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L Marum

Publications and source records attributed to L Marum.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

Declines in HIV prevalence can be associated with changing sexual behaviour in Uganda, urban Kenya, Zimbabwe, and urban Haiti.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether observed changes in HIV prevalence in countries with generalised HIV epidemics are associated with changes in sexual risk behaviour. METHODS: A mathematical model was developed to explore the relation between prevalence recorded at antenatal clinics (ANCs) and the pattern of incidence of infection throughout the population. To create a null model a range of assumptions about sexual behaviour, natural history of infection, and sampling biases in ANC populations were explored to determine which factors maximised declines in prevalence in the absence of behaviour change. Modelled prevalence, where possible based on locally collected behavioural data, was compared with the observed prevalence data in urban Haiti, urban Kenya, urban Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Uganda, and urban Ethiopia. RESULTS: Recent downturns in prevalence observed in urban Kenya, Zimbabwe, and urban Haiti, like Uganda before them, could only be replicated in the model through reductions in risk associated with changes in behaviour. In contrast, prevalence trends in urban Cote d'Ivoire, Malawi, urban Ethiopia, and Rwanda show no signs of changed sexual behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in patterns of HIV prevalence in urban Kenya, Zimbabwe, and urban Haiti are quite recent and caution is required because of doubts over the accuracy and representativeness of these estimates. Nonetheless, the observed changes are consistent with behaviour change and not the natural course of the HIV epidemic.

Adolescent↗

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of Ugandan infants with HIV infection: an application of growth curve analysis.

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV-1)-infected infants of non-drug-using mothers were assessed in a controlled, prospective study from birth to 24 months with 3 groups: 61 infants of HIV-infected mothers, 234 uninfected infants of HIV-infected mothers (seroreverters), and 115 uninfected infants of uninfected mothers. Compared with seroreverters and uninfected infants, HIV-infected infants demonstrated lower mental and motor development on the Bayley Scales and greater deceleration in their rate of motor development. HIV-infected infants with abnormal neurologic exams had lower motor and mental test scores and lower rates of motor Bayley Scales scores than their HIV-infected counterparts with normal neurologic exams. Contrary to prediction, no group differences in mean performance or growth rates were found on visual information processing on the Fagan Test of Infant Intelligence.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Effects of malaria infection in human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected Ugandan children.

BACKGROUND: Malaria causes severe morbidity and mortality in many areas of Africa where HIV-1 infection is also prevalent. Immunosuppression is associated with both diseases but most reports do not find significant interactions between them. METHODS: A collaborative study of HIV-1 infection in Ugandan women and their infants was established between the Ministry of Health, Makerere University, Kampala, and Case Western Reserve University in 1988. Four hundred fifty-eight infants, including 77 HIV-1-infected, 232 seroreverter and 125 control children born to HIV-1-negative mothers and 24 of indeterminate status were followed closely from birth for 4 years. Data on these infants were reviewed with respect to episodes of general illness and infections, suspected and confirmed episodes of malaria, onset and frequency of malaria, use of chloroquine and occurrence of selected illnesses after episodes of febrile illnesses. Thick and thin blood smears for malaria were obtained from children with fever. RESULTS: There was no association between occurrence of febrile illnesses and childrens' HIV-1 category. The relative rates of occurrence were 1.0 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.8 to 1.2) and 1.1 (95% CI 0.9 to 1.4) for the HIV seroreverter and control children compared with the HIV-infected children. Although there was no association (P = 0.83) between HIV-1 status and a smear being taken during a febrile episode, there was an increase in smears positive for malaria parasitemia among seroreverter (risk ratio, 1.5; 95% CI 1.1 to 1.9) and control infants (risk ratio, 1.6; 95% CI 1.2 to 2.2) compared with HIV-1-infected infants. The level of parasitemia was similar in each group. A greater proportion of malaria episodes among the HIV-infected group than among the control groups resulted in hospitalizations (P = 0.001) and blood transfusions (P = 0.02). There was a positive association between time to clinical AIDS and absence of malaria (adjusted for follow-up age) in infected children (P = 0.02). Use of chloroquine was similarly high in each HIV-1 category (80%). CONCLUSIONS: In this group of HIV-infected children there was no significant increase in malarial episodes as compared with their HIV-negative controls. The results suggest a possibility that malaria may offer some protection against HIV-1 progression or that chloroquine used to treat malaria may have a direct effect against the HIV-1 virus.

Age of Onset↗

Neurodevelopmental outcomes of Ugandan infants with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

BACKGROUND: The neurodevelopmental outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected Ugandan infants of nondrug-using mothers were studied using controlled, prospective methodology. METHOD: The sample of 436 full-term infants included 79 HIV-infected infants of HIV-1-infected mothers, 241 uninfected infants of HIV-1-infected mothers (seroreverters), and 116 uninfected infants born to HIV-negative mothers. Neurologic status, information processing ability, and motor and mental development were assessed from 6 to 24 months of age. Observations of caretaker-child interaction and home environments were made at 6 and 12 months. All evaluators were blinded to the HIV status of the child and family. RESULTS: Compared with seroreverters and uninfected infants, HIV-infected infants demonstrated greater deficits in motor development and neurologic status, and more frequent and earlier onset of motor and neurologic abnormalities. Compared with controls, HIV-infected infants had more abnormalities in mental development at 6 and 18 months and an earlier onset of abnormalities. By 12 months, 30% of HIV-infected infants demonstrated motor abnormalities and 26% cognitive abnormalities as compared with 11% and 6% among seroreverters and 5% and 6% among seronegative infants. HIV-infected infants (62%) demonstrated a higher probability of developing an abnormal neurologic examination by 12 months, compared with seroreverters (17%) or seronegative infants (15%). Information-processing abilities did not differ as a function of HIV infection. Home environments and infants' interactions with caretakers were similar across groups. CONCLUSION: We conclude that HIV infection results in more frequent and earlier abnormalities in infants' neurologic status and motor development that are not attributable to other biological and environmental risk factors. More frequent mental developmental abnormalities were evident at several ages. However, information-processing abilities, such as recognition memory, may be spared from HIV-related deficits.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Growth failure as a prognostic indicator of mortality in pediatric HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) on somatic growth and examine the relationship of nutritional status to mortality in HIV-infected infants. METHOD: Pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at Mulago hospital in Kampala, Uganda, were enrolled. All live-born babies born to HIV-1 seropositive (HIV+) women, and to every fourth age-matched HIV-1 seronegative (HIV-) woman, were followed for 25 months. RESULTS: The mean weight-for-age and length-for-age curves of HIV+ children were significantly lower than those of HIV- controls and seroeverters. Forty-five (54%) of the 84 HIV+ infants died before their second birthday, as compared with a 1.6% and 5.6% mortality in HIV- and seroeverters. HIV+ infants with an average weight-for-age Z-score below -1.5 in the first year of life have a nearly fivefold risk of dying before 25 months of age compared with noninfected controls. CONCLUSION: Perinatally acquired HIV infection is associated with early and progressive growth failure. The severity of growth failure is associated with an increased risk of mortality. The effect of early, aggressive nutritional intervention in delaying HIV progression and mortality should be evaluated by controlled intervention studies.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Maternal HIV-1 RNA serum levels at delivery and vertical transmission in Uganda.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical utility of maternal HIV-1 RNA serum levels at delivery in predicting the rate of HIV-1 vertical transmission. DESIGN AND METHODS: HIV-1 RNA levels were determined by the Roche Amplicor Monitor assay in serum specimens collected at the time of delivery from 94 transmitting and 107 nontransmitting infected mothers and 12 seronegative mothers in Uganda. Nonparametric Wilcoxon-Rank sum tests were used to identify significant differences in medians and RNA level distributions by transmission status. RESULTS: Mean HIV-1 RNA copies/mL for transmitters was 3419 +/- 7489 copies/mL versus 2483 +/- 8954 copies/mL for nontransmitters. There was a significant difference in medians and HIV-1 RNA serum level distributions between transmitting and nontransmitting mothers (p = 0.0039). However, the predictive value for any given HIV-1 RNA level for HIV-1 vertical transmission was poor. CONCLUSION: Maternal HIV-1 RNA serum levels at delivery are significantly higher in transmitting mothers versus nontransmitting mothers, but appear to be of limited value in predicting HIV-1 vertical transmission using the Roche Amplicor Monitor assay in Uganda.

Case-Control Studies↗

Detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) DNA and p24 antigen in breast milk of HIV-1-infected Ugandan women and vertical transmission.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between the detection of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in breast milk, the duration of breastfeeding, and vertical transmission of HIV-1 infection in Ugandan women. METHODS: A prospective study of HIV-1 infection in pregnant Ugandan women and their infants has been ongoing since 1990 with follow-up of mother-infant pairs for at least 2 years. Expressed breast milk specimens were collected from 201 HIV-1-seropositive and 86 HIV-1-seronegative Ugandan women approximately 6 weeks after delivery. The presence of HIV-1 DNA in the cellular fraction of the breast milk was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and HIV-1 p24 antigen was detected in the cell-free breast milk supernatant using p24 antigen enzyme immunoassay (EIA) after immune complex dissociation (ICD). The duration of breastfeeding and the clinical status of the mothers and their children were recorded. HIV-1 EIA, Western blot, PCR, or p24 antigen detection were used for the determination of the HIV-1 infection status of the children. RESULTS: Of the 201 HIV-1-infected women studied, 47 had HIV-1-infected children, 143 had children who seroreverted, and 11 had children of indeterminate status. Breast milk supernatants were available for ICD p24 antigen testing from 188 of the HIV-1-infected women and none had detectable p24 antigen. Breast milk cell pellets were available and contained amplifiable DNA in 125 of the HIV-1-infected women (20 transmitters, 104 nontransmitters, 1 indeterminate). HIV-1 DNA was detected by PCR in 72% (75/104) of nontransmitters and 80% (16/20) of the transmitters. The duration of breastfeeding by transmitter mothers (15.8 months) was not significantly different from nontransmitter mothers (14.4 months). CONCLUSIONS: No correlation was found between the detection of HIV-1 in breast milk or the duration of breastfeeding and transmission of HIV-1 infection in this study of Ugandan women.

Breast Feeding↗

Risk factors for malaria among expatriates living in Kampala, Uganda: the need for adherence to chemoprophylactic regimens.

This investigation was conducted in response to a report of an increased number of malaria cases among United States Embassy personnel in Kampala, Uganda in the spring of 1992. The objectives of the investigation were to determine if an outbreak had occurred, to identify potential risk factors for malaria in this population, and to assess the effectiveness of various chemoprophylactic regimens. The risk of developing malaria during the first half of 1992 was more than six times greater than during the same time period in 1991 (relative risk [RR] = 6.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.6-27.8) and almost seven times greater than all the previous six years combined (RR = 6.8, 95% CI = 2.9-15.9). In this outbreak, children and young adults less than 20 years of age had more than a three-fold increase in risk (RR = 3.7, 95% CI = 0.7-19.8) than those in the 20-39-year-old age group. African-Americans had a six-fold increased risk compared with Caucasians (RR = 6.0, 95% CI = 1.6-22.7). Those who did not take any drug prophylaxis were 10 times more likely to develop malaria (RR = 10.0, 95% CI = 2.7-37.0) than those who took mefloquine, doxycycline, or chloroquine plus proguanil. In this setting, weekly mefloquine was 82% more effective, and chloroquine plus proguanil was 92% more effective than weekly chloroquine alone. This outbreak underscores the need for compliance with appropriate chemoprophylactic regimens in preventing malaria infection.

Adolescent↗

Diagnosing HIV.

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AIDS Serodiagnosis↗

Lack of association between anti-V3 loop antibodies and perinatal transmission of HIV-1 in Kampala, Uganda.

This study evaluated the association between reactivity of maternal antibody to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) V3 loop peptides and perinatal transmission in Uganda. Plasma from 40 HIV-1-infected mothers (20 transmitting and 20 nontransmitting mothers) and 31 uninfected mothers in Uganda were tested for reactivity and antibody titer to synthetic peptides representing V3 loop sequences from HIV-1 strains MN, SF2, LAI, ZR6, and CM235 and consensus peptides CA, CB, and CD. No significant differences were found between 20 transmitting mothers and 20 nontransmitting mothers in terms of percent reactivity or titer of antibody to any of the V3 loop peptides tested. Use of a multivariable logistic model to adjust for beta-2 microglobulin level as a confounding variable of stage of infection did not help demonstrate an association except possibly for the ZR6 peptide. These data suggest that neither reactivity nor maternal antibody titer to V3 loop peptides are protective against perinatal transmission of HIV-1 in Uganda.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Beta 2-microglobulin, HIV-1 p24 antibody and acid-dissociated HIV-1 p24 antigen levels: predictive markers for vertical transmission of HIV-1 in pregnant Ugandan women.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical utility of plasma beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2M) levels, acid-dissociated HIV-1 p24 antigen, and HIV-1 p24-antibody titers in predicting HIV-1 vertical transmission in 227 HIV-1-infected Ugandan pregnant women. DESIGN: Plasma beta 2M levels, acid-dissociated HIV-1 p24-antigen positivity, and HIV-1 p24-antibody titers were determined using commercial enzyme immunoassays (EIA) in a Ugandan cohort of 52 HIV-1-seropositive transmitting mothers, 175 HIV-1-seropositive non-transmitting mothers, and 52 seronegative mothers within 6 weeks prior to delivery. RESULTS: Transmitter mothers had significantly higher plasma concentrations of beta 2M (1.80 +/- 1.13 mg/l) than non-transmitter seropositive mothers (1.32 +/- 0.81 mg/l; P = 0.0013). Similarly, a significantly higher proportion of transmitter mothers had detectable p24 antigen than non-transmitter mothers [six out of 51 (11.8%) versus six out of 173 (3.5%); P = 0.03]. Compared with the vertical transmission rate of 23% in the seropositive group, the positive predictive values of a beta 2M level > 1.5 mg/l or detectable HIV-1 p24 antigen for vertical transmission were 34 and 50%, respectively. Five of six (83.3%) seropositive mothers with both a beta 2M level > 1.5 mg/l and detectable p24 antigenemia transmitted HIV-1 infection to their infants compared with 25 of 124 (20.2%) seropositive mothers with values below the cut-off values for both tests (P = 0.00249). However, beta 2M was not found to be a significant independent predictor of vertical transmission when analyzed in a multivariate model with p24 antigenemia. There was no significant difference in HIV-1 p24-antibody titers in transmitter mothers versus non-transmitter mothers (P = 0.299). CONCLUSION: beta 2M levels and acid-dissociated HIV-1 p24-antigen assays may be used to predict which HIV-1-infected pregnant women are at greatest risk for vertical transmission. However, only the p24-antigen test was independently predictive of vertical transmission and its clinical utility is limited.

Adolescent↗