Infection causes disturbances in lipid metabolism that may be mediated by cytokines. Therefore we studied plasma lipids, lipoproteins, triglyceride (TG) metabolism, and serum cytokines in three groups: patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) without active secondary infection, patients with evidence of human immunodeficiency virus infection but without clinical AIDS (HIV+), and controls. Plasma TGs and FFA were increased in AIDS, while plasma cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, apolipoprotein-A-1 (Apo-A-1), low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and Apo-B-100 levels were decreased. Increased TG levels in AIDS were primarily due to increases in very low density lipoprotein of normal composition; in addition, LDL and HDL were TG enriched. In HIV+, TGs and FFA were not increased, but total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, Apo-A-1, and Apo-B-100 were significantly decreased. Interferon-alpha (IFN alpha) and C-reactive protein levels were increased in AIDS, but tumor necrosis factor and haptoglobin levels were not. There was a significant correlation between plasma TGs and IFN alpha levels (r = 0.477; P less than 0.01), but not between TGs and tumor necrosis factor, C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, or P-24 antigen. In addition, there was no relationship between circulating IFN alpha levels and plasma cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, Apo-A-1, LDL cholesterol, Apo-B-100, or FFA. TG clearance time and postheparin lipase were significantly decreased in AIDS and HIV+. There was a strong correlation between serum IFN alpha levels and TG clearance time in AIDS and HIV+ (r = 0.783; P less than 0.001). In summary, decreases in cholesterol and cholesterol containing lipoproteins (including HDL) in both AIDS and HIV+ precede the appearance of hypertriglyceridemia and are not related to IFN alpha or TG levels. Our data raise the possibility that with development of AIDS, subsequent increases in IFN alpha may contribute to increases in plasma TG levels in part by decreasing the clearance of TG.

The annual incidence of community-onset MRSA disease in San Francisco is substantial, surpassing that of hospital-onset disease. USA300 is the predominant clone in both the community and hospitals. The dissemination of USA300 from the community into the hospital setting has blurred its distinction as a community-associated pathogen.

To assess the causes of short-term weight loss in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), we measured resting energy expenditure (REE), caloric intake, and the 28-d weight trend in control subjects, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)+ subjects, AIDS patients, and AIDS patients during secondary infection (AIDS-SI). REE was increased in HIV+ (11%), AIDS (25%), and AIDS-SI (29%). Caloric intake was similar in control subjects, HIV+, and AIDS but reduced 36% in AIDS-SI, who consumed 17% fewer calories than their REE. Average short-term weight was stable for HIV+ and AIDS but decreased 5% in AIDS-SI. Weight trend correlated with caloric intake but not with REE. Thus HIV+ and AIDS are able to partially compensate for increased REE because they do not show short-term weight loss. Decreased caloric intake is critical for short-term weight loss and is seen during secondary infection. Inability of decreased caloric intake to decrease REE during infection accelerates short-term weight loss. Rapid weight loss with anorexia may be a harbinger of secondary infection in AIDS.

Plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL) comprise multiple discrete subclasses, differing in size, density, and chemical composition. Gradient gel electrophoresis of LDL has demonstrated three common subclass patterns based on the predominant LDL subclass: large LDL, designated subclass pattern A; small LDL particles, designated subclass pattern B; and an intermediate pattern. Genetic studies have demonstrated that these patterns are inherited, but several lines of evidence suggest that environmental factors are important in the phenotypic expression of the pattern. The LDL B pattern is associated with increased levels of plasma triglyceride, reduced high density lipoprotein (HDL), and obesity. To better define the role of environmental factors on LDL phenotypic expression, we determined LDL patterns in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), an infection characterized by hypertriglyceridemia and weight loss. Similar to previous studies, plasma triglyceride levels were increased, whereas plasma cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol levels were decreased in the AIDS subjects compared to those in age-matched controls. The percentage of AIDS subjects with the LDL B phenotype was increased 2.5-fold, demonstrating an increased prevalence of the LDL B phenotype in an acquired form of hypertriglyceridemia. For each LDL phenotype in AIDS, serum triglyceride levels were higher than the same phenotypic pattern in controls, with the most marked elevations in triglycerides found in AIDS subjects with the LDL B phenotype. In contrast to what was observed in controls, HDL cholesterol levels were decreased in all AIDS subjects and were unrelated to LDL pattern. Total and LDL cholesterol levels were higher in controls with the LDL B phenotype than in those with the LDL A phenotype, but there was no difference in total and LDL cholesterol in AIDS subjects with LDL B compared to A. On multiple regression analysis in subjects with AIDS, plasma triglyceride levels, age, and HDL cholesterol all contribute to the occurrence of the LDL B phenotype, but elevations in plasma triglyceride levels are the strongest independent predictor. Body mass index was not a predictor of LDL B phenotype in AIDS. These results suggest that disturbances in triglyceride metabolism that are caused by AIDS lead to the appearance of the LDL subclass B phenotype and provide further evidence that environmental or disease states that perturb lipid metabolism can produce an increased prevalence of the LDL B phenotype.