Association of IL28B Genotypes and Baseline Serum Interferon-γ-Inducible-Protein-10 Levels with Treatment Response in Hepatitis C Virus Patients in China

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several studies have demonstrated that serum interferon-γ-inducible-protein-10 (IP-10) levels at baseline and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the IL28B gene were associated with viral response and treatment outcomes. Our purpose was to assess the combination of pretreatment IP-10 levels with IL28B SNPs as predictors of treatment response to pegylated interferon α-2a plus ribavirin in patients infected with genotype 1 hepatitis C virus in China. METHODS: Seventy-two patients with chronic hepatitis C without fibrosis/cirrhosis were enrolled in the study. The virologic parameters and baseline serum IP-10 levels were determined. IL-28B genotypes were determined by sequencing. RESULTS: In this cohort, serum baseline IP-10 levels lower than 426.7 pg/mL could predict rapid virological response/sustained virological response (SVR). Patients carrying favorable IL28B SNP genotypes had higher SVRs than did those carrying unfavorable variants (IL28B rs12979860, p=0.002; IL28B rs8099917, p=0.020). Combining both baseline IP-10 and IL28B SNPs could improve the prediction of SVR in favorable allele carriers of IL28B, rs12979860 CC and rs8099917 TT. Serum baseline IP-10 levels and IL28B genotypes were independent predictors of SVR. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that the combination of baseline serum IP-10 levels and the determination of IL28B SNPs increase the predictability of SVR rates in this cohort.

Kinetics of serum HBsAg in Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection with long-term adefovir dipivoxil treatment / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Knowledge on Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) kinetics in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with long-term adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment is limited. The aims of this study were to investigate HBsAg kinetics in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection treated with long-term ADV and to evaluate different characteristics between patients with and without HBsAg loss.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We retrospectively evaluated HBsAg kinetics in 24 Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection who achieved continuous virologic suppression during ADV therapy. HBV genotype was determined at baseline. Liver biochemistry, hepatitis B e antigen status, serum HBV DNA, and HBsAg levels were measured at baseline, 6 months, and once every year thereafter.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of these 24 patients, 3, 1, and 20 patients were followed up for 3, 5, and 6 years, respectively. Baseline serum HBsAg level had a moderate correlation with baseline HBV DNA level (r = 0.52, P = 0.01). The median rate of HBsAg reduction during the therapy period was 0.08 lg IU × ml(-1) × y(-1). Baseline serum HBsAg level was significantly higher than other time points (P ranges from 0.046 to 0.002). The HBsAg reduction rate during the first year was similar to that in other years (P > 0.05). The HBsAg reduction rate during the first year in patients with eventual HBsAg loss was significantly faster than that in patients without HBsAg loss (P = 0.005).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Serum HBsAg levels in Chinese CHB patients receiving long-term ADV demonstrated a gradual reduction. Patients with eventual HBsAg loss had a significantly faster HBsAg reduction rate during the first year than those without HBsAg loss.</p>

Recent progress in direct-acting antiviral agents for chronic hepatitis C / 临床肝胆病杂志

The current standard treatment for hepatitis C virus (HCV)infection is a combination of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)and ribavirin.However,it remains incurable in some patients.In recent years,direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs)that target specific HCV enzymes in HCV life cycle have been developed rapidly.A combination of PEG-IFN,ribavirin,and DAAs can increase the sustained viro-logical response rate in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC).For patients who cannot use or tolerate interferon therapy,a combination of various DAAs has good efficacy.Therefore,DAAs bring new hope for the treatment of CHC.

Therapeutic effect of granulocyte colony stimulating factor on CCl4 induced chronic liver injury in mice / 中华消化杂志

Objective To observe the therapeutic effects of recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor(rhG-CSF)on CCl4 induced chronic liver injury.Methods Male BALB/C mice were randomly allocated into treatment and control groups.The mice model were established by injection with daily for 7 days,while the control mice were received the same volumes of saline.The mice were sacrificed to get weight,liver mass and spleen mass.The count of CD34+ cells and Thy-1+ cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining,respectively.Results The ratio of liver/spleen was 15.94±1.20 and 10.52±0.66 on day 8 and 15 in treatment group,respectively,while those were 7.14±1.68 and 8.31±1.71 in control group,respectively(all P value＜0.05).But there was no significant difference in body weight and liver mass between two groups(P＞0.05)The concentration of album in treatment group was raised rapidly on day 15.The concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),hyaluronic acid(HA)and laminin(LN)on day 30 were significantly lower in treatment group compared to control group(P＜0.05).There was significant difference in score of liver fibrosis on day 30 between two groups(treatment group:5.49±2.16,control:8.74±1.86,P＜0.05).The number of CD34+ cell and Thy-1+ in treatment group(on day 8:9.54±2.24 and 5.10±1.25 and on day 15:8.18±1.93 and 7.53±1.39,respectively)were higher than those in control group(on day 8:5.40±0.99 and 3.25±0.75;on 15 days:4.46±0.77 and 3.35±0.86,all P value＜0.05).Conclusion The rhG-CSF may improve the reparation of chronic liver injury,and may provide a novel method in treatment of liver fibrosis.

The Assessment of Bronchial hyperresponsiveness in 187 elderly subjects / 中华老年医学杂志

0.05). The BHR distribution was slight 31.9%, mild 43.5%, moderate 24.6%, no severe BHR were found in this study, showing less correlation between the percentage of predicted FEV 1 and the PD 20FEV 1-His in the elderly (r=0.277, P