SU5, a new Auraptene analog with improved metabolic stability, ameliorates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in methionine- and choline-deficient diet-fed db/db mice.

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) has been considered as a promising target for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), while existing FXR agonists suffer from serious side effects. Thus, it is very necessary to identify novel FXR agonists with good safety. Auraptene (AUR) is a new FXR agonist with excellent safety and extensive pharmacological activities, while the lactone of AUR is vulnerable to esterolysis.

Nitroglycerin ameliorates liver injury and regulates adaptive immunity in mice.

This study aimed to assess the protective effect of nitroglycerin, a commonly used drug in cardiovascular diseases, on mice with acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl ). The mice were randomly divided into three groups: control, CCl , and CCl  + nitroglycerin. They were killed at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after treatment.

MiR-195 regulates CD40 to maintain Th17/Treg balance in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Purpose: This study aims to explore the relationship between miR-195 and CD40 and its effect on Th17/Treg balance in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: We established rat models of NAFLD and made seven groups, Normal group (without modeling), Model group (model rats), NC group (model rats injected with negative control vector), miR-195 OE group (model rats injected with miR-195 mimic), anti-miR-195 group (model rats injected with miR-195 inhibitor), Si-CD40 group (model rats injected with CD40 silencing vector), and anti-miR-195+Si-CD40 group (model rats injected with miR-195 inhibitor and CD40 silencing vector). Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay verified the targeting relationship between miR-195 and CD40.

Elevated serum prostaglandin E2 predicts the risk of infection in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure patients.

Objective: To evaluate the serum Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) level in Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and determine its predicative value for infection.

Methods: From April 2014 to April 2015, ninety-one patients with hepatitis B virus and ACLF but without infection were enrolled into this prospective study that was carried out at our Hospital. Twenty patients with stable chronic hepatitis B were enrolled from the outpatient department and twenty healthy control subjects without any disease were enrolled from hospital staff.

miR-203a is involved in HBx-induced inflammation by targeting Rap1a.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes acute and chronic hepatitis, and is one of the major causes of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation is the key factor for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. MicroRNAs play important roles in many biological processes.

Plasma exchange-centered artificial liver support system in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a nationwide prospective multicenter study in China.

Background: Plasma exchange (PE)-centered artificial liver support system reduced the high mortality rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). But the data were diverse in different medical centers. The present prospective nationwide study was to evaluate the effects of PE on patients with HBV-ACLF at different stages.

Hepatitis B surface antigen quantification at hepatitis B e antigen seroconversion predicts virological relapse after the cessation of entecavir treatment in hepatitis B e antigen-positive patients.

Objectives: To assess off-treatment virological relapse rates and to determine the role of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) quantification in predicting virological relapse after stopping entecavir (ETV) treatment in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: One hundred and twelve CHB patients for whom ETV was stopped in accordance with the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver guidelines stopping rules were enrolled. Patient HBsAg and HBV DNA levels were monitored every 4-12 weeks during ETV treatment and after ETV cessation.

Natural YMDD-motif mutants affect clinical course of lamivudine in chronic hepatitis B.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of nature tyrosine-methionine-aspartic acid-aspartic acid motif mutations in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and to evaluate the efficacy of lamivudine.

Methods: A total of 1268 CHB patients were recruited from the outpatient and inpatient departments of six centers. Tyrosine-methionine-aspartic acid-aspartic acid (YMDD) mutations were analyzed using the hepatitis B virus (HBV) drug resistance line probe assay.

T helper cell dysregulation with hepatitis B and rebalance with glucocorticoids.

Aim: To investigate T helper 17/regulatory T cell alterations in early severe hepatitis B and the effect of glucocorticoids.

Methods: The study included 20 patients in the early stage of severe hepatitis B (SHB) and 11 healthy controls. All patients had elevated T helper 17 (Th17) levels, decreased regulatory T (Treg) cell levels, and significant Th17/Treg ratios.

Clinical findings in 111 cases of influenza A (H7N9) virus infection.

Background: During the spring of 2013, a novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus emerged and spread among humans in China. Data were lacking on the clinical characteristics of the infections caused by this virus.

Methods: Using medical charts, we collected data on 111 patients with laboratory-confirmed avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) infection through May 10, 2013.

YMDD motif mutations in chronic hepatitis B antiviral treatment naïve patients: a multi-center study.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the natural prevalence of variants of tyrosine-methionine-aspartic acid-aspartic acid (YMDD) motif in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and to explore its relation with demographic and clinical features, hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes, and HBV DNA levels.

Methods: A total of 1,042 antiviral treatment naïve CHB patients (including with lamivudine [LAM]) in the past year were recruited from outpatient and inpatient departments of six centers from December 2008 to June 2010. YMDD variants were analyzed using the HBV drug resistance line probe assay (Inno-Lipa HBV-DR).

Biopsy from the base and edge of gastric ulcer healing or complete healing may lead to detection of gastric cancer earlier: an 8 years endoscopic follow-up study.

Background/aims: To assess the incidence of gastric cancer development in gastric benign ulcer patients and to evaluate the value of biopsy by taking specimens from both the base and edges of ulcers in contrast to the traditional biopsy which takes specimens from the edges of ulcers only.

Methodology: An endoscopic followup of more than 1 year was conducted on 456 gastric ulcer patients in our hospital for a duration over 8 years. We collected clinical, endoscopic and pathological data and obtained at least 6 biopsies from both the edges and the bases of ulcers healing or complete healing, respectively and assessed H.

Biopsy from the base of gastric ulcer may find gastric cancer earlier.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common malignancies in the world; however, its exact mechanism of development which may be relevant to many factors is still unclear, such as age, diet, Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking, polyps, chronic gastric ulcer and so on. Chronic gastric ulcer is considered as precancerous lesion of gastric cancer. The above-mentioned diseases are usually diagnosed by endoscopy and biopsy.

Establishment of a new quantitative detection approach to adefovir-resistant HBV and its clinical application.

Aim: To establish the more feasible and sensitive assessment approach to the detection of adefovir (ADV) resistance-associated hepatitis B virus (HBV) quasispecies.

Methods: Based on the characteristics of rtA181V/T and rtN236T mutations, a new approach based on real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was established for the detection of ADV-resistant HBV quasispecies, total HBV DNA, rtA181 and rtN236 mutations in blood samples from 32 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with unsatisfactory curative effect on ADV and compared with routine HBV DNA sequencing.

Results: Both the sensitivity and specificity of this new detection approach to ADV-resistant HBV quasispecies were 100%, which were much higher than those of direct HBV DNA sequencing.

[Relationship between the gene mutations of mannose binding protein and the progression of hepatitis B infection].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the gene mutations of mannose binding protein(MBP) and the progression of hepatitis B.

Methods: The MBP gene mutations in 52 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 62 patients with severe hepatitis B and 64 HBsAg-negative healthy controls were investigated. The mutations in MBP gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing.

[Serum levels and clinical significance of soluble CD40 in liver disease].

Aim: To measure the level of serum soluble CD40 (sCD40) in patients with acute hepatitis, hepatitis gravis and primary carcinoma of the liver, and to evaluate the relationship of sCD40 with biochemical marks and disease prognosis.

Methods: Patients with acute hepatitis (n=49) hepatitis gravis (n=22) and primary carcinoma of the liver (n=13) were studied, and serum sCD40 was determined in these patients and compared with that of healthy controls (n=44) by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The binding capacity of serum sCD40 to its ligand CD40L was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) in vitro.

Hybrid artificial liver support system for treatment of severe liver failure.

Aim: To construct a novel hybrid artificial liver support system (HALSS) and to evaluate its efficacy in patients with severe liver failure.

Methods: Hepatocytes were isolated from suckling pig by the modified Seglen's method. Isolated hepatocytes were cultured in a spinner flask for 24 h to form spheroids before use and the functions of spheroids were detected.

[Clinical study of treatment with continuous renal replacement therapy on severe hepatitis with hepatic encephalopathy].

Objective: To evaluate clinical significance and the therapeutic mechanisms of the treatment with continuous renal replacement therapy on severe hepatitis with hepatic encephalopathy.

Methods: Forty-seven cases were randomly divided into three groups: continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) group, plasma exchange (PE)+CRRT group and basic treatment group. The former two groups were respectively operated by CRRT and PE+CRRT with basic treatment.