HIV AIDS

A 62-year-old previously healthy man is admitted for right upper quadrant pain; a workup reveals acute cholecystitis as the cause. During evaluation for surgery, his creatinine level is found to be 6.0 mg/dL; 1 year earlier it was 1.0 mg/dL. A trial of fluids does not lower the creatinine level. Renal ultrasonography shows no obstruction but reveals increased kidney size (left, 11.4 3 4.4 3 5.0 cm; right, 10.1 3 4.6 3 4.5 cm) with increased diffuse echogenicity.

This 18-year-old girl had been taking divalproex for seizure disorder for 2 years. Because she had gained weight while taking this medication, the patient asked for another drug. Her neurologist prescribed lamotrigine. Ten days after starting the new agent, a generalized, painful, pruritic, ery- thematous dermatitis; fever; and sore throat developed.

A 62-year-old previously healthy man is admitted for right upper quadrant pain; a workup reveals acute cholecystitis as the cause. During evaluation for surgery, his creatinine level is found to be 6.0 mg/dL; 1 year earlier it was 1.0 mg/dL.

This 18 year old girl had been taking divalporex for seizure disorder for 2 years. After requesting a new drug because of weight gain, a generalized, painful, pruritic, erythematous dermatitis; fever; and sore throat developed after ten days.

PARIS -- Testing non-small-cell lung tumors for the presence of an enzyme that aids in DNA repair can predict the success of platinum-based chemotherapy, European researchers reported.

Description

Abstract: Rhinosinusitis affects millions of persons annually and has a marked impact on quality of life and work productivity. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by symptoms that last at least 12 weeks. The history and physical examination should include a search for underlying conditions, such as allergic or nonallergic rhinitis and nasal polyposis. An evaluation of underlying immunodeficiency is warranted in certain patients, particularly those with severe or difficult-to-treat disease or other recurrent infections. When radiologic evaluation is indicated, coronal sinus CT scanning is the procedure of choice. While antibiotics are indicated for bacte- rial rhinosinusitis, intranasal corticosteroids represent the mainstay of treatment for CRS and are particularly useful when polyp disease is present. Nasal irrigation with a saline solution can be a very beneficial adjunctive therapy. Depending on coexisting conditions, additional treatments may include antihistamines, leukotriene modifiers, and immunotherapy. (J Respir Dis. 2006;27(9):372-379)

TORONTO -- As better antiretroviral regimens are developed, more patients infected with HIV are succumbing to fatal opportunistic infections that are the hallmark of AIDS.

TORONTO -- Human growth hormone appears to reverse some elements of HIV-treatment related lipodystrophy, researchers reported here.

TORONTO -- HIV therapy introduced in Third World countries should focus on antiretroviral regimens designed for long-term success, investigators emphasized here.

TORONTO -- The bleak early days of the AIDS crisis, when clinicians were grabbing at straws, provided lessons for today, said researchers who reviewed the history of the epidemic -- now in its 25th year -- at the 16th International AIDS Conference here.

TORONTO -- The target of most HIV therapy is the virus itself, but researchers said here that another approach -- blocking cells' entry points and locking the virus out -- is also starting to show promise.

TORONTO -- An extensively drug-resistant virulent strain of tuberculosis (XDR-TB) killed 52 of 53 patients who were co-infected with HIV during an outbreak in a rural South African hospital, researchers reported here.

TORONTO -- This Special Report from Zach Wise, a contributing photographer for MedPage Today, provides a multimedia portrayal of the activities at the 16th Annual International AIDS Conference here.

TORONTO -- An intravaginal ring, similar to those used to deliver contraceptives and hormonal agents, is a promising way to deliver anti-HIV microbicides, investigators reported here.

TORONTO -- An investigational pediatric version of a recently approved HIV drug is safe and well-tolerated at two different doses and appears to be effective, researchers said here.

TORONTO -- This Special Report from Zach Wise, a contributing videographer for MedPage Today, provides a multimedia portrayal of the activities at the 16th Annual International AIDS Conference here.

TORONTO -- The transmission of drug-resistant HIV appears to be stabilizing, at least in Europe, but about 9% of newly infected HIV patients still carry a virus that carries resistance mutations to one of the three main classes of anti-retroviral medications.

TORONTO -- This Special Report from Zach Wise, a contributing videographer for MedPage Today, provides a multimedia portrayal of the activities at the 16th Annual International AIDS Conference here.

TORONTO -- HIV patients are 18 times more likely than the general population to become infected with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and the rate appears to be increasing.

TORONTO -- HIV-positive patients are at a small but increased risk of cardiovascular disease from antiretroviral therapy, investigators reported here.

TORONTO -- Increased cholesterol and triglycerides in HIV-infected children being treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can be markedly reduced by switching regimens, researchers reported here.

TORONTO -- Even in HIV-infected patients who have tried and failed several drug regimens, the goal should still be to reduce the virus to undetectable levels, according to guidelines presented here.

TORONTO -- This Special Report from Zach Wise, a contributing videographer for MedPage Today, provides a multimedia portrayal of the activities at the 16th Annual International AIDS Conference here.

TORONTO -- Once patients have controlled HIV with a standard drug cocktail, treatment with a "boosted" protease inhibitor may be all they need to keep the virus at bay.

TORONTO -- HIV patients ages 50 and over do a better job controlling the virus but may need more help managing adverse effects and comorbidities.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Of U.S. adolescents in the general population, 3.5% have exchanged sex for money or drugs, and two-thirds of these youths were boys, researchers reported.

LOS ANGELES -- Unmarried life may impinge on life expectancy, according to researchers here.

GENEVA -- The notion of HIV-treatment interruption -- consigned not long ago to the ash heap of failed ideas -- should be revisited, said investigators here.

LONDON -- Improvements in highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has resulted in lower viral loads and higher immune cell counts but not a decline in mortality or progression to AIDS.