Objective To investigate the clinical features, prognosis and risk factors of patients of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) complicated with cryptococcal meningitis (CM). Methods Totally 26 patients of AIDS with CM who were hospitalized in the No. 8th People's Hospital of Guangzhou were enrolled in this study. The clinical data including diagnosis,experimental and etiological test,treatments and prognosis from all the patients were analyzed retrospectively. The results of cerebrospinal fluid routine test and CD4+ T lymphocyte were compared with those of AIDS patients complicated with tuberculous meningitis. Results Among the 26 patients enrolled in the study, the positive rate of cerebrospinal fluid india ink smear or Crypotococcus neoforrnans euhure was 84.6%. The most common symptoms were fever, headache and meningeal irritation sign. The average CD4+ lymphocyte count was 17.83 × 106/L, which was statistically different from that of tuberculous meningitis patients. All the patients showed concomitant multiple organ infections. The mortality rate was as high as 42.3%. At the end of therapy, the cell counts in the eerebrospinal fluid were remarkably higher in the patients with unfavorable prognosis compared to the patients with good prognosis, which was statistically different. Conclusions CD4+ lymphocyte count is an important marker for differentiating CM from tuberculous meningitis in AIDS patients. The results of cerebrospinal fluid routine test can predict the prognosis.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic threshold value and diagnostic performance of high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT)for elderly patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI).Methods 835 emergency department patients with chest pain were recruited in the study,then these patients were divided into elderly group (≥65 years old)and control group(<65 years old).Hs-cTnT concrentrations were compared between the two groups;The difference of hs-cTnT concentrations between AMI pa-tients and non-AMI patients were compared in elderly group and control group respectively;The optimal threshold values of the hs-cTnT for acute myocardial infarction were determined by receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve.Results The hs-cTnT con-centrations of non-AMI patients in elderly group were 18.4(14.5-32.5)ng/L,which were higher than those of non-AMI patients in control group[3.2(3.0-8.2)ng/L],and the difference were statistically significant(P <0.05);The hs-cTnT concentrations of AMI patients in elderly group were 136.1 (51.6 - 384.1 )ng/L,which were higher than those of AMI patients in group 68.5 (25.6-217.1)ng/L,and the difference were statistically significant(P <0.05).According to the ROC curve,the optimal threshold value for AMI diagnosis in elderly group by using hs-cTnT was 32 ng/L,which was higher than that in control group(14 ng/L). The specificity and the positive predictive value of the optimal threshold value determined by ROC were apparently higher than the 99th percentile(P 99 )in elderly group respectively,the difference were statistically significant(P <0.05).Conclusion The hs-cTnT levels were positively related with age.The optimal threshold value of hs-cTnT for AMI(32 ng/L)was higher than the P 99 (14ng/L)in elderly group.

Objective To investigate the epidemiological and clinical features of acute hepatitis E (AHE).Methods All the data of AHE patients from April 2005 to October 2011 were collected and their epidemiological features were retrospectively analyzed.Patients were divided into two groups:patients with single hepatitis E virus (HEV ) infection and patients with HEV/hepatitis B virus (HBV ) coinfection,to compare the biochemical parameters and outcomes and to find out the risk factors for AHE related liver failure.Kruskal-Wallis test,Chi square test,and Logistical regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results A total of 621 cases were included in the present study and most patients were elderly male and happened from February to May every year.The incidence of AHE related liver failure and mortality was 18.68% and 1 .93%,respectively.Compared to the single HEV group (n=331 ),the HEV/HBV group (n = 280 )had a longer hospital stay (46 d vs 40 d,Z = - 4.591 ,P < 0.01 ),a significantly lower prothrombin activity (55 .5 % vs 78.7%,Z =-7.998,P <0.01 )and a significantly higher incidence of AHE related liver failure (30.7% vs 9.1 %,χ2 =46.229,P <0.01 ).In single HEV related liver failure group (n=30),the percentages of early-stage,interim-stage and end-stage live failure were 53.33%,23.33% and 23.33%,respectively.While in the HEV/HBV related liver failure group (n=86),the corresponding numbers were 34.88%,31 .40% and 33.72%,respectively.The differences were not statistically significant (χ2 = 3.176,P = 0.204 ).Additionally,the clinical outcome between these two groups was also comparable (83.33% vs 91 .86%,χ2 =0.945 ,P = 0.331 ).The Logistic analysis showed that age over 50 years (OR=2.080,P =0.002)and coinfection with HBV (OR=5 .632, P <0.01)were risk factors for AHE related liver failure.Conclusions AHE is seasonal and mainly occurs in elderly male.Advanced age and HBV coinfection may be risk factors of severe AHE.

Objective To detect the change of hepatitis C virus (HCV)RNA in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)and serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC)during treatment with peg-interferon α-2a (Peg IFNα-2a)plus ribavirin (RBV),and to analyze the clinical significance of HCV RNA detection in PBMC.Methods The peripheral blood samples of 20 CHC patients who visited Department of Infectious Diseases in Guangzhou No.8 People′s Hospital from June 2013 to December 2014,were collected during treatment with Peg IFNα-2a+RBV at different time points (week 0,2,4, 12,24,36 and 48).Serum and PBMC were separated.Accurate fluorescence quantification assay (Cobas TaqMan real time polymerase chain reaction[PCR])was used to detect HCV RNA level in serum,while real-time PCR and nest-PCR were applied to detect HCV RNA in PBMC.Categorical data were analyzed byχ2 test.Results Accurate fluorescence quantification of serum HCV RNA showed that HCV RNA level decline rapidly after treatment (F = 148.06,P < 0.01 ),and 18 patients achieved HCV RNA undetectable at week 12 of treatment.The positive rate of nest-PCR was higher than real-time PCR (all P <0.01).Comparison of HCV RNA levels in serum and PBMC from 20 cases found that,the clearance rate of HCV RNA in PBMC was postponed.Two patients whose HCV RNA in PBMC kept detectable relapsed at week 24 after end of treatment.Conclusions HCV RNA can be detected in PBMC of CHC patients and the positive rate of nest-PCR is higher than real-time PCR.Antiviral therapy is effective on HCV both inside and outside PBMC,but the clearance rate of HCV RNA in PBMC is postponed compared with that in serum.Slow clearance of HCV in PBMC may be a risk factor for relapse after end of treatment.

Coinfection ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; pathology ; Hepatitis E ; pathology ; Hepatitis E virus ; Humans

Visiting students' education is an important part of laboratory medicine continuing education. In the new era, the traditional continuing education model faces severe challenges in how to improve the clinical serviceability of grass-roots laboratories, the training quality of medical laboratory students, and the students' personal quality and professional ability. In the process of exploring the new training model for a long time, combined with the characteristics of the laboratory medicine and the needs of the visiting students, we put forward the new training concept of "tutorial system" for laboratory medicine students. The "one-to-one" model is used to teach students in accordance with their aptitude according to their aptitude for students of different levels and different cultural backgrounds and it has achieved certain success. The practice shows that the "tutorial system" for visiting laboratory medicine students can increase their belonging sense, improve the quality and level of the training, and expand the effect of continuing education.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) in treatment-na(i)ve Chinese patients with AIDS, to provide evidences for standardizing HAART.Methods Seventy-four treatment-naive AIDS patients were initiated with HAART and followed up regularly for 3 years. The clinical and laboratory data, side effects and drug resistance were observed and analyzed during the follow-up period. Results Of the 74 patients, 46 were males and 28 were females, with the average age being 42 years. The mean HIV viral load was ( 2. 2 ± 2.0 ) × 105 copies/ml and the baseline mean CD4+ T lymphocyte count was (62 ± 71 )cells/μl before treatment. After treatment for 3, 6, 12, 18,24, 30 and 36 months, the percentage of undetectable HIV viral road (less than 50 copies/ml ) was 71.6%, 83.8%, 75.7%, 77.0%, 82.4%, 81.1% and 79.7% respectively, and CD4+T lymphocyte count ascended to ( 167 ± 105), ( 177 ± 129), (238 ± 137), (290 ± 158), (304 ± 191 ), (331 ± 175) and ( 352 ± 202 ) cells/μl. The increase in amplitude of CD4+ T lymphocyte count in different periods examined was different, with the period of 0-3 months post-treatment demonstrating the most obvious augmentation ( P ＜ 0. 01 ) . The most common adverse reactions were liver function injury ( 52/74,70. 3% ), hyperlipemia (52/74, 70. 3%), hematopoietic inhibition of the bone marrow (33/74, 44. 6% ),peripheral neuritis (32/74, 43.2% ) and lipoatrophy (26/74, 35. 1%). Clinical drug resistance were found in nine patients and HIV gene mutations were detected in these patients. Conclusions Chinese treatment-naive AIDS patients have achieved good virological and immunological response to generic-drugpredominant HAART regimes with low drug resistance, but relatively more side effects.

Objective: To investigate the combined effects of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus (HBV/HCV) infection on the cause of death in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Methods: The causes of death of 111 cases of AIDS with HBV/HCV (combined infection group) and 210 AIDS patients (single infection group) admitted to our hospital from 2012 to 2016 data were compared using chi-square test. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in gender composition and age in the combined infection groups (P > 0.05). The main causes of death in the combined infection group were severe pneumonia (44.1%), end-stage liver disease (18.9%), and central nervous system infection (14.4%). The main causes of death in the single infection group were severe pneumonia (47.6%) and central nervous system infection (14.3%) and tumor (13.3%). There was no case of end-stage liver disease. The ratio of end-stage liver disease in the former group was significantly higher than that in the latter group (χ² = 42.511, P < 0.001). The main cause of death in 12 HIV/HBV/HCV triple-infected patients was end-stage liver disease, accounting for 41.7%, which was significantly higher than 18.9% of end-stage liver disease in HIV/HBV or HIV/HCV dual infection (99 cases). And the difference was statistically significant (χ² = 4.539, P = 0.033); however, the ratio of end-stage liver disease in 50 HIV/HBV co-infected patients and 49 HIV/HCV co-infected patients was 16.0% vs. 16.3%, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ² = 0.002, P = 0.965). In the co-infected group, 36 patients had CD4⁺ cell counts >100/μl, the primary cause of death was end-stage liver disease, accounting for 38.2%. 75 patients with CD4⁺ ≤ 100/μl died due to end-stage liver disease, accounting for 9.3% and the difference was statistically significant (χ² = 13.852, P < 0.05). Conclusion End-stage liver disease is the main cause of death in patients with AIDS combined with HBV or HCV, especially triplet infection and CD4⁺ cell count > 100/μl. An early diagnosis and treatment of HBV or HCV infection should commence as soon as possible.

Objective To investigate the liver histological characteristics of children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Methods We recruited data of children with CHB and liver biopsy,then analyzed their liver histopathological characteristics and their associations with laboratory parameters.Results One hundred and twenty-four children with CHB were included in the present study,including 114 (91.9％) HBeAg-positive CHB children and 10 (8.1％) HBeAg-negative CHB children.In HBeAg-positive CHB children,the frequency of significant necroinflammation stratified by ALT levels was 32.1％ (9/28) in ALT ≤ULN,60.7％ (17/28) in ALT(1-2) ×ULN and 81.0％ (47/58) in ALT＞2 ×ULN group,while significant fibrosis was 46.4％ (13/28) in ALT ≤ ULN,71.4％ (20/28) in ALT (1-2) × ULN and 74.1％ (43/58) in ALT ＞ 2 × ULN group,respectively.Significant liver histological abnormalities were much higher in the ALT ＞ 2 × ULN and ALT (1-2) × ULN groups than the ALT ≤ ULN group.Logistic analysis indicated only AST levels associated with significant inflammation (OR =1.032,P =0.008) and significant fibrosis (OR =1.026,P =0.007).Conclusion Frequencies of significant liver histological abnormalities in children with CHB are high,and AST levels are associated with them.

Background::Chronic liver disease has emerged as a leading cause of non-acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related mortality in hepatitis C virus (HCV)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-coinfected patients. The relationship between CD4 cell count and HIV-related opportunistic infections and tumors has been well characterized; however, it is unclear whether CD4 cell count is associated with HCV-related hepatic events.Methods::This observational cohort study enrolled HCV/HIV-coinfected patients from the National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program of China from 2004 to 2019 in Guangzhou. The primary outcome was a composite of hepatic events, including cirrhosis complications, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver-related mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.Results::Among the 793 patients, 43 developed hepatic events during a median follow-up of 6.7 years, including 35 cirrhosis complications, 13 HCC cases, and 14 cases of liver-related mortality. The 5-year and 10-year cumulative incidences of hepatic events were 4.2% and 9.3%, respectively. Patients who developed hepatic events had a less satisfactory increase in CD4 cell count, lower peak CD4 (354.5 cells/μL vs. 560.0 cells/μL, P < 0.001), and lower percentage of peak CD4 > 500 cells/μL (30.2% vs. 60.7%, P < 0.001) after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) than those who did not. The cumulative incidences of hepatic events were higher in patients with lower peak CD4 levels with adjusted odds ratios of 3.96 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.51-10.40), 2.25 (95% CI: 0.87-5.86), and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.35-2.74) for patients with peak CD4 at <200 cells/μL, 200-350 cells/μL, and 351 to 500 cells/μL, respectively, relative to those with peak CD4 > 500 cells/μL. Peak CD4 was negatively associated with the risk of hepatic events in a dose-response manner ( P-value for trend = 0.004). Conclusion::Persistently low CD4 cell counts after ART are independently associated with a high risk of hepatic events in HCV/HIV-coinfected patients, highlighting the important role of immune reconstitution in improving liver outcomes.