Continuous elevation of procalcitonin in cirrhosis combined with hepatic carcinoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT) are considered a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of bacterial infection or inflammation. There are few reports of high PCT levels in end-stage liver disease regardless of bacterial infection. Here, we present a case of extremely high PCT levels (> 100 ng/mL) in a patient with severe cirrhosis combined with hepatic carcinoma. CASE PRESENTATION: A 65-year-old man developed end-stage cirrhosis with hepatic carcinoma. Radiographic imaging showed a massive hepatocellular carcinoma with multiple loci lack of indications of resection. Hence, transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization was performed three times over a period of 4 months. Before and after interventional therapies, the biochemistry laboratory results were only slightly abnormal except for persistently high PCT concentrations (> 100 ng/mL), irrespective of the evidence for bacterial infection or sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: This case suggests that continuously high levels of PCT (> 100 ng/mL) may be present in advanced liver disease, particularly in complex situations such as decompensated cirrhosis and liver cancer, in the absence of severe infection or sepsis. This knowledge could expand the significance of PCT in liver disease.

Epidemiological, clinical and virological characteristics of 74 cases of coronavirus-infected disease 2019 (COVID-19) with gastrointestinal symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The SARS-CoV-2-infected disease (COVID-19) outbreak is a major threat to human beings. Previous studies mainly focused on Wuhan and typical symptoms. We analysed 74 confirmed COVID-19 cases with GI symptoms in the Zhejiang province to determine epidemiological, clinical and virological characteristics. DESIGN: COVID-19 hospital patients were admitted in the Zhejiang province from 17 January 2020 to 8 February 2020. Epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, management and outcome data of patients with GI symptoms were analysed using multivariate analysis for risk of severe/critical type. Bioinformatics were used to analyse features of SARS-CoV-2 from Zhejiang province. RESULTS: Among enrolled 651 patients, 74 (11.4%) presented with at least one GI symptom (nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea), average age of 46.14 years, 4-day incubation period and 10.8% had pre-existing liver disease. Of patients with COVID-19 with GI symptoms, 17 (22.97%) and 23 (31.08%) had severe/critical types and family clustering, respectively, significantly higher than those without GI symptoms, 47 (8.14%) and 118 (20.45%). Of patients with COVID-19 with GI symptoms, 29 (39.19%), 23 (31.08%), 8 (10.81%) and 16 (21.62%) had significantly higher rates of fever >38.5°C, fatigue, shortness of breath and headache, respectively. Low-dose glucocorticoids and antibiotics were administered to 14.86% and 41.89% of patients, respectively. Sputum production and increased lactate dehydrogenase/glucose levels were risk factors for severe/critical type. Bioinformatics showed sequence mutation of SARS-CoV-2 with m6A methylation and changed binding capacity with ACE2. CONCLUSION: We report COVID-19 cases with GI symptoms with novel features outside Wuhan. Attention to patients with COVID-19 with non-classic symptoms should increase to protect health providers.

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of antiviral regimens for entecavir-resistant hepatitis B: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who had exposed to lamivudine (LAM) and telbivudine (LdT) had high risk of developing entecavir (ETV)-resistance after long-term treatment. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and a network meta-analysis on the efficacy and cost-effectiveness on antiviral regimens in CHB patients with ETV-resistance. DATA SOURCES: We searched PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science for studies on nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) treatment [including tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-based rescue therapies, adefovir (ADV)-based rescue therapies and double-dose ETV therapy] in CHB patients with ETV-resistance. The network meta-analysis was conducted for 1-year complete virological response (CVR) and biological response (BR) rates using GeMTC and ADDIS. A cost-effective analysis was conducted to select an economic and effective treatment regimen based on the 1-year CVR rate. RESULTS: A total of 6 studies were finally included in this analysis. The antiviral efficacy was estimated. On network meta-analysis, the 1-year CVR rate in ETV-TDF [odds ratio (OR)  = 22.30; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 2.78-241.93], LAM-TDF (OR  = 70.67; 95 % CI: 5.16-1307.45) and TDF (OR  = 16.90; 95 % CI: 2.28-186.30) groups were significantly higher than that in the ETV double-dose group; the 1-year CVR rate in the LAM-TDF group (OR  = 14.82; 95 % CI: 1.03-220.31) was significantly higher than that in the LAM/LdT-ADV group. The 1-year BR rate of ETV-TDF (OR = 28.68; 95 % CI: 1.70-1505.08) and TDF (OR = 21.79; 95 % CI: 1.43-1070.09) therapies were significantly higher than that of ETV double-dose therapy. TDF-based therapies had the highest possibility to achieve the CVR and BR at 1 year, in which LAM-TDF combined therapy was the most effective regimen. The ratio of cost/effectiveness for 1-year treatment was 8 526, 17 649, 20 651 Yuan in the TDF group, TDF-ETV group, and ETV-ADV group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: TDF-based combined therapies such as ETV-TDF and LAM-TDF therapies were the first-line treatment if financial condition is allowed.

Effect of probiotic treatment on cirrhotic patients with minimal hepatic encephalopathy: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is an early and reversible form of hepatic encephalopathy. The documentations on the treatment with probiotics are inconsistent. The present meta-analysis was to verify the role of probiotics in the treatment of cirrhotic patients with MHE. DATA SOURCES: Seven electronic databases were searched for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published until July 2015. The effects of probiotics on serum ammonia, endotoxin, and MHE were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 14 RCTs (combined n = 1132) were included in the meta-analysis. When probiotics were compared to placebo or no treatment, probiotics were more likely to reduce values in the number connection test (NCT; week 4: MD = -30.25, 95% CI: -49.85 to -10.66), improve MHE (week 4: OR = 0.18, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.47; week 12: OR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.32), and prevent overt HE progression (week 4: OR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.67) in patients with liver cirrhosis. When probiotics was compared to lactulose, probiotics tended to reduce serum ammonia levels (week 4: MD = -0.33 µmol/L, 95% CI: -5.39 to 4.74; week 8: MD = 6.22 µmol/L, 95% CI: -24.04 to 36.48), decrease NCT (week 8: MD = 3.93, 95% CI: -0.72 to 8.58), improve MHE (week 4: OR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.45 to 1.91; week 12: OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.35 to 1.51) and prevent the development of overt HE (week 4: OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.17 to 5.44; week 12: OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 0.50 to 14.64) in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, lactulose appears to be more effective in reducing NCT values as compared to probiotics (week 4: MD = 6.7, 95% CI: 0.58 to 12.82). CONCLUSION: Probiotics can decrease serum ammonia and endotoxin levels, improve MHE, and prevent overt HE development in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Systemic transcriptome analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors, and most of which is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aim to study the characteristic changes of numerous genes and their roles in HCC through systematical analysis of the characteristics of expression spectrum of HCC. Firstly, we made systematic clustering of the HCC samples according to the RNAseq data from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) and newly classified HCC. Then the characteristic genes in different molecular subtypes were found out and further analyzed combing with methylation and SNP 6.0 chip. Finally, these genes were subjected to do functional annotation and abnormal signaling pathways of HCC in various molecular subtypes and were screened out. There were 3843 differential genes screened; among which, 689 genes were enriched into 13 KEGG-related pathways, and the expression of 27 and 924 genes showed positive and negative correlation to methylation level, respectively, while the expression of 43 genes showed positive correlation to variation level of copy number. The methylation degree of ZSCAN18 may be considered as a marker for prognosis evaluation, and ABHD6 could be a potential anti-oncogene.

Effects of Salmonella infection on hepatic damage following acute liver injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: Acute liver injury is a common clinical disorder associated with intestinal barrier injury and disturbance of intestinal microbiota. Probiotic supplementation has been reported to reduce liver injury; however, it is unclear whether enteropathogen infection exacerbates liver injury. The purpose of this study was to address this unanswered question using a rat model. METHODS: Oral supplementation with Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis (S. enteritidis) was given to rats for 7 days. Different degrees of acute liver injury were then induced by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine. The presence and extent of liver injury was assayed by measuring the concentrations of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin. Histology was used to observe liver tissue damage. Additionally, we measured the changes in plasma endotoxin, serum cytokines and bacterial translocation to clarify the mechanisms underlying intestinal microbiota associated liver injury. RESULTS: The levels of liver damage and endotoxin were significantly increased in the Salmonella infected rats with severe liver injury compared with the no infection rats with severe liver injury (P<0.01); The peyer's patch CD3+ T cell counts were increased significantly when the Salmonella infection with severe injury group was compared with the normal group (P<0.05). S. enteritidis pretreatment enhanced intestinal barrier impairment and bacterial translocation. CONCLUSIONS: Oral S. enteritidis administration exacerbates acute liver injury, especially when injury was severe. Major factors of the exacerbation include inflammatory and oxidative stress injuries induced by the translocated bacteria and associated endotoxins, as well as over-activation of the immune system in the intestine and liver.

Effects of plasma exchange combined with continuous renal replacement therapy on acute fatty liver of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) in the third trimester or early postpartum period can lead to fatal liver damage. Its traditional therapy is not very effective in facilitating hepatic recovery. The safety and effect of plasma exchange (PE) in combination with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) (PE+CRRT) for AFLP still needs evaluation. METHODS: Five AFLP patients with hepatic encephalopathy and renal failure were subjected to PE+CRRT in our department from 2007 to 2012. Their symptoms, physical signs and results were observed, and all relevant laboratory tests were compared before and after PE+CRRT. RESULTS: All the 5 patients were well tolerated to the therapy. Four of them responded to the treatment and showed improvement in clinical symptoms/signs and laboratory results, and they were cured and discharged home after the treatment. One patient succeeded in bridging to transplantation for slowing down hepatic failure and its complications process after 2 treatment sessions. Intensive care unit stay and hospital stay were 9.4 (range 5-18) and 25.0 days (range 11-42), respectively. CONCLUSION: PE+CRRT is safe and effective and should be used immediately at the onset of hepatic encephalopathy and/or renal failure in patients with AFLP.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C in HIV-infected patients: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) share similar routes of transmission by sexual intercourse or drug use by parenteral injection, so coinfection is common. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of coinfection with either HCV or HBV in patients infected with HIV. DATA SOURCES: A meta-analysis was performed to quantify HBV coinfection with HCV in HIV patients. Published studies in the English and Chinese language medical literature involving cohorts of HIV patients concomitantly infected with HBV and/or HCV were collected from the PubMed database, ISI Web of Science, the Cochrane library clinical trials registry, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) and Google Scholar, for relevant articles before November 2009. The search was conducted with the following key words: hepatitis C, HCV, hepatitis B, HBV, human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, and coinfection. Data were extracted from relevant studies by two investigators. RevMan 5.0 software was used to perform the meta-analysis. RESULTS: We identified 22 studies involving 17 664 patients. Substantial differences in the HCV rate compared to the HBV rate in HIV patients were found in the overall analysis [odds ratio (OR)=3.00; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.90-4.73]. A subgroup analysis showed similar results in a European group, but not in Asian or African groups. However, a meta-analysis between HIV+HBV+HCV+ and HIV+HBV+HCV- patients showed no significant difference (OR=0.91; 95% CI 0.57-1.45). Although subgroup analysis still lacked essential differences, different regions seemed to have different patterns. CONCLUSIONS: HCV-HIV coinfection is more frequent than HBV-HIV coinfection overall. However, HCV infection does not affect the prevalence of HBV infection in HIV-positive patients.

Effects of plasma from patients with acute on chronic liver failure on function of cytochrome P450 in immortalized human hepatocytes.

BACKGROUND: The bioartificial liver is anticipated to be a promising alternative choice for patients with liver failure. Toxic substances which accumulate in the patients' plasma exert deleterious effects on hepatocytes in the bioreactor, and potentially reduce the efficacy of bioartificial liver devices. This study was designed to investigate the effects of plasma from patients with acute on chronic liver failure (AoCLF) on immortalized human hepatocytes in terms of cytochrome P450 gene expression, drug metabolism activity and detoxification capability. METHODS: Immortalized human hepatocytes (HepLi-2 cells) were cultured in medium containing fetal calf serum or human plasma from three patients with AoCLF. The cytochrome P450 (CYP3A5, CYP2E1, CYP3A4) expression, drug metabolism activity and detoxification capability of HepLi-2 cells were assessed by RT-PCR, lidocaine clearance and ammonia elimination assay. RESULTS: After incubation in medium containing AoCLF plasma for 24 hours, the cytochrome P450 mRNA expression of HepLi-2 cells was not significantly decreased compared with control culture. Ammonia elimination and lidocaine clearance assay showed that the ability of ammonia removal and drug metabolism remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: Immortalized human hepatocytes can be exposed to AoCLF plasma for at least 24 hours with no significant reduction in the function of cytochrome P450. HepLi-2 cells appear to be effective in metabolism and detoxification and can be potentially used in the development of bioartificial liver.

In vitro large-scale cultivation and evaluation of microencapsulated immortalized human hepatocytes (HepLL) in roller bottles.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Microencapsulated hepatocytes have been proposed as promising bioactive agents for packed-bed or fluidized-bed bioartificial liver assist devices (BLaDs) and for hepatocyte transplantation because of the potential advantages they offer of high mass transport rate and an optimal microenvironment for hepatocyte culture. We developed a large-scale and high-production alginate-chitosan (AC) microcapsule roller bottle culture system for the encapsulation of hepLL immortalized human hepatocytes. In this study, the efficacy of upscaling encapsulated hepLL cells production with roller bottle cultivation was evaluated in vitro. METHODS: Microencapsulated hepLL cells were grown at high yield in large-scale roller bottles, with free cells cultured in roller bottle spinners serving as controls. The mechanical stability and the permeability of the AC microcapsules were investigated, and the growth, metabolism and functions of the encapsulated hepLL cells were evaluated as compared to free cells. RESULTS: The microcapsules withstood well the shear stress induced by high agitation rates. The microcapsules were permeable to albumin, but prevented the release of immunoglobulins. Culture in roller bottles of immortalized human hepatocytes immobilized in the AC microcapsules improved cell growth, albumin synthesis, ammonia elimination and lidocaine clearance as compared with free cells cultured in roller bottles. CONCLUSIONS: Encapsulated hepLL cells may be cultured on a large scale in roller bottles. This makes them possible candidates for use in cell-based liver assist therapies.

Progress in bioreactors of bioartificial livers.

BACKGROUND: Bioartificial liver support systems are becoming an effective therapy for hepatic failure. Bioreactors, as key devices in these systems, can provide a favorable growth and metabolic environment, mass exchange, and immunological isolation as a platform. Currently, stagnancy in bioreactor research is the main factor restricting the development of bioartificial liver support systems. DATA SOURCES: A PubMed database search of English-language literature was performed to identify relevant articles using the keywords "bioreactor", "bioartificial liver", "hepatocyte", and "liver failure". More than 40 articles related to the bioreactors of bioartificial livers were reviewed. RESULTS: Some progress has been made in the improvement of structures, functions, and modified macromolecular materials related to bioreactors in recent years. The current data on the improvement of bioreactor configurations for bioartificial livers or on the potential of the use of certain scaffold materials in bioreactors, combined with the clinical efficacy and safety evaluation of cultured hepatocytes in vitro, indicate that the AMC (Academic Medical Center) BAL bioreactor and MELS (modular extracorporeal liver support) BAL bioreactor system can partly replace the synthetic and metabolic functions of the liver in phase I clinical studies. In addition, it has been indicated that the microfluidic PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) bioreactor, or SlideBioreactor, and the microfabricated grooved bioreactor are appropriate for hepatocyte culture, which is also promising for bioartificial livers. Similarly, modified scaffolds can promote the adhesion, growth, and function of hepatocytes, and provide reliable materials for bioreactors. CONCLUSIONS: Bioreactors, as key devices in bioartificial livers, play an important role in the therapy for liver failure both now and in the future. Bioreactor configurations are indispensable for the development of bioartificial livers used for liver failure, just as the modified scaffold materials available for bioreactors are favorable to the construction of effective bioartificial livers.

Pathogen profile and drug resistance analysis of spontaneous peritonitis in cirrhotic patients.

AIM: To investigate the microbiological characteristics and drug resistance in liver cirrhosis patients with spontaneous peritonitis. METHODS: We analyzed the data of patients with liver cirrhosis and abdominal infection at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University between January 2011 and December 2013. Pathogens present in the ascites were identified, and their sensitivity to various antibiotics was determined. RESULTS: We isolated 306 pathogenic bacteria from 288 cases: In 178 cases, the infection was caused by gram-negative strains (58.2%); in 85 cases, gram-positive strains (27.8%); in 9 cases, fungi (2.9%); and in 16 cases, more than one pathogen. The main pathogens were Escherichia coli (E. coli) (24.2%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (18.9%), Enterococcus spp. (11.1%), and Staphylococcus aureus (7.5%). Of the 306 isolated pathogens, 99 caused nosocomial infections and 207 caused community-acquired and other infections. The E. coli and K. pneumoniae strains produced more extended-spectrum ß-lactamases in cases of nosocomial infections than non-nosocomial infections (62.5% vs 38%, P < 0.013; 36.8% vs 12.8%, P < 0.034, respectively). The sensitivity to individual antibiotics differed between nosocomial and non-nosocomial infections: Piperacillin/tazobactam was significantly more effective against non-nosocomial E. coli infections (4% vs 20.8%, P < 0.021). Nitrofurantoin had stronger antibacterial activity against Enterococcus species causing non-nosocomial infections (36.4% vs 86.3%, P < 0.009). CONCLUSION: The majority of pathogens that cause abdominal infection in patients with liver cirrhosis are gram-negative, and drug resistance is significantly higher in nosocomial infections than in non-nosocomial infections.

Evaluation of a novel choanoid fluidized bed bioreactor for future bioartificial livers.

AIM: To construct and evaluate the functionality of a choanoid-fluidized bed bioreactor (CFBB) based on microencapsulated immortalized human hepatocytes. METHODS: Encapsulated hepatocytes were placed in the constructed CFBB and circulated through Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) for 12 h, and then through exchanged plasma for 6 h, and compared with encapsulated cells cultivated under static conditions in a spinner flask. Levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and albumin were used to evaluate the CFBB during media circulation, whereas levels of ALT, total bilirubin (TBil), and albumin were used to evaluate it during plasma circulation. Mass transfer and hepatocyte injury were evaluated by comparing the results from the two experimental conditions. In addition, the viability and microstructure of encapsulated cells were observed in the different environments. RESULTS: The bioartificial liver model based on a CFBB was verified by in vitro experiments. The viability of encapsulated cells accounting for 84.6% ± 3.7% in CFBB plasma perfusion was higher than the 74.8% ± 3.1% in the static culture group (P < 0.05) after 6 h. ALT release from cells was 29 ± 3.5 U/L vs 40.6 ± 3.2 U/L at 12 h (P < 0.01) in the CFBB medium circulation and static medium culture groups, respectively. Albumin secretion from cells was 234.2 ± 27.8 µg/1 × 10(7) cells vs 167.8 ± 29.3 µg/1 × 10(7) cells at 6 h (P < 0.01), 274.4 ± 34.6 µg/1 × 10(7) cells vs 208.4 ± 49.3 µg/1 × 10(7) cells (P < 0.05) at 12 h, in the two medium circulation/culture groups, respectively. Furthermore, ALT and TBil levels were 172.3 ± 24.1 U/L vs 236.3 ± 21.5 U/L (P < 0.05), 240.1 ± 23.9 µmol/L vs 241.9 ± 31.4 µmol/L (P > 0.05) at 6 h in the CFBB plasma perfusion and static plasma culture groups, respectively. There was no significant difference in albumin concentration between the two experimental plasma groups at any time point. The microstructure of the encapsulated hepatocytes remained healthier in the CFBB group compared with the static culture group after 6 h of plasma perfusion. CONCLUSION: The CFBB can function as a bioartificial liver based on a bioreactor. The efficacy of this novel bioreactor is promising for the study of liver failure.

Effectiveness of HBV vaccination in infants and prediction of HBV prevalence trend under new vaccination plan: findings of a large-scale investigation.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a severe public health problem. Investigating its prevalence and trends is essential to prevention. METHODS: To evaluate the effectiveness of HBV vaccination under the 1992 Intervention Program for infants and predicted HBV prevalence trends under the 2011 Program for all ages. We conducted a community-based investigation of 761,544 residents of 12 counties in Zhejiang Province selected according to their location, population density, and economic development. The HBV prevalence trends were predicted by a time-shifting approach. HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) were determined. RESULTS: Of the 761,544 persons screened for HBsAg, 54,132 were positive (adjusted carrier rate 6.13%); 9,455 had both elevated ALT and a positive HBsAg test (standardized rate 1.18%). The standardized HBsAg carrier rate for persons aged ≤20 years was 1.51%. Key factors influencing HBV infection were sex, age, family history, drinking, smoking, employment as a migrant worker, and occupation. With the vaccination program implemented in 2011, we predict that by 2020, the HBsAg carrier rate will be 5.27% and that for individuals aged ≤34 years will reach the 2% upper limit of low prevalence according to the WHO criteria, with a standardized rate of 1.86%. CONCLUSIONS: The national HBV vaccination program for infants implemented in 1992 has greatly reduced the prevalence of HBV infection. The 2011 program is likely to reduce HBV infection in Zhejiang Province to a low moderate prevalence, and perinatal transmission is expected to be controlled by 2020.

Expression of H5N1 influenza virus hemagglutinin protein fused with protein transduction domain in an alphavirus replicon system.

Alphavirus replicons, in which structural protein genes are replaced by heterologous genes, express high levels of the heterologous proteins. On the basis of the potencies of replicons to self-replicate and express foreign proteins and the remarkable intercellular transport property of VP22, a novel alphavirus Semliki Forest virus (SFV) replicon system of VP22 fused with a model antigen, hemagglutinin (HA), of the human-avian H5N1 influenza virus, was explored in this study. Further, replicon particles expressing HA, VP22, and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) individually were used as controls. By flow cytometry based on the analysis of transfection efficiency, SFV-EGFP replicon particle titer was 1.13 x 10(7)transducing units (TU)/ml. The titers of SFV-HA, SFV-VP22 and SFV-VP22-HA replicon particles, which were titrated by using SFV-EGFP replicon particles, were 1.42 x 10(7), 3.23 x 10(7), and 1.01 x 10(7)TU/ml, respectively. HA and VP22-HA expression was observed in SFV-HA- and SFV-VP22-HA-transfected BHK-21 cells, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the fluorescence intensity in the SFV-VP22-HA-transfected BHK-21 cells was more than that in the SFV-HA-transfected BHK-21 cells. Both SFV-VP22-HA and SFV-HA replicon particles presented a promising approach for developing vaccines against human-avian influenza. VP22-HA fusion protein with similar trafficking properties may also enhance vaccine potency.

Finger-vein image recognition combining modified Hausdorff distance with minutiae feature matching.

In this paper, we propose a novel method for finger-vein recognition. We extract the features of the vein patterns for recognition. Then, the minutiae features included bifurcation points and ending points are extracted from these vein patterns. These feature points are used as a geometric representation of the vein patterns shape. Finally, the modified Hausdorff distance algorithm is provided to evaluate the identification ability among all possible relative positions of the vein patterns shape. This algorithm has been widely used for comparing point sets or edge maps since it does not require point correspondence. Experimental results show that these minutiae feature points can be used to perform personal verification tasks as a geometric representation of the vein patterns shape. Furthermore, by this developed method, we can achieve robust image matching under different lighting conditions.

Construction and cellular immune response induction of HA-based alphavirus replicon vaccines against human-avian influenza (H5N1).

Several approaches are being taken worldwide to develop vaccines against H5N1 viruses; most of them, however, pose both practical and immunological challenges. One potential strategy for improving the immunogenicity of vaccines involves the use of alphavirus replicons and VP22, a herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) protein. In this study, we analysed the antigenic peptides and homogeneity of the HA sequences (human isolates of the H5N1 subtype, from 1997 to 2003) and explored a novel alphavirus replicon system of VP22 fused with HA, to assess whether the immunogenicity of an HA-based replicon vaccine could be induced and augmented via fusion with VP22. Further, replicon particles expressing VP22, and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) were individually used as controls. Cellular immune responses in mice immunised with replicons were evaluated by identifying specific intracellular cytokine production with flow cytometry (FCM). Animal-based experimentation indicated that both the IL-4 expression of CD4(+) T cells and the IFN-gamma expression of CD8(+) T cells were significantly increased in mice immunised with VPR-HA and VPR-VP22/HA. A dose titration effect vis-à-vis both IL-4 expression and IFN-gamma expression were observed in VPR-HA- and VPR-VP22/HA-vaccinated mice. Our results revealed that both VPR-VP22/HA and VPR-HA replicon particles presented a promising approach for developing vaccines against human-avian influenza, and VP22 could enhance the immunogenicity of the HA antigens to which it is fused.