A Prospective Multicenter Study of the Chinese Scoring System for Hepatitis B Liver Failure.

To evaluate the clinical utility of a Chinese scoring system for hepatitis B liver failure in a prospective and multicenter study. Clinical data for 1,143 patients with hepatitis B liver failure who had been followed up for a minimum of 6 months were collected from seven liver disease centers across China. The disease severity and prognosis for the patients were predicted using the Chinese scoring system and compared to those predicted with the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, MELD-Na score, and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score.

The strategy and efficacy of prophylaxis against hepatitis B virus recurrence after liver transplantation for HBV-related diseases in the era of potent nucleos(t)ide analogues: A meta-analysis.

Objectives: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome of liver transplant (LT) recipients under potent nucleoside or nucleotide analogue (NA)-based regimens and investigate different prophylactic schemes.

Methods: We followed PRISMA statement to conduct this study. Two reviewers independently searched relevant literature via PubMed, Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Web of Science and Insightmeme.

Long non-coding RNA MALAT1 promotes angiogenesis and immunosuppressive properties of HCC cells by sponging miR-140.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent primary liver cancer in adults. Previous studies in our laboratory found that long non-coding RNA metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) was upregulated in HCC cells, which could affect the metastasis and invasion of HCC. However, the underlying mechanism remains unknown.

miR-183-5p enhances the radioresistance of colorectal cancer by directly targeting ATG5.

Radioresistance is a material obstacle for effective treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Thus, the discovery of a novel biomarker for determining the CRC radiosensitivity is necessary. Recent studies have confirmed that miR-183-3p regulates cell phenotypes and tumor growth in various cancers.

Serum levels of miRNA in patients with hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is a life-threatening condition and its exact pathophysiology and progression remain unclear. The present study aimed to assess the role of serum miRNAs in the evaluation of HBV-ACLF and to develop a model to predict the outcomes for ACLF.

Methods: Serum was collected from 41 chronic hepatitis B and 55 HBV-ACLF patients in addition to 30 chronic asymptomatic HBV carriers as controls.

Therapeutic plasma exchange: A prospective randomized trial to evaluate 2 strategies in patients with liver failure.

Objective: To compare two means of performing therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in patients with liver failure.

Method: This open-label monocentric randomized trial, conducted in a single prestigious general healthcare facility, recruited liver failure patients with an indication to receive artificial liver support therapy for TPE. All patients underwent TPE procedures and were administered in a random sequence: heparin-free or systemic heparinization with unfractionated heparin.

Early hepatitis B viral DNA clearance predicts treatment response at week 96.

Aim: To investigate whether hepatitis viral DNA load at 24 wk of treatment predicts response at 96 wk in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: A total of 172 hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients who received initial treatment at 16 tertiary hospitals in Hunan Province, China were enrolled in this study. All patients received conventional doses of lamivudine and adefovir dipivoxil, telbivudine, entecavir dispersible tablets, or entecavir tablets for 96 wk.

Novel HBV mutations and their value in predicting efficacy of conventional interferon.

Background: Accumulating studies assessing the impacts of hot spot mutations on conventional interferon (IFN) efficacy come to discrepant conclusions; studies regarding the mutations in S and RT regions are also unclear. The present study aimed to evaluate the impacts of HBV mutations on the efficacy of conventional IFN.

Methods: A total of 126 patients who received conventional IFN treatment for 48 weeks were enrolled.

Phase IIb trial of electroporation mediated dual-plasmid hepatitis B virus DNA vaccine in chronic hepatitis B patients under lamivudine therapy.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of electroporation (EP)-mediated dual-plasmid hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA vaccine placebo for sequential combination therapy with lamivudine (LAM) in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-five patients were randomized to receive either LAM + vaccine (vaccine group, = 109) or LAM + placebo (control group, = 116). LAM treatment lasted 72 wk.

A comprehensive long-term prognosis of chronic hepatitis C patients with antiviral therapy: a meta-analysis of studies from 2008 to 2014.

Context: Attaining a sustained virological response with antiviral therapy is a sign of clinical cure for chronic hepatitis C patients. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the long-term efficiency and outcome of antiviral therapy in patients with hepatitis C who attained a sustained virological response.

Evidence Acquisition: A literature search was performed on published articles between January 2008 and February 2014.

Synthesis and characterization of a new mid-infrared transparent compound: acentric Ba5In4Te4S7.

A new noncentrosymmetric (NCS) sulfide, Ba5In4Te4S7, was synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction in evacuated closed silica tubes. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Imm2 (44), with unit cell parameters a = 39.110(3) Å, b = 4.

A novel prognostic score for acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.

Patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (HBV-ACLF) show high morbidity and mortality. Independent prognostic predictors of short-term HBV-ACLF mortality include the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score, the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, other MELD-based indices and the dynamic changes in these indices. The aims of this study were to evaluate the existing prognostic scores in a large cohort of HBV-ACLF patients and create a new predictive model.

Two-year results of a randomized, phase III comparative trial of telbivudine versus lamivudine in Chinese patients.

Purpose: The burden of chronic hepatitis B infection is high in China, where prevalence exceeds 7 %. This was a randomized, double-blinded, phase III study of the efficacy and safety of telbivudine and lamivudine treatment at 104 weeks in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Hepatitis B e antigen-positive (n = 290) and -negative (n = 42) adults with nucleoside analog-naïve compensated chronic hepatitis B were randomized to receive telbivudine 600 mg/day or lamivudine 100 mg/day for 104 weeks.

[Effect of hepatitis B virus X protein on suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 expression].

Objective: To investigate the effect of hepatitis B virus-encoded X protein (HBx) on the expression of host-encoded suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1) and to explore the possibility of an underlying mechanism involving modulation of CpG island methylation in the SOCS-1 gene promoter.

Methods: The immortalized human derived non-tumor liver cell line QSG7701 was transfected with a recombinant HBx plasmid (pcDNA-X) or an empty vector control plasmid (pcDNA3.0) and stably transfected clones were selected by G418 resistance screening.

[Effect of microRNA on proliferation caused by mutant HBx in human hepatocytes].

To study the effect of micro (mi)RNA on cellular proliferation induced by hepatitis B x protein, HBx, in human liver cells and to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism of this cancer-related effect. The human L02 hepatocyte cell line was stably transfected with HBx (L02/HBx) or an HBx mutant (L02/HBx-d382) that induces higher levels of cellular proliferation. The differential miRNA expression profiles were determined by microarray analysis and confirmed by real-time PCR.

Randomized controlled study of plasma exchange combined with molecular adsorbent re-circulating system for the treatment of liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy.

Background/aims: To evaluate the use of plasma exchange (PE) combined with the molecular adsorbent re-circulating system (MARS) for the treatment of liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy.

Methodology: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted to compare the therapeutic effect of MARS treatment (MARS group, n=60) with that of PE combined with MARS treatment (PE+MARS group, n=60) in patients with liver failure complicated with hepatic encephalopathy.

Results: The serum total bilirubin and blood ammonia levels were significantly decreased compared with pretreatment levels after 3 days of both the MARS treatment (p=0.

[The roles of CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells and Foxp3 mRNA expression in the subjects with and without responses to hepatitis B virus vaccination].

Objectives: To investigate the internal links between immune responses and Tregs and cytokine by the expression of T regulatory cells (Tregs), Foxp3 mRNA of different response groups and the detection of cytokine secretion after hepatitis B vaccination.

Methods: Blood samples were collected in different response groups. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of Foxp3 mRNA of peripheral blood mononuclear cells; The surface markers CD4 and CD25 in peripheral-blood mononuclear cells were determined by flow cytometry; ELISA tests were used to detect the production level of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, IL -4, IL-12, IL-18 stimulated by HBsAg and (IFN) gamma.

[Clinical experience of successful management of a human case with A/H5N1 infection in Hunan Province].

Objective: To study the clinical features and successful management of a survived human case with A/H5N1 infection.

Methods: The data of a confirmed case of human case with A/H5N1 infection in Hunan province were collected and analyzed.

Results: This patient with A/H5N1 infection in Hunan province was confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for A/H5N1 in airway secretions.

[Study on tumor formation of hepatocyte transformed by hepatitis B virus X gene in nude mice.].

Objectives: To investigate whether hepatitis B virus X gene alone is sufficient to transform the non-transformed immortalized human liver cell line QSG7701 and induce hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo.

Methods: pCMVX/QSG7701 cells were transplanted into subcutaneous tissue of nude mice. pRcCMV2/QSG7701 and QSG7701 cells were used as control.

Hepatitis B virus X protein promotes proliferation and upregulates TGF-beta1 and CTGF in human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2.

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major cause of liver fibrosis, but the mechanisms underlying HBV-related fibrogenesis are still unknown. Although the roles of HBV X protein (HBx) remain poorly understood, it is thought to play an important role in the regulation of cellular growth and hepatocarcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the role of HBx in liver fibrogenesis by studying the effect of HBx on the proliferation and expression of fibrosis-related molecules in the human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2.

[Polymorphism of hepatitis B virus x gene in hepatocellular carcinoma patients and the biological effects of HBx gene with deletion varations on QSG7701 cells].

Objective: To investigate whether there were particular HBx gene mutations associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in patients.

Methods: The HBx genes were examined in 51 paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples from patients with HCC and 25 serum samples from HBV carriers from southern China by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis, heteroduplex analysis and DNA sequencing. The HBx genes with deletion variations (HBx-d382, HBx-d431) from tumor tissues were cloned and transfected into QSG7701 cells.

Mycophenolate mofetil prevents lethal acute liver failure in mice induced by bacille Calmette-Guérin and lipopolysaccharide.

Background/aims: To investigate the effect of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) on acute liver injury induced by bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

Methods: Acute liver failure was induced in male Kunming strain mice by injecting the animals with BCG 2.5 mg per mouse, and LPS 10 microg per mouse 10 days later.