BACKGROUND HLA-G gene is a non-classical MHC class 1 molecule that is highly expressed in the trophoblast at the maternal-fetal interface. In an attempt to elucidate possible immunological mechanisms facilitating protection of infants born to human immunodeficiency virus type (HIV-1) infected mothers, we have been studying genetic variations in the coding and untranslated regions of HLA-G antig...

BACKGROUND Many clinicians and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected pregnant women prefer elective caesarean section (ECS) to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HBV, since some studies found higher transmission of HBV in infants born by vaginal delivery (VD) than by cesarean section. However, other studies showed that ECS does not reduce the risk of being infected with HBV in infants. In this ...

BACKGROUND Mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) accounts for more than 90% of pediatric Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases. Prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) programs are provided for dual benefits i.e. prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child and enrolment of infected pregnant women and their families into antiretroviral treatment (ART). This stud...

Therefore, from a TB transmission perspective it seems less informative to stratify extreme levels of poverty, and more informative to evaluate whether the available epidemiological evidence supports the existence of a threshold effect. Determination of a threshold effect will guide epidemiological thinking and potentially assist in identifying global poverty alleviation targets. Measuring chil...

BACKGROUND In trials designed to estimate rates of perinatal mother to child transmission of HIV, HIV assays are scheduled at multiple points in time. Still, infection status for some infants at some time points may be unknown, particularly when interim analyses are conducted. METHODS Logistic regression models are commonly used to estimate covariate-adjusted transmission rates, but their met...

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) as described for women with an established infection is, in most cases, associated with the transmission of few maternal variants. This study analysed virus variability in four cases of maternal primary infection occurring during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding. Estimated time of seroconversion was at 4 months of ...

There is considerable evidence that maternal postnatal psychiatric disorder has an adverse influence on infant development. In attempting to examine the pathways of intergenerational transmission, most research has concentrated on genetic factors or on maternal behaviours during mother-child interaction and attachment. However, researchers have largely ignored the possible role of maternal cogn...

AIDS is an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome caused by the HIV virus (1, 2). AIDS is amongst the major challenges of the health system in all countries. This health challenge has spread to all countries as well as to all age groups, especially the 25-34 age group. The probability of transmission of AIDS ranges from 70% by blood transfusion to 30% by sexual intercourse, mother-to-child transmis...

Complete genome sequences were obtained for Zika viruses isolated from the breast milk of a Venezuelan patient and her child, who was exclusively breastfeeding at the time. These sequences are the first to be reported from a presumptive autochthonous postnatal transmission case from mother to child in Venezuela.

The objective of this study was to assess mother-to-child transmission rates of HIV in Brazil during the years 2000 and 2001, and to identify the maternal and neonatal variables that were associated with this transmission. It was a cross-sectional, observational study with retrospective data obtained from patient medical records. The children were followed at 63 medical sites situated in five g...