Better performance of PIVKA-II for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease with normal total bilirubin.

Background: Serum protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) is a promising biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance.

Aim: To identify the contributing factors related to the abnormal elevation of PIVKA-II level and assess their potential influence on the performance of PIVKA-II in detecting HCC.

Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled in 784 chronic liver disease (CLD) patients and 267 HCC patients in Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University from April 2016 to December 2019.

[Variation characteristics of soil seed bank during vegetation restoration in red soil erosion area].

As a natural disturbance agent, soil erosion could affect secondary distribution and species composition of soil seed bank. The composition, storage and distribution pattern of the soil seed banks in five different vegetation recovery areas, including bare ground (1), pine forest land (2-4) and secondary forest (5) in the typical red soil erosion area, were studied to explore the effects of soil erosion on soil seed bank during vegetation restoration. The results showed that a total of 21 species were recorded in the soil seed bank.

[IgM to recombinant antigen E2 of HEV envelope protein is a sensitive and specific serological marker in diagnosis of acute hepatitis E].

Objectives: To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of IgM to recombinant antigen E2 of HEV envelope protein in the diagnosis of acute sporadic hepatitis E.

Methods: anti-E2 IgM was detected in sera samples from 176 cases of acute sporadic hepatitis E and 191 cases of acute non A-E hepatitis by ELISA and was compared with HEV IgM detected by some domestic and Genelabs (GL) kits. HEV RNA was also detected in sera positive for anti-E2 IgM.