ABSTRACT
CD4 count is the standard method for determining eligibility for highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and monitoring HIV/AIDS disease progression, but it is not widely available in resource-limited settings. This study examined the correlation between total lymphocyte count (TLC) and CD4 count of HIV-infected patients before and after HAART, and assessed the thresholds of TLC for making decisions about the initiation and for monitoring HAART. A retrospective study was performed, and 665 HIV-infected patients with TLC and CD4 count from four counties (Shangcai, Queshan, Shenqiu and Weishi) were included in the study. Pearson correlation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were used. TLC and CD4 count after HAART was significantly increased as compared with pre-HAART (P<0.01). An overall positive correlation was noted between TLC and CD4 count (pre-HAART, r=0.73, P=0.0001; follow-up HAART, r=0.56, P=0.0001). The ROC curve between TLC and CD4 count showed that TLC ≤ 1200 cells/mm(3) could predict CD4 < 200 cells/mm(3) with a sensitivity of 71.12%, specificity of 66.35% at pre-HAART. After 12-month HAART, the optimum prediction for CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3 was a TLC ≤ 1300 cells/mm(3), with a sensitivity of 63.27%, and a specificity of 74.84%. Further finding indicated that TLC change was positively correlated to CD4 change (r=0.77, P=0.0001) at the time point of 12-month treatment, and the best prediction point of TLC change for CD4 increasing was 135 cells/mm(3). TLC and its change can be used as a surrogate marker for CD4 count and its change of HIV-infected individuals for making decisions about the initiation and for monitoring HAART in resource-limited settings.
ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the influencing factors of pain and the changes of vital signs in newborn infants. Methods Forty two newborn infants were rated by the behavioral scale of acute pain in newborn infants. The scores of pain were compared among infants with different gender,gestational age,birth weight,birth age,type of puncture and whether by vaginal birth or not. At the same time,the respiration rate,heart rate,blood pressure and oxygen saturation (SO2)were dynami-cally recorded by the multi-function monitor in the process of puncture. Results The average score of pain was 7.6. There was no significant difference among newborn infants with different gender,gestational age,birth weight and type of puncture(P> 0.05),while significant differences among infants with different birth age and whether by vaginal birth or not (P=0.015 and 0.043 respectively). In the process of puncture,the SO2 was significantly decreased,while the respiration rate,heart rate,sys-tolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly increased. Conclusions Pain is prevalent in newborn infants and accom-panied by obvious changes of vital signs. The means of childbirth and birth age have significant influence on the neonatal pain. It is suggested to pay close attention to the neonatal pain and take effective interventions.