Efficacy of a Chinese herbal formula on hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background: No guideline recommends antiviral therapy for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with persistently normal alanine aminotransferase levels and a high hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA viral load.

Aim: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of a Chinese herbal formula as a therapeutic option for chronic HBV infection.

Methods: In total, 395 patients (30-65 years old) with confirmed HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B infection and persistently normal alanine aminotransferase were randomized to receive either Chinese herbal formula or placebo for 96 wk.

Serum hepatitis B surface antigen correlates with fibrosis and necroinflammation: A multicentre perspective in China.

The kinetics of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during the natural history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been studied, but the factors affecting them remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the factors affecting HBsAg titres, using data from multicentre, large-sized clinical trials in China. The baseline data of 1795 patients in 3 multicentre trials were studied, and the patients were classified into 3 groups: hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic HBV infection (n = 588), HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (n = 596), and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (n = 611).

rs1010023 Predisposes Chronic Hepatitis B to Hepatic Steatosis but Improves Insulin Resistance and Glucose Metabolism.

polymorphisms serve as the genetic basis of hepatic steatosis in normal population and lead to dysregulated glucose metabolism. Whether it underlies the hepatic steatosis and glucose homeostasis in chronic hepatitis B patients remains uncertain. Here, we investigated the polymorphisms in biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis B patients with (CHB+HS group, = 52) or without hepatic steatosis (CHB group, = 47) and non-CHB subjects with (HS group, = 37) or without hepatic steatosis (normal group, = 45).

Classification and regression tree analysis of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure: Seeing the forest for the trees.

At present, there is no ideal model for predicting the short-term outcome of patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF). This study aimed to establish and validate a prognostic model by using the classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. A total of 1047 patients from two separate medical centres with suspected ACHBLF were screened in the study, which were recognized as derivation cohort and validation cohort, respectively.

APOC3 rs2070666 Is Associated with the Hepatic Steatosis Independently of PNPLA3 rs738409 in Chinese Han Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases.

Background And Aim: The association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and apolipoprotein C3 gene (APOC3) promoter region single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2854117 and rs2854116 is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between other polymorphisms of APOC3 and NAFLD in Chinese.

Methods: Fifty-nine liver biopsy-proven NAFLD patients and 72 healthy control subjects were recruited to a cohort representing Chinese Han population.

Conditional survival estimate of acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure: a dynamic prediction based on a multicenter cohort.

Objectives: Counseling patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF) on their individual risk of short-term mortality is challenging. This study aimed to develop a conditional survival estimate (CSE) for predicting individualized mortality risk in ACHBLF patients.

Methods: We performed a large prospective cohort study of 278 ACHBLF patients from December 2010 to December 2013 at three participating medical centers.

A preliminary study on the efficacy and influencing factors of interferon for the treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C with different dosage forms.

Background And Objective: Nowadays, interferon alfa-2b is still in widespread use for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in China. In this study, peginterferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin was compared with interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin for the initial treatment of genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C.

Materials And Methods: Overall, 168 patients with genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C were assigned peginterferon alfa-2a (135-180 µg subcutaneously/week) plus ribavirin (800-1200 mg/day orally) or interferon alfa-2b (300-500 million units, once every other day) plus ribavirin (800-1200 mg/day).

[The effects of complement C3f segment on expression and secretion of collagen I, III and transforming growth factor-beta1 in human embryonic lung fibroblast].

Objective: To observe the effects of complement fragment C3f on expression and secretion of collagen I, III and transforming growth factor( TGF)-beta1 in human embryonic lung fibroblast (MRC-5) cells.

Methods: MRC-5 cells were cultured with C3f (the synthetic 17 peptides fragments of complement C3). The extracellular and intracellular expression levels of type I, III collagens and TGF-beta1 in MRC-5 cultures were detected by ELISA and immunohistochemistry, respectively.

Relationship between interleukin-6 and ammonia in patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy due to liver cirrhosis.

Aim:   Previous studies have shown significantly elevated levels of interleukin (IL)-6 in cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE), but the relationship between circulating levels of IL-6 and ammonia is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between both variables in cirrhotic patients with MHE.

Methods:   Psychometric tests including number connection test part A (NCT-A) and digit symbol test (DST) were performed to diagnose MHE in 85 cirrhotic patients.

HIV/AIDS epidemiology and prevention in China.

Objective: To review HIV/AIDS epidemic history, current situation and prevention policy in China. Data sources Information included in this article was identified by searching PUBMED (1997 - 2006) online resources using the key terms "HIV/AIDS", "epidemic", "prevention", and "China". Study selection Original milestone articles and critical reviews written by major pioneer investigators of the field were selected.

Influence of HBcAg in liver cell plasma on expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in liver tissue of low-grade chronic hepatitis B patients.

Aim: To study the influence of HBcAg on the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) in liver tissue of low-grade chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: The expression of TGF-beta1 and HBcAg in liver samples from 93 low-grade CHB patients was detected by immunohistochemistry and valuated by semi-quantitative scoring.

Results: In the 93 low-grade CHB patients, HBcAg was expressed in cell plasma but not in the liver tissue.

[Prevention and treatment of HBV reinfection following liver transplantation].

Objective: To study the prevention and treatment of HBV reinfection after liver transplantation.

Methods: Total 19 cases of chronic fulminant hepatitis B, the end-stage of liver cirrhosis and liver carcinoma complicated with HBV cirrhosis. Were performed liver transplantation and given anti-viral drugs pre and post transplantation.