OBJECTIVEDiscussing the natural history and the influencing factors of HIV infection among former commercial blood and plasma donors engaged in unsafe blood donation practices in China.

METHODSUsing ambispective cohort study, with data obtained from ten counties (districts) from six provinces in the National AIDS Control Demonstration Area. HIV/AIDS cases were found and confirmed prior to July 24, 2006 being former commercial blood. Plasma donors were selected and data regarding infection, incidence, death, and influencing factors was collected. Analysis was performed using SPSS 12.0 statistical analysis software.

RESULTS(1) In 7551 cases of HIV infection, there were 6533 typical progressors (86.52%, 4757 cases of AIDS), 108 rapid progressors (1.43%), 910 long-term non-progressors (12.05%) with 4865 cases progressed to AIDS (64.43%). The median incubation period for HIV progression to AIDS was nine years (95% CI:8.96-9.04). (2) According to data, from a total of 1157 AIDS cases without ARV therapy (23.78% of total AIDS cases), there were 283 confirmed AIDS-related deaths, of which the median survival time was 6 months (95% CI:4-7) and the two and three year fatality rates were 95% and 99%, respectively. (3) The duration of HIV incubation period was irrespective to gender and age at the time of HIV infection (P > 0.05). Length of survival for untreated AIDS showed correlation to gender (P < 0.05) but no correlation with culture, marital status or age at the time of diagnosis of AIDS (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with the UNAIDS theory regarding slow disease progressors among adults, our study showed a longer AIDS incubation period and shorter outlook for untreated survival, but a similar incubation period for other routes of HIV infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blood Donors ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Female ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; mortality ; Humans ; Infectious Disease Incubation Period ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of hepatitis C virus (HCV) on transcription regulation genes of host cells by gene chip assays in cultured cells with intact HCV genome.

METHODSHuh-7 hepatoma cells were cultured and infected with in vitro constructed HCV. The total RNAs, proteins and cell culture supernatants of HCV infected cells and control cells were isolated. Proteins and cell culture supernatants were used to detect the HCV replication and protein expression in cell culture system. The HCV protein expression was detected with Western blotting. Released HCV from infected cells was analyzed by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Total RNA was qualified using 10 g/L agarose gel electrophoresis. cRNA was synthesized, fluorescence labeled and purified, then hybridized with Agilent oligo microarray (20173 probes). Differential expression of genes related to transcription in cell culture system was analyzed.

RESULTHCV was positive in cell culture supernatants and HCV protein expression was also positive according to Western blotting results. Eleven up-regulated and 11 down-regulated genes related to transcription were found after Agilent gene chip screening.

CONCLUSIONIntact hepatitis C virus cell culture system provides an useful tool for study on the affects of HCV infection on transcription regulation genes in host cells.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genome, Viral ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; growth & development ; Hepatocytes ; virology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Transcription, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype, serum viral load and ALT levels, and the factors associated with the viral relapse after IFN treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODSThe HCV RNA levels were determined with Cobas Amplicor Monitor Test, version 2.0, and HCV genotypes were examined by means of PCR products of 5' NTR digested with restriction endonucleases. The patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with PEG-IFN alpha -2a and Roferon-A for 24 weeks. Those with a viral response after 24 week treatment were followed for an additional 24 weeks. The association of clinical characteristics, such as sex, age, the way of the HCV infection, IFN treatment history and platelet counts, and the HCV genotype, virus load and medicine used for the viral relapse after IFN treatment were analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 208 chronic hepatitis C patients, the ALT levels were not related to HCV RNA levels (r = 0.093, P > 0.05). No difference of ALT levels between HCV genotypes was found, and the HCV RNA load was also of no difference between HCV genotype 1 patients and non 1 patients. Of the 119 patients with viral response after 24 week treatment, 58 cases (48.7%) relapsed after another 24 week's follow-up. Relapse was not significantly related to the clinical characteristics, such as sex, age, mode of the infection, treatment history of IFN, AST/ALT ratio, platelet counts and the baseline viral load. Among patients with genotype 1 virus, the relapse rate was significantly higher than those patients with non-genotype 1 virus (54.5% vs 32.1%, P=0.039). The relapse rate after PEG-IFN alpha -2a treatment was lower than that of Roferon-A treatment (47.0% vs. 52.8%), but not significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe viral relapse of chronic hepatitis C patients after IFN treatment was significantly associated with the genotypes of the HCV.

Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Recombinant Proteins ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome ; Viral Load