ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the epidemiological characteristics of 45 year-old or older human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons and patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in Chengdu. Methods Epidemiological methods were used to analyze the data of 45 year-old or older patients with HIV/AIDS reported in Chengdu from 2018 to 2020. Results From 2018 to 2020, there were 219 newly reported cases aged 45 and above (35.67%) with HIV/AIDS in Chengdu, and the differences among them were statistically significant (χ2=6.45, P2=0.29, 0.22, 5.65, 1.92, 5.68, 1.12, 2.12, 0.39, P>0.05). 75.34% of the patients were infected through heterosexual transmission, and 50.68% were detected at treatment. The proportion of patients whose first CD4 cell test result was lower than 200/μL was relatively higher (43.84%). Nearly 81.28% of the patients received antiviral therapy, and the mortality reached 16.89%. From 2018 to 2020, the difference in transmission route, sample source, the first examination results of CD4 cells, antiviral treatment, or prognosis was not statistically significant (χ2=1.29, 3.59, 1.56, 0.01, 0.35, P>0.05). Fever (62.10%), fatigue (42.01%), and lymph node enlargement (28.77%) were main symptoms of the patients. 51.14% were detected in outpatient examinations, and most patients were accompanied by at least one opportunistic infection. Cytomegalovirus infection (56.16%) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (36.53%) were main virus infection types. From 2018 to 2020, there was no significant difference in symptoms, visiting departments or combined infection (χ2=0.07-3.00, 3.00, 0.20-2.61, P>0.05). Conclusion The prevalence of HIV/AIDS is relatively severe in 45 year-old or older people in Chengdu. The constituent ratio and the incidence rate show an upward trend. Therefore, individualized prevention and control strategies should be formulated for 45 year-old or older people to effectively suppress the transmission of HIV/AIDS in the middle-aged and the elderly.
ABSTRACT
@#Objective To analyze the clinical features and prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods A total of 379 confirmed COVID-19 patients admitted to Public Health Clinical Center of Chengdu from January 16 to November 30, 2020 were divided into two groups including an elderly group (42 patients, ≥60 years) and a non-elderly group (337 patients, <60 years) by age. The epidemiology, clinical features, laboratory tests, treatment and prognosis of the two groups were compared. Results Among the 379 patients, 286 (75.5%) were males and 93 (24.5%) were females, aged from 2 months to 87 years, with an average age of 41.2 years. The average age of the elderly group was 69.5 years, and 61.9% of them were females. They were imported from Wuhan or local secondary patients (73.8%), mainly common or critical type (88.1%). While, the average age of the non-elderly group was 37.8 years, and males were more common (80.1%). There were mostly from foreign input (75.7%), mainly mild or ordinary type (95.0%). A total of 179 patients (47.2%) had one or more underlying diseases. Hypertension (15 patients, 35.7%) and diabetes (11 patients, 26.2%) were more common in the elderly group, while non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (132 patients, 39.2%) was more frequent in the non-elderly group. The most common clinical manifestations were fever (138 patients, 36.4%) and cough (129 patients, 34.0%). Fever, cough, dyspnea, and fatigue were more common in the elderly group than those in the non-elderly group (P<0.05). Compared with the non-elderly group, the elderly group had lower total lymphocyte count, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell count, higher level of myocardial injury or inflammation markers (P<0.05). Abnormal echocardiography in 139 patients (36.7%) was mainly caused by decreased left ventricular diastolic function (22.7%) and heart valve regurgitation (14.0%), and the rate in the elderly group was significantly higher than that in the non-elderly group (85.7% vs. 30.6%, P<0.05). After treatment, 3 patients in the elderly group died, and the others were cured and discharged. The hospitalization duration of the elderly group was longer than that of the non-elderly group (22.1 d vs. 18.8 d, P=0.033). Conclusions Elderly COVID-19 patients are mainly imported from Wuhan or secondary to the local population, mainly common or critical type, often associated with basic diseases such as hypertension or diabetes. While, non-elderly COVID-19 patients are mainly imported from abroad, mainly mild or common type, often associated with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. After treatment, most of the patients have a good prognosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate whether Danhong injection can enhance the therapeutic effect of neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation in repairing cerebral ischemia injury by regulating the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into the NSC transplantation group (NSC group), Danhong injection group (DH group), NSC+ Danhong injection group (N+D group), NSC+ Danhong injection group +ML385 group(N+D+M group) and PBS control group (PBS group), 8 rats in each group. All rat models of cerebral ischemia were established by embolization of the middle cerebral artery. Reperfusion was performed at 1.5 h after embolization. All rats in each group received corresponding interventions at 3 d after reperfusion. The neurological function score was evaluated before and 1, 2, 4 weeks after NSC transplantation. All rats were sacrificed at 4 weeks after NSC transplantation. The parameters related to oxidative stress were detected. The expression levels of neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were determined by immunofluorescence staining. Results Before NSC transplantation, the neurological function scores did not significantly differ among different groups (all P > 0.05). At postoperative 1, 2 and 4 weeks, the neurological function scores in the NSC, DH and N+D groups were significantly lower than those in the PBS and N+D+M groups (all P < 0.05). Compared with the PBS and N+D+M groups, the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly decreased, whereas the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) levels were considerably increased in the NSC, DH and N+D groups (all P < 0.05). The GPX level in the N+D+M group was significantly lower than that in the PBS group (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the transplant NSC in the rat brain migrated to the surrounding area of cerebral infarction and survived, and expressed neuronal marker NeuN and neovascularization marker vWF. However, the number of living NSC in the N+D+M group was significantly lower compared with those in the remaining groups. Conclusions Danhong injection may improve the microenvironment of stem cell transplantation, enhance the survival rate of transplant NSC and improve the therapeutic effect of NSC transplantation for cerebral ischemia injury probably by regulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway.