[Anti-prostate cancer effect of roemerine: An experimental study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-prostate cancer (PCa) effect of roemerine in vitro and in vivo in the mouse model of PCa. METHODS: We detected the effects of roemerine on the proliferation, apoptosis and migration of PCa cells DU145, LNCaP, PC-3 and 22RV1, screened out the sensitive cell line and constructed a tumor-bearing model in mice for verification of the antitumor efficacy of roemerine in vivo. RESULTS: Roemerine inhibited the proliferation and migration of the DU145, LNCaP, PC-3 and 22RV1 cells and induced their apoptosis in different degrees, particularly those of the LNCaP cells. The average tumor weight was less in the roemerine intervention group (ï¼»1.99±0.95ï¼½ g) than in the control (ï¼»2.95±1.04ï¼½ g), the least in the high-dose roemerine (30 mg/kg) plus paclitaxel intervention group (ï¼»0.90±0.16ï¼½ g). The mean heart, liver, and kidney indexes were markedly lower in the roemerine (0.58±0.06, 6.20±0.42 and 1.49±0.33) than in the paclitaxel group (0.66±0.04, 6.99±0.72 and 1.95±0.34), while the mean spleen and thymus indexes were remarkably higher in the former (0.54±0.11 and 0.06±0.01) than in the latter (0.41±0.09 and 0.05±0.01). Pathological staining showed a lower degree of malignancy and metastasis in both the roemerine and the roemerine + paclitaxel intervention group than in the control, as well as a lower degree of visceral injury in the roemerine and roemerine + paclitaxel groups than in the paclitaxel group. CONCLUSIONS: Roemerine has some anti-PCa effect and alleviates adverse reactions in paclitaxel combination administration.

[Epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C in Henan province].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis C in Henan province. METHODS: Multistage sampling was used to investigate a group of 1-75 year-old general population, living in 30 districts of 18 cities, Henan province. Blood samples were collected and tested for anti-HCV and hepatitis C virus(HCV), from April to July 2012. RESULTS: 32 203 persons were investigated. Among the general population aged 1 to 75 years old, the overall prevalence rates of anti-HCV and HCV RNA were 0.64% and 0.35% respectively. The prevalence rates of anti-HCV among males and females were 0.60%, and 0.68% respectively, with the rates of HCV RNA as 0.37%, and 0.33% respectively. The prevalence rates of anti-HCV and HCV RNA were increasing with age. The prevalence rates of anti-HCV and HCV RNA in urban area were 0.58% and 0.32%, and in rural area as 0.41%, and 0.19% respectively. CONCLUSION: After the implementation of comprehensive measures for HCV control and prevention, Henan province became low prevalent for HCV infection. Our data revealed that the overall prevalence remained low, but the epidemic was severe in some geographical regions in Henan province.

[Epidemiological survey on the hepatitis C virus and its genotyping analysis in Henan province in 2012].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Henan province in 2012. METHODS: A total of 32 203 permanent residents (1 to 74 years old) in Henan were recruited using multi-stage random samping method from March to June 2012. All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire to collect demographic information, past medical history and the exposure history of risk factors. A blood sample of 5 ml was collected at the same time. The condition of anti-HCV and HCV RNA was determined through the ELISA test and nested RT-PCR. HCV RNA positive samples were further subject to the nonstructural protein 5 region (NS5B) gene amplification and sequencing. The sequence was amplified for the phylogenetic tree and genetic analysis. The differences of the positive rate of anti-HCV and HCV RNA and the HCV genetic subtype distribution in different respondents'characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: Among 32 203 subjects, the overall positive rate of anti-HCV and HCV RNA were 0.48% (153/32 203) and 0.24% (78/32 203), in which men were 0.42% (65/15 634), and 0.23% (36/15 634), and women were 0.53% (88/16 569) and 0.25% (42/16 596). The differences between men and women were not statistically significant (χ(2) values were 2.26, 0.18, respectively, both P values > 0.05). The results of NS5B genotyping and molecular evolution analysis showed that there were six subtypes in the 71 HCV RNA positive samples.In those six subtypes, the proportion of genotypes 1b, 6a, 3a, 2a, 3b and 1a were 56.3% (40/71), 19.7% (14/71), 11.3% (8/71), 8.5% (6/71), 2.8% (2/71) and 1.4% (1/71), respectively. The HCV genetic subtypes of infestor were mainly present with two branches of 1b and 6a, and the two subtypes Bootstrap values were 0.95. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HCV infection was high in Henan. The major HCV genotypes in patients with HCV infection were 1b and 6a.

[A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of HIV drug resistance in patients receiving antiretroviral treatment in Shenqiu county, Henan province].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the prevalence of drug resistance in AIDS patients who had been receiving HAART in a long run, in Shenqiu county, Henan province. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 120 HIV infected patients who began receiving ART (antiretroviral therapy) in 2003. Viral loads and CD(4)(+) T cells counts were measured, and In-house drug resistance test was performed in VL > 1000 copies/ml patients. RESULTS: 114 cases out of 120 patients had complete viral load data. Among them, 33 cases having viral loads less than 50 copies/ml, and the remaining viral loads showed an average of lg (4.09 ± 1.10) copies/ml. The average of CD(4)(+) T cell counts was (377 ± 218) cells/ml, with 64 (53.3%) cases showing their CD(4)(+) T cell counts higher than 350 cells/ml. In 67 patients, 58 of them showed genotypic resistance, and 40 cases showed reverse transcriptase inhibitors (RTIs) resistance. The ratios of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) resistance were 53.4% (31/58) and 67.2% (39/58), respectively. There were no differences of drug resistance ratio in the three treatment programs. The highest drug resistance rates in NRTIs and NNRTIs were zidovudine, lamivudine, nevirapine. However, protease inhibitors (PIs) resistance variants were not found. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of drug-resistant strains seemed to be high in Shenqiu country, Henan province. Long-term follow-up monitoring strategy should be developed to optimize the timely treatment programs.

[Subtype analysis of gp41 gene of HIV-1 among men who have sex with men in Zhengzhou].

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the subtype distribution of gp41 gene of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Zhengzhou. METHODS: Thirty blood samples were collected from men who have sex with men infected by HIV. The complete gp41 gene was amplified by RT-PCR and nested-PCR and sequenced. All sequences were edited by Bioedit and subtyped with HIV sequence library US Los Alamos National Laboratory and online genotyping software provided by American National Center of Biotechnology Information. Phylogenetic analysis of gp41 gene was performed using the MEGA 3.1 software, and the genic dispersion rates among subtype of gp41 gene were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of eighteen gene sequences of HIV-1 gp41 gene were obtained from thirty men who have sex with men infected by HIV, which belonged to subtype CRF15-01B (50% (9/18)), CRF01-AE (22% (4/18)), CRF07-B (22% (4/18)) and B (6% (1/18)), respectively. The intersubtype HIV-1 strains aggregate with according reference strains. The genetic distance inter-subtype of subtype CRF15-01B, CRF01-AE and CRF07-B were 0.050 ± 0.007, 0.052 ± 0.009 and 0.082 ± 0.012, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalent subtypes of HIV-1 among among MSM in Zhengzhou was complicated and recombinant HIV-1 strains were the most prevalent strains.

[Sero-prevalence and associated risk factors on hepatitis C in Maqiao township, Henan province of China].

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) occurred in Henan province, at the end of 2011. METHODS: Five villages round Maqiao township, including 5187 residents, were selected for the study. Five-milliliter-blood was drawn from every one of the interviewee. Clinical data including age, gender and anti-HCV antibody was recorded. Patients with positive antibodies against HCV were tested for HCV RNA. RESULTS: A total number of 5187 people from five villages were studied, with age span from 1 to 97. The average age was 48 years and the sex ratio was 1:1.34. The anti-HCV result showed that the prevalence was 2.27%, with 1-9 age group the lowest (1.55%) and the ≥ 50 year-olds the highest (4.93%). Different villages seemed to have significant differences on the prevalence of HCV, with the highest as 8.68% and the lowest as 0.55%. Under risk factors analysis and distance-infection rates linear regression analysis, data showed that the prevalence might have correlated to the behavior of a certain family-run clinic. RESULTS: from multivariate analysis indicated that factors as intravenous dropping, intravenous injection and the use of surgery/endoscope were associated with the HCV infection in this village. CONCLUSION: Although the public health care system had been developed for more than ten years, iatrogenic infection was yet responsible for the infection of HCV patients in the rural areas of China that called for further attention paid to the system.

[Subtype and sequence analysis of gag gene of HIV-1 among men who have sex with men in Zhengzhou, Henan Province].

To investigate the subtype distribution of human immunodeficiency virus-1(HIV-1) infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Zhengzhou, Henan Province, forty blood samples were collected from HIV-1 carriers, who acknowledged to have sex with men. The complete gag gene was amplified by RT-PCR and nested-PCR and sequenced. All sequences were edited by BioEdit and subtyped by genotyping software. Phylogenetic analysis of gag gene were then performed using the MEGA 3.1 software, the gene distances were calculated by Distance program. There were three different HIV-1 subtypes including B, CRF01-AE and CRF07-BC present among twenty four MSMs in Zhengzhou. Genotyping results showed that 33.33% (8/24) were B, 41.67% (10/24) were CRF01-AE and 25% (6/24) were CRF07-BC, and subtype CRF01-AE had become the most prevalent HIV-1 subtype in Zhengzhou, Henan province. In conclusion, recombinant HIV-1 strains are circulating in Henan province and the epidemiology is complicated.

[Association between amino acid mutations in Gag protein and human leukocyte antigen class I alleles in human immunodeficiency virus-1 B' infected Han Chinese people].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-associated mutations in Gag protein of B' clade (human immunodeficiency virus-1) HIV-1 infected Han Chinese people and evaluate the impact of HLA associated Gag mutations on the disease progression of HIV infection. METHODS: A total of 95 B' clade HIV-1 infected Han Chinese cases were recruited. The gag sequences were amplified from viral RNA and sequenced directly. HLA-I genotypes were detected with the assay of polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP). HLA-associated mutations were identified and the relationships between HLA-associated mutations and CD4+ T cell counts or plasma viral loads analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-seven kinds of mutations at 28 sites (15, 18, 26, 30, 34, 46, 62, 67, 81, 84, 90, 102, 118, 121, 122, 125, 146, 147, 173, 176, 252, 357, 374, 376, 437, 470, 471, 478) of Gag protein were significantly associated with particular HLA class I allelotypes (P < 0.05). Among which, 9 sites (26, 30, 81, 84, 125, 146, 147, 357, 437) were located within 13 known cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes or flanking regions. The number of HLA-associated mutations was significantly associated with both CD4 T cell counts (r = -0.318, P = 0.002) and viral loads (r = 0.360, P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: HLA-associated mutations may have a significant impact on HIV disease progression in B' clade HIV-1 infected Han Chinese population.

[Study on HIV-1 drug resistance profile of 257 AIDS patients with failure on the first-line antiretroviral treatment in Henan].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the current situation related to genotypic resistance in patients receiving the first-line antiretroviral treatment, but with with virologic failure, in Henan province and to compare the patterns of drug resistance in patients from different areas. METHODS: 276 patients with virologic failure on first-line antiretroviral treatment were selected in three different areas of Henan, in 2010. CD4(+)T cells, virus load and genotypic resistance were measured and tested. Prevalence and mutations related to drug-resistant were analyzed. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of drug-resistance was 68.48% in 257 patients, with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTIs) as 67.70%. Rate of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTIs) was 54.09%, and protease inhibitors (PIs) was 1.18%. The prevalence rates of drug-resistance in A, B and C groups were 82.35%, 97.47% and 52.80%, respectively, and withs significant differences (χ2=50.624, P=0.000). The Prevalence rates related to resistance of NNRTIs and NRTIs were also significantly different (χ2=48.771, P=0.000 and χ2=33.912, P=0.000). 26.46% of the samples had M184V/I mutation which was the highest NRTIs mutation among the 257 patients. The prevalence rates on resistance of A and B were 47.06% and 49.37%, higher than that of C (13.04%, χ2=39.905, P=0.000) followed by TAMs, TAMs-1 and TAMs-2 which were 8.56% and 4.28%. C had the lower prevalence of TAMs-1 than A and B (χ2=13.499, P=0.001). 40.47% of the samples harbored≥1 TAM, with T215Y/F having the most, as 33.85%. 31.13% of 257 patients appeared most NNRTIs mutation K103N in this study, with the prevalence rates also significant different (χ2=14.213, P=0.001) in the three areas. Two PIs mutations were detected in 257 patients: M46I/L, (1.17%) and V82F (0.39%). However, none was detected in area A. CONCLUSION: Different patterns of drug resistance were found in different areas of Henan province and should be treated differently. The work related to AIDS second-line antiretroviral therapy in Henan should be more opportune, rigorous and standardized.

[Men who have sex with men and its relationship with HIV-1 strains prevailing in the paid blood donors from Zhengzhou city, Henan].

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the genetic characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) circulated in the population of men who have sex with men (MSM) in Zhengzhou, Henan and to analyze its relationship with HIV-1 prevailing in the paid blood donors (PBDs). METHODS: Thirty-one MSM who were confirmed as HIV positive individuals in 2010 together with 41 HIV-positive former PBDs were enrolled in the study. Information on related epidemiological characteristics and their plasma were collected. RT-PCR was used to amplify HIV-1 full length gag (1584 bp), pol (3147 bp) genes and partial env gene (C2V3 segment, 558 bp) followed by sequencing on those subjects. Online software available at LosAlamos HIV Database was used to identify the HIV subtypes based on the findings of the sequences. Phylogenetic tree was used to identify the possible relationship of transmission. RESULTS: Fifty-three full length gag, 38 full length pol and 48 partial env (C2V3) genes were collected from 72 participants. Among the 31 HIV(+) MSM individuals, 14 CRF01_AE strains, 5 CRF07_BC strains and 12 subtype B (1 subtype B and 11 B') strains were identified respectively. All of the 41 strains identified from former PBDs were infected by B' strains. The CRF01_AE strains identified in MSM showed a close relationship to those identified from both Hebei and Liaoning provinces. The CRF07_BC strains showed a close relationship with those from Shijiazhuang and Beijing cities. Among the 12 subtype B strains, 8 sequences grouped into 1 cluster with 1 sequence from the former PBDs. Two sequences grouped with 02HNseq4 suggested that B' had been prevailed in the MSM population might come from the former PBDs and were closely related to the strains identified in the MSM population. CONCLUSION: Complicated genetic background and multiple introductions of HIV in the MS population in Zhengzhou, were found. This was also the first report which noticed that the subtype B epidemic among Zhengzhou MSM was mainly originated from the B' among the former PBDs.

[Follow-up study on 84 AIDS patients having received the replaced therapy program for six months in one county of Henan, China].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the situation of AIDS patients who had received replaced therapy program in Henan province. METHODS: 84 AIDS patients had been enrolled into the national free first-line antiretroviral treatment for more than 5 years and would soon be replaced with another antiretroviral treatment program, were selected to a follow-up program to be carried out six months later. Data on CD4(+) t-lymphocyte count, viral load and genotypic resistance were included in the study. RESULTS: The DDI+AZT+NVP treatment program was used by all the 84 patients at baseline. A replacement by 3TC + AZT + NVP (post first-line) in 31 patients and 3TC + TDF + LPV/r (second-line) in another 53 patients were taken place within a week. All the patients were followed for six months. RESULTS: showed that: all of the 84 patients appeared an amelioration of CD4(+) t-lymphocyte count median from the baseline of 374.00 cell/µl to 406.50 cell/µl (P = 0.005). Those patients who had changed to second-line treatment program also showed an improvement of CD4(+) t-lymphocyte count median from the baseline of 267.00 cell/µl to 365.00 cell/µl (P = 0.015), while patients who were on the post first-line program with their CD4(+) t-lymphocyte count mean did not show significant change as compared to the baseline (P = 0.158) data. All the 84 patients showed a decrease of virus load median from the baseline of 3.61 log(10)copies/ml to 0.00 log(10) copies/ml (P = 0.000). Both of the two types of patients who had been changed to different programs, had a lower virus load median in the end of the follow-up period (for post first-line: P = 0.007; for second-line: P = 0.000). 13 patients kept their viral load more than 1000 copies/ml, including 5 cases bore more than three thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs) a the end of the follow-up program. Another 4 patients had no resistance mutations detected and no significant variation of viral load (less than 3 times) in the pre- or post-surveys. CONCLUSION: AIDS patients who had received long-term first-line antiretroviral treatment program, showed an amelioration six months after changing of the treatment program. Timely and effective testing on drug resistance as well as the strengthening of the follow-up program still seemed to be the link to those patients who were receiving first-line treatment that should not be ignored.

[The primary HIV drug resistance in partial region of Henan province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of primary HIV drug resistance in antiretroviral therapy (ART) areas of Henan province. METHODS: A total of 121 drug-naive long-term infected individuals and 154 patients with newly diagnosed from January 2011 to March 2012 were recruited, the questionnaires were surveyed and whole blood were collected to analyze the CD4(+)T cell counts and viral load. In-house method for genotypic resistance test was determined in those with viral load > 1000 copies/ml samples, the differences of demographic characteristics, immunological parameters and primary drug resistance were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 121 cases of long-term individuals who had infected (12.50 ± 3.21) years were mainly previous paid blood donors, and the age was (46.61 ± 9.32) years old. The infection route of the newly diagnosed were diversity, including blood, sexual transmission and others, the cases were 73, 73, 8, respectively, the confirmatory year was (0.91 ± 0.28) years, and average age was (22.21 ± 3.11) years old. The difference were statistically significant in the route of transmission, age and infection time from demographic analysis of the two groups (P < 0.05). The absolute M(P(25)-P(75)) counts of CD4(+)T lymphocytes of long-term group was 322 (217 - 422) cell/µl, which was lower than the newly diagnosed was 434(308 - 578) cell/µl (P < 0.05), and viral load was 4.0 (2.96 - 4.64) copies/ml, 3.77 (2.94 - 4.53) copies/ml, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). The prevalence of primary drug resistance in long-term group and newly diagnosed was 5.79% (7/121), 9.09% (14/154), respectively, and the difference was statistically different (P < 0.05), and one PI-resistant strain was found in the newly diagnosed group. CONCLUSION: The primary drug resistant strains in untreated patients were found in Henan province of ART areas, and there was difference in degree of resistance between long-term infected individuals and newly diagnosed.

Natural history of HIV infection in former plasma donors in rural China.

Patients infected through commercial blood-selling practices (former plasma donors, FPDs) in China represent a unique patient population compared to individuals infected through sexual contact or intravenous drug use. FPDs all have an approximate time of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection during the mid-1990s. Few studies about the natural history of HIV infection in these patients were performed. The current study focuses on characterizing the duration of asymptomatic infection as well as the time to disease and mortality of infected FPDs in China. A retrospective cohort study was conducted based on data collected from 5484 HIV-1 infected FPDs in Shangcai county, Henan province. Kaplan-Meier analysis was applied to estimate the asymptomatic duration from the time of infection to the onset of AIDS as well as the survival period from the onset of AIDS to the time of death. The estimated median asymptomatic phase was about 9.21 years, which is similar to that reported in other developing countries in Africa. The estimated median life span after the onset of symptoms was about 9.91 months, which is notably shorter than life spans reported elsewhere. This is the first large-scale retrospective study on the natural history of HIV infection in FPDs in rural China. The findings not only provide valuable insight into an understudied population, but should also serve as an important reference for patient management and care.

[Study on the situation of antiretroviral therapy against HIV/AIDS in Henan province based on the CD4+ T cells count and virus load].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the CD4(+) T cells and virus load in HIV/AIDS affected population and to evaluate the HIV/AIDS antiretroviral therapy programs in Henan province. METHODS: "Henan HIV/AIDS Testing Laboratory Network Database" was used to collect the data on CD4(+) T cells and virus load (VL) value and corresponding information in HIV/AIDS population of Henan in 2009. Cross-sectional studies was used to study the constituent ratio of CD4(+) T cells and virus load value in individuals who had not received antiretroviral-treated (ART) and had joined first-line ART between the year of 2005 to 2008 among HIV/AIDS population of Henan. RESULTS: As to these people living with HIV/AIDS that had not received ART in the first half and the second half year of 2009, the constituent ratio of individuals whose CD4(+) T cells were less than 200 cells/µl both accounted for more than 20% (χ(2) = 2.059, P = 0.151). The constituent ratio of individuals whose CD4(+) T cells were in 200 - 350 cells/µl and more than 350 cells/µl increased from 27.61% to 29.41% (χ(2) = 4.636, P = 0.031) and decreased from 51.49% to 48.60% (χ(2) = 9.767, P = 0.002), respectively. Meanwhile, we saw 34.53% and 19.65% of the patients whose virus load was > 10 000 copy/ml and > 30 000 copy/ml in this population. Patients that joined first-line ART during 2005 - 2008 showed the following results: the longer of the therapy time, the higher constituent ratio of individuals whose CD4(+) T cells were more than 350 cells/µl (χ(2) = 148.689, P < 0.001) and the lower constituent ratio of individuals of whose CD4(+) T cells were less than 200 cells/µl (χ(2) = 46.686, P < 0.001). Simultaneously, the lower constituent ratio of individuals whose viral load was less than 500 copy/ml (χ(2) = 9.066, P = 0.003) and the higher constituent ratio of individuals whose virus load was more than 10 000 copy/ml (χ(2) = 6.597, P = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Significant curative effect had been achieved in AIDS first-line ART of Henan, but along with the increasing treatment time, the risk of treatment failure also increased. Drug resistance test and changing of treatment protocols were needed. To reach better and more efficient effects on therapy, factors as more detections and investments on ART, expanding the scope of treatment etc. were needed on those people living with HIV/AIDS that had not received ART.

[Study on the transmission of drug resistant human immunodeficiency virus-1 in Henan province].

OBJECTIVE: To survey the prevalence of HIV-1 drug resistance after five years antiretroviral treatment in Henan province. METHODS: Through the cross-sectional study, serum specimens of 69 HIV infected individuals that were 2 to 25 years old who were newly diagnosed according the WHO standard from November 2007 to August 2008 and did not receive antiretroviral treatment (ART) were collected. HIV-1 pol genetic mutations associated with drug resistance were identified with RT-PCR and interpreted. RESULTS: Out of 69 samples, 50 samples were successfully amplified and sequenced. Seven drug resistant mutation in reverse transcriptase region were detected and three mutations in protein region. In one specimen, a mutation (K103N) in reverse transcriptase was identified which caused high level resistance to NNRTIs, but no proteinase inhibitor mutation was found in protein region. According to the sampling and threshold surveillance criteria, the prevalence of drug resistant HIV-1 in Henan was less than 5%. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of drug resistant HIV-1 was still at low level in Henan. However, the proportion of resistant strains would be higher with the antiretroviral treatment. We should pay more attention to the transmission of resistant strains and continue the drug resistance surveillance.

The impacts of current antiretroviral therapy regimens on Chinese AIDS patients and their implications for HIV-1 drug resistance mutation.

This study sought to investigate the impacts of the antiretroviral (ARV) therapy regimens currently used in Chinese HIV-1-infected individuals. Seven hundred eighteen ARV-treated and treatment-naive HIV-1-infected individuals living in seven provinces were enrolled in 2005 by a multistage sampling approach according to a national cross-sectional survey program on HIV-1 drug resistance. All patients were investigated clinically, and CD4+ T cell counts and HIV-1 viral loads were measured while genotyping for drug resistance was determined by a home brew nested PCR. Viral inhibition in ARV-treated individuals was higher than that in ARV treatment-naive individuals. The overall prevalence of drug-resistant mutations was 37.8%. Higher frequencies of mutations in ARV-treated and drug withdrawal groups were found than in the ARV treatment-naive group (P<0.01). Of the four regimens currently used, the D4T/3TC/NVP regimen showed a higher-level viral inhibition. No statistical significance was found among the four regimens in drug-resistant mutations. The rate of resistance-associated mutations to non-nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) was higher than that to nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) (P<0.01). The most common mutations conferring resistance to NNRTIs were K103N, Y181C and G190A, representing 56.5, 30.4 and 14.5%, respectively. Furthermore, higher viral inhibition and a lower rate of drug-resistant mutations were achieved in the good compliance group. This study revealed an efficient viral inhibition achieved with the current first-line regimens in China. Most of these regimens could rapidly result in emergence of drug-resistant mutations, suggesting that a second-line ARV therapy is urgently needed and that the compliance with treatment must be emphasized during long-term treatment.

[Study on the correlation between HIV drug resistance and CD4+ T-lymphocyte of AIDS patients under antiretroviral treatment in Henan province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between genotype drug resistance and CD(4)(+) T-lymphocyte of AIDS patients who received antiretroviral treatment in Henan province. METHODS: Several indicators were studied through questionnaires and whole blood was collected to analyze CD4+ T-lymphocyte as well as the virus load. In-House technique was used to detect the genotype drug resistance. RESULTS: 32.21% and 29.17% of the patients were identified as genotype drug resistant to AIDS when used first and second generation medicine schemes but the improvement (P = 0.7538) of disease process was not influenced much. However, if the genotype drug resistance of patients with HAART last longer than two years (33.20%) or patients with HAART less than one year (18.97%), a greater impact on the improvement was noticed. Age (OR = 0.68) and the interval on distribution of medicines (OR = 1.93) had a great impact on the improvement with the genotype drug resistance through logistic regression analysis. Medicine scheme (OR = 0.51), genotype drug resistance (OR = 3.20) and the rate of regular dose in a month (OR = 0.51) all had a great impact on the improvement to CD4+ T-lymphocyte by logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Part of HIV/AIDS patients showed resistant to genotype drugs in Henan province, suggesting that we must reinforce the surveillance on HAART and program on drug administration to the patients, in order to increase the number of CD4+ T-lymphocyte so as to avoid the development of drug resistance.

[Preliminary study on the relationship between sow maternal behaviour during early lactation and polymorphism of PRLR gene].

PCR-RFLP technique was applied to analyze single nucleotide polymorphisms of PRLR gene in Minpig and Landrace to investigate the possible effect of PRLR gene on sow maternal behaviour. A Nae I-RFLP site was detected in the PRLP gene. The single nucleotide polymorphism, a T-->C transition at nucleotide 1,620 of the cDNA sequence, was a silent mutation. Least square analysis between the genotypes and the maternal behavioural traits showed that sows with genotype AB had a significantly higher frequency of lateral-lying-to- other-posture trait and percentage of sow-terminated nursing trait than sows with the AA and BB genotypes, although no significant differences were found in other behavioural traits. It is possible that allele A is the unfavorable allele for sow maternal behaviour.