Existing problems and new advice on stage criteria of natural history for chronic hepatitis B.

The natural stages of chronic hepatitis B can be divided into four stages according to changes in virology, biochemistry, and pathology. However, there have been significant differences in the recommended stage criteria in the several major guidelines for chronic hepatitis B, especially regarding the immune tolerance phase. Inconsistent standards of indicators for different stages resulted in some problems, such as incorrect stage, uncertain stages and poor comparation of related studies.

A Mendelian randomization study investigating causal links between gut microbiota or metabolites and chronic hepatitis B.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the potential causal relationship between the gut microbiota and/or its metabolites and the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Method: The gut microbiota was used as the exposure factor. The training set exposure data were obtained from the China Nucleotide Sequence Archive (CNSA).

Corrigendum: High expression of nectin-1 indicates a poor prognosis and promotes metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.

High expression of nectin-1 indicates a poor prognosis and promotes metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objectives: Nectins are a new class of cell-adhesion molecules that play an important role in tumorigenesis and disease progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic and pathogenetic roles of nectins in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The expression levels of the nectin family in HCC and their role in prognosis were analyzed by bioinformatics analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) liver hepatocellular carcinoma database.

Development and validation of epithelial mesenchymal transition-related prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Epithelial cell transformation (EMT) plays an important role in the pathogenesis and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to establish a genetic risk model to evaluate HCC prognosis based on the expression levels of EMT-related genes. The data of HCC patients were collected from TCGA and ICGC databases.

Effect of portal vein thrombosis on the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis without a liver transplant: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a relatively common complication of cirrhosis. However, the effect of PVT on the prognosis might not be unequivocal. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to investigate the effect of PVT on the prognosis of patients with cirrhosis who have not received a liver transplant.

miRNA-548ah promotes the replication and expression of hepatitis B virus by targeting histone deacetylase 4.

Aim: Many studies have shown that some microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. In this study, we aimed to explore the role and molecular mechanism of miRNA-548ah in the replication and expression of the hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Main Methods: Overexpression and knockdown of miRNA-548ah were performed in three hepatoma cell lines with HBV replication and in a murine HBV model injected with adenovirus HBV vector.

HBeAg Seroconversion in HBeAg-Positive Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Receiving Long-Term Nucleos(t)ide Analog Treatment: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: HBeAg seroconversion is an important intermediate outcome in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. This study aimed to compare the effect of nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) on HBeAg seroconversion in treating CHB with lamivudine, adefovir, telbivudine, entecavir, and tenofovir.

Methods: Network meta-analysis of NA treatment-induced HBeAg seroconversion after 1-2 years of treatment was performed.

Expression profile and clinical significance of miRNAs at different stages of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Objective: To study the expression profile and clinical significance of microRNAs (miRNAs) at different stages of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Methods: The miRNA expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at different stages of chronic HBV infection were screened using miRNA microarray and validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results: Significant differences in miRNA expression profiles of PBMCs were observed between patients in IA and IT phases of CHB.

Screening and bioinformatic analysis of microRNA-associated immune clearance in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Objective: This study aimed to perform screening and bioinformatic analysis of microRNA (miRNA) molecules associated with immune clearance in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of CHB patients and healthy individuals were collected and detected by microarray. The target genes of differentially expressed miRNA molecules were predicted using three databases.

Non-invasive Analysis of Genomic Copy Number Variation in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Next Generation DNA Sequencing.

To explore new molecular diagnosis approaches for early detection and differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we analyzed genomic copy number variations (CNV) using plasma cell-free DNA from patients with HCC by next generation DNA sequencing. Plasma samples from 31 patients with HCC and 8 patients with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis were analyzed. In HCC group, most samples with large tumor size (tumor dimension greater than 50 mm) showed CNVs that are visually recognizable at chromosome CNV plots, few samples with small tumor and none samples with chronic liver diseases showed CNVs recognizable at CNV plots.

MiRNA-548ah, a potential molecule associated with transition from immune tolerance to immune activation of chronic hepatitis B.

Objective: The present study aims to identify the differently expressed microRNA (miRNA) molecules and target genes of miRNA in the immune tolerance (IT) and immune activation (IA) stages of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: miRNA expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at the IT and IA stages of CHB were screened using miRNA microarrays and authenticated using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) were used to analyze the significant functions and pathways of possible target genes of miRNAs.

Role of T follicular helper cells and their associated molecules in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

In this study, we investigated the roles of T follicular helper (TFH) cells and related molecules in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The levels of circulating TFH cells and their surface CD40 ligand (CD40L), as well as CD19(+) B cells and their surface CD40 expression were detected by flow cytometry. Peripheral blood plasma interleukin (IL)-21 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Mechanism and efficacy of mobilization of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the treatment of chronic hepatic failure.

Background/aims: To explore the efficacy of G-CSF mobilization in the treatment of chronic liver failure (CLF) and the mechanism of its action.

Methodology: The proportions of cluster-of-differentiation (CD)-34+ cells and their receptor-CXCR4 were detected by flow cytometry in patients with different types of chronic HBV infection. The levels of chemokines and cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Association of T regulatory cells with natural course and response to treatment with interferon-α in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.

Background: Regulatory T cell populations, particularly CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory cells, have been implicated in the persistence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, no clear relationship has been established between the frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory cells in the peripheral blood and either the disease phases in the natural history of chronic HBV infection or in the response to interferon-α therapy.

Methods: In the present study, three different common markers of CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory cells were used to determine the numbers of T regulatory cells in healthy controls and in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Application of interferon response-related gene array to the antiviral treatment outcome in chronic hepatitis C.

Background/aims: It has been known that viral factors such as genotype and viral load have a major influence on the outcome of antiviral treatment. Nevertheless, researchers have become increasingly aware that host genetic factors can modulate the response to antiviral treatment. The underlying mechanisms for the varying virologic response rates to IFNalpha-based antiviral therapy are unknown.

Preliminary identification and analysis of point mutations correlated with response to interferon-alpha in hepatitis B virus post-transcriptional regulatory elements.

Background: It is still unclear whether viral genetic variability influences response to interferon (IFN)-alpha treatment. Recent reports suggest that IFN-alpha effects may be associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) post-transcriptional regulation. This study was designed to explore the heterogeneity of HBV post-transcriptional regulatory elements (HPRE) and the relationship between the diversity of HPRE and the response to IFN-alpha treatment.

[Effect of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha on hepatitis B virus posttranscriptional regulatory elements].

Objective: To explore the effect of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha on hepatitis B virus posttranscriptional regulatory elements.

Methods: The objective eukaryotic expression vectors were constructed by molecular cloning and PCR-based site-directed mutagensis in vitro, and identification was performed using PCR and sequencing analysis. CAT assays were performed by using ELISA kit.

Preliminary identification and analysis of different points related with response to interferon-alpha in HBV post-transcriptional regulatory element.

Objective: To screen the differential points related with response to interferon-alpha in HBV post-transcriptional regulatory element (HPRE).

Methods: HPRE sequence of 31 Chinese patients with HBV infection were detected by direct sequencing of PCR products. Differential points in HPRE between Chinese patients and White patients were compared.