Serum cytokine biosignatures for identification of tuberculosis among HIV-positive inpatients.

Background: Serum cytokines correlate with tuberculosis (TB) progression and are predictors of TB recurrence in people living with HIV. We investigated whether serum cytokine biosignatures could diagnose TB among HIV-positive inpatients.

Methods: We recruited HIV-positive inpatients with symptoms of TB and measured serum levels of inflammation biomarkers including IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ).

Kinetic Characteristics of Neutralizing Antibody Responses Vary among Patients with COVID-19.

Objective: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to present a major challenge to public health. Vaccine development requires an understanding of the kinetics of neutralizing antibody (NAb) responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: In total, 605 serum samples from 125 COVID-19 patients (from January 1 to March 14, 2020) varying in age, sex, severity of symptoms, and presence of underlying diseases were collected, and antibody titers were measured using a micro-neutralization assay with wild-type SARS-CoV-2.

Evaluation of lipid metabolism imbalance in HIV-infected patients with metabolic disorders using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and highly active antiretroviral therapy use are associated with the disruption of lipid and glucose metabolism. Herein, a sensitive and robust high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantitation of lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) and acylcarnitines (ACs) in human blood serum was developed and validated to investigate them as markers of metabolic disorders in HIV-infected patients. Under optimal extraction and detection conditions, the lower limits of quantification reached 5 ng/mL (LPCs) and 0.

Antiretroviral Long-Term Efficacy and Resistance of Lopinavir/Ritonavir Plus Lamivudine in HIV-1-Infected Treatment-Naïve Patients (ALTERLL): 144-Week Results of a Randomized, Open-Label, Non-Inferiority Study From Guangdong, China.

Dual therapy with lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) plus lamivudine (3TC) has been demonstrated to be non-inferior to the triple drug regimen including LPV/r plus two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) in 48-week studies. However, little is known about the long-term efficacy and drug resistance of this simplified strategy. A randomized, controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial (ALTERLL) was conducted to assess the efficacy, drug resistance, and safety of dual therapy with LPV/r plus 3TC (DT group), compared with the first-line triple-therapy regimen containing tenofovir (TDF), 3TC plus efavirenz (EFV) (TT group) in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve HIV-1-infected adults in Guangdong, China.

Efficacy and safety of the long-acting fusion inhibitor albuvirtide in antiretroviral-experienced adults with human immunodeficiency virus-1: interim analysis of the randomized, controlled, phase 3, non-inferiority TALENT study.

Background: Albuvirtide is a once-weekly injectable human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 fusion inhibitor. We present interim data for a phase 3 trial assessing the safety and efficacy of albuvirtide plus lopinavir-ritonavir in HIV-1-infected adults already treated with antiretroviral drugs.

Methods: We carried out a 48-week, randomized, controlled, open-label non-inferiority trial at 12 sites in China.

[Preparation and characterization of glycyrrhetinic acid-modified nano graphene oxide drug delivery system].

In this study,a nano drug delivery system GA-DTX-NGO which could be used for liver tumor photothermal and chemotherapy was prepared and characterized,with docetaxel(DTX) as model drug,glycyrrhetinic acid(GA) as the target molecule,and nano graphene oxide(NGO) as the photosensitizer. Firstly,GA-NGO nanocomposites were synthesized by the amidation reaction,and then GA-DTX-NGO was prepared by ultrasonic dispersion method. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading ratio were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) and ultracentrifugation; the morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy(TEM).

The clinical significance of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in dengue fever patients.

Background: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play immunosuppressive roles in cancers and some infectious diseases; however, their role in dengue fever (DF) remains unknown. This study evaluated the clinical significance of MDSCs in DF patients.

Methods: This study comprised 178 non-severe DF patients, 20 non-dengue fever (NDF) controls, and 30 healthy donors.

[Semen quality and HIV RNA level in HIV/AIDS male patients after treated by highly active antiretroviral therapy].

Objective: To evaluate the semen quality of the HIV/AIDS male patients after treated by the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and their potential of transmitting HIV/AIDS and provide some evidence for this cohort of males who wish for parenthood.

Methods: We collected semen samples from 20 HIV/AIDS male patients who had been treated by HAART for over 6 months and wished for parenthood. We examined sperm concentration, viability and total motility and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (MNS) using the computer-assisted semen analysis system, measured the HIV-1 RNA loads in the semen by the Cobas Amplicor Monitor test, and counted CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood by flow cytometry.

Hepatitis C therapy with interferon-α and ribavirin reduces the CD4 cell count and the total, 2LTR circular and integrated HIV-1 DNA in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.

This study investigated whether treatment with IFN-α and ribavirin (RBV) reduces 2LTR circular HIV DNA in addition to the total and integrated HIV DNA. Two groups of patients were enrolled. Group 1 comprised HIV/HCV co-infected patients who were treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), IFN-α and RBV for 48 weeks.

Genetic diversity analysis of Penicillium marneffei isolated from AIDS patients in Guangdong, China using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA.

Background: Penicillium marneffei (P. marneffei) is an emerging pathogenic fungus that can cause invasive mycosis in patients with AIDS. The epidemiological features of P.

[The therapeutic effects of highly active anti-retroviral therapy in 74 treatment-naive patients with AIDS in China].

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in treatment-naïve Chinese patients with AIDS, to provide evidences for standardizing HAART.

Methods: Seventy-four treatment-naive AIDS patients were initiated with HAART and followed up regularly for 3 years. The clinical and laboratory data, side effects and drug resistance were observed and analyzed during the follow-up period.

[An analysis of opportunistic infection in 762 inpatients with human immunodeficiency virus infection in Guangdong areas].

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of opportunistic infection (OI) in patients with HIV/AIDS in Guangdong and the relationship between OI and the change in blood CD4+ T lymphocyte count (CD4+).

Methods: Seven hundred and sixty two patients with HIV/AIDS admitted were analyzed.

Results: Among all the 762 patients, 704 (92.

[Pathogens and drug resistance of pulmonary infection in AIDS patients].

Objective: To study the pathogens and drug resistance profiles of pulmonary infection in patients with AIDS.

Methods: The pathogens and their drug susceptibility of pulmonary infection diagnosed by fibrobronchoscopy-induced bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) culture and/or transbronchial biopsy in 116 AIDS cases were analyzed.

Results: Monopathogenic infection in lungs were detected in 18 cases (15.