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BMC Medical Imaging Oct 2022Establish a CT-based diagnostic radiomic model for AIDS complicated with pulmonary cryptococcosis and evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of this model. (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Establish a CT-based diagnostic radiomic model for AIDS complicated with pulmonary cryptococcosis and evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of this model.
METHODS
This retrospective study enrolled 98 AIDS patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis and 103 AIDS patients with other infections or neoplastic lesions, comprising a total of 699 lesions. Patients were randomly divided into a training group and test group at a ratio of 2.75:1. Features from all lesions, cavity lesions and solid nodule lesions were extracted, and two kinds of radiomic models (6 types) were established. ROC curves were drawn, and the sensitivity and specificity were calculated to compare the SVM model and LR model, radiologists' empirical diagnoses and the combination of these empirical diagnoses with the radiomic model.
RESULTS
The AUCs of senior radiologist for all lesions and cavity lesions were lower than those of the SVM and LR models. The diagnostic efficacy of primary radiologist was lower than that of both of the other model types. The diagnostic efficacy of the LR model was relatively stable, with the highest diagnostic efficiency of the 3 model/radiologist groups. The AUCs of intermediate radiologist in combination with the LR radiomic model for all lesions, nodular lesions and cavity lesions were 0.88, 0.84, and 0.9, respectively, which were the highest among all models and radiologists.
CONCLUSIONS
The CT-based radiomic LR model of AIDS-associated pulmonary cryptococcosis exhibits good diagnostic performance, which was similar to that of senior radiologists and higher than that of the primary radiologist. With the help of a radiomic model, radiologists can achieve improved diagnostic accuracy compared to that when only an empirical diagnosis is used.
Topics: Humans; Retrospective Studies; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; ROC Curve; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Cryptococcosis
PubMed: 36309647
DOI: 10.1186/s12880-022-00910-6 -
Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering Aug 2020The development of nanoparticle-based drugs has provided many opportunities to diagnose, treat and cure challenging diseases. Through the manipulation of size,... (Review)
Review
The development of nanoparticle-based drugs has provided many opportunities to diagnose, treat and cure challenging diseases. Through the manipulation of size, morphology, surface modification, surface characteristics, and materials used, a variety of nanostructures can be developed into smart systems, encasing therapeutic and imaging agents with stealth properties. These nanostructures can deliver drugs to specific tissues or sites and provide controlled release therapy. This targeted and sustained drug delivery decreases the drug-related toxicity and increases the patient's compliance with less frequent dosing. Nanotechnology employing nanostructures as a tool has provided advances in the diagnostic testing of diseases and cure. This technology has proven beneficial in the treatment of cancer, AIDS, and many other diseases. This review article highlights the recent advances in nanostructures and nanotechnology for drug delivery, nanomedicine and cures.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Delayed-Action Preparations; Drug Carriers; Humans; Nanomedicine; Nanostructures; Neoplasms
PubMed: 32193755
DOI: 10.1007/s00449-020-02330-8 -
Medical Hypotheses Apr 2020AIDS is an infectious disease that kills over a million people per year. Very recently, Dash et al have for the first time reached the functional cure in HIV-infected...
AIDS is an infectious disease that kills over a million people per year. Very recently, Dash et al have for the first time reached the functional cure in HIV-infected humanized mice using CRISPR-Cas9 in combination with LASER ART, and this with a success of one third. Here, I use a theoretical approach to design a therapeutic strategy applicable to humans and different from that of Dash et al. The experimental treatment presented here includes the injection of an Env-directed integrase-defective CRISPR gene-editing lentiviral vector able to express quintuplex gRNAs plus the humanized SpCas9 and the puromycin resistance gene linked by T2A, preceded by a plasma/leukapheresis and the injection of an immunosuppressive cocktail, and followed by an in vivo positive selection. My protocol could have a major impact on HIV-infected people in the event of confirmation by a clinical trial, and it is possible that it becomes a reference treatment against AIDS, although, for the moment, it is only at the stage of hypothesis and theory.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Animals; CRISPR-Cas Systems; Gene Editing; Humans; Mice; RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems
PubMed: 31952017
DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109569 -
PloS One 2022To control the HIV/AIDS epidemics in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China, Guangxi government launched the 5-year Guangxi AIDS Conquering Project (GACP, Phase I:...
To control the HIV/AIDS epidemics in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China, Guangxi government launched the 5-year Guangxi AIDS Conquering Project (GACP, Phase I: 2010-2014, Phase II: 2015-2020). In the project, three measures are implemented, such as great improvements of the coverage of HIV/AIDS education, promotion of HIV voluntary counseling and testing, and enhancement of antiretroviral treatment. In this paper, we explore the effects of the three measures of GACP by construction of a Susceptible-Infected-Diagnosed-Treated population compartments model and via evaluation of the basic reproduction number derived from the model. A computational framework is developed for estimating the model parameters based on the HIV surveillance data, with application of the Markov-Chain Monte-Carlo method and Nonlinear Least Squares method. By estimating the new infections and evaluating the basic reproduction number, we find that the implementation of the three measures of GACP has a significant effect on controlling the rise of HIV/AIDS cases and the epidemic trend. Compared with HIV voluntary counseling and testing, strengthening HIV/AIDS education and expanding the coverage of antiretroviral treatment show a greater impact on HIV/AIDS epidemic control, which provides a reference project for other provinces with a similar epidemic situation in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. At the same time, our research fills the current research gap for the evaluation of large-scale AIDS prevention and control projects in developing areas.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Basic Reproduction Number; China; Epidemics; Ethnicity; Humans
PubMed: 35776707
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270525 -
HIV Medicine May 2023We report on the highlights ofthe 24th International AIDS Conference, held in Montreal in 2022. We address three main themes: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) targets...
We report on the highlights ofthe 24th International AIDS Conference, held in Montreal in 2022. We address three main themes: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) targets and cascades, HIV and sexually transmitted infection prophylaxis, and HIV treatment, including the use of antiretroviral therapy in pregnancy.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; HIV Infections; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; HIV; Anti-HIV Agents; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
PubMed: 36349523
DOI: 10.1111/hiv.13438 -
Viruses Aug 2021In 2021, we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the identification of the disease AIDS, the acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a name that for the first time in...
In 2021, we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the identification of the disease AIDS, the acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a name that for the first time in history was launched in 1981 [...].
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Anti-HIV Agents; Drug Discovery; HIV; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Suramin
PubMed: 34452510
DOI: 10.3390/v13081646 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Aug 2021
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Anti-HIV Agents; Humans; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
PubMed: 34379927
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMe2110665 -
SAHARA J : Journal of Social Aspects of... Dec 2020Sub-Saharan Africa faces and is severely affected by many conflicts. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) threaten both the...
Sub-Saharan Africa faces and is severely affected by many conflicts. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) threaten both the physical and financial well-being of individuals in these struggling countries. This research aims to investigate the immigrants' attitudes and beliefs regarding HIV/AIDS in the Mopani district, Limpopo Province. Qualitative and quantitative designs were used, and 200 immigrants were sampled. Data was collected using a questionnaire with closed and open-ended questions. Ethical standards were maintained. The study revealed that many respondents expressed discriminatory practices towards individuals infected by HIV. Many viewed promiscuity and the disease called Makhume (meaning illness caused by the omission of purification rites following the death of a family member) as causes of HIV/AIDS. These attitudes could hinder the achievement of healthy lives and the promotion of well-being at all ages if not addressed appropriately. The collaboration of various departments in the Mopani district is required to change these negative attitudes and beliefs that influence immigrants' behaviours. Also, the use of audio-visuals and peer teaching is most successful in changing attitudes and beliefs.
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Adult; Emigrants and Immigrants; Female; HIV Infections; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Social Stigma; South Africa; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
PubMed: 33172338
DOI: 10.1080/17290376.2020.1831582 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2022Currently, it is estimated that 37.6 million people are living with the HIV/AIDS virus worldwide, placing HIV/AIDS among the ten leading causes of death, mostly among... (Review)
Review
Currently, it is estimated that 37.6 million people are living with the HIV/AIDS virus worldwide, placing HIV/AIDS among the ten leading causes of death, mostly among low- and lower-middle-income countries. Despite the effective intervention in the prevention and treatment, this reduction did not occur equally among populations, subpopulations and geographic regions. This difference in the occurrence of the disease is associated with the social determinants of health (SDH), which could affect the transmission and maintenance of HIV. With the recognition of the importance of SDH in HIV transmission, the development of mathematical models that incorporate these determinants could increase the accuracy and robustness of the modeling. This article aims to propose a theoretical and conceptual way of including SDH in the mathematical modeling of HIV/AIDS. The theoretical mathematical model with the Social Determinants of Health has been developed in stages. For the selection of SDH that were incorporated into the model, a narrative literature review was conducted. Secondly, we proposed an extended model in which the population (N) is divided into Susceptible (S), HIV-positive (I), Individual with AIDS (A) and individual under treatment (T). Each SDH had a different approach to embedding in the model. We performed a calibration and validation of the model. A total of 31 SDH were obtained in the review, divided into four groups: Individual Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Social Participation, and Health Services. In the end, four determinants were selected for incorporation into the model: Education, Poverty, Use of Drugs and Alcohol abuse, and Condoms Use. the section "Numerical simulation" to simulate the influence of the poverty rate on the AIDS incidence and mortality rates. We used a Brazilian dataset of new AIDS cases and deaths, which is publicly available. We calibrated the model using a multiobjective genetic algorithm for the years 2003 to 2019. To forecast from 2020 to 2035, we assumed two lines of poverty rate representing (i) a scenario of increasing and (ii) a scenario of decreasing. To avoid overfitting, we fixed some parameters and estimated the remaining. The equations presented with the chosen SDH exemplify some approaches that we can adopt when thinking about modeling social effects on the occurrence of HIV. The model was able to capture the influence of the employment/poverty on the HIV/AIDS incidence and mortality rates, evidencing the importance of SDOH in the occurrence of diseases. The recognition of the importance of including the SDH in the modeling and studies on HIV/AIDS is evident, due to its complexity and multicausality. Models that do not take into account in their structure, will probably miss a great part of the real trends, especially in periods, as the current on, of economic crisis and strong socioeconomic changes.
Topics: Humans; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; Social Determinants of Health; Brazil; Poverty; Models, Theoretical
PubMed: 36446878
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24459-0 -
The Lancet. HIV Jun 2021
Topics: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; HIV Infections; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; Perception; Social Stigma
PubMed: 34087091
DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3018(21)00104-1