2023
Expanded or Risk Factor-Based Annual Screening for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Among Persons With HIV: Which Is the Best Approach?
Hao R, Brooks R, Zelenev A, Spinner G, Barakat L, Villanueva M. Expanded or Risk Factor-Based Annual Screening for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Among Persons With HIV: Which Is the Best Approach? Health Promotion Practice 2023, 24: 1009-1017. PMID: 37439817, DOI: 10.1177/15248399231169794.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHepatitis C virusRisk factor-based screeningElectronic medical recordsHIV clinicAnnual screeningC virusRisk factorsScreening siteAnnual screening ratesNew HCV diagnosesClinical decision support toolRisk factor assessmentPublic health expertsHCV testingHCV casesClinical decision supportHCV diagnosisHCV testScreening ratesProspective studyMedical recordsPositivity ratePositive casesUnprotected sexClinicHIV risk profile and prevention needs of individuals seeking monkeypox (mpox) vaccination in an urban clinic in the U.S.: a brief report
Ogbuagu O, Sharma M, Igiraneza G, Andrews L, Tuan J, Barakat L. HIV risk profile and prevention needs of individuals seeking monkeypox (mpox) vaccination in an urban clinic in the U.S.: a brief report. BMC Infectious Diseases 2023, 23: 146. PMID: 36890468, PMCID: PMC9993362, DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08075-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHIV risk profilesSTI riskPre-exposure prophylaxis useRisk profileMedian age 28 yearsHIV-negative respondentsHIV-negative participantsHIV-negative individualsReceptive anal intercourseModerate alcohol useAge 28 yearsCross-sectional surveySexual partner numberProphylaxis useResultsEighty-onePrEP knowledgeHIV positivityPrevention gapUrban clinicCenter clinicPrevention needsSTI historyInclusion criteriaAnal intercourseIllicit substances
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 95Race 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
Tocilizumab 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 receptorsCohort of HIVC-type lectin receptorsBlood mononuclear cellsMulticolor flow cytometryC-type lectin receptor MinclePattern recognition receptorsIL-10IL-12Cytokine productionIL-6Mononuclear cellsImmune responseHost responseCord factorFlow cytometryM. tuberculosisLectin receptorsMycobacterium tuberculosisOlder adultsImpact of agingPrevalence and Correlates of Unhealthy Alcohol and Drug Use Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Prescribed HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Real-World Clinical Settings
Ogbuagu O, Marshall BDL, Tiberio P, Ogunbajo A, Barakat L, Montgomery M, Almonte A, Wray T, Williams EC, Edelman EJ, Chan PA. Prevalence and Correlates of Unhealthy Alcohol and Drug Use Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Prescribed HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Real-World Clinical Settings. AIDS And Behavior 2018, 23: 190-200. PMID: 30145707, PMCID: PMC7020905, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-018-2260-9.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsUnhealthy alcohol useUnhealthy alcoholPre-exposure prophylaxisUnhealthy substance useDrug useHIV acquisitionAlcohol useSubstance useHIV pre-exposure prophylaxisReal-world clinical settingProspective observational studyHIV-positive partnerHIV risk behaviorsStructured clinical assessmentFrequent drug usePrEP outcomesPrEP useRisk factorsClinical assessmentObservational studyPositive partnerReal-world settingMultivariate analysisYounger ageSexual partners
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 visitsUnusual presentation of disseminated Nocardia abscessus infection in a patient with AIDS
Sherbuk J, Saly D, Barakat L, Ogbuagu O. Unusual presentation of disseminated Nocardia abscessus infection in a patient with AIDS. BMJ Case Reports 2016, 2016: bcr2016215649. PMID: 27440848, PMCID: PMC4964189, DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2016-215649.Peer-Reviewed Case Reports and Technical NotesConceptsAbscessus infectionCentral nervous system lesionsNodular pulmonary infiltratesExcellent therapeutic responseRing-enhancing lesionsNervous system lesionsCombination antimicrobial therapyChest CT scanPulmonary infiltratesSubacute headacheChronic coughFecal incontinenceGeneralised weaknessPathological examinationSystem lesionsPurulent materialSubcutaneous nodulesUnusual presentationTherapeutic responseAntimicrobial therapySpinal cordCT scanSubcutaneous lesionsN. abscessusLesions
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
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