Care of HIV-infected patients in China

Abstract

Compared with high infection areas of the world, the total HIV infection rate in China is relatively low. Nonetheless, because of China's vast territory and large population, the potential infection risk must be taken seriously. In the next few years, needle sharing among injection drug users will remain the most common route of transmission for the HIV/ AIDS epidemic in China. Unprotected sex is gradually becoming a major route of transmission. China began to implement HAART in 1999 according to international standards. Prior to 2003, there were only about 150 HIV/AIDS patients were treated with HAART in some clinical trials and about 100 HIV/AIDS patients were treated by private sources. Results of those treatments are the scientific basis for development of the therapeutic strategies in China. In March of 2003, the Chinese government initiated China CARES program. In November of 2003, the Chinese Ministry of Health announced a national policy of free ARV treatment to all HIV+ Chinese citizens who were in poverty and required ARV therapy. There are total of 19,456 HIV/AIDS patients received free ARV drugs to date in 159 regions and 441 towns. Current challenges are how to follow-up and evaluate those patients in the clinical settings. The longer the therapy is postponed, the more side effects and the higher probability of drug resistance are going to occur. It remains unclear, therefore, when HAART regimen should be started in the HIV/AIDS population in China.

Macrophage Delivery of Nanoformulated Antiretroviral Drug to the Brain in a Murine Model of NeuroAIDS

“…This supports the idea that sustained penetration of ART across the BBB improves clinical neurological outcomes (41, 62). Indeed, ART can prolong life expectancy and restore immune activities, resulting in improved surveillance of virus and reductions of opportunistic infections and primary CNS lymphomas (63–66). In contrast, ineffective use of ART or its reduced brain penetration could contribute to viral mutation and sustained HIV replication within the brain sanctuary (67).…”

Consistent ART Adherence Is Associated with Improved Quality of Life, CD4 Counts, and Reduced Hospital Costs in Central China

“…3 This program now covers low-income HIV=AIDS patients in urban areas and all patients in rural areas. [4][5][6] As of late 2007, according to the Chinese Ministry of Health, a cumulative total of 39,298 HIVinfected people had received ART. 1 It is widely accepted that adherence to therapy is crucial to successful outcomes of ART.…”

F18, a Novel Small-Molecule Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor, Inhibits HIV-1 Replication Using Distinct Binding Motifs as Demonstrated by Resistance Selection and Docking Analysis

“…Moreover, ART can act as a preventive measure against HIV-1 in developing countries to reduce the incidence rate (12,28). Therefore, affordable ART regimens to combat HIV-1 infection, in addition to other preventive measures, remain highly desirable, especially in developing countries, such as China (7,45). F18 appears to be a cost-effective candidate: good oral bioavailability and no adverse effects were detected in animal testing, and it is synthesized in vitro from a plant by using medicinal chemistry techniques, which is feasible for large-scale production for clinical application (44).…”