Objective:To compare the similarities and differences of clinical characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative and HIV-positive patients with talaromycosis marneffei (TSM).Methods:The clinical data of 175 inpatients diagnosed with TSM in First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from May 2012 to April 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into HIV-positive group and HIV-negative group according to the results of HIV confirmation test. The clinical manifestations, laboratory examination indicators (white blood cell count, hemoglobin, albumin, CD4 + T lymphocyte count and C-reactive protein (CRP)) between the two groups were compared. Mann-Whitney U test and chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among 175 TSM patients, 85 were HIV-positive and 90 were HIV-negative patients. The main clinical manifestations of fever and lymphadenopathy in the HIV-positive group and HIV-negative group were 71 (83.53%) cases and 73 (81.11%) cases, 50 (58.82%) cases and 47 (52.22%) cases, respectively, and there were both no statistical differences ( χ2=0.175 and 0.771, respectively, both P>0.05), while respiratory symptoms, weight loss and subcutaneous masses were 62 (72.94%) cases and 81 (90.00%) cases, 73 (85.88%) cases and 56 (62.22%) cases, one (1.18%) case and 16 (17.78%) cases, respectively, the differences were all statistically significant ( χ2=8.514, 12.630 and 13.737, respectively, all P<0.01). Hemoglobin in HIV-positive group and HIV-negative group were 90.50 (77.00, 113.95) g/L and 88.65 (72.85, 99.93) g/L, respectively. The difference was statistically significant ( Z=2.023, P=0.043). The ratios of albumin<30 g/L, CRP>10 mg/L in the two groups were 69.41%(59/85) and 60.00%(54/90), 94.37%(67/71) and 94.19%(81/86), respectively, and the differences were both not statistically significant ( χ2=1.693 and 0, respectively, both P>0.05). The ratios of cases with white blood cell counts >10×10 9/L and CD4 + T lymphocyte count<50/μL in the positive and negative groups were 3.53%(3/85) and 81.11%(73/90), 80.77%(63/78) and 1.75%(1/57), respectively, the differences were both statistically significant ( χ2=107.095 and 82.467, respectively, both P<0.01). Conclusions:In TSM patients, HIV-negative with subcutaneous masses, and increased white blood cell counts are common. Decreased body weight and CD4 + T lymphocyte count<50/μL in HIV-positive patients are more common than HIV-negative patients.

OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of spirulina kinase(SPK)on the vascular endothelial function of model rats with atherosclerosis. METHODS:60 rats were randomly divided into normal control group(distilled water),model group(distilled wa-ter),positive control group(simvastatin,0.005 g/kg)and SPK low-dose,medium-dose,high-dose groups(80,160,320 U/kg). Except for normal control group,rats in other groups were induced for model of atherosclerosis. All groups were intragastrically ad-ministrated relevant medicines at the same time,once a day for consecutive 12 weeks. Total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) contents in serum of rats were measured. And the changes of thoracic aortic endothelium morphology were ob-served by HE staining. RESULTS:Compared with normal control group,TC,TG,LDL-C,IL-6,TNF-α contents in serum of rats in model group were increased(P<0.01),HDL-C content in serum was decreased(P<0.01);vascular endothelial cells fell off, intimal proliferation projected into the lumen,smooth muscle cell proliferated and disordered,medium film elastic fiber disintegrat-ed and fractured. Compared with model group,TC,TG,LDL-C,IL-6,TNF-α contents in serum of rats in administration groups were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),HDL-C content in positive control group and SPK medium-dose,high-dose groups was in-creased (P<0.05). Vascular endothelial cell morphology was improved significantly in administration groups,in which,vascular endothelial cells were structurally intact in SPK medium-dose,high-dose groups,inner membrane was basically smooth;medium smooth muscle cells arranged slightly disordered in SPK medium-dose group. Compared with normal control group,there were no obvious changes. CONCLUSIONS:SPK shows obvious lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects,it can protect vascular endo-thelial function. The mechanism may be related to reducing TC,TG,LDL-C,HDL-C,IL-6,TNF-αcontents and increasing HDL-C content in serum.