Cured HCV patients with suboptimal hepatitis B vaccine response exhibit high self-reactive immune signatures.

Background And Rationale: Chronic HCV infection induces lasting effects on the immune system despite viral clearance. It is unclear whether certain immune alterations are associated with vaccine responses in cured HCV patients.

Approach: Thirteen cured HCV patients received the standard 3-dose hepatitis B vaccine and were followed up at the 0, 1st, 6th, and 7th months (M0, M1, M6, and M7) after the first dose of vaccination.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals intrahepatic and peripheral immune characteristics related to disease phases in HBV-infected patients.

Objective: A comprehensive immune landscape for HBV infection is pivotal to achieve HBV cure.

Design: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of 2 43 000 cells from 46 paired liver and blood samples of 23 individuals, including six immune tolerant, 5 immune active (IA), 3 acute recovery (AR), 3 chronic resolved and 6 HBV-free healthy controls (HCs). Flow cytometry and histological assays were applied in a second HBV cohort for validation.

Effect of combination treatment based on interferon and nucleos(t)ide analogues on functional cure of chronic hepatitis B: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Priority of antiviral treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is to increase the probability of functional cure. We aimed to synthesize evidence regarding the efficacy of different combination strategies of antiviral treatment based on interferon (IFN) and nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) in adults with CHB.

Methods: PubMed, Web of Science and Embase databases were searched from inception to May 26, 2019.

Metabolic defects in splenic B cell compartments from patients with liver cirrhosis.

Liver cirrhosis is associated with defective vaccine responses and increased infections. Dysregulated B cell compartments in cirrhotic patients have been noticed but not well characterized, especially in the spleen. Here, we comprehensively investigated B cell perturbations from the spleens and peripheral blood of cirrhotic patients.

SARS-CoV-2-Related Kidney Injury: Current Concern and Challenges.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) not only causes pulmonary inflammation but also causes multiple organ damages, including the kidney. ACE2, as one of the receptors for SARS-CoV-2 intrusion, is widely distributed in kidney tissues. Currently, the diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are still unclear.

[Adsorption of Phosphate on Mg/Fe Layered Double Hydroxides (Mg/Fe-LDH) and Use of Mg/Fe-LDH as an Amendment for Controlling Phosphorus Release from Sediments].

We determine the efficiency and mechanism of Mg/Fe layered double hydroxides (Mg/Fe-LDH) addition for the control of phosphorus (P) release from sediments by studying the adsorption behavior and mechanism of phosphate from an aqueous solution on Mg/Fe-LDH. The impact of Mg/Fe-LDH addition on the mobilization of P in sediments as well as the adsorptive removal of phosphate by sediments is investigated, and the stabilization of P bound by Mg/Fe-LDH is also evaluated. Results showed that the kinetics data of phosphate adsorption onto Mg/Fe-LDH fitted better with the Elovich kinetics model than with the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetics models, and that the Freundlich and Dubinin-Radushkevich models were more suitable for describing the adsorption isotherm behavior of phosphate on Mg/Fe-LDH than the Langmuir model.

The preS deletion of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is associated with liver fibrosis progression in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Background And Aims: Limited data are available regarding the association of hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutations with liver fibrosis in HBV infection. The study aimed to clarify whether HBV preS deletion mutation is associated with liver fibrosis progression.

Methods: A total of 469 patients were enrolled, including 324 with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 28 with HBV-related compensated liver cirrhosis (LC), and 117 with HBV-related decompensated LC.

Hepatitis B virus rtA181T/sW172non-stop mutation may increase resistance fold to adefovir- and entecavir-resistant mutants compared to rtA181T/sW172* mutation.

The study aimed to characterize rtA181T/sW172stop (*) and rtA181T/sW172non-stop mutations of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Total of 22,009 patients who visited Beijing 302 Hospital from 2007 to 2016 were enrolled. These patients all received nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) treatment and their serum samples were collected for sequence analysis of HBV reverse-transcriptase (RT) and S regions.

Antigenicity reduction contributes mostly to poor detectability of HBsAg by hepatitis B virus (HBV) S-gene mutants isolated from individuals with occult HBV infection.

Mutations in hepatitis B virus (HBV) S gene are one of factors contributing to occult HBV infection (OBI). The study aimed to uncover the impact of OBI-related S-gene mutations on the detectability of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Nine representative mutations within the major hydrophilic region of the S region were investigated.

Activated hepatic stellate cells impair NK cell anti-fibrosis capacity through a TGF-β-dependent emperipolesis in HBV cirrhotic patients.

Natural killer (NK) cells can induce liver fibrosis remission by killing hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and producing interferon (IFN)-γ in a mouse model; however, their anti-fibrotic immune-characteristics and regulatory mechanisms by HSCs remain to be determined, especially in livers from HBV-infected liver cirrhosis (LC) patients. We analyzed frequency, phenotype and anti-fibrotic function of hepatic and peripheral NK subsets in 43 HBV-LC patients. We found that hepatic NK subsets from LC patients displayed a decreased frequency, activation status and anti-fibrotic activity compared with those from chronic hepatitis B patients, which were mainly mediated by increased intrahepatic tumour-growth factor (TGF)-β because blockade of TGF-β significantly reversed NK anti-fibrotic function in vitro.

Differentiation of human foreskin fibroblast-derived induced pluripotent stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to investigate the differentiation potential of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) into hepatocyte-like cells (HLCs). The iPSCs were firstly induced by transduction of OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC into HFFs using retrovirus. Afterwards, expressions of pluripotency factors were identified by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence staining, and karyotype, embryoid, and teratoma were observed by microscope.

Meta-Analysis of Combination Therapy of Chinese Herbs Plus Interferon and Ribavirin in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND We aimed to evaluate the combination therapy of Chinese herbs plus interferon and ribavirin in treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). MATERIAL AND METHODS Related databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated biochemical response, virological response, histological response, and/or adverse reactions to combination therapy of interferon and ribavirin with and without Chinese herbs. The RR (relative risk) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated.

Hepatitis C virus infection of human cytotrophoblasts cultured in vitro.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the uterus is a significant path of vertical HCV transmission. Some studies consider vertical HCV transmission in the uterus as the result of maternal blood leakage into infant blood, whereas others theorize that HCV is transmitted by the mother to the infant through cells constituting the placenta barrier. Although trophoblasts play an important role in the placenta barrier, no definitive evidence has been presented to prove that cytotrophoblasts can be infected with HCV.

Altered expression profiles of microRNAs in a stable hepatitis B virus-expressing cell line.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are highly conserved small non-coding RNAs of 18 - 25 nucleotides (nt) that mediate post-transcriptional gene regulation. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause either acute or chronic hepatitis B, and is a high risk factor for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Some mammalian viruses have been shown to modulate the expression of host cellular miRNAs.

[Screening and identification of proteins interacting with HCV NS4A via yeast double hybridization in leukocytes and gene cloning of the interacting protein].

Objective: To screen proteins interacting with HCV NS4A protein in leukocytes by yeast-double hybridization.

Methods: The bait plasmid pGBKT7-NS4A was transformed into yeast AH109 was transformed, and the expressing of the fusion protein was identified by SDS-page. The transformed yeast was mated with yeast Y187 containing leukocytes cDNA library plasmid in 2xYPDA medium.

[Analysis on factors related to X-ray outcomes in 93 SARS patients].

Objective: To study the related factors of the X-ray outcomes in recovered SARS patients.

Methods: The X-ray results of 93 patients with SARS were studied retrospectively. The possible related factors analyzed were age, sex, body temperature at onset, range of the lesion, glucocorticoid administration time.

[IFN or oxymatrine in combination with lamivudine in patients with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To observe the therapeutic efficacy of IFN or oxymatrine in combination with lamivudine in patients with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Forty patients ongoing treatment with lamivudine were randomized to three groups: group A, 14 patients with addition of IFN alpha-2b 3MU to ongoing lamivudine, daily, one month, followed by the same dose given every other day, five months; group B, 15 patients with addition of injectable oxymatrine 60 mg daily, three months, followed by oral oxymatrine every day, three months, and group C, 11 patients ongoing treatment with lamivudine alone. The HBV DNA level in serum, HBeAg seroconversion, and ALT level were detected at the end of the treatment.

Methodologic research on TIMP-1, TIMP-2 detection as a new diagnostic index for hepatic fibrosis and its significance.

Aim: To set up a new method to detect tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 and -2(TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) in sera of patients with hepatic cirrhosis, and to investigate the expression and location of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in liver tissue of patients with hepatic cirrhosis, and the correlation between TIMPs in liver and those in sera so as to discuss whether TIMPs can be used as a diagnosis index of hepatic fibrosis.

Methods: The monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were used to sensitize erythrocytes, and solid-phase absorption to sensitized erythrocytes (SPASE) was used to detect TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the sera of patients with hepatic cirrhosis. Meanwhile, with the method of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we studied the mRNA expression and antigen location of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in the livers of 40 hepatic cirrhosis patients with pathologic diagnosis.