[A family associated outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in a hospital ward].

Objective: To describe the epidemiological and serological features on a family associated outbreak caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection occurred in Beijing in August 2007.

Methods: Mutual exposure of the family members was investigated and retrospective medical record was reviewed for the hospitalized patients. Serum antibodies to MP were measured and chest X-rays were taken for all the family members.

[Clinical features and prognosis of decompensated hepatitis C virus related cirrhosis].

Objective: To study the clinical features and prognosis of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis after the first occurrence of complications.

Methods: The clinical data of 89 decompensated HCV-related cirrhosis patients were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the factors influencing the clinical decompensation were conducted.

[An integrated biological model for interferon signaling pathway and its gene polymorphisms].

To construct a systemic structural model for interferon (IFN) signaling pathways with gene's single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) information, it is visual to investigate the effects of gene-gene interaction on IFN signaling path-ways. The genes function information was retrieved from Pubmed and Embase database. The IFN signaling pathways were constructed by applying Teranode Design Suite (TDS) biological software.

Encephalic large arteries narrowness and peripheral neuropathy in a patient with adult-onset Still's disease.

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare, systemic inflammatory disorder, characterized by spiking high fever, fever-associated evanescent rash, arthritis, myalgia, serositis and hepatosplenomegaly. White blood cell count, neutrophilic cell count, and serum ferritin level are markedly elevated in the active stage of the disease. Neurological complications of AOSD commonly were cranial nerve palsies, seizures, aseptic meningoencephalitis, peripheral neuropathy and Miller-Fisher syndrome.

[An analysis of clinical characteristics and risk factors of cirrhosis-related hepatocellular carcinomas in patients with hepatitis C virus infection].

Objective: To study the epidemiological and clinical characteristics and risk factors of cirrhosis-related hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: Eighty-nine compensated and decompensated HCV cirrhosis patients were analyzed and followed-up. The main clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed as incidence factors of HCC with univariate analysis and multivariate analysis regression models.

[The histopathologic and clinical analysis of viral chronic hepatitis patients with negative serological viral markers].

Objective: To analyze the histopathological and clinical features of viral chronic hepatitis patients with negative serological viral markers.

Methods: 62 hepatitis patients with negative serological markers were assayed with serological viral hepatitis markers, liver function test and liver biopsies were enrolled in the study. Serum HBV DNA of HBV cases was analyzed by PCR.

[An analysis of the pathohistology of liver tissues, clinical features and prognostic factors of chronic hepatitis B virus carriers].

Objective: To study the correlations between clinical features and liver pathohistological changes of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers and to discuss the factors which may influence the prognosis.

Methods: Ninety HBV carriers who had liver biopsies were enrolled in this study.

Results: (1) The mean follow-up period of the patients was 118 weeks.

[Significance of serum carnitine in patients with liver diseases].

Objective: To determine serum carnitine levels in patients with liver diseases and to investigate their significance.

Methods: 25 patients with acute viral hepatitis, 34 with chronic viral hepatitis, 22 with post hepatitis cirrhosis with normal renal function, 9 with post hepatitis cirrhosis but with renal disfunction, and 40 healthy subjects (serving as controls) were enrolled in this study. An enzymatic cycling method was used to determine the serum free carnitine levels.

[Serum autoantibodies of patients with chronic hepatitis C and the significance thereof in infection of hepatitis C virus].

Objective: To investigate the serum autoantibodies in patients with chronic hepatitis C and to investigate the significance of autoimmune reaction in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 69 patients with chronic hepatitis C, 69 patients with chronic hepatitis B (HB), and 69 patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Indirect immunofluorescence technique was used to detect the serum anti nuclear antibody (ANA), anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA), anti-smooth muscle antibody (anti-SMA), and anti-liver-kidney antibody (anti-LKM).

[Significance of blood HCV RNA screening in the prevention of post-transfusion hepatitis C].

Background: To investigate the significance of blood HCV RNA screening in the prevention of post-transfusion hepatitis C.

Methods: Totally 56,400 anti-HCV negative blood samples collected from Jan. 2000 to Dec.

[Serum HBV-DNA level can predict treatment effectiveness in patients with chronic hepatitis B using interferon-alpha-2a].

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between the efficacy of interferon-alpha-2a and the kinetics of viral load in serum.

Methods: The authors conducted a trial including 58 patients with chronic hepatitis B. Patients were treated with interferon-alpha-2a three times a week for 6 months.

[Differential clinical diagnostic parameters of acute hepatitis B and flare of chronic HBV infection].

Objective: To evaluate useful clinical diagnostic parameters for differentiating acute hepatitis B and flare of chronic HBV infection.

Methods: Using PCR method to detect viral level in the patient's serum, HBV marker was detected by ELISA kit. Liver function was also detected.

[Therapeutic effect of levamisole plus HBV vaccine and dipyridamole on patients chronically infected by HBV with precore mutation].

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of precore mutation in HBeAg negative HBV infected patients and the therapeutic effect of the immune therapy (levamisole + HBV vaccine + dipyridamole) on patients chronically infected by HBV with precore mutation.

Methods: The precore region of HBV from the HBeAg (-) chronic hepatitis patients was sequenced and the patients suffered from HBV with precore mutation were treated with immune therapy.

Results: The precore mutation rate was 10/12.

[Dynamics of HBV-DNA level in acute hepatitis B].

Objective: To verify the mechanism of the hepatitis B viral clearance using clinical data.

Methods: Viral level and HBV marker in serum were analyzed in 12 patients with acute hepatitis B.

Results: The clearance of hepatitis B virus occurred before the patients were hospitalized in 66.