title: Beneficial effect of macrophage activating agent NK-4 on Thai HIV-infected patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We examined the effect of NK-4 (4,4'-[3-[2-(1-ethyl-4(1H)-quinolinylidene) ethylidene] propenylene] bis(-ethylquinolinium iodide)) on the clinical course of Thai HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve subjects with CD4 count < 500/mm3 were enrolled to receive 0.5 mg of NK-4 orally once daily for 8 weeks and then twice daily during the follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most patients showed vitality, increased appetite, stable body-weight, increased CD4 counts and no serious adverse effects due to viral load. We suggest that the increased CD4 counts are due to the macrophage activating effect of NK-4. The patients with increased CD4 counts showed lower alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminidase (alpha-NaGalase) activity than those with decreased CD4 counts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the macrophage activating agent NK-4, as an inexpensive and safe drug for HIV-infected patients, may play a beneficial role in the clinical treatment of HIV-infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Research, Drug & Cosmetics Development Center, Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc., 1-2-3 Shimoishii, Okayama 700-0907, Japan. nakagawa@hayashibara.co.jp
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Sunee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sirivichayakul
authors.forename: Praphan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Phanuphak
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mito
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011806:Quinolinium Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load; D048809:alpha-N-Acetylgalactosaminidase
chemical_list: D011806:Quinolinium Compounds; C052194:lumin; D006596:Hexosaminidases; C482722:NAGA protein, human; D048809:alpha-N-Acetylgalactosaminidase