Restoring the Treg cell to Th17 cell ratio may alleviate HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Aim: To investigate the role of T helper 17 cells (Th17) and regulatory T cells (Treg) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF).

Methods: We enrolled 79 patients with HBV infection into the study, 50 patients with HBV-related ACLF and 29 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), from the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College from January 2009 to June 2012. The ACLF patients were diagnosed according to the criteria recommended by The 19(th) Conference of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver in 2009.

The balance between intrahepatic IL-17(+) T cells and Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells plays an important role in HBV-related end-stage liver disease.

Background: IL-17(+) T helper cells and Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells are CD4(+) T helper cells with reciprocally regulated differentiation and function. Their frequency and function vary in patients with chronic hepatitis B. In this study, we investigated the balance between IL-17(+) T cells and Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells and illustrated their function in the aggravation of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Diagnosis and management of interstitial pneumonitis associated with interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

Interstitial pneumonitis (IP) is an uncommon pulmonary complication associated with interferon (IFN) therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Pneumonitis can occur at any stage of HCV treatment, ranging from 2 to 48 wk, usually in the first 12 wk. Its most common symptoms are dyspnoea, dry cough, fever, fatigue, arthralgia or myalgia, and anorexia, which are reversible in most cases after cessation of IFN therapy with a mean subsequent recovery time of 7.

[Clinical features of interstitial pneumonitis due to interferon alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C].

Objective: To analyze the clinical features of interstitial pneumonitis (IP) associated with interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: We report the first case of IP in China resulting from pegylated interferon alpha-2a in combination with ribavirin for treatment of hepatitis C viral infection. A statistical analysis of the related literatures documenting such IP cases was performed using SPSS 11.