Relationship Between Platelets and the Clinical Efficacy of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells for HBV-Related Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure and Liver Cirrhosis: A Preliminary Clinical Study.

Background: Previous studies have found that the production of platelets could enhance the therapeutic effects of stem cells. Nevertheless, there are still no articles reporting on the relationship between platelets and the clinical efficacy of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UCMSCs) for HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and liver cirrhosis (LC).

Methods: In this retrospective observational study, patients who met the criteria were included.

High Expression of POGK Predicts Poor Prognosis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objective: Kruppel-associated box (KRAB) proteins reportedly play a dual role in neoplastic transformation. At present, little is known about the function of the proteins encoded by the human pogo transposable element derived with KRAB domain (POGK) gene. Herein, we evaluated the prognostic significance of POGK expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

The relationship between zinc deficiency and infectious complications in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background: The prevalence of zinc deficiency is high in patients with chronic liver disease, but few studies have hitherto explored the relationship between the serum zinc level and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). This study aimed to assess the association between zinc deficiency and infectious complications, and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score in patients with HBV-related ACLF.

Methods: Patients with HBV-related ACLF from the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, China) between January 2019 and December 2019 were retrospectively analysed in this study.

Can Epstein-Barr virus-deoxyribonucleic acid load after induction chemotherapy combined with American Joint Committee on Cancer stage determine the chemotherapy intensity of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Background: Induction chemotherapy (IC) comprising docetaxel, cisplatin, and fluorouracil (TPF), combined with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) effectively improves the survival rate of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (LA-NPC). Selecting patients whose risk of tumor recurrence and metastasis is high and the appropriate chemotherapy intensity is a concern. We combined tumor-node-metastasis staging with the load of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) after IC to select the individualized chemotherapy strength.

Molecular mechanism of the TGF‑β/Smad7 signaling pathway in ulcerative colitis.

Aberrant TGF‑β/Smad7 signaling has been reported to be an important mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of a number of potential anti‑colitis agents on intestinal epithelial permeability and the TGF‑β/Smad7 signaling pathway in an experimental model of colitis. A mouse model of colitis was first established before anti‑TNF‑α and 5‑aminosalicyclic acid (5‑ASA) were administered intraperitoneally and orally, respectively.

Prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled trial comparing the seroclearance of HBsAg between combination therapy of peg-interferon alpha and tenofovir with tenofovir monotherapy in nucleos(t)ide analogue-experienced patients with HBV-related liver fibrosis: a study protocol.

Introduction: Combination antiviral therapy of nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) and pegylated interferon alpha (peg-IFN alpha) decrease hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) levels to achieve functional cure and improve long-term prognosis in chronic hepatitis B patients. However, for hepatitis B-related liver fibrosis, studies on combination of these two medicines are limited. This study was designed to compare the efficacy between peg-IFN alpha combined with tenofovir (TDF) and TDF monotherapy for the clearance of HBsAg in NA-experienced patients with HBV-related liver fibrosis.

The 96-week clinical outcomes after cessation of nucleos(t)ide analog treatment in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients have a high virological relapse rate after cessation of nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) treatment, but the clinical outcome remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the 96-week clinical outcomes and the risk factors for relapse in CHB after cessation of NAs.

Methods: This study was a prospective trial; 74 eligible patients were enrolled.

Factors associated with non-compliance with breastfeeding recommendation: a retrospective survey in hepatitis B virus-infected mothers who had taken Nucleos(t)ide analogs during pregnancy.

Background: We encourage Hepatitis B virus-infected mothers to breastfeed postpartum, even when continuing pregnancy category B nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) treatment. However, a large proportion of the Hepatitis B virus-infected mothers were noncompliant with this breastfeeding recommendation. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with noncompliance with breastfeeding recommendation in Hepatitis B virus-infected mothers who had received NAs treatment during pregnancy.

Joá yellow blotch-associated virus, a new alphanucleorhabdovirus from a wild solanaceous plant in Brazil.

We identified a novel plant rhabdovirus infecting native joá (Solanum aculeatissimum) plants in Brazil. Infected plants showed yellow blotches on the leaves, and typical enveloped bacilliform rhabdovirus particles associated with the nucleus were seen in thin sections by electron microscopy. The virus could be graft-transmitted to healthy joá and tomato plants but was not mechanically transmissible.

An Immuno-Clinic score model for evaluating T cell immunity and predicting early antiviral therapy effectiveness in chronic hepatitis B.

We generated an Immuno-Clinic score (ICS) model to evaluate T cell immunity based on the clustering of antiviral cytokines and inhibitory molecules in 229 naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. 126 patients receiving antiviral therapy were used to validate the model for predicting antiviral therapy effectiveness. Through receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity of the ICS model were 0.

Efficacy and Safety of Sofosbuvir-Based Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents Treatment for Patients with Genotype 3/6 Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Aims: The aim is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Sofosbuvir- (SOF-) based direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) treatment for patients with genotype (GT) 3/6 hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: Patients infected with GT 3/6 HCV and treated with SOF-based DAAs were enrolled in this prospective, open, single-center, and real-world study. Drugs included Sofosbuvir (SOF), Velpatasvir (VEL), Daclatasvir (DCV), and Ribavirin (RBV).

The safety of antiviral therapy and drug withdrawal for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HBV during pregnancy.

The efficacy of prenatal antiviral therapy (AVT) for preventing the vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is well demonstrated. However, data are limited regarding the safety of postpartum cessation of AVT, which may induce alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation. We aimed to investigate the necessity of prolonging maternal AVT after delivery.

CD19CD24CD38 regulatory B cells: a potential immune predictive marker of severity and therapeutic responsiveness of hepatitis C.

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with abnormal immune responses. Since regulatory T (Tregs) and B (Bregs) cells modulate the progression of infectious diseases, this study aimed at examining how these cells are involved with the development of HCV infection.

Methods: The frequencies of circulating Bregs and Tregs were characterized using flow cytometry.

Barriers to hepatitis C virus treatment in Guangdong Province.

Background: The objective of this study is to analyze the causes of nontreatment among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and increase the cure rate of chronic hepatitis C in Guangdong Province.

Methods: We performed both retrospective survey and prospective study in a cohort of 435 outpatients in our center to analyze the subjective and objective causes of HCV non-treatment.

Results: Among 1,931 patients, 435 did not receive anti-viral therapy (AVT), and, in 37 of these patients, the virus load was persistently negative.

PAP-1 ameliorates DSS-induced colitis with involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

Background: Macrophages are a primary type of innate immune cells activated in colitis. Kv1.3 channel is one of the major potassium channels in macrophages.

Resolvin D1 Resolve Inflammation in Experimental Acute Pancreatitis by Restoring Autophagic Flux.

Background: Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common acute gastrointestinal disorders. Increasing evidence indicated that autophagy is involved in the development of AP. Resolvin D1 is an endogenous pro-resolving lipid mediator, which can protect mice from cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis and facilitate autophagy in macrophage, but its mechanism remians unclear.

48-Week Outcome after Cessation of Nucleos(t)ide Analogue Treatment in Chronic Hepatitis B Patient and the Associated Factors with Relapse.

Background And Aims: We aimed to ascertain the feasibility and safety of NA cessation, the status of patients after cessation, and the predictive factors for relapse and subsequent retreatment.

Methods: A total of 92 patients were enrolled in this prospective study. Patients were monitored every month for the first 3 months after cessation and every 3 months thereafter.

Allogeneic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: A randomized controlled trial.

Unlabelled: Mortality from hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is high due to limited treatment options. Preclinical and clinical investigations have proved that treatment with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is beneficial for recovery from liver injury. We hypothesized that the outcome of HBV-related ACLF would be improved by MSC treatment.

24 versus 48 Weeks of Peginterferon Plus Ribavirin in Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 6 Chronically Infected Patients with a Rapid Virological Response: A Non-Inferiority Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objectives: The optimal treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6 is unclear owing to its limited geographic distribution. Because of a high predictive value of rapid virological response (RVR) for sustained virological response (SVR), we conducted an open-label randomized controlled trial to compare 24- and 48-week peginterferon/ribavirin combination therapy for patients with HCV genotype 6 in Southern China who achieved an RVR.

Methods And Findings: Treatment-naive, non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 6 were treated with pegylated interferon α-2a (180 μg/week) and ribavirin (800-1,200 mg, according to weight) for 4 weeks.

[Study on HBV antigens and IL-12 affecting T cell-mediated immunity in HBsAg carriers].

Objective: To investigate the effect of HBV antigens and pathological mechanism of chronic HBV infection by analyzing the cellular immune function of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HBsAg carriers.

Methods: PBMCs were prepared from individuals with chronic asymptomatic HBV infection and cultured in the presence of different antigens and/ or cytokines. The levels of cytokines in culture supernatants were detected by ELISA method.

Acidification induces Bax translocation to the mitochondria and promotes ultraviolet light-induced apoptosis.

It has been suggested that Bax translocation to the mitochondria is related to apoptosis, and that cytosol acidification contributes to apoptosis events. However, the mechanisms remain obscure. We investigated the effect of acidification on Bax translocation and on ultraviolet (UV) light-induced apoptosis.

High level of hepatitis B virus DNA after HBeAg-to-anti-HBe seroconversion is related to coexistence of mutations in its precore and basal core promoter.

Aim: G1896A mutation in precore or A1762T/G1764A mutations in basal core promoter are suspected to be responsible for patients with detectable level of HBV DNA in serum after seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe. However, G1896A variant has impaired, while A1762T/G1764A variant may have intact replication ability. They themselves or their coexistence status may play different roles in such meaningless seroconversion.