We have developed sensitive assays for viremia and cell-associated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA and DNA to assess the predictive value of virological parameters determined in blood for virus load in lymph nodes (LNs). Eighteen patients were included; 13 received stavudine/didanosine/hydroxyurea and 5 stavudine/didanosine, and all had viremia <500 copies/mL for >3 months. At the time of LN biopsy (median, 10 months), the median viremia was 2.09 log copies/mL (range, <0.70-3.34). Cell-associated HIV-1 RNA and DNA were detectable in blood and LNs of all patients. The median cell-associated RNA and DNA were 2.16 log copies/106 cells and 2.60 log copies/106 cells in blood versus 4.31 log RNA copies/106 cells and 3.26 log DNA copies/106 cells in LNs. Regression analysis shows that, in treated patients with sustained low viremia, cell-associated RNA and DNA in blood are better predictors of virus load in LNs than viremia.

The relationship between blood CD8+ T lymphocyte subsets, as defined by CD28 and CD38 expression, and plasma viraemia and CD4+ T cells in HIV-1 infection was investigated. In a cross-sectional study of 46 patients with either no or stable anti-retroviral treatment, there was a strong negative correlation between the percentage of CD8+CD28- and the percentage of CD4+ T cells (r = -0.75, P < 0.0001), and a positive correlation between absolute numbers of CD8+CD28+ and CD4+ T cells (r = 0.56, P < 0.0001). In contrast, the expression of CD38 by CD8+ T lymphocytes correlated primarily with plasma viraemia (e.g. the percentage of CD38+ in CD8bright cells, r = 0.76, P < 0.0001). In the 6 months following triple therapy initiation in 32 subjects, there was a close correlation between changes (delta) in CD8+CD28+ or CD8+CD28- and in CD4+ T cells (e.g. delta % CD8+CD28+ versus delta % CD4+, r = 0.37, P = 0.0002; delta % CD8+CD28- versus delta % CD4+, r = -0.66, P < 0.0001). A marked decline of the number of CD8+ T cells expressing CD38 was also observed. These results suggest the existence of a T cell homeostasis mechanism operating in blood with CD4+ and CD8+CD28+ cells on the one hand, and with CD8+CD28- cells on the other. In addition, the percentage of CD38+ cells in CD8+ cells, generally considered an independent prognostic factor, could merely reflect plasma viral load.

Abstract-Objective:To review the risk of MS exacerbations after infectious episodes potentially preventable by vaccination, and the risks and benefits of immunizing patients with MS. Methods: The authors searched MEDLINE (1966 to January 2001; U.S. National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD), HealthSTAR, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) database (Cinahl Information Systems, Glendale, CA) for English-language articles. Each study was summarized and rated for quality of evidence. Then feasible data were pooled and analyzed in metaanalysis. Results: The risk of contracting common infectious diseases in patients with MS is not well established. There is strong evidence for an increased risk of MS exacerbations during weeks around an infectious episode. There is strong evidence against an increased risk of MS exacerbation after influenza immunization. There is no evidence that hepatitis B, varicella, tetanus, or Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccines increase the risk of MS exacerbations. Insufficient evidence was found for other vaccines. Conclusions: Evidence supports 1) strategies to minimize the risk of acquiring infectious diseases that may trigger exacerbations of MS; and 2) the safety of using influenza, hepatitis B, varicella, tetanus, and Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccines in patients with MS. NEUROLOGY 2002;59:1837-1843 Although the direct or the indirect pathogenic role of numerous infectious agents is debated, 1,2 there is evidence that MS exacerbations occur around infectious episodes, which could potentially be prevented by vaccination. 3,4 However, there are concerns about the safety of immunization in patients with MS, particularly about the risk of relapses after vaccination. To address these concerns, the MS Council for Clinical Practice Guidelines commissioned a systematic review to obtain background for guidelines on immunization and convened an expert panel to establish guidelines. This systematic review has three objectives. First, we aim to provide the information on the need to vaccinate patients with MS by evaluating the risk of MS exacerbation after potentially preventable infections. Second, we review the available evidence on safety and efficacy of vaccines in patients with MS. Finally, we provide an overview of the guidelines for vaccinating patients with MS. Two topic questions were formulated to address the need to vaccinate patients with MS: 1) Are vaccine-preventable infectious diseases more frequent in patients with MS than in the general population? 2) Do vaccine-preventable infectious diseases increase the risk of MS exacerbations?Two other topic questions addressed the risks and the benefits of immunizing patients with MS: 3) Does vaccination increase the risk of exacerbations of MS, and is there a difference in this risk between live attenuated and inactivated vaccines? 4) Are vaccines as effective in patients with MS as in the general population?Search strategy and inclusion process. We reviewed English language MEDLINE (from 1966 to

A first seizure is a life-changing event with physical and psychological consequences. We aimed to assess the role of early comprehensive patient care after a first unprovoked seizure to improve diagnostic accuracy and follow-up adherence. From April 2011 to March 2012, patients presenting a first unprovoked epileptic seizure received standard patient care (SPC), i.e., a consultation in the ED, an EEG and a CT scan. The patients were notified of the follow-ups. We compared this protocol to subsequently acquired "early comprehensive patient care" (ECPC), which included a consultation by an epileptologist in the emergency department (ED), a routine or long-term monitoring electroencephalogram (LTM-EEG), magnetic resonance imaging and three follow-up consultations (3 weeks, 3 months, 12 months). 183 patients were included (113 ECPC, 70 SPC). LTM-EEG and MRI were performed in 51 and 85 %, respectively, of the patients in the ECPC group vs in 7 and 52 % of the patients in the SPC group (p < 0.001). A final diagnosis was obtained in 64 vs 43 % of the patients in the ECPC vs SPC group (p < 0.01). Patient attendance at 3-month was 84 % in the ECPC group vs 44 % in the SPC group (p < 0.001). At 12-month follow-up, the delay until the first recurrence was longer in the ECPC group (p = 0.008). An early epileptologist-driven protocol is associated with clinical benefit in terms of diagnostic accuracy, follow-up adherence and recurrence. This study highlights the need for epilepsy experts in the early assessment of a first epileptic seizure, starting already in the ED.

LWBS patients share some characteristics and a better understanding of these characteristics as well as time and logistic issues could ease to implement strategies to reduce premature leaving from the ED.