Association of vitamin D with functional cure in chronic hepatitis B: Insights from a retrospective cohort study and an intervention study.

Background & Aim: Functional cure for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients can be achieved using nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and pegylated interferon alpha (Peg-IFNα) combination treatment. However, the role of vitamin D in functional cure remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between vitamin D levels and functional cure in CHB patients.

Interferon-α could induce liver steatosis to promote HBsAg loss by increasing triglyceride level.

Background: The correlation between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss remains to be further elucidated, particularly in patients receiving pegylated interferon-α (PEG-IFN) treatment.

Methods: 758 patients with low HBsAg quantification who had received nucleos(t)ide analog (NUC) therapy for at least one year and subsequently switched to or add on PEG-IFN therapy over an unfixed course were enrolled. 412 patients were obtained with baseline data matched.

NIR-responsive CN-Pt-GEM hydrogel induces necroptosis and immunotherapeutic responses prevent postoperative recurrence and wound infection in lung carcinoma.

Background: Cancer recurrence following surgical resection is a major cause of treatment failure. Finding effective methods to prevent postoperative recurrence and wound infection is an important component of successful surgery. With the development of new nanotechnology, more treatment options have been provided for postoperative adjuvant therapy.

Applying a Phase-Separation Parameterization in Modeling Secondary Organic Aerosol Formation from Acid-Driven Reactive Uptake of Isoprene Epoxydiols under Humid Conditions.

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from acid-driven reactive uptake of isoprene epoxydiols (IEPOX) contributes up to 40% of organic aerosol (OA) mass in fine particulate matter. Previous work showed that IEPOX substantially converts particulate inorganic sulfates to surface-active organosulfates (OSs). This decreases aerosol acidity and creates a viscous organic-rich shell that poses as a diffusion barrier, inhibiting additional reactive uptake of IEPOX.

Decreases in Epoxide-Driven Secondary Organic Aerosol Production under Highly Acidic Conditions: The Importance of Acid-Base Equilibria.

Isoprene has the highest atmospheric emissions of any nonmethane hydrocarbon, and isoprene epoxydiols (IEPOX) are well-established oxidation products and the primary contributors forming isoprene-derived secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Highly acidic particles (pH 0-3) widespread across the lower troposphere enable acid-driven multiphase chemistry of IEPOX, such as epoxide ring-opening reactions forming methyltetrol sulfates through nucleophilic attack of sulfate (SO). Herein, we systematically demonstrate an unexpected decrease in SOA formation from IEPOX on highly acidic particles (pH < 1).

Med1 inhibits ferroptosis and alleviates liver injury in acute liver failure via Nrf2 activation.

Background: Extensive hepatocyte mortality and the absence of specific medical therapy significantly contribute to the unfavorable prognosis of acute liver failure (ALF). Ferroptosis is a crucial form of cell death involved in ALF. In this study, we aimed to determine the impact of Mediator complex subunit 1 (Med1) on ferroptosis and its potential hepatoprotective effects in ALF.

Effect of Acidity on Ice Nucleation by Inorganic-Organic Mixed Droplets.

Aerosol acidity significantly influences heterogeneous chemical reactions and human health. Additionally, acidity may play a role in cloud formation by modifying the ice nucleation properties of inorganic and organic aerosols. In this work, we combined our well-established ice nucleation technique with Raman microspectroscopy to study ice nucleation in representative inorganic and organic aerosols across a range of pH conditions (pH -0.

Efficacy and safety of voriconazole in the treatment of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with liver failure: study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a common clinical type of liver failure, and patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure are prone to fungal infections, especially the increasing incidence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). Voriconazole is recommended as the first-line antifungal agent in the treatment of invasive aspergillosis; however, no recommendation has been given for patients with severe liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh C) and liver failure. This trial aims to examine the therapeutic effects and safety of voriconazole in the treatment of IPA in patients with liver failure.

Mesenchymal stem cell-regulated miRNA-mRNA landscape in acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a major challenge in the field of hepatology. While mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy can improve the prognosis of patients with ACLF, the molecular mechanisms through which MSCs attenuate ACLF remain poorly understood. We performed global miRNA and mRNA expression profiling via next-generation sequencing of liver tissues from MSC-treated ACLF mice to identify important signaling pathways and major factors implicated in ACLF alleviation by MSCs.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promote Polarization of M2 Macrophages in Mice with Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure via Mertk/JAK1/STAT6 Signaling.

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a severe disease with a high mortality. Macrophage-related inflammation plays a crucial role in ACLF development. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) treatment was demonstrated to be beneficial in ACLF in our previous study; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

Serum IL-5 levels predict HBsAg seroclearance in patients treated with Nucleos(t)ide analogues combined with pegylated interferon.

Background: Knowing about cytokine profile contributes to clarify the underling immune mechanism of HBsAg seroclearance rate increase. This study aims to investigate cytokine changes during nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and peginterferon-α (Peg-IFNα) therapy and their impact on the HBsAg serologic response.

Methods: A total of 78 HBV DNA-negative chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) patients were studied after a lead-in phase of NAs with complete serum cytokines.

Reduction in Intrahepatic cccDNA and Integration of HBV in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with a Functional Cure.

Background And Aims: Functional cure (FC) is characterized by the clearance of the hepatitis B surface antigen from the serum of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). However, the level of intrahepatic covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) integration remains unclear. We conducted this study to determine them and reveal their value in the treatment of CHB.

Colonization with Carbapenem-Resistant Contributes to Unfavorable Outcomes in End-Stage Liver Disease Patients.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are the highest priority pathogens of the World Health Organization, and their prevalence in end-stage liver disease (ESLD) patients is increasing. CRE colonization is an independent risk factor for CRE infections. We aimed to assess risk factors and explore the relationship between CRE colonization, infection, and prognosis in patients with ESLD.

Acidity-Dependent Atmospheric Organosulfate Structures and Spectra: Exploration of Protonation State Effects via Raman and Infrared Spectroscopies Combined with Density Functional Theory.

Organosulfates formed from heterogeneous reactions of organic-derived oxidation products with sulfate ions can account for >15% of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) mass, primarily in submicron particles with long atmospheric lifetimes. However, fundamental understanding of organosulfate molecular structures is limited, particularly at atmospherically relevant acidities (pH = 0-6). Herein, for 2-methyltetrol sulfates (2-MTSs), an important group of isoprene-derived organosulfates, protonation state and vibrational modes were studied using Raman and infrared spectroscopy, as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations of vibrational spectra for neutral (RO-SOH) and anionic/deprotonated (RO-SO) structures.

Glass Transition Temperatures of Individual Submicrometer Atmospheric Particles: Direct Measurement via Heated Atomic Force Microscopy Probe.

The phase (solid, semisolid, or liquid) of atmospheric aerosols is central to their ability to take up water or undergo heterogeneous reactions. In recent years, the unexpected prevalence of viscous organic particles has been shown through field measurements and global atmospheric modeling. The aerosol phase has been predicted using glass transition temperatures (), which were estimated based on molecular weight, oxygen:carbon ratio, and chemical formulae of organic species present in atmospheric particles via studies of bulk materials.

Initial pH Governs Secondary Organic Aerosol Phase State and Morphology after Uptake of Isoprene Epoxydiols (IEPOX).

Aerosol acidity increases secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed from the reactive uptake of isoprene-derived epoxydiols (IEPOX) by enhancing condensed-phase reactions within sulfate-containing submicron particles, leading to low-volatility organic products. However, the link between the initial aerosol acidity and the resulting physicochemical properties of IEPOX-derived SOA remains uncertain. Herein, we show distinct differences in the morphology, phase state, and chemical composition of individual organic-inorganic mixed particles after IEPOX uptake to ammonium sulfate particles with different initial atmospherically relevant acidities (pH = 1, 3, and 5).

Anti-Interferon-γ Autoantibodies Impair T-Lymphocyte Responses in Patients with Infections.

Background: Although anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies predispose patients to infection, whether this is mediated by T cell attenuation remains elusive.

Methods: Total peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors or patients with infection were stimulated with M1, and immunodominant influenza H1N1 peptide, or heat-inactivated in the presence of serum from anti-IFN-γ autoantibody-positive patients or healthy controls. The percentages of IFN-γTNFCD8 T cells and IFN-γCD4 T cells were determined by flow cytometry and cytokines released in the supernatant were detected by Cytometric Bead Array.

Safety and efficacy of Thymosin α1 in the treatment of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a randomized controlled trial.

Background/purpose Of The Study: Mortality from hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is high. Severe infection is the most important complication that affects the outcomes of ACLF patients. Thymosin α1 (Tα1) can improve immune imbalance and this study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of Tα1 treatment for HBV-related ACLF.

Bilirubin inhibits the anticancer activity of sorafenib by blocking MCL-1 degradation in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Objective: Sorafenib is a first-line drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, most patients with HCC do not respond to sorafenib, mainly because of the frequent development of drug resistance. Bilirubin is an end metabolite of heme catabolism and an indicator of liver function, but its direct role in regulating the anticancer activity of sorafenib in HCC cells is unclear.

Spinal canal infection caused by Streptococcus suis in human: a case report.

Background: Streptococcus suis is an emerging zoonotic pathogen that mainly causes meningitis, sepsis, arthritis, endocarditis, and endophthalmitis in human. To the best of our knowledge, Spinal canal infection caused by Streptococcus suis has rarely been reported.

Case Presentation: Here we report a case of spinal canal infection caused by Streptococcus suis in a 50-year-old male patient.

Tumor Mutational Burden Associated With Response to Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancer types, especially in Asian countries. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) has been shown to improve the progression-free survival among gastric cancer patients with peritoneal metastases; however, not all patients demonstrate response to HIPEC.

Methods: Biomarkers are needed to select patients for effective treatment of HIPEC.

Solid organic-coated ammonium sulfate particles at high relative humidity in the summertime Arctic atmosphere.

SignificancePhysical and chemical properties of individual atmospheric particles determine their climate impacts. Hygroscopic inorganic salt particles mixed with trace amounts of organic material are predicted to be liquid under typical tropospheric conditions in the summertime Arctic. Yet, we unexpectedly observed a significant concentration of solid particles composed of ammonium sulfate with an organic coating under conditions of high relative humidity and low temperature.

Engineering the Redox-Driven Channel for Precisely Regulating Nanoconfined Glutathione Identification and Transport.

Bioinspired artificial nanochannels for molecular and ionic transport have extensive applications. However, it is still a huge challenge to achieve an intelligent transport system with high selectivity/efficiency and controllability. Inspired by glutathione transport across the plasma membrane via redox regulation, we herein designed and fabricated a redox-reactive artificial nanochannel based on the host-guest chemical strategy.

HSP70 promotes tumor progression by stabilizing Skp2 expression in gastric cancer cells.

Gastric cancer (GC) has one of the highest tumor incidences worldwide. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is highly expressed and plays a critical role in the occurrence, progression, metastasis, poor prognosis, and drug resistance of GC. However, the underlying mechanisms of HSP70 are not clear.

Rapid diagnosis of disseminated infection in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimen using next-generation sequencing: A case report.

Background: () belongs to the group of rapidly growing . This microorganism is associated with a wide spectrum of infectious diseases. Due to a low detection rate or the time required for conventional culture methodology, a rapid and broad-spectrum method is necessary to identify rare pathogens.