No abstract

Human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) replicates actively in infected individuals, yet cells with intracellular depots of viral protein are observed only infrequently. Many cells expressing the HIV-1 Gag protein were detected at the surface of the nasopharyngeal tonsil or adenoid. This infected mucosal surface contained T cells and dendritic cells, two cell types that together support HIV-1 replication in culture. The infected cells were multinucleated syncytia and expressed the S100 and p55 dendritic cell markers. Eleven of the 13 specimens analyzed were from donors who did not have symptoms of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The interaction of dendritic cells and T cells in mucosa may support HIV-1 replication, even in subclinical stages of infection.

To examine perinatal transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in Zaire, we screened 8108 women who gave birth at one of two Kinshasa hospitals that serve populations of markedly different socioeconomic status. For up to one year, we followed the 475 infants of the 466 seropositive women (5.8 percent of those screened) and the 616 infants of 606 seronegative women matched for age, parity, and hospital. On the basis of clinical criteria, 85 of the seropositive women (18 percent) had the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The infants of seropositive mothers, as compared with those of seronegative mothers, were more frequently premature, had lower birth weights, and had a higher death rate in the first 28 days (6.2 vs. 1.2 percent; P less than 0.0001). The patterns were similar at the two hospitals. Twenty-one percent of the cultures for HIV-1 of 92 randomly selected cord-blood samples from infants of seropositive women were positive. T4-cell counts were performed in 37 seropositive women, and cord blood from their infants was cultured. The cultures were positive in the infants of 6 of the 18 women with antepartum T4 counts of 400 or fewer cells per cubic millimeter, as compared with none of the infants of the 19 women with more than 400 T4 cells per cubic millimeter (P = 0.02). One year later, 21 percent of the infants of the seropositive mothers had died as compared with 3.8 percent of the control infants (P less than 0.001), and 7.9 percent of their surviving infants had AIDS. We conclude that the mortality rates among children of seropositive mothers are high regardless of socioeconomic status, and that perinatal transmission of HIV-1 has a major adverse effect on infant survival in Kinshasa.

Certain human genital papillomaviruses (HPV) are strongly associated with cervical dysplasia and cancer. Evidence is accumulating that HPV infection and ano-genital cancers are more common in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The objective of our study was to evaluate the extent to which HPV infection and associated cervical disease constitute opportunistic complications of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in a population of sexually promiscuous, HIV-infected women in Kinshasa, Zaire. In 1989 we obtained Pap smears and cervicovaginal lavage specimens for HPV DNA testing from 47 HIV-seropositive and 48 HIV-seronegative prostitutes who were part of a cohort under observation since 1988. Thirty-eight percent of the HIV-seropositive and 8% of the seronegative women (odds ratio = 6.8; p = 0.001) had HPV DNA detected by either ViraType, a dot-blot assay which detects specific genital HPV types, or low-stringency Southern blot, which detects all HPV types. Eighty-two women (86%) had an interpretable Pap smear; 11 of 41 (27%) HIV-seropositive women and one of 41 (3%) seronegative women had cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia (CIN) (odds ratio = 14.7; p = 0.002). HIV seropositivity, HPV infection and CIN were highly associated. Eight (73%) of 11 seropositive women with CIN had HPV detected. Both HPV infection and cervical cancer may emerge as opportunistic complications of HIV infection in populations in which HIV, HPV and cervical cancer are common.

The connection of a clinician who identifies a patient with signs and symptoms of malignancy to an oncologist who has the tools to treat a patient's cancer requires a diagnostic pathology laboratory to receive, process, and diagnose the tumor. Without an accurate classification, nothing is known of diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment by the clinical team, and most important, the patient is left scared, confused, and without hope. The vast majority of deaths from malignancies occur in sub-Saharan Africa primarily as a result of lack of public awareness of cancer and how it is diagnosed and treated in the setting of a severe lack of resources (physical and personnel) to actually diagnose tumors. To correct this massive health disparity, a plan of action is required across the continent of Africa to bring diagnostic medicine into the modern era and connect patients with the care they desperately need. We performed a survey of resources in Africa for tissue diagnosis of cancer and asked quantitative questions about tools, personnel, and utilization. We identified a strong correlation between pathology staffing and capacity to provide pathology services. On the basis of this survey and through a congress of concerned pathologists, we propose strategies that will catapult the continent into an era of high-quality pathology services with resultant improvement in cancer outcomes.