物理学家组织网8月28日报道称，美国约翰霍普金斯大学的一项研究表明，感染特殊亚型——D型艾滋病(ADIS)病毒的患者，相较于其他亚型艾滋病患者更容易患上痴呆症。该发现第一次证明，特定类型艾滋病毒更易导致患者认知障碍。相关研究成果发表在《临床感染疾病》9月刊上。
根据病毒基因序列的细小差别，艾滋病病毒可划分为多种类型。某些亚型病毒会集中出现在世界的某一个特定区域。在全球3500万艾滋病病毒感染者中，绝大多数生活在撒哈拉沙漠以南的非洲地区，以亚型A、C、D为主。
认知障碍是艾滋病最常见的并发症。近一半的晚期艾滋病病毒感染者都患有轻度认知障碍，而大约有5%的患者会患有严重的认知障碍，即痴呆症。
在早期的研究中，美国约翰霍普金斯大学医学院的神经病学教授内德·萨克特博士和他的同事发现，在乌干达首都坎帕拉的一个医治艾滋病的诊所，来看病的患者中大约有31%的人患有痴呆症。这些人绝大多数是A型和D型艾滋病患者。该发现促使他们研究不同亚型艾滋病病毒与痴呆症的关系。
萨克特教授带领研究小组对来自坎帕拉诊所的60名艾滋病病人进行了研究。这些病人都是另外一项研究的研究对象，该研究要测试一种抗逆转录病毒药物对认知障碍的疗效，但他们都还没有开始服用该药物。在确定每个病人的艾滋病病毒类型后，萨克特的研究小组做了一系列神经病学和认知测试，评估每个病人的大脑功能。结果发现，大多数患者为A型或D型艾滋病患者。在33名A型患者中，有7人患者患有痴呆症，比例为21%；而在9名D型患者中，则有8人患有痴呆症，比例高达89%。
萨克特指出，在这两个亚型之间，患有痴呆症的比率差异如此之大，令人惊讶。如果在撒哈拉以南非洲地区的情况都是如此，那么与艾滋病病毒有关的痴呆症则可能是全世界最常见的痴呆症之一，而对此人们仍远未认知。
研究认为，应该是各种亚型艾滋病病毒的一些生物学特性影响了病人患痴呆症的几率。研究人员预测，D型艾滋病病毒可能会导致更多的大脑炎症和损伤。他们正对此进行着力研究。(刘海英)
原载科技日报 转自中新网D-HIV easier to damage the brain
http://www.cyol.net 2009-09-01
Physicists organizational networks August 28 reported that the Johns Hopkins University, a study shows that infection of specific subtypes - D-blown AIDS (ADIS) with the virus in comparison to other subtypes of AIDS patients is more prone to dementia. The discovery the first time that certain types of patients living with HIV has resulted in cognitive impairment. Related research results were published in "Clinical Infectious Diseases" 9 of the body.
According to the small differences in viral gene sequences, HIV can be divided into several types. Some subtypes appear in the world will focus on a particular area. In the global 35 million HIV-infected persons, the vast majority living in sub-Saharan Africa, with subtype A, C, D based.
Cognitive impairment is the most common complication of AIDS. Nearly half of those with advanced HIV infection suffer from mild cognitive impairment, while about 5% of patients will suffer from severe cognitive impairment, or dementia.
In the early study, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine neurology professor, Dr. Kurt within the Desa and his colleagues found that in the Ugandan capital Kampala, a cure for AIDS clinics, to medical treatment in patients Some 31% of people with dementia. The vast majority of these people are A-and D-AIDS patients. The discovery prompted them to explore different subtypes of HIV virus and the relationship between dementia.
Research team led by Professor Sackett Kampala clinics from 60 AIDS patients were studied. Another study of these patients are the object of study, the study to test an anti-retroviral drugs on the efficacy of cognitive impairment, but they have not yet started taking the drug. In determining the type of each patient's HIV, after Sackett's team made a series of neurological and cognitive tests to assess each patient's brain function. The results showed that the majority of patients for the A-type or D-AIDS patients. In the 33 type A patients, 7 of patients suffering from dementia, the ratio was 21%; while in nine D-type patients, there were eight people suffering from dementia, the ratio as high as 89%.
Sackett noted that in between these two subtypes, those with dementia rate differences so great that surprising. If the situation in sub-Saharan Africa is true, then with HIV-related dementia may be the world's one of the most common dementia, for which there are still far from understanding.
Studies suggest that the various subtypes of HIV should be a number of biological characteristics of the patient's chances of suffering from dementia. The researchers predict, D-type HIV virus may lead to more inflammation and damage the brain. They are to concentrate our efforts on this. (LIU Hai-ying)
Originally contained in Science and Technology Daily Transfer from LONDON
