Effects of hepatitis E virus infection on interferon production ISG15.

Aim: To assess the effects of hepatitis E virus (HEV) on the production of type I interferons (IFNs) and determine the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: We measured the production of interferon (IFN)-alpha and -beta (-α/β) in genotype 3 HEV-infected C3A cells at different time points (0, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 120 h) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression levels of IFN-stimulated gene (ISG)15 in HEV-infected C3A cells at different time points were tested by western blotting.

Hepatitis B virus upregulates host expression of α-1,2-mannosidases the PPARα pathway.

Aim: To assess the effects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) on the expression of host α-1,2-mannosidases and determine the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: We measured the expression levels of MAN1A1, MAN1A2, MAN1B1, and MAN1C1 in cell lines HepG2.2.

A novel platform designed by Au core/inorganic shell structure conjugated onto MTX/LDH for chemo-photothermal therapy.

A novel platform making up of methotrexate intercalated layered double hydroxide (MTX/LDH) hybrid doped with gold nanoparticles (NPs) may have great potential both in chemo-photothermal therapy and the simultaneous drug delivery. In this paper, a promising platform of Au@PDDA-MTX/LDH was developed for anti-tumor drug delivery and synergistic therapy. Firstly, Au NPs were coated using Layer-by-Layer (LbL) technology by alternate deposition of poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) and MTX molecules, and then the resulting core-shell structures (named as Au@PDDA-MTX) were directly conjugated onto the surface of MTX/LDH hybrid by electrostatic attraction to afford Au@PDDA-MTX/LDH NPs.

Methotrexate intercalated layered double hydroxides with the mediation of surfactants: Mechanism exploration and bioassay study.

Methotrexatum intercalated layered double hydroxides (MTX/LDHs) hybrids were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and three kinds of nonionic surfactants with different hydrocarbon chain lengths were used. The resulting hybrids were then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XRD and FTIR investigations manifest the successful intercalation of MTX anions into the interlayer of LDHs.

Facile synthesis of methotrexate intercalated layered double hydroxides: particle control, structure and bioassay explore.

To study the influence of particle size on drug efficacy and other properties, a series of methotrexate intercalated layered double hydroxides (MTX/LDHs) were synthesized through the traditional coprecipitation method, using a mixture of water and polyethylene glycol (PEG-400) as the solvent. To adjust the particle size of MTX/LDHs, the dropping way, the volume ratio of water to PEG-400 and different hydrothermal treatment time changed accordingly, and the results indicate that the particle size can be controlled between 90 and 140 nm. Elemental C/H/N and inductive coupled plasma (ICP) analysis indicated that different synthesis conditions almost have no effect on the compositions of the nanohybrids.

MTX/LDHs hybrids synthesized from reverse microemulsions: particle control and bioassay study.

Reverse microemulsions have been used to control the growth of methotrexatum intercalated layered double hydroxides (MTX/LDHs) hybrids, and the influence of reaction temperature, water content (noted as ω) and MTX content (noted as R) on the properties of MTX/LDHs was systematically investigated. The synthesized hybrids were then characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), etc. XRD and FTIR investigations manifest the successful intercalation of MTX anions into the interlayer of LDHs.

[Analysis of genotype IV distribution of hepatitis E virus infections in Wuhan by sequencing the open reading frame 3 gene].

Objective: To determine the distribution of genotype IV among hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in Wuhan by sequencing the open reading frame (ORF) 3 gene of HEV clinical isolates.

Methods: Serum samples were collected from 103 individuals who tested positive for the anti-HEV IgM antibody, and total HEV RNA was extracted for targeted gene sequencing analysis. Reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify two fragments of the ORF3 gene (5020 to 5392 nt and 5347 to 5956 nt, EF570133).

Role of Hedgehog signaling pathway in proliferation and invasiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway has been confirmed a contributor to the carcinogenesis and progression of various tumor types. To investigate the Hh signaling activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we detected the expression levels of Hh pathway components (Shh, Ptch1 and Gli2) in 57 samples of HCC and corresponding adjacent-tumor liver tissues. The Hh pathway was overexpressed in cancer tissues compared with non-cancer tissues and correlated closely with histologic differentiation and portal venous invasion of HCC.

[The effect of endotoxemia on gluconeogenesis in livers and kidneys during acute hepatic failure].

Objectives: To explore the effects of endotoxemia on gluconeogenesis in livers and kidneys during acute hepatic failure.

Method: Twenty-four healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups (6 rats in each group) and all of them were injected intraperitoneally with solutions: group I with normal saline, group II with 400 mg/kg of D-galactosamine (D-GaLN), group III with 400 mg/kg of D-GaLN plus 50 microg/kg lipopolysaccharide(LPS), and group IV with 400 mg/kg of D-GaLN plus 500 microg/kg LPS. At 6 hours after the administration of different solutions intraperitoneally, blood samples were collected to examine blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine.

[Efficacy and safety of reduced osmolarity oral rehydration salts in treatment of dehydration in children with acute diarrhea--a multicenter, randomized, double blind clinical trial].

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of reduced osmolarity oral rehydration salts (ROORS) in treatment of mild to moderate dehydration caused by acute diarrhea in children.

Methods: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, positive drug controlled clinical trial was conducted in 125 cases aged 1 to 17 years. These children with acute diarrhea and signs of dehydration were randomly assigned to receive either ROORS (trial group, n = 62) or oral rehydration salts II (ORS II) (control group, n = 63).

Uric acid enhances T cell immune responses to hepatitis B surface antigen-pulsed-dendritic cells in mice.

Aim: To study the induction of T cellular immune responses in BALB/c mice immunized with uric acid and dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg).

Methods: DCs were generated from bone-marrow cells of BABL/c mice, and then pulsed or unpulsed with HBsAg protein (HBsAg-pulsed-DCs or unpulsed-DCs) in vitro. BABL/c mice were immunized with HBsAg-pulsed-DCs (1 x 10(6)) and uric acid, injected through the tail vein of each mouse.

Significance of serum IgA in patients with acute hepatitis E virus infection.

Aim: To study the significance of serum anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) IgA in patients with hepatitis E.

Methods: A new method was established to assay anti-HEV IgA, which could be detected in the middle phase of the infection. We compared anti-HEV IgA assay with anti-HEV IgM and anti-HEV IgG assay in sera from 60 patients with positive HEV-RNA.

Fibrinogen-like protein 2 fibroleukin expression and its correlation with disease progression in murine hepatitis virus type 3-induced fulminant hepatitis and in patients with severe viral hepatitis B.

Aim: To evaluate the expression of fibrinogen-like protein 2 (fgl2) and its correlation with disease progression in both mice and patients with severe viral hepatitis.

Methods: Balb/cJ or A/J mice were infected intraperitoneally (ip) with 100 PFU of murine hepatitis virus type 3 (MHV-3), liver and serum were harvested at 24, 48, and 72 h post infection for further use. Liver tissues were obtained from 23 patients with severe acute chronic (AOC) hepatitis B and 13 patients with mild chronic hepatitis B.

[Infection of tupaia hepatocytes with hepatitis C virus in vitro].

Objective: Tupaia belangeri (tree shrew) has a close phylogenetic relationship with primates and has been shown to be susceptible to a variety of human viruses. This study was conducted to investigate whether or not hepatitis C virus (HCV) could infect primary tupaia hepatocytes (PTHs) in vitro.

Methods: Serum-derived HCV was cultivated with PTHs, and then positive and negative strand HCV RNA in PTHs, as well as the encapsidated HCV RNA in the culture medium were detected to evaluate the infection.

Epidemiology and genotypes of HEV in Wuhan.

Background: Understanding the genotype and clinical features of the hepatitis E virus (HEV) are important for understanding its characteristics, for evaluating region-specific diagnostic assays, and producing vaccines.

Objectives: To investigate the epidemiology and the genotypes of HEV among outpatients and inpatients in the Department of Infectious Diseases of Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China.

Methods: Clinical data were elicited from the hospital records of patients who were clinically diagnosed with acute hepatitis between January 2000 and August 2004 (4920 patients).

Leptin administration exacerbates thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in mice.

Aim: To investigate the effects of leptin administration on liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA).

Methods: Twenty-four male C57Bl/6 mice were randomly allocated into four groups, which were intra-peritoneally given saline (2 mL/kg), leptin (1 mg/kg), TAA (200 mg/kg), TAA (200 mg/kg) plus leptin (1 mg/kg) respectively, thrice a week. All mice were killed after 4 wk.

Construction of single chain Fv antibody against transferrin receptor and its protein fusion with alkaline phosphatase.

Aim: To construct fusion protein of a single-chain antibody (scFv) against transferrin receptor (TfR) with alkaline phosphatase (AP).

Methods: The VH-linker-VL, namely scFv gene, was prepared by amplifying the VH and VL genes from plasmid pGEM-T-VH and pGEM-T-VL with splicing overlap extension polymerase chain reaction (SOE PCR). After the ScFv gene was modified by Sfi I and Not I, it was subcloned into the secretory expression vector pUC19/119, and then was transformed into E.

[Distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes in Hubei province and its clinical significance].

Objective: To investigate the distribution of hepatitis B virus genotype in Hubei province (China) and its clinical significance.

Methods: Serum samples from 190 HBV DNA positive patients with chronic HBV infection,including 52 asymptomatic HBV carriers (ASC), 56 chronic hepatitis (CH), 32 fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), 22 liver cirrhosis (LC), and 28 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients were collected and tested for HBV genotypes by type-specific primers.

Results: A simple and precise genotyping system based on PCR using type-specific primers was developed for the determination of genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV).

[The biological characteristics of a mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain with a newly discovered mutation of mucA gene].

Objective: To compare the mucA gene sequence, biofilm formation, growth rate and antibiotic resistance of a mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain 'PA17' with those of the nonmucoid strain PAOI.

Methods: The mucA genes of PA17 and PAOI were amplified and the PCR products were sequenced. Biofilm was established and detected with scanning electron microscope 8 h, 24 h, 3 d and 6 d later.

[Emergence and clinical significance of YMDD and HBeAg-related mutations during lamivudine treatment].

Objective: To explore YMDD and HBeAg related mutations of hepatitis B virus and its clinical significance during lamivudine therapy.

Methods: From sera of chronic hepatitis B patients with 9 - 30 months lamivudine therapy, signal-base mutations of YMDD motif, G1896A, A1814C, A1762T and G1764A were analyzed by gene chips technique.

Results: In the 102 patients with 18 months in average of lamivudine treatment, 22 were found to have YMDD mutations, including 8 with YMDD and HBeAg related mutants.