Efficacy and Safety of a Simplified Lamivudine Plus Dolutegravir Dual Therapy in HIV-1-Infected Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study in China.

BACKGROUND: Results from both clinical trials and real-world observational studies suggest that lamivudine plus dolutegravir (3TC + DTG) dual therapy has excellent virological efficacy and safety in HIV-1-infected patients. However, there is still no relevant study related to this dual therapy reported in China. METHODS: In this multicenter, retrospective, observational study that included HIV-1-infected patients in China, baseline and follow-up data were collected to analyze the virological suppression rate, immune restoration, and adverse events during follow-up in HIV-1-infected patients who switched to the 3TC + DTG dual therapy. RESULTS: This study recruited 112 HIV-1-infected patients, including 101 men (90.2%), with a median age of 44.0 years (IQR: 33.00-57.75) and median CD4+ T-cell count of 432.13 cells/µL (IQR: 237.75-578.50). The overall virological suppression rate was 94.5% at the 24-week follow-up. However, the virological suppression rates of men who have sex with men patients and patients with CD4+ T-cell count of <350 cells/µL were higher than the baseline value (P < 0.05) at week 24. The results of Cox regression analysis showed that the baseline CD4+ T-cell count was an independent determinant of immune restoration in patients, and patients with baseline CD4+ T-cell count of 350-500 cells/µL outperformed patients with baseline CD4+ T-cell count of <350 cells/µL in immune restoration (hazard ratio: 4.469, 95% confidence interval: 1.801 to 11.091, P = 0.001). Adverse events were reported in 5 patients (incidence rate of 4.5%); among them, 3 patients developed neuropsychiatric symptoms. Results from the laboratory data analysis showed that patients with grade 1 and 2 adverse events had elevated levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total bilirubin. Furthermore, grade 3 and 4 adverse events were associated with the elevation of blood glucose level in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, the 3TC + DTG dual therapy displayed an excellent virological efficacy against HIV-1 infections and had an acceptable safety profile, with predominantly mild adverse events in HIV-1-infected patients in China.

Ratiometric Cataluminescence Sensor of Amine Vapors for Discriminating Meat Spoilage.

The freshness of meat has always been the focus of attention from consumers and suppliers for health and economic reasons. Usually, amine vapors, as one of the main components of the gas produced in the process of meat spoilage, can be used to monitor meat spoilage. Here, a new ratiometric cataluminescence (CTL) sensor based on energy transfer was developed to identify amine vapors and monitor meat freshness. After Tb doping, amine vapors exhibit a dual-wavelength (490 and 555 nm) property of CTL signals when reacted on the surface of Tb-doped La2O2CO3, and the ratio of I555 to I490 (R555/490) is a unique value for a given analyte within a wide range of concentrations. To illustrate the new sensor, 15 amine vapors were successfully identified using R555/490, including homologues and isomers. Besides, this sensor was used to monitor four meats, and the freshness of meats can be distinguished by cluster analysis successfully. Moreover, further discussion of energy-transfer phenomena and influence factors has facilitating effects on exploring the mechanism of energy transfer at the gas-solid interface.

Black Phosphorus Quantum Dots as the Ratiometric Fluorescence Probe for Trace Mercury Ion Detection Based on Inner Filter Effect.

In this work, a novel ratiometric fluorescence sensor has been constructed for the selective and sensitive detection of Hg2+, which is based on the inner filter effect (IFE) of tetraphenylporphyrin tetrasulfonic acid (TPPS) toward black phosphorus quantum dots (BP QDs). Highly fluorescent BP QDs were successfully synthesized from bulk BP by sonication-assisted solvothermal method via a top-down route. In the presence of Hg2+, the IFE originating from spectral overlap between the excitation of BP QDs and the absorption of TPPS is inhibited and the fluorescence of BP QDs is restored. At the same time, the red fluorescence of TPPS is quenched due to its coordination with Mn2+. These phenomena result from the rapid coordination between Mn2+ and TPPS in the presence of Hg2+, which leads to the dramatic decrease of the absorption of TPPS. On the basis of these findings, we design a ratiometric fluorescence sensor for the detection of Hg2+. The as-constructed sensor reveals a good linear response to Hg2+ ranging from 1 to 60 nM with a detection limit of 0.39 nM. Furthermore, the sensing assay is applicable to detecting Hg2+ in real samples.