Stepwise application of fibrosis index based on four factors, red cell distribution width-platelet ratio, and aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio for compensated hepatitis B fibrosis detection.

Background And Aim: Fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB-4) and aspartate aminotransferase-platelet ratio (APRI) were validated with unsatisfactory efficiency. Routine hematology index red cell distribution width-platelet ratio (RPR) had been tried in liver fibrosis detection. This study tries to evaluate the stepwise application of FIB-4, RPR, and APRI in detecting chronic hepatitis B (CHB) fibrosis.

Combining routine markers improves the accuracy of transient elastography for hepatitis B cirrhosis detection.

Background And Aim: Vibration Controlled Transient Elastography (VCTE) is a non-invasive test for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis but may be inaccurate in some patients, especially in those with chronic hepatitis B. This study aims at improving the accuracy of VCTE in cirrhosis detection by combining ultrasound and routine blood parameters.

Methods: Hepatitis B patients with liver biopsies samples ≥20mm underwent VCTE, ultrasound and blood tests, and were divided into training set (n=170) and validation set (n=75).

Up-regulating CYP3A4 expression in C3A cells by transfection with a novel chimeric regulator of hPXR-p53-AD.

Most hepatoma cell lines lack proper expression and induction of CYP3A4 enzyme, which limits their use for predicting drug metabolism and toxicity. Nuclear receptor pregnane X receptor (PXR) has been well recognized for its critical role in regulating expression of CYP3A4 gene. However, its physiological activity of binding to the particular site of promoter is significantly weakened in hepatic cell lines.

Hepatitis B Virus Genotype B and High Expression of Interferon Alpha Receptor β Subunit are Associated With Better Response to Pegylated Interferon Alpha 2a in Chinese Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Infection.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of leading causes of various hepatic diseases including acute and chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Hundreds of million people worldwide are infected by HBV, chronically.

Objectives: This study in conducted to investigate the influence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes and type I IFN-αreceptor β subunit (IFNAR2) expression in liver on response to treatment with pegylated IFN-α-2a (Peg-IFN-α-2a) for chronic hepatitis B infection.

Larger biopsies evaluation of transient elastography for detecting advanced fibrosis in patients with compensated chronic hepatitis B.

Background And Aim: Although larger biopsies sample had been recommended for the study of non-invasive liver fibrosis assessment, few studies with larger biopsies for transient elastography (TE) detecting liver fibrosis had been reported. The present study tries to re-evaluate the performance of TE for detecting advanced fibrosis (≥F3) with larger biopsies in patients with compensated chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: A total of 375 compensated patients were analyzed, who had undergone liver biopsy, reliable TE and routine blood tests.

Improving transient elastography performance for detecting hepatitis B cirrhosis.

Background: Transient elastography is a well-established method for detecting cirrhosis.

Aim: To improve the performance of transient elastography in detecting hepatitis B cirrhosis by alanine aminotransferase (ALT)-stratified cutoffs, bilirubin normalization and transient elastography-based algorithms.

Methods: A total of 315 compensated patients were analysed following liver biopsies, transient elastography, ultrasonography and blood tests.

[Hepatitis B virus P22(e) inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis via nuclear factor kappa B].

Objective: To test whether nuclear factor kappa B plays an important role in the apoptosis-inhibitory effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) P22(e) protein.

Methods: HepG2 cells were transfected with recombination plasmid pEGFP-HBVP22(e). The Act-D and TNF alpha were used to induce apoptosis.

[Diagnosis of liver pathologies based on apparent diffusion coefficient of magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging in a rabbit model of liver fibrosis].

Objective: To assess the value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging (MR-DWI) for diagnosis of the liver pathologies in rabbit model of liver fibrosis.

Method: MR-DWI with four different b values (200, 500, 300 and 600 s/mm(2)) was performed in 4 normal New Zealand white rabbits and 13 rabbits with experimental liver fibrosis. For each rabbit, 4 ADC values were obtained in the left and right lobes of the liver.

B-cell clonality in the liver of hepatitis C virus-infected patients.

Aim: The association of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with type II mixed cryoglobulinemia is well established, but the role of HCV in B-cell lymphoma remains controversial. In patients with HCV infection, B-cell clonal expansions have been detected in peripheral blood and bone marrow, and a high prevalence of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas has been documented. Liver biopsies in chronic HCV infection frequently show portal lymphoid infiltrates with features of B follicles, whose clonality has not yet been investigated.

[Ultrasonic scores combined with blood indexes for screening and predicting compensated liver cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients].

Objective: To explore the correlation between ultrasonic scores, routine blood tests and stages of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and identify non-invasive indexes to establish a diagnostic model for liver cirrhosis.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 428 patients with CHB undergoing liver biopsies was conducted. The patients' hematology, serum biochemical indexes, serum alpha fetal proteins (AFP), serum HBeAg status and ultrasonic scores were statistically analyzed.

Model consisting of ultrasonographic and simple blood indexes accurately identify compensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.

Background And Aim: Several models for significant fibrosis or cirrhosis have been introduced for hepatitis C, but are seldom for hepatitis B. The present study retrospectively evaluates the relationship between ultrasonography, blood tests, and fibrosis stage, and constructs a model for predicting compensated cirrhosis.

Methods: A total of 653 patients with chronic hepatitis B who underwent liver biopsies, ultrasonographic scanning, and routine blood tests were retrospectively analyzed.

[Expression of IFN-alpha/beta receptor in the PBMCs and liver of patients with hepatitis B and its clinical significance].

Objective: To explore the role of interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta receptor beta subunit (IFNAR2) in the patients' response to IFN-alpha therapy as influenced by the grade of chronic hepatic inflammation, and understand the relation of IFNAR2 expression in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with HBV infection.

Methods: Liver tissue specimens were obtained from 21 patients with chronic hepatitis B for examination of the hepatic inflammation, and PBMCs were isolated from another 16 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 15 health control subjects. Both the hepatic tissues and PBMCs were examined for IFNAR2 expression using immunohistochemistry.

[The influence of HBV/P22 protein on the apoptosis of HepG2 cells: an experimental study].

Objective: To study the influence of HBV/P22 protein on the induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells.

Methods: In vitro, two HepG2 strains were transfected with pcDNA3.1+ and pcDNA3.

[Hepatitis B virus P22e protein inhibits human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell apoptosis in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effects of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) P22e protein on the apoptosis of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

Methods: HepG2 cells were transfected with recombinant plasmid pEGFP-HBVP22e and exposed to Act-D and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) treatment to induce cell apoptosis. Flow cytometry was performed to determine the proportion of cells containing sub-G1 DNA to represent the number of apoptotic cells.

[Affects of HBV genotypes (B/C) on the levels of serum and intrahepatic HBsAg].

Objective: To observe the effects of HBV genotypes on the level of HBsAg in serum and hepatocytes in chronic hepatitis B patients without antiviral therapy.

Methods: Seventy-six chronic hepatitis B inpatients were enrolled into this study, and liver biopsies and histologic diagnosis were performed, and serum samples were collected at the time point of liver biopsy. PCR-RFLP method was adopted to determine the genotype of hepatitis B virus and Abbott Architect HBsAg assay was used to quantify the serum HBsAg.

[An ultrasonographic scoring system for screening compensated liver cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C virus infection].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the stage of hepatic fibrosis and ultrasonographic findings of the liver, spleen and gallbladder and establish a sensitive ultrasonographic semi-quantitative scoring system for screening compensated liver cirrhosis.

Methods: Totalling 248 patients with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infection underwent liver biopsy and ultrasonic examination. The images of the liver surface, parenchymal echo, intrahepatic vessels, gallbladder, spleen and diameter of portal vein were analyzed.

[A comparison of clinical and virological characteristics of 1686 cases of HBeAg-negative and HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of HBeAg-negative and HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: A total of 1686 hospitalized CHB cases were analyzed retrospectively. The serum ALT values, HBV DNA levels and hepatic inflammation and fibrosis were analyzed by their serum HBeAg status.

[Genotyping of hepatitis B virus and its clinical significance in patients with chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To investigate the distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Guangdong and explore its clinical significance.

Methods: Fifty-five patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) from Guangdong province were included in this study. HBV surface gene amplified by PCR was analyzed by restriction fragments length polymorphism (RFLP) for HBV genotyping, and the relationship of HBV genotype with clinical, serological and histological data of the patients was analyzed.

[Efficacy of interferon-alpha therapy for HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B and its influencing factors].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) therapy for HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: Sixty-five Chinese HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients were treated with 5 MU recombinant rIFN-alpha 1b subcutaneously thrice weekly for 5 to 24 months, followed by 12 months of treatment-free follow-up; one hundred and eighty-eight Chinese HBeAg-positive patients served as controls. For each patient, serum alanine transaminase (ALT) was measured biochemically and serum HBV DNA level was detected with fluorescent-quantitative PCR, HBeAg with enzymoimmunoassay every 1 to 3 months during therapy and during the follow-up period.

[Evaluation of non-invasive indices for liver histology in patients with chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To assess the correlation of routine blood and serum biochemical indices with liver histology, and identify the sensitive non-invasive ones indicative of liver inflammation and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: A total of 252 patients were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. The indices including the patients' age, gender, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, globulin, total bilirubin, prothrombin time (PT) and its activity (PTA), WBC, and platelet count were analyzed statistically.