Association of vitamin D with functional cure in chronic hepatitis B: Insights from a retrospective cohort study and an intervention study.

Background & Aim: Functional cure for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients can be achieved using nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFNα) combination treatment. However, the role of vitamin D in functional cure remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D levels and functional cure in CHB patients.

Serum IL-5 levels predict HBsAg seroclearance in patients treated with Nucleos(t)ide analogues combined with pegylated interferon.

Background: Knowing about cytokine profile contributes to clarify the underling immune mechanism of HBsAg seroclearance rate increase. This study aims to investigate cytokine changes during nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and peginterferon-α (Peg-IFNα) therapy and their impact on the HBsAg serologic response.

Methods: A total of 78 HBV DNA-negative chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) patients were studied after a lead-in phase of NAs with complete serum cytokines.

Real-world efficacy and safety of dolutegravir plus lamivudine versus tenofovir plus lamivudine and efavirenz in ART-naïve HIV-1-infected adults.

Limited real-world data on dolutegravir (DTG) plus lamivudine (3TC) for HIV-1-infected individuals have been reported. This study aimed to evaluated the real-world efficacy and safety of DTG + 3TC in ART-naïve HIV-1-infected adults in China. This real-world prospective observational cohort study enrolled HIV-1-infected adults receiving ART initiation with DTG + 3TC (D3 group) or tenofovir plus lamivudine and efavirenz (TDF + 3TC + EFV, TLE group) with subgroups of low viral load (LVL, ≤500,000 copies/mL) and high viral load (HVL, >500,000 copies/mL) according to baseline HIV-1 RNA.

Long-term prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a retrospective study.

Background: The long-term prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is not well characterised. We assessed long-term outcomes and the associated risk factors of HBV-ACLF patients in southern China.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed clinical data, adverse events, and clinical endpoint events of HBV-ACLF patients treated at our department between January 2014 and December 2018.

Association between the nasopharyngeal microbiome and metabolome in patients with COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent for COVID-19, infect human mainly via respiratory tract, which is heavily inhabited by local microbiota. However, the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and nasopharyngeal microbiota, and the association with metabolome has not been well characterized. Here, metabolomic analysis of blood, urine, and nasopharyngeal swabs from a group of COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients, and metagenomic analysis of pharyngeal samples were used to identify the key features of COVID-19.

The relationship between the clearance of HBsAg and the remodeling of B cell subsets in CHB patients treated with Peg-IFN-α.

Background: The seroconversion of the hepatitis B antigen is the ideal outcome for long-acting interferon-pegylated interferon-α (Peg-IFN-α) treatment among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). B-cell response plays an important role in the process of hepatitis B antigen clearance, but the specific mechanism by which B-cell improve hepatitis B virus (HBV) is still unclear.

Methods: A total of 103 CHB patients participated in this study.

Effects of Antiviral Therapy on HBV Reactivation and Survival in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Hepatic Artery Infusion Chemotherapy.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the influence of hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) on hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as evaluate the role of antiviral prophylaxis in these patients.

Methods: We enrolled 170 HBsAg-positive advanced HCC patients receiving HAIC using mFOLFOX regimen, of which 137 patients received antiviral prophylaxis. Risk factors for HBV reactivation were analyzed.

SARS-CoV-2 can be detected in urine, blood, anal swabs, and oropharyngeal swabs specimens.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ribonucleic acid (RNA) in urine and blood specimens, and anal and oropharyngeal swabs from patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, and correlated positive results with clinical findings.

Methods: Patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections were included in this study. Patients' demographic and clinical data were recorded.

Association between effective hepatic blood flow and the severity and prognosis of hepatitis B virus-related acute on chronic liver failure.

Background: Hepatic inflammation resulted in hepatocyte necrosis and microcirculatory dysfunction in acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) with cirrhosis or not. The influence of effective hepatic blood flow (EHBF) on the severity of liver failure has not been fully elucidated.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the EHBF and the severity and the prediction of 90-day mortality rate of hepatitis B virus-related ACLF (HBV-ACLF).

A cross-sectional comparison of epidemiological and clinical features of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Wuhan and outside Wuhan, China.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread outside the initial epicenter of Wuhan. We compared cases in Guangzhou and Wuhan to illustrate potential changes in pathogenicity and epidemiological characteristics as the epidemic has progressed.

Methods: We studied 20 patients admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China from January 22 to February 12, 2020.

Recurrence of positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA in COVID-19: A case report.

The ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 that began in Wuhan, China, has constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, with cases confirmed in multiple countries. Currently, patients are the primary source of infection. We report a confirmed case of COVID-19 whose oropharyngeal swab test of SARS-CoV-2 RNA turned positive in convalescence.

Evaluation of Ficus tikoua leaves extract as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in HCl media.

An effective and biodegradable Ficus tikoua leaves extract was studied as a corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in hydrochloric acid. Systematic electrochemical experiments and morphological characterization were carried out to investigate the properties of the corrosion inhibitor. Meanwhile, quantum chemical calculations were performed to aid further understanding of the electrochemical mechanism.

MicroRNA-197 Promotes Metastasis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Activating Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling.

Background/aims: MicroRNA-197 (miR-197) has been shown to play roles in epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is associated with EMT, but whether miR-197 regulatesWnt/β-catenin remains unclear. This study was to demonstrate the role of miR-197 on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

miR-214/199a/199a* cluster levels predict poor survival in hepatocellular carcinoma through interference with cell-cycle regulators.

Aims: To identify the clinical and functional association of miR-214/199a/199a* cluster in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to clarify the mechanism of miR-214.

Methods: Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional regression analyses were used to determine the association of miR-214/199a/199a* cluster levels with the survival of HCC patients. The role of miR-214 in regulating HCC cell proliferation was studied with miR-214 mimics/inhibitor-treated cells.

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.