Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) functions as a tumor suppressor via regulating stemness in liver cancer.

Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) is a xenosensor that is almost exclusively expressed in the liver. Studies in rodents suggest an oncogenic role for CAR in liver cancer, but its role in human liver cancer is unclear. We aimed to investigate the functional roles of CAR in human liver cancer with a focus on the liver cancer stem cells.

Serum and urine nucleic acid screening tests for BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy in kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant recipients.

Background: BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (BKPyVAN) occurs when BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) affects a transplanted kidney, leading to an initial injury characterised by cytopathic damage, inflammation, and fibrosis. BKPyVAN may cause permanent loss of graft function and premature graft loss. Early detection gives clinicians an opportunity to intervene by timely reduction in immunosuppression to reduce adverse graft outcomes.

Telehealth Use and Legal Considerations in Drug Health Services During Pandemics: Systematic Scoping Review.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted patients with substance use disorder (SUD) more than the general population and resulted in substantially increased emergency department admissions. Routine care of patients attending drug health services during the pandemic transitioned, with telehealth being important in delivering appropriate care. However, telehealth introduces unique risks such as privacy, confidentiality, and data safety.

Hepatitis B Viral Protein HBx: Roles in Viral Replication and Hepatocarcinogenesis.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major public health concern worldwide, with approximately 296 million individuals chronically infected. The HBV-encoded X protein (HBx) is a regulatory protein of 17 kDa, reportedly responsible for a broad range of functions, including viral replication and oncogenic processes. In this review, we summarize the state of knowledge on the mechanisms underlying HBx functions in viral replication, the antiviral effect of therapeutics directed against HBx, and the role of HBx in liver cancer development (including a hypothetical model of hepatocarcinogenesis).

Perspectives of People Living With Chronic Hepatitis D: Impact of Disease and Unmet Needs Along the Care Cascade.

Hepatitis D virus leads to a severe form of viral hepatitis and affects nearly 5% of people living with chronic hepatitis B. Chronic infection with hepatitis D virus leads to more rapid progression to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and ultimately liver disease-related death compared with hepatitis B monoinfection. Health outcomes and treatment adherence can be affected by patient perception of, engagement in, and satisfaction with care.

A tumor-promotional molecular axis CircMAPKBP1/miR-17-3p/TGFβ2 activates autophagy pathway to drive tongue squamous cell carcinoma cisplatin chemoresistance.

Platinum-based chemotherapy is the first-line treatment for tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC), but most patients rapidly develop resistance. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of critical regulators in the pathogenesis of several tumors, but their role in cisplatin resistance in TSCC has not been fully elucidated. Here we found that circMAPKBP1 was enriched in cisplatin resistant TSCC cells and was closely associated with enhanced autophagic activity.

Proportion and clinical characteristics of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease and associated liver fibrosis in an urban Chinese population.

Background: Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the predominant form of chronic liver disease worldwide. This study was designed to investigate the proportion and characteristics of MAFLD within the general Chinese population and to identify the contributory risk factors for liver fibrosis among MAFLD individuals.

Methods: The participants were recruited from a cohort undergoing routine health evaluations at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University between May 2019 and March 2023.

BCG vaccination of healthcare workers for protection against COVID-19: 12-month outcomes from an international randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has immunomodulatory effects that may provide protection against unrelated infectious diseases. We aimed to determine whether BCG vaccination protects adults against COVID-19.

Design: Phase III double-blind randomised controlled trial.

Antihypertensive treatment for kidney transplant recipients.

Background: The comparative effects of specific blood pressure (BP) lowering treatments on patient-important outcomes following kidney transplantation are uncertain. Our 2009 Cochrane review found that calcium channel blockers (CCBs) improved graft function and prevented graft loss, while the evidence for other BP-lowering treatments was limited. This is an update of the 2009 Cochrane review.

Metabolomics and network pharmacology exploration of the effects of bile acids on carotid atherosclerosis and potential underlying mechanisms.

Background: Bile acids (BAs), products of gut microbiota metabolism, have long been implicated in atherosclerotic disease pathogenesis. Characterizing the serum bile acid profile and exploring its potential role in carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) development are crucial tasks.

Methods: In this study, we recruited 73 patients with CAS as the disease group and 77 healthy individuals as the control group.

Hepatitis B discrimination: global responses requiring global data.

Over 250 million individuals live with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection worldwide. A significant proportion of these people often face discrimination defined as the unjust, unfair, or prejudicial treatment of a person on the grounds of their hepatitis B status. Hepatitis B related discrimination has not been widely documented in the literature.

Highlights from the 2023 International Meeting on the Molecular Biology of Hepatitis B virus.

Since its discovery in 1965, our understanding of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication cycle and host immune responses has increased markedly. In contrast, our knowledge of the molecular biology of hepatitis delta virus (HDV), which is associated with more severe liver disease, is less well understood. Despite the progress made, critical gaps remain in our knowledge of HBV and HDV replication and the mechanisms underlying viral persistence and evasion of host immunity.

Quality of life of people living with chronic hepatitis B: The role of social support system.

People living with chronic hepatitis B (PLCHB) are recommended to follow a lifelong monitoring regimen and face increased risk of liver cancer. Additionally, PLCHB frequently encounter stigma and discrimination, and relationship disruptions because of their chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Social support plays a key role in coping with chronic illnesses; however, this is inadequately assessed for PLCHB.

Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus Affect Mitochondrial Function Through Different Metabolic Pathways, Explaining Virus-Specific Clinical Features of Chronic Hepatitis.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) cause chronic hepatitis with important clinical differences. HCV causes hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, while HBV confers increased risk of liver cancer. We hypothesized these differences may be due to virus-specific effects on mitochondrial function.

Hepatitis C Virus Antiviral Drug Resistance and Salvage Therapy Outcomes Across Australia.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can now be cured with well-tolerated direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy. However, a potential barrier to HCV elimination is the emergence of resistance-associated substitutions (RASs) that reduce the efficacy of antiviral drugs, but real-world studies assessing the clinical impact of RASs are limited. Here, an analysis of the impact of RASs on retreatment outcomes for different salvage regimens in patients nationally who failed first-line DAA therapy is reported.

Major open questions in the hepatitis B and D field - Proceedings of the inaugural International emerging hepatitis B and hepatitis D researchers workshop.

The early and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) of scientific communities represent the forefront of research and the future direction in which a field takes. The opinions of this key demographic are not commonly aggregated to audit fields and precisely demonstrate where challenges lie for the future. To address this, we initiated the inaugural International Emerging Researchers Workshop for the global Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D scientific community (75 individuals).

Applying image features of proximal paracancerous tissues in predicting prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Most of the methods using digital pathological image for predicting Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis have not considered paracancerous tissue microenvironment (PTME), which are potentially important for tumour initiation and metastasis. This study aimed to identify roles of image features of PTME in predicting prognosis and tumour recurrence of HCC patients.

Methods: We collected whole slide images (WSIs) of 146 HCC patients from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital (SYSM dataset).

Making sense of narcolepsy: A qualitative exploration of how persons with narcolepsy perceive symptoms and their illness experience.

Introduction: Understanding how persons with narcolepsy conceptualize symptoms, daily impact and illness experience is key to facilitating dialogue between patients and healthcare professionals. These concepts are usually explored from the perspective of healthcare professionals/researchers and rarely from the perspective of those with narcolepsy.

Methods: 127 self-reported persons with narcolepsy were recruited from an Australian patient support group.

Inhibition of Cellular Factor TM6SF2 Suppresses Secretion Pathways of Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and Hepatitis D Viruses.

Chronic viral hepatitis is caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), or hepatitis D virus (HDV). Despite different replication strategies, all of these viruses rely on secretion through the host endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi pathway, providing potential host targets for antiviral therapy. Knockdown of transmembrane 6 superfamily member 2 (TM6SF2) in virus cell culture models reduced secretion of infectious HCV virions, HDV virions, and HBV subviral particles.

Reply to Piewbang et al. Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus Antigens in Lymphoma Tissues. Comment on "Beatty et al. Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus and Lymphoma. 2023, , 2294".

We are grateful to the authors for providing additional data to demonstrate the presence of domestic cat hepadnavirus in lymphoma tissues [...

Domestic Cat Hepadnavirus and Pathogenic Retroviruses; A Sero-Molecular Survey of Cats in Santiago, Chile.

Cat ownership is common in Chile, but data on the regional prevalence of infectious agents are limited. A sero-molecular survey of 120 client- or shelter-owned domestic cats in greater Santiago was performed. Whole blood DNA was tested for the novel hepatitis-B-like virus, domestic cat hepadnavirus (DCH) by conventional PCR (cPCR) and quantitative PCR (qPCR), and for feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) by qPCR.