Dynamic prediction of liver cirrhosis risk in chronic hepatitis B patients using longitudinal clinical data.

Objectives: In longitudinal studies, serum biomarkers are often measured longitudinally which is valuable to predict the risk of disease progression. Previous risk prediction models for liver cirrhosis restrict data to baseline or baseline and a single follow-up time point, which failed to incorporate the time-dependent marker information. The aim of this study is to develop risk model in patients with chronic hepatitis B for dynamic prediction of cirrhosis by incorporating longitudinal clinical data.

Entecavir Combined With Adefovir Ameliorates Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Who Fail to Respond to Nucleotide (Acid) Analog Monotherapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of entecavir (ETV) combined treatment with adefovir (ADV) on chronic hepatitic B (CHB) patients who failed to respond to nucleotide (acid) analog (NA) treatment. On this basis, the possible factors in the combined treatment of these patients will be analyzed. The safety, biochemical index, and the possible factors that might affect the ETV and ADV combined treatment at different points in time were retrospectively analyzed.

Liver myofibroblasts regulate the phenotype and function of monocytes through soluble factors in cirrhosis.

The ability of lymphocytes and macrophage-derived cytokines and chemokines to modulate the activation of stromal cells during immune responses is well-documented, but few studies have investigated whether liver myofibroblasts shape the phenotype and function of monocytes in liver disease. In the present study, Kupffer cells were demonstrated to be activated in the inflamed livers of patients with cirrhosis and be in close contact with liver myofibroblasts. The Kupffer cells from cirrhotic livers expressed significantly elevated levels of PD-L1 (also termed B7-H1), TLR4, CD80, CD32 and CD64 relative to those from normal livers.

Diethylene glycol poisoning and liver function following accidental diethylene glycol injection.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the hepatotoxic effects of accidental intravenous diethylene glycol (DEG) poisoning in patients with liver disease. Clinical manifestations were recorded and liver function tests were carried out for 64 patients with liver disease who had been accidentally treated intravenously with DEG. Comparisons were made between the poisoned and non-poisoned groups.

[Study on characteristics of cellular-mediated immune responses of novel H1N1 influenza A patients with pneumonia].

Objective: To investigate the phenotype, frequency and function of CD4+ T cell subsets and the relevant cytokines, as well as the relationship between these cells and appearance of pneumonia of novel (H1N1) influenza A patients.

Methods: 68 healthy people, 53 confirmed novel A(H1N1) influenza patients without pneumonia and 16 confirmed severe novel A (H1N1) influenza patients with pneumonia were enrolled in this study. Viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs specimens was measured by real time PCR assay.

Characterization of hepatitis virus B isolated from a multi-drug refractory patient.

Prolonged treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with nucleoside analogues (NAs) almost invariably engenders viral resistance, and sequential NAs monotherapy can promote multi-drug resistance. This study aimed to investigate the molecular characteristics and the mutation profile of multi-drug resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV). The complete genome of HBV isolated from a multi-drug refractory patient was amplified and cloned, and 22 clones were selected for sequencing.

[Programmed death-1 (PD-1) and PD-L1 expression during antiviral treatment of chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To study PD-1 and PD-L1 expressions during 24 weeks telbivudine antiviral treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and to explore the relationship between PD-1 expression and HBeAg/HBeAb seroconversion.

Methods: Ten CHB cases with HLA-A2 and HBeAg positive were treated with telbivudine 600 mg/d orally for 24 weeks. Fresh blood samples were collected at week 0, 12 and 24 after treatment.

Effect of revaccination using different schemes among adults with low or undetectable anti-HBs titers after hepatitis B virus vaccination.

Our objective was to investigate the effect of various reimmunization schemes for hepatitis B in adults with low or undetectable anti-HBs titers. Over 2 years, 10 μg of Saccharomyces cerevisiae-recombinant hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine (synthesized in China) was used in at least one standardized scheme to immunize 2,310 healthy male and nonpregnant female adults. Of these, 240 subjects tested negative for hepatitis B markers.

[The effects of diethylene glycol on liver function].

Objective: To investigate the hepatotoxic effects of accidental intravenous diethylene glycol (DEG.) poisoning in patients with liver disease.

Methods: Clinical data and liver function results were obtained from 64 patients with liver diseases who had been accidentally treated with diethyl glycol-contaminated agent and 45 cases with hepatorenal failure.

Characterization and hepatogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from human amniotic fluid and human bone marrow: a comparative study.

Since stem cells can differentiate into hepatocyte, stem cell-based therapy becomes a potential alternative treatment for terminal liver diseases. However, an appropriate source of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) for hepatocytes has not yet been clearly elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro biological characterization and hepatic differentiation potential of human amniotic fluid-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AF-hMSCs) and human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-hMSCs).

Venous diethylene glycol poisoning in patients with preexisting severe liver disease in China.

Aim: To analyze the clinical presentation of venous diethylene glycol (DEG) poisoning in patients with preexisting severe liver disease and factors that correlate with DEG poisoning.

Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed to analyze the epidemiology, clinical presentation, hepatorenal functions, hemodynamics and pathological characteristics of 64 patients with severe liver disease who received intravenous armillarisin-A, the solvent of which was DEG. Comparative analyses of correlating factors and causes for poisoning were based on the presence or absence of poisoning.

[Specific T cell immune response in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with different doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine].

Objective: To study the specific cellular immunoresponse of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the chronic hepatitis B patients treated with different doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine.

Methods: Seventy-two chronic hepatitis B patients who did not use any anti-HBV drugs within 6 months were randomized into 3 groups (90 micrograms, 60 micrograms, and placebo) in a ratio of 1:1:1. The patients in different groups were treated with different doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in combination with IFN alpha 1b 50 micrograms with 3 times a week for 24 weeks.

Expression of SOCS-1 in the liver tissues of chronic hepatitis B and its clinical significance.

Aim: To study the expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1) in the liver tissues of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and the clinical significance of this expression.

Methods: The expression of SOCS-1 in liver tissues of 45 cases of CHB was investigated by immunohistochemical staining, and its correlations with inflammation grades and fibrosis stage were analyzed by SPSS statistics software.

Results: The result showed SOCS-1 expressing could be observed in the liver tissue of CHB.

[Changes of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes during acute flare-ups in chronic hepatitis B patients].

Objective: To detect HBV antigen specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) changes in patients during acute flare-ups and to study their association with flare-ups and aggravations into grave hepatitis by quantitative analysis of HLA-A2* restricted HBcAg-specific CTL cells.

Methods: The frequency of HBcAg-specific CTL cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 29 patients with persistent infection with HBV were quantified by flow cytometry using one HLA-A2*HBV peptide pentamers complex (Pro5TM MHC Pentamers).

Results: There was a statistical difference of HBcAg specific CTLs between the patients with acute exacerbations (1.

[The clinical features and natural history of post-transfusion hepatitis C].

Objective: To study the clinical features and natural history of post-transfusion hepatitis C (PTHC).

Methods: Ninety-nine post-transfusion hepatitis C patients were analyzed using retrospective and prospective study and follow-up.

Results: (1) Ninety-nine post-transfusion HCV patients were infected during 1989-1994, mostly between 1990-1992.

Prevalence of hepatitis G virus infection and homology of different viral strains in Southern China.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection and to analyse the homology of different HGV strains in Southern China.

Methods: A total of 1993 sera from different groups in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Yunnan were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The nucleotide sequences of 5'untranslated region (5'UTR) derived from 20 strains and NS5 region from 3 strains were determined.