基于Agent动态加权二部无标度网络的异性HIV传播与政策调控模型

HIV的传播是个体的行为、疾病的干预措施和个体之间的社会网络协同演化的结果。提出了基于agent的动态加权二部无标度网络方法的异性HIV传播和干预仿真模型。二部网络中的女性人群根据高危行为不同分为普通人群和女性性工作者(Female Sex Workers,FSW),男性人群根据高危行为不同分为普通人群和女性性工作者客户(Clients of female sex worker,CSW)。给出了利用配置模型快速生成指数可调的异性二部无标度网络的生成算法,其根据异性二部网络中单位时间内性行为次数的分配算法确定二部网络中边的权值,构成二部加权无标度网络。网络中的伙伴关系有固定关系、偶然关系型和临时关系,二部网络中的边可随边的维持时间的结束而断开和重连,网络具有动态特性。个体/agent模型描述了个体高危行为、病程、个体社会结构与干预措施之间的相互影响关系。仿真实验分析了个体高危行为是否采用安全措施、是否参加自愿咨询检测和是否参加抗病毒治疗等干预措施对疾病传播的影响。     

A Stress and Coping Model of Medication Adherence and Viral Load in HIV-Positive Men and Women on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART).

The authors tested a structural model that incorporated age, time since diagnosis, social support, coping, and negative mood as predictors of medication adherence and HIV viral load on 188 men and 134 women on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The authors used psychosocial latent factors formed from baseline measures to predict latent factors of adherence, as assessed by electronic monitoring and self-report, and viral load defined by indicators assessed over a 15-month period. Results from the model indicate that greater negative mood and lower social support are related to greater use of avoidance-oriented coping strategies. Use of these coping strategies by patients on HAART is related to poorer medication adherence and, subsequently, higher viral load. This model advances researchers' understanding of the contribution of psychosocial variables in predicting treatment adherence and disease progression in HIV-positive men and women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterizing and improving HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients.

The present study was an experimental test of efficacy of a brief education intervention for increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients. Participants were randomly assigned to an HIV/AIDS education intervention (experimental condition) or a sham intervention (control condition). Control participants were subsequently crossed over to the HIV/AIDS education intervention. Experimental participants had higher scores on tests of HIV/AIDS knowledge after receiving the education intervention than did control participants. Further supporting the intervention's efficacy, control participant scores also increased once participants were crossed over and received the education intervention. Scores at follow-up were lower than at postintervention but remained higher than baseline scores. Results support the intervention's efficacy for increasing HIV/AIDS knowledge among cocaine-dependent outpatients. This intervention is brief, inexpensive, and easily implemented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Direct Cell-Cell Communication via Membrane Pores,Gap Junction Channels,and Tunneling Nanotubes: Medical Relevance of Mitochondrial Exchange

The history of direct cell-cell communication has evolved in several small steps. First discovered in the 1930s in invertebrate nervous systems, it was thought at first to be an exception to the “cell theory”, restricted to invertebrates. Surprisingly, however, in the 1950s, electrical cell-cell communication was also reported in vertebrates. Once more, it was thought to be an exception restricted to excitable cells. In contrast, in the mid-1960s, two startling publications proved that virtually all cells freely exchange small neutral and charged molecules. Soon after, cell-cell communication by gap junction channels was reported. While gap junctions are the major means of cell-cell communication, in the early 1980s, evidence surfaced that some cells might also communicate via membrane pores. Questions were raised about the possible artifactual nature of the pores. However, early in this century, we learned that communication via membrane pores exists and plays a major role in medicine, as the structures involved, “tunneling nanotubes”, can rescue diseased cells by directly transferring healthy mitochondria into compromised cells and tissues. On the other hand, pathogens/cancer could also use these communication systems to amplify pathogenesis. Here, we describe the evolution of the discovery of these new communication systems and the potential therapeutic impact on several uncurable diseases.     

HIV相关癌症的动力学模型研究(英文)

本文通过建立两个动力学模型,研究了HIV感染者中癌症的高发现象。我们分别研究了其平衡态的存在性及稳定性。对正平衡态还发现了Hopf分支的存在,并发现随着分支参数的变化,系统出现了周期解与混沌交替出现的现象。     

Existentially informed HIV-related psychotherapy.

This article describes an existentially informed approach to conducting psychotherapy with individuals living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Uses of existential concepts to guide a holistic conceptualization of the individual and illuminate core existential concerns and dilemmas in confronting HIV-related challenges are delineated. Applications of existential ideas regarding psychotherapy process and technique in HIV-related psychotherapy also are illustrated. It is concluded that existential psychotherapy offers a conceptual framework that is especially well suited to the work of psychotherapy with individuals living with HIV disease, although the approach has received only limited attention in the HIV-related psychotherapy literature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Host Restriction Factors Modulating HIV Latency and Replication in Macrophages

In addition to CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, myeloid cells and, particularly, differentiated macrophages are targets of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection via the interaction of gp120Env with CD4 and CCR5 or CXCR4. Both T cells and macrophages support virus replication, although with substantial differences. In contrast to activated CD4⁺ T lymphocytes, HIV-1 replication in macrophages occurs in nondividing cells and it is characterized by the virtual absence of cytopathicity both in vitro and in vivo. These general features should be considered in evaluating the role of cell-associated restriction factors aiming at preventing or curtailing virus replication in macrophages and T cells, particularly in the context of designing strategies to tackle the viral reservoir in infected individuals receiving combination antiretroviral therapy. In this regard, we will here also discuss a model of reversible HIV-1 latency in primary human macrophages and the role of host factors determining the restriction or reactivation of virus replication in these cells.     

Individual-based multi-objective optimal structured treatment interruption for HIV infection

In this paper, based on the measurable quantities from an individual patient that has infection to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and his/her condition is near to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), individual-based multi-objective optimal treatments have been proposed. Firstly, the most effective parameters of the patient in computing Long-term non-progressor (LTNP) equilibrium are derived using global sensitivity analysis (GSA). To accomplish GSA effectively, Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) and partial rank correlation coefficients (PRCC) are utilized to rank each of the parameters based on each state of the 5-dimensional model. Then, these results are used by Dempster–Shafer (D–S) evidence theory (DSET) to rank the most effective parameters comprehensively. Now, these effective identified parameters are estimated using extended Kalman filter (EKF), which its covariance matrices are optimized based on particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Thus, the proposed methodology gives a calibrated model corresponding to the individual patient. Based on this calibrated model, the LTNP equilibrium related to the individual patient is derived. Using the derived individual-based LTNP equilibrium optimal structured treatment interruption (STI) strategies are extracted by defining suitable multi-objective optimization problem and solving it through using non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II). The results demonstrate that the proposed optimal treatments are able to effectively reach LTNP equilibrium with using the minimum and maximum drug usage of 3.6% and 35.1% of full drug usage treatment. Meanwhile, the different optimal treatments give the decision-makers enough flexibility to choose the suitable treatment based on existing facilities and necessities.     

Variants of HCMV UL18 Sequenced Directly from Clinical Specimens Associate with Antibody and T-Cell Responses to HCMV

Around 80% of adults worldwide carry human cytomegaloviris (HCMV). The HCMV gene UL18 is a homolog of HLA class I genes and encodes a protein with high affinity for the NK and T-cell cytotoxicity inhibitor LIR-1. UL18 was deep sequenced from blood, saliva or urine from Indonesian people with HIV (PWH) (n = 28), Australian renal transplant recipients (RTR) (n = 21), healthy adults (n = 7) and neonates (n = 4). 95% of samples contained more than one variant of HCMV UL18, as defined by carriage of nonsynonymous variations. When aligned with immunological markers of the host’s burden of HCMV, the S318N variation associated with high levels of antibody reactive with HCMV lysate in PWH over 12 months on antiretroviral therapy. The A107T variation associated with HCMV antibody levels and inflammatory biomarkers in PWH at early timepoints. Variants D32G, D248N, V250A and E252D aligned with elevated HCMV antibody levels in RTR, while M191K, E196Q and F165L were associated with HCMV-reactive T-cells and proportions of Vδ2⁻ γδ T-cells—populations linked with high burdens of HCMV. We conclude that UL18 is a highly variable gene, where variation may alter the persistent burden of HCMV and/or the host response to that burden.