ObjectiveTo reveal the active substances and mechanisms of modified Qing'e formula （MQEF） in delaying skin photoaging by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry （UPLC-Q-TOF-MS），network pharmacology， and cell experiments. MethodsUPLC-Q-TOF-MS and a literature review were employed to analyze the transdermally absorbed components in mice after the topical application of MQEF. The potential targets of MQEF in treating skin photoaging were retrieved from databases.The compound-potential target network and protein-protein interaction network were constructed to screen the key components and core targets. A photoaging cell model was established by irradiating HaCaT cells with medium-wave ultraviolet B （UVB）. The safe doses of bakuchiol （BAK） and salvianolic acid B （SAB） for treating HaCaT cells and the effects of BAK and SAB on the viability of cells exposed to UVB irradiation were determined by the cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） method.The reactive oxygen species （ROS） fluorescent probe was used to measure the ROS production in the cells treated with BAK and SAB.The expression levels of genes related to oxidative stress，inflammation，collagen metabolism，and circadian rhythm clock were measured by Real-time PCR. ResultsA total of 24 transdermally absorbed components of MQEF were identified，which acted on 367 potential targets，and 417 targets related to skin photoaging were screened out，among which 47 common targets were predicted as the targets of MQEF in treating skin photoaging. MQEF exerted the anti-photoaging effect via key components such as BAK and SAB，which acted on core proteins such as serine/threonine kinase 1 （Akt1） and mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 （MAPK3） and intervened in core pathways such as the tumor necrosis factor （TNF） and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase （PI3K）/protein kinase B （Akt） signaling pathways.Compared with the model group，the administration of BAK and SAB increased the survival rate of HaCaT cells （P<0.01），down-regulated the mRNA levels of cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2），interleukin-6 （IL-6），tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α），matrix metalloproteinase-1 （MMP-1），and matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） （P<0.01），and up-regulated the mRNA levels of heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） and NAD（P）H quinone dehydrogenase 1 （NQO-1） （P<0.05，P<0.01） in photoaged HaCaT cells.In addition，it eliminated excess ROS production induced by UVB and up-regulated the mRNA levels of brain and muscle ARNT-like 1 （BMAL1） and circadian locomotor output cycles kaput （CLOCK） associated with circadian clock （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionMQEF delays skin photoaging through the coordinated effects of various components，multiple targets，and diverse pathways.The key components BAK and SAB in MQEF exhibit anti-photoaging properties，which involve inhibiting oxidative stress，preventing collagen degradation，mitigating inflammation，and maintaining normal skin circadian rhythms by regulating clock gene expression.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), as a significant central nervous system damage disease with high frequency in the world, leads to a huge number of patients with impaired health and lower quality of life every year. Lung injury is a common and dangerous consequence, which dramatically raises the mortality of patients. Discovering the pathophysiology of lung injury after TBI and discovering viable therapeutic targets has become an important need for clinical diagnosis and therapy. Neurotransmitters, as the fundamental chemical agents of the nervous system for signal transmission, not only govern neuronal activity and apoptosis in TBI but also significantly influence the pathophysiological mechanisms of lung injury subsequent to TBI. The imbalance is intricately linked to the onset and progression of lung damage. This paper systematically reviews the clinical characteristics and predominant pathogenesis of lung injury following TBI, emphasizing the role of key neurotransmitters, including glutamate (Glu), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), norepinephrine (NE), dopamine (DA), and acetylcholine (ACh), in lung injury post-TBI. It examines their influence on inflammatory response, vascular permeability, and pulmonary circulation function. Additionally, the paper evaluates the research advancements and potential applications of targeted therapeutic strategies for various neurotransmitter systems, such as receptor antagonists, transporter inhibitors, and neurotransmitter analogues. This research aims to offer a theoretical framework for clarifying the neural regulatory mechanisms of lung injury following TBI and to establish a basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies and enhancement of the prognosis of the patients.
Humans ; Brain Injuries, Traumatic/metabolism* ; Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism* ; Lung Injury/metabolism* ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid/metabolism* ; Glutamic Acid/metabolism* ; Norepinephrine/metabolism* ; Dopamine/metabolism* ; Acetylcholine/metabolism*

Objective:To study the correlation between hair fluorine level and hypertension of permanent residents in high altitude areas of Tibet Autonomous Region (Tibet).Methods:A random cluster sampling method was used to select 5 villages in the high altitude areas of Tibet from June to August 2021 and June to August 2022, respectively, and questionnaire survey, physical examination, and biochemical indicator testing were conducted on permanent Tibetan residents in the above mentioned villages. At the same time, hair samples were collected, the hair fluorine level was determined by ion selective electrode method, and the correlation between various indicators and hair fluorine level and hypertension was analyzed.Results:A total of 227 individuals were included, with hair fluorine level of (15.06 ± 0.16) mg/kg. Correlation analysis showed that there was no correlation between the study subjects' systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, pulse, neck circumference, chest circumference, uric acid level and hair fluorine level ( P > 0.05). Abdominal circumference, hip circumference, and hemoglobin level were positively correlated with hair fluorine level ( r = 0.23, 0.14, 0.29, P < 0.05), while blood glucose level and finger pulse oxygen were negatively correlated with hair fluorine level ( r = - 0.23, - 0.24, P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.06), chest circumference ( OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.20), and hair fluorine level ( OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.02 - 1.46) had an impact on hypertension ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:There is a certain correlation between hair fluoride level and hypertension in the population of high altitude areas in Tibet.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and effect on the reconstruction of whole hand degloving injury by transfer of nerved tissue flaps in staged surgery.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on the clinical data of 5 patients who suffered whole hand degloving injury and underwent staged reconstructive surgery with nerved tissue flaps, from December 2018 to December 2022 in the Department of Hand Surgery, Longgang Orthopaedics Hospital of Shenzhen. The patients were 4 males and 1 female, aged 22-45 years. Two of the whole-hand degloved injuries were left hands and 3 of right. Two patients had the whole-hand degloving injury combined with a fracture of distal phalangeal tuberosity, and 1 was complicated with partial rupture of the extensor tendon insertion. Areas of the whole hand degloving injury ranged from 215 cm 2 to 480 cm 2, the size of the hallux nail flaps for reconstruction of thumbs ranged from 54 cm 2 to 104 cm 2, the size of the hallux nail flaps for reconstruction of index fingers ranged from 65 cm 2 to 133 cm 2, and the size of the flaps for reconstruction of all the defects of hands ranged from 119 cm 2 to 255 cm 2. In primary surgery, the thumbs, index fingers and the first webs were reconstructed with bilateral hallux nail flaps to shape the appearance and gain the sensation function. Meanwhile, a single and large defect was created from the defects of hand by bundling up the middle, ring and little fingers together with the all the defects in both palmar and dorsal hand. Then an anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) was used to have the created single defect wrapped together. Donor sites of the bilateral hallux nail flap were reconstructed with a lobulated ALTF from the other side or with bilateral peroneal artery perforator flaps. Donor sites of the ALTF and peroneal artery perforator flap were pulled and sutured. After the hallux nail flaps and ALTFs of the affected hands had survived and stabilised, multiple staged surgery were then carried out to firstly reconstruct the ring and little fingers, and followed by the middle and ring fingers in turns from the artificial syndactyly created in the primary surgery. In the final stage of surgery, skin of the radial side of middle and ring finger-pulps and the ulnar little finger-pulp were replaced by lateral toe flaps to reconstruct the sensations of the main sensory zones of middle, ring and little finger-pulps. Thereafter, the shape, TPD and finger extension and flexions were observed and evaluated through the postoperative follow-up, at the outpatient clinic according to the Evaluation Standard of Thumb and Finger Reconstruction Function of the Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association. The appearance and function of the donor sites in both feet were evaluated with the Maryland foot score. Results:All flaps survived after surgery. Postoperative follow-up lasted up to 14 to 48 months after the last surgery. The appearance of fingers was satisfactory with good function. TPD of thumbs and index finger-pulps had achieved up to 6-8 mm, and 3-8 mm in the main sensory zones of middle, ring and little finger-pulps. TPD in the non-major sensory zones of middle, ring and little finger-pulps was found at 10-14 mm, which scored 13 to 14 and rated as excellent according to the Evaluation Standard of Thumb and Finger Reconstruction Function of the Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association. Only a linear scar left in the donor site of thigh. As the appearance of the flaps on the feet was not bloated and there was no obvious abnormality in walking and running, therefore the function of feet scored up to 96 to 97 and rated excellent according to the Maryland foot score.Conclusion:A multi-staged reconstruction of a whole hand degloving injury with nerved tissue flaps not only achieves satisfactory digital and hand appearance, but also with good function. There is no obvious effect on the appearance and function of the donor sites. This surgical strategy is novel in the reconstruction of a whole hand degloving injury.

Objective:To systematically compares the medial plantar venous flap (MPVF) and the lateral toe flap (LTF) reconstruction of digit-pulp defect, aiming to establish whether there exist significant differences between the 2 flaps in flap survival rate, two-point discrimination (TPD), score of Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and score of digit-pulp defect reconstruction evaluation.Methods:With a prospective cohort design, this study enrolled 36 patients who were admitted in Department of Hand Surgery, Longgang Eighth People's Hospital of Shenzhen for digit-pulp defects with bone or tendon exposure between January 2024 and September 2024. According to the random grouping method, participants were divided into 2 groups. The MPVF group comprised 18 patients (21 digits) of 13 males (15 digits) and 5 females (6 digits), aged 13-58 (mean 44±12) years. The MPVF group included 9 left and 12 right digits, with distribution as follows: 2 thumbs, 5 index fingers, 7 middle fingers, 5 ring fingers and 2 little fingers. The soft tissue defect area ranged from 2.0 cm × 1.0 cm to 9.2 cm × 3.3 cm (mean 6.69 cm 2± 6.69 cm 2). Flap dimensions ranged from 2.1 cm×1.1 cm to 9.5 cm×3.5 cm (mean 7.54 cm 2±7.22 cm 2). Donor sites were closed primarily or by full-thickness skin grafts harvested from the leg. The LTF group included 18 patients (21 digits) of 15 males (17 digits) and 3 females (4 digits), aged 22-62 (mean 41±12) years. The affected digits in LTF group comprised 12 left and 9 right digits, with a distribution of: 3 thumbs, 9 index fingers, 5 middle fingers, 2 ring fingers and 2 little fingers. The area of soft tissue defect ranges from 1.4 cm × 1.0 cm to 3.9 cm × 1.8 cm (mean 3.93 cm 2± 1.80 cm 2). Flap dimensions ranged from 1.5 cm×1.2 cm to 4.0 cm×1.9 cm (mean 4.52 cm 2±1.89 cm 2). Donor sites were closed primarily, or by full-thickness skin grafts harvested through extension of proximal wound extension or from calf for defect coverage. Patients were contacted for postoperative follow-up by telephone or WeChat to arrange a visit of outpatient clinic or a home visit by surgeon. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the 2 groups regarding: gender, age and flap dimensions, flap survival rate at 2 weeks after surgery and TPD of flaps, VSS scores, and digit-pulp defect reconstruction evaluation scale scores at 4 months and 6 months postoperatively. P<0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference. Results:The comparative analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between 2 groups in baseline characteristics: gender distribution ( χ2=0.53, P=0.47), mean age ( t=0.75, P=0.46), flap dimensions ( t=1.86, P=0.08), confirming a demographic and surgical parameter equivalence in subsequent outcome comparisons ( P>0.05). All flaps survived at 2 weeks after surgery. All skin grafts at donor sites demonstrated complete viability with uneventful primary wound healing. At 4 months after surgey, the TPD in the MPVF group were 14.71 mm±1.90 mm and 7.81 mm±1.78 mm, respectively, compared to 14.48 mm±1.57 mm and 7.67 mm±1.39 mm in the LTF group at 6 months after surgery. The VSS scores were 1.67±1.11 and 1.29±0.72 for MPVF versus 1.86±1.15 and 1.38±0.81 for LTF at corresponding time points. The digit-pulp defects reconstruction evaluation scale scores showed 88.43±2.62 and 91.43±3.59 for MPVF versus 88.19±2.70 and 91.19±3.50 for LTF. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences (all P>0.05) at 2 postoperative time points. Conclusion:The MPVF demonstrated non-inferior clinical efficacy to the LTF in reconstruction of digit-pulp defects, with comparable outcomes in flap survival rate at 2 weeks, and in TPD, VSS scores, digit-pulp defect reconstruction evaluation scale scores at 4 months and at 6 month after surgey.

BACKGROUND: Telesurgery has the potential to overcome spatial limitations for surgeons, which depends on surgical robot and the quality of network communication. However, the influence of network latency and bandwidth on telesurgery is not well understood. METHODS: A telesurgery system capable of dynamically adjusting image compression ratios in response to bandwidth changes was established between Beijing and Sanya (Hainan province), covering a distance of 3000 km. In total, 108 animal operations, including 12 surgical procedures, were performed. Total latency ranging from 170 ms to 320 ms and bandwidth from 15-20 Mbps to less than 1 Mbps were explored using designed surgical tasks and hemostasis models for renal vein and internal iliac artery rupture bleeding. Network latency, jitter, frame loss, and bit rate code were systemically measured during these operations. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) and a self-designed scale measured the workload and subjective perception of surgeons. RESULTS: All 108 animal telesurgeries, conducted from January 2023 to June 2023, were performed effectively over a total duration of 3866 min. The operations were completed with latency up to 320 ms and bandwidths as low as 1-5 Mbps. Hemostasis for vein and artery rupture bleeding models was effectively achieved under these low bandwidth conditions. The NASA-TLX results indicated that latency significantly impacted surgical performance more than bandwidth and image clarity reductions. CONCLUSIONS This telesurgery system demonstrated safety and reliability. A total of 320 ms latency is acceptable for telesurgery operations. Reducing image clarity can effectively mitigate the potential latency increase caused by decreased bandwidth, offering a new method to reduce the impact of latency on telesurgery.
Animals ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/methods* ; Laparoscopy/methods*

Objective:To study the correlation between hair fluorine level and hypertension of permanent residents in high altitude areas of Tibet Autonomous Region (Tibet).Methods:A random cluster sampling method was used to select 5 villages in the high altitude areas of Tibet from June to August 2021 and June to August 2022, respectively, and questionnaire survey, physical examination, and biochemical indicator testing were conducted on permanent Tibetan residents in the above mentioned villages. At the same time, hair samples were collected, the hair fluorine level was determined by ion selective electrode method, and the correlation between various indicators and hair fluorine level and hypertension was analyzed.Results:A total of 227 individuals were included, with hair fluorine level of (15.06 ± 0.16) mg/kg. Correlation analysis showed that there was no correlation between the study subjects' systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, pulse, neck circumference, chest circumference, uric acid level and hair fluorine level ( P > 0.05). Abdominal circumference, hip circumference, and hemoglobin level were positively correlated with hair fluorine level ( r = 0.23, 0.14, 0.29, P < 0.05), while blood glucose level and finger pulse oxygen were negatively correlated with hair fluorine level ( r = - 0.23, - 0.24, P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age ( OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.06), chest circumference ( OR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.01 - 1.20), and hair fluorine level ( OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.02 - 1.46) had an impact on hypertension ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:There is a certain correlation between hair fluoride level and hypertension in the population of high altitude areas in Tibet.

Objective:To explore the feasibility and effect on the reconstruction of whole hand degloving injury by transfer of nerved tissue flaps in staged surgery.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on the clinical data of 5 patients who suffered whole hand degloving injury and underwent staged reconstructive surgery with nerved tissue flaps, from December 2018 to December 2022 in the Department of Hand Surgery, Longgang Orthopaedics Hospital of Shenzhen. The patients were 4 males and 1 female, aged 22-45 years. Two of the whole-hand degloved injuries were left hands and 3 of right. Two patients had the whole-hand degloving injury combined with a fracture of distal phalangeal tuberosity, and 1 was complicated with partial rupture of the extensor tendon insertion. Areas of the whole hand degloving injury ranged from 215 cm 2 to 480 cm 2, the size of the hallux nail flaps for reconstruction of thumbs ranged from 54 cm 2 to 104 cm 2, the size of the hallux nail flaps for reconstruction of index fingers ranged from 65 cm 2 to 133 cm 2, and the size of the flaps for reconstruction of all the defects of hands ranged from 119 cm 2 to 255 cm 2. In primary surgery, the thumbs, index fingers and the first webs were reconstructed with bilateral hallux nail flaps to shape the appearance and gain the sensation function. Meanwhile, a single and large defect was created from the defects of hand by bundling up the middle, ring and little fingers together with the all the defects in both palmar and dorsal hand. Then an anterolateral thigh flap (ALTF) was used to have the created single defect wrapped together. Donor sites of the bilateral hallux nail flap were reconstructed with a lobulated ALTF from the other side or with bilateral peroneal artery perforator flaps. Donor sites of the ALTF and peroneal artery perforator flap were pulled and sutured. After the hallux nail flaps and ALTFs of the affected hands had survived and stabilised, multiple staged surgery were then carried out to firstly reconstruct the ring and little fingers, and followed by the middle and ring fingers in turns from the artificial syndactyly created in the primary surgery. In the final stage of surgery, skin of the radial side of middle and ring finger-pulps and the ulnar little finger-pulp were replaced by lateral toe flaps to reconstruct the sensations of the main sensory zones of middle, ring and little finger-pulps. Thereafter, the shape, TPD and finger extension and flexions were observed and evaluated through the postoperative follow-up, at the outpatient clinic according to the Evaluation Standard of Thumb and Finger Reconstruction Function of the Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association. The appearance and function of the donor sites in both feet were evaluated with the Maryland foot score. Results:All flaps survived after surgery. Postoperative follow-up lasted up to 14 to 48 months after the last surgery. The appearance of fingers was satisfactory with good function. TPD of thumbs and index finger-pulps had achieved up to 6-8 mm, and 3-8 mm in the main sensory zones of middle, ring and little finger-pulps. TPD in the non-major sensory zones of middle, ring and little finger-pulps was found at 10-14 mm, which scored 13 to 14 and rated as excellent according to the Evaluation Standard of Thumb and Finger Reconstruction Function of the Hand Surgery Society of the Chinese Medical Association. Only a linear scar left in the donor site of thigh. As the appearance of the flaps on the feet was not bloated and there was no obvious abnormality in walking and running, therefore the function of feet scored up to 96 to 97 and rated excellent according to the Maryland foot score.Conclusion:A multi-staged reconstruction of a whole hand degloving injury with nerved tissue flaps not only achieves satisfactory digital and hand appearance, but also with good function. There is no obvious effect on the appearance and function of the donor sites. This surgical strategy is novel in the reconstruction of a whole hand degloving injury.

Objective:To systematically compares the medial plantar venous flap (MPVF) and the lateral toe flap (LTF) reconstruction of digit-pulp defect, aiming to establish whether there exist significant differences between the 2 flaps in flap survival rate, two-point discrimination (TPD), score of Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS) and score of digit-pulp defect reconstruction evaluation.Methods:With a prospective cohort design, this study enrolled 36 patients who were admitted in Department of Hand Surgery, Longgang Eighth People's Hospital of Shenzhen for digit-pulp defects with bone or tendon exposure between January 2024 and September 2024. According to the random grouping method, participants were divided into 2 groups. The MPVF group comprised 18 patients (21 digits) of 13 males (15 digits) and 5 females (6 digits), aged 13-58 (mean 44±12) years. The MPVF group included 9 left and 12 right digits, with distribution as follows: 2 thumbs, 5 index fingers, 7 middle fingers, 5 ring fingers and 2 little fingers. The soft tissue defect area ranged from 2.0 cm × 1.0 cm to 9.2 cm × 3.3 cm (mean 6.69 cm 2± 6.69 cm 2). Flap dimensions ranged from 2.1 cm×1.1 cm to 9.5 cm×3.5 cm (mean 7.54 cm 2±7.22 cm 2). Donor sites were closed primarily or by full-thickness skin grafts harvested from the leg. The LTF group included 18 patients (21 digits) of 15 males (17 digits) and 3 females (4 digits), aged 22-62 (mean 41±12) years. The affected digits in LTF group comprised 12 left and 9 right digits, with a distribution of: 3 thumbs, 9 index fingers, 5 middle fingers, 2 ring fingers and 2 little fingers. The area of soft tissue defect ranges from 1.4 cm × 1.0 cm to 3.9 cm × 1.8 cm (mean 3.93 cm 2± 1.80 cm 2). Flap dimensions ranged from 1.5 cm×1.2 cm to 4.0 cm×1.9 cm (mean 4.52 cm 2±1.89 cm 2). Donor sites were closed primarily, or by full-thickness skin grafts harvested through extension of proximal wound extension or from calf for defect coverage. Patients were contacted for postoperative follow-up by telephone or WeChat to arrange a visit of outpatient clinic or a home visit by surgeon. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the 2 groups regarding: gender, age and flap dimensions, flap survival rate at 2 weeks after surgery and TPD of flaps, VSS scores, and digit-pulp defect reconstruction evaluation scale scores at 4 months and 6 months postoperatively. P<0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference. Results:The comparative analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between 2 groups in baseline characteristics: gender distribution ( χ2=0.53, P=0.47), mean age ( t=0.75, P=0.46), flap dimensions ( t=1.86, P=0.08), confirming a demographic and surgical parameter equivalence in subsequent outcome comparisons ( P>0.05). All flaps survived at 2 weeks after surgery. All skin grafts at donor sites demonstrated complete viability with uneventful primary wound healing. At 4 months after surgey, the TPD in the MPVF group were 14.71 mm±1.90 mm and 7.81 mm±1.78 mm, respectively, compared to 14.48 mm±1.57 mm and 7.67 mm±1.39 mm in the LTF group at 6 months after surgery. The VSS scores were 1.67±1.11 and 1.29±0.72 for MPVF versus 1.86±1.15 and 1.38±0.81 for LTF at corresponding time points. The digit-pulp defects reconstruction evaluation scale scores showed 88.43±2.62 and 91.43±3.59 for MPVF versus 88.19±2.70 and 91.19±3.50 for LTF. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences (all P>0.05) at 2 postoperative time points. Conclusion:The MPVF demonstrated non-inferior clinical efficacy to the LTF in reconstruction of digit-pulp defects, with comparable outcomes in flap survival rate at 2 weeks, and in TPD, VSS scores, digit-pulp defect reconstruction evaluation scale scores at 4 months and at 6 month after surgey.

Background::Total human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) DNA and integrated HIV DNA are widely used markers of HIV persistence. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) can be used for absolute quantification without needing a standard curve. Here, we developed duplex ddPCR assays to detect and quantify total HIV DNA and integrated HIV DNA.Methods::The limit of detection, dynamic ranges, sensitivity, and reproducibility were evaluated by plasmid constructs containing both the HIV long terminal repeat (LTR) and human CD3 gene (for total HIV DNA) and ACH-2 cells (for integrated HIV DNA). Forty-two cases on stable suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) were assayed in total HIV DNA and integrated HIV DNA. Correlation coefficient analysis was performed on the data related to DNA copies and cluster of differentiation 4 positive (CD4 +) T-cell counts, CD8 + T-cell counts and CD4/CD8 T-cell ratio, respectively. The assay linear dynamic range and lower limit of detection (LLOD) were also assessed. Results::The assay could detect the presence of HIV-1 copies 100% at concentrations of 6.3 copies/reaction, and the estimated LLOD of the ddPCR assay was 4.4 HIV DNA copies/reaction (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 3.6-6.5 copies/reaction) with linearity over a 5-log 10-unit range in total HIV DNA assay. For the integrated HIV DNA assay, the LLOD was 8.0 copies/reaction (95% CI: 5.8-16.6 copies/reaction) with linearity over a 3-log 10-unit range. Total HIV DNA in CD4 + T cells was positively associated with integrated HIV DNA ( r = 0.76, P <0.0001). Meanwhile, both total HIV DNA and integrated HIV DNA in CD4 + T cells were inversely correlated with the ratio of CD4/CD8 but positively correlated with the CD8 + T-cell counts. Conclusions::This ddPCR assay can quantify total HIV DNA and integrated HIV DNA efficiently with robustness and sensitivity. It can be readily adapted for measuring HIV DNA with non-B clades, and it could be beneficial for testing in clinical trials.