Study on the characteristics of commercial sexual behavior and the risk factors analysis of HIV infection among the old male clients, in Guangxi / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To understand the current situation and characteristics of commercial sexual behavior among old male clients in Guangxi, and to explore the associated risk factors of HIV infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The areas in Guangxi where more old male HIV cases were reported followed by survey on those male clients who were over 60 years of age, were selected. A total of 5 ml blood sample was collected to test antibodies of HIV and syphilis. Risk factors were calculated by the multivariate logistic analysis method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 1 236 questionnaires were completed in the survey. 65.61% of the old male clients were from low-grade venues with 53.64% of them never using a condom when engaging in commercial sex behavior. 47.33% of them patronized sex workers for around 10 years. 53.32% of them patronized prostitutes not less than 2 times in the last 30 days. Thirty subjects were HIV positive (2.43%) and 40 were syphilis positive (3.24%). Factor as 'having fixed partners' (OR = 0.302, 95% CI:0.140-0.650) appeared protective for the old male clients of HIV infection, with a history of patronizing sex workers from 1 to 5 years (OR = 2.552, 95% CI: 1.086-5.998). Frequency of patronizing sex workers not less than 4 times in the last 30 days (OR = 3.002, 95%CI:1.047-8.607) seemed the high risk factor of HIV infection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Older-aged male clients showed high HIV and syphilis infection rates in Guangxi, and most of them were using the low-grade venues. Commercial sexual behaviors in the areas would include early and, frequent exposure, but with poor protections. High risk factors of HIV infection might relate to "no fixed sexual partners" and "frequently commercial sexual behavior".</p>

The role of RNA pooling technique in the diagnosis of acute HIV infection and the estimation on HIV incidence among low-grade-venues female sex workers / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the feasibility of RNA pooling technique in the diagnosis on acute HIV infection among female sex workers (FSWs) working at the low-grade venues.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Plasma samples from the low-grade-venue FSWs in Guangxi, in 2011 were tested for HIV antibody using the rapid testing method. All samples which were HIV antibody negative in the rapid testing were tested for HIV RNA with RNA pooling technique. FSWs who showed HIV RNA positive were tested for HIV antibody by Western blot method in 3 months. The HIV incidence in the low-grade venue FSWs was counted under the estimation formula.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 6 469 cases of FSWs who were recruited in this study. Through rapid testing, results showed that HIV antibody was positive in 139 cases, with the positive rate as 2.15%. 6 330 FSWs with HIV antibody negative were tested by HIV RNA pooling method, with 7 of them showing HIV RNA positive, in which 6 cases showed HIV-1 antibody seroconversion, thus were diagnosed as acute HIV infection. HIV incidence in low-grade FSWs appeared to be 1.45 per 100 person years (95%CI:1.17-1.76 per 100 person years) in Guangxi.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Other than regular routine HIV antibody testing, it seemed necessary to adopt the HIV RNA pooling strategy in high-risk groups such as FSWs, so as to early detect the HIV infection and to timely perform the intervention or treatment programs to prevent sexual transmission of HIV.</p>

Human Infections with Liver and Minute Intestinal Flukes in Guangxi, China: Analysis by DNA Sequencing, Ultrasonography, and Immunoaffinity Chromatography

The prevalence of liver and intestinal fluke infections was determined by surveying inhabitants of Hengxuan, Fusui, and Shanglin villages which were known to be endemic for liver flukes in Guangxi, China in May 2010. A total of 718 people were examined for helminth eggs by the Kato-Katz thick smear technique, ultrasonography, immunoaffinity chromatography, and DNA sequencing. The overall egg positive rate was found to be 59.6% (28.0-70.6%) that included mixed infections with liver and intestinal flukes. Cases showing higher than 20,000 eggs per gram of feces (EPG) were detected between 1.3% and 16.2%. Ultrasonographic findings exhibited overall 28.2% (72 of 255 cases) dilatation rate of the intrahepatic bile duct. Clonorchis sinensis infection was detected serologically in 88.3% (38 of 43 cases) among C. sinensis egg positive subjects by the immunoaffinity chromatography using a specific antigen for C. sinensis. For differential diagnosis of the liver and intestinal flukes, more precise PCR and nucleotide sequencing for copro-DNA were performed for 46 egg positive cases. Mixed infections with C. sinensis and Metagonimus yokogawai were detected in 8 of 46 egg positive cases, whereas 29 specimens were positive for Haplorchis taichui. Ultrasonographic findings and immunoaffinity chromatography results showed usefulness, even in a limited way, in figuring out of the liver fluke endemicity.

The relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy / 中华内科杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPNP). Methods A crossectional analysis was conducted on 227 patients with type 2 diabetes. Peripheral neuropathy was confirmed using electromyography (EMG). The risk factors possibly associated with diabetic neuropathy or plasma homocysteine levels were analyzed in relation to likelihood of occurrence of DPNP. Results Eighty patients with neuropathy and 147 patients without neuropathy were included. Plasma homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients with diabetic neuropathy [( 12. 6 ± 3.6 ) μmol/ L] than without diabetic neuropathy [( 8. 2 ± 0. 9 ) μmol/L] ( P ＜0. 001 ), and the relationship remained significant after adjusting for duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), age, renal status, serum folate acid and vitamin B12, and metformin [OR 1.15( 1.02-1.28 ) ,P ＜ 0. 05]. In addition, per increase of 4. 0 μmol/L plasma homocysteine was closely related to the occurrence of neuropathy after controlling for per unit increase of other confounding factors [OR 1.17(0. 94-1.33), P ＜ 0. 05]. Conclusions Hyperhomocysteinemia was an independent risk factor for the occourence of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Features of surviving Oncomelania snails reproduced in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

Fifty residual Oncomelania snail points were found in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from 1998 to 2009,and the snail area was 14.9 hm2.The residual snail area increased year by year with complex environment.

Analysis of shistosomiasis surveillance in mobile population in Guangxi, 2008 / 中国血吸虫病防治杂志

In order to understand the distribution of schistosomiasis in mobile population in Guangxi zhuang Autonomous Region, field investigation was conducted in 19 endemic villages selected by cluster sampling. The mobile people who were older than 3 years old were investigated by questionnaire and indirect hemagglutination( IHA) , then the IHA-positive ones were detected by fecal examination. Meanwhile, a snail survey was carried out. The results showed that a total of 2 866 people were investigated , among which 1 380 came from 143 endemic areas. A total of 2 428 people were involved in IHA examination with a positive rate of 3.46% , and the rate of people from endemic areas were significantly higher than that of ones from non-endemic areas( P < 0.01). Sixty people were involved in fecal examination, and the results were all negative. An area of 899. 3 hm~2 was surveyed, and the snail area was 4.97 hm~2, while none of positive snails were found. It is suggested that the mobile population is the main risk factor for potential schistosomiasis transmission in Guangxi, and the surveillance on this population should be strengthened.

Changing Patterns of Serum and Bile Antibodies in Re-infected Rats with Clonorchis sinensis

Rats develop strong resistance to re-infection and super-infection by Clonorchis sinensis. The present study investigated the antibodies present in the sera and bile juice of rats that were primary infected and re-infected with C. sinensis. The serum level of specific IgG antibodies, which were elevated 2 wk of the primary infection, peaked at 4 wk and subsequently remained unchanged even during re-infection. The total IgE level in serum increased slowly from 388 ng / ml to 3,426 ng / ml beginning 2 wk after the primary infection, and remained high up to 8 wk but dropped to a normal level (259 ng / ml) after treatment. In resistant re-infected rats, the serum IgE level increased rapidly and peaked within 1 wk, whereas no increase was observed in immunosuppressed rats. The serum level of specific IgA antibodies was elevated beginning 1 wk after infection, and decreased 4 wk after treatment. The total bile IgA level unchanged during the primary infection but increased in treated and re-infected rats. The elevated levels of serum IgE and bile IgA indicate that these immunoglobulins may be correlated with the development of resistance to re-infection by C. sinensis in rats.

Changing Patterns of Serum and Bile Antibodies in Re-infected Rats with Clonorchis sinensis

Rats develop strong resistance to re-infection and super-infection by Clonorchis sinensis. The present study investigated the antibodies present in the sera and bile juice of rats that were primary infected and re-infected with C. sinensis. The serum level of specific IgG antibodies, which were elevated 2 wk of the primary infection, peaked at 4 wk and subsequently remained unchanged even during re-infection. The total IgE level in serum increased slowly from 388 ng / ml to 3,426 ng / ml beginning 2 wk after the primary infection, and remained high up to 8 wk but dropped to a normal level (259 ng / ml) after treatment. In resistant re-infected rats, the serum IgE level increased rapidly and peaked within 1 wk, whereas no increase was observed in immunosuppressed rats. The serum level of specific IgA antibodies was elevated beginning 1 wk after infection, and decreased 4 wk after treatment. The total bile IgA level unchanged during the primary infection but increased in treated and re-infected rats. The elevated levels of serum IgE and bile IgA indicate that these immunoglobulins may be correlated with the development of resistance to re-infection by C. sinensis in rats.

Susceptibility of experimental animals to reinfection with Clonorchis sinensis

The present study observed the resistance to reinfection with Clonorchis sinensis in various experimental animals including mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs, as well as rats and hamsters. The resistance rates to reinfection in rats, mice, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs were 79.7%, 58.0%, -12.6%, 54.8%, 62.6%, and 6.0%, respectively. Worms recovered from reinfected rats and mice were immature, and significantly smaller than those from the primarily infected (P < 0.01), whereas those from other animals were fully matured to adults. These findings indicate that the protective response against reinfection with C. sinensis is prominent in rats and mice, and that they may be a good animal model to investigate the mechanism of resistance to reinfection with C. sinensis.

Development of resistance to reinfection by Clonorchis sinensis in rats

We investigated the induction of resistance to Clonorchis sinensis infection by prior infection in rat and hamster models. Animals were challenged with C. sinensis metacercariae, then treated with praziquantel and reinfected. Worm recovery rate in reinfected animals was used to estimate resistance to reinfection. The determined resistance rates to reinfection in rats and hamsters were 97.7% and 10.3%, respectively. In rats, cure from the primary infection of C. sinensis increased resistant to reinfection, and the greatert the worm burden and the longer the duration of primary infection, the higher was the resistance rate. For primary infection doses of 10, 40 and 100 metacercariae per rat, the resistance rates were 87.4%, 93.8% and 98.4%, respectively. The resistance rates in rats after 2 or 8-week primary infection were 78.7% and 95.3%, respectively. All worms recovered from reinfected rats were immature. When cured rats were administered with methylprednisolone, resistance to reinfection became impaired. These findings indicate that rats develop a high degree of resistance to reinfection by C. sinensis after cure. The growths and maturations of reinfected worms were also impaired.

Effects of Utilins on Immunity of Patients with Elderly Pulmonary Tuberculosis Complicating Diabetes / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of Utilins on T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with elderly pulmonary tub-erculosis complicating diabetes treated concomitantly with antituberculotic drugs.METHODS:A total of 44 patients with elder-ly pulmonary tuberculosis complicating diabetes were treated with antituberculotics and Utilins by intramuscular injection.The activities of CD3+、CD4+、CD8+ and NK of T-lymphocyte subsets were measured before and after treatment.RESULTS:Utili-ns significantly increased the levels of CD3+ and CD4+(P