An-Luo-Hua-Xian Pill Improves the Regression of Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated with Entecavir.

Background And Aims: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) can cause liver fibrosis and lead to cirrhosis and cancer. As the effectiveness of antiviral therapy to reverse liver fibrosis is limited, We aimed to evaluate the effect of An-Luo-Hua-Xian pill (ALHX) on fibrosis regression in CHB patients treated with entecavir (ETV).

Methods: Treatment-naïve patients with CHB were randomly treated with ETV alone or combined with ALHX (ETV+ALHX) between October 1, 2013 and December 31, 2020.

A Prospective Multicenter Study of the Chinese Scoring System for Hepatitis B Liver Failure.

To evaluate the clinical utility of a Chinese scoring system for hepatitis B liver failure in a prospective and multicenter study. Clinical data for 1,143 patients with hepatitis B liver failure who had been followed up for a minimum of 6 months were collected from seven liver disease centers across China. The disease severity and prognosis for the patients were predicted using the Chinese scoring system and compared to those predicted with the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, MELD-Na score, and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score.

Risk Factors of Neurological Complications in Severe Fever Patients with Thrombolytic Syndrome: A Single-Center Retrospective Study in China.

BACKGROUND Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome is a serious insect-borne infectious disease caused by the Huaiyangshanbanyang virus. We conducted a retrospective study to identify risk factors for neurological complications caused by the virus. MATERIAL AND METHODS We included 121 patients who had severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome and were admitted to our hospital from 2013 to 2020.

TRIB3 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma growth and predicts poor prognosis.

Background: Tribbles pseudokinase 3 (TRIB3) is a member of the tribbles-related family, which is involved a lot of cellular processes and multiple cancers, such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, renal cell carcinomas, and lung cancer. However, the expression pattern and biological function of TRIB3 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not yet been completely elucidated.

Methods: The expression of TRIB3 and clinicopathological characteristics were evaluated by HCC tissue microarray and qPCR analysis.

Expression and prognostic significance of epithelial tissue-specific transcription factor ESE3 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Epithelium-specific ETS 3 (ESE3) is down-regulated frequently in several malignancies and involved in carcinogenesis and progression. However, ESE3 expression pattern and its relationship with clinical features and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are still largely unknown.

Methods: ESE3 expression was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting in HCC cell lines, and then, it was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in HCC tissues and peritumoral normal tissues from total 94 HCC patients.

[Quantifiable changes in HBeAg expression predict therapeutic efficacy of peg-interferon alfa-2a in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To investigate whether quantifiable changes in serum levels of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) in response to 24 weeks of pegylated-interferon alfa-2a (Peg-IFN-a 2a) treatment are predictive of therapeutic efficacy at 48 weeks of treatment in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and to investigate the efficacy of using an individualized antiviral treatment strategy.

Methods: Ninety-six HBeAg-positive CHB patients with detectable HBeAg at week 24 of Peg-IFN-a 2a treatment were categorized according to the quantitative change in HBeAg (vs. pre-treatment baseline): group A, HBeAg decline more than 2 log; group B, HBeAg decline between 1 - 2 log; group C, HBeAg decline less than 1 log, which was then randomly divided into two sub-groups: C1 and C2.

Protective effects of ursodeoxycholic acid against immune-mediated liver fibrosis in rats.

Background/aims: Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a natural component of bile, has been synthesized to treat cholestatic liver diseases such as primary biliary cirrhosis. Broad biochemical changes in UDCA-treated patients suggest beneficial effects of UDCA beyond stimulating hepatobiliary secretion and possible efficacy of the medicine in treating cirrhosis of other causes. The aim was to explore the potential benefit of UDCA in controlling immune-mediated hepatic fibrosis.

[Pathogenesis of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To explore the role of sinusoidal endothelial cell in the development of liver fibrosis, and to dissect the relationship among hepatic microcirculation disorders, hepatic sinusoidal capilarization and liver fibrosis.

Methods: Liver biopsy was performed in fifty-six patients with chronic hepatitis B. The liver tissues were observed under light microscope and transmitted electronic microscope.

Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on TGF beta1/Smad signaling pathway in rat hepatic stellate cells.

Background: Hepatic fibrosis is the key stage of the pathological progress from hepatic injury to cirrhosis. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been known as having significant clinical therapeutic effects on chronic liver diseases. Our research aimed to study the effect of UDCA on the signaling pathway of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1)/Smad and discuss its possible molecular mechanisms of inhibiting hepatic fibrosis.

[Dynamics of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA after serum virology response].

Objective: To explore the dynamics of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and optimal duration of treatment after serum virology response.

Methods: HBV cccDNA in liver biopsies and the serum HBV DNA were quantified by real time PCR, the serum makers were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: (1) The cccDNA in biopsy samples continued to decrease after serum virology responded.

Ginkgo Biloba Extract EGb 761 Alleviates Hepatic Fibrosis and Sinusoidal Microcirculation Disturbance in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background: Few clinical data are available regarding the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) on liver microcirculation and fibrosis. This randomized, controlled trial is to investigate the effect of Ginko biloba extract EGb 761 on liver fibrosis and hepatic microcirculation in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Sixty-four patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomized for intention-to-treat.

Synthetic chenodeoxycholic acid derivative, HS-1200, induces apoptosis of human hepatoma cells via a mitochondrial pathway.

We investigated whether HS-1200 has anti-proliferation effects on human hepatoma cells in vitro. Here, chromatin condensation, DNA ladder formation and proteolytic cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were observed after treatment of HS-1200, indicating the occurrence of apoptotic cell death, which was associated with up-regulation of Bax, cleaved-caspase-3 and cleaved-caspase-9. Inhibition of caspase-9 rescued HS-1200-induced apoptosis.

Effects of heparin on liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of heparin on liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Fifty-two cases under study were divided into two groups, group A and group B. The two groups were given regular treatment and heparin/low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treatment respectively.

[Clinical impact of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase messenger RNA subtypes on early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma].

Background & Objective: It has been reported that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) expresses gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) with unique carbohydrate moieties compared with normal liver GGT enzymes, this unique GGT was used as a marker for the diagnosis of HCC. However, the genomic changes in GGT relating to the development of HCC are not known. This study was designed to explore the relationship between alteration in GGTmRNA subtypes and the development of HCC, and to seek a new method for early diagnosis of HCC.