritis, IBD, and thyroid disorders. One hundred thirty-nine participants (46%) were coinfected with HCV, with a steady decline throughout the study period. Only cryoglobulinemia was statistically associated with HCV infection. AD increases over time in PWH with reasonable immune virological control. We observed a higher frequency of spondylarthritis, arthritis, autoimmune thyroid disorders, and IBD in recent years.

Background: To understand the effects of frailty, geriatric syndromes, and comorbidity on quality of life and mortality in older adults with HIV (OAWH)., Methods: Cross-sectional study of the FUNCFRAIL multicenter cohort. The setting was outpatient HIV-Clinic. OAWH, 50 year or over were included. We recorded sociodemographic data, HIV infection-related data, comorbidity, frailty, geriatric syndromes (depression, cognitive impairment, falls and malnutrition), quality of life (QOL) and the estimated risk of all-cause 5-year mortality by VACS Index. Association of frailty with geriatric syndromes and comorbidity was evaluated using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test., Results: Seven hundred ninety six patients were included. 24.7% were women, mean age was 58.2 (6.3). 14.7% were 65 or over. 517 (65%) patients had ≥3 comorbidities, ≥ 1 geriatric syndrome and/or frailty. There were significant differences in the estimated risk of mortality [(frailty 10.8%) vs. (≥ 3 comorbidities 8.2%) vs. (≥ 1 geriatric syndrome 8.2%) vs. (nothing 6.2%); p = 0.01] and in the prevalence of fair or poor QOL [(frailty 71.7%) vs. (≥ 3 comorbidities 52%) vs. (≥ 1 geriatric syndrome 58.4%) vs. (nothing 51%); p = 0.01]. Cognitive impairment was significantly associated to mortality (8.7% vs. 6.2%; p = 0.02) and depression to poor QOL [76.5% vs. 50%; p = 0.01]., Conclusions: Frailty, geriatric syndromes, and comorbidity had negative effects on mortality and QOL, but frailty had the greatest negative effect out of the three factors. Our results should be a wake-up call to standardize the screening for frailty and geriatric syndromes in OAWH in the clinical practice., Trial Registration: NCT03558438., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Emerging pollutants, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products, have been detected in surface and groundwaters. The adsorption of paracetamol and ibuprofen, two widespread drugs, has been studied in aqueous medium, using a ceramic-derived carbon (CeDC) and a commercial activated carbon (CoAC). CeDC yielded a BET surface area of 895 m 2  g -1 , a bimodal pore size distribution (13.2 and 35 nm) and a total pore volume of 1.99 cm 3  g -1 . CoAC had an approximate surface area of 1000 m 2  g -1 , a homogeneous pore size distribution and a total pore volume of 0.42 cm 3  g -1 . Kinetic and equilibrium tests were carried out in batch systems to study the materials' sorption performances. The intraparticle diffusion model best fitted the experimental kinetic data. The maximum ibuprofen sorption capacities were 120 mg g -1 and 133 mg g -1 for CoAC and CeDC, respectively, whereas no major differences on the maximum paracetamol sorption capacities (qm) were observed among the sorbents (150-159 mg g -1 ). Therefore, CeDC, synthesized easily from a ceramic composite, improved time and sorption capacity of paracetamol and ibuprofen compared to the commercial activated carbon, indicating the potential of the developed carbon as an emerging pollutant sorbent material., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals 2022, Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Obesity is a critical medical condition worldwide that is increasingly involved with nutritional derangements associated with micronutrient deficiencies, including iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, selenium, and vitamins A, C, D, and E. Nutritional deficiencies in obesity are mainly caused by poor-quality diets, higher nutrient requirements, alterations in micronutrient metabolism, and invasive obesity treatments. The current conventional agricultural system is designed for intensive food production, focusing on food quantity rather than food quality, consuming excessive agricultural inputs, and producing nutrient-deficient foods, thus generating severe health and environmental problems; agricultural food products may worsen obesity-related malnutrition. Therefore, modern agriculture is adopting new biofortification technologies to combat micronutrient deficiencies and improve agricultural productivity and sustainability. Biofertilization and nanofertilization practices are increasingly used due to their efficiency, safety, and reduced environmental impact. Biofertilizers are preparations of PGP-microorganisms that promote plant growth by influencing plant metabolism and improving the nutrient uptake, and nanofertilizers consist of synthesized nanoparticles with unique physicochemical properties that are capable of increasing plant nutrition and enriching agricultural products. This review presents the current micronutrient deficiencies associated with obesity, the modern unsustainable agri-food system contributing to obesity progression, and the development of bio- and nanofertilizers capable of biofortifying agri-food crops with micronutrients commonly deficient in patients with obesity.

Paleotemperature proxy data form the cornerstone of paleoclimate research and are integral to understanding the evolution of the Earth system across the Phanerozoic Eon. Here, we present PhanSST, a database containing over 150,000 data points from five proxy systems that can be used to estimate past sea surface temperature. The geochemical data have a near-global spatial distribution and temporally span most of the Phanerozoic. Each proxy value is associated with consistent and queryable metadata fields, including information about the location, age, and taxonomy of the organism from which the data derive. To promote transparency and reproducibility, we include all available published data, regardless of interpreted preservation state or vital effects. However, we also provide expert-assigned diagenetic assessments, ecological and environmental flags, and other proxy-specific fields, which facilitate informed and responsible reuse of the database. The data are quality control checked and the foraminiferal taxonomy has been updated. PhanSST will serve as a valuable resource to the paleoclimate community and has myriad applications, including evolutionary, geochemical, diagenetic, and proxy calibration studies., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Few clinical trials and cohort studies have evaluated the efficacy of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) in people with HIV (PWH) with preexisting M184V/I or other nucleos(t)ide reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) resistance-associated mutations (RAMs). Real-world data are also scarce., Methods: Retrospective review of treatment-experienced patients who started B/F/TAF in a cohort of PWH. HIV-RNA less than 50 copies/ml was analyzed at 48 weeks in an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis (missing=failure) and per protocol analysis (patients with missing data or changes for reasons other than virological failure were excluded). Results were compared in patients with and without previous NRTI-RAMs., Results: Five hundred and six PWH were included (16.2% women). Median age and time with HIV infection were 52.3 and 18.9 years, respectively. At baseline, viral load was less than 50 copies/ml in 440 patients (86.6%). Overall, 69 (13.6%) participants had documented preexisting NRTI-RAMs: 57 (11.2%) M184V/I and 30 (5.9%) tenofovir RAMs. In the ITT analysis, 83% (420/506) had HIV-RNA less than 50 copies/ml [82.2% (359/437) and 88.4% (61/69) in persons without and with NRTI-RAMs, respectively ( P  = 0.2)]. In the per protocol analysis 94.2% (420/445) had HIV-RNA less than 50 copies/ml [94.4% (359/380) vs. 93.8% (61/65); P  = 0.2]. A total of 61 participants were excluded from the per protocol analysis (23 missing data, 19 discontinued B/F/TAF because of toxicity, 13 for other reasons, and 6 died)., Conclusion: Switching to B/F/TAF is well tolerated and effective in the real-world setting, even in patients with preexisting NRTI RAMs, such as M184V and RAMs conferring resistance to tenofovir. These results confirm the robustness of this combination., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background and aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common cause of liver damage in people living with HIV (PLWHIV). Several studies have investigated candidate genes for susceptibility to NAFLD and to steatohepatitis. PNPLA3 , TM6SF2 , and MBOAT7-TMC4 have been reported to be associated with elevated ALT levels and the histologic parameters of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and severity of fibrosis. Our objective was to analyze the relationship between PNPLA3 , TM6SF2 , and MBOAT7-TMC4 and steatosis, steatohepatitis, and liver fibrosis in PLWHIV with NAFLD. Method: A cohort of PLWHIV with persistently elevated aminotransferase levels and suspected NAFLD who underwent liver biopsy and determination of genetic variants was assessed at two large centers in Spain. All participants included in the current study were genotyped for rs738409 ( PNPLA3 ), rs58542926 ( TM6SF2 ), and rs641738 ( MBOAT7-TMC4 ). Results: The study population comprised PLWHIV who were on stable antiretroviral therapy [7.7% women; median age, 49.3 years (44-53.4)]. The median CD4 count was 829 (650-980), 60% had metabolic syndrome, and 18.5% were diabetic. The median BMI was 28.9 (25.5-30.8). Patients with liver steatosis (any grade) vs. nonsteatosis tended to harbor the PNPLA3 G allele variant [57.6% vs. 16.7% ( p = 0.09)], but not TM6SF2 or MBOAT7-TMC4 variants. However, those with steatohepatitis vs. nonsteatohepatitis significantly more frequently had the PNPLA3 G allele variant [69.4% vs. 39.1% ( p < 0.05)] and the MBOAT7-TMC4 A allele variant [75% vs. 42% ( p < 0.05)]. In our cohort, the TM6SF2 gene variant was not associated with steatosis or steatohepatitis. The PNPLA3 G allele variant was associated with steatohepatitis [OR 4.9 (1.3-18); p 0.02] and liver fibrosis [OR 4.3 (1.1-17.4); p 0.04], and the MBOAT7-TMC4 A allele variant was associated with steatohepatitis [OR 6.6 (1.6-27.6); p 0.01]. Conclusion: The PNPLA3 G allele variant and MBOAT7-TMC4 A allele variant were associated with steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis in PLWHIV with persistently elevated aminotransferases and NAFLD. We recommend routine genotyping for PNPLA3 and MBOAT7-TMC4 in PLWHIV with NAFLD to identify those at higher risk of progression., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Busca, Arias, Sánchez-Conde, Rico, Montejano, Martín-Carbonero, Valencia, Moreno, Bernardino, Olveira, Abadía, González-García and Montes.)

Fully bio-based poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) blends plasticized with tributyrin (TB), and their nanocomposite based on chitin nanoparticles (ChNPs) was developed using melt mixing followed by a compression molding process. The combination of PHB and ChNPs had an impact on the crystallinity of the plasticized PLA matrix, thus improving its oxygen and carbon dioxide barrier properties as well as displaying a UV light-blocking effect. The addition of 2 wt% of ChNP induced an improvement on the initial thermal degradation temperature and the overall migration behavior of blends, which had been compromised by the presence of TB. All processed materials were fully disintegrated under composting conditions, suggesting their potential application as fully biodegradable packaging materials.

Despite its high prevalence, the mechanisms underlying non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in people living with HIV (PLWH) are still unclear. In this prospective cohort study, we aim to evaluate differences in plasma fatty acid profiles between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected participants with NAFLD. We included participants diagnosed with NAFLD, both HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected. Fatty acid methyl esters were measured from plasma samples. Ratios ([product]/[substrate]) were used to estimate desaturases and elongases activity. We used linear regression for adjusted analyses. We included 31 PLWH and 22 HIV-uninfected controls. We did not find differences in the sum of different types of FA or in FA with a greater presence of plasma. However, there were significant differences in the distribution of some FA, with higher concentrations of ALA, trans -palmitoleic, and behenic acids, and a lower concentration of lignoceric acid in PLWH. PLWH had lower C24:0/C22:0 and C16:0/C14:0 ratios, which estimates the activity of elongases ELOVL1 and ELOVL6. Both groups had similar fatty acid distribution, despite differences in traditional risk factors. PLWH had a lower proportion of specific ratios that estimate ELOVL1 and ELOVL6 activity, which had been previously described for other inflammatory conditions, such as psoriasis.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major nonacquired immune deficiency syndrome-defining condition for persons with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH). We aimed to validate noninvasive tests for the diagnosis of NAFLD in PWH., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of PWH on stable antiretroviral therapy with persistently elevated transaminases and no known liver disease. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was calculated to compare the diagnostic accuracy of liver biopsy with abdominal ultrasound, transient elastography (TE) (including controlled attenuation parameter [CAP]), and noninvasive markers of steatosis (triglyceride and glucose index [TyG], hepatic steatosis index [HSI], fatty liver index [FLI]) and fibrosis ([FIB]-4, aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index [APRI], NAFLD fibrosis score). We developed a diagnostic algorithm with serial combinations of markers., Results: Of 146 patients with increased transaminase levels, 69 underwent liver biopsy (90% steatosis, 61% steatohepatitis, and 4% F ≥3). The AUROC for steatosis was as follows: ultrasound, 0.90 (0.75-1); CAP, 0.94 (0.88-1); FLI, 0.81 (0.58-1); HSI, 0.74 (0.62-0.87); and TyG, 0.75 (0.49-1). For liver fibrosis ≥F3, the AUROC for TE, APRI, FIB-4, and NAFLD fibrosis score was 0.92 (0.82-1), 0.96 (0.90-1), 0.97 (0.93-1), and 0.85 (0.68-1). Optimal diagnostic performance for liver steatosis was for 2 noninvasive combined models of tests with TyG and FLI/HSI as the first tests and ultrasound or CAP as the second tests: AUROC = 0.99 (0.97-1, P  < .001) and 0.92 (0.77-1, P  < .001)., Conclusions: Ultrasound and CAP performed best in diagnosing liver steatosis, and FLI, TyG, and HSI performed well. We propose an easy-to-implement algorithm with TyG or FLI as the first test and ultrasound or CAP as the second test to accurately diagnose or exclude NAFLD., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Objective: The prevalence of subclinical liver abnormalities is high among people with HIV, but data regarding perinatally HIV-infected children and adolescents (PHIV) are scarce. Noninvasive image techniques offer an opportunity to address nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in a population in which the scores validated for adults have not been tested., Design: Prospective cross-sectional study including PHIV and uninfected controls., Methods: Noninvasive imaging techniques for the diagnosis of NAFLD and/or fibrosis were performed, and four scores to predict NAFLD were evaluated., Results: Seventy-six participants (59.2% women) with a median of 19 years old (interquartile range: 15.5-25.6) were included, 38 were PHIV and 38 were age and sex-matched controls. All HIV participants were on ART at the moment of inclusion, and 86.8% were virologically suppressed. A total of 11 PHIV and three controls were diagnosed with NAFLD (28.9% vs. 7.9%; P = 0.02) by noninvasive imaging techniques. The performance of scores based on clinical and analytical parameters was very poor. Although nonsignificant, overweight was more common among participants with NAFLD, who had a significantly higher BMI. Differences in HIV-related parameters between the groups were nonsignificant, except for the CD4+/CD8+ T-cells ratio, decreased among PHIV diagnosed with NAFLD (P = 0.04)., Conclusions: The prevalence of NAFLD was high (28.9%) among PHIV, and only partially explained by overweight and metabolic syndrome defining factors. The scores based on clinical and analytical parameters did not accurately identify participants at risk. Therefore, liver ultrasound assessment should be considered for the screening of NAFLD among PHIV in routine clinical practice., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background & Aims: Patients with chronic hepatitis C and stage 3 fibrosis are thought to remain at risk of hepatocellular carcinoma after sustained virological response. We investigated this risk in a large cohort of patients with well-defined stage 3 fibrosis., Methods: We performed a multicentre, ambispective, observational study of chronic hepatitis C patients with sustained virological response after treatment with direct-acting antivirals started between January and December 2015. Baseline stage 3 was defined in a two-step procedure: we selected patients with transient elastography values of 9.5-14.5 kPa and subsequently excluded those with nodular liver surface, splenomegaly, ascites or collaterals on imaging, thrombopenia or esophago-gastric varices. Patients were screened twice-yearly using ultrasound., Results: The final sample comprised 506 patients (median age, 57.4 years; males, 59.9%; diabetes, 17.2%; overweight, 44.1%; genotype 3, 8.9%; HIV coinfection, 18.4%; altered liver values, 15.2%). Median follow-up was 33.7 (22.1-39.1) months. Five hepatocellular carcinomas and 1 cholangiocarcinoma were detected after a median of 29.4 months (95% CI: 26.8-39.3), with an incidence of 0.47/100 patients/year (95% CI: 0.17-1.01). In the multivariate analysis, only males older than 55 years had a significant higher risk (hazard ratio 7.2 [95% CI: 1.2-41.7; P = .029]) with an incidence of 1.1/100 patients/year (95% CI: 0.3-2.8)., Conclusions: In a large, well-defined cohort of patients with baseline hepatitis C stage-3 fibrosis, the incidence of primary liver tumours was low after sustained virological response and far from the threshold for cost-effectiveness of screening, except in males older than 55 years., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons A/S . Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The overall migration behavior and the disintegration under composting conditions of films based on plasticized poly(lactic acid)/poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PLA-PHB) blends were studied, with the main aim of determining the feasibility of their application as biodegradable food packaging materials. The role of composition in the disintegration process was evaluated by monitoring the changes in physical and thermal properties that originated during the degradation process. PLA and PHB were blended in two weight ratios with 15 wt% of tributyrin, using a Haake mixer and then compression molded into ~150 μm films. We found that the migration level of all of the studied blends was below check intended meaning retained in non-polar simulants, while only plasticized blends could withstand the contact with polar solvents. The disintegration of all of the materials in compost at 58 °C was completed within 42 days; the plasticized PHB underwent the fastest degradation, taking only 14 days. The presence of the TB plasticizer speeded up the degradation process. Different degradation mechanisms were identified for PLA and PHB. To evaluate the annealing effect separately from bacteria degradation, the influence of temperature on materials in the absence of a compost environment was also studied. With the increasing time of degradation in compost, both melting temperature and maximum degradation temperature progressively decreased, while the crystallinity degree increased, indicating that the samples were definitely degrading and that the amorphous regions were preferentially eroded by bacteria.

This study was dedicated to the functional characterization of innovative poly(lactic acid) (PLA)-based bilayer films containing lignocellulosic nanostructures (cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) or lignin nanoparticles (LNPs)) and umbelliferone (UMB) as active ingredients (AIs), prepared to be used as active food packaging. Materials proved to have active properties associated with the antioxidant action of UMB and LNPs, as the combination of both ingredients in the bilayer formulations produced a positive synergic effect inducing the highest antioxidant capacity. The results of overall migration for the PLA bilayer systems combining CNCs or LNPs and UMB revealed that none of these samples exceeded the overall migration limit required by the current normative for food packaging materials in both non-polar and polar simulants. Finally, all the hydrophobic monolayer and bilayer films were completely disintegrated in composting conditions in less than 18 days of incubation, providing a good insight on the potential use of these materials for application as active and compostable food packaging.

Magnetic-clay (MtMag) and magnetic-organoclay (O100MtMag) nanocomposites were synthesized, characterized and evaluated for arsenic adsorption. Batch arsenic adsorption experiments were performed varying pH conditions and initial As(V) concentration, while successive adsorption cycles were made in order to evaluate the materials reuse. The highest As(V) removal efficiency (9 ± 1 mg g -1 and 7.8 ± 0.8 mg g -1 for MtMag and O100MtMag, respectively) was found at pH 4.0, decreasing at neutral and alkaline conditions. From As(V) adsorption isotherm, two adsorption processes or two different surface sites were distinguished. Nanocomposites resulted composed by montmorillonite or organo-montmorillonite and magnetite as the principal iron oxide, with saturation magnetization of 8.5 ± 0.5 Am 2 Kg -1 (MtMag) and 20.3 ± 0.5 Am 2 Kg -1 (O100MtMag). Thus, both materials could be separated and recovered from aqueous solutions using external magnetic fields. Both materials allowed achieving arsenic concentrations lower than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended concentration limit after two consecutive adsorption cycles (2.25 and 4.5 μg L -1 for MtMag and O100MtMag, respectively)., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and cirrhosis are associated with a senescent phenotype that decreases telomere length. We evaluated the impact of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination on telomere length in patients with advanced HCV-related cirrhosis after sustained virological response (SVR), with all-oral direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs)., Methods: Prospective study of 60 HIV/HCV-coinfected and 30 HCV-monoinfected patients with advanced HCV cirrhosis (liver decompensation or liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥ 25 kPa, hepatic liver pressure gradient (HVPG) ≥ 10 mmHg, or Child-Pugh-Turcotte (CPT) ≥ 7). The relative telomere length (RTL) was quantified by real-time multiplex PCR (MMqPCR) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells at baseline and 48 weeks after HCV treatment. Generalized linear models (GLMs) adjusted for the most relevant clinical and epidemiological variables and mixed GLMs were used., Results: In comparison with HCV-monoinfected patients, HIV/HCV-coinfected patients were younger ( p < 0.001), had lower body mass index (BMI) ( p = 0.002), and had been exposed less frequently to interferons ( p = 0.011). In addition, they were more frequently men ( p = 0.011), smokers ( p = 0.005), prior intravenous drug users (IVDUs) ( p < 0.001), and alcohol abusers ( p = 0.005). RTL was significantly lower in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients than in HCV-monoinfected patients, both at baseline ( p < 0.001), and at the end of follow-up ( p = 0.032). A significant RTL increase over time was found only for HIV/HCV-coinfected patients ( p < 0.001), especially in those patients with compensated cirrhosis ( p < 0.001)., Conclusion: HCV eradication with all-oral DAAs was associated with an increase in telomere length in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients with advanced cirrhosis, particularly in compensated patients. This finding suggests that HCV clearance may have implications in age-related conditions in this population group.

We aimed to evaluate the association of plasma biomarkers linked to inflammation (bacterial translocation, inflammatory response, and endothelial dysfunction), coagulopathy, and angiogenesis with the severity of liver cirrhosis (assessed by the Child-Pugh-Turcotte score, CTP) and Child-Pugh B cirrhosis (CTP 7-9) in patients with advanced hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis. We carried out a cross-sectional study in 97 patients with advanced HCV-related cirrhosis (32 HCV-monoinfected and 65 HIV/HCV-coinfected). Plasma biomarkers were measured by ProcartaPlex multiplex immunoassays. The outcome variable was the CTP score and the Child-Pugh B cirrhosis (CTP 7-9). HIV/HCV-coinfected patients and HCV-monoinfected patients with advanced HCV-related cirrhosis had near-equivalent values of plasma biomarkers. Higher values of plasma biomarkers linked to an inflammatory response (IP-10, IL-8, IL-6, and OPG), endothelial dysfunction (sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1), and coagulopathy (D-dimer) were related to higher CTP values. The most significant biomarkers to detect the presence of Child-Pugh B cirrhosis (CTP 7-9) were IP-10 (p-value= 0.008) and IL-6 (p-value=0.002). The AUC-ROC values of IP-10, IL-6, and both biomarkers combined (IP-10+IL-6) were 0.78, 0.88, and 0.96, respectively. In conclusion, HIV infection does not appear to have a significant impact on the analyzed plasma biomarkers in patients with advanced HCV-related cirrhosis. However, plasma biomarkers linked to inflammation (inflammatory response and endothelial dysfunction) were related to the severity of liver cirrhosis (CTP score), mainly IP-10 and IL-6, which discriminated patients with Child-Pugh B concerning Child-Pugh A.

Unsupported 210 Pb (Pb exc ) is generated in air and is subsequently deposited on soil surface. The Pb exc can be used for sediment dating, soil erosion/sedimentation and air mass studies. In many cases, 210 Pb activity determination (gamma ray 46.5 keV) cannot be performed due to the lack of efficiency calibration curve, especially when radioactive patron source is not available. This work presents an alternative methodology to obtain the 210 Pb activity values, based on the activity definition and the attenuation coefficient determinations and assuming that soil samples coming from depth higher than 25 cm only contain 210 Pb generated in the soil (Pb exc free, i.e., for those soil layers the 210 Pb activity is equal to the 226 Ra activity, at secular equilibrium). The proposed methodology was evaluated using soils from La Plata region, Argentina. The same soil samples were also analyzed in a second laboratory by the conventional methodology. The obtained results indicated that the proposed procedure can be used as a good alternative in cases where a calibration sample is not available., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)