ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV/HCV co-infection patients. MethodsA randomized and double blinded trial was conducted in sixty-three HIV/HCV co-infected patients ( group A) and 62 HIV infected patients ( group B). The group A (study group) was further divided into A1, A2, A3 subgroups randomly by Spw-Pb network data system, and were given three different HAART regimens based on nevirapine (NVP), efavirenz (EFV) and lopinavir/ritonavir(LPV/r), respectively. CD4+ T lymphocyte counts, HIV virus load, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (ALT) were detected at baseline and at the endpoint of study (48 weeks). SPSS 13.0 was used for statistical analysis. One-way ANOVA and LSD-t tests were performed. ResultsAfter 48 weeks treatment, HIV RNA became negative in 59 patients of group A (59/63, 93.7％ ), while that in group B was 61 (61/62, 98.4％ ) (x2 =0. 159, P ＞ 0.05 ). CD4+ T lymphocyte count in group A was (208 ± 77 )/μL, which was significantly lower than that in group B (263 ± 78)/μL (t =-2. 759, P = 0. 008 ).ALT level in group A was (57 ±49)U/L, which was significantly higher than in group B (31 ± 14) U/L (t = 2. 027, P = 0.047). CD4 + T lymphocyte count in group A3 was significantly higher than that in A1 (t=-2. 191, P =0.045), while ALT level in A1 was much higher than that in subgroups A2 and A3 ( t = 2.568 and 2.478, P ＜ 0. 05 ). The incurrence of drug-induced hepatitis in HIV/HCV co-infected group was much higher than that in HIV infected group (55.5％ vs. 27.4％, x2 = 10. 182, P = 0.001 ).ConclusionsHCV co-infection in HIV patients shows no impact on virological response to HAART, but the immunological response is poorer.Hepatotoxicity is common among patients receiving HAART, especially those who are receiving NVP containing regimens. LPV/r based regimens are recommend for HIV/HCV coinfected patients.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between ITS sequence of Arctium lappa and Fructus Arctii quality of different origin.

METHODThe samples of Fructu arctii materials were collected from 26 different producing areas. Their ITS sequence were determined after polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and quality were evaluated through the determination of arctiin content by HPLC. Genetic diversity, genotype and correlation were analyzed by ClustalX (1.81), Mage 4.0, SPSS 13.0 statistical software.

RESULTITS sequence of A. was obtained from 26 samples, and was registered in the GenBank. Corresponding arctiin content of Fructus arctii and 1000-grain weight were determined. A. lappa genotype correlated with Fructus arctii quality by statistical analysis.

CONCLUSIONThe research provided a foundation for revealing the molecular mechanism of Fructus arctii geoherbs.

Arctium ; chemistry ; genetics ; Computational Biology ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Furans ; analysis ; Genotype ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics ; Quality Control ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Software

OBJECTIVETo identify the traditional medicine Fructus Arctii from its adulterants by ITS.

METHODTwenty-six samples of the different Fructus Arctii materials and 10 samples of the adulterants of the fruits of A. tomentosum, Onopordum acantium, Silybum marianum, and Amorpha fruticosa were collected. The total DNA of the samples were extracted, amplified cloned and sequenced.

RESULTITS sequences were obtained from 26 samples respectively, there were Fructus Arctii 641 bp, A. tomentosum 641 bp, Onopordum acantium 639 bp, Silybum marianum 630-631 bp, Amorpha fruticosa 625-626 bp, which were registered in the GenBank. The similarity in ITS sequences between Fructus Arctii and the adulterants was less than 95%. In contrast, the similarity between any pair of Fructus Arctii was greater than 99%. The similarity was 98.29%-99.22% between Fructus Arctii and A. tomentosum. Phylogeny tree reconstruction using UPGMA analysis based on ITS nucleotide sequences can effectively distinguish Fructus Arctii from adulterants.

CONCLUSIONITS sequences can be used as a reliable molecular marker for the identification of Fructus Arctii.

Arctium ; genetics ; Cell Nucleus ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Genetic Markers ; Phylogeny ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid