Effects of vitamin D supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and risk factors for insulin resistance.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease featured by insulin resistance (IR) and decreased insulin secretion. Currently, vitamin D deficiency is found in most patients with T2DM, but the relationship between vitamin D and IR in T2DM patients requires further investigation.

Aim: To explore the risk factors of IR and the effects of vitamin D supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with T2DM.

Hyaluronic Acid Nanoparticles Based on a Conjugated Oligomer Photosensitizer: Target-Specific Two-Photon Imaging, Redox-Sensitive Drug Delivery, and Synergistic Chemo-Photodynamic Therapy.

Self-assembled hyaluronic acid (HA) nanoparticles have been extensively investigated as anticancer therapeutic agents due to the biocompatibility, biodegradability, and active targeting characteristics of HA. However, many HA nanoparticles are restricted to the applications in drug delivery for chemotherapy or lack effective imaging agents. Hence, we developed the camptothecin (CPT)-loaded HA-SS-BFVPBT nanoparticles (HSBNPs) as a multifunctional platform for two-photon imaging and synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy at the same time.

Hepatitis C virus core protein induces dysfunction of liver sinusoidal endothelial cell by down-regulation of silent information regulator 1.

Hepatic fibrosis is a frequent feature of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Some evidence has suggested the potential role of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) in organ fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HCV core protein on expression of SIRT1 of liver sinusoidal endothelial cell (LSEC) and function of LSEC.

Factors influencing the functional significance in intermediate coronary stenosis.

Objective: To analyze the influencing factors of the functional significance determined by fractional flow reserve (FFR) in intermediate coronary artery stenosis.

Methods: The study enrolled 143 patients with 203 intermediate coronary lesions. Pressure-derived FFR of these lesions was gained at maximal hyperemia induced by intravenous adenosine infusion.

Endocannabinoid system activation contributes to glucose metabolism disorders of hepatocytes and promotes hepatitis C virus replication.

Background: Insulin resistance is highly prevalent in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and to some extent accounts for fibrosis and reducing viral eradication. Activated cannabinoid 1 receptor (CB1R) signaling has been implicated in the development of phenotypes associated with insulin resistance and steatosis. We investigated the role of the endocannabinoid system in glucose metabolism disorders induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication.

[Inhibition of silent information regulator-1 in hepatocytes induces lipid metabolism disorders and enhances hepatitis C virus replication].

Objective: To investigate the role of the host-encoded silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) on hepatocytes' lipid metabolism under conditions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and assess its potential effects on virus replication in vitro.

Methods: The Huh-7.5 human hepatocyte cell line was used as the control group and Huh-7.

Inhibition of silent information regulator 1 induces glucose metabolism disorders of hepatocytes and enhances hepatitis C virus replication.

Background And Objective: Glucose metabolism disorders including insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes are frequent and important cofactors of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) plays a key role in the regulation of hepatic glucose metabolism. We investigated the possible effect of HCV replication on glucose metabolism of hepatocytes and expression of SIRT1 using Huh-7.

Hepatitis C virus core protein induces hepatic metabolism disorders through down-regulation of the SIRT1-AMPK signaling pathway.

Background: Steatosis and insulin resistance induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are, at least in part, critical factors for the progression of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and can influence the outcome of antiviral treatment. Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) play a key role in the regulation of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible effect of HCV core protein on energy, glucose, and lipid metabolism of hepatocytes and expression of SIRT1 and AMPK.

Silent information regulator 1 inhibition induces lipid metabolism disorders of hepatocytes and enhances hepatitis C virus replication.

Aim: Hepatic steatosis is an important histopathological feature of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) plays key role in regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism. We investigated the possible effect of HCV replication on lipid metabolism of hepatocytes and expression of SIRT1 using Huh-7.

[The impact of serum total bilirubin level on long-term prognosis in patients with chronic heart failure].

Objective: To analyze the relationship between serum total bilirubin coincident with congestive heart failure (CHF) exacerbation and subsequent long-term mortality in patients with CHF.

Methods: The study population consisted of 140 consecutive patients admitted for CHF exacerbation with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 45%. They were divided into 2 groups according to whether death attacked or not in the following 28.

[Association between fractional flow reserve and quantitative coronary angiography parameters in intermediate coronary artery stenosis].

Objective: To explore the relationship between quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) parameters and fractional flow reserve (FFR) for identifying ideal angiographic parameters predictive of myocardial ischemia.

Methods: The study included 121 lesions with QCA and FFR data from 106 patients [mean age: (63 ± 10) years]. The lesions were grouped into FFR > 0.

[A study of the relationship between neutropenia and clinical infection risk during treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between neutropenia (ANC) incidence and infection during treatment with peginterferon alfa and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 399 patients treated with peginterferon and ribavirin derived from database of Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University was conducted. The incidence of infections and their relation with ANC were investigated.

The effect of metformin on the efficacy of antiviral therapy in patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C and insulin resistance.

Objectives: Insulin resistance (IR) affects sustained virological response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of adding metformin to peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin on the efficacy in patients with genotype 1 CHC and IR.

Methods: Ninety-eight patients with genotype 1 CHC and IR were randomized into the treatment group (n=49) and the control group (n=49).

Efficacy and factors influencing treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in elderly patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: In China, hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is characterized by an increasing prevalence during aging. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in elderly chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients and study the factors related to the sustained virologic response (SVR).

Methods: The medical records of 417 patients treated with peginterferon and ribavirin were retrospectively analyzed.

[Impact of age and sex on virologic responses of peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin treatment in chronic hepatitis C].

Objective: To investigate the impact of age and sex on virologic responses rates to peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Methods: The medical records of 449 chronic hepatitis C patients, treated with peginterferon and ribavirin in Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into three groups according to age: patients < 40 years (n = 131), patients 40 - 50 years (n = 131) and patients > 50 years (n = 187).

The study of relationship between neutropenia and infection during treatment with peginterferon α and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: Neutropenia is frequent during treatment of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with peginterferon and ribavirin. It remains unclear whether neutropenia is associated with infection in CHC. The aim was to study the relationship between neutropenia and infection during treatment with peginterferon and ribavirin for CHC.

Impact of sex on virologic response rates in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C patients with peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin treatment.

Objectives: The relationship between patient sex and the effectiveness of peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin treatment in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of sex on virologic responses rates in genotype 1 CHC patients.

Methods: A matched retrospective cohort study of 630 genotype 1 patients treated with peginterferon and ribavirin derived from our hospital database was conducted.

Lamivudine treatment is associated with improved survival in fulminant hepatitis B.

Objective: Fulminant hepatitis B is a clinical syndrome that results from massive necrosis of liver cells leading to the development of hepatic encephalopathy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lamivudine in patients with fulminant hepatitis B and study the prognostic factors.

Methods: A matched retrospective cohort study using data on fulminant hepatitis B patients derived from our hospital database was conducted.

Influential factors of prognosis in lamivudine treatment for patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.

Background And Aims: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health issue, and the prognosis of patients with HBV-associated acute-on-chronic hepatic failure (ACLF) is extremely poor. In this study, the efficacy of lamivudine was investigated in patients with ACLF. The effects of HBV DNA load and its related factors on the prognosis were also further explored.

The study of efficacy of lamivudine in patients with severe acute hepatitis B.

Background And Aim: Severe acute hepatitis B is a rapid deterioration of liver function, which carries a high mortality rate. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of lamivudine in patients with severe acute hepatitis B.

Methods: In this study, 80 patients with severe acute hepatitis B were randomly divided into lamivudine and the control group.

Analysis of the efficacy of treatment with peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in patients coinfected with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus.

Objective: To study the virological features of patients coinfected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the efficacy of combination therapy with peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin in these patients.

Methods: The epidemiological and virological data of 50 patients coinfected with HBV and HCV were analysed. The virological response rates of patients treated with peginterferon alpha-2a and ribavirin between the HBV and HCV coinfection group and the HCV monoinfection group were compared.

Prediction value of model for end-stage liver disease scoring system on prognosis in patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure after plasma exchange and lamivudine treatment.

Background And Aim: We used the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scoring system to predict the 3-month prognosis of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) after plasma exchange (PE) and lamivudine treatment, and studied the predictive factors on the prognosis of patients.

Methods: A total of 280 patients treated with lamivudine were randomly divided into PE and control groups. The relationship between mortality and influential factors of patients was studied by univariate and multivariate analysis.

The MELD scoring system for predicting prognosis in patients with severe hepatitis after plasma exchange treatment.

Background: Hepatic failure caused by severe hepatitis is a clinical syndrome where the major liver functions, particularly detoxification, synthetic functions, and metabolic regulation are impaired to different degrees, and may result in major life-threatening complications such as hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, jaundice, cholestasis, bleeding and hepatorenal syndrome. Plasma exchange (PE) has been found useful in treating patients with fulminant hepatic failure by removing hepatic toxins and replacement of clotting factors, so PE treatment has temporary supportive effects on liver failure caused by severe viral hepatitis. In this study, our aim was to predict the prognosis of patients with severe hepatitis after PE treatment using the end-stage liver disease (MELD) scoring system.

Predictive value of rapid virological response and early virological response on sustained virological response in HCV patients treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin.

Background And Aim: The therapeutic effect of pegylated interferon (peg-IFN)-alpha-2a combination with ribavirin on patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is dependent on the rapidity of the virological response. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive value of rapid virological response (RVR) and early virological response (EVR) on sustained virological response (SVR) in HCV patients treated with peg-IFN-alpha-2a and ribavirin.

Methods: The HCV genotypes of 105 patients with chronic hepatitis C were detected by enzyme-immunoassay.