Sparse logistic regression revealed the associations between HBV PreS quasispecies and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been proved highly associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Aims: The purpose of the study is to investigate the association between HBV preS region quasispecies and HCC development, as well as to develop HCC diagnosis model using HBV preS region quasispecies.

Methods: A total of 104 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and 117 HBV-related HCC patients were enrolled.

Integrated Network Pharmacology and Metabonomics to Reveal the Myocardial Protection Effect of Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang on Myocardial Ischemia.

Myocardial ischemia (MI) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases with high incidence and mortality. Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT) is a classic traditional Chinese prescription to clear "heat" and "poison". In this study, we used a deliberate strategy integrating the methods of network pharmacology, pharmacodynamics, and metabonomics to investigate the molecular mechanism and potential targets of HLJDT in the treatment of MI.

Analysis and Follow up of Endoscopy Results in 1099 Patients with Terminal Ileum Lesions.

Objective: We aim to analyze the diagnostic yield, diagnostic accuracy, and delayed diagnosis of patients with terminal ileum lesions, providing follow-up suggestions for suspected patients.

Methods: We carried out an analysis of 1099 patients who had terminal ileum lesions in our hospital from 2009 to 2019. The endoscopy reports and histopathology reports of terminal ileal biopsies were recorded.

Deep sequencing analysis of quasispecies in the HBV pre-S region and its association with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The association between the evolution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) quasispecies and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown.

Methods: We used deep sequencing to examine the dynamics of HBV quasispecies and their relationship to HCC development. Thirty-two chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with HCC (HCC group) and 32 matched CHB patients without HCC (controls) were recruited.

Efficacy of Fluidized Bed Bioartificial Liver in Treating Fulminant Hepatic Failure in Pigs: A Metabolomics Study.

Bioartificial livers may act as a promising therapy for fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) with better accessibility and less injury compared to orthotopic liver transplantation. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fluidized bed bioartificial liver (FBBAL) and to explore its therapeutic mechanisms based on metabolomics. FHF was induced by D-galactosamine.

Hepatitis B virus full-length genomic mutations and quasispecies in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background And Aim: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) full-length genomic mutations and quasispecies characteristics in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were investigated.

Methods: Hepatitis B virus DNA was extracted from the tumor and non-tumor tissues of 16 HCC patients. Overlapping DNA fragments covering the entire HBV genome were amplified and sequenced.

Evolutionary Changes of Hepatitis B Virus Pre-S Mutations Prior to Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background And Aims: Deletions/mutations in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) pre-S region have been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to study the evolutionary changes of pre-S mutations prior to HCC development.

Methods: We studied the HBV pre-S sequences at 1 to 10 years preceding diagnosis of HCC in 74 patients with HBV-related HCC (HCC group).

Sequence variations of full-length hepatitis B virus genomes in Chinese patients with HBsAg-negative hepatitis B infection.

Background: The underlying mechanism of HBsAg-negative hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is notoriously difficult to elucidate because of the extremely low DNA levels which define the condition. We used a highly efficient amplification method to overcome this obstacle and achieved our aim which was to identify specific mutations or sequence variations associated with this entity.

Methods: A total of 185 sera and 60 liver biopsies from HBsAg-negative, HBV DNA-positive subjects or known chronic hepatitis B (CHB) subjects with HBsAg seroclearance were amplified by rolling circle amplification followed by full-length HBV genome sequencing.

Effect of hepatitis B virus reverse transcriptase variations on entecavir treatment response.

Background: Entecavir therapy often reduces hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA to an undetectable level, but HBV DNA remain detectable in some patients. We investigated whether baseline HBV reverse transcriptase (rt) polymorphism and quasispecies complexity and diversity were associated with treatment response.

Methods: Pretreatment HBV DNA levels, HBV rt sequence, serology, and quasispecies complexity and diversity from 305 entecavir-treated patients were determined.

Metabolomic analyses of faeces reveals malabsorption in cirrhotic patients.

Background: The study of faeces offers a unique opportunity to observe cooperation between the microbiome and the metabolism of mammalian hosts, an essential element in the study of the human metabolome. In the present study, a global metabolomics approach was used to identify metabolites differentially excreted in the faeces of cirrhotic patients compared to controls.

Methods: Seventeen cirrhotic patients and 24 healthy individuals were recruited.

Effects of plasma from acute-on-chronic liver failure patients on immortalized human hepatocytes in vitro.

Background/aims: The efficiency of bioartificial liver or cell transplantation for the treatment of liver failure may potentially be diminished by toxic agents accumulated in the patients blood. We investigated the effects of plasma from patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure on the structure and function of immortalized human hepatocytes (HepLL) in vitro.

Methodology: Plasma was pooled from 8 patients with acute or chronic liver failure.

Bioartificial liver system based on choanoid fluidized bed bioreactor improve the survival time of fulminant hepatic failure pigs.

Bioartificial liver (BAL) support system has been proposed as potential treatment method for end-stage liver diseases. We described an improved BAL system based on a choanoid fluidized bed bioreactor containing alginate-chitosan encapsulated primary porcine hepatocytes. The feasibility, safety, and efficiency of this device were estimated using an allogeneic fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) model.

Fluidized-bed bioartificial liver assist devices (BLADs) based on microencapsulated primary porcine hepatocytes have risk of porcine endogenous retroviruses transmission.

Purpose: Bioartificial liver assist devices (BLADs) are expected to bridge liver failure patients to liver transplantation, but porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) still pose a potential risk in pig-to-human xenotransplantation and thereby limit the use of bioartificial liver therapy. In our lab, fluidized-bed BLADs based on microencapsulated primary porcine hepatocytes have been successfully used to treat liver failure pigs. We detected the risk of PERVs transmission of microencapsulated primary porcine hepatocytes-the key component of fluidized-bed BLADs, to evaluate the biosafety of this device for further clinical applications.