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OBJECTIVES: We estimated the proportion of people reported with HIV in New Zealand between 2006 and 2017, and alive in 2017-2019, who were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and had a suppressed viral load (VL), and explored their associated characteristics. METHODS: Data were anonymously linked to information on ART and VL within the data collection period (January 2017 to August 2019) using the National Health Index (NHI), Ministry of Health and laboratory datasets, as well as information from clinical specialists. Logistic regression was used to test for associations. Sensitivity analyses were undertaken to estimate the range for the key proportions. RESULTS: Overall, 2355 people were reported with HIV, of whom 116 (5%) had died, 337 (14%) were overseas, and 1701 (72%) were alive in New Zealand; for the remaining 201 (9%) the outcome was unknown. Clinical data were available for 1490 people (87.6%): 1408 (94.5%) were on ART, 11 (< 1%) were not on ART, and for 71 (4.8%) this was unknown. Of those on ART, 1156 (82.1%) had a suppressed VL (< 200 copies/mL), 34 (2.4%) were unsuppressed, and for 218 (15.5%) this was unknown. The estimate of the proportion on ART ranged from 99% to 78%, and those with a suppressed VL ranged from 98% to 78%. CONCLUSIONS: Among people with HIV in New Zealand who are under care, a high proportion were on ART and had suppressed VL. Increasing collection of NHIs and better linkage with laboratory information will reduce the number with unknown information and provide more complete VL results in the future.

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The radiological characterization of the topsoil of the L-54M reactor surroundings carried out in this work aims at obtaining the reference blank point for the forthcoming decommissioning operations and ascertain if unexpected radionuclide release occurred during the operational life of the plant. Standardised methods have been employed in order to collect representative samples and reliable results. Suitable sample pre-treatment procedures were applied. Gamma and beta spectrometric analyses were carried out to measure the activity concentrations of 60Co 137Cs, 152Eu, 241Am and 90Sr. These have been considered as representative radionuclides that could have been originated from reactor operations and that could still be present at four decades post reactor shutdown.

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The high cardiovascular risk of HIV infected (HIV+) patients is still partly unexplained. We aimed to evaluate if HIV infection and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) are linked per se to left ventricular (LV) remodelling, independently of blood pressure (BP) values. We enrolled 4 groups of patients matched by gender, age, body mass index and smoking habit: 30 HIV+ hypertensives, 30 HIV+ normotensives, 30 not-infected (HIV-) hypertensives and 30 HIV- normotensives. HIV+ patients were on chronic HAART. Hypertension was newly diagnosed (≤6 months) and never treated. Each patient underwent blood tests, 24-h BP monitoring and LV echocardiogram. The 4 groups had similar fasting glucose and cholesterol; triglycerides, HOMA index and prevalence of metabolic syndrome were higher in the HIV+ groups. Despite similar 24-h BP values, HIV+ hypertensives had greater LV mass and higher prevalence of preclinical diastolic dysfunction than HIV- hypertensives. Compared to HIV- normotensives, HIV+ normotensives had similar 24-h BP values, but greater LV mass and lower LV diastolic indices, similar to HIV- hypertensives, whose 24-h BP values were higher. Asymptomatic HIV infection and chronic HAART are associated with myocardial hypertrophy and preclinical diastolic dysfunction, independently of BP values.

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Interleukin (IL)-18, a newly discovered cytokine produced primarily by macrophages, has been shown to induce gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production by natural killer cells, to induce the T helper type 1 response. To further elucidate the role of this cytokine in uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, serum levels of IL-18, and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), determined by an immunoenzymatic assay, were analyzed in 40 adult patients, and in 15 healthy control subjects. A significant increase in serum levels of IL-18 was observed in patients with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria on admission, whereas serum levels of IFN-gamma tended to increase although not significantly. Serum levels of IL-18 decreased three days later, but still remained significantly high, whereas IFN-gamma levels returned to normal levels compared to the controls. No significant correlation was found between parasitemia and serum levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma. The increase of IL-18 levels during acute and recovery phases of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria may reflect a proinflammatory role of IL-18 in these patients. An early and effective immune response regulated by proinflammatory Th1 cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-12, and possibly IFN-gamma may limit the progression from uncomplicated malaria to severe and life-threatening complications.

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The purpose of this study was to evaluate nitric oxide (NO) activity in patients with uncomplicated malaria. Lipopolysaccharide and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) are potent inducers of NO by inducing production of NO synthase. NO activity was determined by measuring serum levels of nitrite/nitrate (metabolic end products of NO), and IFN-gamma in patients with uncomplicated malaria, mostly caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Neither serum levels of nitrite/nitrate nor of IFN-gamma were significantly increased in patients with uncomplicated malaria, especially in patients with P. falciparum infection, and in those with high parasitaemia. These results show that NO cannot play a role in uncomplicated malaria, and it is still debatable if NO production in this infection has beneficial or detrimental effects.

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AIM: To determine concentrations of fibronectin and fibronectin receptor in children with pertussis. METHODS: Concentrations of circulating fibronectin and serum fibronectin receptor were detected in eight children affected by pertussis, eight children with acute upper or lower respiratory tract infections, and in 14 healthy control children. The single radial immunodiffusion technique and a solid phase enzyme immunoassay were used to detect circulating serum concentrations of fibronectin and fibronectin receptor. RESULTS: On admission, a significant decrease in fibronectin was detected in children with pertussis (p = 0.0006). Significant and decreased concentrations of fibronectin were also observed in children with upper or lower respiratory tract infections (p = 0.0002). On the other hand, serum fibronectin receptor concentrations were significantly increased in patients with pertussis, whereas patients with upper or lower respiratory tract infections had normal circulating fibronectin receptor concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Fibronectin deficiency in children with pertussis may be related to diffusion and deposition of this protein in bronchial and alveolar spaces to limit infection, while increased fibronectin receptor concentrations are probably the expression of T cell activation and cell-mediated immunity during Bordetella pertussis infection.

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Meningeal involvement in leptospiral infection is quite common, usually mild and often overlooked. In contrast, cases of isolated involvement of the central nervous system, including aseptic meningitis, have been reported only rarely. A case of a patient with acute aseptic meningitis caused by Leptospira australis serovar bratislava is reported. This is believed to be the first report of aseptic meningitis due to Leptospira australis. This case indicates the need to consider human leptospirosis in the differential diagnosis of aseptic meningitis.

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We found a significant increase in fibronectin receptor (FNR) levels in the sera of adult human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected patients, especially in those with AIDS (1,026.9 +/- 583.9 ng/ml; P < 0.0001). In contrast, AIDS patients with neurologic disorders and HIV-1-seropositive patients showed normal levels of FNR in serum. In addition, HIV-1-infected children showed increased levels of FNR in serum (824.4 +/- 333.5 ng/ml; P = 0.03). We suggest that an increase of FNR levels in AIDS patients is related to enhanced expression of FNR on HIV-1-infected cells.

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The effect of recombinant human interleukin 1B (IL-1B) and recombinant human gamma interferon (IFN-g), when given prophylactically, in a mouse model of septic acute lung injury was studied. Mice were treated with various doses of IL-1B and IFN-g for 3 consecutive days prior to administration of lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli (1 mg/kg given intraperitoneally). To determine the histologic changes occurring after prophylactic administration of such cytokines, a scoring system was assessed. A significant reduction of edema and neutrophil accumulation into the lungs of mice was observed, especially at doses of 100 U per mouse and 10,000 U per mouse of IL-1B and IFN-g, respectively. Prophylactic administration of IL-1B or IFN-g caused histologic changes, including marked reduction of edema and neutrophil accumulation in the interstitial and alveolar spaces. Combined prophylactic administration of IL-1B and IFN-g provoked a marked decrease of neutrophil accumulation into the lungs, but was not accompanied by significant reduction of edema or hemorrhage. These results provide evidence for the beneficial role of IL-1B and IFN-g in the abnormality of septic acute lung injury by reducing inflammatory lesions.

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Serum levels of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in patients with acute viral hepatitis were investigated. Twelve patients suffering from acute viral hepatitis were studied; 8 patients presented with acute hepatitis B, 2 patients with acute hepatitis A, and 2 patients with acute hepatitis C. Serum levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were significantly increased in all patients with acute viral hepatitis. Decreased serum levels of all cytokines were noted in four patients with acute hepatitis B during the recovery phase of infection. In addition, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha were undetectable at the end of a follow-up period of 6 months. Our study shows that increased levels of IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha are probably related to hepatitis activity and thus may have some role in hepatocytic injury.

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OBJECTIVE: To determine serum levels of acute-phase proteins and interleukin 1B, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and interleukin 8 in children with pertussis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Divisions of Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital, and Pediatrics, University of Pavia, Varese, Italy. PARTICIPANTS: Eight children with pertussis, six with acute febrile infections, and eight healthy control children matched for sex, age, and time presentation over a 32-month study period. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS/MAIN RESULTS: An immunoenzymatic assay was used to detect serum levels of all cytokines. Normal values of C-reactive protein, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were observed in the serum of patients with pertussis. The mean (+/- SD) detectable levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (65.0 +/- 50.4 pg/mL) and interleukin 6 (32.3 +/- 17.8 pg/mL) were observed in the serum of patients with pertussis. In contrast, a nonsignificant increment of interleukin 1B levels (66.5 +/- 83.7 pg/mL) and interleukin 8 levels (12.7 +/- 17.8 pg/mL) was noted in the serum of the same patients. Increased and significant levels of all four cytokines were noted in most of the serum samples of patients with acute febrile infections. CONCLUSIONS: Acute-phase response is absent in patients with pertussis, whereas detectable and significant serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 were observed in some such patients.

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