Publications by authors named "Yan-Qiu Lu"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the best timing for starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in patients with AIDS-associated Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), a serious condition that significantly increases mortality risk.
- Participants were divided into two groups: one started ART within 14 days of PCP diagnosis (Early ART), and the other waited longer than 14 days (Deferred ART), with outcomes measured over 48 weeks.
- Results showed no significant differences in mortality or adverse events between the two groups; however, more patients in the Deferred ART group died before starting treatment, suggesting that early intervention may have potential benefits.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the prevalence of pretreatment drug resistance (PDR) among HIV-positive individuals in Chongqing, China, highlighting the challenge PDR poses in HIV management due to rising antiretroviral therapy (ART) usage.
- Data from 1,110 ART-naïve participants revealed that 24.14% had drug resistance mutations, with CRF07_BC being the most common HIV-1 genotype; the overall prevalence of PDR was found to be 10.54%.
- Findings indicated that factors such as being female, delays in starting ART, and specific genotypes like CRF08_BC contributed to increased risk of PDR, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring despite the
Article Synopsis
- The study compared the effectiveness of lumbar drainage (LD) and lumbar puncture (LP) for treating increased intracranial pressure (ICP) in HIV-positive patients with cryptococcal meningitis.
- Both treatments showed similar mortality rates and effectiveness in normalizing ICP over 10 weeks, with no significant differences in major outcomes.
- However, the LD group had better cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) clearance but a higher occurrence of localized infections at the puncture site, while LP resulted in more frequent invasive procedures without increasing infection risk.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to determine the best timing for starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-positive patients with cryptococcal meningitis (CM), but results were inconsistent regarding risks of mortality and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).
- Participants in the trial were split into two groups: those starting ART 2-5 weeks after antifungal treatment and those starting 5 weeks later, with survival rates showing no significant difference.
- However, beginning ART within 4 weeks after antifungal treatment was associated with higher mortality, and more severe adverse events were reported in the early-ART group, indicating potential safety concerns.
Article Synopsis
- * Researchers investigated the effects of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and propylene carbonate (PC) solvents with LiPF salt, revealing that DMC leads to a thinner and more stable SEI layer compared to other mixtures.
- * Findings show that using 1 M LiPF/DMC results in better capacity retention and reduced morphological changes in the silicon electrode over 60 cycles, indicating a more robust interfacial layer and hinting at distinct formation mechanisms for SEI layers in different electrolytes.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on creating a new scoring model to predict mortality risk in HIV patients with cryptococcal meningitis (CM).
- Data was collected from a cohort study in China, identifying key factors linked to high mortality, and validating the model through statistical methods across different time frames.
- The scoring model, based on six factors, proved effective in identifying high-risk patients, demonstrating good sensitivity and specificity for practical use by physicians.
Article Synopsis
- Cytomegalovirus retinitis (CMVR) is a serious infection in AIDS patients that can lead to blindness, but antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved outcomes significantly.
- This study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial involving 300 participants at 17 hospitals in mainland China, comparing early vs. deferred ART initiation following anti-CMV treatment.
- The main goal is to determine how early ART impacts visual loss and other health outcomes over 48 weeks, contributing to better management strategies for CMVR in AIDS patients.
Aim: Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for the survival of severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, but data with regard to risk factors for disease progression from milder COVID-19 to severe COVID-19 remain scarce.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on 116 patients.
Results: Three factors were observed to be independently associated with progression to severe COVID-19 during 14 days after admission: (a) age 65 years or older (hazard ratio [HR] = 8.
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to identify risk factors affecting the prognosis of HIV-infected patients with toxoplasma encephalitis to create a risk scoring system.
- A retrospective analysis involving 94 hospitalized cases revealed a six-week mortality rate of 11.7% and identified seven significant risk factors linked to mortality.
- The developed scoring system showed high accuracy (AUC of 0.976) and can assist in timely treatment decisions for affected patients.
Asymptomatic cryptococcal antigenemia in HIV-infected patients: a review of recent studies.
Chin Med J (Engl)
December 2020
Article Synopsis
- The prevalence of asymptomatic cryptococcal antigenemia (ACA) in HIV-infected individuals ranges from 1.3% to 13%, varying by region.
- Researchers reviewed international studies and guidelines, recommending that Chinese HIV patients get screened for ACA when CD4 counts drop below 200 cells/μL.
- Early detection and treatment of ACA can lower the risk of cryptococcosis and save lives, indicating the need for more research on effective management strategies.
A study for precision diagnosing and treatment strategies in difficult-to-treat AIDS cases and HIV-infected patients with highly fatal or highly disabling opportunistic infections: Study protocol for the optimal early intervention for cryptococcal antigenemia in HIV-infected patients.
Medicine (Baltimore)
October 2020
Article Synopsis
- Asymptomatic cryptococcal antigenemia is prevalent among HIV-infected individuals and can lead to severe conditions like cryptococcal meningitis if untreated, highlighting the need for effective antifungal treatment strategies.
- The study involves a randomized controlled trial with 450 participants divided into three groups: a control group with no treatment, one receiving a gradual dosage of fluconazole, and another on a consistent lower dose, focusing on the incidence of cryptococcal meningitis as the primary outcome.
- The goal is to identify the necessity and the best treatment regimens for antifungal intervention in HIV-infected patients dealing with cryptococcal antigenemia, with potential implications for improving patient management and outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- The study assessed the effectiveness of three antiviral treatment regimens for mild to moderate COVID-19: ribavirin with interferon-α, lopinavir/ritonavir with interferon-α, and a combination of all three.
- In total, 101 patients participated, and comparison of outcomes showed that the median time to negative SARS-CoV-2 tests was shortest in the lopinavir/ritonavir group, but the differences across treatments were statistically insignificant.
- The combined treatment of ribavirin, lopinavir/ritonavir, and interferon-α was associated with a higher incidence of gastrointestinal side effects compared to the other regimens.
A study for precision diagnosing and treatment strategies in difficult-to-treat AIDS cases and HIV-infected patients with highly fatal or highly disabling opportunistic infections: Study protocol for antiretroviral therapy timing in AIDS patients with toxoplasma encephalitis.
Medicine (Baltimore)
July 2020
Article Synopsis
- Toxoplasma encephalitis (TE) is a significant opportunistic infection in AIDS patients, leading to high prevalence and morbidity, which makes the timing for antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation after TE diagnosis a critical question.
- A clinical study with 200 participants is being conducted to compare early ART initiation (within 14 days of TE diagnosis) versus deferred initiation (after 14 days) and assess outcomes such as mortality rates and CD4+ count changes over 48 weeks.
- The trial aims to determine the optimal ART timing for improving treatment outcomes in AIDS/TE patients, potentially providing valuable insights for future clinical guidelines.
Article Synopsis
- Increased cases of toxoplasma encephalitis in AIDS patients with low CD4+ counts have led to the investigation of the effectiveness of sulfonamide combinations due to limited access to traditional treatments in China.
- This study will compare the effects of a readily available sulfonamides formulation plus clindamycin with the standard TMP-SMX plus azithromycin treatment over a 48-week follow-up period involving 200 participants.
- The trial aims to establish reliable evidence regarding the new treatment's efficacy and safety for AIDS patients suffering from toxoplasma encephalitis.
Background: At the end of 2019, a novel coronavirus outbreak causative organism has been subsequently designated the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The effectiveness of adjunctive glucocorticoid therapy in the management of 2019-nCoV-infected patients with severe lower respiratory tract infections is not clear, and warrants further investigation.
Methods: The present study will be conducted as an open-labeled, randomized, controlled trial.
Rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries are potential candidates for storing electrochemical energy because of their extremely high energy density. However, their practical applications are prohibited by the sluggish charge transfer, the retarding Li ion diffusion, and the shuttle effect of lithium polysulfides. We report here a high-performance cathode material in which a S submicrosphere with a mass fraction of 80% was encapsulated within a permeable Co(OH) nanoshell which functions as a physical barrier preventing the sulfur and polysulfides from leaking into the electrolyte and also contributes to the catalytic decomposition of polysulfides during the charge and discharge process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLi metal is considered as an ideal anode for Li-based batteries. Unfortunately, the growth of Li dendrites during cycling leads to an unstable interface, a low coulombic efficiency, and a limited cycling life. Here, a novel approach is proposed to protect the Li-metal anode by using a uniform agarose film.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA composite consisting of cobalt and graphitic porous carbon (Co@GC-PC) is synthesized from bimetallic metal-organic frameworks and employed as the sulfur host for high-performance Li-S batteries. Because of the presence of a large surface area (724 m g) and an abundance of macro-/mesopores, the Co@GC-PC electrode is able to alleviate the debilitating effect originating from the volume expansion/contraction of sulfur species during the cycling process. Our in situ UV/vis analysis indicates that the existence of Co@GC-PC promotes the adsorption of polysulfides during the discharge process.
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