MiR-140 modulates the inflammatory responses of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages by targeting TRAF6.

This study aimed to examine miR-140 expression in clinical samples from tuberculosis (TB) patients and to explore the molecular mechanisms of miR-140 in host-bacterial interactions during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M tb) infections. The miR-140 expression and relevant mRNA expression were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR); the protein expression levels were analysed by ELISA and western blot; M tb survival was measured by colony formation unit assay; potential interactions between miR-140 and the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. MiR-140 was up-regulated in the human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from TB patients and in THP-1 and U937 cells with M tb infection.

Clinico-Psychosocial Factors Predicting Hepatocellular Carcinoma Related Knowledge Among Patients with Chronic Liver Disease.

Regular clinical surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among high-risk patients could lead to early detection and cure. Patient's knowledge and attitude are important to the uptake rate of this surveillance. This study is aimed at assessing the level of HCC-related knowledge among patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) who are at risk of HCC and determine predictors for poor knowledge.

Genetic diversity and drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Yunnan, China.

Background: China is a country with high burden of tuberculosis (TB), especially drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), which is still a serious health problem in Yunnan Province. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is the pathogenic microorganism of TB. The epidemiological characteristics of MTB strains in local areas need to be described.

Sustained Responses in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Nucleos(t)ide Analogue Drug-resistance after Peg-interferon Alfa-2a Add-on Treatment: A Long-term Cohort Study.

The use of additional nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) without cross-resistance to previously used NAs as a rescue therapy is recommended by most international guidelines for chronic hepatitis B patients with NA-resistance. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of peg-interferon (PegIFN) alfa-2a and NA in these patients, comparing to those who switch to an alternative NA therapy without cross-resistance. In this prospective, comparative and cohort study, data were collected from the patients' hospital records.

MicroRNA-374a Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation by Targeting Mitogen-Inducible Gene 6 (MIG-6).

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a disease with poor prognosis rates and ineffective therapeutic options. Previous studies have reported the involvement of mitogen-inducible gene 6 (MIG-6) as a negative regulator in tumor formation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in the development of different types of cancer.

Screening mutations in drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in Yunnan, China.

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), especially multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), is a serious medical and societal problem in China. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mutation characteristics of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) isolates in Yunnan, China.

Evolution of full-length genomes of HBV quasispecies in sera of patients with a coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies.

Although the evolutionary changes of viral quasispecies are correlated to the pathological status of a disease, little is known in the coexistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to these antigens (anti-HBs). To examine evolutionary changes in hepatitis B virus (HBV) and their relationship to the coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies, HBV genomes in patients with a coexistence of HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies (experimental group) and HBsAg positive without anti-HBs (control group) were assessed. Our results showed that quasispecies diversity was significantly higher in the experimental group for large HBsAg (LHBsAg), middle HBsAg (MHBsAg), and HBsAg genes.

Analysis of long-term follow-up and examination of pathological liver tissue in chronic hepatitis E.

Hepatitis E is chronic in immunocompromised patients with HIV infection, organ transplant, or radiation and chemotherapy. General cases are not chronic. Fifty-five cases were collected and followed up for 4-14 years.

[Long-term efficacy and safety of telbivudine as monotherapy and as combination therapy with adefovir dipivoxil in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients].

Objective: To prospectively observe the long-term antiviral efficacy and safety of telbivudine (LDT) administered as a monotherapy and as a combination therapy with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) in patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and positivity for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg).

Methods: A total of 140 patients with HBeAg-positive CHB were randomly divided into treatment groups for LDT monotherapy (n = 75; 600 mg orally, once daily) and LDT+ADV combination therapy (n = 65; LDT 600 mg plus ADV 10 mg orally, once daily). The shortest treatment course was 96 weeks and the longest was 240 weeks.

Analysis of acute to chronic hepatitis E: 6-10 year follow-up.

Hepatitis E as a self-limiting disease and is generally not chronic, although in a small number of cases it appears to be so. Complete data were collected from 1104 cases of hepatitis E out of which 28 did not heal after liver treatment. These 28 cases were followed-up for 6-10 years.