Acute myocardial injury is common in patients with COVID-19 and impairs their prognosis.

Objective: We sought to explore the prevalence and immediate clinical implications of acute myocardial injury in a cohort of patients with COVID-19 in a region of China where medical resources are less stressed than in Wuhan (the epicentre of the pandemic).

Methods: We prospectively assessed the medical records, laboratory results, chest CT images and use of medication in a cohort of patients presenting to two designated covid-19 treatment centres in Sichuan, China. Outcomes of interest included death, admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), need for mechanical ventilation, treatment with vasoactive agents and classification of disease severity.

[Association of Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphisms with Response to Antiviral Therapy in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C].

Objective: To assess the influence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene Bsm I, Fok I, Taq I and Apa I polymorphisms on the response to antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).

Methods: There were total 124 patients with CHC treated with pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. VDR gene Bsm I, Fok I Taq I and Apa I polymorphisms were analyzed in 71 patients with sustained virological response (SVR) and 53 patients without SVR (non-SVR) by polymerase chain reaction-MassARRAY (PCR-MassARRAY).

Interferon Lambda 4 Polymorphism Predicts Sustained Viral Response in Hepatitis C Virus Patients Irrespective of Hepatitis C Virus Genotypes, Ethnicity or Treatment Regimen: Results From a Meta-Analysis.

Context: There is growing evidence that interferon lambda 4 (IFNL4) polymorphism is related to sustained virological response (SVR) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We analyzed the relationship between IFNL4 (rs368234815) polymorphism and SVR in dual- and triple- therapy in HCV genotype 1, 2, 3 and 4 infected Asian, Caucasian and African patients.

Evidence Acquisition: We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Medline, Embase, EBSCO and Web of Science databases up to July 2015.

Predictors of Pegylated Interferon Alpha and Ribavirin Efficacy and Long-Term Assessment of Relapse in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C: A One-Center Experience From China.

Background: Sustained virological response (SVR) and virological relapse maintain pivotal roles in the management of chronic hepatitis C (CHC); however, there is little data regarding the long-term outcomes of patients with CHC in China.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the predictive factors of therapeutic effect and viral relapse in patients who achieved end-of-treatment response (ETR).

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical, biochemical and virological data of 169 adult patients with CHC from China who were not treated with pegylated interferon-alpha (PEG IFN-α) and ribavirin, of which 142 achieved ETR and with a follow-up period ranging from six months to six years.

[Efficacy of combination therapy with pegylated-interferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin in autoantibody-positive chronic hepatitis C patients].

To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of antiviral combination therapy with pegylated-interferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin (RBV) in patients with autoantibody-positive chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and to investigate the impact of the presence of autoantibodies on the treatment outcome. Eighty-six consecutive CHC patients who underwent a 48-week treatment regimen composed of Peg-IFNa-2a (135 or 180 mug/wk) plus weight-based RBV ( less than or equal to 65 kg, 800 mg/d; 65 to 75 kg, 1000 mg/d; more than or equal to75 kg, 1200 mg/d ). Prior to treatment (baseline) and at end of treatment (EOT; week 48), levels of antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-smooth muscle antibody (SMA), anti liver/kidney microsomal antibody type 1 (LKM1), anti-La (SSB), and anti liver cytosolic-1 (LC-1) were detected by indirect immunofluorescence.

[Association of interleukin 28B polymorphisms with response to pegylatedinterferon plus ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C].

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of gene polymorphisms at rs12979860 of interleukin 28B (IL28B) and explore the relationships between the genetic polymorphisms and the antiviral therapy efficiency for chronic hepatitis C patients in the Sichuan region of China.

Methods: Data from 56 patients treated for 48 weeks with PEG-IFN alpha-2a plus weight-based Ribavirin (RBV), which were followed for 24 weeks after the end of treatment, were analyzed. And the IL28B rs12979860 genotype was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction techniques (PCR) and sequencing analysis.

Study of the expression levels of Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha and 3 beta in patients with different outcome of HBV infection.

Hepatocyte nuclear factors 4 alpha (HNF4α) and 3 beta (HNF3β) are members of a group of liver-enriched transcription factors (LETFs) that play important roles in regulating the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and liver inflammation. However, the relationship of the level of HNF4α and HNF3β with the severity of HBV-infected liver diseases is unclear. In this study, liver tissue samples from different types of HBV patients were collected, and HNF4α and HNF3β expression were detected by immunohistochemistry.

Factors predicting the efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil on treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients at 48 weeks.

Background/aims: To reveal possible factors predicting the effect of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment on chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and optimize the utilization of ADV.

Methods: In total, 168 treatment-naïve CHB patients were enrolled, including 117 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients and 51 HBeAg-negative patients who met the inclusion criteria. All patients were treated with ADV 10 mg per day for 48 weeks.

[Lamivudine-resistant analysis and management for chronic hepatitis B patients with initial lamivudine therapy].

Objective: To study the factors influencing the long-term usage of lamivudine (LAM) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and the management after drug-resistance.

Methods: 383 cases of naive CHB patients in our outpatient clinic were treated with lamivudine (100 mg/d) and followed up for at least over 1 year from 2001 to 2010. 129 cases encountered lamivudine-resistance and were then divided into two groups: patients in group A were switched to adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) alternative treatment and those patients in group B were added with ADV for continuous treatment.

De novo combination of lamivudine and adefovir versus entecavir monotherapy for the treatment of naïve HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients.

Purpose: Either combination treatment or monotherapy using agents with a high genetic barrier are recommended for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The aim of this study was to compare effect of naïve HBeAg-negative CHB patients with either de novo combination of lamivudine (LAM) and adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) or entecavir (ETV) monotherapy.

Methods: HBeAg-negative CHB patients (n = 71) with ALT levels between 2 and 10 times the upper normal limit and HBV DNA levels >10(4) copies/mL were enrolled.

Prospective evaluation of FibroScan for the diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis compared with liver biopsy/AST platelet ratio index and FIB-4 in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Background: The FibroScan (FS), the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), and the FIB-4 index are simple and inexpensive methods to detect liver fibrosis.

Aims: The primary objective was to evaluate the performance of FS for the noninvasive diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis in Western Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection compared with APRI and FIB-4; the secondary objective was to determine liver stiffness measurement (LSM) cutoff values for the noninvasive diagnosis of significant fibrosis and liver cirrhosis.

Methods: Overall, 175 consecutive patients with chronic HBV infection, successful liver biopsy, and alanine aminotransferase levels ≤2× ULN were prospectively studied.

[Association between the influential factors and the effectiveness of pegylated interferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin as a combination treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients].

To evaluate the efficacy and to investigate the association between the length of the treatment period and the cumulative dose of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (PegIFN alpha-2a) plus ribavirin (RBV) and the effectiveness of antiviral therapy. We analyzed data from 117 patients treated for 48 weeks with PEG-IFN alpha-2a (135mug or 180mug/week) plus weight-based RBV (800 mg/d for patients is less than or equal to 65 kg, 1000 mg/d for patients 65-75 kg and 1200 mg/d for patients is more than or equal to 75 kg) under care at West China Hospital. HCV RNA was assessed at baseline, Week 4, 12 and 24, the end of treatment (EOT) and after 24 weeks follow-up (sustained virological response; SVR) with a test range of 1.

Nucleoside analogue can improve the long-term prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus infection-associated acute on chronic liver failure.

Background: The prognosis of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated acute on chronic liver failure (ACLF) is extremely poor.

Aim: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nucleoside analogue treatment of patients with HBV-associated ACLF.

Methods: We used a retrospective review of eligible patients from April 2006 to December 2008.

[Assessment of disease activity and liver fibrosis in chronic viral hepatitis by magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging].

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) technique in assessing the disease activity and liver fibrosis of chronic viral hepatitis.

Methods: A total of 49 patients with chronic viral hepatitis who received liver biopsy and 10 healthy volunteers were included in this study. All of them underwent DWI on a 3.

Histological changes in chinese chronic hepatitis B patients with ALT lower than two times upper limits of normal.

The role of ALT as a predictor of liver injury has been questioned. The aim of this study is to use liver biopsy to assess the degree of liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB) whose ALT < 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN). A total of 49.

Recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor for liver failure.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human hepatocyte growth factor (rh-HGF) for liver failure (LF) using meta-analysis of data from the literature involving available randomized controlled trials of rh-HGF plus comprehensive therapy (CT) compared with that of CT alone (Therapy I versus II) in treating LF. We searched the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CBMdisc, and CNKI as well as employing manual searches. Based on our search criteria, we found 21 trials, involving 5902 patients.

[The relationship between 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy and the histopathology of livers of chronic viral hepatitis patients].

Objective: To investigate the correlations between 31P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) findings and histopathological grading and staging of the livers of chronic viral hepatitis patients.

Methods: Thirty-one patients with chronic viral hepatitis and 18 healthy volunteers were enrolled for this study. All of them underwent routine MRI plain scan and 31P-MRS of their livers.

Tissue microarray for high-throughput analysis of gene expression profiles in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To study the expression profiles of HBsAg, HBcAg, p21WAF1/CIP1 (p21), Rb genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to investigate their roles in the hepatocar-cinogenesis.

Methods: HCC tissue microarray containing 120-min tissues of 40 HCC cases was constructed. HBsAg, HBcAg, p21 and Rb proteins were immunohistochemically stained by streptavidin-peroxidase conjugated method (S-P).

Pathomorphological study on location and distribution of Kupffer cells in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To clarify the location and distribution of Kupffer cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to investigate their role in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Methods: Kupffer cells were immunohistochemically stained by streptavadin-peroxidase conjugated method (S-P). The numbers of Kupffer cells in cancerous, para-cancerous and adjacent normal liver tissues of 48 HCCs were comparatively examined.