Collagen co-localized with macrovesicular steatosis better differentiates fibrosis progression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease mouse models.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global commonly occurring liver disease. However, its exact pathogenesis is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively evaluate the progression of steatosis and fibrosis by examining their distribution, morphology, and co-localization in NAFLD animal models.

The burden of hepatitis C virus in the world, China, India, and the United States from 1990 to 2019.

Background And Aim: Hepatitis C virus infection can lead to an enormous health burden worldwide. Investigating the changes in HCV-related burden between different countries could provide inferences for disease management. Hence, we aim to explore the temporal tendency of the disease burden associated with HCV infection in China, India, the United States, and the world.

Developing a New qFIBS Model Assessing Histological Features in Pediatric Patients With Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Background: The evolution of pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with unique histological features. Pathological evaluation of liver specimen is often hindered by observer variability and diagnostic consensus is not always attainable. We investigated whether the qFIBS technique derived from adult NASH could be applied to pediatric NASH.

Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for evaluating fibrosis regression in chronic hepatitis C patients after direct-acting antiviral.

Background: Direct acting antiviral (DAA) therapy has enabled hepatitis C virus infection to become curable, while histological changes remain uncontained. Few valid non-invasive methods can be confirmed for use in surveillance. Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA) is a liver-specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast, related to liver function in the hepatobiliary phase (HBP).

Distribution and changes in hepatitis C virus genotype in China from 2010 to 2020.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes a large number of infections worldwide. New infections seem to be increasing according to a report of the World Health Organization in 2015. Although direct-acting antivirals are quite effective for most genotypes of the HCV, some genotypes fail to respond.

Health-related quality of life in Chinese population with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a national multicenter survey.

Background: Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is a multi-dimensional construct that can comprehensively evaluate the patient's health status, including physical, emotional, mental and social well-being. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on HRQL in a Chinese population.

Methods: In this national multicenter cross-sectional survey, patients with NAFLD were enrolled.

Histopathology and the predominantly progressive, indeterminate and predominately regressive score in hepatitis C virus patients after direct-acting antivirals therapy.

Background: Histological changes after direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) therapy in hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients has not been elucidated. Whether the predominantly progressive, indeterminate and predominately regressive (P-I-R) score, evaluating fibrosis activity in hepatitis B virus patients has predictive value in HCV patients has not been investigated.

Aim: To identify histological changes after DAAs therapy and to evaluate the predictive value of the P-I-R score in HCV patients.

Impact of hepatitis C virus genotype 3 on liver disease progression in a Chinese national cohort.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3, particularly subtype 3b, is increasing in prevalence and distribution in China. This study evaluated the prevalence, regional distribution, clinical characteristics, host factors, treatment outcomes, and disease progression of patients with HCV genotype 3 in China.

Methods: A 5-year follow-up was preceded by a cross-sectional study.

qFIBS: An Automated Technique for Quantitative Evaluation of Fibrosis, Inflammation, Ballooning, and Steatosis in Patients With Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis.

Background And Aims: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common cause of chronic liver disease. Clinical trials use the NASH Clinical Research Network (CRN) system for semiquantitative histological assessment of disease severity. Interobserver variability may hamper histological assessment, and diagnostic consensus is not always achieved.

Risk factors for familial clustering of hepatitis C virus infection in a Chinese Han population: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Hepatitis C is a curable disease, but reinfection from household contact may occur in patients who have achieved sustained viral response (SVR).

Methods: A total of 997 ethnic Han HCV treatment-naïve adult patients were enrolled in a cross-sectional study with stratified sampling based on the populations of five geographic regions across China to examine the genetic and physiological parameters associated with the phenomenon of HCV familial clustering.

Results: Of the total 997 patients, there were 59 patients who had at least one family member with HCV infection according to patient self-report.

Second Harmonic Generation Reveals Subtle Fibrosis Differences in Adult and Pediatric Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Objectives: Investigate subtle fibrosis similarities and differences in adult and pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) using second harmonic generation (SHG).

Methods: SHG/two-photon excitation fluorescence imaging quantified 100 collagen parameters and determined qFibrosis values by using the nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) Clinical Research Network (CRN) scoring system in 62 adult and 36 pediatric NAFLD liver specimens.

Results: Six distinct parameters identified differences among the NASH CRN stages with high accuracy (area under the curve, 0835-0.

Automated evaluation of liver fibrosis in thioacetamide, carbon tetrachloride, and bile duct ligation rodent models using second-harmonic generation/two-photon excited fluorescence microscopy.

Animal models provide a useful platform for developing and testing new drugs to treat liver fibrosis. Accordingly, we developed a novel automated system to evaluate liver fibrosis in rodent models. This system uses second-harmonic generation (SHG)/two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) microscopy to assess a total of four mouse and rat models, using chemical treatment with either thioacetamide (TAA) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl), and a surgical method, bile duct ligation (BDL).

Hepatitis B virus infection in Chinese patients with hepatitis C virus infection: prevalence, clinical characteristics, viral interactions and host genotypes: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Little is known about hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in China. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, clinical characteristics, viral interactions and host genotypes of HBV/HCV dual infection compared with HCV monoinfection.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes of HCV treatment-naive patients in China: an interim analysis from the CCgenos study.

Background And Aim: In China, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a considerable healthcare burden. Although interferon-based therapy has been the standard-of-care for many years, few long-term, real-life studies have assessed interferon-based treatment in China. The objective of CCgenos follow-up study was to analyze long-term treatment patterns and outcomes in a cohort of treatment-naïve, Han ethnic, patients with chronic HCV infection.

CD4+CXCR5+ T cells activate CD27+IgG+ B cells via IL-21 in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes the skewing and activation of B cell subsets, but the characteristics of IgG+ B cells in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection have not been thoroughly elucidated. CD4+CXCR5+ follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, via interleukin (IL)-21 secretion, activate B cells. However, the role of CD4+CXCR5+ T cells in the activation of IgG+ B cells in CHC patients is not clear.

Direct-acting Antiviral Agents Resistance-associated Polymorphisms in Chinese Treatment-naïve Patients Infected with Genotype 1b Hepatitis C Virus.

Background: It has been reported that several baseline polymorphisms of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) agents resistance-associated variants (RAVs) would affect the treatment outcomes of patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (CHC). The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of DAAs RAVs in treatment-naÏve GT1b CHC patients.

Methods: Direct sequencing and ultra-deep sequencing of the HCV NS3, NS5A, and NS5B gene were performed in baseline serum samples of treatment-naÏve patients infected with genotype 1b hepatitis C virus (HCVs).

Early predictive efficacy of core antigen on antiviral outcomes in genotype 1 hepatitis C virus infected patients.

Response-guided therapy is of limited use in developing countries because hepatitis C virus RNA detection by sensitive molecular methods is time- and labor-consuming and expensive. We evaluated early predictive efficacy of serum hepatitis C virus core antigen kinetics on sustained virologic response in patients with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus during pegylated interferon plus ribavirin treatment. For 478 patients recruited, hepatitis C virus RNAs were detected at baseline, and at weeks 4, 12, 24, 48, and 72 using Cobas TaqMan.

Prevalence and characterization of hepatitis B and C virus infections in a needle-sharing population in Northern China.

Background: The epidemiologies of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in specific populations in certain areas of China are poorly understood. A pilot survey of HCV/HBV infections was carried out in villages in Kuancheng County, Heben Province, where injection of sodium benzoate or amphetamines using shared needles has been a common practice. The aims of this study were to analyze the endemicity and characterize HCV/HBV infections in this population.

Hepatitis C virus core antigen, an earlier and stronger predictor on sustained virological response in patients with genotype 1 HCV infection.

Background: Earlier kinetics of serum HCV core antigen (HCVcAg) and its predictive value on sustained virological response (SVR) were investigated in patients with genotype 1 HCV infection during antiviral treatment.

Methods: In a multi-centered, randomized and positive drug-controlled phase IIb clinical trial on type Y peginterferon α-2b ( NCT01140997), forty-eight CHC patients who participated in pharmacokinetics were randomly divided into 4 cohorts and treated with PegIFNα (type Y peginterferon α-2b 90 μg, 135 μg, 180 μg and PegIFNα-2a 180 μg, respectively, once a week) and ribavirin (< 75 kg, 1000 mg daily and ≥ 75 kg, 1200 mg daily) for 48 weeks, and then followed up for 24 weeks. 32 patients infected with genotype 1 HCV and completed the whole process were included in this study.

[Effect of antiviral therapy on the prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis B-related cirrhosis].

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis to study the effect of antiviral therapy on the prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related cirrhosis.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese Biomedical Database, Chinese Journals Full-text Database, and Wan Fang Digital Journal Full-text Database were searched for studies on nucleoside analogues antiviral treatment outcome of patients with CHB-related cirrhosis (vs. controls without antiviral therapy) published between January 1998 and March 2012.

Etiological features of cirrhosis inpatients in Beijing, China.

Background: The etiological spectrum of cirrhosis has changed over the years, but our knowledge of it is limited. The present study aimed to investigate the etiological features of cirrhosis inpatients and their variation in the past 18 years in Beijing.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients with cirrhosis diagnosed for the first time in Peking University People's Hospital from January 1, 1993, to October 25, 2010.

Impact of interleukin 28B polymorphisms on spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus infection: a meta-analysis.

Background And Aim: Recent studies suggested that interleukin 28B (IL28B) polymorphisms may affect spontaneous clearance (SC) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Our purpose was to update the meta-analysis to reevaluate the impact of IL28B rs12979860 and rs8099917 polymorphisms on SC in patients infected with HCV.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase up to February 2013.

Effects of interferon-alpha treatment on the incidence of hyperglycemia in chronic hepatitis C patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: There is a significant association between effects of interferon-alpha treatment and the risk of developing hyperglycemia in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis on the basis of published observational studies was to estimate risk of hyperglycemia in chronic HCV patients who had acquired sustained virological responses (SVR) compared to those without SVR.

Methodology: We identified eligible studies by searching the relevant databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Google, for papers published between January 1990 and April 2011.