Genome-wide analysis of apple histone acetyltransferases reveals the regulatory roles of MdHAG1 and MdHAM1 in response to abiotic stresses.

It is known that histone acetyltransferases (HATs) are involved in a wide range of biological processes by activating gene expression. However, the regulatory role of HATs in apple remains to be elucidated. This study identified 58 HATs from the apple genome (named MdHATs) and performed comprehensive analyses of these MdHATs, given their involvements in plant development and stress response.

Hepatitis Delta Virus Testing and Prevalence Among Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Across Three U.S. Safety-net Health Systems.

Background & Aims: Despite a high prevalence of risk factors associated with hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection among safety-net populations, data evaluating HDV testing and prevalence are limited. We aim to evaluate HDV testing practices and HDV prevalence among an ethnically diverse, multi-center cohort of safety-net patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 13,218 patients with CHB (54.

Sociodemographic Disparities in Hepatitis B Treatment: A Real-World Analysis of 3 Safety-Net Health Systems in the United States.

Background: Timely treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) reduces risks of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Gaps in timely treatment persist, especially among underserved safety-net populations. We aim to evaluate gaps and disparities in CHB treatment in the United States.

Clinician-Level Knowledge and Barriers to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance.

Importance: Surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with cirrhosis is underused. Identifying potentially modifiable factors to address barriers in HCC surveillance is critical to improve patient outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate clinician-level factors contributing to underuse of HCC surveillance in patients with cirrhosis.

Disparities in Hepatocellular Cancer Screening in Cirrhotic Patients With Psychiatric Disorders.

Background Patients with psychiatric disorders are at an increased risk of developing liver diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HCC is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The aim of this study was to re-examine the association of psychiatric illness with HCC and assess its impact on screening practices and the outcomes of HCC.

Low Rates of Hepatitis B Virus Treatment Among Treatment-Eligible Patients in Safety-Net Health Systems.

Background: Timely initiation of antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) reduces risk of disease progression. We evaluate overall treatment rates and predictors of treatment among treatment-eligible safety-net CHB patients.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated adults with CHB from 2010 to 2018 across 4 large safety-net health systems in the United States.

Antiviral Therapy Reduces Risk of Cirrhosis in Noncirrhotic HBV Patients Among 4 Urban Safety-Net Health Systems.

Introduction: To evaluate the impact of chronic hepatitis B virus infection (CHB) treatment on risk of cirrhosis, liver-related outcomes, and death among a diverse CHB cohort with a large proportion of African Americans.

Methods: Adults with noncirrhotic CHB without human immunodeficiency virus from 2010 to 2018 were retrospectively evaluated across 4 US safety-net health systems. CHB was identified with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision/Tenth Revision diagnosis coding and confirmatory laboratory data.

Clinical Considerations of Coagulopathy in Acute Liver Failure.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is the rapid onset of severe liver dysfunction, defined by the presence of hepatic encephalopathy and impaired synthetic function (international normalized ratio of ≥1.5) in the absence of underlying liver disease. The elevated international normalized ratio value in ALF is often misinterpreted as an increased hemorrhagic tendency, which can lead to inappropriate, prophylactic transfusions of blood products.

COVID-19 in Chronic Liver Disease and Liver Transplantation: A Clinical Review.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought challenges to clinicians caring for patients with chronic liver disease. In the past 6 months, COVID-19 has led to over 150,000 deaths in the United States and over 660,000 deaths around the world. Mounting evidence suggests that chronic liver diseases can have an adverse effect on the clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19.

Mortality from Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis Among Hospitalized Patients in the USA.

Background And Aim: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a serious complication of cirrhosis and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In this study, we examined the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with mortality in hospitalized patients presenting with SBP.

Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried for all hospitalizations involving SBP from 2006 to 2014 using the International Classification of Disease-9-CM Code.

Obstetricians' and gynecologists' knowledge, education, and practices regarding chronic hepatitis B in pregnancy.

Background: In pregnant women with high viral loads, third-trimester initiation of antiviral agents can reduce the risk of vertical transmission. We aimed to assess obstetricians' and gynecologists' (OB-GYN) knowledge and clinical practice when treating pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: All program directors (PDs) from 250 US OB-GYN residency programs were invited to anonymously complete an 18-item questionnaire.

Chronic Gastric Ischemia Leading to Gastric Perforation.

A 69-year-old man with diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, and hypertension presented with 3 months of diffuse abdominal pain that worsened with meals, weight loss, and dysphagia. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and computed tomography revealed findings consistent with chronic gastric ischemia secondary to atherosclerosis. Gastric ischemia eventually led to perforation.

Coding algorithms for identifying patients with cirrhosis and hepatitis B or C virus using administrative data.

Background And Aims: Despite the use of administrative data to perform epidemiological and cost-effectiveness research on patients with hepatitis B or C virus (HBV, HCV), there are no data outside of the Veterans Health Administration validating whether International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes can accurately identify cirrhotic patients with HBV or HCV. The validation of such algorithms is necessary for future epidemiological studies.

Methods: We evaluated the positive predictive value (PPV) of ICD-9-CM codes for identifying chronic HBV or HCV among cirrhotic patients within the University of Pennsylvania Health System, a large network that includes a tertiary care referral center, a community-based hospital, and multiple outpatient practices across southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.

Tobacco-related disease burden and preventive initiatives in China. Global health and the chronic diseases: perspective, policy and practice.

The burden of chronic diseases in global health is a surging area of research. The Global Health Initiative at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute brings together investigators from developing countries with those from the developed world to study these diseases. In China, approximately 83 percent of all deaths in 2000 were attributed to chronic illnesses, which are the research focuses of the Chinese center of the Global Health Initiative.

Therapeutic potential of stem cell in liver regeneration.

Liver transplantation is the only life-saving procedure for patients with end-stage liver disease. However, its potential benefits are hampered by many disadvantages, such as the relative shortage of donors, operative risks, and high costs. These issues have prompted the search for new alternative therapies for irreversible liver disease.

[CTLs induced by hTERT-related multiepitope peptide-sensitived mDCs specifically kill HLA-A24+ tumor cells].

Aim: To study the antigen specific anti-tumor effect of cytotoxic T lymphocytes(CTLs), which was induced by human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT)-related multiple epitope peptides impulsed myeloid dendritic cells(mDCs), against human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A24(+) tumor cells.

Methods: Four branches of multiple antigen peptides (MAPs) of hTERT epitopes and three separate peptides were solid-phase artificially synthesized, phlebotomize peripheral blood from HLA-A24(+) healthy volunteers, sorted the blood through MACS MicroBeads and cultured mDCs, Nylon fiber column purified T lymphocytes, mDCs impulsed with each type of peptides were co-cultured with T lymphocytes to induce CTLs specifically killing effect, and the resultant CTLs were used as effector cells, SMMC-7721 with hTERT and HLA-A24 positive and SKOV3 which are hTERT-positive but HLA-A24-negative tumor cells were used as target cells. The level of human IL-12, TNF-α in the culture supernatant was determined by ELISA.

Reproducibility of oxygen saturation monitoring during six-minute walk test and exercise stress test in patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations associated with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

Patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) are at risk for multiple complications and require close follow-up. We investigated the reproducibility of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and exercise stress test (EST) for the evaluation of low oxygen saturation in patients with PAVMs. Twenty-two patients with PAVMs, most of whom had hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), participated in a Human Investigations Committee-approved protocol.