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PURPOSE: Antiretroviral monotherapy and treatment interruption are potential strategies for perinatally HIV-infected adolescents (PHIVA) who face challenges maintaining effective combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). We assessed the use and outcomes for adolescents receiving monotherapy or undergoing treatment interruption in a regional Asian cohort. METHODS: Regional Asian data (2001–2016) were analyzed to describe PHIVA who experienced ≥2 weeks of lamivudine or emtricitabine monotherapy or treatment interruption and trends in CD4 count and HIV viral load during and after episodes. Survival analyses were used for World Health Organization (WHO) stage III/IV clinical and immunologic event-free survival during monotherapy or treatment interruption, and a Poisson regression to determine factors associated with monotherapy or treatment interruption. RESULTS: Of 3,448 PHIVA, 84 (2.4%) experienced 94 monotherapy episodes, and 147 (4.3%) experienced 174 treatment interruptions. Monotherapy was associated with older age, HIV RNA >400 copies/mL, younger age at ART initiation, and exposure to ≥2 combination ART regimens. Treatment interruption was associated with CD4 count

The isopranolic extract of Cimicifuga racemosa (iCR), active ingredient of the herbal medicinal product Remifemin®, is therapeutically used to relieve menopausal complaints such as hot flushes, sweating and correlated sleep disturbances. In addition, clinical studies have shown beneficial effects on the menopauseinduced depressive mood, nervousness, nervous irritability and generally impaired performance and memory. The mode of action is not yet fully understood. Eleven male rats received an implant consisting of four bipolar concentric electrodes targeting at frontal cortex, hippocampus, striatum andmidbrain reticular formation. EEG signals were recorded from these brain areas of freely moving rats (Tele-Stereo-EEG model) for 5h with and without previous treatment with iCR (7.5mg/kg). Data were evaluated by Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) and averaged to give hourly values in % of the baseline values.iCR markedly influenced electric CNS-function and induced changesof spectral frequenciesof rat brainelectric activity. iCR caused a general attenuation of the spectral powerwithin all frequency bands and all brain areas. Strongest effects were found in frontal cortex and in hippocampus. The decrease in -2 waves (>40%) suggests an increase in dopaminergic activity, while a decrease in -1 and -1 frequencies is in line with an increase in serotonergic and glutamatergic activity, respectively. Such changes on brain activity were compared to frequency pattern changes of a large number of synthetic drugs with known therapeutic use. This data were fed into a discriminant analysis and led to clustering of drugs with similar clinical indication. Comparison to reference drugs tested in the past and making up a large data base revealed some similarity to drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease (Selegiline), to influence moodand cognition (Ginkgo), to treat dementia (Tacrine) or to treat depression (Moclobemide). Further experiments are needed in order to gather more information on the effects of iCR extract on the brain, possibly leading to new indications for this herbal preparation with respect to mood and cognition.