The efficacy of antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatic steatosis.

Background & Aims: With a drastic increase in the number of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with coexisting nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), there is an urgent need to evaluate antiviral treatment effects in this special population.

Methods: CHB patients with hepatic steatosis (CHB + HS) were prospectively recruited with followed-up of 3 years. HS and liver fibrosis were assessed by transient elastography.

Disease severity and antiviral response in patients with chronic hepatitis B with non-obese NAFLD.

Background: The burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is growing in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). NAFLD is typically associated with obesity, however, it is increasingly being identified in non-obese patients. This study aimed to investigate disease severity and antiviral response in non-obese patients with CHB with NAFLD (CHB + NAFLD).

Research on the influence mechanism of green finance on the quality of green innovation of private enterprises: evidence from China.

In the context of the "peak carbon dioxide emissions" and "carbon neutrality" strategic goals, how green finance can prompt private enterprises to achieve green upgrading has become an important issue to be solved. This paper empirically examines the effect mechanism of green credit policy on private enterprises' green innovation by using the difference-in-differences model based on the manually collected green patent data and matching financial data of Chinese listed private enterprises from 2009 to 2019. It is found that the implementation of green credit policy has a significant negative impact on the quality of green innovation of heavy-polluting private firms relative to non-heavy-polluting private firms, and this conclusion is still valid after replacing the explanatory variables, expanding the sample range, changing the model setting, and excluding the interference of other policies during the sample period.

FGL2-MCOLN3-Autophagy Axis-Triggered Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Exacerbate Liver Injury in Fulminant Viral Hepatitis.

Background & Aims: Fulminant viral hepatitis (FVH) is a life-threatening disease, but its pathogenesis is not fully understood. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were an unrecognized link between inflammation and coagulation, which are 2 main features of FVH. Here, we investigated the role and mechanism of NETs in the pathogenesis of FVH.

Hepatic exosomes with declined MiR-27b-3p trigger RIG-I/TBK1 signal pathway in macrophages.

Background And Aims: Evidence suggests that interferon alpha (IFNα) plays an essential role in decreasing the HBsAg quantification and elevating the rate of clinical cure in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the mechanisms underlying the effects of the exosomes on the expression of host genes in IFNα treatment remain unclear.

Methods: CHB patients with IFNα treatment were divided into responders and non-responders according to the degree of HBsAg decline.

The mechanism underlying extrapulmonary complications of the coronavirus disease 2019 and its therapeutic implication.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly transmissible disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that poses a major threat to global public health. Although COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system, causing severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome in severe cases, it can also result in multiple extrapulmonary complications. The pathogenesis of extrapulmonary damage in patients with COVID-19 is probably multifactorial, involving both the direct effects of SARS-CoV-2 and the indirect mechanisms associated with the host inflammatory response.

End-of-treatment HBcrAg and HBsAb levels identify durable functional cure after Peg-IFN-based therapy in patients with CHB.

Background & Aims: Functional cure can be sustained in a proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who lose hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) after pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFN-ɑ)-based treatment. In this study, we aimed to identify biomarkers associated with a durable functional cure and to dissect potential immunological mechanisms.

Methods: Of 257 nucleos(t)ide analogue-suppressed patients with CHB in the ANCHOR study, 80 patients randomly assigned to 96-week Peg-IFN-α-based therapy with 24-week off-treatment follow-up were included in this parallel study.

Insufficient immunity led to virologic breakthrough in NAs-treated chronic hepatitis B patients switching to Peg-IFN-ɑ.

Background: Virologic breakthrough (VBT) may occur in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients after switching from nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) to pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFN-ɑ). This study aimed to characterize the clinical and immunological features of VBT.

Methods: In NAs-treated patients switching to Peg-IFN-ɑ, innate and adaptive immune cell proportions were examined in peripheral blood and liver biopsy specimens.

Twelve-Month Systemic Consequences of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Patients Discharged From Hospital: A Prospective Cohort Study in Wuhan, China.

Background: Follow-up study of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survivors has rarely been reported. We aimed to investigate longitudinal changes in the characteristics of COVID-19 survivors after discharge.

Methods: A total of 594 COVID-19 survivors discharged from Tongji Hospital in Wuhan from February 10 to April 30, 2020 were included and followed up until May 17, 2021.

Lower Serum Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Level in Relation to Hyperinflammation and Impaired Antiviral Immune Response Contributes to Progression of COVID-19 Infection.

Introduction: As a homologue of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been identified as the main receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) invasion. We aimed to investigate the role of serum ACE in predicting the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disease progression and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 120 patients with confirmed COVID-19 who underwent serum ACE detection on admission.

Clinical analysis and a novel risk predictive nomogram for 155 adult patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Recently, more and more attention has been paid on adult hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a disease with complicated symptoms and high mortality. In order to analyze the clinical characteristics and prediction risk factors of mortality, we designed a retrospective study with 1-year follow-up and included 155 patients admitted to Tongji Hospital diagnosed as HLH. One hundred seven patients formed the training cohort for nomogram development, and 48 patients formed the validation cohort to confirm the model's performance.

CAPRL Scoring System for Prediction of 30-day Mortality in 949 Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Wuhan, China: A Retrospective, Observational Study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a serious and even lethal respiratory illness. The mortality of critically ill patients with COVID-19, especially short term mortality, is considerable. It is crucial and urgent to develop risk models that can predict the mortality risks of patients with COVID-19 at an early stage, which is helpful to guide clinicians in making appropriate decisions and optimizing the allocation of hospital resoureces.

Pegylated Interferon-ɑ (IFN-ɑ) Enhances the Inhibitory Effect of Natural Killer Cells on Regulatory T Cells via IFN-γ in Chronic Hepatitis B.

The immunomodulatory role of natural killer (NK) cells has been recognized recently, but its effects on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) during chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and treatment remain unclear. A total of 116 nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA)-treated CHB patients were included. An inverse correlation between the peripheral frequencies of NK cells and Tregs was found in NA suppressed patients following pegylated interferon-ɑ (PegIFN-ɑ)-based treatment.

Immunological Characteristics in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Among COVID-19 Patients.

Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04365634.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors of liver injury in COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study from Wuhan, China.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly become a major international public health concern. This study was designed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of COVID-19-associated liver injury.

Methods: A fraction of 657 COVID-19 patients were retrospectively analyzed.

Longitudinal changes of inflammatory parameters and their correlation with disease severity and outcomes in patients with COVID-19 from Wuhan, China.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a newly emerging infectious disease and rapidly escalating epidemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The pathogenesis of COVID-19 remains to be elucidated. We aimed to clarify correlation of systemic inflammation with disease severity and outcomes in COVID-19 patients.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in immunocompromised patients: humoral versus cell-mediated immunity.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic placed unprecedented pressure on various healthcare systems, including departments that use immunotherapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and immunosuppression therapy in organ transplantation units. The true impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on immunocompromised CAR T-cell therapy recipients and kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) has not yet been established.

Case Presentation: In this report, we compare two patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia in either the humoral or cell-mediated immunodeficient states.

Interferon-Induced Macrophage-Derived Exosomes Mediate Antiviral Activity Against Hepatitis B Virus Through miR-574-5p.

Background: Interferon alfa (IFN-α) has been proved effective in treating chronic hepatitis B (CHB), owing to its ability to suppress hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear.

Methods: We investigated the antiviral activities of exosomes from responders and nonresponders to pegylated IFN-α (PegIFN-α) as well as the supernatants of IFN-α-treated macrophages derived from THP-1 (the human leukemia monocyte cell line).

Clinical and immunological features of severe and moderate coronavirus disease 2019.

BACKGROUNDSince December 2019, an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged in Wuhan, and is now becoming a global threat. We aimed to delineate and compare the immunological features of severe and moderate COVID-19.METHODSIn this retrospective study, the clinical and immunological characteristics of 21 patients (17 male and 4 female) with COVID-19 were analyzed.

Clinical characteristics of 113 deceased patients with coronavirus disease 2019: retrospective study.

Objective: To delineate the clinical characteristics of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) who died.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China.

Superinfective Hepatitis E Virus Infection Aggravates Hepatocytes Injury in Chronic Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a major cause of morbidity in endemic areas. Its consequences among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients have been under-reported. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of superinfective HEV infection (acute and past) on virological and clinical features of patients with CHB infection.

Sequential combination therapy with interferon, interleukin-2 and therapeutic vaccine in entecavir-suppressed chronic hepatitis B patients: the Endeavor study.

Background: Switching from nucleos(t)ide analogues to interferon (IFN) improves hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss. We aimed to evaluate whether combining immunomodulators such as interleukin-2 (IL-2) and therapeutic vaccine with IFN enhances HBsAg loss in entecavir (ETV)-suppressed patients.

Methods: Ninety-four patients exhibiting virological suppression and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss following ETV treatment were randomized 1:1:1 to receive ETV (group I) or IFN (group II) for 48 weeks, or IFN and vaccine for 48 weeks plus IL-2 for 12 weeks (group III).

Roadmap to functional cure of chronic hepatitis B: An expert consensus.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection continues to be a major public health issue worldwide. HBsAg loss is associated with functional remission and improved long-term outcome, and is considered to be a 'functional cure' (also referred to as clinical or immunologic cure) for chronic hepatitis B. This ideal goal of therapy can be achieved using optimized combination regimens with direct-acting antivirals [eg nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs)] and immunomodulators [eg pegylated interferon alpha2a (Peg-IFN)] in selected patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Immune response pattern varies with the natural history of chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Chronic hepatitis B is a highly heterogeneous disease that can be divided into four phases: Immune tolerant (IT), immune active (IA), inactive carrier (IC) and hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg)-negative hepatitis (ENEG).

Aim: To investigate the immune status of natural killer (NK) and T cells in different phases of chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: The frequency, phenotype and function of circulating NK cells, as well as nonantigen-specific and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific T cell responses were detected by flow cytometry in healthy and HBV-infected subjects.