Impact of Herbal Preparations on Outcomes of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy: A One-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impacts of two herbal preparations for human immunodeficiency virus/aquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients, Shenling Fuzheng Capsule (, SLFZC) and Qingdu Capsule (, QDC), on the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). METHODS: HIV/AIDS patients met the criteria were all enrolled in a 1-year cohort study, in which patients receiving HAART alone were designated as Group A, those receiving HAART in combination with SLFZC were designated as Group B, and those receiving HAART in combination with QDC were designated as Group C, 100 cases in each group. The dose of SLFZC was 1.48 g (4 capsules), 3 times daily, and QDC 1.56 g (4 capsules), 3 times daily. T cell subsets, HIV RNA and HIV-1 drug resistance were detected at enrollment and 1 year after treatment. Patients were followed up every 3 months, during which side-effects and other clinical data were recorded. RESULTS: After 1-year treatment, the median increment in CD4 counts was 165.0, 178.0 and 145.0 cells/µL for Group A, B and C, respectively. HIV RNA was undetectable in 94% of patients in Group A, 96% in Group B and 92% in Group C. There were no differences regarding the increment in CD4 counts, HIV RNA and frequency of HIV-1 drug resistance mutations. Two of the 14 suspected side-effect symptoms, i.e. fatigue and dizziness, were lower in Groups B and C than in Group A (P<0.05, respectively) CONCLUSIONS: SLFZC and QDC do not have a negative impact on immunological and virological response to HAART; however, these preparations are not as potent in reducing HAART-associated side-effects as anticipated.

Effect of alcohol extract of Acanthus ilicifolius L. on anti-duck hepatitis B virus and protection of liver.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Acanthus ilicifolius L. is an important medicinal mangrove plant. It is popularly used for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effects. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of treatment with alcohol extract of Acanthus ilicifolius L. on duck hepatitis B. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One-day-old Guangxi shelducks injected intraperitoneally with strong positive duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) serum were used to establish a duck hepatitis B animal model in the study. The ducks were respectively administered in different groups with low-, middle- and high-dose alcohol extracts of Acanthus ilicifolius L., the positive control drug acyclovir (ACV) and double-distilled water. The levels of serum DHBV DNA were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR). Duck hepatitis B surface antigen (DHBsAg) and duck hepatitis B e antigen (DHBeAg) OD values in the serum were measured by ELISA. The activity of Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) in the serum was measured, and the livers were taken for histopathological examination. RESULTS: The levels of serum DHBV DNA and the values of DHBsAg and DHBeAg OD were not significant in any of the dose extract groups. However, the ALT activity was obviously lower in the middle- and high-dose extract groups. It was also found that a high dose of alcohol extract could reduce the activity of AST significantly and significantly improve hepatic pathological effects. CONCLUSIONS: High-dose alcohol extract of Acanthus ilicifolius L. has an obvious protective effect on the liver function and liver tissue. However, the present study finds that Acanthus ilicifolius L. cannot inhibit the replication of duck hepatitis B virus.

[Pharmacokinetic Effect of Aikeqing Granule by Different Medication Ways on Zidovudine in HAART of Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study pharmacokinetic effect of Aikeqing Granule (AG) by different medication ways on zidovudine (AZT) in highly active antiretroviral therapy ( HAART) of rats. METHODS: Totally 36 rats were administered with corresponding medications by gastrogavage, group I [HAART: AZT 31.5 mg/kg +3TC 31.5 mg/kg + Efavirenz (EFV) 63.0 mg/kg], group II (HAART+AG525 mg/kg), group III (HAART and AG 525 mg/kg after a 2-h interval). Drug concentrations of AZT were determined by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS) before HAART, and at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 h after HAART, respectively. Pharmacokinetic parameters [such as t1/2, Tmax, Cmax, AUCo-t, plasma clearance rate (CL)] were calculated by DAS2.0 Software. RESULTS: The-equation of linear regression of AZT was good, with the precision, coefficient of recovery, and stability definitely confirmed. AUC in group II and III was larger than that of group I. There was no statistical difference in t1/2, Tmax, Cmax, AUC0-12 h, or AUC0-∞ among groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: AG combined HAART could enhance the Cmax of AZT.

[Treating HIV/AIDS patients by shenlin fuzheng capsule and qingdu capsule: an analysis of clinical effectiveness].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical effectiveness of Shenling Fuzheng Capsule (SFC) and Qingdu Capsule (QC) in treating HIV/AIDS patients. METHODS: Totally 220 patients with complete clinical data, who received consecutive treatment for 6 months were selected from the database. They were assigned to two groups whether they would rather receive antiretroviral drugs, the Chinese medicine (CM) treatment group and the integrative medicine (IM) group. The 129 patients in the CM group were treated with SFC or QC, while the 91 patients in the IM group were treated with SFC or QC combined highly active antiretroviral agents. Total score and single score of clinical symptoms and signs, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), and changes of body weight before treatment, 3 and 6 months after treatment were compared. CD4+ cell counts were compared between before treatment and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: The total score of clinical symptoms and signs were lower at 3 and 6 months of treatment than before treatment respectively (P < 0.01). The single score of clinical symptoms and signs such as cough, weakness, shortness of breath, vomit, spontaneous perspiration, hair loss,and chest pain were also lowered at 3 and 6 months of treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the KPS increased (P < 0.05). The body weight increased (P < 0.05) and CD4 cell counts decreased (P < 0.05) in the CM group. There was no statistical difference in body weight or CD4 cell counts in the IM group between before and after treatment. CONCLUSION: SFC and QC could improve clinical symptoms and signs of HIV/ AIDS patients, but failed to deter the decrease of CD4+ cell counts.