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Biomedical subjects

Kayvon Modjarrad

Publications and source records attributed to Kayvon Modjarrad.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme a reductase inhibitors and the presence of age-related macular degeneration in the Cardiovascular Health Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate both the use of cholesterol-lowering medications as a group and the use of statins specifically with regard to the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: A case-control study was conducted using data from the Cardiovascular Health Study, a population-based prospective study of adults enrolled from 4 communities in the United States in 1989 and 1990. Individuals with AMD (cases) and those without AMD (controls) were compared with regard to their use of cholesterol-lowering medications and statins. RESULTS: Nearly equal proportions of cases and controls used cholesterol-lowering medications, both before adjustment (odds ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.70-1.21) and after adjustment for selected confounding variables (age, sex, and race) (odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-1.87). Statin use was also found to be similar among cases and controls (odds ratio, 0.98; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-1.30). After controlling for the aforementioned 3 confounders (odds ratio, 1.40; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-1.98), we noted a modest trend for statin users to have an increased risk of AMD. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that no association exists between having used cholesterol-lowering medications and AMD. However, there was a suggestion that statin use might increase the risk of AMD.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Effect of cataract surgery on falls and mobility in independently living older adults.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of cataract surgery on the occurrence of falls and mobility and balance problems in older adults with cataract. DESIGN: Longitudinal follow-up study. SETTING: Clinical Research Unit, University of Alabama at Birmingham. PARTICIPANTS: Persons aged 55 and older with a cataract were recruited from 12 eye clinics in Alabama from October 1994 through March 1996. Participants were classified into two groups: those who had cataract surgery (surgery group, n=122) and those who had not (no-surgery group, n=92). MEASUREMENTS: At baseline and 1-year follow-up visits, information on the occurrence of falls and mobility and balance problems was collected based on subjects' recall of events during the prior 12 months. RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic, behavioral, medical, and visual characteristics, there was no difference between the two groups in the likelihood of falling (risk ratio (RR)=0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.64-1.42) or in having mobility (RR=0.81, 95% CI=0.55-1.18) or balance difficulties (RR=0.71, 95% CI=0.37-1.39). CONCLUSION: Cataract surgery had no association with the occurrence of falls or mobility or balance problems in independently living older adults with a cataract.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed2005

Treatment of intestinal helminths does not reduce plasma concentrations of HIV-1 RNA in coinfected Zambian adults.

BACKGROUND: Infection with intestinal helminths may stimulate dysfunctional immune responses in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. Studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the impact of antihelminthic treatment on plasma concentrations of HIV-1 RNA.Methods. We conducted a prospective study of 54 HIV-1- and helminth-coinfected and 57 HIV-1-infected, helminth-uninfected asymptomatic adults living in Lusaka, Zambia, to assess the impact of antihelminthic treatment on plasma concentrations of HIV-1 RNA. RESULTS: Median baseline viral load was 0.33 log(10) copies/mL lower in the helminth-infected group than in the uninfected group. Mean viral load between pretreatment and posttreatment visits increased in the helminth-infected (mean, 4.23 vs. 4.29 log(10) copies/mL; P=.6) and helminth-uninfected (mean, 4.39 vs. 4.52 log(10) copies/mL; P=.2) groups. Helminth-infected participants with high pretreatment viral loads had a mean 0.25-log(10) copies/mL decrease after treatment (P=.3), and helminth-uninfected participants had a mean 0.02-log(10) copies/mL decrease (P=.8). CONCLUSIONS: We did not find an overall association between treatment of intestinal helminth infections and reduction in viral load in coinfected adults. Future studies may need to focus on adults with intense helminth infections who live in rural areas or on adults or children who harbor higher helminth burdens and plasma concentrations of HIV-1 RNA.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Predictors of HIV serostatus among HIV discordant couples in Lusaka, Zambia and female antenatal clinic attendants in Kigali, Rwanda.

Clinical manifestations of HIV disease in Africa are nonspecific and easily confused with other endemic diseases. Several studies have compared the prevalence of HIV-related signs and symptoms in infected versus uninfected populations, but little is known about differences in HIV disease manifestations between African men and women across geographic areas. We conducted a cross-sectional study to define predictors of HIV status and assess their differences by gender and country in two African cohorts: 1351 heterosexual couples recruited from a voluntary HIV counseling and testing center in Lusaka, Zambia, and 1458 women recruited from antenatal and pediatric clinics in Kigali, Rwanda. HIV-positive Zambian men and women differed most with respect to prevalence of wasting syndrome (48.1% vs. 35.5%, p < 0.01). Zambian women were more likely to have a disseminated adenopathy than Rwandan women (33.2% vs. 7.8%, p < 0.01) and had a much higher median erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) than either of the two other groups (78 mm/hr vs. 47 mm/hr, p < 0.01). Multivariable logistic regression modeling showed a history of tuberculosis [odds ratio (OR): 2.8-20.7], adenopathy on examination (OR: 4.0-6.3), and an ESR of >65 mm/hr (OR: 3.1-5.9) to be strongly predictive of HIV status in all groups. These screening tools, though highly predictive of HIV infection, were insensitive, as most infected persons were asymptomatic. Given these differences in HIV disease manifestation, screening tools based on signs and symptoms should be adapted accordingly. Additional studies are required to evaluate clinical markers as predictors of HIV disease progression and adjust them according to regional and gender differences.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence and predictors of intestinal helminth infections among human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected adults in an urban African setting.

Sub-Saharan Africa is disproportionately burdened by intestinal helminth and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection. Recent evidence suggests detrimental immunologic effects from concomitant infection with the two pathogens. Few studies, however, have assessed the prevalence of and predictors for intestinal helminth infection among HIV-1-infected adults in urban African settings where HIV infection rates are highest. We collected and analyzed sociodemographic and parasitologic data from 297 HIV-1-infected adults (mean age = 31.1 years, 69% female) living in Lusaka, Zambia to assess the prevalence and associated predictors of helminth infection. We found at least one type of intestinal helminth in 24.9% of HIV-infected adults. Thirty-nine (52.7%) were infected with Ascaris lumbricoides, and 29 (39.2%) were infected with hookworm. More than 80% were light-intensity infections. A recent visit to a rural area, food shortage, and prior history of helminth infection were significant predictors of current helminth status. The high helminth prevalence and potential for adverse interactions between helminths and HIV suggests that helminth diagnosis and treatment should be part of routine HIV care.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗