Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome virus infection

Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Human immunodeficiency vims (HIV) causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), which has no cure. HIV infects the cells of the human immune system, such as T-lymphocytes, monocytes, and macrophages. After a long period of latency and persistent infection, it results in the progressive decline of the immune system, and leads to full-blown AIDS, resulting in death. 

M ore than 200 viruses have been identified as capable of producing disease Acute viruses, such as the common cold, have a rapid onset and quick recovery. Chronic viral infections, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), have recurrent episodes of exacerbations (increases in severity of symptoms of the disease) and remissions (periods of partial or complete disappearance of the signs and symptoms). Display 14-1 describes the viruses discussed in this chapter. 

Blum AS, Dal Pan GJ et al (1996) Low-dose zalcitabine-related toxic neuropathy frequency, natural history, and risk factors. Neurology 46(4) 999-1003 Bradley WG, Verma A (1996) Painful vascuhtic neuropathy in HlV-1 infection relief of pain with prednisone therapy. Neurology 47(6) 1446-1451 Breen EC (2002) Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Pharmacol Ther 95(3) 295-304 Bremer J (1990) The role of carnitine in intracellular metabolism. J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 28(5) 297-301... 

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) A clinical syndrome due to infection with the RNA human immunodeficiency (retro)virus (HIV) which produces severe immunosuppression (depletion of natural killer T cells), thereby exposing the individual to a variety of opportunistic infections and cancers. 

The human immunodeficiency virus began to spread among the homosexual population in the United States in the late 1970s, but it was not until 1981 that physicians in New York and at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta recognized the new clinical syndrome (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), alerting the world to a new and fatal infection. 

Many viruses and retroviruses have genomes that are single-stranded RNA instead of DNA. These include the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) virus and some retroviruses that cause cancer. Here, an enzyme called reverse transcriptase converts the RNA genome of the virus into the DNA of the host cell genome, thus infecting the host. 

Nearly 40 million people are infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Over half of those infected reside in sub-Saharan Africa. Worldwide during 2004, it is estimated that nearly 14,000 people a day were infected. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 is the primary etiological source for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Fortunately, people infected with HIV are leading longer and more productive lives due to the availability of more effective therapies. Better medicines have evolved due to the efforts of scientists worldwide who find targets and compounds that inhibit the virus life-cycle. The current treatment for HIV infection is via a drug cocktail that usually includes a protease inhibitor (PI), a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), and a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). 

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a single-stranded RNA retrovirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a condition in which individuals are at increased risk for developing certain infections and malignancies. The virus is found in two major forms HIV-1, the most prevalent worldwide, and HIV-2, the most common in western Africa. More than 22 million people have died of HIV infection, and 40 million are believed to be infected worldwide. AIDS epidemics threaten populations in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and Russia. In the United States about 450,000 deaths have occurred and another 900,000 people are estimated to carry the virus. Although the development of new drugs, complex multidrug regimens, and behavioral modification have done much to combat the spread of HIV in-... 

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES AND CLINICAL TRIALS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome activity. Coconut oil and monolaurin —a coconut oil byproduct— were administered to 12 women and 3 men who were in the early stage of human immunodeficiency virus infection. Ten patients took different doses of monolaurin, and five patients took coconut oil. It was believed that the treatment would lead to higher CD4 counts and a lower viral load. The trial was abandoned because it received only lukewarm approval from the governmenC s ... 

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of only a few retroviruses known to infect humans. It is estimated that approximately twenty-two million people are now infected worldwide [1]. With only a tiny number of exceptions, infection ultimately leads to the development of the lethal condition of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS. To date, only a handful of drugs have been shown to have any effect on the course of the disease. These are, in general, relatively ineffective at significantly prolonging life, and drug resistance develops rapidly. Equally discouraging, vaccines have not yet been developed to prevent infection. 

A virus is one of the smallest microorganisms, consisting of only a nucleic acid core that is surrounded by a protein shell.18 Several types of viruses commonly infect human cells and are responsible for a diverse range of pathologies. Viral infections extend from relatively mild disorders such as the common cold to serious, life-threatening conditions such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Viruses are somewhat unique in that they must rely totally on the metabolic processes of the host (human) cell to function.62 Hence, the pharmacologic treatment of viral infections is complex, because it is often difficult to selectively destroy the virus without also destroying human cells. 

In 1997, it was estimated that 30 million adults were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) worldwide, with increments of five people infected every minute. It is estimated that approximately 7% of the population of sub-Saharan Africa has been infected. The incubation of the disease is 7 to 8 years. Currently available drugs for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV are zidovudine, didanosine, lamivudine, and stavudine. The causative agent for AIDS is generally an HIV virus, which is transmitted by sexual contact, blood and blood products, the use of contaminated drug needles, and from mother to fetus. 

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections continue to be a major global challenge in medicine in the 21st century. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 35 million people are living with HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) with nearly 2.5 million new cases of HIV infection in 2008. These statistics indicate the magnitude of the global epidemic of HIV/AIDS today. 

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a member of the Herpesviridae family. HSV infection is endemic in the population. The primary symptom of infection is recurrent fever blisters. On occasion, infection can lead to more serious symptoms such as encephalitis and retinitis. In particular, immunocompromised patients, such as those undergoing chemotherapy treatments or receiving organ transplants, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) victims are at particular risk of developing life-threatening complications due to reactivation of latent infections. 

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a degenerative disease of the immune system, is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and results in life-threatening opportunistic infections and malignancies. Antiviral and im-munomodulating natural products have been investigated as treatments for AIDS (111). 

O Sullivan MJ, Boyer PJ, Scott GB, Parks PW, Weller S, Blum R, Balsley J, Bryson YJ. The pharmacokinetics and safety of zidovudine in the third trimester of pregnancy for women infected with human immunodeficiency virus and their infants Phase I Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Clinical Trial Group Study (protocol 082) Zidovudine Collaborative Working Group. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1993 168 1510-6. 

AIDS Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is an acquired Idefect of cellular immunity associated with infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HTV), a CD4-posifive T-lymphocyte count under 200 cells/ iL or less than 14% of total lymphocytes, and increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections and malignant neoplasms. Clinical manifestations also include emaciation (wasting) and demen-... 

---