title: [Effect of Chinese drugs for Pi strengthening Shen benefiting on the immunity function of HIV patients' specific T cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of Chinese drugs for Pi strengthening Shen benefiting (CDPSSB) on the immunity function of HIV/AIDS patients' specific T cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 20 patients were randomly recruited from the treated group [treated by CDPSSB combined highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART)] and 23 patients were randomly recruited from the control group (treated by HAART alone). All patients were follow-up infected persons form You'an Hospital between from June 2010 to June 2012. CD4+ T absolute counts and HIV viral load were detected. Meanwhile, HIV whole gene overlapping peptides were used as stimulating antigen. The response intensity of HIV specific T cells was detected in the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistical difference in CD4 T absolute counts or HIV viral load between the two groups (P > 0.05). The response intensity of HIV specific T cells was significantly enhanced in the treated group, when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Along with elongation of treatment time (6, 12, 18, and 24 months) in the treated group, the response intensity of HIV specific T cells showed enhancing tendency, but there was no statistical difference among these time points (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CDPSSB could enhance improve the immunity function of HIV specific T cells, which might be one of its mechanisms.
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chuan-Yun
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hui-Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dan-Tong
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiu-Hui
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal