Study on genetic approach in the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish genetic method in detecting Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia which often coinfected with AIDS patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts were isolated and purified from fecal samples of the individuals infected with C. parvum and G. lamblia, respectively. Genomic DNAs were extracted. Two pairs of specific primers were designed or synthesized according to the 18S rRNA gene from C. parvum or the triose phosphate isomerase (tim ) gene from G. lamblia. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) technique was used to amplify the DNA samples from the oocysts and the cysts, and those from the 6 control samples, including Schitosoma japonicum, Toxoplasma gondii , Entamoeba histolytica, Trichinella spiralis, Trichomonas vaginalis and human blood cells. DNA samples from 30 fecal samples of AIDS patients were detected with the same method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One fragment of 500 bp was amplified with the primer of C. parvum, and the other one of 683 bp was amplified with the primer of G. lamblia. Twenty pg and 0.4 pg DNA of C. parvum and G. lamblia could be detected separately. The specificity of these two pairs of PCR primers was confirmed by the failure in the amplification of the control DNA samples. Out of 30 cases of AIDS patients, 7 showed C. parvum positive, while non Giardia was detected.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Genetic detection method for C. parvum and G. lamblia detection was established which was more sensitive and specific.</p>

Study on the utilization of health services and costs of hospital-based medical care for 29 patients with HIV/AIDS in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To describe the costs of medical care and utilization of health service of patients with HIV/AIDS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS treated in the Beijing You'an Hospital were interviewed retrospectively during December 1999. Data on demographic characteristics, disease process, and utilization of health service and costs of hospital-based medical care were collected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total number of 29 patients with HIV/AIDS were interviewed, including 17 (58.62%) asymptomatic HIV infections and 12 AIDS patients. Asymptomatic HIV infections had a mean of 6 outpatient visits, 1.3 hospitalizations and 58.6 inpatient hospital days per person-year. AIDS patients made, on average, 7.8 outpatient visits, 2.1 hospitalizations and 200.2 inpatient hospital days per person-year. The outpatient and inpatient medical costs were 13,729 RMB and 4,745 RMB for asymptomatic HIV infections, and 15,053 RMB and 22,242 RMB for AIDS patients per person-year respectively. For those who took both outpatient and inpatient medical care, the medical care costs, including costs of outpatient care and those of inpatient care, were 16,248 RMB for asymptomatic HIV infections and 36,795 RMB for AIDS patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Demands for health services and costs for medical care were high among patients with HIV/AIDS. Further study on utilization of health services and cost of medical care for patient with HIV/AIDS in a wider geographic coverage are needed.</p>