Seroprevalence of IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in HIV/AIDS patients,northern Iran

ObjectiveTo determine the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) IgG and IgM antibodies in HIV/AIDS patients and uninfected subjects.MethodsThis cross sectional survey was carried out on 78 healthy and 62 HIV+/AIDS individuals in northern Iran between September 2007 and October 2008. Five mL of blood samples were collected from each person in case and control groups. Determination of CD4+ counts was performed by flow cytometry. The serum separated from blood samples was evaluated by conventional ELISA technique to determine the presence of antibodies to T. gondii.ResultsForty eight out of 62 (77.4%) HIV/AIDS serum samples were found positive for anti-T. gondii IgG antibody, compared with 59 among 78 (75.6%) HIV negative samples from the same area (P > 0.05). Six out of 62 (9.7%) HIV+/AIDS patients showed anti-T. gondii IgM antibody in their serum samples, compared with 7 among 78 (9%) HIV negative samples (P > 0.05). The mean of CD4+ counts in HIV+/AIDS was (430.8±182.3) cells/μL and in control group was (871.0±243.3)% cells/μL (P<0.01). CD4+ estimation in 5 (11.1%) of HIV+/AIDS patients was <200 cells/μL (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsSeroprevalence of latent toxoplasmosis in HIV patients is high, therefore the prevention of toxoplasmic encephalitis, administration of primary prophylaxis with co-trimoxazole to all HIV+/AIDS patients are necessary.

General Characteristics of HIV/AIDS Patients in Ditan Hospital

Objective: To elucidate general characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients seeking care at Ditan Hospital in an attempt to guide early diagnosis in routine medical care. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of 185 HIV/AIDS cases from January 1990 to June 2002 was completed using SPSS statistical analysis. Results: Male to female ratio was 1.8 :1. Subjects ranged in age from 1 year old to 64 years old. 16 cases were younger than 20 years old with the median age among the younger subset at 7.7 years. 169 cases were older than 20 years old with a median age of 36 years old. 29% of the subjects were peasants. The remaining 71%, were of other unspecified occupations. 90.8% of individuals were of Han descent while 3.7% of individuals were of a minority heritage. 50.3% of subjects were married; 23.8% have never married; 8.1% were divorced; and the remaining 17.8% were of unknown marital status. Of those represented in this study, 36.8% came from the Henan province; 17.8% were from Beijing; 8.6% were from Shanxi; 31.4% from the other 20 provinces of China; and 5.4% from outside of China. Mode of transmission: 40.0% (74/185) contracted HIV through unprotected sexual contact; 29.2% (54/185) through receiving blood or plasma transfusions; 21.1%(39/185) through donating plasma; 7 cases were intravenous drug users; 7 cases were vertically transmitted. Mode of transmission was unknown in 4 cases. Clinical categories: An included 45 cases; B included 85 cases: C consisted of 76 cases. 12 cases were deceased. Initial presentation: 39 cases presented with fever ,cough and diarrhea. 37 cases had fever and cough only. 38 cases presented with chronic diarrhea. 16 cases were discovered incidentally at time of operation. 8 cases presented with fungal infection of the oral cavity or in esophagus. The common HIV associated symptoms and opportunistic infections were: weight loss and diarrhea, respiratory diseases, der-matologic diseases, anemia , neutropenia. Diseases of other organ systems were less common. Common misdiagnoses included pneumonia, the common cold, and enteritis. Conclusion: The majority of cases were of middle age (between 30-40 years old) and had contracted HIV/ AIDS sexually.Receiving contaminated blood or plasma via a transfusion accounted for the second most common mode of transmission. Donating plasma was the third most likely mode of transmission. Initial presenting symptoms were various and complicated. Even though the majority of HIV/AIDS cases present to the general hospital, many doctors working at the general hospital are still unable to recognize the symptoms of HIV/AIDS. Thus, it is imperative to identify general characteristics of the HIV/AIDS population in order to diagnose the disease at an earlier stage and halt further transmission.

Opportunistic and other intestinal parasites among HIV/AIDS patients attending Gambi higher clinic in Bahir Dar city,North West Ethiopia

Objective:To determine the magnitude of opportunistic and non-opportunistic intestinal parasitic infections among HTV/AIDS patients in Bahir Dar.Methods:Cross-sectional study was conducted among HIV/ AIDS patients attending Gambi higher clinic from Aprill- May 30,2009. Convenient sampling technique was employed to identify the study subjects and hence a total of 248 subjects were included.A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data of patients.Stool samples were examined by direct saline,iodine wet mount, formol-ether sedimentation concentration and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. Results:Out of 248 enrolled in the study,171(69.0%)(90 males and 81 females) were infected with one or more intestinal parasites.The highest rate of intestinal parasites were observed among HIV/AIDS patients(80.3%,151/188),and the infection rate of HIV negative individuals was 33.3%(20/60).Cryptosporidum parvum(43.6%),Isospora belli(15.5%) and Blastocystis hominis (10.5%) were opportunistic parasites that were found only in HIV/AIDS patients.Conclusions: Opportunistic parasite infections are common health problem among HIV/ AIDS patients in the study area.Therefore,early detection and treatment of these parasites are important to improve the quality of life of HIV/AIDS patients.

Investigation and Analysis on Pathogen Distribution of HIV/AIDS Patients with Opportunistic Infection

Objective: This study aims to understand the distribution of pathogenic bacteria in the region of HIV/AIDS patients with opportunistic infection. Methods: To count the number of the bacterial culture of HIV/AIDS patients in our hospital from October 2011 to December 2014, and observe the distribution of all kinds of pathogenic bacteria. Results: From the 4269 cases of HIV/AIDS patients’ bacteria, 5045 cases were cultured whose main flora distribution wasCandida albicans, 1759 cases. The second one was penicillium, 982 cases. The third one was mycobacteria, 557 cases. And then there are 213 cases ofCryptococcus neoformans, 212 cases of?Klebsiella pneumonia, 209 cases of?E. coli, 157 cases of coagulase-negative staphylococci, 112 cases of?Candida tropicalis, 90 cases of glabrata, 81 cases of?Staphylococcus aureus, 75 cases of?Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 60 cases of Salmonella, 48 cases of Acinetobacter and the distribution of the rest of cultured bacterial was less than 40 cases. Conclusion: There are many kinds of types of Pathogenic bacteria in HIV/AIDS patients with the opportunity to infectious. And the majorities are?Candida albicans,?Penicillium marneffei,?Penicillium,?Mycobacterium,?Cryptococcus neoformans?and so on. The infection sites are widely distributed;respiratory and circulatory are the main infected system. Improving the detection rate and reducing the contamination rate can truly reflect the distribution of pathogenic bacteria, and the distribution can guide the infection work in hospital. At the same time, it’s good to predict and prevent opportunistic infection. Thus, the patients can get immediate treatment.

Analgesic Appraisal of Bidens pilosa (Asteraceae) Leaf Extracts Used in Management of Oral Lesion Pain in HIV/AIDS Patients in Rodents

Oral lesions, diarrhoea, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, tuberculosis and urinary tract infections are some of the opportunistic infections (OIs) which arise when the CD4 cells of the HIV/AIDS patient fall below 200 cells/mm3. HIV/AIDS infection complications include tissue damage from oral lesions accompanied with pains. Pain is a disagreeable sensory and sensitive experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. This condition requires immediate treatment with analgesics and antibiotics. However, the inability of rural dwellers to afford readily available drugs is a consequence for using herbs like Bidens pilosa whose local usefulness in the management of oral lesions of HIV/AIDS has not been proven scientifically. Therefore, the objective of this study was to provide the scientific basis in rats for the traditional healers’ use of Bidens pilosa leaves’ extracts in managing pain associated with oral lesions of HIV/AIDS patients in South Western Uganda. Assessment of the analgesic effects of Bidens pilosa was conducted using acetic acid in mice, formalin-induced pain and tail flick methods in rats. Both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the leaves of Bidens pilosa produced statistically significant dose dependent inhibition of acetic acid induced pain, non dose dependent pain reduction in formalin induced pain, (p < 0.05;student t-test) and non dose dependent tail withdrawal pattern (p < 0.05, Multivariate ANOVA test). Hence, we conclude that extracts of Bidens pilosa have an analgesic basis for their local use in treatment of oral lesions associated pain in HIV/AIDS patients in South-Western Uganda.

Prevalence of bacterial vaginosis and its risk factors in HIV/AIDS patients with abnormal vaginal discharge

Objective:To determine the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in the HIV/AIDS patients of primary health care clinics in Jos Plateau state,Nigeria.Methods:Female genital swabs were collected from primary health care centers,Jos and analyzed by microscopy,culture,etc.in Jos University Teaching Hospital from December 2006 to December 2007.Data on epidemiologic indices were collected,using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires.Results: The incidence of bacterial vaginosis in the study was 28%(n=196/700).Among the HIV/AIDS group,the bacterial vaginosis incidence was 36%(n=126/350),while in the control(non-HIV patients) group,the rate was 20%(70/350) with a statistically significant difference at 95 percent confidence level(P【0.05).HIV/AIDS and non-HIV(control) patients contributed 64%(n=126/196) and 36%(n=70/196),respectively.The risks to bacterial vaginosis included vaginal douching with disinfectant/detergent constituted(60%),poor use of condom 40%,a median age of 26 years,and a median number of 3 sex partners per week.Conclusions:There was a significant statistical difference in prevalence of bacterial vaginosis between the HIV/AIDS group and non-HIV(control) group of patients in the study.Risk behaviors that promote the incidence of bacterial vaginosis should be especially paid attention.

Functional Health Literacy and Doctor-Patient Communication: Experiences of HIV/AIDS Patients in Homa Bay County, Kenya

Patient involvement in the health care process has been documented as a critical component of successful disease management. However, inadequate functional health literacy among patients is a well-known barrier to effective doctor-patient communication, which has an adverse effect on health outcomes. This study aimed at investigating the association of functional health literacy and doctor-patient communication among HIV/AIDS patients in Homa Bay County, Kenya. It was a cross-sectional hospital-based survey conducted among 362 HIV/AIDS patients receiving care at the eight sub-county hospitals of Homa Bay county. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analysis tests were used to ascertain the reliability and validity of study instruments, while Logistic regression logistic analysis was used to measure the association between functional health literacy and doctor-patient communication. 51% of the respondents were females, and the majority (30.9%) of respondents fell in the age group of 45 years and above. The respondents’ functional health literacy levels were inadequate at weighted means scores of 3.23 [SD 1.31]. The study further established that functional health literacy significantly influenced doctor-patient communication [Nagelkerke R square = 0.318]. There is, therefore, a need to document the determinants of functional health literacy to improve it and make doctor-patient interaction an enjoyable and meaningful experience.

Protocol of Determining the Effect of Selenium Supplementation on CD4 + T Lymphocyte Count in HIV/AIDS Patients: A Randomized Double Blind Placebo Controlled Trial

Background: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is believed to be both among major epidemics and a critical global health issue. The administration of antiretroviral therapy is recently proposed for all patients with CD4 + T cell count of ≤ 350/μlit in different studies The accessibility of combination therapy has been restricted due to high costs of drugs, particularly in low and middle income countries. In Iran, according to WHO, drugs were distributed among only 6% of adults and 4% - 14% of children in 2009. Moreover, new strains are created and therefore, resistance to the current medication along with a considerable risk of ART-related toxic adverse effects points out the need for more affordable, effective and safer treatments. The use of antioxidants such as Selenium (Se) has been indicated to be beneficial in these patients. Method: In a double-blind randomized placebo control trial, 100 HIV positive, HAART-receiving patients will be selected from more than 2000 individuals covered under IRCHA (Iranian Referral HIV/AIDS Research Centre). They are then randomized to receive daily Se supplement of 200 μgr elemental Se and placebo for 6 months. The baseline assessment of the patients who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria includes doing some lab tests to determine the absolute count of CD4 + T lymphocyte and the plasma levels of Se. The incidence of opportunistic infection will be assessed during the monthly visits in the first six months of the follow-up and the one performed at the end of the 9th month. For evaluating the trend of CD4 + T cells changes, the absolute count of CD4 + T lymphocyte will be measured every 3 months in the 5th, 8th, and 9th, visits. The plasma levels of Se will be measured in the final follow-up session and compared with the baseline value.

Exploration and Research on HIV/AIDS Patients’ Complement C1q Level Changes before and after Treatments

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the complement C1q test results of HIV/AIDS patients in clinical application before and after treatments. Methods: We collected HIV/AIDS patients’ serum specimens storing at -80 centigrade freezer in cryogenic refrigerator for standby. After samples quantity met the requirements of selected cases unified, complement C1q was detected by immune transmission turbidity method, and compared the differences in complement C1q of HIV/AIDS patients in test results before and after treatment. In the collection of 96 cases selected samples, concentration of complement C1q was 157.95 ± 31.46 mg/L before treatment, while after treatment, it was 147.26 ± 28.76 mg/L. Comparing the results before and after treatment,?t?= 2.45726,?P?= 0.01049, the difference was statistically significant. Concentration of complement C1q increased after treatment with 33 cases. There were 63 cases reducing. Through statistical analysis on the data from the number of reducing and increasing cases, chi-square = 18.75,?P?= 0.00356, the difference was statistically significant. Complement C1q detection in the treatment of patients with HIV/AIDS had an important clinical significance in the process. The analysis of the concentration changes before and after treatment was clinically significant for drug selection and monitoring disease progression and curative effects, which would be worth further researching.

Purified protein derivative skin testing on HIV/AIDS patients and logistic regression analysis of its risk factors

Objective： To understand the reactivity of purified protein derivative skin test（PPD test） in HIV-infected persons and to determine the influential factors associated with PPD. Methods： 174 HIV/AIDS patients registered in the local center for disease control and prevention（CDC） participated this study from April to June in 2006. Questionnaire,CD4 count and thoracic roentgenogram were performed for all participants. Results： In this study, response rate of questionnaires was 83.65%. The majority of these participants had a different degree of immunodeficiency that accounted for 93.64%. Female patients had a higher CD4 count than that of males. The total positive rate of PPD was 38.15%. Analysis of single factor in our study indicated that CD4 count, previous tubereulosis history, tuberculosis contact history and thoracic roentgenogram manifestation of patients were related to their PPD diameters. Further analysis of multiple factors also supports the previous conclusion that CD4 count and previous tuberculosis history of patients were risk factors in the PPD test. Conclusion： The PPD test of HIV/AIDS patients could be affected by several factors. For persons infected with HIV, the confirmation of latent tuberculosis infection （LTBI） should be considered the combination effect of previous MTB infection and body cellular immune function.

Characterization of Candida Species Isolated from Cases of Lower Respiratory Tract Infection among HIV/AIDS Patients in Calabar, Nigeria

This study was designed to identify and characterize the Candida species isolated from lower respiratory tract infections among HIV positive patients and to determine the prevalence rates of Candida infections among these subjects. Two early morning expectorate sputum samples were collected from 272 HIV positive subjects visiting the ART clinics and DOTS centre with cases of lower respiratory tract infection, over a period of 14 months from May 2009 to July 2010 in Calabar. Subjects were recruited for this study upon approval by the Ethical Research Committee of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital and obtaining written informed consent from the patients. Samples were processed by standard methods for isolation of Candida. Speciation was done by a germ tube test, chlamydospore production on corn meal agar and sugar fermentation and assimilation tests using the Microexpress Candida identification kit (Tulip, India). Out of the 544 sputum samples collected from 272 subjects, Candida species were isolated from 40 (14.7%) and identified after confirming the growth in the second sample. The majority of Candida species among the Candida isolates were Candida albicans (80%) followed by Candida tropicalis 5 (12.5%), Candida dubliniensis 2 (5.0%) and Candida guilliermondii 1 (2.5%). The isolation rate of Candida species from sputum samples was found to be highest among subjects aged 25 - 34 years, followed by those aged 15 - 24 years. Twenty (7.3%) HIV seropositive subjects had bacterial infections, while 4 (1.5%) subjects had mixed fungal and bacterial infections. This study is the first of its kind to be carried out in Calabar and the South-South geopolitical region of Nigeria, and has shown that pulmonary candidiasis is a health problem among HIV positive patients in Calabar.

Assessing the Relationship between Caregivers Burden and Availability of Support for Family Caregivers’ of HIV/AIDS Patients in Calabar, South East Nigeria

Purpose: This study examined the level of burden and the extent of support on family caregivers of people living with AIDS (PLWHA) in Calabar, South East Nigeria. Methods: A mixed method with cross sectional approach was used. Purposive sampling technique guided the recruitment process and data collection methods included, semi-structured questionnaires and focusing group discussion. 260 respondents participated in the study. The quantitative data were mined with the aid of SPSS and the qualitative data were analysed with the aid of NVivo8 using thematic analysis. Results: Results indicated high level of burden with limited support to caregivers. A Chi-square value of 25.1 was obtained at P < 0.05, suggesting a significant relationship between availability of support and caregivers burden. This relationship was supported by the themes of physical, social, emotional and financial burden for the caregivers. Similarly, information on coping skills, emotional support, financial assistance and help with caregiving themes emerged for social support. Conclusion: In Nigeria, the burden of caring for HIV/AIDS patients has a remarkable impact on family caregivers. This calls for the development of policies that can systematically address the needs of family caregivers in order to ameliorate the negative consequences of caregiving for PLWHA.

Development and psychometric evaluation of the nurse behavior toward confirmed and suspected HIV/AIDS patients (NB-CSHAP) scale

There is a scarcity of literature discussing nurses’ behaviors toward caring for suspected or confirmed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. The development of a scale specific to measure nurses’ behaviors will allow health institutions to assess the disposition of their nurses in terms of HIV care. This study aims to present the rigors of developing and validating a reliable instrument to contextualize these nurses’ behaviors. This study utilized a sequential exploratory mixed method design to develop the NB-CSHAP scale. Thematic analysis was done on the qualitative data from the interviews with persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) from which items were selected to be included in the scale. Exploratory factor analysis was utilized to extract the factors and Cronbach’s alpha was used to assess the reliability of the instrument. Four factors were extracted and are categorized as either caring or discriminatory behaviors. These include: (1) service-oriented, (2) openhanded, (3) perceptive, and (4) discriminatory. The scale has an internal consistency of 0.73. The scale shows acceptable psychometric properties, hence can be used to assess the nurses’ behaviors in caring for confirmed or suspected HIV clients. The scale may be used by health institutions to determine the quality of the patient care provided by their nurses to clients with confirmed or suspected HIV .

In vitro Antibacterial Efficacy of <i>Bidens pilosa</i>, <i>Ageratum conyzoides</i>and <i>Ocimum suave</i>Extracts against HIV/AIDS Patients’ Oral Bacteria in South-Western Uganda

The objective of the study was to determine the antibacterial efficacy of Bidens pilosa Aqueous (BPA), Bidens pilosa Ethanolic (BPE), Ageratum conyzoides Aqueous (ACA), Ageratum conyzoides Ethanolic (ACE), Ocimum suave Aqueous (OSA) and Ocimum suave Ethanolic (OSE) extracts on HIV/AIDS patients’ oral bacteria. Healthy green leaves of the plants were collected in Ishaka Uganda, processed and portions separately extracted with hot distilled water and cold ethanol. The susceptibility, MIC and MBC of each extract were determined using standard protocols. The bacteria had significant (p Bidens pilosa, Ageratum conyzoides and Ocimum suave on oral lesions of HIV/AIDS patients made by traditional healers and local people in South-Western Uganda. We recommend a detailed study of structural identities and activities of the active antibacterial principle(s) in these plants for possible new drug entities and verification of the interactive effects of the principle(s) with ARVs and cotrimoxazole used daily by HIV/AIDS patients.

HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证相关心脑血管疾病风险因素探析

目的通过检测血脂四项、血管内皮损伤因子、炎症相关因子,并结合前期的基因芯片结果,初步探讨人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)/艾滋病(AIDS)肺脾气虚证相关心脑血管疾病风险因素及机制,为中医药早期干预心脑血管疾病提供依据。方法2020年9月—2020年11月选取河南省某地区确诊的20例HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者作为研究对象,同地区20例HIV抗体阴性作为健康对照组。检测CD_(3)^(+)、CD_(4)^(+)、CD_(8)^(+)计数,并计算CD_(4)^(+)/CD_(8)^(+)比值;检测血脂四项甘油三酯(TG)、胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C);检测氧化低密度脂蛋白(Ox-LDL)、载脂蛋白A-I(ApoAⅠ)、载脂蛋白A-Ⅱ(ApoAⅡ)、载脂蛋白B(ApoB)、锌-α2-糖蛋白1(AZGP1)、可溶性血栓调节蛋白(sTM)、血管性血友病因子(vWF)、脂联素、瘦素(LEP)、超敏C反应蛋白(Hs-CRP)、单核细胞趋化因子1(MCP-1)、肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)。结果HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者与健康对照组比较CD_(4)^(+)降低,CD_(4)^(+)/CD_(8)^(+)比值倒置,TC降低,sTM、AZGP1、Ox-LDL、Hs-CRP升高。结论HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者存在炎性反应、血脂异常的表现,罹患心脑血管疾病风险增加。为中医药早期干预心脑血管疾病的发生提供新思路。

Exploring the Impact of Factors Affecting the Lifespan of HIVs/AIDS Patient’s Survival: An Investigation Using Advanced Statistical Techniques

This study investigates the impact of various factors on the lifespan and diagnostic time of HIV/AIDS patients using advanced statistical techniques. The Power Chris-Jerry (PCJ) distribution is applied to model CD4 counts of patients, and the goodness-of-fit test confirms a strong fit with a p-value of 0.6196. The PCJ distribution is found to be the best fit based on information criteria (AIC and BIC) with the smallest negative log-likelihood, AIC, and BIC values. The study uses datasets from St. Luke hospital Uyo, Nigeria, containing HIV/AIDS diagnosis date, age, CD4 count, gender, and opportunistic infection dates. Multiple linear regression is employed to analyze the relationship between these variables and HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The results indicate that age, CD4 count, and opportunistic infection significantly impact the diagnostic time, while gender shows a nonsignificant relationship. The F-test confirms the model's overall significance, indicating the factors are good predictors of HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The R-squared value of approximately 72% suggests that administering antiretroviral therapy (ART) can improve diagnostic time by suppressing the virus and protecting the immune system. Cox proportional hazard modeling is used to examine the effects of predictor variables on patient survival time. Age and CD4 count are not significant factors in the hazard of HIV/AIDS diagnostic time, while opportunistic infection is a significant predictor with a decreasing effect on the hazard rate. Gender shows a strong but nonsignificant relationship with decreased risk of death. To address the violation of the assumption of proportional hazard, the study employs an assumption-free alternative, Aalen’s model. In the Aalen model, all predictor variables except age and gender are statistically significant in relation to HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing diagnostic time and survival of HIV/AIDS patients, which can inform interventions aimed at reducing transmission and improving early diagnosis and treatment. The Power Chris-Jerry distribution proves to be a suitable fit for modeling CD4 counts, while multiple linear regression and survival analysis techniques provide insights into the relationships between predictor variables and diagnostic time. These results contribute to the understanding of HIV/AIDS patient outcomes and can guide public health interventions to enhance early detection, treatment, and care.

Exploring the Impact of Factors Affecting the Lifespan of HIVs/AIDS Patient’s Survival: An Investigation Using Advanced Statistical Techniques

This study investigates the impact of various factors on the lifespan and diagnostic time of HIV/AIDS patients using advanced statistical techniques. The Power Chris-Jerry (PCJ) distribution is applied to model CD4 counts of patients, and the goodness-of-fit test confirms a strong fit with a p-value of 0.6196. The PCJ distribution is found to be the best fit based on information criteria (AIC and BIC) with the smallest negative log-likelihood, AIC, and BIC values. The study uses datasets from St. Luke hospital Uyo, Nigeria, containing HIV/AIDS diagnosis date, age, CD4 count, gender, and opportunistic infection dates. Multiple linear regression is employed to analyze the relationship between these variables and HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The results indicate that age, CD4 count, and opportunistic infection significantly impact the diagnostic time, while gender shows a nonsignificant relationship. The F-test confirms the model's overall significance, indicating the factors are good predictors of HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The R-squared value of approximately 72% suggests that administering antiretroviral therapy (ART) can improve diagnostic time by suppressing the virus and protecting the immune system. Cox proportional hazard modeling is used to examine the effects of predictor variables on patient survival time. Age and CD4 count are not significant factors in the hazard of HIV/AIDS diagnostic time, while opportunistic infection is a significant predictor with a decreasing effect on the hazard rate. Gender shows a strong but nonsignificant relationship with decreased risk of death. To address the violation of the assumption of proportional hazard, the study employs an assumption-free alternative, Aalen’s model. In the Aalen model, all predictor variables except age and gender are statistically significant in relation to HIV/AIDS diagnostic time. The findings provide valuable insights into the factors influencing diagnostic time and survival of HIV/AIDS patients, which can inform interventions aimed at reducing transmission and improving early diagnosis and treatment. The Power Chris-Jerry distribution proves to be a suitable fit for modeling CD4 counts, while multiple linear regression and survival analysis techniques provide insights into the relationships between predictor variables and diagnostic time. These results contribute to the understanding of HIV/AIDS patient outcomes and can guide public health interventions to enhance early detection, treatment, and care.

HIV/AIDS合并肝损伤患者的临床特点

目的总结HIV/AIDS合并肝损伤患者的临床特点。方法选取53例HIV抗体阳性合并肝损伤患者作为研究对象,根据肝脏组织病理结果分为病毒性肝炎组(n=27)、肝细胞肝癌组(n=15)和肝脏弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤组(n=11)。比较三组患者的临床症状和腹部CT影像学特征,以及肝脏组织病理学和免疫表型。结果三组在消瘦、发热、上腹痛、浅表淋巴结肿大、丙氨酸转氨酶升高、碱性磷酸酶升高、甲胎蛋白升高方面差异均有统计学意义;三组在多发结节、单发结节、病灶不均匀强化、病灶轻度强化、病灶重度强化方面差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。病毒性肝炎组镜下见肝小叶结构破坏,肝细胞肝癌组镜下见凝固性坏死组织,弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤组镜下见肝小叶结构广泛破坏和星空现象。结论不同类型HIV/AIDS合并肝损伤患者临床症状、实验室检查结果、腹部CT影像学特征有一定差异,但其较难区分肝细胞癌和弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤,两者鉴别诊断需借助肝脏组织病理学和免疫表型方法。

自噬相关基因在HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证中的表达及意义

目的探讨自噬相关基因在人类免疫缺陷病毒(human immunodeficiency virus,HIV)/艾滋病(acquired immune deficiency syndrome,AIDS)肺脾气虚证中的表达及意义。方法选取河南驻马店市20例HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者作为研究对象,同地区20例健康人为对照,HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者用益艾康胶囊进行干预治疗。采用基因芯片技术,检测分析两组人群外周血单个核细胞(peripheral blood mononuclear cell,PBMC)中自噬相关基因的表达。结果HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证组患者中DDIT4、IRS2、CXCR4表达下调,PDPK1表达上调,经益艾康治疗后差异基因发生转归,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。应用KEGG分析发现DDIT4、CXCR4、PDPK1、IRS2与磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶/蛋白激酶B/哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin,PI3K/PKB,又称Akt/mTOR)信号通路相关。结论HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证人群中自噬相关基因差异表达,益艾康可能通过调节DDIT4、CXCR4、IRS2的表达影响HIV/AIDS肺脾气虚证患者的自噬过程。