Relationship between Maternal PBMC HBV cccDNA and HBV Serological Markers and its Effect on HBV Intrauterine Transmission.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between maternal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalenty closed circular deoxyribonucleic acid (cccDNA) and other HBV serological markers and its effects on HBV intrauterine transmission. METHODS: We enrolled 290 newborns and their hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive mothers. HBV cccDNA in PBMC and HBV DNA in serum were detected by a real-time PCR-TaqMan probe while HBV serological markers were detected with an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. RESULTS: There was a positive correlation between the levels of PBMC HBV cccDNA and serum HBV DNA and HBeAg (r = 0.436 and 0.403, P < 0.001). The detection rate of pattern A ['HBsAg (+), HBeAg (+), and anti-HBc (+)'] was significantly higher in the PBMC HBV cccDNA positive group than in the control group (χ2 = 48.48, P < 0.001). There was a significant association between HBV intrauterine transmission and PBMC HBV cccDNA (χ2 = 9.28, P = 0.002). In the presence of serum HBV DNA, HBeAg, and PBMC HBV cccDNA, the risk of HBV intrauterine transmission was three times higher (OR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.30-10.42) than that observed in their absence. The risk of HBV intrauterine transmission was the greatest (OR = 5.89, 95% CI: 2.35-14.72) when both PBMC HBV cccDNA and pattern A were present. A Bayesian network model showed that maternal PBMC HBV cccDNA was directly related to HBV intrauterine transmission. CONCLUSION: PBMC HBV cccDNA may be a direct risk factor for HBV intrauterine transmission. Our study suggests that serological markers could be combined with PBMC-related markers in prenatal testing.

Preliminary screening of 44 plant extracts for anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant activities.

In order to find new tyrosinase inhibitors and antioxidant materials, we investigated 44 plants, which were evaluated for the anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant activities. The mushroom tyrosinase inhibition assay and 2, 2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay were conducted to evaluate these activities. Among all tested plant extracts, Morus alba L. (positive control), Rhodiola crenulata (Hook. f. et Thoms.) H. Ohba, Momordica charantia L., Cuminum cyminum L. et al. exhibit higher tyrosinase inhibition. Rhodiola crenulata (Hook. f. et Thoms.) H. Ohba, Rosa rugosa Thunb. and Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb. perform the highest antioxidant activity, similar to vitamin C (the positive control). A low positive correlation is found in the DPPH radical scavenging and tyrosinase inhibition assay. Considering these factors, the extracts of Rhodiola crenulata (Hook. f. et Thoms.) H. Ohba, Alpinia officinarum Hance and Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim. exhibit high anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant activities and could be used in the cosmetic industry. Further studies are warranted to characterize the compounds responsible for the anti-tyrosinase and antioxidant properties of these plant extracts.