Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Disseminated Non-tuberculous Mycobacterial Disease / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To explore the clinical and laboratory characteristics and the prognosis of disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacteria(NTM)diseases in human immunodeficiency virus(HIV)negative patients. Methods Cases of disseminated NTM disease were retrospectively collected in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2012 to October 2018.Clinical manifestations,laboratory findings,treatment,and prognosis of these cases were retrieved from the electronic medical record system. Results Among the 23 HIV negative patients with disseminated NTM disease,21 had underlying diseases,with rheumatoid immune disease(n=7)as the most common one.The main clinical manifestation was fever(n=23).Laboratory tests showed anemia [hemoglobin(85.78±25.47)g/L],hypoalbuminemia [albumin 29(27-32)g/L],elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate [(85.73±43.78)mm/h] and hypersensitive C-reactive protein [(112.00±70.90)mg/L],and reduction of lymphocyte count [0.69(0.29-2.10)×10 /L].Lymphocyte subset analysis indicated reduction in CD4 T cells [213(113-775)/μl],CD8 T cells [267(99-457)/μl],B cells [39(4-165)/μl],and NK cells [88(32-279)/μl] and elevation of human leukocyte antigen-D related(HLA-DR),and CD38 expression in CD8 T cells [HLA-DR CD8 /CD8 ,60(40-68)%;CD38 CD8 /CD8 ,81(65-90)%].The most common species of NTM was Mycobacterium intracellular(n=6).Lymphocyte,CD8 T cell,B cell,and NK cell counts were significantly lower in dead patients than surviving patients(P =0.045,P=0.045,P=0.032,and P=0.010,respectively). Conclusions Disseminated NTM disease in HIV negative patients is mainly manifested as fever,anemia,hypoalbuminemia,and elevated inflammatory indicators.It is more likely to occur in immunocompromised patients.Patients with decreased lymphocytes,CD8 T cells,B cells and NK cells tend to have a poor prognosis.

Baseline Naive CD4+ T-cell Level Predicting Immune Reconstitution in Treated HIV-infected Late Presenters / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Among HIV-infected patients initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART), early changes in CD4+ T-cell subsets are well described. However, HIV-infected late presenters initiating treatment present with a suboptimal CD4+ T-cell reconstitution and remain at a higher risk for AIDS and non-AIDS events. Therefore, factors associated with CD4+ T-cell reconstitution need to be determined in this population, which will allow designing effective immunotherapeutic strategies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-one adult patients with baseline CD4+ T-cell count <350 cells/mm3 exhibiting viral suppression after ART initiation were followed in the HIV/AIDS research center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing, China, from October 2002 to September 2013. Changes in T-cell subsets and associated determinants were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Median baseline CD4+ T-cell count was 70 cells/mm3. We found a biphasic reconstitution of T-cell subsets and immune activation: a rapid change during the first 6 months followed by a more gradual change over the subsequent 8 years. Baseline CD4+ T-cell count >200 cells/mm3 in comparison to CD4+ T-cell count ≤200 cells/mm3 was associated with more complete immune Reconstitution (77.8% vs. 27.3% respectively; P = 0.017) and normalized CD4/CD8 ratio. We showed that the baseline percentage of naive CD4+ T-cell was a predictive marker for complete immune reconstitution (area under receiver operating characteristic curve 0.907), and 12.4% as cutoff value had a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 88.2%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Baseline naive CD4+ T-cell percentage may serve as a predictive marker for optimal immune reconstitution during long-term therapy. Such study findings suggest that increasing thymic output should represent an avenue to improve patients who are diagnosed late in the course of infection.</p>

Premature atherosclerosis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Increased risk of atherosclerosis has been reported in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection since highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has come into use. However, there is no clear evidence of premature atherosclerosis in Chinese HIV-infected patients. Our study was designed to determine the relationship between HIV infection and atherosclerosis in Chinese HIV-infected patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and forty-five patients were enrolled in this study. These included 82 HIV-infected patients (41 HAART-treated and 41 antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve patients) and 43 HIV-negative control subjects. Data on traditional cardiovascular risk factors, HIV infection parameters, and treatment regimens were collected. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) was determined using a pulse pressure analyzer to evaluate the function of the arterial wall as an indicator of atherosclerotic vascular damage.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A higher PWV ((1358.3 ± 117.8) cm/s vs. (1270.2 ± 189.2) cm/s, P = 0.010) was found in ART naïve HIV-infected patients compared with control subjects. However, HAART treated patients had lower PWV compared to ART naïve patients ((1283.8 ± 181.4) cm/s vs. (1358.0 ± 117.8) cm/s, P = 0.033). Multiple regression analysis revealed that age (B = 5.218, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.420 - 9.016, P = 0.008), current smoking (B = -74.671, 95%CI -147.003 to -2.339, P = 0.043) and HAART (92.7% patients on a protease inhibitor-free regimen) (B = -169.169, 95%CI -272.508 to -65.831, P = 0.010) were associated with reduced PWV in HIV-infected patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Reduced PWV in HIV-infected Chinese patients indicates that they are more likely to develop arterial wall stiffness, possibly by atherosclerosis. A protease inhibitor-free regime may be protective for arterial wall of HIV infected patients.</p>

Change of plasma TH1/TH2 cytokines levels in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe changes in T cell subsets and TH1/TH2 secreted cytokines in the plasma of patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 22 patients with HFRS (9 mild cases and 13 moderate cases) were enrolled. Blood samples were taken 1, 4, and 12 weeks after presentation. T cell subsets were tested by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expression of cytokines in plasma were analysed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Another 16 healthy blood donors were enrolled as the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CD3 + CD8 + T lymphocytes increased at week 1 and 4 (P < 0.01), which was more significant in mild cases than in moderate cases (P < 0.05). The change of CD3 + CD4 + T lymphocytes during the disease course were not significantly different from that in control group (P > 0.05). One week after presentation, TH1 [interleukin (IL)-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)] and TH2 (IL-6, IL-10) cytokine productions were significantly higher in HFRS patients than in the control group (P < 0.01); IL-2 and IL-10 remained high levels during the whole observation period, and were still significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.01). At week 4, the plasma IL-5 level was significantly higher in HFRS patients than in the control group (P < 0.01), and were still significantly higher than in the control group at week 12 (P < 0.01). At week 1 and 4, the plasma INF-gamma levels were significantly higher in moderate patients than in mild patients (P < 0.05); at week 12, the plasma IL-10 level was significantly higher in moderate patients than in mild patients(P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CD3 + CD4 + T lymphocytes remarkably increases at the early stage of disease in patients with mild HFRS. The early cell mediated immune response is helpful for disease control. The cytokines INF-gamma and IL-10 increase more obviously in moderate patients, indicating that cytokines also are key pathogenic factors of HRFS.</p>

Impact of baseline CD4(+) T cell counts on the efficacy of nevirapine-based highly active antiretroviral therapy in Chinese HIV/AIDS patients: a prospective, multicentric study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>CD4(+) T cell counts have been used as the indicator of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease progression and thereby to determine when to start highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Whether and how the baseline CD4(+) T cell count affects the immunological and viral responses or adverse reactions to nevirapine (NVP)-containing HAART in Chinese HIV-1 infected adults remain to be characterized.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and ninety-eight HIV-seropositive antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive subjects were enrolled into a prospective study from 2005 to 2007. Data were analyzed by groups based on baseline CD4(+) T cell counts either between 100 - 200 cells/microl or 201 - 350 cells/microl. Viral responses, immunologic responses and adverse events were monitored at baseline and at weeks 4, 12, 24, 36, 52, 68, 84, 100.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eighty-six and 112 subjects ranged their CD4(+) T cell counts 100 - 200 cells/microl and 201 - 350 cells/microl, respectively. The pre-HAART viral load in CD4 201 - 350 cells/microl group was significantly lower than that in CD4 100 - 200 cells/microl group (P = 0.000). After treatment, no significant differences were observed between these two groups either in the plasma viral load (pVL) or in the viral response rate calculated as the percentage of pVL less than 50 copies/ml or less than 400 copies/ml. The CD4(+) T cell counts were statistically higher in the 201 - 350 group during the entire follow-ups (P < 0.01) though CD4(+) T cell count increases were similar in these two groups. After 100-week treatment, the median of CD4(+) T cell counts were increased to 331 cells/microl for CD4 100 - 200 cells/microl group and to 462 cells/microl for CD4 201 - 350 cells/microl group. Only a slightly higher incidence of nausea was observed in CD4 201 - 350 cells/microl group (P = 0.05) among all adverse reactions, including rash and liver function abnormality.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The pVLs and viral response rates are unlikely to be associated with the baseline CD4(+) T cell counts. Initiating HAART in Chinese HIV-1 infected patients with higher baseline CD4(+) T cell counts could result in higher total CD4(+) T cell counts thereby achieve a better immune recovery. These results support current guidelines to start HAART at a threshold of 350 cells/microl.</p>

Characteristics of peripheral blood lymphocyte immune subsets in patients with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the characteristics of the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in pediatric patients with chronic active EBV (CAEBV) infection.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Flow cytometry was used to detect the peripheral blood NK, B, T lymphocyte subsets and the functional, regulatory, naïve, memory and activatory subsets of T lymphocytes in 10 pediatric patients with CAEBV infection, 13 pediatric patients with acute Epstein-Barr virus infection (AEBV) and 12 healthy children in our hospital between March 2004 and April 2008.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with AEBV group, the number of white blood cells [3325 x 10(6)/L (median, just the same as the following)], lymphocytes (1078 x 10(6)/L), NK cells (68 x 10(6)/L), B cells (84 x 10(6)/L), total T cells (684 x 10(6)/L), CD4+ T cells (406 x 10(6)/L) and CD8+ T cells (295 x 10(6)/L) in CAEBV patients were lower (P<0.05). The functional subset of the CD4+ T cells in CAEBV group (94.5%) was lower than those of the healthy control group (98.7%) (P<0.05), but was still higher than those of AEBV group (74.0%) (P<0.05). While the functional subset of the CD8+ T cells in CAEBV (40.7%) was not dramatically different from the healthy control group (48.3%), but was still higher than that of AEBV group (21.0%) (P<0.05). Although the regulatory subset in CAEBV group (5.0%) was higher than the health control group (4.6%) (P<0.05), but lower than AEBV group (5.8%) (P<0.05). In CAEBV, the proportion of CD4+/CD8+ naïve T cells (32.3%/37.5%) was lower than that of normal group (58.3%/56.6%) (P<0.05), but the proportion of CD4+/CD8+ effective memory T cells in CAEBV group (23.9%/15.1%) was lower than that in AEBV group (36.5%/69.8%) (P<0.05), while the proportion of CD8+ fake naïve T cells in CAEBV (17.5%) was higher than the other 2 groups (P<0.05). The CD8+ activatory subset in CAEBV group (84.4%/34.0%) was higher than that of the healthy control group (44.1%/16.7%) (P<0.05), but still lower than AEBV group (96%/95%) (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is an imbalance in lymphocyte subsets and disturbance in cellular immunity in CAEBV patients, which may be associated with EBV chronic active infection. Detecting the peripheral haematologic parameters and lymphocyte subsets may be helpful in the diagnosis and the differential diagnosis of CAEBV.</p>

Change of plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the changes of the plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines levels in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect the plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines levels of 22 HFRS patients (9 mild cases and 13 moderate cases) 1, 4, and 12 weeks after they were diagnosed. Sixteen healthy blood donors were recruited as control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and IL-8 in HFRS patients were significantly higher than those in control group 1 week after they were diagnosed (all P < 0.01). The levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha in HFRS patients returned to the normal levels four weeks after the diagnosis, while those of IL-1beta, IL-8, and IL-10 remained significantly higher than those in control group 12 weeks after the diagnosis (all P < 0.01). The IL-8 and IL-10 levels in mild HFRS patients were significantly higher than those in moderate HFRS patients at the same period (all P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Abnormal expressions and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines occurs during the disease course of HFRS.</p>

Association between Nef-specific CD8 T-cell responses and disease progression in HIV-1 subtype B infection / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The correlation between HIV-1 Nef-specific CD8 T-cell responses and markers of HIV-1 disease progression still remains unclear. This study analysed and compared the role of HIV-1 Nef-specific CD8 T-cell responses in patients with different disease status.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two groups of patients with HIV-1 subtype B infection were selected according to CD4 count and clinical manifestations: long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs, n = 20) and advanced progressors (APs, CD4 count < 500 cells/microl, n = 34). Nef-specific CD8 T-cell responses were studied by interferon-gamma ELISpot assay against 3 pools of HIV-Nef peptides.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Nef-specific CD8 T-cell responses did not correlate with viral load or CD4 count in all patients and no significant differences were found in the magnitude of Nef-specific CD8 T-cell responses between groups LTNPs and APs (670 SFC/10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells vs 1107 SFC/10(6) peripheral blood mononuclear cells, P = 0.255). Further comparisons showed that there were also no significant correlations observed in group LTNPs, but Nef-specific CD8 T cells correlated negatively with viral load (r = -0.397, P = 0.020) and positively with CD4 count (r = 0.364, P = 0.034) in group APs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These data suggest that different correlation patterns between Nef-specific CD8 T-cell responses and disease progression exist in LTNPs and APs. Although a negative association was observed with concurrent plasma HIV RNA in APs, Nef-specific CD8 T-cell responses might fail to play a protective role in different stages of HIV-1 infection.</p>

Clinical outcomes and immune reconstitution in 103 advanced AIDS patients undergoing 12-month highly active antiretroviral therapy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) produces profound suppression of HIV replication, substantial increase in CD4(+) T cells, and partial reconstitution of the immune system. However, the numbers of subjects were small in previous Chinese studies. This study evaluated the efficacy and side effects of HAART in Chinese advanced AIDS patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and three antiretroviral drug naive AIDS patients were enrolled in this study and were divided into two groups by their baseline CD4(+) count: < 100 cells/microl or > or = 100 cells/microl. Clinical, virological and immunological outcomes were monitored at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months during the course of treatment with HAART.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One patient died and another was lost from the follow-up. For the remaining 101 HIV/AIDS patients at the 12th month during the HAART, the plasma viral load (VL) was reduced to (3.2 +/- 0.7) lg copies/ml, the CD4(+) count increased to (168 +/- 51) cells/microl [among which the naive phenotype (CD45RA(+)CD62L(+)) increased to (49 +/- 27) cells/microl and the memory phenotype (CD45RA(-)) increased to (119 +/- 55) cells/microl], and the percentage of CD4(+)CD28(+) cells increased. At the same time, there was a significant reduction of CD8(+) T cell activation. In the 69 patients with the baseline CD4(+) count < 100 cells/microl, 37 had a VL < 50 copies/ml; while in the 34 patients with the baseline CD4(+) count > or = 100 cells/microl, 25 had a VL < 50 copies/ml, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant. The CD4(+) T cell count showed a two-phase increase during HAART and a significant positive correlation was shown between the change of CD4(+) count and plasma VL. Over 12 months of HAART, 10 patients had gastrointestinal side effects, 13 peripheral neuritis, 7 hepatic lesions, 8 hematological side effects, 8 skin rashes, 10 lipodystrophy and 1 renal calculus.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Immune reconstitution as well as the significantly improved clinical outcomes is observed in Chinese advanced AIDS patients after HAART. Side effects are common during HAART and require clinical attention.</p>

Abnormal changes of CD28 expression on CD4 + T cells in treatment-näive and highly active antiretroviral therapy-treated HIV/AIDS patients / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the alteration of the expression of CD28 on CD4 + T cells in HIV/AIDS patients and observe the dynamics of CD28 expression under highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of CD28 on CD4 + T cells, CD4 counts, and plasma viral load were measured by flow cytometry and bDNA assays in 278 treatment-naïve HIV/AIDS patients and 56 healthy controls. In addition, the evolution of these parameters was assessed in 59 patients who initiated HAART and were followed for 12 months in regular 3-month visits.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median level of CD28 on CD4 + T cells decreased dramatically in treatment-naïve HIV-positive individuals than in HIV-negative controls (P <0.001). The expression rate of CD28 molecule was positively correlated with CD4 counts (r = 0.484, P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with plasma viral load (r = -0.300, P <0.001). In patients who had received one month of standard HAART, the level of CD28 on CD4 + T cells increased rapidly from 75.0% to 90.0% (P < 0.001). Moreover, there was a negative correlation between the median CD28 expression and the median viral load (r = - 0.829, P = 0.042).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The level of CD28 expression on CD4 + T cells is down-regulated in treatment-naïve HIV/AIDS patients. HAART can successfully restore the lymphocyte subsets of CD4 + CD28 + T cells. The up-regulation of CD28 expression after HAART may be closely correlated with the suppression of the viral replication.</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>

Dynamic changes of T lymphocyte subsets in the long-term follow-up of severe acute respiratory syndrome patients / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the dynamic changes of T lymphocyte subsets in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sequential anti-coagulated blood samples were collected from 62 seropositive SARS patients during the first week, the second week, the first month, the 2nd-3rd month, and 1 year after disease onset. T-lymphocyte subsets including CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, and naive and memory CD4 + T cells were detected by flow cytometry. Samples from 56 healthy blood donors were also detected as healthy controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A rapid restoration in T-lymphocyte subsets was observed during a short period after infection. During the 2-3 months after disease onset, CD8 + T cell count returned to the normal level. At the same time point, CD4 + T cell and naive CD4 + T cell counts increased to (534 +/- 197)/mm3 and (175 +/- 75)/mm3 respectively. Total lymphocytes, T lymphocyte, CD4 + T and naive CD4 + T cell were still significantly lower than the normal levels even one year after disease onset.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The periphery T lymphocyte subsets in SARS infection shows transient decrease and then rapid recovery.</p>

Dynamics of T lymphocyte subsets in HAART treated AIDS patients with successful suppression of HIV replication and different CD4 + T cell restoration / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the dynamic changes of T lymphocyte subsets of AIDS patients during more than 24 months of highly active antiretrovirus therapy (HAART) with successful suppression of HIV replication and different CD4 + T cell restoration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 45 AIDS patients who had received HAART for more than 24 months were included. During HAART (including DO, M3, M6, M12, M18, and M24), the number of plasma HIV-1 RNA was measured quantitatively using the bDNA assay, and T lymphocyte subsets including CD3 + CD4 + cells, CD3 + CD8 + cells, naive CD4 + cells (CD4 + CD45RA + CD62L +), CD4 + CD28 + cells , and CD8 + CD38 + cells were detected with flow cytometer.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 45 patients, 24 patients (53.3%) whose plasma viral load decreased to less than 500 copies/ml at M6 and maintained to M24 were classified into three groups according to the CD4 + T cell count increments on M24 (compared with DO): group A (< 100/mm3), group B (100-200/mm3), and group C (> 200/mm3). After the initiation of HAART, T lymphocyte response, including CD4 + T cell counts, naive CD4 + cell counts, percentages of CD4 + CD28 + cells in these patients were improved gradually, while CD8 + CD38 + percentage decreased. The improvement of T lymphocyte response in group C was most remarkable even with highest plasma viral load and lowest CD4 T cell count on DO. Compared with group A and B, group C had significantly better improvement not only in the quantities of CD4 + T cell, but also in the CD28 + expression and naive CD4 + T cell populations.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>T lymphocyte response of AIDS patients can be effectively reconstituted by HAART. Different dynamics of CD4 + CD28 + and naive CD4 + populations may considerably contribute to the quantity and cellular function restoration of CD4 + T lymphocyte.</p>

T-cell response of advanced aids patients after highly active antiretroviral therapy / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the response on late stage Chinese AIDS patients after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From October 2002 to March 2004, 20 cases of late stage Chinese AIDS patients were selected to participate in this opened and randomised study, we purposely chose those with CD4+ T cell counts <100/mm3. All of them had one or two opportunistic infections and none had been treated with anti-HIV drugs. All patients were tested with CD4+ (naive CD4+ T cell defined by CD45RA+ and CD62L+, memory CD4+ T cell defined by CD45RA-), CD8+ T cell, plasma HIV viral load, and clinical manifestations on before, during, and after HAART (5 different regimes) on 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Before HAART mean CD4+ T cell counts were 32 +/- 31 (range 2-91)/mm3, and plasma HIV viral load were 5.07 +/- 0.85 (range 2.04-5.70) log copies/mL. In 1 month's time patients treated with HAART had mean CD4+ and CD8 T cell counts increasing rapidly. After 1 month the increasing speed turned to slow down, but HIV viral load decreased predominantly within the first 3 months. The major part of increasing CD4+ T cells were memory CD4+ T cells, as fol naive CD4+ T cells increasing low and slow. Clinical symptoms and signs improved, and opportunistic infections reduced. The quality of life will be far much better than before. Each patient was followed for 12 months, and had finished 12 months' HAART.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This is the first report in China that late stage Chinese AIDS patients after HAART could have their immune reconstitution. The regular pattern is similar to what had been reported in Western countries and also in China. So it is worth to treat late stage Chinese AIDS patients with HAART.</p>

Dynamics of T lymphocyte subsets in SARS patients / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study dynamics of T lymphocyte subsets in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sequential anti-coagulated blood samples were collected from 46 cases of SARS patients during the 1st week, the 2nd week, the 3rd-5th week and the 8th-12th week after the infection. T lymphocyte subsets including CD3+CD4+ cells, CD3+CD8+ cells, naive CD4+ cells (CD4+CD45RA+CD62L+) and activated CD8+ cells (CD8+CD38+) were detected by 3-color flow cytometry. Fifty-six normal healthy blood donors were also detected as normal controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the results of normal controls, both of the percentages of CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells of SARS patients were in normal levels during the 1st week, but the cell counts decreased significantly to (306 +/- 140)/mm3 and (270 +/- 143)/mm3, respectively. The cell count of naive CD4+ subset also remarkably decreased to (96 +/- 49)/mm3, and the percentage of CD8+CD38+ subset was higher than that of normal controls [(59.3 +/- 12.6)% vs (44.9 +/- 12.5)%]. During the 3rd-5th week, the CD8+ cell count and the percentage of CD8+CD38+ subset reached normal values, which were (581 +/- 356)/mm3 and (40.1 +/- 17.6)%, respectively. During the 8th-12th week, the cell counts of CD4+ cell [(578 +/- 193)/mm3] and naive CD4+ subset [(176 +/- 64)/mm3] were still less than those of normal controls, while compared with those of the 1st week, the increments were remarkable.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>T lymphocytes of SARS patients decreased dramatically but could be obviously resumed in a short time. It will take more than 8-12 weeks for CD4+ cell and naive CD4+ subset to reach to normal levels.</p>