Non-TB lung disease increasing in the U.S.

BETHESDA, Md. (UPI) — The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says incidents of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria lung disease are increasing across the nation.

Researchers said non-tuberculous mycobacteria are environmental organisms found in both water and soil that can cause severe pulmonary disease in humans — and a large study indicates the disease is increasing.

A research team led by epidemiologists from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, analyzed hospital discharge records of patients in 11 states whose combined total population represents 42 percent of the country. They said they reviewed database records spanning 1998 to 2005 and identified more than 16,475 hospitalizations associated with non-tuberculosis mycobacteria in people without AIDS.

Before the widespread availability of combination antiretroviral therapy, pulmonary disease was a common opportunistic infection among people with AIDS. The study was limited to patients not suffering from AIDS.

Researchers said of the 11 states studied, Florida, New York and California had 62 percent of the pulmonary hospitalizations.

Study results show while overall prevalence of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria lung disease is higher in women, prevalence increases for both sexes in the fifth or sixth decade of life, the scientists said.

The research appears in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 7th Oct 2009

Study: HIV subtype causes dementia risk

BALTIMORE (UPI) — U.S. scientists say they’ve discovered patients infected with a specific subtype of the human immunodeficiency virus have an increased risk of dementia.

Johns Hopkins University researchers said they determined HIV Subtype D might be more likely to cause dementia than other subtypes.

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

The scientists said their finding is the first to demonstrate the specific type of HIV has any effect on cognitive impairment, one of the most common complications of uncontrolled HIV infection.

The researchers said HIV occurs in multiple forms, distinguished by small differences in the virus’s genetic sequence and designated by letters A through K. Of the 35 million people living worldwide with HIV, the majority live in sub-Saharan Africa, where subtypes A, C and D dominate.

The research, led by Professor Ned Sacktor, is reported in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Sourced and published by Henry Sapiecha 8th Sept 2009