Metformin exerts anti-liver fibrosis effect based on the regulation of gut microbiota homeostasis and multi-target synergy.

Liver fibrosis can progress to cirrhosis if left untreated. Therefore, identifying effective antifibrotic drugs is crucial. This study aimed to investigate the role and potential mechanism of metformin in treating hepatic fibrosis based on the synergistic effect of multiple targets and the "intestine-liver axis" theory.

FAPP2 Accelerates the Proliferation and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling.

Four-phosphate adaptor-2 (FAPP2) has been recently identified as a tumor-associated regulator that is closely related to tumorigenesis. However, the precise role of FAPP2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still largely unknown. This study was designed to determine the function and molecular mechanisms of FAPP2 in HCC.

miRNA-486-5p Promotes COPD Progression by Targeting HAT1 to Regulate the TLR4-Triggered Inflammatory Response of Alveolar Macrophages.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progression and the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Materials And Methods: Aberrant miRNA expression profiles between smokers and nonsmokers, and those between COPD patients and normal subjects were analyzed using microarray datasets and reverse-transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of inflammatory cytokines in cell supernatants.

Concurrent measurement of dynamic changes in viral load, serum enzymes, T cell subsets, and cytokines in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infection caused by a novel Bunyavirus. Analysis on the dynamic changes of clinical, laboratory, and immunological abnormalities associated with SFTS in a concurrent study is lacking. Thirty-three SFTS patients were admitted to Jiangsu People's Hospital, Nanjing, China, and diagnosis was made based on the clinical symptoms and positive viral RNA detected by RT-PCR.

A case of brucellosis displaying Parkinsonian-like tremor.

We report a rare case of brucellosis with Parkinsonian-like tremor and simple partial motor seizure. This patient worked as a sheep butcher and the sheep were imported from brucellosis-endemic areas. He presented with classical manifestations of brucellosis; infection was confirmed using the Rose Bengal Plate and Standard Tube Agglutination tests.

[Hepatitis B e antigen from chronic hepatitis B patients induces Th1/Th2 cytokine imbalance in vitro].

Objective: To study the immunoregulatory effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) e antigen (HBeAg) on peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs).

Methods: PBMCs were isolated from patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB; both HBeAg- and HBeAg+) and healthy controls, and cultured with recombinant HBeAg. The HBeAg-induced changes in expression of PD-1/PD-L1 were measured by flow cytometry of the cells and in secreted cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of the supernatants.

[Role of T lymphocyte activation in the development of severe fever accompanied by thrombocytopenia syndrome].

Objective: To explore the effect of peripheral blood T lymphocyte activation on the blood cells, tissue injury and the development of disease in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS).

Methods: The expressions of CD69, HLA-DR, CD28 and CTLA-4 on peripheral blood T lymphocytes were determined dynamically by flow cytometry and the relationships between the above immune molecules and ALT, AST, leukocytes, platelets were analyzed respectively.

Results: The expressions of CD69 and HLA-DR on peripheral blood T lymphocytes in patients with SFTS were elevated significantly during the whole course of disease (P<0.

[The influence of hepatitis B e antigen on the expression of toll-like receptor 2 on peripheral monocytes].

Objectives: In order to investigate the relationship among the toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), hepatitis B e antigen and HBV DNA, the expression levels of TLR2 on peripheral blood monocytes of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients as well as on their monocytes stimulated by ligand of TLR2 (Pam3CSK4) and HBeAg were analyzed.

Methods: Sixty-eight adults with CHB were enrolled, including 37 HBeAg-positive patients, 17 HBeAg-negative and HBV DNA negative patients, and 14 HBeAg-negative and HBV DNA positive patients. Sixteen healthy volunteers were also studied as controls.