Evaluating anemia in HIV-infected patients using chest CT.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the Hounsfield unit value of chest CT non-contrast enhanced scan in evaluating the severity of anemia in HIV-infected patients.

Methods: Patients with HIV infection combined with anemia admitted to the Kunming Third People's Hospital were retrospectively collected and divided into mild anemia, moderate anemia, and severe anemia groups by peripheral hemoglobin (HB) content and calculated the ratio of ventricular septum density (VSD) to left ventricular density (LVD) and VSD to right ventricular density (RVD); then, the above patients were divided into the critical value group and the non-critical value group according to HB and compared the differences of LVD, RVD, VSD/LVD, and VSD/RVD in the two groups of patients.

Results: A total of 126 patients were included, with a mean age of 47.

gp120-derived amyloidogenic peptides form amyloid fibrils that increase HIV-1 infectivity.

Apart from mediating viral entry, the function of the free HIV-1 envelope protein (gp120) has yet to be elucidated. Our group previously showed that EP2 derived from one β-strand in gp120 can form amyloid fibrils that increase HIV-1 infectivity. Importantly, gp120 contains ~30 β-strands.

A Real-world Evidence-based Management of HIV by Differential Duration HAART Treatment and its Association with Incidence of Oral Lesions.

Background: The efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can be estimated by the immunological response and the incidence of opportunistic infections.

Objective: This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of different durations of HAART in terms of immunological response markers (CD4 count and CD4/CD8 ratio) along with disease progression markers (incidence of oral lesions) in Chinese patients with HIV.

Methods: This single-center, retrospective, and real-world study included patients with HIV, grouped into a treatment group and treatment-naïve group, of which the former was further divided into 6, 12, and 18 months based on the treatment duration.

Excessive mechanical strain accelerates intervertebral disc degeneration by disrupting intrinsic circadian rhythm.

Night shift workers with disordered rhythmic mechanical loading are more prone to intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). Our results showed that circadian rhythm (CR) was dampened in degenerated and aged NP cells. Long-term environmental CR disruption promoted IDD in rats.

The predictive role of CD4 cell count and CD4/CD8 ratio in immune reconstitution outcome among HIV/AIDS patients receiving antiretroviral therapy: an eight-year observation in China.

Background: The immune reconstitution after initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) among HIV-infected individuals substantially affects patients' prognosis. However, the dynamic characteristics and predictors of reconstitution outcome remain unclear.

Methods: In this study, the HIV/AIDS patients with sustained virological suppression (viral load < 50 copies/ml) after HAART were enrolled.

Clinical analysis of HIV/AIDS patients with drug eruption in Yunnan, China.

Drug eruption is the most common clinical presentation in patients with HIV/AIDS. The systemic clinical and risk factors associated with drug eruption remain unknown. A retrospective analysis in HIV/AIDS patients with drug eruption was carried out with demographic data, epidemiological data, clinical characteristics, laboratory data and follow-up data.

[Effect of nutritional support on immunity function in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome patients].

Objective: To investigate the effect of nutritional support on immunity function in the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients.

Methods: Sixty-five AIDS patients were randomly divided into treatment group (n=35) and control group (n=30). In the treatment group, the patients received enteral nutrition (EN) treatment or EN supplemented with parenteral nutrition (EN+PN) on top of routine treatment according to the daily condition of the sufferers.