J Int Aids Soc
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Integration of HIV into child survival platforms is an evolving territory with multiple connotations. Most literature on integration of HIV into other health services focuses on adults; however promising practices for children are emerging. These include the Double Dividend (DD) framework, a new programming approach with dual goal of improving paediatric HIV care and child survival. In this commentary, the authors discuss why integrating HIV testing, treatment and care into child survival platforms is important, as well as its potential to advance progress towards global targets that call for, by 2020, 90% of children living with HIV to know their status, 90% of those diagnosed to be on treatment and 90% of those on treatment to be virally suppressed (90-90-90). ⋯ Integration provides an important programmatic pathway for accelerated progress towards the 90-90-90 targets. Despite this encouraging information, there are still challenges to be addressed in order to maximize the benefits of integration.
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After the initial approval of the use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2012 for anti-HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), uptake was initially limited, but more recent community surveys and expert opinion suggest wider acceptance in some key populations. ⋯ PrEP implementation in the United States is a work in progress, with increasing awareness and uptake among some individuals in key populations.
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Comparative Study
Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction among HIV-positive patients with early syphilis: azithromycin versus benzathine penicillin G therapy.
The Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, a febrile inflammatory reaction that often occurs after the first dose of chemotherapy in spirochetal diseases, may result in deleterious effects to patients with neurosyphilis and to pregnant women. A single 2-g oral dose of azithromycin is an alternative treatment to benzathine penicillin G for early syphilis in areas with low macrolide resistance. With its potential anti-inflammatory activity, the impact of azithromycin on the incidence of the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction in HIV-positive patients with early syphilis has rarely been investigated. ⋯ Treatment with azithromycin was associated with a lower risk for the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction than that with benzathine penicillin G in HIV-positive patients with early syphilis. Previous benzathine penicillin G therapy for syphilis decreased the risk, whereas higher RPR titres increased the risk, for the reaction.
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BMS-663068 is a prodrug of BMS-626529, an attachment inhibitor that binds directly to HIV-1 gp120, preventing initial viral attachment and entry into the host CD4+ T-cell. AI438011 is a Phase IIb, randomized, active-controlled trial investigating the safety, efficacy and dose-response of BMS-663068 versus atazanavir/ritonavir (ATV/r) in treatment-experienced (TE), HIV-1-positive subjects. ⋯ Virologic response rates were similar across the BMS-663068 and ATV/r arms in TE subjects, regardless of BL demographic characteristics (gender, race, age), BL HIV-1 RNA, or BL CD4+ T-cell count. Mean increases in CD4+ T-cell counts across the BMS-663068 arms were consistent with ATV/r, regardless of gender, age and BL CD4+ T-cell count. These results support continued development of BMS-663068. Note: Previously submitted at IDWeek, Philadelphia, PA, 8 October 2014.