Changes in clinical indicators among human immunodeficiency virus patients who failed in antiretroviral therapy during 2004-2016 in Yunnan, China: an observational cohort study / 《全球健康杂志（英文）》

Background:This study aimed to investigate the changes in the clinical indicators and influencing factors of treatment duration among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients in whom antiretroviral therapy (ART) was unsuccessful.Methods:In this retrospective study,a total of 9,418 HIV patients who failed in ART during 2004-2016 were included and divided into two treatment groups-Group 1 (treatment time ≤ 3 years,n1 =5,218) and Group 2 (treatment time ＞ 3 years,n2 =4,200).Patient follow-up data,including age,cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) count,and viral load,glucose,creatinine,and triglyceride levels,were extracted from electronic health record databases.Covariance analysis for repeated measures was used to analyze the biochemical indicators,and multiple logistic regression modeling was used to compare relevant data extracted from the Group 1 and Group 2 HIV patient cohorts with different treatment time.Results:The median initial CD4 count was 175.0 cells/μl (interquartile range,77.0-282.0),while the initial CD4 counts for Group 1 were lower than those for Group 2 (P ＜ 0.05).A significant interaction between group and time effects was observed (P ＜ 0.05) in total cholesterol (TC).Changes in hemoglobin level among HIV patients were also significantly associated with treatment time (P =0.001).The initial CD4 count (odds ratio [OR] =0.756),female sex (OR =0.713),Zerit (d4T) (OR =1.443),TC (OR =1.285),and aspartate aminotransferase level (OR =1.002) were significantly associated with the survival time of dead patients with HIV (P ＜ 0.05).Additionally,the initial CD4 count (OR =1.456),age (OR =1.022),time interval (OR =0.903),patient's living status (OR =0.597),d4T (OR =2.256),and triglyceride (OR =0.930) and hemoglobin levels (OR =0.997) were significantly associated with the treatment time of HIV patients with drug withdrawal (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion:The initial biochemical parameters can affect the survival and treatment time of HIV patients.With a comprehensive understanding of the physiological and biochemical indicators of patients,we can reduce the probability of drug withdrawal and prolong the survival time of HIV patients.

Exploration on the new situation of HIV/ADIS epidemic and the necessity of interdisciplinary concern in Tanzania / 中华流行病学杂志

Through the effort in nearly 40 years of Tanzania, the total number of reported cases, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and the number of death have declined, while the number of patients receiving antiretroviral therapy has increased significantly in Tanzania. At the same time, however, there are new challenges that require more attention, such as the HIV spread to rural areas, middle and lower social classes, and female teenagers. Although the overall performance of the HIV/AIDS prevention and control response is great, there is still a need to survey the new trends of this disease at the micro-level in Tanzania. In addition, there is a necessity of interdisciplinary concern due to the prevalence of heterosexual anal sex in Tanzania.

Antiretroviral regimen change among people infected with HIV: evidence from a cross-sectional study in China / 《全球健康杂志（英文）》

Background: The rate of death among people living with HIV/AIDS has decreased significantly as a result of treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, the issues of drug induced toxicities and complexity of current HAART regimens has remained of great concern. The aim of this study was to determine factors influencing antiretroviral regimen changes among people living with HIV/AIDS in China. Methods: This retrospective study collected data through face-to-face interviews with people living with HIV/AIDS who were receiving HAART, and gathered relevant information from infectious disease hospitals. The following information were collected: social-demographic characteristics, antiretroviral therapies, CD4 cell counts, virus loads, reasons for changing medication and other related data. Mean and percentages were used to describe the frequency of regimen change among patients, and binary logistic regression was employed to test the factors influencing regimen change. Results: 1,123 people who had experienced regimen change were included in the analysis. On average, patients remained on HAART for 10.2 months before changing regimen, and the average CD4 cell count and viral load (VL) were 383.1 cells/μl and 28,132.4 copies/mL respectively when changing regimen. The reasons for modification were determined as treatment failure (52.5％), adverse reactions (32.3％), and other reasons including pregnancy (15.2％). There are significant differences in regimen change among people with different genders (P<0.001), modes of transmission (P<0.001), duration of HAART (P<0.001) and initial CD4 cell counts (P=0.0024). Males, drug users, people taking long-term medication, and those with lower initial CD4 counts when starting HAART tend to change regimen. Conclusion: Treatment failure was the main reason for the change of HAART regimen. Males, drug users, people on long-term medication and those with lower initial CD4 cell counts when starting HAART were most likely to change regimen.

From assistance to communitas：Changing of China’s position of global health governance from Ebola outbreak in Africa / 中国卫生政策研究

Health is one of the essential ties between China and Africa. As the Chinese economy is experien-cing rapid development and the strategic transformation, the China-Africa cooperation is entering the era of communi-tas in all directions and the health-related aids and exchanges between China and Africa are experiencing new oppor-tunities and challenges. Previously, the China-Africa health cooperation has experienced three transitional stages from the assistance, collaboration and communitas. During the current global fight against Ebola outbreak period, while the world feared and wondered the Ebola in the beginning, China’s fast action on the fight had showed that not only the relationship between China and Africa is seen from the previous health aid legacy to Africa, but also is coming to the economic development communitas stage. Moreover, there are two essential government and non-government col-laboration established between China and Africa. So, when we analyze the fast action of China towards Ebola out-break, it is clearly shown that the China’s response is based in the perspective of humanitarian, super state accounta-ble responsibilities, and also focused on health system resilience in the epidemic countries. China and Africa are stepping into the economic development communitas stage. Therefore, this change of cooperation reflects the change of China’s position in the global health governance.

Comparative analysis of HIV disease progression between IDUs with HIV/HCV co-infection and those with HIV infection / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To comparatively analyze the HIV disease progression and the death situa-tion between injecting drug users (IDUs) with HIV infection and those with HIV/HCV co-infection.Meth-ods The counts of CD4+T cells were collected through a retrospective study and the data about death situa-tion were collected with follow-up cards from 2006 to 2014 .A statistical analysis was conducted for the two groups .Results Among the 175 cases with HIV infection , the average value of primary CD 4+T cell counts was 370 cell/μl and 25.71%of them, primary CD4+T cell counts were less than 200 cell/μl.The average change rate of CD4+T cell counts was -1.50 cell/μl in month.The annual mortality rate was 18.18%. Among the 325 cases with HIV/HCV co-infection, the average value of primary CD4+T cell counts was 420 cell/μl and 20.45%of them, primary CD4+T cell counts were less than 200 cell/μl.The average change rate of CD4+T cell counts was -2.76 cell/μl in month.The annual mortality rate was 32.14%.The differ-ences between the groups were significant (P<0.05).Conclusion Compared with patients with HIV infec-tion, those with HIV/HCV co-infection showed significantly decreased CD 4+T cell counts , resulting in a faster disease progression and a faster death .It was urgent for the management department to work out HIV prevention and therapeutic measures .