Host proteins interact with viral elements and affect the life cycle of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus H7N9.

Host-virus interactions can significantly impact the viral life cycle and pathogenesis; however, our understanding of the specific host factors involved in highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus H7N9 (HPAI H7N9) infection is currently restricted. Herein, we designed and synthesized 65 small interfering RNAs targeting host genes potentially associated with various aspects of RNA virus life cycles. Afterward, HPAI H7N9 viruses were isolated and RNA interference was used to screen for host factors likely to be involved in the life cycle of HPAI H7N9.

Effect of Artificial Liver Support Systems on Gut Microbiota in Patients with HBV-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

Hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is a rare and severe form of end-stage liver disease with high mortality; gut microbes are strongly associated with the development of this severe liver disease but the exact association is unclear. Artificial liver support systems (ALSS) are clinically important in prolonging the waiting time for liver transplantation and in aiding drug therapy to achieve remission. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ALSS on the abundance and diversity of microorganisms in the gut of HBV-ACLF patients.

Screening and Validation Potential Therapeutic Marker of Early to Middle Stage ACLF Patients Treated by ALSSs.

Background: Artificial liver support systems (ALSSs) are important approaches for treating acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients. Few studies have investigated potential serum therapeutic markers of ACLF patients treated by ALSSs.

Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 57 early to middle stage ACLF patients before and after ALSSs treatment and analyzed by metabonomics.

The hepatoprotective effect of aspirin on carbon tetrachloride‑induced hepatic fibrosis via inhibition of TGFβ‑1 pathway and pro‑inflammatory cytokines IL‑1β and COX‑2 in rats.

Aspirin decreases liver fibrosis index and inflammation levels. However, the exact mechanism underlying the effects of aspirin are yet to be elucidated. The aim of the study was to investigate the potential protective effects of aspirin on carbon tetrachloride (CCl)-induced hepatic fibrosis in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Preparation and evaluation of alendronate sodium solid lipid nanoparticles with high oral bioavailability in rats.

Low oral bioavailability of alendronate sodium (ALE) significantly limits its clinical application. However, few studies focus on preparing ALE solid lipid nanoparticles (ALE-SLNs) and investigating its oral bioavailability in vivo due to highly hydrophilic property of ALE. In this study, ALE-SLNs were prepared through high-speed shearing combined with ultrasonic treatment method.

Diagnostic accuracy of red blood cell distribution width to platelet ratio for predicting liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B: A meta-analysis.

Objective: This study aims to systematically review the performance of red blood cell distribution width to platelet ratio (RPR) in the diagnosis of significant or advanced fibrosis, and cirrhosis associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: The relevant studies were comprehensively searched in English databases such as Web of Science, PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, as well as Chinese databases such as China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data from the inception to March 2021. Accuracy of RPR in diagnosing significant or advanced fibrosis and liver cirrhosis was assessed by area under the curve (AUC), pooled sensitivity and specificity, as well as positive and negative likelihood ratios.

Simultaneous or Prior Activation of Intrahepatic Type I Interferon Signaling Leads to Hepatitis B Virus Persistence in a Mouse Model.

It remains controversial how interferon (IFN) response contributes to hepatitis B virus (HBV) control and pathogenesis. A previous study identified that hydrodynamic injection (HI) of type I IFN (IFN-I) inducer polyinosinic-poly(C) [poly(I·C)] leads to HBV clearance in a chronic HBV mouse model. However, recent studies have suggested that premature IFN-I activation in the liver may facilitate HBV persistence.

Natural Killer Cells Regulate the Maturation of Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells Thereby Promoting Intrahepatic T-Cell Responses in a Mouse Model.

Functional maturation of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) plays an important role in intrahepatic T-cell activation and control of viral infections. Natural killer (NK) cells have been reported to prompt the maturation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), especially for dendritic cells (DCs), but the interaction between NK cells and LSECs is elusive. Here, we investigated whether and how NK cells are involved in regulating LSEC maturation and if this has a role in controlling hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a mouse model.

Impact of the Gut Microbiome on the Progression of Hepatitis B Virus Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure.

The relationship between the progression of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) and the gut microbiota is poorly understood, and an HBV-ACLF-related microbiome has yet to be identified. In this study alterations in the fecal microbiome of 91 patients with HBV-ACLF (109 stool samples), including a cohort of nine patients at different stages of HBV-ACLF, were determined by high-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing. The operational taxonomic units and Shannon indexes indicated that the diversity and abundance of the gut microbiome significantly decreased with the progression of HBV-ACLF (p <0.

Dynamic changes of T cell receptor repertoires in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background And Aims: T cell-mediated immune injury plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF). Given the high short-term mortality and crucial role of T cells in the disease progression, it is necessary to investigate the dynamics of T cell clones during HBV-ACLF. The aim of this study was to longitudinally investigate dynamic changes in the composition and perturbation of T cell receptor β (TCRβ) chain repertoires and to determine whether TCR repertoire characteristics were associated with HBV-ACLF patient outcomes.

lncRNA SNHG7 sponges miR-425 to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatic carcinoma cells via Wnt/β-catenin/EMT signalling pathway.

Increasing evidence has indicated the important roles of long noncoding RNA small nucleolar RNA host gene 7 (SNHG7) in tumourigenesis as a potential oncogene. However, the function of SNHG7 in hepatic carcinoma remains unclear. In the present study, we found that SNHG7 expression was significantly upregulated in hepatic carcinoma tissues, especially in aggressive cases, and it was closely correlated with the poor prognosis.

Metabonomics of d-glucaro-1,4-lactone in preventing diethylnitrosamine-induced liver cancer in rats.

Context: d-Glucaro-1,4-lactone (1,4-GL) exists in many vegetables and fruits. Metabonomics has not been used to investigate the role of 1,4-GL in preventing liver cancer.

Objective: The pharmacological effects and metabolite alterations of 1,4-GL on the prevention of diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver cancer were investigated.

Improved drug targeting to liver tumor by sorafenib-loaded folate-decorated bovine serum albumin nanoparticles.

Background: To prepare sorafenib-loaded folate-decorated bovine serum nanoparticles (FA-SRF-BSANPs) and investigate their effect on the tumor targeting.

Methods: The nanoparticles were characterized and evaluated by in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Results: SRF-loaded BSA nanoparticles (SRF-BSANPs) was first prepared and modified with folic acid by chemical coupling to obtain FA-SRF-BSANPs.

Discovery and Validation of Potential Serum Biomarkers for Pediatric Patients with Congenital Heart Diseases by Metabolomics.

To identify and screen serum biomarkers to determine pediatric patients with congenital heart diseases (PCH) from healthy control children (NC), a total of 614 clinically diagnosed subjects from three hospitals, including 491 PCH and 234 NC, were enrolled for nontargeted proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H NMR)-based and targeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (UPLC-MS/MS)-based metabolomics studies. Nineteen serum metabolites distinguishing PCH from NC were identified by H NMR-based metabolomic analysis. The amino acid and choline metabolic pathways were considered to be closely related to PCH.

Diagnosis of acute pediatric appendicitis from children with inflammatory diseases by combination of metabolic markers and inflammatory response variables.

Background: The discovery of new metabolic markers may be helpful for early diagnosis of acute pediatric appendicitis (APA). However, no studies have been reported regarding identification of potential metabolic markers for the APA diagnosis by metabonomics.

Methods: Serum samples of APA (n=32), non-appendicitis inflammation (NAI, n=32) and healthy children (HS, n=65) were analyzed by the 1H NMR-based metabonomics.

Improved Oral Bioavailability and Liver Targeting of Sorafenib Solid Lipid Nanoparticles in Rats.

Minimal information is available on the oral bioavailability and liver-targeting properties of sorafenib solid lipid nanoparticles (SRF-SLNs) in rats. In this study, SRF-SLNs were prepared via the combined methods of high-speed shearing and ultrasonic treatment. SRF-SLN formulations were also optimized.

[Inhibitive mechanisms of Pim-3 affecting fulminant hepatic apoptosis].

To investigate the mechanisms of serine/threonine kinase Pim-3 inhibition of fulminant hepatic apoptosis. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8 each): normal controls (A); pretreatment with Ringer's solution (B), vector plasmid (C), or Pim-3 recombinant plasmid (D) by hydrodynamics-based procedure followed by intraperitoneal injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and D-galactosamine (D-GalN) after one day. At 8 h after the LPS/D-GalN injections, liver tissues were collected from all groups of mice and analyzed for cell apoptosis by detecting caspase-3 activity (measured in relative fluorescence units, RFU).

[Role of hepatocellular apoptosis and mechanisms of liver injury in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver failure in D-galactosamine-sensitized rats].

Objective: To investigate the situation of hepatocellular apoptosis in D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-sensitized rats with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute liver failure and the mechanisms of liver injury therein.

Methods: Forty eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 equal groups to be injected peritoneally with LPS (50 microg/kg) and D-GalN (300 mg/kg) (treatment groups) or normal saline of the same volume (control groups), and then were killed 6, 24, or 48 hours later. Blood samples were collected from the portal vein or vena cava inferior to detect the contents of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), livers were take out to detect the hepatocellular apoptosis by TUNEL assay or ultrastructural observations, and the expressions of iNOS, p53, and p21waf1/cip1 gene were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).