Serum IL-5 levels predict HBsAg seroclearance in patients treated with Nucleos(t)ide analogues combined with pegylated interferon.

Background: Knowing about cytokine profile contributes to clarify the underling immune mechanism of HBsAg seroclearance rate increase. This study aims to investigate cytokine changes during nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and peginterferon-α (Peg-IFNα) therapy and their impact on the HBsAg serologic response.

Methods: A total of 78 HBV DNA-negative chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) patients were studied after a lead-in phase of NAs with complete serum cytokines.

Liver injury in patients with COVID-19: clinical profiles, CT findings, the correlation of the severity with liver injury.

Background And Aims: Liver injury is found in some of patients with COVID-19. Liver injury of COVID-19 patients based on severity grading and abdominal radiological signs have not been reported until now. The aim of our study is to determine clinical profiles of the patients based on severity grading, describe abdominal radiological signs, and investigate the correlations of the severity with clinical profiles and radiological signs.

Efficacy of a combination of HBV RNA and HBeAg in predicting HBeAg seroconversion in patients treated with entecavir for 144 weeks.

Background: In some previous studies, serum hepatitis B virus RNA (HBV RNA) was proposed as an HBV viral marker during therapy. However, the dynamic change of HBV RNA, the correlation of HBV RNA with cccDNA, and the combination of HBV RNA with known HBV markers in predicting entecavir (ETV) treatment outcome in the same cohort are rarely reported.

Methods: A total of 111 HBeAg-positive patients were enrolled in our study.

Longitudinal characteristics of lymphocyte responses and cytokine profiles in the peripheral blood of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

Background: The dynamic changes of lymphocyte subsets and cytokines profiles of patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their correlation with the disease severity remain unclear.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were longitudinally collected from 40 confirmed COVID-19 patients and examined for lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry and cytokine profiles by specific immunoassays.

Findings: Of the 40 COVID-19 patients enrolled, 13 severe cases showed significant and sustained decreases in lymphocyte counts [0·6 (0·6-0·8)] but increases in neutrophil counts [4·7 (3·6-5·8)] than 27 mild cases [1.

Rhabdomyolysis as Potential Late Complication Associated with COVID-19.

We describe a patient in Wuhan, China, with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection who had progressive pulmonary lesions and rhabdomyolysis with manifestations of lower limb pain and fatigue. Rapid clinical recognition of rhabdomyolysis symptoms in patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection can be lifesaving.

Overlapping and discrete aspects of the pathology and pathogenesis of the emerging human pathogenic coronaviruses SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and 2019-nCoV.

First reported from Wuhan, The People's Republic of China, on 31 December 2019, the ongoing outbreak of a novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) causes great global concerns. Based on the advice of the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee and the fact that to date 24 other countries also reported cases, the WHO Director-General declared that the outbreak of 2019-nCoV constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020. Together with the other two highly pathogenic coronaviruses, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), 2019-nCov and other yet to be identified coronaviruses pose a global threat to public health.

Differential escape of HCV from CD8 T cell selection pressure between China and Germany depends on the presenting HLA class I molecule.

Adaptation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) to CD8 T cell selection pressure is well described; however, it is unclear if HCV differentially adapts in different populations. Here, we studied HLA class I-associated viral sequence polymorphisms in HCV 1b isolates in a Chinese population and compared viral substitution patterns between Chinese and German populations. We identified three HLA class I-restricted epitopes in HCV NS3 with statistical support for selection pressure and found evidence for differential escape pathways between isolates from China and Germany depending on the HLA class I molecule.

Inhibitory effect of miR-125b on hepatitis C virus core protein-induced TLR2/MyD88 signaling in THP-1 cells.

Aim: To investigate the role of miR-125b in regulating monocyte immune responses induced by hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein.

Methods: Monocytic THP-1 cells were treated with various concentrations of recombinant HCV core protein, and cytokines and miR-125b expression in these cells were analyzed. The requirement of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) or MyD88 gene for HCV core protein-induced immune responses was determined by the transfection of THP-1 cells with gene knockdown vectors expressing either TLR2 siRNA or MyD88 siRNA.

Individual 5-Fluorouracil Dose Adjustment via Pharmacokinetic Monitoring Versus Conventional Body-Area-Surface Method: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Recent studies suggest that 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) dosing by use of pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters is superior to the traditional body surface area (BSA) method in colorectal cancer therapy. The purpose of this study was to compare the estimated efficacy and toxicity of the use of PK-guided versus BSA-based dose adjustment of 5-FU in advanced cancers.

Methods: The authors searched from electronic databases (up to September, 2014) and abstracts presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology held between 2000 and 2014 for studies comparing the response rate and toxicity in 5-FU-based chemotherapy.

Involvement of TLR2-MyD88 in abnormal expression of miR-146a in peripheral blood monocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

miR-146a is an immunoregulatory microRNA closely associated with viral infection. This study investigated the expression changes of miR-146a in peripheral blood monocytes of HCV-infected patients and the mechanism by which the THP-1 cells were stimulated with HCV core protein in vitro. It was found that in the peripheral blood monocytes of HCV-infected patients, miR-146a expression was upregulated.

Detection and evaluation of immunofunction of patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV) with a high fatality rate. But the immunofunction was still unclear. The objective of our study was to assess the immunofunction in SFTS patients.

Effect of the protease inhibitor MG132 on the transforming growth factor-β/Smad signaling pathway in HSC-T6 cells.

The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and their transformation to myofibroblasts are the key steps in the pathological progress of liver fibrosis. The transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)/Smad pathway is involved in the proliferation and collagen synthesis of HSCs. This study aimed to examine the effect of the protease inhibitor MG132 on the signaling pathway of TGFβ/Smad in HSC-T6 cells and seek a novel therapeutic approach for liver fibrosis.

Distribution of hepatitis B virus genotypes and its clinical significance in Hubei province, China.

The distribution of hepatitis B virus genotype in Hubei province and its clinical significance were investigated. HBV genotypes of 276 patients were detected by PCR-microplate sandwich hybridization-ELISA technique. The level of HBV DNA was detected by using PCR-fluorescence quantification test.

[Study on the effect of heluoshugan capsule on liver fibrosis induced by Schistosoma japonicum infection in mice].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Chinese traditional medicine heluoshugan capsule on liver fibrosis induced by Schistosoma japonicum infection in mice.

Methods: Liver fibrosis in mice was established by Schistosoma japonicum infection in 6 weeks. Suspension of heluoshugan prepared with normal saline was given orally to the mice, 2 capsules for 20 mice daily for 8 weeks.