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ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the association of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk scores and coronary artery plaque (CAP) progression in HIV-infected participants.MethodsWe studied men with and without HIV-infection enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) CVD study. CAP at baseline and follow-up was assessed with cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA). We examined the association between baseline risk scores including pooled cohort equation (PCE), Framingham risk score (FRS), and Data collect of Adverse effects of anti-HIV drugs equation (D:A:D) and CAP progression.ResultsWe studied 495 men (211 HIV-uninfected, 284 HIV-infected). The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of total plaque volume (TPV) and noncalcified plaque volume (NCPV) progression in the highest relative to lowest tertile was 9.4 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 2.4-12.1, P

BackgroundClinically useful predictors for fatal toxoplasmosis are lacking. We investigated the value of serological assays for antibodies to whole Toxoplasma antigens and to peptide antigens of the Toxoplasma cyst matrix antigen 1 (MAG1), for predicting incident toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; PLWH).MethodsWe performed a nested case control study, conducted within the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS), using serum samples obtained 2 years prior to diagnosis of TE from 28 cases, and 37 HIV disease-matched Toxoplasma seropositive controls at matched time-points. Sera were tested for Toxoplasma antibodies using a commercial assay and for antibodies to MAG1_4.2 and MAG1_5.2 peptides in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).ResultsTwo years prior to clinical diagnosis, 68% of TE cases were MAG1_4.2 seropositive compared with 16% of controls (odds ratio [OR] 25.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.14-199.18). Corresponding results for MAG1_5.2 seropositivity were 36% and 14% (OR 3.6, 95% CI .95-13.42). Higher levels of antibody to MAG1_4.2 (OR 18.5 per doubling of the optical density [OD] value, 95% CI 1.41-242) and to Toxoplasma (OR 2.91 for each OD unit increase, 95% CI 1.48-5.72) were also associated with the risk of TE. When seropositivity was defined as the presence of MAG1 antibody or relatively high levels of Toxoplasma antibody, the sensitivity was 89% and specificity was 68% for subsequent TE.ConclusionsAntibodies to MAG1 showed predictive value on the occurrence of TE in PLWH, and the predictive performance was further improved by adding the levels of Toxoplasma antibody. These measures could be clinically useful for predicting subsequent diseases in multiple at-risk populations.

BackgroundThe total QT interval comprises both ventricular depolarization and repolarization currents. Understanding how HIV serostatus and other risk factors influence specific QT interval subcomponents could improve our mechanistic understanding of arrhythmias.MethodsTwelve-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) were acquired in 774 HIV-infected (HIV+) and 652 HIV-uninfected (HIV-) men from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study. Individual QT subcomponent intervals were analyzed: R-onset to R-peak, R-peak to R-end, JT segment, T-onset to T-peak, and T-peak to T-end. Using multivariable linear regressions, we investigated associations between HIV serostatus and covariates, including serum concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), and each QT subcomponent.ResultsAfter adjustment for demographics and risk factors, HIV+ versus HIV- men differed only in repolarization phase durations with longer T-onset to T-peak by 2.3 ms (95% CI 0-4.5, p