Poly(3,3-dibenzyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxepine)/Platinum Composite Films as Potential Counter Electrodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

In this study, poly(3,3-dibenzyl-3,4-dihydro-2-thieno[3,4-][1,4]dioxepine)/platinum composite films (PProDOT-Bz₂/Pt) were used as counter electrodes (CEs) in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The composite films were prepared on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass by radio frequency (RF) sputtering to deposit platinum (Pt) for 30 s. Afterwards, PProDOT-Bz₂ was deposited on the Pt⁻FTO glass via electrochemical polymerization.

A genome-wide association study on chronic HBV infection and its clinical progression in male Han-Taiwanese.

It is common to observe the clustering of chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers in families. Intra-familial transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) could be the reason for the familial clustering of HBsAg carriers. Additionally, genetic and gender factors have been reported to be involved.

Off-therapy durability of response to entecavir therapy in hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B patients.

Unlabelled: The optimal duration of nucelos(t)ide analog (Nuc) treatment in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is unknown. The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) guidelines recommend that treatment can be discontinued if undetectable HBV-DNA has been documented on three occasions ≥ 6 months apart. This study aimed to test this stopping rule in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with entecavir (ETV).

Clinical and virological characteristics post HBsAg seroclearance in hepatitis B virus carriers with hepatic steatosis versus those without.

Background: It has been suggested hepatic steatosis contributes to seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Although HBsAg seroclearance generally confers favorable outcome, hepatic steatosis may account for progressive liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Further studies are needed to compare clinical and virological characteristics post HBsAg seroclearance between subjects with hepatic steatosis and those without.

Prevalence of and risk factors for hepatitis B viremia after spontaneous hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance in hepatitis B carriers.

In 118 previous hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, low-level hepatitis B (HBV) viremia persisted at a rate of 15%-20% for >10 years after HBsAg seroclearance. The frequency of HBV viremia was significantly (P = .002) lower in patients with anti-HBsAg seroconversion (6 of 69 [8.

Decreasing levels of HBsAg predict HBsAg seroclearance in patients with inactive chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Background & Aims: Serum levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decrease gradually during chronic hepatitis B virus infection. We investigated the association between levels of HBsAg and HBsAg seroclearance.

Methods: We studied data from 46 patients who underwent spontaneous seroclearance of HBsAg (median age at seroclearance, 48 y; 87% male; 76% infected with genotype B).

Viral load, genotypes, and mutants in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: special emphasis on patients with early hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: The role of viral factors in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still inconclusive. Whether virological features such as viral load or mutants might change with the progression of HCC remains unknown. A case-control study including patients with early HCC and HBsAg carriers who are presumed to be at the minimal potential of HCC as controls might better identify factors significantly associated with HCC development.

Hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance during chronic HBV infection.

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance in chronic HBV infection occurs at an annual incidence of 1-2%. The long-term outcome after HBsAg seroclearance is excellent if there is no pre-existing cirrhosis or viral superinfection. For this reason, HBsAg seroclearance has attracted recent interest in both long-term studies of the natural history of HBV infection and in patients receiving antiviral therapy.

Level of hepatitis B virus DNA in inactive carriers with persistently normal levels of alanine aminotransferase.

Background & Aims: Little is known about the level of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in individuals with chronic, inactive HBV infections. Patients who test positive for the antibody to hepatitis B e antigen (anti-HBe) and have normal levels of alanine aminotransferase for more than 10 years have a low risk of HBV reactivation and are considered to be inactive carriers. We investigated HBV DNA levels in inactive carriers and identified factors that correlated with this state among anti-HBe-positive carriers with HBV DNA levels of 10(4) copies/mL or greater (5.

Relative roles of HBsAg seroclearance and mortality in the decline of HBsAg prevalence with increasing age.

Objectives: Mortality and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance are the two extremes of prognostic destination of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Their relative roles in the decline of HBsAg prevalence with increasing age are unknown.

Methods: HBsAg-seropositive subjects with near normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were followed up every 3 to 12 months for >1 year.

Age-specific prognosis following spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B.

Unlabelled: Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B virus infection confers a favorable prognosis, but untoward outcomes may develop in some patients. The impact of the age of HBeAg seroconversion on prognosis is not clearly known. HBeAg-positive patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis B were followed up long-term.

Immunopathology on hepatocyte expression of HBV surface, core, and x antigens in chronic hepatitis B: clinical and virological correlation.

Purpose: Hepatocyte expression of HBV surface, core, and x antigens (HBsAg, HBcAg and HBxAg), semi-quantitated by immunopathology, were correlated with clinical and virological data in 80 patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Results: Seventy patients were HBsAg positive in cytoplasm, 61 were HBcAg positive, including 45 in both nucleus and cytoplasm and 16 in cytoplasm only, and 47 were HBxAg positive in cytoplasm. The detection rates for HBcAg increased while those for HBsAg and HBxAg decreased with HBV DNA levels.

Incidence and risk factors of progression to cirrhosis in inactive carriers of hepatitis B virus.

Objectives: Most hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers are incidentally identified as inactive carriers (positive hepatitis B e antibody with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels), but their long-time outcome and risk of cirrhosis are incompletely understood.

Methods: A total of 1,965 inactive carriers (mean age: 35.6 years; males: 1,076) were studied.

Long-term outcome of hepatitis B e antigen-negative hepatitis B surface antigen carriers in relation to changes of alanine aminotransferase levels over time.

Unlabelled: The baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was reported to have prognostic value in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, during which ALT may change over time. Instead of baseline ALT, this study aimed to study the prognostic value of the height of ALT during the course of chronic HBV infection. A total of 4376 asymptomatic hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative, surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers with baseline ALT less than 2 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) were monitored with ALT measurement and ultrasonography every 3 to 12 month for over 3 years.

Hepatitis B virus infection.

Since the introduction of the hepatitis B vaccine and other preventive measures, the worldwide prevalence of hepatitis B infection has fallen. However, chronic infection remains a challenging global health problem, with more than 350 million people chronically infected and at risk of hepatic decompensation, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. An improved understanding of hepatitis B virology, immunology, and the natural course of chronic infection, has identified hepatitis B virus replication as the key driver of immune-mediated liver injury and disease progression.

Diagnostic laparoscopy in ascites of unknown origin: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital 20-year experience.

Background: Ascites may appear with well-recognized disease but, in some situations, ascites is of unknown cause in spite of comprehensive study. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of laparoscopy in patients with ascites of unknown origin, and evaluate the role of laparoscopy in this population after the advent of ultrasonography and computed tomography.

Methods: We collected 20 years' data of diagnostic laparoscopy from retrospective chart review at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Linkou and Taipei.

Altered expression patterns of lipid metabolism genes in an animal model of HCV core-related, nonobese, modest hepatic steatosis.

Background: Because the gene expression patterns of nonobese hepatic steatosis in affected patients remain unclear, we sought to explore these patterns using an animal model of nonobese hepatic steatosis.

Methods: We developed mice that conditionally express the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein regulated by the tetracycline transactivator (tTA). Microarray analyses and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed using liver samples of both the double transgenic mice (DTM), which express both the HCV core and tTA, and single transgenic mice (STM), which express tTA alone, at 2 months of age.