<p>This study utilised secondary data from a larger study that looked at individuals that are already infected by HIV which is entitled Implicative personal dilemmas and cognitive conflicts in health decision making in HIV positive adults and adults with AIDS. The primary aim of the larger study was to examine the cognitive construction of the individual and how they utilised their individual resources to construct who they are and how they perceived the difficulties and challenges that they face and the decisions they make regarding their health. HIV and AIDS is a debilitating disease and it affects millions worldwide. South Africa, presently, has the largest burden of this disease with those between the ages of 15 &ndash / 49 years of age being most affected. As previously&nbsp / mentioned the decisions that individuals make can impact on their health. Decisions to take necessary precautions such as protected sex during sexual intercourse can decrease the&nbsp / progression of the disease. Decisions made regarding abstinence of risky behaviour as well as being committed to taking medication could also positively impact health. People living with HIV and AIDS find it&nbsp / difficult to adjust to the challenges that this disease presents. Depression is often experienced due to the changes in self image and perception. Studies show that&nbsp / females are twice more likely to experience depression than men. There has however been no conclusive evidence showing the reason for this, however, the perception of stress based on&nbsp / gender could shed some light on this matter and how these perceptions can increase the likelihood of women being more vulnerable to depression. Due to the limitation of this study, it will&nbsp / only look at depression as it relates to HIV and AIDS. Psychological problems such as depression can hamper the adjustment process and the effect of depression is evident in that it can lower the CD 4 + cells. Not only are those&nbsp / living with HIV and AIDS affected by depression, but they also have a lifetime prevalence to depression. It is important to have an effective screening tool for depression so that the detection of this&nbsp / disease can be made and effective treatment can be implemented to enhance health. The sample consisted of 113 adult participants that have already been diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. The&nbsp / primary aim of this study was to compare the Beck&rsquo / s Depression Inventory II (BDI II) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale &ndash / (the Depression component) (HADS-D) as a screening tool&nbsp / &nbsp / for depression. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed a 5 factor structure which accounted for 60.14 % of the total variance. The HADS yielded one factor accounting for 14.33% of total variance. The BDI II has proven to be more a reliable measure of depression with 0.89 according to the Cronbach&rsquo / s Alpha co efficient opposed to 0.375 as per the HADS-D. The secondary aim was to establish&nbsp / the sociodemographic and disease profiles of the participants under study. </p>

<p>This study utilised secondary data from a larger study that looked at individuals that are already infected by HIV which is entitled Implicative personal dilemmas and cognitive conflicts in health decision making in HIV positive adults and adults with AIDS. The primary aim of the larger study was to examine the cognitive construction of the individual and how they utilised their individual resources to construct who they are and how they perceived the difficulties and challenges that they face and the decisions they make regarding their health. HIV and AIDS is a debilitating disease and it affects millions worldwide. South Africa, presently, has the largest burden of this disease with those between the ages of 15 &ndash / 49 years of age being most affected. As previously&nbsp / mentioned the decisions that individuals make can impact on their health. Decisions to take necessary precautions such as protected sex during sexual intercourse can decrease the&nbsp / progression of the disease. Decisions made regarding abstinence of risky behaviour as well as being committed to taking medication could also positively impact health. People living with HIV and AIDS find it&nbsp / difficult to adjust to the challenges that this disease presents. Depression is often experienced due to the changes in self image and perception. Studies show that&nbsp / females are twice more likely to experience depression than men. There has however been no conclusive evidence showing the reason for this, however, the perception of stress based on&nbsp / gender could shed some light on this matter and how these perceptions can increase the likelihood of women being more vulnerable to depression. Due to the limitation of this study, it will&nbsp / only look at depression as it relates to HIV and AIDS. Psychological problems such as depression can hamper the adjustment process and the effect of depression is evident in that it can lower the CD 4 + cells. Not only are those&nbsp / living with HIV and AIDS affected by depression, but they also have a lifetime prevalence to depression. It is important to have an effective screening tool for depression so that the detection of this&nbsp / disease can be made and effective treatment can be implemented to enhance health. The sample consisted of 113 adult participants that have already been diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. The&nbsp / primary aim of this study was to compare the Beck&rsquo / s Depression Inventory II (BDI II) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale &ndash / (the Depression component) (HADS-D) as a screening tool&nbsp / &nbsp / for depression. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed a 5 factor structure which accounted for 60.14 % of the total variance. The HADS yielded one factor accounting for 14.33% of total variance. The BDI II has proven to be more a reliable measure of depression with 0.89 according to the Cronbach&rsquo / s Alpha co efficient opposed to 0.375 as per the HADS-D. The secondary aim was to establish&nbsp / the sociodemographic and disease profiles of the participants under study. </p>

This study utilised secondary data from a larger study that looked at individuals that are already infected by HIV which is entitled Implicative personal dilemmas and cognitive conflicts in health decision making in HIV positive adults and adults with AIDS. The primary aim of the larger study was to examine the cognitive construction of the individual and how they utilised their individual resources to construct who they are and how they perceived the difficulties and challenges that they face and the decisions they make regarding their health. HIV and AIDS is a debilitating disease and it affects millions worldwide. South Africa, presently, has the largest burden of this disease with those between the ages of 15 – 49 years of age being most affected. As previously mentioned the decisions that individuals make can impact on their health. Decisions to take necessary precautions such as protected sex during sexual intercourse can decrease the progression of the disease. Decisions made regarding abstinence of risky behaviour as well as being committed to taking medication could also positively impact health. People living with HIV and AIDS find it difficult to adjust to the challenges that this disease presents. Depression is often experienced due to the changes in self image and perception. Studies show that females are twice more likely to experience depression than men. There has however been no conclusive evidence showing the reason for this, however, the perception of stress based on gender could shed some light on this matter and how these perceptions can increase the likelihood of women being more vulnerable to depression. Due to the limitation of this study, it will only look at depression as it relates to HIV and AIDS. Psychological problems such as depression can hamper the adjustment process and the effect of depression is evident in that it can lower the CD 4 + cells. Not only are those living with HIV and AIDS affected by depression, but they also have a lifetime prevalence to depression. It is important to have an effective screening tool for depression so that the detection of this disease can be made and effective treatment can be implemented to enhance health. The sample consisted of 113 adult participants that have already been diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. The primary aim of this study was to compare the Beck’s Depression Inventory II (BDI II) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale –(the Depression component) (HADS-D) as a screening tool for depression.Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed a 5 factor structure which accounted for 60.14 % of the total variance. The HADS yielded one factor accounting for 14.33% of total variance. The BDI II has proven to be more a reliable measure of depression with 0.89 according to the Cronbach’s Alpha co efficient opposed to 0.375 as per the HADS-D. The secondary aim was to establish the sociodemographic and disease profiles of the participants under study. / Magister Psychologiae - MPsych

Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Interdisciplinary Health Sciences. Family Medicine and Primary Care. / Thesis (MFamMed) -- Stellenbosch University, 2010. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction: This thesis summarises the findings of a medical audit on the management of Cryptococcal Meningitis (CM). The study population of HIV positive adults (N = twenty five) were admitted during November 2009 – June 2010 to five hospitals of the Cape Winelands (East) District, Western Cape, South Africa. In the context of the HIV pandemic, CM has become the most common cause of community-acquired meningitis, and has poor outcomes if left untreated. The South African HIV Clinician Society has published treatment guidelines in 2007. These guidelines have been used by the audit team to compile a list of measurable criteria (with set targets) to evaluate the structure, process and outcome of CM management. A pilot audit (2008) at the regional hospital has demonstrated that certain target standards were not met. Aims and Objectives: The aim was to improve the quality of the clinical care of HIV-patients diagnosed with CM in the Cape Winelands (East) district. The objectives included the review of the audit criteria and target standards, demonstrating improvement in quality of CM care at the Level 1 and 2 hospitals, identifying new interventions based on the findings and providing recommendations to the health facilities. Methods In 2009, the researcher formed a new audit team, reviewed the audit criteria and held teaching interventions based on the national treatment guidelines. An intervention, based on the findings of the pilot audit, aimed at improving the clinical team’s adherence to the treatment guidelines. Results The audit identified the following areas that did not meet the target standards: the availability of Amphotericin B (Ampho B) and spinal manometers; the use of manometry in all initial lumbar punctures (LPs); completing fourteen days of the required Ampho B treatment; renal monitoring in patients on Ampho B; commencement of antiretroviral treatment (ART) by week four; and, the two-month survival figures post-diagnosis. The re-audit at the Level 2 hospital highlighted the need for improved medical record keeping to aid the audit process. Arrangement of inpatient ART counselling happened more consistently at the Level 1 hospitals. Adherence to the ART target and measures to prevent Ampho B related morbidity is comparable to that of the Level 2 hospital. The audit has also provided insight to the researcher and audit team on the practical challenges of conducting a prospective data collection technique across different care settings. Recommendations Level 1 hospitals should continue to manage CM patients. The availability of spinal manometers and closer adherence to renal monitoring require attention. Formal feedback to the audit team and clinical teams is planned. A multimodal interdisciplinary Quality Improvement approach (such as an integrated care pathway) is recommended and a future re-audit is encouraged to assess improved adherence to the CM management guidelines. The buy-in of stakeholders (management, health care workers and patients), the ongoing support of an audit team and a committed Quality Improvement environment will allow the medical audit process to become ingrained in the South African public healthcare setting. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding Hierdie tesis bied ‘n opsomming van die sleutelbevindinge van ‘n mediese oudit van Cryptokokkale Menigitis (CM) sorg. Die studie groep van MIV-positiewe volwassenes (N = vyf-en-twintig) het binne-pasiënt behandeling ontvang gedurende November 2009 tot Junie 2010 in vyf hospitale van die Kaapse Wynland (Oos) distrik. In die konteks van die MIV pandemie het CM die mees algemene oorsaak van gemeenskapsverworwe meningitis geword, en het swak uitkomste indien onbehandeld. Die Suid-Afrikaanse HIV Clinici Vereniging het in 2007 behandelingsriglyne gepubliseer. Hierdie riglyne het die oudit span gebruik om ‘n lys van meetbare kriteria (met teiken standaarde) saam te stel om die struktuur, proses en uitkoms fasette van CM sorg te evalueer. ‘n Proef oudit (2008) by die streekshospitaal het getoon dat sekere teiken standaarde nie behaal was nie. Doelstelling Die doelstelling was om die kwaliteit van kliniese sorg van MIV-pasiënte met CM (in die Kaapse Wynland (Oos) distrik) te verbeter. Die doelstelling sluit in die hersiening van die oudit kriteria, die bevesting van verbetering in kwaliteit CM sorg by vlak 1 en 2 hospitale, identifisering van nuwe ingreep-moontlikhede gebaseer op die bevindinge en die verskaffing van toepaslike aanbevelings aan die gesondheidsorg fasiliteite. Metodes Die navorser het in 2009 ‘n nuwe oudit span gevorm, die oudit kriteria hersien en opleidingsingrepe geskoei op die nasionale riglyne gefasiliteer. Opleidingsingrepe, gebaseer op bevindinge van die proef oudit, het ten doel gehad dat die kliniese span die nasionale riglyne nakom. Resultate Die oudit het die volgende areas uitgelig waar daar nie aan die teikenstandaarde voldoen was nie: the beskikbaarheid van Amphotericin B (Ampho B) en spinale manometers; die gebruik van manometrie in alle aanvanklike lumbaal punksies (LPs); voltooi van die veertien dae Ampho B behandelingsteiken; nierfunksie monitoring van pasiënte op Ampho B; aanvang van anti-retovirale behandeling teen week vier; en, die twee maande oorlewing post-diagnose syfers. Die opvolg oudit by die vlak 2 hospitaal bevestig die belang van verbeterde kliniese notas om die oudit proses te vergemaklik. Die reël van binne-pasiënt ART berading gebeur meer bestendig in Vlak 1 hospitale. Bereiking van die ART teiken en maatreëls om Ampho B verwante morbiditeit te voorkom, is vergelykbaar met die bevindinge by die vlak 2 hospitaal. Die oudit het die navorser en die oudit span ingelig rakende die praktiese uitdagings om ‘n prospektiewe data insamelingsmetode te poog in verskillende kliniese kontekste. Aanbevelings Vlak 1 hospitale kan steeds CM pasiënte versorg. Die beskikbaarheid van spinale manometers en deeglike nierfunksie monitering sal die behaling van teiken standaarde vergemaklik. Formele terugvoer aan die oudit span en kliniese span word beoog. ‘n Multimodale interdissiplinêre Kwaliteitsverbeterings benadering (soos ‘n geïntegreerde sorgplan) word aanbeveel en ‘n toekomstige oudit word aangemoedig om verbetering in toepassing van die CM riglyne te evalueer. Dit is belangrik om die sleutelspelers (bestuur, gesondheidswerkers en pasiënte) te betrek. Verder word voortgesette ondersteuning van die oudit span en ‘n toegewyde omgewing van kwaliteitsverbetering aanbeveel. Sodoende sal die oudit proses in Suid-Afrikaanse publieke sorg geintegreer word.

This study used a qualitative, explorative, and descriptive design to understand the experiences of adolescents after HIV status disclosure in Hhohho region Swaziland. The data were collected through in-depth individual semi structured face-to-face interviews from 10 adolescents living with HIV between the ages 15-19 years. To analyse interviews, Tesch’s qualitative data analysis approach was used. Findings from the study revealed that participants experienced sadness, despair and anger after disclosure and also had fear of death because some had lost one or both parents. The participants reported recurrent episodes of poor health, which resulted in failure at school. In addition, they stressed that they could not disclose their HIV status because they feared discrimination and stigma. Recommendations were made to improve coping strategies of adolescents and revising the nursing curriculum to equip nursing students with appropriate skills that would enable them to care for adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). / Health Studies / MA (Health Studies)

Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-04T12:42:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009 / A AIDS, desde o seu surgimento no início dos anos 80, apresentou-se como um relevante problema de saúde pública. Além da prevenção de doenças oportunistas e do tratamento da AIDS foi essencial estabelecer critérios para definir casos da doença. O objetivo do presente estudo foi ressaltar as diferenças observadas nas funções de sobrevida de casos definidos por diferentes critérios e conhecer o efeito da adesão à terapia anti-retroviral(TARV) no prognóstico dos pacientes HIV/AIDS. No primeiro artigo, 1.415 indivíduos HIV+ atendidos no IPEC foram avaliados pelos critérios de definição de caso do Ministério da Saúde (MS/2004) e dos Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/1993), e afunção de sobrevida foi estimada para cada critério, considerando o uso de TARV e cofatores sócio-demográficos e clínicos. Os resultados desta avaliação mostraram que a sobrevida estimada depende do critério adotado além de apresentar preditores distintos. No segundo artigo, em buscas no Medline e Lilacs, selecionou-se 38 artigos que avaliaram a ocorrência de desfechos relevantes na evolução da AIDS em função da adesão ao tratamento. Na avaliação desses artigos, foi evidenciado que a adesão dos pacientes ao tratamento antiretroviral nos diversos matizes considerados na literatura mostrou-se um preditor importante dos desfechos nas suas múltiplas representações no acompanhamento dos pacientes, independente do estadiamento clínico, uso prévio de tratamento, CD4 ecarga viral basais. No terceiro artigo, para 711 pacientes foram considerados os dados de fornecimento de anti-retrovirais (dispensas) disponíveis no Sistema de Controle Logístico de Medicamentos (SICLOM) para avaliar a adesão e estimar o risco de falha terapêutica pelo modelo de Cox. Com base neste estudo, pode-se concluir que o grau de não adesão à HAART está diretamente associado com o maior risco de ocorrência de desfechos desfavoráveis, e que a adesão <75 por cento teve impacto substancial na evolução da doença, independente de outros fatores. Em suma, pode-se concluir que apesar das dificuldades dese comparar estudos, devido à evolução do tratamento, dos inúmeros desfechos e formas de avaliações, é incontestável o melhor prognóstico nos anos recentes. Ainda que o sucesso do tratamento dependa da adesão, e esta, por sua vez, dependa de inúmeros fatores, é possível afirmar que melhorando a adesão do paciente ao tratamento, independente de praticamente todos demais fatores, é possível obter um bom prognóstico para a evolução da doença. / Since its emergence in the early 1980s, AIDS has appeared as a relevant public health problem. In addition to preventing opportunistic diseases and treating AIDS it was essential to establish disease-defining criteria. The aim of the present study was to highlight the differences in cases survival functions defined by different criteria and to know the effect of adherence to antiretroviral therapy on the prognosis of patients with HIV/AIDS. In the first article, 1,415 HIV+ subjects seen at IPEC were assessed by two case-defining criteria (MS/2004 and CDC/1993), their survival function was estimated for each standard, considering the use of ARV and socio-demographic and clinical cofactors. The results showed that estimated survival depends on the chosen standard, besides presenting distinct predictors. In the second article, through searches at MEDLINE and LILACS, there were selected 38 articles that evaluated the occurrence of relevant outcomes to the development of AIDS in function of adherence to treatment. The analysis of these articles emphasized that the adherence of patients to ARV or HAART in various aspects considered in the literature was an important predictor of outcomes in their multiple representations in the monitoring of patients, independent of their clinical staging, use of prior treatment and baseline CD4 and viral load. In the third article, to 711 patients, there were considered data from antiretroviral disposal available at SICLOM for adherence assessment and estimation of therapeutic failure risk by the Cox model. In this study, it can be concluded that the level of non-adherence to HAART is directly associated with the highest risk of adverse outcomes, and adherence <75% had a substantial impact on the evolution of the disease, independent of other factors. In short, it can be concluded that despite the difficulties of comparing studies, due to treatment development, innumerable outcomes and forms of evaluations, there is no doubt about the occurrence of better prognosis in recent years. Even though the success of treatment depends on adherence, and this, in turn, depends on numerous factors, it is possible to say that improving patient adherence to treatment, independent of practically all other factors, it is possible to obtain a good prognosis for the development of the disease.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O número de mulheres jovens infectadas pelo HIV-1 vem crescendo desde o início da epidemia da aids, principalmente nos países em desenvolvimento, onde a frequência de gravidez é elevada. O desenvolvimento de estratégias para evitar a transmissão vertical tem aumentado o número de recém-nascidos não infectados nascidos de gestantes portadora do vírus. O objetivo da presente tese foi avaliar, in vivo e in vitro, o perfil de citocinas de neonatos não infectados, porém nascidos de mulheres infectadas pelo HIV-1. Os resultados demonstraram elevados níveis de citocinas pró-inflamatórias relacionadas ao fenótipo Th17, associadas à baixa produção de IL-10, tanto nos plasmas quanto nos sobrenadantes das culturas de células T ativadas obtidas do sangue do cordão umbilical de neonatos nascidos de gestantes infectadas pelo HIV-1 com cargas virais plasmáticas(PVL) detectáveis. De modo interessante, um perfil similar pró-inflamatório foi observado em amostras de sangue periférico de suas respectivas mães. Por outro lado, níveis elevados de IL-10, associados à reduzida produção de citocinas inflamatórias, foram dosados no sangue e nos sobrenadantes das culturas de células T ativadas de gestantes que controlavam a PVL, assim como de seus neonatos. Com relação à caracterização fenotípica das células T maternas produtoras de IL-10, a análise por citometria de fluxo demonstrou que essa citocina é majoritariamente produzida por células T CD4+Foxp3-. Curiosamente, a replicação viral in vitro do HIV-1 foi inferior nas culturas das gestantes infectadas pelo HIV-1 e foi relacionada aos efeitos inibitórios da IL-10 sobre a produção de TNF-&#945;. Por fim, os neonatos não infectados expostosin utero à terapia antirretroviral (ART) apresentaram um menor peso ao nascer, e este achado foi inversamente correlacionado com os níveis periféricos maternos de TNF-&#945;. Em conclusão, nossos achados sugerem que gestantes que conseguem controlar a PVL, e o incremento na produção de IL-10 materna possam favorecer a expansão das células Tr-1, as quais podem auxiliar em reduzir o risco de transmissão vertical do HIV-1 por reduzir a taxa de replicação viral. Por outro lado, outros resultados também apresentados aqui, apesar de preliminares, revelaram efeitos adversos da replicação viral e da ART em gestantes infectadas pelo HIV-1 no desenvolvimento funcional das células T de neonatos não infectados. Esses dados podem ajudar a explicar por que algumas dessas crianças apresentam elevado risco à morbidade e mortalidade devido a um estado basal de hipersensibilidade patológica. / The number of HIV-1-infected young women has been increasing since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, mainly in developing countries, where the frequency of pregnancy among them is also elevated. The development of strategies for vertical transmission avoidance has enhanced the number of uninfected neonates born from infected mothers. The objective of the present study was to evaluate, in vivo and in vitro, the cytokine profile of uninfected neonates born from pregnant women infected with HIV-1.The results demonstrated high levels of proinflammatory cytokines related to Th17 phenotype associated with low IL-10 production, in plasma as well as in culture supernatants of activated T cells obtained from umbilical cord blood of neonates born from mothers infected with HIV -1 with plasma viral load (PVL) detectable.Interestingly, a similar pro-inflammatory cytokine profile was observed in peripheral blood samples from their respective mothers.On the other hand, high levels of IL-10 associated to reduced production of inflammatory cytokines were measured in blood and in the supernatants of activated T cells culturesfrom women that controlled the PVL, as well as their neonates.Regarding the phenotypic profile of pregnant women infected of HIV-1, the main T lymphocyte subset involved in producing IL-10 was CD4+Foxp3-. Interestingly, the in vitro HIV-1 replication was lower in cell cultures from pregnant patients, and it was related to the inhibitory effects of IL-10 on the production of TNF-&#945;. Finally, ART-in utero-exposed neonates showed to be born with lower weight, and it was inversely correlated with maternal peripheral TNF-&#945; level. In conclusion, the results suggest that pregnant women that are able to control the PVL, and the increment in the production of IL-10 may favor maternal Tr-1 cell expansion, which could help to reduce the risk of vertical transmission of HIV-1 by reducing the rate of viral replication.However, other results also presented here, although preliminary, have revealed adverse effects of viral replication, as well as the use of ART by pregnant women infected with HIV-1 in the development of functional T cells from uninfected newborns.These data may help to explain why some of these children have elevated risk of clinical morbidity and mortality due to a baseline state of pathological hypersensitivity.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-08T14:47:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 2003558 bytes, checksum: b444f3214b726140549bb7c59a5a2268 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), transmitted by Human Immunodeficiency Vírus (HIV) it attacks the immune system, which may cause adverse effects on the general state of health, and in particular, the hearing health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hearing of children with HIV/AIDS and to assess the association of audiological findings in children with HIV/AIDS, relating them to the viral load, the opportunistic diseases and to antiretroviral treatment (TARV) instituted. We analyzed 23 children with HIV/AIDS that were followed at two specialized care services (SCS). Those responsible for the children responded to a questionnaire that included data on the clinical situation and the hearing health of children, which was subsequently complemented by information contained in medical records. Then, the external acoustic meatus was inspected and where necessary, the children were referred to the ent propitiate the realization of the audiological exams. The audiological evaluation was composed by examination of audiometry and immitanciometry (tympanometry and stapedial reflexes). For descriptive analysis of the data was used to the technique of inferential statistics, using Fisher's exact test, when the conditions for use of the test thur-square has not been verified. They were complied with the guidelines for research involving human beings contained in Resolution CNS N° 196/1996. There was an occurrence of hearing loss by ear in 84.8 % of the children analyzed, prevailing a percentage of 76.9 % of hearing loss discrete and 67.4 % for tympanometry curve type B. The otologic manifestations were observed in 65.2 % of the children, with the ear pain to the highest occurrence (66.7 %), there was no significant association with hearing loss (p=0.001). In relation to the association of hearing loss with the causal factor, there was no statistically significant association with the use of anti-retroviral therapy (p=0.031) and with the otitis (p=0.003), not showing for the variables viral load and the number of opportunistic diseases (p>0.05). The study showed the presence of hearing loss in children with HIV/AIDS, associated with the use of TARV and the otitis, but possibly not related solely to these, suggesting risks of damage to the linguistic development of children. The auditory follow in children with HIV/AIDS is important to diagnose and intervene as soon as possible on the possible causal factors of hearing loss, in order to preserve the hearing and to promote a development appropriate language, thus reducing the difficulties in the process of learning, education and social inclusion. / A Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida (AIDS) transmitida pelo Human Immunodeficiency Vírus (HIV) ataca o sistema imunológico, podendo causar repercussões sobre o estado geral de saúde e, de modo particular, à saúde auditiva. Objetivou-se avaliar a audição de crianças com HIV/AIDS e analisar a associação dos achados audiológicos em crianças com HIV/AIDS, relacionando-os à carga viral, às doenças oportunistas e ao tratamento antirretroviral (TARV) instituído. Foram analisadas 23 crianças com HIV/AIDS que estavam em acompanhamento em dois serviços de atendimento especializado (SAE). Os responsáveis pelas crianças responderam um questionário que continha dados sobre a situação clínica e a saúde auditiva das crianças, o qual foi posteriormente complementado por informações contidas em prontuário. Em seguida, foi realizada a inspeção do meato acústico externo e, quando necessário, as crianças foram encaminhadas ao otorrinolarigologista para propiciar a realização dos exames audiológicos. A avaliação audiológica foi composta pelo exame de audiometria tonal e imitanciometria (timpanometria e reflexos estapedianos). Para análise descritiva dos dados foi utilizada a técnica de estatística inferencial, através do teste Exato de Fisher, quando as condições para utilização do teste Qui-quadrado não foram verificadas. Foram respeitadas as orientações para pesquisa em seres humanos contidas na Resolução CNE N° 196/1996. Observou-se uma ocorrência de perdas auditivas por orelha em 84,8% das crianças analisadas, prevalecendo um percentual de 76,9% de perdas auditivas discretas e 67,4% para timpanometria de curva tipo B. As manifestações otológicas foram observadas em 65,2% das crianças, sendo a otalgia a de maior ocorrência (66,7%), havendo associação significativa desta com a perda auditiva (p=0,001). Em relação à correlação da perda auditiva ao fator causal, ocorreu associação estatisticamente significativa com o uso da terapia antirretroviral (p=0,031) e com a otite (p=0,003), não apresentando para as variáveis carga viral e o conjunto das doenças oportunistas (p>0,05). O estudo evidenciou a presença de perda auditiva nas crianças com HIV/AIDS, associada ao uso da TARV e da otite, mas possivelmente não relacionados exclusivamente a estes, sugerindo riscos de prejuízos para o desenvolvimento linguístico das crianças. O acompanhamento auditivo em crianças com HIV/AIDS é importante para diagnosticar e intervir o mais cedo possível sobre os possíveis fatores causais de perdas auditivas, a fim de preservar a audição e favorecer um desenvolvimento linguístico adequado, diminuindo as dificuldades no processo de aprendizagem, educação e inclusão social.

Thesis (DTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2012 / In this thesis, we investigate certain key aspects of mathematical modelling to explain the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS at the workplace and to assess the potential benefits of proposed control strategies. Deterministic models to investigate the effects of the transmission dynamics of HIV/AIDS on labour force productivity are formulated. The population is divided into mutually exclusive but exhaustive compartments and a system of differential equations is derived to describe the spread of the epidemic. The qualitative features of their equilibria are analyzed and conditions under which they are stable are provided. Sensitivity analysis of the reproductive number is carried out to determine the relative importance of model parameters to initial disease transmission. Results suggest that optimal control theory in conjunction with standard numerical procedures and cost effective analysis can be used to determine the best intervention strategies to curtail the burden HIV/AIDS is imposing on the human population, in particular to the global economy through infection of the most productive individuals. We utilise Pontryagin’s Maximum Principle to derive and then analyze numerically the conditions for optimal control of the disease with effective use of condoms, enlightenment/educational programs, treatment regime and screening of infectives. We study the potential impact on productivity of combinations of these conventional control measures against HIV. Our numerical results suggest that increased access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) could decrease not only the HIV prevalence but also increase productivity of the infected especially when coupled with prevention, enlightenment and screening efforts.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / O número de mulheres jovens infectadas pelo HIV-1 vem crescendo desde o início da epidemia da aids, principalmente nos países em desenvolvimento, onde a frequência de gravidez é elevada. O desenvolvimento de estratégias para evitar a transmissão vertical tem aumentado o número de recém-nascidos não infectados nascidos de gestantes portadora do vírus. O objetivo da presente tese foi avaliar, in vivo e in vitro, o perfil de citocinas de neonatos não infectados, porém nascidos de mulheres infectadas pelo HIV-1. Os resultados demonstraram elevados níveis de citocinas pró-inflamatórias relacionadas ao fenótipo Th17, associadas à baixa produção de IL-10, tanto nos plasmas quanto nos sobrenadantes das culturas de células T ativadas obtidas do sangue do cordão umbilical de neonatos nascidos de gestantes infectadas pelo HIV-1 com cargas virais plasmáticas(PVL) detectáveis. De modo interessante, um perfil similar pró-inflamatório foi observado em amostras de sangue periférico de suas respectivas mães. Por outro lado, níveis elevados de IL-10, associados à reduzida produção de citocinas inflamatórias, foram dosados no sangue e nos sobrenadantes das culturas de células T ativadas de gestantes que controlavam a PVL, assim como de seus neonatos. Com relação à caracterização fenotípica das células T maternas produtoras de IL-10, a análise por citometria de fluxo demonstrou que essa citocina é majoritariamente produzida por células T CD4+Foxp3-. Curiosamente, a replicação viral in vitro do HIV-1 foi inferior nas culturas das gestantes infectadas pelo HIV-1 e foi relacionada aos efeitos inibitórios da IL-10 sobre a produção de TNF-&#945;. Por fim, os neonatos não infectados expostosin utero à terapia antirretroviral (ART) apresentaram um menor peso ao nascer, e este achado foi inversamente correlacionado com os níveis periféricos maternos de TNF-&#945;. Em conclusão, nossos achados sugerem que gestantes que conseguem controlar a PVL, e o incremento na produção de IL-10 materna possam favorecer a expansão das células Tr-1, as quais podem auxiliar em reduzir o risco de transmissão vertical do HIV-1 por reduzir a taxa de replicação viral. Por outro lado, outros resultados também apresentados aqui, apesar de preliminares, revelaram efeitos adversos da replicação viral e da ART em gestantes infectadas pelo HIV-1 no desenvolvimento funcional das células T de neonatos não infectados. Esses dados podem ajudar a explicar por que algumas dessas crianças apresentam elevado risco à morbidade e mortalidade devido a um estado basal de hipersensibilidade patológica. / The number of HIV-1-infected young women has been increasing since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, mainly in developing countries, where the frequency of pregnancy among them is also elevated. The development of strategies for vertical transmission avoidance has enhanced the number of uninfected neonates born from infected mothers. The objective of the present study was to evaluate, in vivo and in vitro, the cytokine profile of uninfected neonates born from pregnant women infected with HIV-1.The results demonstrated high levels of proinflammatory cytokines related to Th17 phenotype associated with low IL-10 production, in plasma as well as in culture supernatants of activated T cells obtained from umbilical cord blood of neonates born from mothers infected with HIV -1 with plasma viral load (PVL) detectable.Interestingly, a similar pro-inflammatory cytokine profile was observed in peripheral blood samples from their respective mothers.On the other hand, high levels of IL-10 associated to reduced production of inflammatory cytokines were measured in blood and in the supernatants of activated T cells culturesfrom women that controlled the PVL, as well as their neonates.Regarding the phenotypic profile of pregnant women infected of HIV-1, the main T lymphocyte subset involved in producing IL-10 was CD4+Foxp3-. Interestingly, the in vitro HIV-1 replication was lower in cell cultures from pregnant patients, and it was related to the inhibitory effects of IL-10 on the production of TNF-&#945;. Finally, ART-in utero-exposed neonates showed to be born with lower weight, and it was inversely correlated with maternal peripheral TNF-&#945; level. In conclusion, the results suggest that pregnant women that are able to control the PVL, and the increment in the production of IL-10 may favor maternal Tr-1 cell expansion, which could help to reduce the risk of vertical transmission of HIV-1 by reducing the rate of viral replication.However, other results also presented here, although preliminary, have revealed adverse effects of viral replication, as well as the use of ART by pregnant women infected with HIV-1 in the development of functional T cells from uninfected newborns.These data may help to explain why some of these children have elevated risk of clinical morbidity and mortality due to a baseline state of pathological hypersensitivity.