Incidence of HIV-1, syphilis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C virus infections and predictors associated with retention in a 12-month follow-up study among men who have sex with men in Beijing, China.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of HIV-1, syphilis, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and predictors associated with retention in a 12-month follow-up study among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing, China.

Methods: A total of 507 eligible seronegative MSM were enrolled. Study participants were tested for HIV-1, syphilis, HBV, and HCV and counseled at the baseline, 6-month, and 12-month follow-up visits.

[Genetic variation of gag gene in HIV-1 subtype B infections from Henan and Shanxi provinces of China].

The 109 whole blood samples were collected from HIV-1 infected former blood donors in Henan and Shanxi. The RNA templates were extracted from plasma and used for the full gag gene amplification and sequencing. The sequences were divided into 3 groups according to sampling year.

CD8+ cell noncytotoxic antiviral response in long-term HIV-1 infected former blood donors in China.

Most of the HIV-infected long term survivors show strong CD8+ cell noncytotoxic antiviral response (CNAR) that plays as an important factor for maintaining the relative healthy state of infected individuals. HIV infected former blood donors (FBDs) in Anhui, China are the unique population that considered infected by the same or a related HIV strain by the same exposure route, and is better to be studied for viral and host immunological factors associated with disease progression, such as CNAR. We examined CNAR in 63 asymptomatic untreated HIV infected FBDs with different CD4+ cell counts and plasma viral loads.

Willingness to be circumcised for preventing HIV among Chinese men who have sex with men.

Male circumcision can reduce the risk of HIV acquisition among heterosexual men, but its effectiveness is uncertain in men who have sex with men (MSM). Additionally, its acceptability among Chinese men is unknown given a lack of history and cultural norms endorsing neonatal and adult circumcision. This study evaluated the willingness to participate in a clinical trial of circumcision among 328 Chinese MSM.

Tuberculosis co-morbidity and perceptions about health care among HIV-infected plasma donors in rural China.

Limited community-based data exist about pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) comorbidity among HIV-infected individuals in China and no data exists about the TB burden in key high risk groups. We recruited 195 known HIV-infected plasma donors in one central China county and identified 9 (4.6%) active TB cases based on clinical assessment, including chest radiography.

Nef mutations in long-term non-progressors from former plasma donors infected with HIV-1 subtype B in China.

Objective: To study the specific amino acid variation in Nef that may be related to disease progression after infection with HIV-1 subtype B, a predominant strain circulating in China, and to determine whether changes in Nef secondary structure may influence different stages of AIDS development based on the concept that the Nef gene of HIV infection dramatically alter the severity of viral infection and virus replication and disease progression, and that long-term non-progressors (LTNP) of HIV infection are commonly associated with either a deletion of the Nef gene or the defective Nef alleles.

Methods: The study subjects were divided into LTNP1(n=14), LTNP2 (n=16) and slow progressor (SP, n=19) groups for mutational analysis of the Nef sequence. The data were obtained by using Bioedit, MEGA, Anthewin and SAS software.

[Dynamic variation of HIV-1 CRF07_BC env gene in early HIV-1 infection].

Objective: To understand the evolution of HIV-1 CRF07_BC envelope, we performed a longitudinal study on two patients during their early HIV-1 infection.

Methods: RNA was extracted from the plasma of the individuals and the C2-C5 fragments of the gp120 gene of HIV-1 were amplified by RT-PCR. Purified DNA segments were inserted into T easy vector and transformed into E.

[Study on the threshold of HIV-1 drug resistance in Hunan province].

Objective: To survey the prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistance in patients newly diagnosed as HIV positive and who were younger than 25 years of age but had not received treatment with antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Hunan province.

Methods: Serum specimens of HIV infected individuals were collected and HIV-1 pol genetic mutations associated with drug resistance were identified with PCR and interpreted with Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database.

Results: A total number of 69 patients whose HIV sequences were amplified successfully with 2 (2.

HCV coinfection associated with slower disease progression in HIV-infected former plasma donors naïve to ART.

Background: It remains controversial how HCV coinfection influences the disease progression during HIV-1 infection. This study aims to define the influence of HCV infection on the replication of HIV-1 and the disease progression in HIV-infected former plasma donors (FPDs) naïve to ART.

Methodology/principal Findings: 168 HIV-1-infected FPDs were enrolled into a cohort study from Anhui province in central China, and thereafter monitored at month 3, 9, 15, 21 and 33.

Risk factors for syphilis and prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B and C among men who have sex with men in Beijing, China: implications for HIV prevention.

To examine the correlates for syphilis and the prevalence for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C among men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) in Beijing, China. A total of 541 MSM was recruited using peer-referral, community outreach, and Internet. Questionnaire-based interviews provided information including, demographics, sexual and other risk behaviors.

Detection of recent HIV-1 infections among men who have sex with men in Beijing during 2005 - 2006.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) have become one of the most risky populations for HIV infection in China. Though several cross-sectional sero-prevalence studies have been conducted, the annual HIV incidence remains unknown in this population.

Methods: We applied IgG-capture BED-enzyme immunoassay (BED-CEIA) to define the recent HIV-1 infections among MSM in Beijing in the years 2005 and 2006 and the annual HIV incidence was estimated.

Modeling and prediction of HIV in China: transmission rates structured by infection ages.

HIV transmission process involves a long incubation and infection period, and the transmission rate varies greatly with infection stage. Consequently, modeling analysis based on the assumption of a constant transmission rate during the entire infection period yields an inaccurate description of HIV transmission dynamics and long-term projections. Here we develop a general framework of mathematical modeling that takes into account this heterogeneity of transmission rate and permits rigorous estimation of important parameters using a regression analysis of the twenty-year reported HIV infection data in China.

Association between Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells and disease progression after infection with closely related strains of HIV in China.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and disease are accompanied by decreases in the absolute number and function of Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells, suggesting that this subset of cells may play an important role in controlling disease. We performed a cross-sectional study involving HIV-infected former blood donors and assessed the association between Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells and markers of disease progression.

Methods: Changes in Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cell count and function were compared between HIV-infected individuals and healthy blood donors using the Mann-Whitney U test.

High HIV risk among Uigur minority ethnic drug users in northwestern China.

Objective: To assess differences of HIV risk between ethnicities in northwestern China.

Method: Cross-sectional serosurvey and structured questionnaire interview of 383 injection drug users of either Han or Uigur ethnicity in Urumqi, Xinjiang.

Results: Both Uigur minority ethnicity and residence in a Uigur or mixed Uigur/Han community were independently associated with higher HIV risk.

Willingness of Chinese injection drug users to participate in HIV vaccine trials.

Background: Chinese injection drug users (IDUs) may be a proper candidate population for HIV vaccine trials.

Objective: To evaluate willingness to participate (WTP) in HIV vaccine trials among Chinese IDUs.

Methods: Questionnaire interviews were completed among 401 IDUs in Urumqi City in northwestern China in 2005.

Increased NKG2A found in cytotoxic natural killer subset in HIV-1 patients with advanced clinical status.

Objectives: To investigate the expression of NKG2A on cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cells in HIV-1-infected patients.

Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the NKG2A expression on NK cell subsets among HIV-infected individuals at different clinical stages and HIV negative controls.

Methods: 113 HIV-1 infected and 43 uninfected individuals were enrolled in this study.

Characterization of HIV-1 subtypes and viral antiretroviral drug resistance in men who have sex with men in Beijing, China.

Objectives: To characterize the HIV subtypes prevalent among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Beijing and to perform baseline genotypic analysis of anti-HIV drug resistance in this population.

Design: In 2005, half of new HIV-1 infections occurred through unprotected sex in China. MSM have become the second most vulnerable group to HIV infection.

Risk factors of HIV infection and prevalence of co-infections among men who have sex with men in Beijing, China.

Objectives: To investigate risk factors related to HIV infection and the prevalence of selected infections, especially sexually transmitted infections (STI) among men who have sex with men (MSM).

Design: A cross-sectional study including questionnaire and blood sample collection.

Methods: Between January 2005 and December 2006, 753 MSM were recruited through the voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) clinic at the Chaoyang District Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing.

Incidence of HIV, hepatitis C and hepatitis B viruses among injection drug users in southwestern China: a 3-year follow-up study.

Objective: To investigate the incidence rates of HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B virus (HBV) among injection drug users (IDU) in a drug trafficking city in southwest China.

Design: A prospective cohort study.

Methods: A cohort of 333 HIV-seronegative IDU was followed for 36 months from November 2002 and evaluated every 6 months for seroconversions to HIV and HCV antibodies as well as hepatitis B surface antigen.

[Factors associated with retention in a community-based methadone maintenance treatment among heroin addicts].

Objective: To explore factors associated with retention in a community-based methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) among heroin addicts in Xichang of Sichuan province.

Methods: All 206 heroin addicts were first admitted to MMT community-based program between March to September 2004. Baseline data of patients characteristics, social function, drug using behaviors, sexual behaviors, dose of methadone and retention were collected.

[Sequence analysis of gag and env genes of HIV type 1 circulating in former blood donors of Fuyang city, Anhui province].

Objective: To determine the subtype and analyze the genetic characteristics of the HIV-1 predominantly circulating in the former blood donors of Fuyang city, Anhui province.

Methods: Whole blood samples were collected from 294 HIV-positive former blood donors of Fuyang city, 157 males and 137 females, aged 42 +/- 8. The fragments of HIV-1 env and gag genes were amplified by nested-PCR from the whole blood samples and thereafter sequenced.