https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(15)00056-2.pdf

Pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent the acquisition of HIV-1 infection (PROUD): effectiveness results from the pilot phase of a pragmatic open-label randomised trial.

Decline in the AIDS and death rates in the EuroSIDA study: an observational study

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(07)61047-2.pdf

Efficacy and safety of TMC125 (etravirine) in treatment-experienced HIV-1-infected patients in DUET-1: 24-week results from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: The objective of this study is to estimate life expectancies of HIV-positive patients conditional on response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods: Patients aged more than 20 years who started ART during 2000-2010 (excluding IDU) in HIV clinics contributing to the UK CHIC Study were followed for mortality until 2012.Wedetermined the latestCD4+ cell count and viral load before ART and in each of years 1-5 of ART. For each duration of ART, life tables based on estimated mortality rates by sex, age, latest CD4+ cell count and viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA <400 copies/ml), were used to estimate expected age at death for ages 20-85 years. Results: Of 21 388 patients who started ART, 961 (4.5%) died during 110 697 personyears. At start of ART, expected age at death [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 35-yearold men with CD4+ cell count less than 200, 200-349, at least 350 cells/ml was 71 (68- 73), 78 (74-82) and 77 (72-81) years, respectively, compared with 78 years for men in the general UK population. Thirty-five-year-old men who increased their CD4+ cell count in the first year of ART from less than 200 to 200-349 or at least 350 cells/ml and achieved viral suppression gained 7 and 10 years, respectively. After 5 years on ART, expected age at death of 35-year-old men varied from 54 (48-61) (CD4+ cell count <200 cells/ml and no viral suppression) to 80 (76-83) years (CD4+ cell count 350 cells/ml and viral suppression). Conclusion: Successfully treated HIV-positive individuals have a normal life expectancy. Patients who started ART with a low CD4+ cell count significantly improve their life expectancy if they have a good CD4+ cell count response and undetectable viral load.

/pdf/impact-on-life-expectancy-of-hiv-1-positive-individuals-of-3tedbkc0sy.pdf

Impact on life expectancy of HIV-1 positive individuals of CD4+ cell count and viral load response to antiretroviral therapy

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(08)61081-8.pdf

Once-daily atazanavir/ritonavir versus twice-daily lopinavir/ritonavir, each in combination with tenofovir and emtricitabine, for management of antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected patients: 48 week efficacy and safety results of the CASTLE study

The 2008 BHIVA Guidelines have been updated to incorporate all the new relevant information (including presentations at the 15th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections 2008) since the last iteration. The guidelines follow the methodology outlined below and all the peer-reviewed publications and important, potentially treatment-changing abstracts from the last 2 years have been reviewed.


The translation of data into clinical practice is often difficult even with the best possible evidence (i.e. two randomized controlled trials) because of trial design, inclusion criteria and precise surrogate marker endpoints (see Appendix). The recommendations based upon expert opinion have the least good evidence but perhaps provide an important reason for writing the guidelines to produce a consensual opinion about current practice. It must, however, be appreciated that such opinion is often wrong and should not stifle research to challenge it.


Similarly, although the Writing Group seeks to provide guidelines to optimize treatment, such care needs to be individualized and we have not constructed a document that we would wish to see used as a ‘standard’ for litigation.

/pdf/british-hiv-association-guidelines-for-the-treatment-of-hiv-10vdb5k2uo.pdf

British HIV Association guidelines for the treatment of HIV-1-infected adults with antiretroviral therapy 2008

Table of Contents

1. Levels of evidence	
1.1 Reference	
2. Introduction	
3. Auditable targets	
4. Table summaries	
4.1 Initial diagnosis	
4.2 Assessment of ART-naive individuals	
4.3 ART initiation	
4.4 Initial assessment following commencement of ART	
4.5 Routine monitoring on ART	
4.6 References	
5. Newly diagnosed and transferring HIV-positive individuals	
5.1 Initial HIV-1 diagnosis	
5.2 Tests to determine whether acquisition of HIV infection is recent	
5.3 Individuals transferring care from a different HIV healthcare setting	
5.4 Communication with general practitioners and shared care	
5.5 Recommendations	
5.6 References	
6. Patient history	
6.1 Initial HIV-1 diagnosis	
6.2 Monitoring of ART-naive patients	
6.3 Pre-ART initiation assessment	
6.4 Monitoring individuals established on ART	
6.5 Assessment of adherence	
6.6 Recommendations	
6.7 References	
7. Examination	
7.1 Recommendations	
8. Identifying the need for psychological support	
8.1 References	
9. Assessment of immune status	
9.1 CD4 T cell counts	
9.2 CD4 T cell percentage	
9.3 References	
10. HIV viral load	
10.1 Initial diagnosis/ART naive	
10.2 Post ART initiation	
10.3 Individuals established on ART	
10.4 Recommendations	
10.5 References	
11. Technical aspects of viral load testing	
11.1 References	
12. Viral load kinetics during ART and viral load ‘blips’	
12.1 References	
13. Proviral DNA load	
13.1 References	
14. Resistance testing	
14.1 Initial HIV-1 diagnosis	
14.2 ART-naive	
14.3 Post treatment initiation	
14.4 ART-experienced	
14.5 References	
15. Subtype determination	
15.1 Disease progression	
15.2 Transmission	
15.3 Performance of molecular diagnostic assays	
15.4 Response to therapy	
15.5 Development of drug resistance	
15.6 References	
16. Other tests to guide use of specific antiretroviral agents	
16.1 Tropism testing	
16.2 HLA B*5701 testing	
16.3 References	
17. Therapeutic drug monitoring	
17.1 Recommendations	
17.2 References	
18. Biochemistry testing	
18.1 Introduction	
18.2 Liver function	
18.3 Renal function	
18.4 Dyslipidaemia in HIV-infected individuals	
18.5 Other biomarkers	
18.6 Bone disease in HIV-infected patients	
18.7 References	
19. Haematology	
19.1 Haematological assessment and monitoring	
19.2 Recommendations	
19.3 References	
20. Serology	
20.1 Overview	
20.2 Hepatitis viruses	
20.3 Herpes viruses	
20.4 Measles and rubella	
20.5 Cytomegalovirus (CMV)	
20.6 References	
21. Other microbiological screening	
21.1 Tuberculosis screening	
21.2 Toxoplasma serology	
21.3 Tropical screening	
21.4 References	
22. Sexual health screening including anal and cervical cytology	
22.1 Sexual history taking, counselling and sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening	
22.2 Cervical and anal cytology	
22.3 Recommendations	
22.4 References	
23. Routine monitoring recommended for specific patient groups	
23.1 Women	
23.2 Older age	
23.3 Injecting drug users	
23.4 Individuals coinfected with HBV and HCV	
23.5 Late presenters	
23.6 References	
Appendix

/pdf/british-hiv-association-guidelines-for-the-routine-25qp2zxz94.pdf

British HIV Association guidelines for the routine investigation and monitoring of adult HIV‐1‐infected individuals 2011

British HIV Association guidelines for HIV-associated malignancies 2014: BHIVA guidelines for HIV-associated malignancies 2014

Until recently, flexible cable development and production at Mound had to rely heavily on Kapton polyimide from Dupont The availability of new polyimide films has provided the opportunity to evaluate alternatives to Kapton for our flexible cable work This paper describes the initial evaluations of the Upilex polyimides, Upilex-S, R, and SGA, distributed by ICI and Apical polyimide distributed by Allied Signal The new polyimide films were analyzed, along with Kapton, by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersion spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy Relative insulating strengths of the films were determined by high voltage electrical breakdown (HiPot) test All the films were given a thin metal coating by physical vapor deposition, and the metal to polyimide adhesion was tested Actual test cables were made using Upilex-S as a bridge material These cables were fired and flyer performance was compared to that of flyers made from Kapton The new polyimide films not only compare well to Kapton in all areas but also show some advantages in certain applications 2 figs, 3 tabs

Matthew Williams

Papers

British HIV Association guidelines for the treatment of HIV-1-infected adults with antiretroviral therapy 2008

British HIV Association guidelines for the routine investigation and monitoring of adult HIV‐1‐infected individuals 2011

British HIV Association guidelines for HIV-associated malignancies 2014: BHIVA guidelines for HIV-associated malignancies 2014

Evaluations of new polyimide films for flexible circuit applications at EG G Mound Applied Technologies