Imaging Findings of Common Opportunistic Infections and Malignant Tumors in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Patients / 中国医学科学院学报

The incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has gradually increased in recent years.HIV mainly destroys the body's immune system,leading to decreased body resistance and thus the development of a variety of opportunistic infections and neoplastic diseases,especially in the digestive system. However,the clinical manifestations,laboratory findings,and physical examination results of these conditions are not specific. Imaging examinations can determine the presence of infection and tumor lesions and the disease scope;furthermore,they are useful tools for biopsy and follow-up evaluation. A better knowledge of the radiological findings of these diseases can enable radiologists to provide more information to patients and clinicians. This article summarize the imaging findings of common opportunistic infections and malignant tumors in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients.

Hepatitis B virus/human immunodeficiency virus coinfection: interaction among human immunodeficiency virus infection, chronic hepatitis B virus infection, and host immunity / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This review discusses progress in the studies of hepatitis B virus (HBV)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection and focuses on the interaction among HIV infection, chronic HBV infection, and host immunity.</p><p><b>DATA SOURCES</b>Data and studies published mainly from 2008 to 2011 were selected using PubMed.</p><p><b>STUDY SELECTION</b>Original articles and critical reviews concerning HBV/HIV coinfection and HBV and HIV pathogenesis were selected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HIV may accelerate HBV progression by lowering CD4 count, weakening HBV-specific immunity, "enriching" HBV mutants, causing immune activation, etc. On the other hand, HBV may enhance HIV replication by activating HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) with X protein (HBX) and cause immune activation in synergy with HIV. Paradoxically, HBV may also inhibit HIV dissemination via dendritic cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The interaction among HIV, HBV, and host immunity remains poorly understood. Further research is warranted to elucidate the detailed molecular mechanisms and to translate these mechanisms into clinical practice.</p>

Clinical characteristics of 143 Chinese HIV/AIDS patients / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 143 HIV/AIDS patients who were first diagnosed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital form January 1988 to April 2006 were enrolled in this study. Clinical characteristics were retrospectively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 143 HIV/ AIDS patients, 57 patients had no clinical symptoms and were confirmed by routine examinations; 86 patients had clinical symptoms, including fever (n = 50), weight loss (n = 18), and discomforts involving respiratory system (n = 34), gastrointestinal system (n = 16), and derma and mucosa (n = 17). Opportunistic infections (OIs) such as pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PCP) (n = 27), oropharyngeal candidiasis (n = 16), tuberculosis (n = 15) , and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (n = 9) were also observed in patients whose CD4 + T cell counts were less than 200/mm3. Most CMV infection and cryptococcal meningitis occurred in patients whose CD4 + T cell counts were less than 100/mm3. CD4 + T cell count was negatively correlated with plasma viral load (r = -0.420, P = 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Fever, dyspnea, and weight loss are the most common symptoms in the patients of this study. The respiratory system, gastrointestinal system, derma and mucosa are the most commonly affected areas by OIs, and PCP is the most common OI. The occurrence of OIs corelates with CD4 + T cell count.</p>