Microbial cell wall sorption and Fe-Mn binding in rhizosphere contribute to the obstruction of cadmium from soil to rice.

Screening high-tolerant microorganisms to cadmium (Cd) and revealing their bio-obstruction mechanism could be significant for Cd regulation from farmland to the food chain. We examined the tolerance and bio-removal efficiency of Cd ions of two bacterial strains, Pseudomonas putida 23483 and Bacillus sp. GY16, and measured the accumulation of Cd ions in rice tissues and its different chemical forms in soil. The results showed that the two strains had high tolerance to Cd, but the removal efficiency was decreased successively with increasing Cd concentrations (0.05 to 5 mg kg-1). Cell-sorption accounted for the major proportion of Cd removal compared with excreta binding in both strains, which was conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetics. At the subcellular level, Cd was mostly taken up by the cell mantle and cell wall, and only a small amount entered into the cytomembrane and cytoplasmic with time progressed (0 to 24 h) in each concentration. The cell mantle and cell wall sorption decreased with increasing Cd concentration, especially in the cytomembrane and cytoplasmic. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDS) analysis verified that Cd ions were attached to the cell surface, and the functional groups of C-H, C-N, C=O, N-H, and O-H in the cell surface may participate in cell-sorption process tested by the FTIR analysis. Furthermore, inoculation of the two strains significantly decreased Cd accumulation in rice straw and grain but increased in the root, increased Cd enrichment ratio in root from soil, decreased Cd translocation ratio from root to straw and grain, and increased the Cd concentrations of Fe-Mn binding form and residual form in rhizosphere soil. This study highlights that the two strains mainly removed Cd ions in solution through biosorption and passivated soil Cd as Fe-Mn combined form ascribe to its characteristics of manganese-oxidizing, eventually achieving bio-obstruction of Cd from soil to rice grain.

Effects of Radiant Floor Heating Integrated with Natural Ventilation on Flow and Dispersion in a Newly Decorated Residence.

To date, few studies have been conducted on the characteristics of flow and dispersion caused by indoor radiant floor heating integrated with natural ventilation. In this study, we employed reduced-scale numerical models validated by wind-tunnel experiments to investigate the influence of radiant floor heating integrated with natural ventilation on airflow, heat transfer, and pollutant dispersion within an isolated building. The Richardson number (Ri) was specified to characterize the interaction between the inflow inertia force and the buoyancy force caused by radiant floor heating. Several Ri cases from 0 to 26.65, coupled with cross- or single-sided ventilation, were considered. Model validation showed that the numerical model coupled with the RNG k-ε model was able to better predict the indoor buoyant flow and pollutant dispersion. The results showed that the similarity criterion of Ri equality should be first satisfied in order to study indoor mixed convection using the reduced-scale model, followed by Re-independence. For cross-ventilation, when Ri < 5.31, the incoming flow inertia force mainly dominates the indoor flow structure so that the ACH, indoor temperature, and pollutant distributions remain almost constant. When Ri > 5.31, the thermal buoyancy force becomes increasingly important, causing significant changes in indoor flow structures. However, for single-sided ventilation, when Ri > 5.31 and continues to increase, the buoyancy force mainly dominates the indoor flow structure, causing a significant increase in ACH, thus reducing the indoor average temperature and pollutant accumulation.

Pharmacological suppression of glycogen synthase kinase-3 reactivates HIV-1 from latency via activating Wnt/ß-catenin/TCF1 axis in CD4+ T cells.

ABSTRACTHIV-1 latency posts a major obstacle for HIV-1 eradication. Currently, no desirable latency reversing agents (LRAs) have been implicated in the "Shock and Kill" strategy to mobilize the latently infected cells to be susceptible for clearance by immune responses. Identification of key cellular pathways that modulate HIV-1 latency helps to develop efficient LRAs. In this study, we demonstrate that the Wnt downstream ß-catenin/TCF1 pathway is a crucial modulator for HIV-1 latency. The pharmacological activation of the ß-catenin/TCF1 pathway with glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) inhibitors promoted transcription of HIV-1 proviral DNA and reactivated latency in CD4+ T cells; the GSK3 kinase inhibitor 6-bromoindirubin-3'-oxime (6-BIO)-induced HIV-1 reactivation was subsequently confirmed in resting CD4+ T cells from cART-suppressed patients and SIV-infected rhesus macaques. These findings advance our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for viral latency, and provide the potent LRA that can be further used in conjunction of immunotherapies to eradicate viral reservoirs.

[Effects of biochar addition on soil moisture infiltration process of the yellow soil in Karst area]. / ç”Ÿç‰©è´¨ç‚­æ·»åŠ å¯¹å–€æ–¯ç‰¹åœ°åŒºå¡è€•åœ°é»„å£¤æ°´åˆ†å ¥æ¸—è¿‡ç¨‹çš„å½±å“.

To investigate the effects of biochar addition on soil moisture infiltration characteristics of sloping farmland in Karst area, we used soil column simulation to study the variation characteristics of cumulative infiltration volume, infiltration rate, and wetting peak process under the different biochar addition amount (0, 1% and 2%) and different particle sizes (<0.25, 0.25-1 and >1 mm), and simulated the infiltration process in yellow soil on slope farmland. The results showed that soil infiltration process after biochar addition was significantly inhibited under the condition of constant bulk density. The cumulative infiltration amount and infiltration rate under biochar addition were significantly lower than those without biochar addition. There was no significant difference in the cumulative infiltration amount and infiltration rate of the soil with 1% and 2% biochar addition. The cumulative infiltration amount of the soil with different particle sizes followed an order of <0.25, 0.25-1 and > 1 mm after biochar addition. When the addition amount was 1%, the cumulative infiltration amount of 300 min had decreased by 20.9%, 35.2% and 45.0% compared with CK. When the addition amount was 2%, the decrease rate was 21.5%, 37.5% and 44.2%, indicating that the inhibition effect of large particle size biochar on soil infiltration being stronger than that of small particle size biochar. The change trend of soil wetting peak process to biochar addition of different contents and different particle sizes was consistent with the change trend of cumulative infiltration volume. Horton model and Kostiakov model could be used to simulate soil moisture infiltration process. The Horton model had higher fitting accuracy, the largest R2 (between 0.91 and 0.98), and the smallest RMSE (between 0.14 and 0.21). The initial infiltration rate obtained by Kostiakov model was closer to the measured result. Our results could provide scientific basis for the rational application of biochar and provide a useful reference for soil improvement and soil and water conservation in slope farmland of Karst area.

Efficacy and safety of the long-acting fusion inhibitor albuvirtide in antiretroviral-experienced adults with human immunodeficiency virus-1: interim analysis of the randomized, controlled, phase 3, non-inferiority TALENT study.

BACKGROUND: Albuvirtide is a once-weekly injectable human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 fusion inhibitor. We present interim data for a phase 3 trial assessing the safety and efficacy of albuvirtide plus lopinavir-ritonavir in HIV-1-infected adults already treated with antiretroviral drugs. METHODS: We carried out a 48-week, randomized, controlled, open-label non-inferiority trial at 12 sites in China. Adults on the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended first-line treatment for >6 months with a plasma viral load >1000 copies/mL were enrolled and randomly assigned (1:1) to receive albuvirtide (once weekly) plus ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (ABT group) or the WHO-recommended second-line treatment (NRTI group). The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with a plasma viral load below 50 copies/mL at 48 weeks. Non-inferiority was prespecified with a margin of 12%. RESULTS: At the time of analysis, week 24 data were available for 83 and 92 patients, and week 48 data were available for 46 and 50 patients in the albuvirtide and NRTI groups, respectively. At 48 weeks, 80.4% of patients in the ABT group and 66.0% of those in the NRTI group had HIV-1 RNA levels below 50 copies/mL, meeting the criteria for non-inferiority. For the per-protocol population, the superiority of albuvirtide over NRTI was demonstrated. The frequency of grade 3 to 4 adverse events was similar in the two groups; the most common adverse events were diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infections, and grade 3 to 4 increases in triglyceride concentration. Renal function was significantly more impaired at 12 weeks in the patients of the NRTI group who received tenofovir disoproxil fumarate than in those of the ABT group. CONCLUSIONS: The TALENT study is the first phase 3 trial of an injectable long-acting HIV drug. This interim analysis indicates that once-weekly albuvirtide in combination with ritonavir-boosted lopinavir is well tolerated and non-inferior to the WHO-recommended second-line regimen in patients with first-line treatment failure. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02369965; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov.Chinese Clinical Trial Registry No. ChiCTR-TRC-14004276; http://www.chictr.org.cn/enindex.aspx.

Tryptophan Metabolism Activates Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Pathway To Promote HIV-1 Infection and Reactivation.

Multiple cellular metabolic pathways are altered by HIV-1 infection, with an impact on immune activation, inflammation, and acquisition of non-AIDS comorbid diseases. The dysfunction of tryptophan (Trp) metabolism has been observed clinically in association with accelerated HIV-1 pathogenesis, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, is activated by Trp metabolites to promote HIV-1 infection and reactivation. AHR directly binds to the HIV-1 5' long terminal repeat (5'-LTR) at the molecular level to activate viral transcription and infection, and AHR activation by Trp metabolites increases its nuclear translocation and association with the HIV 5'-LTR; moreover, the binding of AHR with HIV-1 Tat facilitates the recruitment of positive transcription factors to viral promoters. These findings not only elucidate a previously unappreciated mechanism through which cellular Trp metabolites affect HIV pathogenesis but also suggest that a downstream target AHR may be a potential target for modulating HIV-1 infection.IMPORTANCE Cellular metabolic pathways that are altered by HIV-1 infection may accelerate disease progression. Dysfunction in tryptophan (Trp) metabolism has been observed clinically in association with accelerated HIV-1 pathogenesis, but the mechanism responsible was not known. This study demonstrates that Trp metabolites augment the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated transcription factor, to promote HIV-1 infection and transcription. These findings not only elucidate a previously unappreciated mechanism through which cellular Trp metabolites affect HIV pathogenesis but also suggest that a downstream target AHR may be a potential target for modulating HIV-1 infection.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of naproxen for prevention heterotopic ossification after hip surgery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of naproxen in preventing heterotopic ossification (HO) after hip surgery (total hip arthroplasty [THA] and hip arthroscopy). METHODS: Using databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science), we conducted an electronic, systematic search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing naproxen versus placebo on HO after hip surgery. The risk ratio (RR) of the dichotomous data, weighted mean difference (WMD) of continuous data, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the effects of naproxen in patients with hip surgery. RESULTS: A total of 4 studies including 269 patients were analyzed. Risk of bias was relatively high in allocation concealment and blinding. Compared with control group, administration naproxen was associated with a significantly reduction of the occurrence of HO at final follow-up after hip surgery (P < .05). What's more, naproxen was associated with a reduction of the Brooker I and II HO (P < .05). However, there was no significant difference between the Brooker III HO between naproxen and control groups (P > .05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the complications (P > .05) between naproxen and control groups. CONCLUSION: Naproxen has a beneficial role in reducing the total occurrence of HO, Brooker I and II HO after hip surgery. However, conclusions are limited due to the lack of high-quality studies. More high quality studies may help in a more reliable therapy for HO.

[Estimating leaf area index of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) plantations based on texture parameters of quickbird imagery].

The black locust plantations located in Weibei area were chosen as research objects and the texture parameters of different window sizes from high resolution imagery were measured. Four different techniques, including simple linear regression model, quadratic regression model, power model and exponential model, were developed to describe the relationship between the texture parameters and field measurements of LAI and to select the most effective texture parameters and window size. The results showed that the texture parameters influenced the accuracy of LAI estimation. Angular second moment and entropy index yielded better adjust r2 than the other parameters. The r2 changed with the window size. Dissimilarity and contrast index gained the largest r2 when the window size was 9x9. The r2 of the other texture parameters reduced as the window size increased and a window size of 3 x 3 was more successful than any of the others. Power equation performed poorest than the other three techniques for estimation of LAI.

[Study on environmental and psychological risk factors for female infertility].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the environmental and psychological risk factors for female infertility and to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of female infertility. METHODS: In a hospital-based case-control study, a self-designed questionnaire was used to survey the cases and controls (1:1) with nation and age (± 2 years) as matching variables. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression models were employed to analyze the datasets. RESULTS: The univariate analysis showed that female infertility was related to the following factors: eating fried foods, alcohol consumption, smoking, staying up late, perm, housing decoration, contact with heavy metals, exposure to radiation, contact with pesticides, working in hot environment, mental stress, uneasiness, helplessness, and despair. The multivariate analysis showed that staying up late (OR = 2.937), housing decoration (OR = 2.963), exposure to radiation (OR = 2.506), contact with pesticides (OR = 2.908), and mental stress (OR = 4.101) were the main risk factors for female infertility. Furthermore, there was an interaction between staying up late and mental stress. CONCLUSION: Female infertility is caused by multiple factors including staying up late, housing decoration, exposure to radiation, contact with pesticides, and mental stress, and there is an interaction between staying up late and mental stress.

Synergistic effect of panobinostat and bortezomib on chemoresistant acute myelogenous leukemia cells via AKT and NF-κB pathways.

In this study, we investigated the synergistic effects of panobinostat and bortezomib on adriamycin-resistant HL60/ADR cells and refractory acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) primary cells. Combination of both agents had synergistic cytotoxicity on these cells, and increased the sensitivity of HL60/ADR cells to adriamycin. Panobinostat plus bortezomib was shown to modulate multiple apoptotic and drug metabolic related molecules, including activation of caspases, down-regulation of XIAP, Bcl-2 and MRP1. These effects were likely to be mediated via inhibition of AKT and NF-κB pathways. These findings provide evidence for clinic protocols using panobinostat and borezomib to overcome drug resistance in refractory AML patients.

Effects of anisodamine on the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 in experimental infusion phlebitis.

BACKGROUND: Infusion phlebitis is the most common side effect of clinical intravenous drug therapy and several clinical studies have demonstrated that anisodamine can effectively prevent the occurrence of infusion phlebitis. This study was designed to investigate effects of anisodamine on the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in a rabbit model of infusion phlebitis and to analyze the mechanisms of anisodamine effect on the prevention and treatment of experimental infusion phlebitis. METHODS: Twenty-four specific pathogen-free male Japanese white rabbits were randomly assigned to the control group, the model group, the magnesium sulfate group and the anisodamine group. The rabbit model of infusion phlebitis, induced by intravenous administration, was established and expressions of VEGF and ICAM-1 were determined and contrasted with the control group treated with normal saline. We evaluated expression by histopathology, immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and Western blotting assay. RESULTS: Pathohistological changes of the model group were observed, such as loss of venous endothelial cells, inflammatory cell infiltration, edema and thrombus. The magnesium sulfate group and the anisodamine group showed significant protective effects on vascular congestion, inflammatory cell infiltration, proliferation, swelling of endothelium and perivascular hemorrhage. The model group showed the highest expressions of VEGF and ICAM-1 of the four groups (P < 0.01). On the contrary, anisodamine alleviated the inflammatory damage by significantly reducing the expressions of VEGF and ICAM-1 compared with the model group (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the expressions of VEGF and ICAM-1 between the magnesium sulfate group and the anisodamine group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Anisodamine alleviates inflammatory damage by significantly reducing the expressions of VEGF and ICAM-1, and shows significant protective effects in an animal model of infusion phlebitis.

Magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the diagnosis of cognitive impairment in AIDS patients.

BACKGROUND: The pathological abnormalities of the AIDS patients lie in the subcortical regions of the brain, specifically the deep white matter and basal ganglia, while the extent of pathology generally correlates with the severity of cognitive impairments in the white matter and basal ganglia. Brain metabolite changes of these lesions can reflect the pathological abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the diagnosis of cognitive impairment in AIDS patients. METHODS: 3.0T MR was used to measure N-acetyl aspartate (NAA), choline (Cho), myo-inositol (MI) and creatinine (Cr) in the frontal white matter, basal ganglia and parietal cortex of 21 AIDS patients with dementia complex (ADC), 19 AIDS patients with neuroasymptomatic (NAS) and 20 seronegative (SN) controls. Then we compared the difference of metabolic rate between AIDS patients and SN groups. RESULTS: NAA/Cr (mean = 1.2502, SD = 0.1600) was significantly decreased and Cho/Cr (mean = 1.2028, SD = 1.1655) was increased in the frontal white matter in ADC group, while NAA/Cr (mean = 1.5334, SD = 0.0513) was reduced in NAS group when compared with SN group. NAA/Cr in the basal ganglia was decreased in both ADC and NAS groups (mean = 1.2625, SD = 0.1615 and mean = 1.5278, SD = 0.0380, respectively). Cho/Cr (mean = 1.1631, SD = 0.0981) was markedly increased in ADC group. Although NAA/Cr, Cho/Cr and MI/Cr in the parietal cortex had a certain change in both ADC and NAS groups compared with SN group, the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The brain metabolite changes of AIDS patients are correlated with cognitive impairments. MRS can be used as a valuable inspection method to assess cognitive impairments in AIDS patients.

[Abeta(25-35) and ginsenoside Rb1 influence on the expression of GSK-3beta, CDK-5 and PP2A in differentiated neural stem cells of rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of GSK-3beta, CDK-5 and PP2A and the regulation of them by Abeta(25-35) and ginsenoside Rb1 after neural stem cells (NSCs) are transformed into neurons. METHODS: To culture NSCs from the dentate gyrus of newborn rats(24 h) hippocampus in vitro. NSCs of the third passage were induced towards neurons; the expressions of GSK-3beta(pTyr279,216), PP2A and the regulation of them by Abeta(25-35) and ginsenoside Rb1 were tested by the immunofluorescence cytochemical staining after NSCs had been induced for one week; The expressions of GSK-3beta, CDK-5, PP2A and the regulation of them by Abeta(25-35) and ginsenoside Rb1 were detected with RT-PCR. RESULTS: Immunofluorescence cytochemisty showed that neural cells from NSCs which had been differentiated after one week could express GSK-3j (pTyr279,216)and PP2A. Abeta(25-35) could enhance the expression of GSK-3beta(pTyr279,216), meanwhile it also restrained the expression of PP2A. Moreover ginsenoside Rb1 could reverse the affect of Abeta(25-35). RT-PCR found that neural stem cells which had been differentiated after one week could express GSK-3beta, CDK-5, PP2A . The expression of GSK-3beta and CDK-5 rose up and the expression of PP2A weakened when they were treated by Abeta(25-35). However, the effect of Abeta(25-35) was restrained when they were pretreated by ginsenoside Rb1. CONCLUSION: These observations indicated that NSCs which were cultured and induced in vitro can express GSK-3beta, CDK-5 and PP2A; moreover Abeta(25-35) and ginsenoside Rb1 can regulate the expressions of GSK-3beta, CDK-5 and PP2A. It hints that cells which differentiated from neural stem cells in vitro have protein phosphorylation regulation system of normal cells.

O,O'-Diethyl {(Z)-[(2-chloro-phen-yl)(cyano)methyl-ene]amino-oxy}thio-phospho-nate.

The title mol-ecule, C(12)H(14)ClN(2)O(3)PS, has a cis configuration with respect to the C=N bond. Inter-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions inter-connect the mol-ecules into chains along the c axis. The chains are further connected into a two-dimensional network parallel to the bc plane by weak π-π inter-actions between adjacent aromatic rings (centroid-centroid distance = 3.772Å).

[A cross-sectional case study of human immunodeficiency virus and tuberculosis co-infection in mainland China].

OBJECTIVE: In order to take an insight into the profile of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) co-infection, we made a statistic survey in 9 hospitals in mainland China. With the purpose of guiding the prevention and treatment, 241 cases with such co-infection were enrolled and the data with respect to clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, therapy and prognosis were analysed. METHODS: All indices were collected with unified questionary. RESULTS: Young men (75.9%) took constituted the majority. HIV was transmitted mainly by intravenous drug use (IDU) in Xinjiang and Yunnan provinces, by blood transfusion or blood products in Shanghai, Henan and Wenxi county of Shanxi, and by sexual transmission in Fuzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Dehong prefecture of Yunnan province. In this survey, pulmonary TB accounted for 59.3%, extra-pulmonary TB for 21.2%, and both for 19.5% of the patients. As for laboratory tests, only 9.5% was positive in sputum for acid-fast bacillus (AFB) and 2.9% in culture, 10.8% of the patients had AFB in pleural fluid or cerebrospinal fluid. Besides, PPD was negative or weakly positive in most of the cases. Overall, 76.8% of the 241 cases had a CD(4) cell count < 200/microl, and 58.5% < 100/microl. 80.5% of the patients was treated with anti-tuberculous medications and 69.7% with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). 203 (84.2%) were still alive and 38 (15.8%) died. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The clinical manifestations of the 241 cases were varied because of prevailing pulmonary TB. (2) The immune function was depressed with reducing CD(4) counts in most of the patients. (3) Positivity rate of examination relevant to TB was too low to help the diagnosis. (4) The mortality (15.8%) was high even with HAART and/or chemotherapy.

[Coinfection with HBV and HCV in 128 AIDS patients infected through blood transmission].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical features of 128 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients infected through blood transmission who were coinfected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). METHODS: The prevalence, liver functions, and some immunological profiles of 128 AIDS patients coinfected with HBV and HCV were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 128 AIDS patients, 107 (83.6%) were coinfected with HCV, among which 40 (31.3%) patients had abnormal liver functions or liver damage and 15 (11.7%) patients experienced hepatitis symptoms. Three (2.3%) AIDS patients were singly coinfected with HBV, and all of them had abnormal liver functions and hepatitis symptoms. Seven (5.5%) patients were coinfected with HIV/HCV/HBV and none of them had abnormal liver functions or hepatitis symptoms. Eleven (8.6%) patients were only infected with HIV. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of blood-transmitted HIV patients coinfected with HCV is higher than with HBV. The clinical outcomes of HIV coinfection with HCV and HBV are different.

Characteristics of HIV-1-specific CD8 T-cell responses and their role in loss of viremia in children chronically infected with HIV-1 undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the properties of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) epitope-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses in children. To address this issue, we characterized epitope-specific CTL responses and analyzed the determinants that may affect CTL responses before and after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in children with HIV-1 infection. METHODS: A total of 22 HIV-1-infected children and 23 uninfected healthy children as control were enrolled in the study. Circulating CD4 T cells and HIV-1 RNA load in plasma were routinely measured. Peripheral HIV-1-specific CTL frequency and HIV-1 epitope-specific, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-producing T lymphocytes were measured using tetramer staining and enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay, respectively. Circulating dendritic cell (DC) subsets were monitored with FACS analysis. RESULTS: More than 80% of the children with HIV-1 infection exhibited a positive HIV-1-epitope-specific CTL response at baseline, but HIV-specific CTLs and IFN-gamma-producing lymphocytes decreased in patients who responded to HAART in comparison with non-responders and HAART-naive children. The duration of virus suppression resulted from HAART was inversely correlated with CTL frequency. While in HAART-naive children, HIV-1-specific CTL frequency was positively correlated with myeloid DC (mDC) frequency, although the cause and effect relationship between the DCs and CTLs remains unknown. CONCLUSIONS: HIV-1-epitope-specific CTL responses are dependent on antigenic stimulation. The impaired DC subsets in blood might result in a defect in DC-mediated T cell responses. These findings may provide insight into understanding the factors and related mechanisms that influence the outcome of HIV-1 carriers to HAART or future antiviral therapies.

[AIDS complicated by Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia: report of 20 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience in diagnosis and treatment of AIDS complicated by Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP), and explore the relations between preventive medication and occurrence as well as recurrence of PCP. METHODS: The clinical characteristics of 20 patients with AIDS complicated by PCP (identified from a cohort of 109 patients with AIDS) treated in our hospital during July 2000 to May 2002 were analyzed. RESULTS: All the 20 cases had fever, 90 % of whom also had cough or expectoration, and chest radiography revealed bilateral interstitial changes in 80 % of the cases. CONCLUSION: It is possible to diagnose PCP by typical clinical findings and chest X-ray, and compound sulfamethoxazole may prove effective for preventing the occurrence of PCP.