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Query: UMLS:C0021051 (immunodeficiency)
 71,517 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Cases of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been reported in countries throughout the world. Initial surveillance studies in Central Africa suggest an annual incidence of AIDS of 550 to 1000 cases per million adults. The male to female ratio of cases is 1:1, with age- and sex-specific rates greater in females less than 30 years of age and greater in males over age 40. Clinically, AIDS in Africans is often characterized by a diarrhea-wasting syndrome, opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis, cryptococcosis, and cryptosporidiosis, or disseminated Kaposi's sarcoma. From 1 to 18% of healthy blood donors and pregnant women and as many as 27 to 88% of female prostitutes have antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The present annual incidence of infection is approximately 0.75% among the general population of Central and East Africa. The disease is transmitted predominantly by heterosexual activity, parenteral exposure to blood transfusions and unsterilized needles, and perinatally from infected mothers to their newborns, and will continue to spread rapidly where economic and cultural factors favor these modes of transmission. Prevention and control of HIV infection through educational programs and blood bank screening should be an immediate public health priority for all African countries.
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PMID:AIDS in Africa: an epidemiologic paradigm. 302 79

We performed a prospective study of 50 subjects at high risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection to determine if assays of antigen-specific T cell function provide an earlier indication of future progression to AIDS or a better assessment of immune function than do current methods of evaluation. We measured in vitro T cell responses to Cryptococcus neoformans and tetanus toxoid, response to mitogens, HIV p24 antigenemia, and clinical parameters. Progression to AIDS was significantly associated with loss of T cell response to cryptococci (P = .015), HIV antigenemia (P = .001), and low CD4+ cell numbers (P = .001). Most importantly, we found that loss of antigen-specific responses to cryptococci and tetanus can occur before changes in CD4 cell number. Abnormal response to mitogens and marked depletion of CD4+ cells were late signs of progressive HIV infection. Measurement of antigen-specific T cell function may be useful for assessing the efficacy of antiviral therapy in HIV infection before onset of symptoms.
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PMID:Functional versus phenotypic analysis of T cells in subjects seropositive for the human immunodeficiency virus: a prospective study of in vitro responses to Cryptococcus neoformans. 305 21

In HIV-infections, skin manifestations are manifold and are conditioned mainly by the immunodeficiency. Kaposi's sarcoma, oral hairy leucoplakia and candidiasis of the esophagus are of diagnostic significance as same as a severe course of opportunistic infections e.g. herpes simplex, herpes zooster, cryptococcosis, dermatomycoses, verrucae vulgares, condylomata acuminata and others. Sometimes skin manifestations are the first perceivable sign of an HIV-infection.
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PMID:[Skin manifestations in HIV infection]. 305 89

This article discusses clinical, immunologic, and etiologic considerations in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the relationship of AIDS to other immunodeficiency diseases. The outstanding clinical feature of AIDS is the occurrence of opportunistic infections in individuals with no prior known cause of immunodeficiency. Such infections have included Pneumocystis carinii, oral thrush from Candida albicans, cytomegalovirus, atypical mycobacteria, cryptosporidium, and Herpes simplex virus. Central nervous system invasion by Cryptococcus neoformans and Toxoplasma gondi has also been reported. Persistent quantitative and functional depression of T4 cells is the immunologic hallmark of full-blown AIDS. Another prominent feature is in vitro spontaneous hyperactivity of B cells. AIDS patients lose cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reactions both to recall and to new antigens, and T-cell-mediated cytotoxicity is diminished. The mounting number of T8 cells and diminution in T4 cells causes an inversion in the normal T4:T8 ratio. It has been hypothesized that the host defense mechanism is the attempt of the cytotoxic T8 cells to destroy the virus-infected T4 cells. 2 groups of investigators have discovered a lymphocytotropic retrovirus from blood and node lymphocytes of AIDS patients: lymphadenopathy-associated virus (LAV) or human T-lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III). Among the primary immunodeficiencies, AIDS most closely resembles the defect observed in purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency, an inherited autosomal recessive phenomenon. There is evidence that multiple infections or antigen overload characterize all the risk groups for AIDS. Moreover, antigen overload in experimental animals and man has been shown to suppress immune responses and to down-regulate Ia antigen expression on monocytes. This may prove to be a necessary precondition for the development of AIDS.
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PMID:The acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). 315 26

To determine the aetiology of persistent diarrhoea in African patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 42 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and persistent diarrhoea were enrolled in a microbiological, endoscopic, and histological study. Cryptosporidium was the intestinal parasite most often identified (30%); Isospora belli was found in 12% of the patients. Histological examination of the duodenal mucosa showed a non-specific inflammatory reaction in a significantly higher number of HIV-seropositive patients (82%) than HIV-seronegative controls without diarrhoea (52%) (p = 0.02). Lymphocytes were more likely to be found in inflammatory reactions in HIV-seropositive patients than in controls (p less than 0.0001). Pathogens were observed in histological sections of the duodenum of HIV-seropositive patients only (p = 0.002) and included cryptosporidia (four patients) Isospora belli (one), Strongyloides stercoralis (one), and Cryptococcus neoformans (one). On histological examination the rectal mucosa of HIV-seropositive patients and controls was similar, except eosinophils were more likely to be present in inflammatory reaction in HIV-seropositive patients (p = 0.05) and enteric pathogens were observed only in HIV-seropositive patients (cytomegalovirus inclusion bodies (one) and Schistosoma mansoni (two). The aetiology of persistent diarrhoea in most African AIDS patients remains unclear.
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PMID:Persistent diarrhoea in Zairian AIDS patients: an endoscopic and histological study. 322 Mar 8

A case of cryptococcal meningitis in a patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is described, as well as the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and therapeutic management of the disease. In July 1987 a 38-year-old white man was admitted to the hospital because of confusion, disorientation, and headache. His medical history was notable for a positive human immunodeficiency virus test. Culture of the cerebrospinal fluid was positive for Cryptococcus neoformans. The patient was started on amphotericin B 16 mg/day (0.3 mg/kg/day) intravenously and flucytosine 2 g every six hours (150 mg/kg/day) orally. Despite premedication with diphenhydramine and acetaminophen, he experienced rigors that were treated with hydrocortisone and meperidine. Three weeks later he was discharged on flucytosine 2 g orally every six hours and amphotericin B 50 mg intravenously every other day. One week later the patient developed fever and chills; blood cultures were positive for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, and his peripheral leucocyte count was 1.8 X 10(3)/cu mm. Flucytosine was discontinued, and he was treated with intravenous nafcillin while remaining on amphotericin B. In October the patient complained of nausea, vomiting, weakness, and agitation. A CSF latex agglutination titer for cryptococcal antigen was 1:32. He was treated with amphotericin B 50 mg daily until symptoms resolved and then continued on amphotericin B 50 mg twice weekly. Cryptococcosis is the most common life-threatening fungal infection among AIDS patients. In contrast to immunocompetent hosts, this population invariably develops disseminated disease, with 85% having meningeal involvement. The most effective therapy for cryptococcal meningitis in patients with AIDS has not been established.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Management of cryptococcal meningitis in patients with AIDS. 341 73

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was analysed in 50 AIDS patients in this investigation. CSF analysis included: pressure, aspect, colour, cytology (cell number, cytomorphology, and lymphocyte subpopulations), proteins concentration and their electrophoretic distribution, chloride and glycosis concentration, GOT and LDH activity, immunology for cysticercosis, syphilis and toxoplasmosis, bacteriology, and mycological examinations (direct, cultures, Cryptococcus neoformans antigen test). Diagnostic changes were: lymphoma cells in one patient, cryptococcosis in 10, toxoplasmosis in 4, candidiasis in 1, and syphilis in 3. Cryptococcosis occurred in association with toxoplasmosis in one patient who developed syphilis in the follow-up; oligoclonal distribution of gamma globulins occurred in this case. In another case of cryptococcosis, candidiasis appeared during the course of the disease. Changes in the CSF composition observed are discussed in order to evaluate: aspects of CSF inflammatory response in report to immunodeficiency; blood-brain barrier involvement; CNS damage; intracranial mass effects.
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PMID:[Cerebrospinal fluid in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Analysis of 50 cases]. 344 24

Forty-nine episodes of bacteremia and fungemia occurred in 38 of 336 patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome seen at our institution since 1980. There were five types of infections. Infections commonly associated with a T-cell immunodeficiency disorder comprised 16 episodes and included those with Salmonella species, Listeria monocytogenes, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Histoplasma capsulatum. Infections commonly associated with a B-cell immunodeficiency disorder included those with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Infections occurring with neutropenia were caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus faecalis. Other infections occurring in the hospital were caused by Candida albicans, Staphylococcus epidermidis, enteric gram-negative rods, Staphylococcus aureus, and mixed S. aureus and group G streptococcus. Other infections occurring out of the hospital included those with S. aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Shigella sonnei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and group B streptococcus. Because two thirds of the septicemias were caused by organisms other than T-cell opportunists, these pathogens should be anticipated during diagnostic evaluation and when formulating empiric therapy.
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PMID:Bacteremia and fungemia in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. 348 96

Recognition of the neurological symptoms and signs of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) since 1982 has demonstrated the involvement of the nervous system in approximately one third of the cases. Certain opportunistic infections or tumors had been previously described in the course of immunodeficiency states of other origins: cerebral toxoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, atypical mycobacteriosis and cerebral lymphoma. Other disorders such as subacute encephalitis raise specific etiopathogenic questions. Several of these affections can be associated or succeed each other and this is the natural course in AIDS. The detection of those conditions that are curable, among which toxoplasmosis, is of primary importance.
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PMID:[Neurologic manifestations of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]. 352 87

Cryptococcus neoformans recovered from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of eight patients, seven with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex (ARC), were studied to assess the relationship between degree of encapsulation noted in fresh CSF with that observed after animal passage. We further correlated encapsulation with extent of immunodeficiency in these patients. Results of these studies showed poor encapsulation (mean capsule plus cell diameter less than 10 micron) in six patients, intermediate in one (mean 15.5 micron), and full encapsulation in one (mean 24.4 micron). The last isolate was observed in the CSF from the only patient without convincing clinical evidence for AIDS. Mouse passage of cryptococci from 5 AIDS patients and one with ARC resulted in a statistically significant (P less than 0.05) increase in capsule size over that observed directly in fresh cerebrospinal fluid. Cryptococci derived from the non-AIDS patient did not show an increase in encapsulation after mouse passage. These studies suggest that the immune deficiency state associated with AIDS exerts little selective pressure on inhaled poorly encapsulated C. neoformans.
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PMID:Poorly encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans from patients with AIDS. II. Correlation of capsule size observed directly in cerebrospinal fluid with that after animal passage. 353 Feb 64


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