Objective: To analyze the characteristics and abnormalities of electrocardiograms (ECG) in patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), and to provide evidences for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in HIV/AIDS patients. Methods: The ECG results of 1 131 HIV/AIDS patients and 5 622 non-HIV/AIDS subjects from Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center were involved. The abnormality rates and characteristics of ECG were compared between the two groups. CD4⁺ T lymphocyte counts, CD8⁺ T lymphocyte counts and CD4/CD8 ratios were measured in HIV/AIDS patients. The comparison between two groups was conducted by chi-square test. Logistic regression model was used to explore the factors associated with ECG abnormalities in HIV/AIDS patients. Results: There were 611 cases (54.02%) out of 1 131 HIV/AIDS patients with abnormal ECG. The common abnormal ECG types were sinus tachycardia 239 cases (39.12%), sinus rhythm with ST-T changes 115 cases (18.82%) and sinus bradycardia 55 cases (9.00%). There were 1 958 cases (34.83%) out of 5 622 cases of non-HIV/AIDS subjects with abnormal ECG. The common ECG abnormality types were sinus bradycardia 633 cases (32.33%), sinus rhythm with ST-T changes 463 cases (23.65%) and sinus arrhythmia 256 cases (13.07%). The abnormal rate of ECG in HIV/AIDS patients was significantly higher than that in non-HIV/AIDS subjects (χ²=140.39, P<0.01). The abnormal rates of ECG in HIV/AIDS patients <50 years old and ≥50 years old were both higher than those of non-HIV/AIDS subjects in the corresponding age group, and the differences were statistically significant (χ²=111.92 and 52.12, respectively, both P<0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed an increased risk of abnormal ECG in HIV-infected individuals compared with non-HIV/AIDS individuals (odds ratio (OR)=2.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.00-2.60, P<0.01). The risk of ECG abnormality increased in patients aged ≥50 years(OR=1.60, 95%CI 1.45-1.77, P<0.01). The ECG abnormal distribution patterns were significantly different between different levels of CD4⁺ T lymphocyte counts, CD8⁺ T lymphocyte counts and CD4/CD8 ratios in HIV/AIDS patients (χ²= 12.92, 10.99 and 16.48, respectively, all P<0.05 ). The risk of ECG abnormality increased in HIV/AIDS patients aged ≥50 years (OR=1.50, 95%CI 1.15-1.96, P<0.01). When CD8⁺ T lymphocyte counts ≥500/μL, the risk of ECG abnormalities reduced (OR=0.75, 95%CI 0.58-0.96, P<0.01). Conclusions The abnormal rate of ECG in patients with HIV/AIDS is high. The sinus tachycardia and sinus rhythm with ST-T segment changes are common. The risk of ECG abnormality increases in HIV/AIDS patients aged ≥50 years old and reduces when the CD8⁺ T lymphocyte counts ≥500/μL. Type distribution of ECG abnormalities is associated with cellular immune status of patients.

Cathartic colon （CC） is a common and refractory digestive system disease， with the pathogenesis not fully clarified. The effective therapies other than laxatives and surgery remain to be developed for CC. Therefore， establishing the CC animal models that fit the disease characteristics of western medicine and syndrome characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） is an important link to promote the research on this disease. The fitting degree of animal models with the latest Chinese and western medical diagnostic criteria is an indicator to assess the effectiveness of the animal models in simulating the disease characteristics of western medicine and syndrome characteristics of TCM. The literature review showed that the model animals， drugs and their dosage forms， doses， administration methods， and modeling period of CC varied in different studies， and the available CC animal models presented different fitting degrees with the disease characteristics of western medicine and syndrome characteristics of TCM. Rats were the preferred animals for the modeling of CC. Rhei Radix et Rhizoma preparations were commonly used for model inducing， which， however， may cause water electrolyte disorders， decreased immunity， and even death of animals at the late stage of modeling. The animals were modeled by gradually increasing the starting dose， while the starting dose and increasing dose varied. The maintenance dose was determined based on 50% of the animals having loose stools， and the end for a cycle was determined as the time when loose stools disappeared in 80% of animals. The modeling always lasted for 2-3 cycles， approximately 2-4 months. The CC models established with Rhei Radix et Rhizoma granules and rhein had high fitting degrees with the disease and syndrome characteristics. In addition， the CC animal models of TCM syndromes were still in the exploration stage. There were only the animal models of four TCM syndromes： liver depression and spleen deficiency， both Qi and Yin deficiency， Qi stagnation and blood stasis， and spleen and kidney deficiency. Efforts should be made to establish the animal models that meet the characteristics of disease of western medicine and syndromes of TCM， so as to facilitate the research on CC mechanism and drug development.