Studies
Various published studies on the Chinese HIV-like virus (yinzibing) are quoted below.
Progress of a cause-unidentified disease: negative AIDS
Link to study. Archived link.
Authors: Xiong Hongyan, Wang Taiwu.
Date: May 2019.
In recent years, our research team has followed and observed a group of "patients" who are not recognised by clinicians and are called "negative AIDS" or AIDS phobia. Because the symptoms reported by the "patient" are inconsistent with the results of routine clinical tests, they are often treated as psychological problems.
The survey shows that most "patients" develop symptoms similar to colds, respiratory infections, and intestinal infections shortly after unsafe sex. After the acute phase, they develop persistent and lingering chronic symptoms involving the throat, skin, muscles, and bones. , nervous and other systems. The "patient" is debilitated by the disease and has a significantly reduced quality of life.
Preliminary serological index tests showed that there were obvious immune dysfunction and inflammatory reactions in the "patient". In addition, the species of intestinal bacteria also changed significantly.
Further research shows that the symptom characteristics and cognitive process of "negative AIDS" "patients" are very similar to those of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) reported by international academic circles. In 2015, the U.S. health department confirmed that CFS is a disease with a biological basis and is not a purely psychological problem. The latest research information shows that CFS is significantly related to pathogenic infections. "Patients" show immune dysfunction, abnormalities in hormone regulation, metabolism and oxidative stress response, etc. From this, we believe that "negative AIDS" "patients" may be a subgroup of CFS cases whose symptoms are caused by a series of pathological reactions caused by pathogen infection. The limitations of existing clinical routine testing index items may artificially cover up the harmful effects of the disease.
Epidemiological investigation of cases with complained AIDS-related complex (HIV negative)
Link to study. Archived link. Full version in Chinese saved here.
Authors: Liu Yaqiong; Lin Hui; Yu Lei; Wang Qingqing; Wang Taiwu; Ma Xiangyu; Lin Hua; Wu Guohui; Zhang Lu; Zhou Xiangdong; Xiong Wei; Huang Junfu; Huang Guorong; Wu Long; Xiang Ying; Xiong Hongyan.
Date: March 2013.
Journal: Journal of Third Military Medical University. Vol 35. Issue 5. Pages 369-375.
Objective: To investigate the possible causes of AIDS-related complex (HIV negative) in community population.
Methods: Qualitative systematic analysis was used to screen the cases with AIDS-related complex (HIV negative) that had been reported. The possible clustering types of the clinical features of AIDS-related complex were explored based on a cross-section study that had been conducted to observe the personality and clinical features of the cases with AIDS-related complex.
Results: The qualitative systematic analysis suggested that the idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia (ICL) and infection of nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) had similar characteristics with AIDS-related complex (HIV negative). Through network investigation of 174 cases and field observation of 52 cases, the data showed that the AIDS-related complex population came from different areas of China, and was dominated by young and middle-aged male patients. The complained symptoms involved respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, skin, muscle, skeleton and nervous system. The clinical course could be divided into an acute period and a stable period. The special symptoms are swollen lymph nodes, snapping joint, osteodynia, muscle throbbing pain, skin nodules (rash), greasy tongue coating and dry skin. The CD4+ T lymphocytes <500/μL (32.69%), the abnormal ratio of CD4/CD8 (30.77%), the positive antibody of IFN-γ (36.69%) and positive PPD (++ to +++, 75.00%) were detected in the 52 cases, and high risk sexual behavior was a suspected exposure factor.
Conclusion: The AIDS-related complex (HIV negative) in population cannot be completely explained by mental disorder. The clinical features have obvious consistency and regularity, and need further study to verify.
An analysis of clinical characteristics of forty-six AIDS phobia patients
Link to study. Full version in Chinese here.
Authors: Li YL, Li TS, Xie J, Wu N, Li WJ, Qiu ZF. PMID: 22093555.
Date: August 2011.
Journal: Zhonghua Nei Ke Za Zhi (Chinese Journal of Internal Medicine). Vol 50. Issue 8. Pages 650-653.
Objective: To summarize the clinical characteristics of AIDS phobia patients and establish the preliminary clinical diagnostic criteria.
Methods: The clinical information of 46 AIDS phobia patients was collected and summarized. General demographic data, clinical manifestations and laboratory results were analyzed.
Results: The clinical characteristics of AIDS phobia patients include: (1) With or without high-risk behavior of HIV-1 infection; (2) Patients repeatedly demanded HIV/AIDS related laboratory tests, suspected or believed in HIV-1 infection with daily life affected; (3) The main complaints were non-specific including influenza-like symptoms (headache, sore throat and so on), fasciculation, formication, arthrodynia, fatigue and complaint of fever with normal body temperature; physical examination did not reveal any positive physical sign except white coated tongue; (4) Symptoms mainly appeared 0-3 months after the high-risk behavior while HIV-1 antibody kept negative; (5) T lymphocyte subsets test was carried out in 23 patients and showed 19 (82.6%) with CD(4)(+) T lymphocyte count > 500/µl, the remaining 4 were 300 - 500/µl, with the lowest count of 307/µl. Few patients had inversed CD(4)(+)/CD(8)(+) ratio but without excessive CD(8)(+)T lymphocyte activation.
Conclusion: AIDS phobia is a complicated physical and mental disease, whose diagnosis and treatment still need further investigation.
Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of 59 persons suspecting of being infected by the HIV virus despite having repeated negative laboratory findings
Authors: Ying-xin Pei, Xing-wang Li, Zhi-qing Zhang, Guo-qing Shi, Jian-qiang Guo, Tao Shen, Guang Zeng. PMID: 21223668
Date: December 2010.
Journal: Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi (Chinese Journal of Epidemiology). 2010 Dec;31(12):1379-82.
Objective: To describe the epidemiologic characteristics and clinical manifestations of 59 persons recruited via an internet chat group who complained of AIDS-like symptoms, so as to formulate effective intervention strategies and measures.
Methods: Case was defined as onset of any three of the following self-reported AIDS-like symptoms in a member of relevant "internet chat groups": persistent low grade fever, rash, swollen lymph node, fatigue, diarrhea, weight loss and low CD4(+)T count. We administered an internet-based questionnaire, and invited 59 of the 88 case-persons for voluntary physical examination and laboratory testing.
Results: The 59 case-persons came from 22 provinces; 54 (91.5%) were men; the median age was 34 (range: 22-53) years; 84.7% of them had high-risk sexual behaviors before the onset of self-reported symptoms. The median time interval from exposure to onset was 15 d (range: 1-365 d). Blood specimens for all the 59 case-persons were tested negative for HIV and syphilis antibodies. There was also no evidence of Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus infection. One case-person was tested positive for hepatitis C virus antibody. The average CD4(+)T lymphocyte count was 707/µl. Of the 59 case-persons, 57 (96.6%) sought medical care from multiple providers; 40 were diagnosed to have no physical disorders.
Conclusion: None of the 59 case-persons had any evidence of infection with HIV or any other infectious agents that could explain their self-reported symptoms.
The Chinese CDC Examination of the HIV-Like Virus
In February 2010 the Chinese Center for Disease Control (China CDC) published a preliminary examination of 59 patients with this new HIV/AIDS-like virus. Here are the general findings of this investigation:
January 2010: a total of 59 cases suspected of having this unknown virus in the Beijing Ditan Hospital underwent clinical examination, including routine physical examination (including medicine, surgery, oncology, ENT and skin diseases), laboratory work (liver function, kidney function, blood sugar and blood, HIV viral load determination, CD4 + T lymphocyte counts, HIV RNA qualitative measure, HIV antibody detection ELISA method anti-HCV antibody test and syphilis test TPPA method), which was performed by the China CDC National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention. The results are as follows:
1. General
Examination of 59 patients: 54 patients were male (91.5%), 5 patients female (8.5%), male to female ratio was 10.8:1; patients aged 22 to 53 years (mean 33.6 years), the patients said they have been ill for a period ranging from 2 months to 10 years (average 18.0 months).
2. Chief Complaint
This group of patients complained of low body temperature in 15 cases (25.4%), fatigue in 12 cases (20.3%), rash in 9 cases (15.3%), swollen lymph nodes in 7 cases (11.9%). 42 cases (71.2%) said they have engaged in a high-risk sexual behavior.
3. General Physical Examination
Swollen lymph nodes in 15 cases (25.4%), blood pressure increased in 2 cases (3.4%), mild fatty liver in 2 cases (3.4%), gallbladder polyps in 2 cases (3.4%), goiter in 2 cases (3.4%), and the remaining revealed no abnormalities.
4. Routine Laboratory Tests
Blood examination revealed slightly elevated white blood cells in 1 case (1.7%), abnormal liver function (ALT, mild to moderate increase) in 11 cases (18.6%), renal dysfunction in 5 cases (8.5%) with 4 cases of mild rise of uric acid and one case of slightly elevated blood urea nitrogen, all had normal blood sugar.
5. STD-Specific Inspection
CD4+ T-lymphocyte count decreased in 8 cases (<450/μl) (13.6%), all of these had HIV viral load values measured were below the limit of detection, HIV RNA were negative qualitative determination, HIV antibody detection ELISA, were negative. Anti - HCV testing positive in 1 case, the rest were negative. Syphilis antibody tests were negative TPPA law.
6. Results of Physical Examination
59 patients suffered different degrees of medical non-specific clinical symptoms such as fever, fatigue, rash, swollen lymph nodes, etc., and these symptoms have affected the daily lives of these patients. None of them tested positive for HIV. Analysis of the group population: 42 cases (71.2%) engaged in high-risk sexual behavior before the onset of symptoms; 6 cases (10.2%) had dinner with an individual with this AIDS-like virus (the Chinese eat using chopsticks, sharing food from the same dish, so there can be saliva exchange via this dish), or have had surgery, or had skin damage from hairdressing / shaving other outside home, etc. 11 cases (18.6%) were not able to suggest where they caught the virus. However, as a result of their after symptoms, all patients at first suspected they had been infected by HIV, and they undertook multiple laboratory tests. Some individuals no longer thought they had contracted HIV after getting the negative result of their HIV test, but still assumed that they had infected by some other unknown virus (or bacterium). But other individuals still continued to believe they were infected with HIV, in spite of the negative result of their HIV test.
Overall analysis: most people in the group had no distinct organic disease, just a small number of biochemical abnormalities. But the patients said that their symptoms are in contradiction with our conclusions. Out of the two points of view, the physical symptoms and neurological disease symptoms, we believe the main cause relates to mental factors. We can do further investigation into other diseases, such as abnormal liver function, hepatitis B, autoimmune hepatitis testing.
Song Meihua, Li Xingwang, at Beijing Ditan Hospital.
Source of this information: [1]
Summary of Immunological Findings in Yinzibing Patients
Note: normal CD4 counts are in the range of 500 to 1500 cells per mm3.
The Third Military Medical University examined 52 yinzibing patients and found 33% have low CD4 cells, less than 500 CD4 cells per mm3, 31% have an abnormal CD4/CD8 ratio, 37% had interferon gamma auto-antibodies, 75% are positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis by skin test. Source: Epidemiological investigation of cases with complained AIDS-related complex (HIV negative).
Peking Union Medical College examined the blood lymphocytes of 23 patients with yinzibing and found 83% had a CD4 count of greater than 500 CD4 cells per mm3, and 17% of patients had low CD4 counts between 300 and 500 cells per mm3, with the lowest count being 307 cells per mm3. They found a few patients had an inverse CD4/CD8 ratio, but without excessive CD8 activation. Source: An analysis of clinical characteristics of forty-six AIDS phobia patients.
A 2010 examination by the Chinese CDC found 14% of Chinese HIV-like virus patients have low CD4 counts of less than 450 CD4 cells per mm3.
Professor Li Taisheng in 2009 examined 40 patients with yinzibing, and found that in 40%, the CD4 count is low, but the CD8 count in normal (only 8% of patients had a slightly high CD8).
Dr Cai Weiping said that a CD4 cell counts of 500 per mm3 or higher are normal, counts between 350 to 500 per mm3 are mildly abnormal, and counts between 350 to 200 per mm3 are moderately abnormal. Weiping said that the CD4 counts of patients with the HIV-like pathogen are almost all normal, or mildly abnormal.
Dr Zhong Nanshan said that in yinzibing patients, complement system C3 and C4 are low.