ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the prevalence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and its correlates among HIV/AIDS patients in a county of Shanxi.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All HIV-infected patients in a county in Shanxi province who were receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) were included in this study. Participants were interviewed using standard questionnaires. Serum samples were tested to determine HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 195 AIDS patients were recruited and 195 blood samples were collected. Among 195 AIDS patients, 189 (96.9%) were farmers; 116 (59.5%) were men while 79 were women; 146 (74.9%) were between 20 - 50 years old; 180 (92.3%) were married. The major routes of HIV transmission were blood/plasma donation or transfusion (176 patients, 90.3%). CD(4)(+) T cell counts were between (1 - 1531) × 10(6) cells/L ((323.6 ± 14.8) × 10(6) cells/L), with 44 (26.5%) patients' CD(4)(+) T cell counts less than 200 × 10(6) cells/L. Of which, 154 patients (79.0%) had sexual partners. 86.8% (118 patients) consistently used condoms during the past 6 months, while for the last sexual act, 91.8% (123 patients) used condoms. For anti-HSV-1 status, there were about 164 patients (84.1%) were positive, and 26 (13.3%) were positive for anti-HSV-2. While, 14 (7.2%) were positive for both anti-HSV-1 and anti-HSV-2. Logistic regression analysis indicated that marital status were correlated with HSV-2 infection (OR = 7.41; 95%CI: 2.42 - 22.73; P < 0.01). No socio-demographic and sexual characteristics were identified to be correlated with HSV-1 infection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A substantial proportion of AIDS patients in a rural county of Shanxi province of China were co-infected with HSV-1 and/or HSV-2. Marital status was correlated with HSV-2 infection.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome , Epidemiology , Virology , China , Epidemiology , Herpes Simplex , Epidemiology , Herpesvirus 1, Human , Herpesvirus 2, Human , Logistic Models , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Rural PopulationABSTRACT
Objective To assess the adherence,immunologic and survival responses in HIV-infected patients receiving free antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods All adult HIV-infected patients in Wenxi county who started antiretroviral treatment (ART) between 01 July 2001 and 31 December 2006 and aged above 18 years were included in this study. Epidemiological survey and laboratory tests were performed before,0.5 months after, 1 months after, 2 months after and every 3 months after initiation of ART to recognize the adherence, efficacy (CD4+ T cell counts) and survival to the regimens. Results The median follow-up time period was 16.5 months (Interquartile: 15.5-20.8 months). At baseline, the median of CD4+ T cell counts were 154 cells/μl (Interquartile: 81-212 cells/μl). Treatment was effective in most of the patients, the CD4+ T cell count of patients increased after the initiation of ART. The maximum increase was recorded at month 3, from the median of 154 cells/μl to 220 cells/μl (P<0.001) ,and thereafter the count remained stable. When comparing with patients with baseline CD4+ T cell count≥100 cells/μl, those with baseline CD4+ T cell count < 100 cells/μl showed a higher mean increase in the first three months of treatment. The cumulative probability rates of remaining alive were 0.94,0.88 and 0.87 at 3,12,24 months, respectively. In multivariate Cox's proportional hazard models, after adjustment for the type ofinitial regimens (NVP vs. EFV/IDV), CD4+T cell count of less than 50 cells/μl (vs. 50 cells/μl or more) was strongly associated with death hazard ratio 0.21 (95% CI:0.06-0.68). Conclusion Our data showed that ART was effective for improving immunologic response of adult patients with HIV/AIDS. CD4+ T cell count at initiation was associated with survival time in patients starting ART,suggesting that monitoring of CD4+ T count should be strengthened to early initiate antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected patients.