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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new human infectious disease. The etiology for this outbreak is a novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Thus far, related research on COVID-19 is still in preliminary stage. This paper summarized the latest outcomes of corresponding study from Chinese centers and clarified the hematopoietic abnormality caused by SARS-CoV-2 and potential mechanism. Lymphopenia was common in the early stage after the onset of COVID-19. A significant decrease was observed in peripheral CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. As the illness progressed, neutrophilia emerged in several cases, and patients with severe critical pulmonary conditions showed higher neutrophils than common type. Thrombocytopenia was resulting from the consumption and/or the reduced production of platelets in damaged lungs. Anemia was not observed notably, but the decrease in hemoglobin was frequent. The activation of monocyte-macrophage system aggravates the immune damage of lung and other tissues, which leads to the increase of D-dimer, prothrombin time, and platelet consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART), the mortality of immunological non-responders (INRs) is higher than that of immunological responders (IRs). However, factors associated with immunological non-response following ART are not well documented. Methods: We obtained data for HIV patients from the National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Program database in China. Patients were grouped into IRs (CD4 cell count ≥ 350 cells/μl after 24 months' treatment), immunological incomplete responders (ICRs) (200–350 cells/μl) and INRs (< 200 cells/μl). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with immunological non-response. Results: A total of 3900 PLHIV were included, among whom 2309 (59.2%) were IRs, 1206 (30.9%) ICRs and 385 (9.9%) INRs. In multivariable analysis, immunological non-response was associated with being male (2.07, 1.39–3.09), older age [40–49 years (vs. 18–29 years): 2.05, 1.29–3.25; 50–59 years: 4.04, 2.33-7.00; ≥ 60 years: 5.51, 2.84–10.67], HBV co-infection (1.63, 1.14–2.34), HCV co-infection (2.01, 1.01–4.02), lower CD4 + T cell count [50–200 cells/μl (vs. 200–350 cells/μl): 40.20, 16.83–96.01; < 50 cells/μl: 215.67, 85.62-543.26] and lower CD4/CD8 ratio (2.93, 1.98–4.34) at baseline. Compared with patients treated with non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) based regimens, those receiving protease inhibitors (PIs) based regimens were less likely to be INRs (0.47, 0.26–0.82). Conclusions: We found a sizable immunological non-response rate among HIV-infected patients. Being male, older age, coinfection with HBV and HCV, lower CD4 + T cell count and lower CD4/CD8 ratio are risk factors of immunological non-response, whereas PIs-based regimens is a protective factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men in China has increased dramatically, and timely linkage to care after being diagnosed with HIV is important to treatment success. This cross‐sectional study aims to utilize structural equation modeling to test a hypothesized model of timely linkage to care adapted from the HIV‐related stigma framework. Data were collected from 257 men who have sex with men living with HIV. The proportion of participants with timely linkage to care within 1 month was 63.42%. The model result showed a good fit. Higher HIV‐related stigma was significantly associated with a lower level of social support, mental health, maladaptive coping (three mechanism variables), and attitude toward linkage to care. Higher CD4+ T‐cell count, disclosure of HIV positivity to sexual partners, and greater convenience of accessing care were related to timely linkage to care (p < 0.05). These model results suggest that enhancing attention to family reactions and social support are needed for further research and interventions to accelerate newly diagnosed people's access to HIV care in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of HIV-1 subtype (CRF01_AE and non-CRF01_AE) on HIV-1 DNA levels in HIV-1 chronically infected patients with suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains poorly understood. To evaluate the correlation of HIV-1 subtype with DNA level, and identify baseline predictors of HIV-1 DNA decay.Methods: ART-naïve HIV-1-infected patients from two large multi-center studies in China were classified into CRF01_AE and non-CRF01_AE subtype groups. Peripheral blood samples were collected at baseline and week 12, 24, 48 and 96 after ART initiation and total HIV-1 DNA levels were quantified by real-time PCR. HIV-1 DNA levels at week 96 were categorized into high, moderate, and low levels, reflecting HIV-1 DNA ≥ 3, 2-3, ≤ 2 log10 copies/106 PBMCs, respectively, and the corresponding proportion of CRF01_AE and non-CRF01_AE subtype were compared. The baseline predictors of low HIV-1 total DNA levels (≤ 2 log10 copies/106 PBMCs) at week 96 were evaluated using a logistic regression model.Results: Compared to the non-CRF01_AE subtypes (n = 185), patients with CRF01_AE subtype (n = 188) harboured a higher level of HIV-1 DNA (median: 3.19 vs. 2.95 log10 copies/106 PBMCs, P < 0.001) prior to treatment. After 96 weeks of ART, HIV-1 DNA levels remained higher in the CRF01_AE subtype group (median: 2.63 vs. 2.39 log10 copies/106 PBMCs, P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients achieving high (22.3% vs. 14.6%, P = 0.054), moderate (59.6% vs. 60.5%, P = 0.849) and low levels (18.1% vs 24.9%, P = 0.111) between CRF01_AE and non-CRF01_AE groups. In the multivariable analysis, baseline HIV-1 DNA level and CD4+ T cell count but not the subtype were independent risk factors for achieving HIV-1 DNA level ≤ 2 log10 copies/106 PBMCs.Conclusion: HIV-1 CRF01_AE subtype is neither correlated with HIV-1 DNA reservoir decline nor a prognostic factor for achieving lower HIV-1 DNA levels (≤ 2 log10 copies/106 PBMCs) after ART. However, higher HIV-1 DNA level in HIV-1 CRF01_AE patients should be aroused much attention and strengthen surveillance during ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]