Attitudes toward HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men in western China.

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), as demonstrated in recently published clinical trials, is one promising approach for controlling the emerging epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM). We evaluated the attitudes towards use of PrEP among MSM in western China. A total of 1402 participants completed a self-administered questionnaire. Overall, 22% of the participants reported that they had heard of PrEP, <1% had ever used medicine to prevent HIV, and 64% reported that they were absolutely willing to use PrEP if it were proven to be safe and effective. The predictors of willingness to use PrEP included lower education, moderate income compared with the lowest income, never or rarely finding sexual partners through the Internet in the past 6 months, sexually transmitted infection (STI) history, more knowledge of AIDS, worrying about HIV as a threat to themselves and their family, having previously heard of PrEP, and believing that PrEP was effective in preventing HIV. This study demonstrates that Chinese MSM have moderate awareness of PrEP and a high interest in using it.

[AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors: a prevalence survey among 309 homosexual men in a Chinese city].

OBJECTIVE: To gain an insight into the demographic characteristics and AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM) in a Chinese city, and to offer a base for preventive measures against AIDS. METHODS: We carried out a prevalence survey, using "snowball" methods to set up survey sites in the "comrade" community, the "comrades" looking for the respondents by various means. RESULTS: Among 309 respondents, 265 (85.8%) were younger than 30 years, 187 (60.5%) received college education or above, 187 (60.5%) were government officials or employees, and 91 (29.4%) were students; 299 (96.8%) were willing or very willing to get knowledge about HIV prevention and treatment, 201 (65.1%) considered themselves as MSM, 76 (24.6%) admitted bisexuality, 117 (37.9%) had insertion sex with at least three men in the past six months, 61 (19.7%) had two or more regular male sexual partners, 140 (45.3%) used condoms on >80% occasions and 34 (11.0%) occasionally or never used them during vaginal sex in the past six months. CONCLUSION: MSM in the city showed the characteristics of younger age, higher education, stable employment and income, more than one sexual partner, high frequency of high-risk behavior, and negligence of condom-use, and most (96.8%) of them are willing or very willing to obtain AIDS prevention knowledge, which deserves particular attention from relevant institutions.

[Influencing factors on behavior related to HIV testing among female commercial sex workers based on the Structural Equation Model].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influencing factors on behavior related to HIV testing among female commercial sex workers under Structural Equation Model (SEM). METHODS: In Chongqing, Sichuan, Guangxi, Xinjiang provinces, 1613 female commercial sex workers were participated in a questionnaire survey. Factors on behaviors related to HIV testing among female commercial sex workers were analyzed based on SEM. RESULTS: Influencing factors on behaviors related to HIV testing among female commercial sex workers would include social status, knowledge on AIDS, risk through self-evaluation, condom use, frequency of sexual services etc. GFI, AGFI, RMR were 0.9952, 0.9898 and 0.0115 respectively. CONCLUSION: Social status, knowledge on AIDS, risk through self-evaluation, condom use and frequency of sexual services were affecting the behaviors related to HIV testing among female commercial sex workers.

Treatment with marine collagen peptides modulates glucose and lipid metabolism in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

This study was aimed at examining the therapeutic effects of marine collagen peptides (MCPs) from fish hydrolysate in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 100 diabetic patients and 50 healthy controls were recruited. Diabetic patients were randomized into treatment and control groups. The patients in the treatment group received an additional 13 g of MCPs daily for 3 months. Their blood samples were collected before, and 1.5 and 3 months after, treatment to evaluate glucose and lipid metabolism. The levels of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), nitric oxide (NO), bradykinin, prostacyclin (PGI2), and adipokines were determined. Significantly reduced levels of fasting blood glucose, human glycated hemoglobin A1c (GHbA1c), fasting blood insulin, total triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and free-fatty acids, but increased levels of insulin sensitivity index and HDL were observed in T2DM patients following treatment with MCPs for 1.5 and 3 months. The values of these measures were significantly lower or higher than those of patient controls (p < 0.01), respectively. Interestingly, significantly decreased levels of hs-CRP and NO, but increased levels of bradykinin, PGI2, and adiponectin were detected in MCP-treated T2DM patients (p < 0.01), as compared with their basal values or the levels in patient controls. MCP treatment improved glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetic patients.

Therapeutic effects of marine collagen peptides on Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and primary hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: Marine collagen peptides (MCPs) from deep sea fish are shown to ameliorate hyperlipidemia in animal models. The study aimed at examining the effects of MCPs on glucose and lipid metabolism in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and primary hypertension. METHODS: One hundred patients with T2DM and primary hypertension and 50 healthy subjects (normal controls) were recruited for a randomized double blind study. The patients were randomized into MCPs treatment or patient control groups (n = 50 per group). Both patient controls and normal controls were given carboxymethylcellulose twice daily whereas the MCPs treatment group was given MCPs twice daily for 3 months. Blood pressure, glucose and lipid metabolism, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, cytochrome P450, nitric oxide, bradykinin, prostacyclin, creatinine, uric acid and adipokines were measured at baseline, 1.5 and 3 months after treatment. All patients received regular medicines for control of hyperglycemia and hypertension. RESULTS: Compared with patient controls, significantly reduced levels of fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and creatinine but increased levels of Insulin Sensitivity Index and Insulin Secretion Index were observed in patients receiving MCPs treatment. Furthermore, significantly reduced levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, free fatty acids, cytochrome P450, nitric oxide and prostacyclin but increased levels of high-density lipoprotein, bradykinin and adiponectin were detected in patients taking MCPs. CONCLUSIONS: MCPs supplement may benefit glucose and lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, renal function and hypertension management in Chinese patients with T2DM and hypertension.

Effect of marine collagen peptides on markers of metabolic nuclear receptors in type 2 diabetic patients with/without hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To explore Effects of marine collagen peptides (MCPs) on markers of metablic nuclear receptors, i.e peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARs), liver X receptor (LXRs) and farnesoid X receptor (FXRs) in type 2 diabetic patients with/without hypertension. METHOD Study population consisted of 200 type 2 diabetic patients with/without hypertension and 50 healthy subjects, all of whom were randomly assigned to MCPs-treated diabetics (n = 50), placebo-treated diabetics (n = 50), MCPs-treated diabetics with hypertension (n=50), placebo-treated diabetics with hypertension (n = 50), and healthy controls (n = 50). MCPs or placebo (water-soluble starch) were given daily before breakfast and bedtime over three months. Levels of free fatty acid, cytochrome P450, leptin, resistin, adiponectin, bradykinin, NO, and Prostacyclin were determined before intervention, and 1.5 months, and 3 months after intervention. Hypoglycemia and the endpoint events during the study were recorded and compared among the study groups. RESULT: At the end of the study period, MCPs-treated patients showed marked improvement compared with patients receiving placebo. The protection exerted by MCPs seemed more profound in diabetics than in diabetics with hypertension. In particular, after MCPs intervention, levels of free fatty acid, hs-CRP, resistin, Prostacyclin decreased significantly in diabetics and tended to decrease in diabetic and hypertensive patients whereas levels of cytochrome P450, leptin, NO tended to decrease in diabetics with/without hypertension. Meanwhile, levels of adiponectin and bradykinin rose markedly in diabetics following MCPs administration. CONCLUSION: MCPs could offer protection against diabetes and hypertension by affecting levels of molecules involved in diabetic and hypertensive pathogenesis. Regulation on metabolic nuclear receptors by MCPs may be the possible underlying mechanism for its observed effects in the study. Further study into its action may shed light on development of new drugs based on bioactive peptides from marine sources.