Comprehensive analysis of lncRNA-associated competing endogenous RNA network and immune infiltration in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a life-threatening lung disorder with an unknown aetiology. The roles of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and its related competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network in IPF remains poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to build a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and explore the pathogenesis of IPF.

Bioinformatics Analysis of Prognostic Tumor Microenvironment-Related Genes in the Tumor Microenvironment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Growing evidence shows that the tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present work aimed to screen tumor microenvironment-related genes strongly related to prognosis and to construct a prognostic gene expression model for HCC. MATERIAL AND METHODS We downloaded gene expression data of 371 HCC patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Development and validation of a novel immune-related prognostic model in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Growing evidence has suggested that immune-related genes play crucial roles in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, the utility of immune-related genes for evaluating the prognosis of HCC patients are still lacking. The study aimed to explore gene signatures and prognostic values of immune-related genes in HCC.

Identification of key genes and pathways associated with Crohn's disease by bioinformatics analysis.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. The present study aimed to identify key genes and significant signaling pathways associated with CD by bioinformatics analysis. A total of 179 CD patients and 94 healthy controls from nine genome-wide gene expression datasets were included.

Weighted Gene Coexpression Network Analysis Identifies Key Genes and Pathways Associated with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

BACKGROUND Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a life-threatening disease with an unknown etiology. Gene expression microarray data have provided some insights into the molecular mechanisms of IPF. This study aimed to identify key genes and significant signaling pathways involved in IPF using bioinformatics analysis.

Effect of granulocyte colony stimulating EPC on cardiac function and myocardial energy expenditure in patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction.

Objective: To study the changes of cardiac function and myocardial energy expenditure following treatment with granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction.

Methods: Thirty-eight patients with heart failure after myocardial infarction were randomized into G-CSF treatment group and control group. All the patients received conventional treatment (medication and interventional therapy), and the patients in treatment group were given additional G-CSF (600 μg/day) for 7 consecutive days.

In vitro activities of sitafloxacin tested alone and in combination with rifampin, colistin, sulbactam, and tigecycline against extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Objectives: To detect the in vitro activities of sitafloxacin alone and in combination with rifampin, colistin, sulbactam, and tigecycline against extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDR-A. baumannii).

Materials And Methods: 24 XDR-A.

The prevalence of Escherichia coli strains with extended spectrum beta-lactamases isolated in China.

The extended-spectrum-lactamases-producing Escherichia coli has rapidly spread worldwide. Escherichia coli has been becoming much more resistant to β-lactam antibiotics and other commonly available antimicrobials. We investigated the prevalence, resistance, and probable gene type of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) using minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

The combination of decoy receptor 3 and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 for the diagnosis of nosocomial bacterial meningitis.

Background: Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment can significantly reduce mortality of nosocomial bacterial meningitis. However, it is a challenge for clinicians to make an accurate and rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. This study aimed at determining whether combined biomarkers can provide a useful tool for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.

Hepatitis B virus infection and replication in a new cell culture system established by fusing HepG2 cells with primary human hepatocytes.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is strictly species and tissue specific, therefore none of the cell models established previously can reproduce the natural infection process of HBV in vitro. The aim of this study was to establish a new cell line that is susceptible to HBV and can support the replication of HBV.

Methods: A hybrid cell line was established by fusing primary human hepatocytes with HepG2 cells.

Predictive value of decoy receptor 3 in postoperative nosocomial bacterial meningitis.

Nosocomial bacterial meningitis requires timely treatment, but what is difficult is the prompt and accurate diagnosis of this disease. The aim of this study was to assess the potential role of decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) levels in the differentiation of bacterial meningitis from non-bacterial meningitis. A total of 123 patients were recruited in this study, among them 80 patients being with bacterial meningitis and 43 patients with non-bacterial meningitis.

In vitro activities of rifampin, colistin, sulbactam and tigecycline tested alone and in combination against extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro activities of rifampin, colistin, sulbactam and tigecycline alone and in combination against extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (XDR-Ab). Twenty-five XDR-Ab strains were isolated from patients. Broth microdilution assay was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for rifampin, colistin, sulbactam and tigecycline against XDR-Ab strains.

Prevalence of alcoholic liver disease and its association with socioeconomic status in north-eastern China.

Background: Alcohol consumption has substantially increased in China during the last 3 decades. Socioeconomic status (SES) most likely influences the development of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in Chinese people who excessively consume alcohol. At the present time, however, little information is available in this field.

Expression of hepatitis B virus 1.3-fold genome plasmid in an SV40 T-antigen-immortalized mouse hepatic cell line.

Aim: To investigate the expression of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) 1.3-fold genome plasmid (pHBV1.3) in an immortalized mouse hepatic cell line induced by SV40 T-antigen (SV40T) expression.

Epidemiology and clinical features of rotavirus and norovirus infection among children in Ji'nan, China.

Background: Acute gastroenteritis caused by bacteria, virus and parasite is an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Rotavirus and norovirus have been recognized as the most common pathogens causing acute gastroenteritis among children. However, there is still no valuable data about infections of rotavirus and norovirus in children in Ji'nan, an eastern city in China.

antibacterial activity of combinations of fosfomycin, minocycline and polymyxin B on pan-drug-resistant .

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of combinations of fosfomycin, minocycline and polymyxin B in the treatment of pan-drug-resistant (PDR-Ab). The antibacterial activities of the drugs were evaluated by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI). A total of 25 strains of PDR-Ab were selected using the VITEK32 microbial analysis instrument and the Kirby-Bauer (K-B) method.

Clinical and molecular epidemiology of norovirus infection in adults with acute gastroenteritis in Ji'nan, China.

Acute gastroenteritis caused by human noroviruses (NoVs) has become an important public health problem worldwide. This study was carried out to investigate the rates of NoV infections and the genetic characteristics of NoVs in adult outpatients with acute gastroenteritis in Ji'nan, a large eastern city in China. A total of 480 fecal samples were collected from outpatients at the Shandong University Qilu Hospital between June 2010 and May 2011.

Type 2 diabetes and hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Type 2 diabetes has been suggested as an independent risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of Type 2 diabetes on the development of HCC in the presence of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains inconclusive. We conducted this hospital-based case-control study to evaluate the roles of Type 2 diabetes in HCC development in patients with CHB.

Hepatitis B virus infection and replication in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a blood borne infectious disease that affects the liver. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) may serve as a cell source for adult stem cell transplantation in liver repair. However, the susceptibility of human BMSCs to HBV infection is poorly understood.

Role of oxidative/nitrative stress in hepatic encephalopathy induced by thioacetamide.

The study was designed to reveal the pathogenic mechanism of peroxynitrite in hepatic encephalopathy (HE), assess oxidative/nitrative stress in relation to HE induced by thiacetamide (TAA) and provide new ideas and scientific basis for the etiology and treatment of HE. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups randomly: A (control), B (model), C (ebselen) and D (solvent). All the groups were treated with TAA by intraperitoneal (i.

[A sero-epidemiologiecal study on hepatitis B among general population in Beijing].

Objective: To explore the serological infection rate of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in general population aged over one year old in Beijing and to provide information for control and prevention of the disease.

Methods: A multistage randomized cluster sampling was carried out in general population of Beijing, aged over one year old. Every study subject's hepatitis B immunization history and main risk factors were investigated through questionnaire.

Envelope glycoproteins of hantavirus can mediate cell-cell fusion independently.

Hantaviruses (HTVs) are enveloped viruses and can induce low PH-dependent cell fusion. In this report we molecularly cloned viral glycoproteins (GPs) cDNA and nucleocapsid (NP) cDNA of two strains of Hantaan virus and one strain of Seoul virus and expressed in Vero E6 cells under control of a CMV promoter. The examinations of viral gene expressions were carried out by IFA and immune-precipitation.

Defining the N-linked glycosylation site of Hantaan virus envelope glycoproteins essential for cell fusion.

The Hantaan virus (HTNV) is an enveloped virus that is capable of inducing low pH-dependent cell fusion. We molecularly cloned the viral glycoprotein (GP) and nucleocapsid (NP) cDNA of HTNV and expressed them in Vero E6 cells under the control of a CMV promoter. The viral gene expression was assessed using an indirect immunofluorescence assay and immunoprecipitation.

Influence of HLA-DRB1 alleles and HBV genotypes on interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis B.

Aim: To investigate the influence of HLA-DRB(1) alleles and HBV genotypes on interferon-alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: HLA-DRB1*03, *07, *09, *12, *15 alleles were determined using polymerase chain reaction/sequence specific primer (PCR/SSP) technique in 126 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 76 normal control subjects in Shandong Province, and HBV genotypes were determined by nested-PCR analysis using type-specific primers in 126 patients.

Results: The positivity of HLA-DRB1*07 allele in chronic hepatitis B group was significantly higher than that in normal control group (chi(2) = 6.

[Quantitative detection of intrahepatic hepatitis B virus DNA in patients with chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To study the relationships between intrahepatic HBV DNA level and serum HBV DNA level, between intrahepatic HBV DNA level and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) level in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and assess the valuation of pretreatment liver HBV DNA level in antivirus therapy.

Methods: Liver specimens taken from 41 HBeAg-positive CHB patients before antivirus treatment were divided into two parts, one for histological examination, and the other for intrahepatic HBV DNA quantified detection by PCR-fluorescence. At the same time, serum levels of HBV DNA and HBeAg were detected.