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Biomedical subjects

C Child

Publications and source records attributed to C Child.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Quality of life in HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy is related to adherence.

This study assesses changes in quality of life (QoL) over time among HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) and evaluates how this relates to ARTadherence. Prospective, longitudinal data were examined from 1050 participants in two large, randomized, multi-centre antiretroviral clinical trials. QoL was assessed by the SF-12; adherence by the Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS Antiretroviral Medication Self-report. Participants included 20% women, 53% African Americans, 16% Latinos; mean age was 39 years; mean baseline CD4+ cell count 230 cells/mm3; 89% were ART-naïve at entry. Baseline physical and mental health summary QoL scores were 45.4 and 42.9, comparable to scores reported in other advanced HIV populations. Significant improvements in mean QoL scores were seen for the group as a whole after 1 to 4 months on new ART regimens, and persisted for 12 months. Participants reporting 100% ART adherence achieved significantly higher QoL scores at 12 months compared to those with poorer adherence, particularly if 100% adherence was consistent (p < 0.001). Those with at least 80% ART adherence had smaller gains in QoL at 12 months when compared to baseline, while those with < 80% adherence had worsening of QoL. In this analysis, ART adherence was associated with improved QoL, particularly if adherence was sustained.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Use of a chinese herbal medicine for treatment of hiv-associated pathogen-negative diarrhea.

Background: Diarrhea is a frequent problem among persons with advanced HIV disease. In the absence of treatable pathogens, symptomatic relief is all that is available for current therapy. As a result, many patients with HIV and chronic diarrhea have turned to herbal formulas for treatment. We assessed the effectiveness and safety of a Chinese herbal formulation (Source Qi) in reducing the number of stools per day related to HIV-associated, pathogen-negative diarrhea. Methods: Sixteen male patients received treatment with Source Qi in an 8-week, open-label study. Patients tested negative for cryptosporidium and other gastrointestinal pathogens, and had chronic diarrhea, defined as having three or more loose stools/day for >/=14 days (and no other treatable causes for diarrhea). Measurements of diarrhea included numbers of bowel movements/day, abnormal bowel movements/day, and liquid bowel movements/day. Subjects completed daily stool diaries an average of 2 weeks before and up to 8 weeks after starting Source Qi. Paired Wilcoxon tests compared the last week before treatment with each week of treatment. Results: There was a reduction in average number of stools/day in each week of treatment (-0.2 to -0.8), except week 1 (+0.1), with improvements in weeks 2-6 approaching or reaching statistical significance. Conclusions: A modest but sustained decrease in average number of stools/day was observed in patients with HIV-associated, pathogen-negative diarrhea. The entry criteria, 2-week run-in period, lack of benefit in week 1, and sustained benefit thereafter all suggest that the improvement was not due to bias.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Continuous low-dose interferon-alpha therapy for HIV-related immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

Our objective was to examine the efficacy and toxicity of continuous, low-dose interferon-alpha therapy for human immunodeficiency virus-related immune thrombocytopenic purpura (HIV-ITP) in a Phase II clinical trial overseen by a community-based consortium of physicians conducting clinical trials in HIV-related diseases. Sixteen patients with HIV-ITP defined by prospective clinical criteria were enrolled; the majority had failed other therapies for HIV-ITP. Baseline and serial measurements were made of platelet counts, complete blood counts, serum chemistries, platelet-associated immunoglobulin, and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts; subjective symptoms and bleeding were recorded. Three million units of interferon-alpha 2b were self-administered by subcutaneous injection every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for 16 weeks. Thirteen participants were evaluable for response. One obtained a complete response, eight had partial responses, and four had no response to interferon-alpha therapy. The mean absolute platelet count of the group rose from 15.5 x 10(9)/L at baseline to 47.3 x 10(9)/L at 2 weeks and remained in this range for the duration of the study. CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and serum chemistries did not change significantly during therapy. Ability to detect platelet-associated immunoglobulin did not change in a predictable manner in relation to platelet count response. Hematologic toxicity was limited to one episode of granulocytopenia, which resolved after a lowering of zidovudine dosage. Subjective toxicities were mild and tolerable, and minor bleeding problems improved in all participants so affected. Low-dose, continuous therapy with interferon-alpha resulted in meaningful increases in the platelet counts of the majority of study participants with HIV-ITP. Interferon-alpha was safe and tolerable for most participants with HIV-ITP at the dosage and schedule employed in this study. Interferon-alpha for clinically significant thrombocytopenia and who have failed to respond to zidovudine.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Primary prophylaxis with pyrimethamine for toxoplasmic encephalitis in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus disease: results of a randomized trial. Terry Beirn Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS.

Pyrimethamine, 25 mg thrice weekly, was evaluated as primary prophylaxis for toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) in a double-blind, randomized clinical trial in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, absolute CD4 lymphocyte count of < 200/microL (or prior AIDS-defining opportunistic infection), and the presence of serum IgG to Toxoplasma gondii. Leucovorin was coadministered only for hematologic toxicity. There was a significantly higher death rate among patients receiving pyrimethamine (relative risk [RR], 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3-4.8; P = .006), even after adjusting for factors predictive of survival. The TE event rate was low in both treatment groups (not significant). Only 1 of 218 patients taking trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole but 7 of 117 taking aerosolized pentamidine for prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia developed TE (adjusted RR for the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.01-1.79; P = .14). Thus, for HIV-infected patients receiving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, additional prophylaxis for TE appears unnecessary.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1992

Toxicity of clindamycin as prophylaxis for AIDS-associated toxoplasmic encephalitis. Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was set up to compare clindamycin and pyrimethamine as prophylaxis for toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) in HIV-infected patients at risk of the disorder. Interim analysis showed that clindamycin-treated patients were 4.4 (95% confidence interval 1.3-15.2) times more likely to experience an adverse effect that necessitated withdrawal of the study drug than those who received placebo. Diarrhoea and rash were reported in 16 (31%) and 11 (21%), respectively, of 52 patients treated with clindamycin (300 mg twice daily) compared with 2 (6%; p = 0.06) and none (p = 0.01) of the 32 placebo-treated patients. The clindamycin arm of the trial was prematurely terminated, although recruitment to the pyrimethamine arm continues.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Clinical programs for clinical research on AIDS: description of a randomized prospective study of clindamycin versus pyrimethamine for prevention of Toxoplasma gondii infection.

The risk of toxoplasmic encephalitis complicating AIDS appears largely limited to those HIV-infected patients with serologic evidence of past Toxoplasma gondii infection and low CD4 lymphocyte counts. The Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS has initiated a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to determine if clindamycin or pyrimethamine prophylactic regimens are effective and safe in preventing toxoplasmic encephalitis.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1976

Changes in serum thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and thyrotropin induced by lithium in normal subjects and in rats.

Serum thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyrotropin (TSH) were measured in 4 normal subjects before, during, and 2 wk after administration of lithium carbonate (1,200 mg/day) for 6 wk. All subjects developed thyroid enlargement associated with increase in TSH. Serum T3 and T4 did not change significantly. In 3 hypothyroid maintained on thyroxine replacement, lithium administration did not alter circulating levels of T4 or T3, suggesting no effect of lithium on the extrathyroidal metabolism of the thyroid hormones. In rats fed a low iodine diet containing 122 mg/kg/day lithium carbonate, goiter, increased 131I uptake, and a decrease in intrathyroidal T3 and T4 with an increase in MIT, DIT, and MIT/DIT were observed at 3 wk. Serum T3 fell significantly only during the third week, while T4 did not change. Thyroid enlargement, secondary to a rise in TSH, appears to play a role in the adaptation of the thyroid gland to lithium carbonate. The exact mechanism for the elevation of TSH has not been elucidated.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Effects of aspirin on gastric prostaglandin E (PGE) and acid output in normal subjects.

Aspirin administration to normal subjects resulted in a reduction in gastric prostaglandin E (PGE) output. Both PGE concentration and gastric juice volume were decreased. Gastric acid output also decreased, although the difference was not statistically significant. An increased sensitivity of the PGE system to inhibition by aspirin at 11 p.m., midnight, and 1am was observed.

Adult↗