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ABSTRACT: To define the incidence of fibrosis progression among hepatitis C virus (HCV)/HIV-co-infected adults, to assess whether HCV or HIV treatment alters the risk of progression, and to determine the utility of liver biopsy to predict future disease.
This prospective cohort evaluated 184 HIV/HCV-co-infected individuals who had at least two liver biopsies (median interval 2.9 years).
Biopsies were scored according to the Ishak modified histological activity index scoring system by a single pathologist blind to biopsy sequence. Significant fibrosis progression was defined as an increase of at least two Ishak fibrosis units between the first and second liver biopsy. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess determinants of fibrosis progression.
A total of 174 non-cirrhotic patients were eligible; the majority were African-American men undergoing HIV treatment. On initial biopsy, no or minimal fibrosis was identified in 136 patients (77%). Significant fibrosis progression occurred in 41 patients (24%). Measures of HIV disease and its treatment before and after initial biopsy were not significantly different in progressors and non-progressors. Fibrosis progression was not associated with HCV treatment, which was received by 37 patients (21%) but only three sustained HCV-RNA suppression. In adjusted analysis, only an elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase level between biopsies was associated with progression (odd ratio 3.4, 95% confidence interval 1.4-7.9).
Over a 3-year interval, significant fibrosis progression can occur in co-infected individuals even if minimal disease was detected on initial biopsy. In this context, factors other than treatment for HIV or HCV modify the risk of fibrosis progression.
AIDS 11/2007; 21(16):2209-16. · 6.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The ability of medical residents training at U.S. urban medical centers to diagnose and manage tuberculosis cases has important public health implications. We assessed medical resident knowledge about tuberculosis diagnosis and early management based on American Thoracic Society guidelines.
A 20-question tuberculosis knowledge survey was administered to 131 medical residents during a single routinely scheduled teaching conference at four different urban medical centers in Baltimore and Philadelphia. Survey questions were divided into 5 different subject categories. Data was collected pertaining to institution, year of residency training, and self-reported number of patients managed for tuberculosis within the previous year. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to detect differences in median percent of questions answered correctly based on these variables.
The median percent of survey questions answered correctly for all participating residents was 55%. Medical resident knowledge about tuberculosis did not improve with increasing post-graduate year of training or greater number of patients managed for tuberculosis within the previous year. Common areas of knowledge deficiency included the diagnosis and management of latent tuberculosis infection (median percent correct, 40.7%), as well as the interpretation of negative acid-fast sputum smear samples.
Many medical residents lack adequate knowledge of recommended guidelines for the management of tuberculosis. Since experience during training influences future practice patterns, education of medical residents on guidelines for detection and early management of tuberculosis may be important for future improvements in national tuberculosis control strategies.
BMC Infectious Diseases 02/2007; 7:89. · 3.12 Impact Factor
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Kathleen R Page,
Frangiscos Sifakis, Ruben Montes de Oca,
Wendy A Cronin,
Meg C Doherty,
Lynn Federline,
Sarah Bur,
Thomas Walsh,
Walter Karney,
James Milman,
Nancy Baruch,
Akintoye Adelakun,
Susan E Dorman
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ABSTRACT: Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is an important aspect of tuberculosis control in the United States, but the effectiveness of this strategy is compromised by poor adherence to the recommended 9-month isoniazid regimen. In this study, we compared treatment completion and clinically recognized adverse drug reactions in patients prescribed 9 months of isoniazid therapy or 4 months of rifampin therapy for LTBI.
Retrospective chart review of patients who received LTBI treatment at a public health clinic.
A total of 770 patients were prescribed 9 months of isoniazid therapy, and 1379 patients were prescribed 4 months of rifampin therapy. The percentages of patients who completed 80% or more of their prescribed treatment were 52.6% and 71.6% in the isoniazid and rifampin groups, respectively (P<.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, treatment regimen was independently associated with treatment completion (adjusted odds ratio for treatment completion, 2.88 for rifampin group vs isoniazid group; 95% confidence interval, 2.27-3.66). Clinically recognized adverse reactions resulting in permanent treatment discontinuation occurred in 4.6% and 1.9% of patients in the isoniazid and rifampin groups, respectively (P<.001). Clinically recognized hepatotoxicity was more common in the isoniazid group (1.8%) than in the rifampin group (0.08%, P<.001).
Compared with a 9-month isoniazid regimen, a 4-month rifampin regimen was associated with a higher percentage of patients completing treatment and a lower percentage of patients with clinically recognized adverse reactions. Additional studies are warranted to determine efficacy and effectiveness of rifampin therapy for LTBI.
Archives of Internal Medicine 09/2006; 166(17):1863-70. · 11.46 Impact Factor
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Margaret A McDowell,
Charles F Dillon,
John Osterloh,
P Michael Bolger,
Edo Pellizzari,
Reshan Fernando, Ruben Montes de Oca,
Susan E Schober,
Thomas Sinks,
Robert L Jones,
Kathryn R Mahaffey
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ABSTRACT: Exposure to methyl mercury, a risk factor for neurodevelopmental toxicity, was assessed in U.S. children 1-5 years of age (n = 838) and women 16-49 years of age (n = 1,726) using hair mercury analysis during the 1999-2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The data are nationally representative and are based on analysis of cross-sectional data for the noninstitutionalized, U.S. household population. The survey consisted of interviews conducted in participants' homes and standardized health examinations conducted in mobile examination centers. Distributions of total hair mercury levels expressed as micrograms per gram hair Hg and the association of hair Hg levels with sociodemographic characteristics and fish consumption are reported. Geometric mean (standard error of the geometric mean) hair mercury was 0.12 microg/g (0.01 microg/g) in children, and 0.20 microg/g (0.02 microg/g) in women. Among frequent fish consumers, geometric mean hair mercury levels were 3-fold higher for women (0.38 vs. 0.11 micro g/g) and 2-fold higher for children (0.16 vs. 0.08 microg/g) compared with nonconsumers. The NHANES 1999-2000 data provide population-based data on hair mercury concentrations for women and children in the United States. Hair mercury levels were associated with age and fish consumption frequency.
Environmental Health Perspectives 09/2004; 112(11):1165-71. · 7.04 Impact Factor
