Durability of efficacy after telbivudine off-treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background/aims: Current international guidelines indicate that finite therapy with nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) is possible in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Here we evaluate the durability of efficacy after telbivudine (LdT) off-treatment.

Methods: 39 CHB patients with normalized ALT, undetectable HBV-DNA and HBeAg seroconversion for at least 48 weeks were observed after telbivudine discontinuation.

Effect of fluoride exposure on bone metabolism indicators ALP, BALP, and BGP.

Objective: To analyze the changes in serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP) activity and changes in osteocalcin (BGP) content following fluoride exposure and, thereby, determine the reference indications of fluoride-induced changes in bone metabolism.

Methods: In the animal study, rats were allowed free access to drinking water containing different concentrations (10, 150, or 400 mg/L) of sodium fluoride. Serum ALP and BALP activity and serum BGP content were assessed at three exposure time-points.

[A pilot study of peginterferon alfa-2a combined with short-term lamivudine therapy in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients].

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy of by combining a 12-week course of lamivudine in those HBeAg-positive hepatitis B patients receiving peginterferon alfa-2a (peg-IFN alpha-2a) therapy.

Methods: A total of 58 patients initiated a 52-week course of peginterferon alfa-2a were enrolled and divided into 3 groups. The patients with HBV DNA undetectable or HBeAg negative at week 12 were divided into group A, in this group treatment continued to week 52 with peg-IFN alpha-2a alone; The rest patients were divided into group B1 and B2, in group B1, lamivudine was combined at a course of 12 weeks, while in group B2 treatment continued to week 52 with peg-IFN alpha-2a alone.

[Toxic effects of ammonium perchlorate on thyroid of rats].

Objective: To study the effects of toxicity of ammonium perchlorate (AP) on thyroid of rats.

Methods: Eighty-eight Wistar rats were treated orally with different dosages of AP. Three treated groups received 129, 257, 514 mg.