2022
Long-term quantitative assessment of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein immunogenicity (QUASI) after COVID-19 vaccination in older people living with HIV (PWH)
Tuan JJ, Zapata H, Barakat L, Andrews L, Behnegar A, Kim YW, Kayani J, Mutic S, Ryall L, Turcotte B, Critch-Gilfillan T, Zhao M, Salahuddin S, Gupta S, Sutton R, Friedland G, Emu B, Ogbuagu O. Long-term quantitative assessment of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein immunogenicity (QUASI) after COVID-19 vaccination in older people living with HIV (PWH). BMC Infectious Diseases 2022, 22: 744. PMID: 36131232, PMCID: PMC9491266, DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07737-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsT cell responsesAnti-spike IgGVisit 3SARS-CoV-2Older PWHVisit 2Immune responseSingle-center longitudinal observational studyVirus-specific T cell responsesVaccine-induced humoral immunityLong-term protective immunityT cell immune responsesOlder peopleMedian age 61RBD IgG levelsPrimary study outcomeCOVID-19 vaccinationImmune response evaluationLongitudinal observational studyCOVID-19 vaccineWilcoxon signed-rank testBNT162b2 boosterBNT162b2 vaccinationCD8 responsesDetectable CD4
2021
Cumulative burden of non-communicable diseases predicts COVID hospitalization among people with HIV: A one-year retrospective cohort study
Virata MD, Shenoi SV, Ladines-Lim J, Villanueva MS, Barakat LA. Cumulative burden of non-communicable diseases predicts COVID hospitalization among people with HIV: A one-year retrospective cohort study. PLOS ONE 2021, 16: e0260251. PMID: 34851963, PMCID: PMC8635326, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260251.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsOne-year retrospective cohort studyCohort of PWHNon-communicable comorbiditiesPredictors of hospitalizationRetrospective cohort studyChronic lung diseaseLikelihood of hospitalizationSingle-site experienceCOVID-19 infectionNon-communicable diseasesOutcomes of peopleCohort studyHIV diseaseOverall mortalityClinical outcomesLung diseaseCardiovascular diseaseHospitalizationCumulative burdenHIVLater timeframeDiseaseEarly epidemicPWHOutcomesHigh HIV Detection in a Tertiary Facility in Liberia: Implications and Opportunities
Ogbuagu O, Wachekwa I, Yasin F, Nuta C, Donato S, Toomey J, Adeiza M, Barakat LA. High HIV Detection in a Tertiary Facility in Liberia: Implications and Opportunities. Annals Of Global Health 2021, 87: 117. PMID: 34900617, PMCID: PMC8622250, DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3243.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV testing dataNon-pregnant individualsHIV detection rateTertiary facilityPrevention interventionsJohn F. Kennedy Medical CenterHospital-based retrospective analysisSignificant public health challengeStudy periodAnnual diagnosis ratePre-exposure prophylaxisPositive HIV testLarge tertiary hospitalCase detection ratePublic health challengeYears of ageNational prevalence estimatesDetection rateHIV/AIDSAntenatal clinicHIV testHIV testingTertiary hospitalPregnant womenUNAIDS 95VZV myelitis with secondary HIV CSF escape
Weiss JJ, Spudich S, Barakat L. VZV myelitis with secondary HIV CSF escape. BMJ Case Reports 2021, 14: e241738. PMID: 34187795, PMCID: PMC8245447, DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-241738.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical NotesConceptsVaricella-zoster virusCSF escapeVZV myelitisSkin lesionsCerebrospinal fluidCSF HIV viral loadRight upper extremity weaknessCentral nervous system infectionSubsequent oral therapyUpper extremity weaknessHIV viral loadNervous system infectionVesicular skin lesionsCopies/mLDirect fluorescent antibody testingFluorescent antibody testingIntravenous acyclovirVZV PCRExtremity weaknessOral therapyRare complicationSystem infectionAtypical presentationImmunosuppressed patientsVZV infectionRace and ethnicity do not impact eligibility for remdesivir: A single-center experience
Pischel L, Walelo M, Benson J, Osborn R, Schrier R, Tuan J, Barakat L, Ogbuagu O. Race and ethnicity do not impact eligibility for remdesivir: A single-center experience. PLOS ONE 2021, 16: e0250735. PMID: 33956849, PMCID: PMC8101938, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250735.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsClinical trialsExclusion criteriaSingle health care systemObservational cohort studySingle-center experienceClinical trial criteriaTime of presentationMedical record chartsNon-Hispanic whitesEthnic minority enrollmentSimilar ratesHealth care systemCohort studyTrial criteriaMultiple therapiesInclusion criteriaRecord chartsEthnic groupsRemdesivirCare systemTrialsSelf-identified WhiteEligibilityWhite participantsMultiple potential barriers
2020
Decreased Overall Survival in HIV-associated Non–small-cell Lung Cancer
Hysell K, Yusuf R, Barakat L, Virata M, Gan G, Deng Y, Perez-Irizarry J, Vega T, Goldberg SB, Emu B. Decreased Overall Survival in HIV-associated Non–small-cell Lung Cancer. Clinical Lung Cancer 2020, 22: e498-e505. PMID: 33468393, PMCID: PMC8169710, DOI: 10.1016/j.cllc.2020.11.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCell lung cancerGeneral patientsNSCLC populationLung cancerCox proportional hazards modelYale-New Haven HospitalGeneral NSCLC populationOutcomes of patientsOverall median survivalRetrospective cohort studyPredictors of survivalKaplan-Meier curvesHIV-1 RNACopies/mLLog-rank testProportional hazards modelNew Haven HospitalCancer treatment regimensMedian CD4Antiretroviral therapyCohort studyMedian survivalOverall survivalHIV infectionMedian ageAcute encephalopathy with elevated CSF inflammatory markers as the initial presentation of COVID-19
Farhadian S, Glick LR, Vogels CBF, Thomas J, Chiarella J, Casanovas-Massana A, Zhou J, Odio C, Vijayakumar P, Geng B, Fournier J, Bermejo S, Fauver JR, Alpert T, Wyllie AL, Turcotte C, Steinle M, Paczkowski P, Dela Cruz C, Wilen C, Ko AI, MacKay S, Grubaugh ND, Spudich S, Barakat LA. Acute encephalopathy with elevated CSF inflammatory markers as the initial presentation of COVID-19. BMC Neurology 2020, 20: 248. PMID: 32552792, PMCID: PMC7301053, DOI: 10.1186/s12883-020-01812-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInitial presentationCentral nervous system inflammationSARS-CoV-2 infectionCSF inflammatory markersNervous system inflammationCerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokinesSeizure-like activityCOVID-19 infectionVirus SARS-CoV-2COVID-19SARS-CoV-2BackgroundCOVID-19Inflammatory markersNeurologic complicationsSystem inflammationImmunocompromised womanNeurologic manifestationsNeurologic symptomsViral neuroinvasionCase presentationWeInfected patientsMental statusRespiratory pathogensConclusionOur findingsInflammationTocilizumab Treatment for Cytokine Release Syndrome in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Survival and Clinical Outcomes
Price CC, Altice FL, Shyr Y, Koff A, Pischel L, Goshua G, Azar MM, Mcmanus D, Chen SC, Gleeson SE, Britto CJ, Azmy V, Kaman K, Gaston DC, Davis M, Burrello T, Harris Z, Villanueva MS, Aoun-Barakat L, Kang I, Seropian S, Chupp G, Bucala R, Kaminski N, Lee AI, LoRusso PM, Topal JE, Dela Cruz C, Malinis M. Tocilizumab Treatment for Cytokine Release Syndrome in Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 Survival and Clinical Outcomes. CHEST Journal 2020, 158: 1397-1408. PMID: 32553536, PMCID: PMC7831876, DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.06.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCytokine release syndromeTocilizumab-treated patientsSevere diseaseRelease syndromeTocilizumab treatmentInflammatory biomarkersNonsevere diseaseSoluble IL-2 receptor levelsHigh-sensitivity C-reactive proteinIL-2 receptor levelsConsecutive COVID-19 patientsIL-6 receptor antagonistMechanical ventilation outcomesC-reactive proteinCOVID-19 patientsHigher admission levelsRace/ethnicityMV daysVentilation outcomesAdverse eventsChart reviewClinical responseMedian ageWhite patientsClinical outcomes
2019
Dysregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 gene in HIV treatment-experienced individuals
Sopeyin A, Zhou L, Li M, Barakat L, Paintsil E. Dysregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 gene in HIV treatment-experienced individuals. PLOS ONE 2019, 14: e0226573. PMID: 31846498, PMCID: PMC6917281, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226573.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTreatment-experienced individualsAntiretroviral therapyCholesterol biosynthesis genesSide effectsEffect of ARTLow density lipoprotein receptor pathwayHIV viral suppressionCase-control studyLipoprotein receptor pathwaySterol regulatory element-binding protein 2Cassette transporter A1Protein expression levelsViral suppressionLipid abnormalitiesClinical manifestationsMetabolic derangementsCardiovascular diseaseRetrospective analysisTherapeutic benefitProtein 2 geneMRNA expressionReceptor pathwayMarked decreaseDysregulationExpression levels
2018
Impact of Aging and HIV Infection on the Function of the C-Type Lectin Receptor MINCLE in Monocytes
Zapata HJ, Van Ness PH, Avey S, Siconolfi B, Allore HG, Tsang S, Wilson J, Barakat L, Mohanty S, Shaw AC. Impact of Aging and HIV Infection on the Function of the C-Type Lectin Receptor MINCLE in Monocytes. The Journals Of Gerontology Series A 2018, 74: 794-801. PMID: 30239628, PMCID: PMC6521921, DOI: 10.1093/gerona/gly209.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPro-inflammatory environmentHIV infectionInnate immune pattern recognition receptorsPeripheral blood mononuclear cellsImmune pattern recognition receptorsC-type lectin receptorsCohort of HIVBlood mononuclear cellsMulticolor flow cytometryC-type lectin receptor MinclePattern recognition receptorsIL-10IL-12Cytokine productionIL-6Mononuclear cellsImmune responseHost responseCord factorFlow cytometryM. tuberculosisLectin receptorsMycobacterium tuberculosisOlder adultsImpact of aging
2016
Characterizing Patients with Very-Low-Level HIV Viremia: A Community-Based Study
Helou E, Shenoi S, Kyriakides T, Landry ML, Kozal M, Barakat LA. Characterizing Patients with Very-Low-Level HIV Viremia: A Community-Based Study. Journal Of The International Association Of Providers Of AIDS Care (JIAPAC) 2016, 16: 261-266. PMID: 27903948, PMCID: PMC5423832, DOI: 10.1177/2325957416680028.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVirologic failureViral load levelsPill burdenAlcohol useHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) careLow-level HIV viremiaUndetectable viral load levelsAntiretroviral regimen changesAntiretroviral therapy changesExperienced virologic failureLow-level viremiaIntravenous drug useSubset of patientsFrequent clinic visitsPoor clinical outcomePossible risk factorsHepatitis C virusHIV viremiaMore comorbiditiesNonfailure groupVirologic suppressionVirological failureCD4 countConsecutive chartsClinic visits
2015
Trends in hospital deaths among human immunodeficiency virus–infected patients during the antiretroviral therapy era, 1995 to 2011
Cowell A, Shenoi SV, Kyriakides TC, Friedland G, Barakat LA. Trends in hospital deaths among human immunodeficiency virus–infected patients during the antiretroviral therapy era, 1995 to 2011. Journal Of Hospital Medicine 2015, 10: 608-614. PMID: 26130520, PMCID: PMC4560992, DOI: 10.1002/jhm.2409.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHospital deathAIDS deathsHuman immunodeficiency virus-infected patientsHigher CD4 cell countsAIDS infectionAntiretroviral therapy eraNon-AIDS deathsNon-AIDS malignanciesCD4 cell countHIV viral loadVirus-infected patientsHuman immunodeficiency virusUrban teaching hospitalTimes greater likelihoodCardiovascular comorbiditiesTherapy eraCD4 countInpatient mortalityImmunodeficiency syndromeLiver diseaseUnderlying liverViral loadImmunodeficiency virusMedical recordsAntiretroviral eraIncreased Levels of Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins Result in Resistance to R5-Tropic HIV-1 in a Subset of Elite Controllers
Walker WE, Kurscheid S, Joshi S, Lopez CA, Goh G, Choi M, Barakat L, Francis J, Fisher A, Kozal M, Zapata H, Shaw A, Lifton R, Sutton RE, Fikrig E. Increased Levels of Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins Result in Resistance to R5-Tropic HIV-1 in a Subset of Elite Controllers. Journal Of Virology 2015, 89: 5502-5514. PMID: 25740989, PMCID: PMC4442529, DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00118-15.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedCase-Control StudiesCD4-Positive T-LymphocytesChemokine CCL3Chemokine CCL4Chemokine CCL5Chemokines, CCCohort StudiesFemaleGene DosageHIV InfectionsHIV Long-Term SurvivorsHIV-1Host-Pathogen InteractionsHumansMacrophage Inflammatory ProteinsMaleMiddle AgedReceptors, CCR5Receptors, CXCR4RNA, MessengerUp-RegulationConceptsElite controllersHIV-seropositive individualsAntiretroviral therapyT cellsMIP-1βMIP-1αHIV infectionSeropositive individualsAbsence of ARTR5-tropic HIV-1Macrophage inflammatory protein-1αR5-tropic HIVInflammatory protein-1αT cell resistancePandemic health problemRANTES chemokinesHIV replicationRare patientsHealthy controlsTherapeutic effectHIV entryHIV-1X4-tropicHealth problemsProtein-1α
2014
Antiretroviral Therapy–Induced Mitochondrial Toxicity: Potential Mechanisms Beyond Polymerase‐γ Inhibition
Selvaraj S, Ghebremichael M, Li M, Foli Y, Langs-Barlow A, Ogbuagu A, Barakat L, Tubridy E, Edifor R, Lam W, Cheng Y, Paintsil E. Antiretroviral Therapy–Induced Mitochondrial Toxicity: Potential Mechanisms Beyond Polymerase‐γ Inhibition. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics 2014, 96: 110-120. PMID: 24637942, PMCID: PMC4065195, DOI: 10.1038/clpt.2014.64.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAnti-HIV AgentsATP-Binding Cassette TransportersCase-Control StudiesDeoxyribonucleotidesDNA Polymerase gammaDNA-Directed DNA PolymeraseDNA, MitochondrialFemaleGene DosageHIV InfectionsHumansMaleMiddle AgedMitochondriaNucleic Acid Synthesis InhibitorsNucleotide Transport ProteinsNucleotidesReverse Transcriptase InhibitorsRibonucleotidesConceptsAntiretroviral therapyPeripheral blood mononuclear cellsMitochondrial toxicityBlood mononuclear cellsNegative controlMitochondrial DNA copy numberMononuclear cellsDNA copy numberMitochondrial dysfunctionHigh expression levelsPotential mechanismsGroup differencesExpression levelsPositive controlTherapyMedian valueToxicityDeoxyribonucleotide poolsCellular kinasesCassette proteinCellsDysfunctionTriphosphateControl
2003
Complicated Left-Sided Native Valve Endocarditis in Adults: Risk Classification for Mortality
Hasbun R, Vikram HR, Barakat LA, Buenconsejo J, Quagliarello VJ. Complicated Left-Sided Native Valve Endocarditis in Adults: Risk Classification for Mortality. JAMA 2003, 289: 1933-1940. PMID: 12697795, DOI: 10.1001/jama.289.15.1933.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsLeft-sided native valve endocarditisNative valve endocarditisPrognostic classification systemsValve endocarditisValidation cohortRetrospective observational cohort studyObservational cohort studyBaseline featuresEstimation of prognosisCause mortalityCohort studyDerivation cohortSignificant morbidityClassification systemPrognostic severityConnecticut hospitalsMAIN OUTCOMESimilar riskEndocarditisMortality rateMortalityCohortPatientsRisk classificationAdults
2002
Fatal Inhalational Anthrax in a 94-Year-Old Connecticut Woman
Barakat LA, Quentzel HL, Jernigan JA, Kirschke DL, Griffith K, Spear SM, Kelley K, Barden D, Mayo D, Stephens DS, Popovic T, Marston C, Zaki SR, Guarner J, Shieh WJ, Carver HW, Meyer RF, Swerdlow DL, Mast EE, Hadler JL, Team F. Fatal Inhalational Anthrax in a 94-Year-Old Connecticut Woman. JAMA 2002, 287: 863-868. PMID: 11851578, DOI: 10.1001/jama.287.7.863.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAgedAnthraxAutopsyBacillus anthracisBioterrorismConnecticutDNA, BacterialEnvironmental ExposureFatal OutcomeFemaleHemorrhageHumansLymph NodesMediastinal DiseasesMediastinumNecrosisPleural EffusionPulmonary EdemaRadiographyRespiratory InsufficiencyRespiratory Tract InfectionsSpores, BacterialConceptsClinical courseInhalational anthraxBioterrorism-related inhalational anthraxMediastinal lymph nodesPatient's clinical courseAdministration of antibioticsSources of exposureRespiratory insufficiencyAntibiotic therapyIll patientsLymph nodesClinical featuresPleural effusionPulmonary edemaBlood culturesConnecticut womenDiagnostic testsPatientsB anthracisWomenExposureBacteremiaEdemaAnthraxEffusion