Comparison of Serum Hepatitis B Virus RNA Levels and Quasispecies Evolution Patterns between Entecavir and Pegylated-Interferon Mono-treatment in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA may independently predict virological and serological response. This study aimed to compare dynamic changes in serum HBV RNA levels and HBV quasispecies evolution patterns between entecavir and pegylated-interferon mono-treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients and to determine the clinical significance during treatment. TaqMan real-time PCR was used for quantitative analysis.

Polymorphisms of genes related to vitamin D metabolism and transportation and its relationship with the risk of osteoporosis: protocol for a multicentre prospective cohort study in China.

Introduction: Osteoporotic fracture is one of the most common causes of disability and a major contributor to medical care costs in many regions of the world. The polymorphisms of genes related to vitamin D metabolism and transportation are associated with variation in bone mineral density and the risk of osteoporosis.

Methods And Analysis: The China Community-based Cohort of Osteoporosis study is an observational, longitudinal, multicentre, prospective cohort study for middle-aged and older permanent residents of China, which has been ongoing in six cities since 2016.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide ameliorates radiation-induced cardiac injury.

Radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is a common sequelae of thoracic irradiation. Currently, there is no effective prevention and treatment strategy. Oxidative stress is associated with the development of RIHD.

Serum M2BPGi level is a novel predictive biomarker for the responses to pegylated interferon-α treatment in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Serum Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi) level was found to be a useful prognostic marker for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients treated with nucleoside/nucleotide analogs (NUCs) therapy, and the aim of our study is to evaluate the clinical implementation of M2BPGi level in the prediction of antiviral responses to pegylated-interferon-α (PEG-IFN-α) treatment in HBeAg-positive CHB patients. Ninety-six CHB patients who received PEG-IFN-α treatment for at least 48 weeks were recruited. The serum M2BPGi, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HBeAg, and HBV DNA levels at baseline, weeks 4, 12, and 24 after PEG-IFN-α treatment were determined and their associations with antiviral responses were evaluated and the virological response (VR) rate and serological response (SR) rate after 48 weeks of treatment were 65.

Pharmacokinetics and effects of demographic factors on blood 25(OH)D3 levels after a single orally administered high dose of vitamin D3.

Aim: To examine the biological consequences and demographic factors that might affect the pharmacokinetics of vitamin D3 after a single high dose intervention in a young Chinese population with vitamin D insufficiency status.

Methods: A total of 28 young subjects (25 to 35 years old) with vitamin D insufficiency status [serum 25(OH)D <30 ng/mL] was recruited in Shanghai, China. The subjects were orally administered a single high dose of vitamin D3 (300 000 IU).

Pungent ginger components modulates human cytochrome P450 enzymes in vitro.

Aim: Ginger rhizome is used worldwide as a spicy flavor agent. This study was designed to explore the potential effects of pungent ginger components, 6-, 8-, and 10-gingerol, on human cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes that are responsible for the metabolism of many prescription drugs.

Methods: The activities of human CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 were analyzed using Vivid P450 assay kits.

Dihydroartemisinin promotes angiogenesis during the early embryonic development of zebrafish.

Aim: To investigate the embryotoxicity of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), the main active metabolite of artemisinin, in zebrafish, and explore the corresponding mechanisms.

Methods: The embryos of wild type and TG (flk1:GFP) transgenic zebrafish were exposed to DHA. Developmental phenotypes of the embryos were observed.

Fatty acid desaturase 1 polymorphisms are associated with coronary heart disease in a Chinese population.

Background: A recent genome-wide association study in Caucasians revealed that three loci (rs174547 in fatty acid desaturase 1 (FADS1), rs2338104 near mevalonate kinase/methylmalonic aciduria, cobalamin deficiency, cblB type (MVK/MMAB) and rs10468017 near hepatic lipase (LIPC)) influence the plasma concentrations of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). However, there are few reports on the associations between these polymorphisms and plasma lipid concentrations in Chinese individuals. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between these three polymorphisms with HDL-C and TG concentrations, as well as coronary heart disease (CHD) susceptibility in Chinese individuals.