Prevalence of HIV infection and syphilis and related behaviors in clients in Ya'an of Sichuan province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand the prevalence of HIV infection and syphilis in clients in Ya'an of Sichuan province. Methods: A survey was conducted in clients recruited through snowball method in Ya'an of Sichuan from April 2014 to December 2015. The information of the clients, including basic demography characteristics, AIDS knowledge awareness, high-risk behaviors and others, were collected through face-to-face interviews. Blood sample (5 ml) was taken from each client to test antibodies against HIV and syphilis. Statistical software SPSS 18.0 was used for data analysis. Results: Among the 708 clients, the constituent ratio of those aged ≥50 years was 51.27% (363/708), those in Han ethnic group was 99.72% (706/708), those with junior high school educational level or below was 90.11% (638/708), those who got married or cohabitated with others was 74.15% (525/708), and those who used condoms at each sex was 27.40% (194/708). Seven HIV positive cases were detected and 4 cases were aged ≥50 years. Seven syphilis cases were detected and all the cases were aged ≥50 year. No HIV-syphilis co-infection case was detected. The prevalence of HIV infection and syphilis were all 0.99% (95%CI: 0.30%-1.70%). Results from the multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the clients who had their first commercial sex behavior at age <30 years (OR=6.61, 95%CI: 1.09-40.18) would have higher HIV positive rate. Conclusion: The rate of condom use was low in the clients in Ya'an and they didn't pay enough attention to their self-protection in sexual activities. Especially the clients aged ≥50 years were with low educational level and had high risk commercial sexual behaviors for HIV infection and syphilis. Close attention needs to be paid to them.

Spatial-temporal distribution of newly detected HIV/AIDS cases among aged 15 years or older women in China, 2010-2016 / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To identify the spatial clustering and its temporal trends among newly detected female HIV/AIDS cases aged 15 years or older, in China from 2010 to 2016. Methods: Newly detected HIV/AIDS cases among aged 15 years or older women in China during 2010-2016 were collected, to describe their demographic characteristics, changing trends and spatial autocorrelation. This program was conducted at county level, using the ArcGIS 10.3. Results: The number of newly detected HIV/AIDS cases among aged 15 years or older women was increasing annually from 16 603 to 26 196 in 2010 and in 2016. As the main route proportion of heterosexual transmission increased from 84.25% (13 988/16 603) in 2010 to 96.29%(25 224/26 196) in 2016. Both the number and proportion of HIV/AIDS cases among elderly women ≥50 years of age increased significantly from 17.82%(2 959/16 603) to 38.10%(9 981/26 196) in 2016. Results from spatial analysis demonstrated a county-level clustered distribution of HIV/AIDS cases across the country with a rising global Moran's I value=0.55 over the years (Z=51.46, P<0.001), which was concentrating on western and southern China, covering 9 provinces/autonomous regions/municipalities (Yunnan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Xinjiang, Guizhou, Guangdong, Chongqing, Henan and Hunan). The temporal trends of hot spots differed by age groups, with the trend of epidemic shifting towards western border and southern coastal regions among women aged 15-49 years old, while the elderly women aged ≥50 years old were spreading northward from the southwestern regions. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that an increasing trend of clusters appeared on HIV epidemic among newly detected female HIV/AIDS cases aged 15 years or older in China, particularly in the western and southern regions. Prevention and intervention strategies should target on women according to their age distribution, particularly in regions with increasing trend of HIV epidemics.

Study on the prevalence of HIV infection and related risk behaviors among male new-type drug users in Qingdao, Shandong province / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective: To understand the characteristics of new-type drug consumption, sexual behaviors and the prevalence of HIV infection among male new-type drug users in Qingdao, Shandong province. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted from 2015 to 2016. Participants were recruited from MSM community-based organizations (CBO) and general community through snowball method, relying on volunteers and male peer educators who were on new-type drugs themselves. Face-to-face interview was carried to collect information on drug use and sexual behaviors. Blood samples were collected to test HIV, syphilis and HCV antibodies. Urine samples were collected to test the evidence of new-type drugs. Qualitative variables and quantitative variables were analyzed using Chi-square test/Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze related factors of binary variables. Results: A total of 1 034 newtype drug users were recruited, including 431 (41.7%) MSM population and 603 (58.3%) who were not MSM. Compared with the the group of people who were not MSM, people in the the MSM group were younger, unmarried and with higher level of education. The proportion of methamphetamine users were 49.7% (214/431) and 100.0% (603/603) among the groups of MSM or not MSM, respectively. People in the MSM group, 66.8% (288/431) used 5-Methoxy-N, N-diisopropyltryptamine (5-MeODIPT, "foxy" ) in the last six months. However, none from the not-MSM group ever used 5-MeO-DIPT. In the last six months, proportions of sharing new-type drugs with more than two people in the MSM or not groups were 87.9% (379/431) and 97.7% (588/602), respectively (χ(2)=39.84, P<0.01). Proportions of unprotected sexual behavior among the MSM or not groups were 47.5% (285/600) and 7.4% (32/430) respectively (χ(2)=190.10, P<0.01). The proportions of 'group sex' after using drugs among the two groups were 78.1% (335/429) and 5.5% (33/600) respectively (χ(2)=573.73, P<0.01). The prevalence rates of HIV, syphilis and HCV antibody positive among the MSM or not groups were 2.1% and 0.2%, 3.3% and 6.3%, 0.0% and 0.3%, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of sharing new-type drugs with more than two people was high among male new-type drug users in Qingdao city. Male new-type-drug-users who were MSM, presented both high prevalence of group sex and HIV infection, and with less condom use. Intervention measures towards this sub-population should be strengthened.

Intracranial hemorrhage from metastatic CNS lymphoma: A case report and literature review

@#Metastatic brain lymphomas, which belong to secondary central nervous system lymphomas, usually originate from primary tumors of the bone marrow, testis, or orbit. Gastrointestinal lymphomas commonly metastasize to the lung or heart. We report here a case of brain hemorrhage due to metastasis from primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). A 30-year-old male presented with headache. He was diagnosed to have gastrointestinal lymphoma 6 months earlier, and treated with gastrointestinal surgery. Pathological diagnosis was DLBCL. A PET-CT scan immediately after gastrointestinal surgery demonstrated no brain metastasis. On admission to the ward, imaging of the brain showed right temporoparietal hematoma. In the ward, the patient deteriorated with impaired consciousness. Repeat brain imaging showed enlargement of the hematoma. He underwent right temporoparietal craniotomy for the removal of a hematoma, and tumor nodules adherent to the cortex was found. Pathology confirmed a metastatic DLBCL in the brain. Literature review showed that this was the first reported case of brain hemorrhage from metastatic lymphoma. Metastatic central nervous system lymphoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with a history of gastrointestinal lymphoma presenting with neurological symptoms.

Effects of low dose radiation on the expression of proteins related to DNA repair requiring caveolin-1 in human mammary epithelial cells

Background: Radiotherapy is an effective and important therapeutic method for breast cancer, but at the same time it has a radiation-induced bystander effect on normal tissue around the tumor. Repair of double-strand breaks [DSBs] by normal cells can reduce the extent of damage caused by this effect. Caveolin-1 [Cav-1] is an important regulatory molecule in cell signal transduction. However, the response of normal human mammary epithelial cells following low dose radiation [LDR]- induced DSBs and the role of Cav-1 in the repair of the DSBs are not clear. The present study examined the DNA damage repair mechanism triggered by LDR in human mammary epithelial cells

Materials and Methods: Human mammary epithelial [MCF10A] and Cav-1 haplo-insufficiency [MCF10A-ST1] cells were irradiated with LDR gamma rays and the effect of this radiation on cell proliferation was determined by cytometric method. Western blot analysis was then used to measure the expression levels of different proteins associated with cell proliferation and DNA repair

Results: LDR enhanced the radiation responsiveness of MCF10A cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. At a dose of 100 cGy, LDR increased the expression levels of several proteins involved in DNA repair pathways, such as ATM, p53, DNA-PKcs and also activated Cav-1-mediated cell proliferation and survival pathways, such as the MAPK and AKT pathways. The expression of the various DNA repair related proteins was changed after down-regulating the Cav-1 expression

Conclusion: LDR could increase the radiation responsiveness of human mammary epithelial cells through activating the DNA repair pathways, including both HR and NHEJ pathways, as well as triggering the cell proliferation and survival pathways, both of which required Cav-1

Delayed hemorrhage after microvascular decompression in a hemifacial spasm patient associated with neurosyphilis

Microvascular decompression is an effective treatment for hemifacial spasm. Hemorrhage is oneof the complications of microvascular decompression. However, delayed hemorrhage is very rare.Here, we report a case of ipsilateral cerebellar hemorrhage at day seven following microvasculardecompression. A 45-year-old woman presented with left HFS for the previous two years. Diagnostictesting demonstrated the presence of neurosyphilis. Brain magnetic resonance image was unremarkableon presentation. She received microvascular decompression and her hemifacial spasm completelyresolved after surgery. At day seven post-operatively, the patient presented with a sudden onsetheadache. Emergency computed tomography scan showed a cerebellar hemorrhage. A suboccipitalcraniotomy was performed and a cerebellar hematoma was evacuated. The delayed hemorrhage wasattributed to possible microaneurysm from syphilis.