Collagen-binding vascular endothelial growth factor attenuates CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) serves an important role in promoting angiogenesis and tissue regeneration. However, the lack of an effective delivery system that can target this growth factor to the injured site reduces its therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, in the current study, collagen‑binding VEGF was constructed by fusing a collagen‑binding domain (CBD) to the N‑terminal of native VEGF.

Red cell distribution width as a potential index to assess the severity of hepatitis B virus-related liver diseases.

Aim: To investigate the association between red cell distribution width (RDW) and the severity of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver diseases.

Methods: Sixty-nine patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 61 patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis were enrolled in the present study. Forty-one healthy individuals were included as controls.

Immunomodulatory effects of polysaccharopeptide in immunosuppressed mice induced by cyclophosphamide.

Polysaccharopeptide (PSP) is well known for its immunoregulatory effects. In the present study, the effect of PSP on white blood cell (WBC) count, T lymphocyte subsets, B lymphocytes, Th1/Th2 balance and negative immune regulators was investigated using an immunosuppressed mouse model. The results demonstrated that the WBC count and the absolute number of CD3+CD4+ T cells, CD3+CD8+ T cells and CD3‑CD19+ B cells in the peripheral blood were increased in PSP‑treated groups as compared with the cyclophosphamide (Cy) group.

Association between cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 +49A/G polymorphism and persistent hepatitis B virus infection in the Asian population: evidence from the current studies.

Aims: A number of studies assessed the association between cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) +49A/G polymorphism and persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection risk. However, the results are quite contradictory. In order to obtain a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed.