Dual therapy with lopinavir/ritonavir plus lamivudine could be a viable alternative for antiretroviral-therapy-naive adults with HIV-1 infection regardless of HIV viral load or subgenotype in resource-limited settings: A randomised, open-label and non-inferiority study from China

Backgrounds: This randomised controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial was conducted in antiretroviral-na飗e HIV-1-infected patients to assess the efficacy and safety of 48-week dual therapy of LPV/r plus 3TC (DT group) compared with Chinese first-line triple-therapy regimen (TT group). Methods: 198 were randomised to DT (n = 100) or TT (n = 98). Results: Ninety-two DT patients (92%) and 88 TT patients (89.8%) achieved HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/ml at week 48 (P = 0.629). Moreover, the safety profile was similar between two groups, and no secondary HIV resistance was observed. Conclusion: The results suggest that dual therapy of LPV/r plus 3TC is non-inferior to the first-line triple-therapy regimen in China.

Effect of increased levels of adiponectin by administration of the adenovector rAAV2/1-Acrp30 on glucose, lipid metabolism and ultrastructure of the aorta in Goto–Kakizaki rats with arteriosclerosis.

Background. We used recombinant adeno-associated virus vector of adiponectin (AAV2/1-Acrp30) to study the effects of increased levels of adioponectin (by the administration of rAAV2/1-Acrp30) on arteriosclerosis, glucose and lipid metabolism in Goto–Kakizaki (GK) rats with arteriosclerosis. Methods. Thirty GK rats with arteriosclerosis were divided into 3 equal groups: control group 1, control group 2 and the rAAV2/1-Acrp30-administered group. Saline, virus vector or rAAV2/1-Acrp30 (1012 ng/ml) vector genomes administered to the rats in the corresponding group by intramuscular injection to the posterior limb by single administration, respectively. After 8 weeks, fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, serum insulin, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein were measured in each group, and the ultrastructure of the aorta was seen by light and electron microscopy. Results. Compared with control groups 1 and 2, in the rAAV2/1-Acrp30 group, there was a decrease in urine volume, fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein, and an increase in body weight and high-density lipoprotein (p<0.05), while the level of serum insulin was not changed (p>0.05). Ultrastructure studies of the aorta showed that aortosclerosis in the rAAV2/1-Acrp30-administered group was less, and fewer lipid droplet vacuoles were seen in the vascular endothelial cytoplasm. Also various cell organelles and internal elastic lamina were seen, and there was no formation of lipid droplet and foam cells in the cytoplasm of the media of the smooth muscle. Conclusion. Adiponectin could improve blood glucose and lipid parameters and decrease atherosclerosis in the aorta of GK rats.