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Objective: Human-immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection initiates the dysregulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, unsuccessful treatment for HIV might be due to the drug resistance mutations (DRM) against anti-retroviral therapy (ART). This study aimed to compare pro-inflammatory cytokines levels of HIV patients, who received first line ART and patients, with mutations of M184V and K103N. Materials and Methods: This was a case-control study which involved eighty patients with AIDS who received first-line anti-retroviral therapy for at least 6 months. The respondents were divided into two groups of patients with HIV with DRM and the ones with HIV without DRM. M184V and K103N drug resistance mutations to ART were analyzed using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) meanwhile tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 as pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Most of the patients were men with an average age of 35.5 ± 9.2 years. The median levels for TNF-α and IL-6 were found 43.3 (4.3-96.1) pg/mL and 46.2 (15.5-158.1) pg/mL, respectively. The results showed that the DRM group got higher values compared to the non-DRM group, but there was no statistically significant difference found between both groups. Conclusion: There were no differences in pro-inflammatory cytokines between the DRM AIDS patients group compared to the non-DRM who received first-line ART with mutations of M184V and K103N. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of HIV / AIDS patients have common secondary infections including of oral candidiasis. Fluconazole can be used to treat oral resistance in candidiasis. Management that can reduce risk can be minimized. However, some evidences suggest that the use of fluconazole is not effective for oral candidiasis. A 34-year-old male patient went to Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia, with main complaint of discomfort and pain in the tongue. The physical examination showed a white pseudomembrane on the tongue and palate, which could be removed but left reddish and painful marks. The examination from tongue and palate swab found a colony of white Candida albicans and showed resistant to fluconazole, intermediate to ketoconazole, and sensitive to nystatin. The patient received nystatin oral suspension for three times a day as much as 5 ml (500,000 units). The pseudomembrane disappeared on day 10. The medication continued for fourteen days. No sign of recurrent found in two weeks after the treatment. The administration of nystatin can be used as an effective medication for oral candidiasis.

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The majority of HIV / AIDS patients have common secondary infections including of oral candidiasis. Fluconazole can be used to treat oral resistance in candidiasis. Management that can reduce risk can be minimized. However, some evidences suggest that the use of fluconazole is not effective for oral candidiasis. A 34-year-old male patient went to Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia, with main complaint of discomfort and pain in the tongue. The physical examination showed a white pseudomembrane on the tongue and palate, which could be removed but left reddish and painful marks. The examination from tongue and palate swab found a colony of white Candida albicans and showed resistant to fluconazole, intermediate to ketoconazole, and sensitive to nystatin. The patient received nystatin oral suspension for three times a day as much as 5 ml (500,000 units). The pseudomembrane disappeared on day 10. The medication continued for fourteen days. No sign of recurrent found in two weeks after the treatment. The administration of nystatin can be used as an effective medication for oral candidiasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To report on a unique combination of cerebral toxoplasmosis and ocular toxoplasmosis in an HIV-positive patient in Slovakia., Methods: A 35-year-old heterosexual patient who presented with headache and major seizures underwent computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Based on clinical findings, serological tests for toxoplasmosis were performed on serum and ocular fluid specimens. PCR was also used to detect Toxoplasma gondii and cytomegalovirus DNA. Goldmann and Witmer coefficient calculation was applied to demonstrate the synthesis of intraocular IgG antibodies., Results: CT and MRI revealed cystic lesions suspected of metastasis in the occipital and temporal regions, and we searched for the primary tumor. After vision loss in the left eye, which rapidly progressed to complete blindness, an eye examination detected macular edema. Anti-edema treatment was initiated. HIV positivity with a very low CD4 T-cell count (20/μL) was found, and the viral load was 100 400 HIV-RNA copies/ml. The serum was positive for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies (> 200 IU/mL), IgM negative, and IgA borderline. As toxoplasmic encephalitis and retinitis were suspected, antitoxoplasmic therapy with pyrimethamine, spiramycin, and folinic acid was started. The ophthalmologist considered cytomegalovirus retinitis, which was not confirmed by serology or PCR. In contrast, the presence of IgG antibodies in ocular fluid and serum with the calculation of the Goldmann-Witmer coefficient (GW = 32) as well as PCR DNA positivity pointed to Toxoplasma gondii as the etiological agent. Follow-up MRI scan confirmed regression of the pathological lesions, neurological deficit also improved, CD4 T-lymphocytes increased above 200/μL, but blindness of the left eye persisted., Conclusion: CT and MRI scans offered no clue as to Toxoplasma etiology of the brain and eye involvement in an HIV-positive patient, which was only confirmed by laboratory tests. Due to the delay in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, time from the epileptic seizure to treatment initiation was 16 days, which assumedly caused irreversible blindness in the patient.