Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:3.4.16.2 (PCP)
3,761 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

AIDS is a reliably diagnosed disease that is indicative of an underlying cellular immunodeficiency with no other cause for the disorder. To date over 2000 cases have been reported in North America and Europe and the number is rising. Patients fulfilling the definition for AIDS have included male homosexuals, IV drug abusers of both sexes, people from Haiti, heterosexual partners of AIDS patients, hemophiliacs, and some patients who fit no particular pattern. The etiology has been attributed to factors acting singly or in synergy namely that repeated exposure to CMV, semen, or other antigens results in progressive cellular immunodeficiency, or alternatively, a novel virus has an etiologic role. The epidemiology of the syndrome suggests a horizontally transmissible agent. The spectrum of opportunistic infections observed in AIDS patients is well documented. A higher incidence of KS as well as squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity, cloacogenic carcinoma of the rectum, primary lymphomas of the brain, and systemic Burkitt's-like lymphoma has been noted. Seventy-one patients with AIDS were examined and followed during the course of their disease. Forty-one patients had definite retinal lesions at the time of examination. The most common intraretinal finding was CMV retinitis which displayed the typical white, crumbly areas of retinal necrosis and hemorrhage. Optic nerve involvement was quite common. The development of retinitis was a harbinger of eventual death as it was a progressive and a nontreatable disorder, lasting about 6 months. The second most common retinal finding was cotton wool spots, the lesions were usually present during the course of PCP and were due to microvascular damage in the retina from circulating immune complexes. No organisms were demonstrated in the retina. One AIDS patient who had been an IV drug abuser developed fungal retinitis due to Candida albicans. The patient eventually died from Candida sepsis. One patient had acquired toxoplasmosis retinochoroiditis. Examination revealed a large active intraretinal focus of infection. No other retinal lesion was noted. The patient, a homosexual, died from a toxoplasmosis brain abscess. The patient with AIDS is in a continuing struggle for survival against a myriad assortment of opportunistic infectious agents. Careful initial ophthalmological examination and long-term follow-up are mandatory.
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PMID:The retinal lesions of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. 610 Jan 47

The study evaluated the overall survival after AIDS diagnosis of 1,014 patients reported to the Italian AIDS Registry as resident in Tuscany, stratified by age, gender, year of diagnosis, HIV transmission category, initial AIDS-defining disease and CD4+ cells count. The study was a population-based survival analysis, carried out through Kaplan-Meier method (mean survival times-MST-, 1, 2 and 3-year observed survival) and Cox models (crude and adjusted relative risk-RR). The MST was 12.4 months for all cases, increasing from 4-7 months in 1985-1987 to 14 months in 1991-1992. The observed survival was 51.4% at the first year of follow-up, 28.4% at the second year and 14.5% at the third year. The multivariate analysis showed an independent prognostic effect of age, year of diagnosis, initial AIDS-defining disease and CD4+ cells count. The prognosis was worse in cases aged over 44 (reference: 25-29), diagnosed before 1988 (reference: 1991) and with wasting syndrome, toxoplasmosis, HIV encephalopathy or multiple diseases (reference: PCP alone); and better in cases with more than 100 CD4+ cells/mm3 (reference: < or = 50 cells/mm3). The differences in gender and among HIV transmission categories disappeared after age-adjustment. The study confirmed, in an European population-based series, the poor long-term AIDS prognosis and, once AIDS has became clinically manifest, the prognostic value of some clinical and demographic variables.
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PMID:Survival after AIDS diagnosis in Tuscany (Italy), 1985-1992. 908 93

Procalcitonin (ProCT) is a recently described marker of severe sepsis. It was decided to assess the value of proCT as a marker of secondary infection in patients infected with HIV-1. ProCT plasma levels were measured by immunoluminometric assay in a prospective study in 155 HIV-infected individuals: 102 asymptomatic and 53 with lever or suspected secondary infections. The baseline plasma level of ProCT was low (0.5 ng/ml +/- 0.37), even in the latest stages of the disease, and did not differ from the values of healthy subjects (0.54 ng/ml +/- 0.08). EDTA-treated whole blood was collected from patients before starting specific antimicrobial therapy. No elevation of ProCT level was detected in HIV-infected patients with evolving secondary infections including PCP (n = 4), cerebral toxoplasmosis (n = 4), viral infections (n = 9), mycobacterial infections (n = 5), localized bacterial (n = 12) and fungal infections (n = 4), malignancies (n = 3), and in various associated infectious and non-infectious febrile events (n = 13). All these plasma values were lower than 2.1 ng/ml. In contrast, high ProCT plasma levels were detected in one HIV-infected patient with a septicaemic Haemophilus influenzae infection (16.5 ng/ml) and another one with a septicaemic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection (44.1 ng/ ml), ProCT values decreased rapidly under appropriate therapy. ProCT seems to be a specific marker of bacterial sepsis in HIV-infected patients, as no increase in other secondary infections could be detected in those patients. A rapid determination of ProCT level could be useful to confirm or refute bacterial sepsis for a better management of febrile HIV-infected patients.
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PMID:Procalcitonin as a marker of bacterial sepsis in patients infected with HIV-1. 927 23

The first case of AIDS in India was reported in 1986. Subsequently, a surveillance system was developed in 1987. The data from this surveillance activity suggest that the HIV infection has now spread to the general population and to all parts of the country, except Arunachal Pradesh in North-eastern India. With the changing scenario of the AIDS epidemic, a host of opportunistic infections add to the present endemic state of some already existing infections like tuberculosis. This report analyses the AIDS cases in India, reported to the National AIDS Control Organization over the years between 1986 to 1997. A total of 3,551 AIDS cases had been reported till 31st May 1997. Tuberculosis (pulmonary and extrapulmonary) is the major opportunistic infection affecting 62% of the cases followed by candidiasis seen in 57% of the patients. In 1997, of the 390 AIDS cases analysed, tuberculosis (pulmonary and extrapulmonary) accounted for 56.5% of the total cases whereas candidiasis was seen in 61% of the cases. An increasing trend was observed with tuberculosis from 58% in 1986-1992 to 68.5% in 1995. No trend could be established in the case of candidiasis, though, a high prevalence of 66% was seen in the cases between 1986 and 1992. An increase was also observed in cases of PCP, cerebral toxoplasmosis and Kaposi sarcoma. In the AIDS cases, chronic diarrhea (76%), weight loss (87%) and fever (85%) appeared to be the major presenting symptoms. But, of the 390 AIDS cases reported in 1997, only 47% of them were suffering from chronic diarrhea. With increase in the number of AIDS cases, India is burdened with a dual epidemic of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis. The National AIDS Control Organization in India, is involved in training clinicians and laboratory personnel in the diagnosis and management of the AIDS cases. With better diagnosis of the opportunistic infections, especially diarrhea, in AIDS patients, a better picture will emerge regarding the opportunistic infections which would help clinicians and health planners to tackle the AIDS epidemic in a more effective manner.
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PMID:AIDS in India: recent trends in opportunistic infections. 988 31

The U.S. Public Health Service and the Infectious Diseases Society of America recently updated the 1995 guidelines on prevention of opportunistic infections in HIV infected individuals. PCP prophylaxis has not been changed in the new guidelines. Primary prevention strategies for toxoplasmosis encephalitis are described. Preventive medication for tuberculosis is generally not recommended, especially for persons in high risk groups such as the homeless and injection drug users. Significant changes were made for the prevention of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), and guidelines were changed for preventing bacterial respiratory infections. Primary prophylaxis of most fungal infections is generally not recommended, but lifelong secondary prophylaxis is indicated for all deep seated fungal infections and CMV. Prevention of opportunistic infections in HIV patients has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality.
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PMID:Update: prophylaxis for HIV opportunistic infections. 1136 25

Three studies that are highlighted suggest that PCP-causing microbes are developing resistance to Bactrim/Septra (B/S), the drug of choice for preventing the life-threatening complications caused by PCP, toxoplasmosis, and bacterial pneumonia. While resistance does not appear to be happening on a large scale, it is a concern because no other drug has the same beneficial effects of B/S. Research is needed for simple, low-toxicity treatments and prophylactic drugs for PCP, before resistance becomes a common problem.
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PMID:PCP prevention--more cases of resistance to sulfa drugs. 1136 81

Bactrim/Septra is a drug used for treating and preventing PCP (Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) and toxoplasmosis. However, people with HIV are more likely to develop hypersensitivity reactions to Bactrim/Septra. NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine) is being studied to determine if its detoxifying properties could reduce the risk of hypersensitivity to Bactrim/Septra. However, a Canadian study found no statistically significant difference in the rates of hypersensitivity among the nearly 200 subjects.
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PMID:Study finds NAC fails to prevent Bactrim/Septra hypersensitivity. 1136 23

In recent years, the proportion of individuals who are unaware of being infected with HIV when diagnosed with AIDS (defined as 'late testers') has dramatically increased in several European countries, including Italy. We evaluated the extent and determinants of late testing and its impact in terms of AIDS-defining illnesses among AIDS cases reported to the Italian National AIDS Registry since 1996. Late testers were defined as those persons whose first positive HIV test result was within six months of the AIDS diagnosis. Late testers were more likely to be heterosexual contacts or MSWM, as opposed to IDUs. They were also more likely to come from low prevalence areas of Italy or from foreign countries. At AIDS diagnosis, late testers were less likely to be undergoing HAART or prophylaxis against PCP/toxoplasmosis, compared to non-late testers. The mean CD4 cell count at AIDS diagnosis was significantly lower among late testers. PCP, toxoplasmosis and Kaposi's sarcoma were more frequently diagnosed as an AIDS-defining illness in late testers, who also had a significantly higher risk of presenting with multiple concomitant AIDS-defining illnesses. In conclusion, late testing results in missed opportunities for preventing and treating HIV infection, leading to an increased risk of developing preventable opportunistic infections and death.
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PMID:Increasing proportion of late testers among AIDS cases in Italy, 1996-2002. 1612 May

Infection with Candida species remains a major problem in HIV infected patients. The analysis of over 15,000 hospitalisations (1985-2007) in the AVK cohort shows an increasing incidence of non-albicans species in candida esophagitis. Although our analysis shows a decreasing incidence of opportunistic infections like PCP, cerebral toxoplasmosis and others since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy the incidence of candida esophagitis remains as high as in the years before the HAART era. This observation might reflect the development of resistance against fluconazole and the selection of non-albicans species as a consequence of a long-term prophylactic treatment of HIV+ patients over years.
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PMID:Candida infection in HIV positive patients 1985-2007. 1872 33

This retrospective study was conducted among 59 HIV/AIDS patients with opportunistic infections admitted to the University Malaya Medical Centre between 2000 and 2009. Fifty-five point nine percent of cases were Chinese, 25.4% were Malays, 11.9% were Indians and 6.8% were of unknown ethnic origin. The male:female ratio was 2.9:1 (44 males and 15 females). The highest prevalence (38.9%) occurred in the 30-39 year old age group. Men comprised 47.7% and women 53.3%; the majority of both were married. The majority of cases were Malaysians (89.8%) and the rest (10.2%) were immigrants. Most of the patients (18.6%) were non-laborers, followed by laborers (11.9%), the unemployed (5.1%) and housewives (3.4%). The most common risk factor was unprotected sexual activity (20.3%). The two most common HIV/AIDS related opportunistic infections were Pneumocystis carinii (jirovecii) pneumonia (PCP) (62.7%) and toxoplasmosis (28.8%). Seventy-two point nine percent of patients had a CD4 count <200 cells/microl and 5.1% had a CD4 count >500 cells/microl. Eleven point nine percent of cases died during study period. A low CD4 count had a greater association with opportunistic infections. Most of the patients presented with fever (44.1%), cough (42.4%) and shortness of breath (28.8%). Detection of the etiologic pathogens aids clinicians in choosing appropriate management strategies.
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PMID:Pneumocystis carinii (jirovecii) pneumonia (PCP): the most common opportunistic infection observed in HIV/AIDS cases at the University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2307 3


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