Masks as a moral symbol: Masks reduce wearers' deviant behavior in China during COVID-19.

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, mask wearing has become a global phenomenon. How do masks influence wearers' behavior in everyday life? We examine the effect of masks on wearers' deviant behavior in China, where mask wearing is mostly a public-health issue rather than a political issue. Drawing on behavioral ethics research, we test two competing hypotheses: (a) masks disinhibit wearers' deviant behavior by increasing their sense of anonymity and (b) masks are a moral symbol that reduces wearers' deviant behavior by heightening their moral awareness.

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.

The Role of IL-27 and its Receptor in the Pathogenesis of HIV/AIDS and Anti-viral Immune Response.

Background: Cytokines have been widely demonstrated to involve in the pathogenesis of AIDS and the mechanisms of antiretroviral therapy. Interleukin 27 (IL-27) is a new member of the IL-12 cytokine family and has been shown to interfere HIV-1 virus replication with controversial findings. This study is to investigate the dynamic changes in plasma IL-27 level and cell surface IL-27 receptor expression in HIV/AIDS patients who underwent HAART.

The role of categorization and scale endpoint comparisons in numerical information processing: A two-process model.

We propose a two-process conceptualization of numerical information processing to describe how people form impressions of a score that is described along a bounded scale. According to the model, people spontaneously categorize a score as high or low. Furthermore, they compare the numerical discrepancy between the score and the endpoint of the scale to which it is closer, if they are not confident of their categorization, and use implications of this comparison as a basis for judgment.

The role of autophagy in THP-1 macrophages resistance to HIV- vpr-induced apoptosis.

Macrophages are resistant to cell death and are one of HIV reservoirs. HIV viral protein Vpr has the potential to promote infection of and survival of macrophages, which could be a highly significant factor in the development and/or maintenance of macrophage viral reservoirs. However, the impact of vpr on macrophages resistance to apoptosis is yet to be comprehended.

Changing Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype among Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatitis C Virus Co-Infection in China.

Background: Co-infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) has become the most common cause of death in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients on antiretroviral therapy. The distribution of HCV genotypes varies with geographical regions and time, and limited studies have focused on the HCV genotype in HIV/HCV co-infection.

Methods: The distribution of HCV genotypes was evaluated in 414 patients with HIV/HCV co-infection in three regions (South, Central and Northwest) of China from 2008 to 2010.

The immune pathogenesis of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy in AIDS.

The present study investigated the immunological pathogenesis of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). A total of 238 patients with AIDS who received initial HAART were included in this prospective cohort study. Blood samples were collected immediately, at baseline, at week 12, and at week 24 after initial HAART and at the onset of IRIS.

A model of acute compressive spinal cord injury with a minimally invasive balloon in goats.

Research into spinal cord injury depends upon animal models of trauma. While investigations using small animals have yielded critical insights into the cellular mechanisms of neurotrauma, no effective therapies have been translated to human clinical treatments. There are considerable differences in pathophysiology, scale, and anatomical organization between rodents and primates.

[Multi-centered, randomized controlled clinical study on Chinese medicine formula particles for hyperlipidaemia associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy].

Objective: To observe the effect and safety of Xiaozhi particles, integrated taohong Siwu tang and Erchen tang and Xuezhikang capsule in treating hyperlipidaemia (HLP) associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Method: In the multi-centered, randomized controlled clinical study, 180 hyperlipidaemia associated with highly active antiretroviral therapy cases were divided into the treatment group treated by Xiaozhi particles, integrated Taohong Siwu tang and Erchen tang, and the control group treated by Xuezhikang capsule. The treatment course was 12 weeks.

HIV DNA and immune alteration during successful HAART.

Background: Highly Active Antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can effectively reduce the viral load to undetectable levels in most HIV-infected patients. However, some patients may still experience impaired immunologic response associated with increased risk of disease progression and death.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of the HIV DNA load on the immune alteration during successful HAART.

[Dynamic changes of cellular HIV-1 DNA quantification during highly active antiretroviral therapy in Chinese HIV infected individuals].

Objective: To observe the dynamic changes of 3 types of viral reservoir cells (NK cells, T lymphocytes and monocytes), and its relationship with treatment effect in Chinese HIV-1 infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) for 2 years.

Methods: A total of 40 chronic HIV-1-infected adults who initiated HAART were enrolled in this study and followed up for 2 years. Peripheral whole blood was obtained from each patient at baseline (0 month), 6, 12, 18 and 24 months.

Identifying risk factors of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in AIDS patients receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy.

Immune reconstitution inflammation syndrome typically occurs within days after patients undergo highly active anti-retroviral therapy and is a big hurdle for effective treatment of AIDS patients. In this study, we monitored immune reconstitution inflammation syndrome occurrence in 238 AIDS patients treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy. Among them, immune reconstitution inflammation syndrome occurred in 47 cases (19.

Interleukin-21 plays an important role in CD8 T-cell activation and poor outcome in HIV infection.

To present the relationship between high CD8+ T-cell activation and poor outcome in HIV-1 pathogenesis. We hypothesized that the decrease of interleukin-21 (IL-21) levels would lead to alterations in survival of elevated immune activation with disease progress. Fifty-eight HIV-1-seropositive subjects and 21 uninfected healthy control volunteers were recruited in this study.

[Cellular HIV DNA quantitative testing and its significance in Chinese AIDS patients during 48 weeks' highly-active antiretroviral treatment].

Objective: To observe the dynamic changes of peripheral blood T lymphocytes and monocytes, which serve as HIV-1 viral reservoirs, in Chinese HIV-infected patients receiving highly-active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) for 48 weeks and its clinical significance.

Methods: A total of 35 chronic HIV-1 infected adults initial received HAART. The peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets counts were determined by flux cytometry at week 0, 24 and 48.

The effect of a year of highly active antiretroviral therapy on immune reconstruction and cytokines in HIV/AIDS patients.

To investigate the effect of a year of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on immune reconstruction and cytokine production in HIV/AIDS patients, 35 AIDS patients were recruited for HAART treatment and 35 healthy volunteers were assigned as controls. The dynamic changes in HIV load, blood T cell subset counts, as well as interleukin (IL)-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) levels in AIDS patients were evaluated before HAART and at 6 and 12 months after therapy. Our results revealed that HIV virus load in HIV/AIDS patients was reduced below the detectable limit after patients received 6 months of HAART.

[Effect of highly active anti-retroviral therapy on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV and on infant growth and development].

Objective: To identify the effect of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) on prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and on infant growth and development.

Methods: A total of 16 HIV-infected women or pregnant women selected in this study received HAART before or 18 - 24 weeks after pregnancy. The treatment included taking Zidovudine (AZT) 0.

IL-21 level in Chinese HIV infected individuals and its dynamics undergoing HAART.

Objective: To investigate the dynamics of interleukin-21(IL-21) cytokine in the Chinese HIV patients undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAAPT).

Methods: A total of 25 adults with chronic HIV infections, responding to combined highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) guideline criteria were enrolled for a 1-year follow-up. After signing an informed consent, 20 mL blood was collected from each patient at the base line, 6 month and 12 month, respectively.

Prospect of IL-2, IL-7, IL-15 and IL-21 for HIV immune-based therapy.

Although highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) can effectively reduce the HIV replication, complete recovery of CD4(+) T cells does not always occur, even among patients with high virological control. Current researches on γ-chain cytokines have understood the biology and their crucial roles in initiating, maintaining, and regulating the immunologic homeostasis and the inflammatory processes. Due to the multiple functions such as the regulatory and effector cellular function in healthy and disease state, these molecules, their receptors, and their signal transduction pathways are promising candidates for therapeutic interference.

YKL-40 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma: a potential biomarker?

Background: YKL-40 is a new biomarker with diagnostic value in many different cancers. Whether it may serve as a biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unclear. This study aimed to examine the expression of YKL-40 in the serum and liver tissues of HCC patients and in HCC cell lines, in comparison with that in non-HCC liver disease patients and non-tumor hepatic cell lines, respectively.

The Vpr gene polymorphism of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in China and its clinical significance.

Recent studies have explored that mutated Human immunodeficiency virus type 1(HIV-1) Vpr genes likely influence clinical manifestations of HIV infected patients. However, the relationship between the mutation sites on HIV Vpr gene and subsequent function changes is still not clear. In this study we investigated such relationship in analyzing the Vpr genes of HIV-1 viruses isolated from 208 HIV-1 infected patients from different regions in China.

A randomized case-control study of dynamic changes in peripheral blood Th17/Treg cell balance and interleukin-17 levels in highly active antiretroviral-treated HIV type 1/AIDS patients.

Our objective was to dynamically observe changes in peripheral blood Th17, Treg cells, and interleukin (IL)-17 levels in HIV-1/AIDS patients before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The study design consisted of a randomized case-controlled study. A total of 33 HIV-1/AIDS patients were chosen to receive a HAART regimen and 30 healthy volunteers were assigned as controls.

[The evaluation of four-year highly active antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1 infected patients].

Objective: To observe that antiretroviral efficacy, immune reconstitution of four-year highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), and evaluate its side effect in Chinese HIV-1-infected patients.

Methods: A total of 258 HIV-1 infected patients, given HAART regimens composed of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) and one non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) for mean 51.5 months, measured HIV RNA viral load (VL) and the counts of CD(4)(+) T cell, CD(8)(+) T cell at the baseline and 6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 months after HAART initiation, respectively, monitoring side effect, blood routine, main biochemical parameters, and other disadvantageous accidents during the 51.

Prospective observation for seven-year's highly active antiretroviral therapy in Chinese HIV-1 infected patients.

To prospectively observe the efficacy, tolerability, immune reconstitution and toxicity of long-term highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Chinese patients infected HIV. 437 cases originally received two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and one non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) during a mean period of 4.3 years (3.

[Clinical characteristics of highly active antiretroviral therapy-associated immune reconstruction inflammation in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

Objective: To summarize the morbidity, mortality, clinical manifestations and risk factors for IRIS (immune reconstruction inflammatory syndrome) during HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy) in China.

Methods: From October 2007 to September 2009, a prospective cohort of 238 AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) patients on HAART from Hunan and Jianxi provinces was recruited for a follow-up of 24 weeks. And 47 and 191 patients were assigned into the IRIS and non-IRIS groups respectively.