Serum keratin-18 fragments as cell death biomarker in association with disease progression and prognosis in hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis.

Extensive hepatocyte death leads to hepatic inflammation and contributes to systemic inflammation in decompensated cirrhosis. We aimed to investigate the prognostic value of serum cell death markers in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute decompensation (AD) of cirrhosis with and without acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). We studied two cohorts-cohort 1: 201 outpatients with stable chronic hepatitis B (49 cirrhosis); cohort 2: 232 inpatients with HBV-related cirrhosis admitted for AD.

Correlation between hepatic human males absent on the first (hMOF) and viral persistence in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a global health dilemma with high morbidity and mortality. Human males absent on the first (hMOF) (a histone acetyltransferase) is responsible for DNA damage repair, tumorigenesis and cell cycle regulation. Persistence of HBV DNA contributes to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in CHB patients.

Serum hepatocyte apoptosis biomarker predicts the presence of significant histological lesion in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Background: Hepatocyte death, either apoptosis or necrosis, is closely associated with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.

Aims: To investigate the potential values of hepatocytes death biomarker, M30 (apoptosis) and M65 (total death) in predicting histological lesions in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: Total 201 treatment-naïve patients were prospectively recruited.

A five years study of antiviral effect of entecavir in Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients.

Entecavir (ETV) is a potent viral replication inhibitor for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. To investigate the efficacy of ETV in Chinese nucleos(t)ide(NA)-experienced CHB patients. Among 89 CHB patients with ETV monotherapy for ≥6 months, 33/89 (37%) or 56/89 (73%) were NA-naïve or NA-experienced.

Randomized clinical trial: Nucleos(t)ide analogues improved survival of CHB-related HCC patients via reducing severity and progression of malignancy.

Background: The influence of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) to treat Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be explored.

Aim: To investigate if NAs reduce the severity and progression of CHB-related HCC.

Results: Among 532 patients, there were 118 or 414 CHB-related HCC with or without NAs therapy, respectively.

Protective effect of Th22 cells and intrahepatic IL-22 in drug induced hepatocellular injury.

Background & Aims: Th22 cells regulate host immunity against pathogenic invasion, including protecting host against chronic hepatitis B; however, the relationship between drug induced liver injury (DILI) and Th22/Th17 cells is still unclear. We investigated the role of Th22 cells in DILI development.

Methods: The frequencies of peripheral Th22/Th17/Th1 cells and intrahepatic IL-22/IL-17 production from DILI, non-DILI liver diseases, and healthy controls were examined.