HIV / AIDS as a model for emerging infectious disease: origin, dating and circumstances of an emblematic epidemiological success

Platelet-to-Neutrophil ratio as a predictor of risk of complications in sickle cell disease: a valuable insight for resource-limited settings

Sickle cell disease (SCD) presents significant clinical challenges, particularly in resource-limited settings where early identification of high-risk patients remains difficult, necessitating the use of simple, cost-effective biomarkers to improve risk stratification and guide timely interventions. This study investigates the potential of platelet-to-neutrophil ratio (PNR) to serve as a predictor for risk of specific SCD complications in a population of Nigerian patients. This hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted over 7 months and included a total of 73 adult patients with haemoglobin SS genotype in a steady state. Data on socio-demographics, medical history, clinical characteristics, and laboratory parameters, including platelet-to-neutrophil ratio (PNR) were obtained. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Comparative statistical analyses, binary logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve evaluations were performed to determine the predictive value of PNR for risk of SCD complications. Patients with avascular necrosis (AVN) had significantly lower median PNR values compared to those without the condition (151.0 IQR: 311.2 vs. 77.5 IQR: 61.0, p = 0.004). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified PNR as an independent predictor of AVN (p = 0.034, OR = 1.003, 95% CI: 1.000-1.006), with an ROC-derived optimal cutoff of 96.6 yielding a sensitivity of 69.6% and specificity of 76.5% (AUC = 0.733, p = 0.004). This study reveals that RNR demonstrates reasonable potential as a predictor of AVN in Nigerian SCD patients and could serve as an easily accessible biomarker for SCD risk stratification, particularly in resource-limited settings. Further studies are needed for validation of its clinical utility and possible integration into SCD management protocols.

The role of weak interactions in evaluation of inhibitory potential of Indinavir as an HIV protease inhibitor and its comparison with innovative drug candidates

Designing and employing enzyme inhibitors against viral enzymes is one of the innovative and efficient approaches to treating viral diseases. These inhibitors can disrupt the viral replication cycle by deactivating vital enzymes, thereby curbing the spread of viral infections by reducing their population. So far, inhibitors have been designed, validated, and introduced for these enzymes. In this study, we designed the drug Indinavir and 20 analogs using Hartree-Fock and DFT methods to enhance the design of more potent protease enzyme inhibitors. Frequency calculations were performed at similar computational levels for all examined drugs and their designed analogs, revealing no negative frequencies. The Pharmacokinetics of the inhibitors were assessed, and inhibitors were screened, with those exhibiting minimal toxicity introduced as drug candidates for further evaluation. The best binding mode of Indinavir and the designed drugs at the protein binding site were determined using molecular docking studies. For the IND20 inhibitor with the best binding mode, an energy of -13.03 (kcal/mol) was reported. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory mechanism of the recommended inhibitor on the protease enzyme. The relevant analyses during the simulation period showed that the designed drug IND20 exhibited better performance in inhibiting the HIV-1 protease enzyme compared to Indinavir.

Human viruses: An ever-increasing list

It has been 124 years since yellow fever was demonstrated to be caused by a 'filterable agent'. While long-standing viral diseases, with the exception of smallpox, continue to be endemic, new ones have been emerging intermittently, primarily from a substantial zoonotic reservoir, leading to significant socioeconomic consequences. Currently, we are contending not only with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but with surges of various other viral infections. Recent metagenomic analyses have revealed a variety of novel human viruses whose health implications remain largely unclear. The following questions arise: How many human viruses have been identified? Which of these viruses are etiological agents of human diseases? This review aims to address the two inquiries and highlight the viruses that pose significant public health threats as outlined in the World Health Organization's Fact Sheets. Importantly, many human viruses are preventable; appropriate precautions can be implemented to mitigate the risk of infection.

Molecular characteristics of rhesus macaque interferon-lambda receptor 1 (mmuIFNLR1): Sequence identity, distribution and alteration after simian-human immunodeficiency virus infection in the skin and buccal mucosa

Interferon-lambda receptor 1 (IFNLR1) is the key to interferon-lambda's biological activities. Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are supposedly more suitable for translational studies on interferon lambda-associated human diseases, yet little is known about their IFNLR1 (mmuIFNLR1). In this study, we cloned the coding sequence of mmuIFNLR1, examined its variants, and determined the distribution of mmuIFNLR1 mRNA and immunoreactivity in the buccal mucosa and arm skin of normal and immunodeficiency virus (SHIV/SIV) infected rhesus macaques. It was found that mmuIFNLR1 has 93.1% amino acid sequence identity to that of humans; all the amino acid residues of mmuIFNLR1 signal peptide, transmembrane region, PxxLxF motif and those essential for ligand binding are identical to that of humans; 6 variants of mmuIFNLR1, including the ones corresponding to that of humans were detected; IFNLR1 immunoreactivity was localized in primarily the epithelia of buccal mucosa and arm skin; SHIV/SIV infection could affect the levels of mmuIFNLR1 mRNA and immunoreactivity. These data expanded our knowledge on mmuIFNLR1 and provided a scientific basis for rational use of rhesus macaques in studies of IFN-λ associated human diseases like AIDS. Future studies testing IFNLR1-targeting therapeutics in rhesus macaques were warranted.

Factors Associated with HIV Testing among Male Students Who Have Engaged in Sexual Behaviour in Zhejiang Province, China

Objective

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing, identify factors associated with HIV testing among male students who have engaged in sexual behaviour in Zhejiang province, and provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of HIV infection on campus.

Methods

Stratified cluster random sampling analysis was performed, which included general characteristics, sexual attitudes, sexual behaviours, information on HIV testing, and self-risk assessment for HIV infection. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the influencing factors.

Results

Among 2734 male students who have engaged in sexual behaviour, 319 (11.7%) had undergone HIV antibody testing in the previous year. The results of multivariate analysis demonstrated that the participants who were in the junior grade level (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.59, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.10-2.30) exhibited acceptance to male homosexual behaviour (AOR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.19-2.52), had been exposed to testing publicity in the previous year (AOR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.06-2.15), had been exposed to self-risk assessment for HIV infection (AOR = 2.66, 95% CI: 1.99-3.55), had male or bisexual partners (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.05-2.46), had a score for the scale indicating awareness of different testing methods between 2 and 5 (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI: 1.51-3.16) or greater than 6 (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.01-2.66), and had a score for the scale indicating knowledge of different testing facilities between 3 and 5 (AOR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.00-2.66) were inclined to engage in HIV testing.

Conclusions

In this study, the proportion of HIV-testing among male students who have engaged in sexual behaviour was low. This study revealed that students who exhibited acceptance to male homosexual behaviours had been exposed to publicity for HIV testing or a self-risk assessment for HIV infection which were more inclined to engage in HIV testing. Our study underscores the urgent need to enhance educational interventions concerning HIV risks and warnings as part of the health education curriculum on campus. The graveness of the AIDS epidemic among students necessitates this emphasis. Moreover, we recommend deploying condom-dispensing machines or HIV testing facilities across the campus for easy access to preventive and testing services for HIV.