Examining the Link Between Heart Disease and HIV Infection in Women
Cardiovascular DiseasesAtherosclerosis2 moreRecent studies have shown that HIV infected individuals have an increased risk of developing heart disease, but the reason for this is not fully understood. This study will examine ultrasound test results of blood vessels and laboratory data of HIV infected and HIV uninfected women to examine the link between heart disease and HIV infection.
Efficacy of Elevated CD4 Counts on CMV Retinitis
Acquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeCytomegalovirus RetinitisSome patients with HIV/AIDS suffer from a dangerous viral infection of the retina (and other organs) called cytomegalovirus infection (CMV). The medications currently used to treat CMV all have serious side effects. AIDS patients are prone to this infection because their immune system produces a lower number of CD4+T lymphocytes, the type of blood cells that fight viral infections. Some new HIV medications strengthen the immune system. This study will investigate the possibility that CMV patients on these HIV medications can develop immune systems strong enough to fight CMV without CMV medication. The study will enroll a maximum of 15 adult HIV/AIDS patients who have a CD4+T cell count over 150 cells/microliter and who have inactive CMV retinitis that is not immediately sight threatening. It is expected to last approximately 2 years. Each prospective participant will have a physical examination and complete eye examination, including retina photographs, with the eye examination and retina photographs repeated 2 weeks later. If there is no evidence of active CMV retinitis, the participant will be enrolled in the study, and CMV medication will be stopped. The participant will have physical and eye examinations every 2 weeks for the first 3 months of the study, and every 3 weeks for the next 3 months. After 6 months, the frequency of the examinations will be 2-8 weeks, depending on the participant's CD4 count. After one year, a participant with a CD4 count remaining over 150 cells/microliter may return to the care of a local ophthalmologist with HIV/CMV experience, revisiting the clinical center every 6 months. The participant's CMV medication will be restarted when CMV retinitis becomes active, which will terminate participation in the study.
Perioperative Evaluation of Immuno-inflammatory Parameters
Combined Inflammatory and Immunologic DefectThis study consists of evaluations, using blood tests, various immune, inflammatory and coagulation parameters in the perioperative settings (different substudies), without changing anything to what is expected. This will allow us to clarify the possible impact of surgery and analgesia on perioperative activation of these pathways.
Genetic Basis of Primary Immunodeficiencies
Immunologic Deficiency SyndromeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate patients with primary immunodeficiency disorders to identify patients with mutations of the genes for the following proteins: Jak3, STAT1, STAT4, interleukin-7, interleukin-7 receptor, interleukin-12 receptor subunits, and others. Patients will undergo screening history, physical examination, and clinical laboratory evaluation at referring institutions and tissue samples, or cell lines will be sent to the NIH. We will establish cell lines if necessary, prepare DNA and RNA for molecular genetic analysis and study cytokine signal transduction in patient cell lines.
Optimal Time to Initiate Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV & TB Coinfected Adults Being Treated for...
Acquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeTuberculosisAim of the study is to determine optimal time to initiate anti-retroviral therapy in HIV/TB co-infected patients who recently started treatment for Tuberculosis by comparing immediate versus deferred initiation of HAART. The study will address the following questions; Is it possible to reduce mortality rate and increase survival by early initiation of HAART during TB treatment with out compromising for adverse drug reaction, toxicity and immune reconstitution syndrome? What is the risk/ benefit ratio between immediate versus deferred initiation of HAART during TB treatment with respect to safety/efficacy of TB and HIV co-treatment? When is the most appropriate time to start HAART during TB treatment?
Pilot Study of Immediate HIV Treatment in Guangxi, China
HIVAcquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeThe aim of the study is to measure the effectiveness of a pilot program in Guangxi, China to decrease mortality related to HIV. The study's proposed mechanism of decreasing mortality rates is to shorten the time between initial HIV screening and ART implementation to within two weeks. The study population consists of participants who received an initial HIV infection diagnosis within the study period. Medical institutions will provide "one-stop services" by following detailed guidelines regarding reporting of positive HIV antibody screenings, further testing procedures, and treatment referrals in accordance with a pre-determined timetable. In addition, additional strategies focusing on policy development, medical personnel training, and a broad general public education campaign will be implemented. Main assessment measures are HIV-related mortality rates, treatment coverage, or other health outcomes.
A Study on the Safety and Effectiveness of Rilpivirine Hydrochloride (Edurant) Among Adult Filipino...
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) InfectionThe purpose of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of rilpivirine hydrochloride in combination with other anti-retroviral (ARV) medications for the treatment of ARV-naive (patients who have not been exposed to ARV) Filipino patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection.
A Study to Assess the Safety and Effectiveness of Darunavir for Treating Human Immunodeficiency...
Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Type 1The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and effectiveness of darunavir for the treatment human immunodeficiency virus-type I (HIV-1) infection among Filipino adults.
Novel Testing Procedures
ImmunodeficienciesThe purpose of this study is to evaluate a novel screening test to detect patients with primary immunodeficiencies(PIDs). The investigators plan to use information gained from this study in order to advance the field of clinical immunology, thus improving the diagnosis, treatment, and well-being of future patients. The purpose of this study is to determine if this screening test is able to detect patients with immune problems, and the investigators will test patients with known PIDs to determine if the test is accurate The investigators hypothesize that detecting serum immunoglobulins from dried blood spots will be effective in detecting patients with known primary immunodeficiencies. If our hypothesis is confirmed, it opens the possibility of using point of care testing to screen for primary immune deficiencies. Age of study subjects will range from 1 year to 80 years of age, and will be recruited form the Immunodeficiency clinic at the Medical College of Wisconsin/Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (MCW/CHW). Any subject having testing done to evaluate the immune system is eligible for this study. This will include patients with known PIDs as well as patients evaluated for a suspected immunodeficiency. It is anticipated that 150 subjects will be analyzed over a two year period.
A Retrospective and Prospective Natural History Study of Patients With WHIM Syndrome
WHIM SyndromeThis natural history study is a prospective and retrospective, observational study of WHIM patients. WHIM syndrome is a rare, genetic, primary immunodeficiency disorder (a disorder in which the body's immune system does not function properly). WHIM is an acronym for some of the symptoms of the disorder - Warts, Hypogammaglobulinemia (low levels of certain antibodies), Infections and Myelokathexis (too many white blood cells in the bone marrow).This study includes 10-year retrospective (Retrospective Phase) and up to 5-year prospective (Prospective Phase) components.