Immunorecovered but Exhausted: Persistent PD-1/PD-L1 Expression Despite Virologic Suppression and CD4 Recovery in PLWH.

While ART effectively suppresses HIV viremia, many PLWH exhibit persistent immune dysfunction. This study aimed to assess immune recovery and immune exhaustion (PD-1/PD-L1 expression) in newly diagnosed versus long-term ART-treated individuals. We analyzed 79 PLWH: 52 newly diagnosed individuals (12-month follow-up) and 27 long-term-treated patients (Ukrainian refugees).

Comparison of HIV-1 A6 dispersal dynamics in Poland before and after the war in Ukraine.

The war-related migrations from Ukraine to Poland have resulted in an increased prevalence of individuals diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) A6 variant. We examined the impact of the influx of people living with HIV (PLWH) displaced from Ukraine on the emergence of transmission events and evolving patterns in the A6 epidemic in Poland. We created a dataset of 13,696 unique HIV-1 pol gene fragments of sub-subtype A6 including 1,889 sequences from Poland.

Changes of methylation at enhancers appear to be essential for HIV infection progression.

Background: We studied the influence of the European HIV-1 subtype B (most common in the Western and Central Europe) and subtype A6 (prevalent in Eastern Europe including Ukraine and Russia) on host methylome during infection progression and in virus-subtype-specific manner.

Results: Our results show that regardless of virus subtype, in the initial phase of the infection, HIV-related methylation changes more frequently affect parts of the genome with low expression activity including heterochromatin and quiescent regions. But, at stage four of the infection regions of the genome harboring HIV-related methylation changes are enhancers.

Rethinking HIV treatment: How non-integrase strand regimens may hold the key to better immune health.

Purpose: HIV outcome changed drastically with antiretroviral (ARV) therapy, especially after the introduction of second-generation integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs). Despite these advances, however, chronic immune activation and exhaustion, marked by programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) upregulation, persist in patients. This study investigates the impact of various ARV regimens on these immune exhaustion markers in newly diagnosed HIV patients over 12 months, taking into consideration cardiovascular risk.

Identifying the unknown: Application of molecular epidemiology tools to identify clustering and HIV transmission routes in Poland.

Background: Understanding the dynamics of HIV-1 transmission is essential for developing effective screening and intervention strategies. Viral genetic sequences provide valuable information that can be used to infer the history and patterns of viral transmission.

Purpose: Our study explores the structure and dynamics of HIV transmissions in Poland from 1999 to 2022 to elucidate key patterns related with national epidemics.

Frequency of Major Transmitted Integrase Resistance in Poland Remains Low Despite Change in Subtype Variability.

With the widespread use of integrase inhibitors and the expanding use of long-acting cabotegravir in both pre-exposure prophylaxis and antiretroviral treatment, molecular surveillance on the transmission of integrase resistance has regained clinical significance. This study aimed to determine the frequency of INSTI-transmitted drug resistance mutations (DRMs) among treatment-naïve individuals in Poland from 2016 to 2023. INSTI resistance was analyzed in 882 antiretroviral treatment-naïve individuals using Sanger sequencing.

Cardiovascular Risk in People Living with Human Immunodeficiency (HIV) Viremia Suppression in a Young, Mid-Eastern European Population - Preliminary Study.

Purpose: People living with HIV are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and myocardial infarction related to atherosclerosis than the uninfected population. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in a young, mid-eastern European population of PLWH receiving ART for undetectable viremia.

Patients And Methods: This was a single-centre study.

HIV Care in Ukrainian Migrants in Two European Countries: All the Same?

War in Ukraine prompted an enormous refugee influx into Europe, including approximately 4200 people with HIV. The unique healthcare features of Ukrainian refugees living with HIV were compared between two infectious disease departments in Bonn, Germany, and Szczecin, Poland. This is a retrospective study on 161 people living with HIV (PLWH) refugees from Ukraine seeking care in Bonn (n = 30) and Szczecin (n = 131) between April 2022 and May 2023.

Overcoming Geographical Constraints: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge of Amebic Liver Abscess in a Non-Endemic Region.

This case report provides data on unique challenges related to amoebiasis diagnostics and treatment in non-endemic regions. The presented case report is focused a 28-year-old male patient of Indian origin, temporarily living in Poland, who was diagnosed with an amoebic liver abscess. The patient presented with a range of non-specific symptoms including shortness of breath, chest pain, and fever.

Phylodynamic evolution of HIV-1 A6 sub-subtype epidemics in Poland.

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) A6 sub-subtype is highly prevalent in Eastern Europe. Over the past decade, the dissemination of the A6 lineage has been expanding in Poland. The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine may further escalate the spread of this sub-subtype.

Unveiling the Heart of the Matter: Echocardiographic Insights into Diastolic Function and Left Ventricular and Atrial Changes in HIV Patients with Controlled Viremia.

Background: People living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH) have increased risk of developing diastolic dysfunction (DD) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (EF). In this observational study, we evaluated DD and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in PLWH receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) with undetectable viremia.

Methods: We conducted an observational study.

Artificial neural network based prediction of the lung tissue involvement as an independent in-hospital mortality and mechanical ventilation risk factor in COVID-19.

Introduction: During COVID-19 pandemic, artificial neural network (ANN) systems have been providing aid for clinical decisions. However, to achieve optimal results, these models should link multiple clinical data points to simple models. This study aimed to model the in-hospital mortality and mechanical ventilation risk using a two step approach combining clinical variables and ANN-analyzed lung inflammation data.

Clinical Perspective on Human Immunodeficiency Virus Care of Ukrainian War Refugees in Poland.

Background: The Russian invasion of Ukraine forced migration for safety, protection, and assistance. Poland is the primary sheltering country for Ukrainian refugees, providing support including medical care, which resulted in the rapid ∼15% increase in the number of followed-up people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PWH) in the country. Here, we present the national experience on HIV care provided for refugees from Ukraine.

Improved survival in intensive care unit in severe COVID-19 associated with amantadine use - retrospective study.

Objectives: Possible immunomodulatory effect of amantadine in patients treated in intensive care unit (ICU), mostly among patients with brain injuries or vascular diseases was observed in several studies. The potential antiviral effect of amantadine against SARS-CoV-2 was discarded in clinical trials; however, immunomodulatory potential was not studied. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of immunomodulatory amantadine therapy on mortality in patients with respiratory insufficiency due to COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation in ICU.

Detection of Polish cases of highly virulent subtype B of HIV-1 originating in the Netherlands.

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype B is most commonly acquired in Poland through men who have sex with men (MSM) comparable to the HIV epidemic in the Netherlands. Following a paper by Chris Wymant et al. on February 4, 2022 in Science on a highly virulent variant of HIV-1 subtype-B (VB-variant) in the Netherlands raised concerns about the possibility of the variant dissemination to other European countries.

Remdesivir Reduces Mortality in Hemato-Oncology Patients with COVID-19.

Introduction: Remdesivir is the first agent with proven clinical efficacy against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); however, its benefit is associated with early use, and its efficacy has been poorly studied in patients with hemato-oncological diseases, who have an increased risk of a severe course of infection. This study aimed to assess the effects of remdesivir on mortality, mechanical ventilation, and the duration of hospitalization in both the general population and in patients with hemato-oncological diseases.

Materials And Methods: Longitudinal data for 4287 patients with confirmed COVID-19 were analyzed, including a subset of 200 individuals with hemato-oncological diseases.

Correction: Influence of HLA-B*5701 on 20 year survival rate among patients living with HIV.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Tocilizumab Use among Patients Who Developed Pulmonary Embolism in the Course of Cytokine Release Storm and COVID-19 Pneumonia-A Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Thromboembolic events, including mainly pulmonary embolisms and ischemic strokes, occur in up to one-third of COVID-19 patients. As efficacy of tocilizumab (TCZ) among patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) was not previously investigated, this study aimed to provide such data.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of TCZ on mortality in patients with confirmed acute pulmonary embolism, cytokine release storm and COVID-19 pneumonia.

Programmed Cell Death-1/Programmed Cell Death-1 Ligand as Prognostic Markers of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Severity.

Current research proves that immune dysregulation is a common feature of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and immune exhaustion is associated with increased disease mortality. Immune checkpoint molecules, including the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) axis, may serve as markers of disease severity. Accordingly, in this study, we evaluated the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 in patients with COVID-19.

Phylodynamic Dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 Lineages Circulating across Polish-German Border Provinces.

Introduction: The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has evolved into a worldwide outbreak, with significant molecular evolution over time. Large-scale phylodynamic studies allow to map the virus spread and inform preventive strategies. Aim: This study investigates the extent of binational dispersal and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 lineages between seven border provinces of the adjacent countries of Poland and Germany to reconstruct SARS-CoV-2 transmission networks.

Factors Influencing Immune Restoration in People Living with HIV/AIDS.

Introduction: Immune restoration is a key clinical aspect that is pursued in the care of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Despite effective antiretroviral treatment and undetectable viremia, immune recovery is often incomplete. Materials and methods: Data from 311 Caucasian patients were collected.