Glia Maturation Factor-β Supports Liver Regeneration by Remodeling Actin Network to Enhance STAT3 Proliferative Signals.

Background & Aims: Glia maturation factor-β (GMFB) is a bona fide member of the actin depolymerizing factor homology family. Recently, emerging evidence suggested its implication in liver diseases, but data on its role in liver remain limited.

Methods: Assessment of GMFB in liver histology, impact on liver regeneration and hepatocyte proliferation, and the underlying molecular pathways were conducted using mouse models with acute liver injury.

Ultrasonic spleen thickness-based indexes surpass Baveno VI criteria in high-risk gastroesophageal varices detection.

Aims: To evaluate the efficiency of ultrasonic spleen thickness (UST), routine variables and (expanded) Baveno VI criteria for high-risk gastroesophageal varices (HRGOV) detection in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: In total, 305 cirrhotic patients were retrospectively enrolled in the deriving cohort and 328 cirrhotic patients with hepatitis B sustained viral response were prospectively enrolled in the validation cohort. HRGOV was defined as medium and severe gastroesophageal varices (GOV), mild GOV with red signs or Child-Pugh C.

Alterations in gut microbiota and elevated serum bilirubin in primary biliary cholangitis patients treated with ursodeoxycholic acid.

Background: The prognosis of primary bile cholangitis (PBC) is linked to gut microbiota dysbiosis. This study investigated the association between the gut microbiome and elevated total bilirubin (TB) level in PBC patients treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UCDA).

Methods: A total of 47 PBC patients with 12 months of UCDA treatment were enrolled.

Alanine aminotransferase influencing performances of routine available tests detecting hepatitis B-related cirrhosis.

The performances of routine tests such as FIB-4 and APRI in detecting cirrhosis and significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have been shown to be discrepant between studies. Novel tests such as red cell distribution width-platelet ratio (RPR), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase to platelet ratio (GPR) and easy liver fibrosis test (eLIFT) are introduced recently. To evaluate the aminotransferase influence on the performance of these routine tests, a total of 1005 CHB patients who underwent liver biopsies and routine tests were retrospectively analysed.

Influence of Gender and Reproductive Factors on Liver Fibrosis in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Infection.

Introduction: The role of reproductive factors in the development of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains unknown. We assessed the potential contributions of gender, menopausal status, and menarche age to liver fibrosis in CHB.

Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study included 716 women and 716 age-matched men with CHB who were not currently receiving antiviral therapy.

Impacts of cigarette smoking on liver fibrosis and its regression under therapy in male patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: The role of cigarette smoking in the development of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains poorly understood. We assessed the potential contributions of cigarette smoking to liver fibrosis and its regression after starting antiviral therapy in CHB patients.

Methods: In this cohort study, 2144 consecutive male CHB patients under no antiviral therapy were evaluated and 206 patients with significant liver fibrosis (≥F2) initiating antiviral therapy had longitudinal follow-up.

T helper cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Objective: To investigate the compositions of Th1/Th2/Th3 cells in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected individuals by determining the expression of interleukin-4 (IL-4), inetrferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and transform growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in single CD4(+) T cells isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the role of polarized Th cell populations in chronic HBV-infection was discussed.

Methods: PBMCs from chronically infected HBV individuals were isolated, stimulated by PMA/Ionomycin/Monensin, and IL-4, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta production by CD4(+) T cells was determined by using fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis.

Results: The percentage of IFN-gamma-producing T cells, IL-4-producing T cells and TGF-beta-producing T cells ranged from 2.

Cloning and expression of core gene cDNA of Chinese hepatitis C virus in cosmid pTM3.

AIM:To clone core gene cDNA of Chinese hepatitis C virus (HCV) into eukaryotic expression vector cosmid pTM3 and to express HCV core antigen in HepG2 cells.METHODS:Core gene cDNA of HCV was introduced into eukaryotic expression vector cosmid pTM3.Using vaccinia virus/bacteriophage T7 hybrid expression system, HepG2 cells were transfected with the recombinant plasmid pTM3-Q534 by lipofectin.