Lower frequency of MDSCs was significantly related to functional cure in CHB patients treated with peginterferon.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) expand during chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and inhibit antiviral immunity. However, the relationship between antiviral effect and the frequencies of those immune suppressive cells after pegylated interferon α-2a (PegIFNα-2a) therapy is not clearly understood. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of monocytic MDSCs (mMDSCs) and CD4+ Tregs to functional cure (HBsAg seroclearance) after PegIFNα-2a therapy and evaluate the effect of PegIFNα-2a therapy on these cells. METHODS: Flow cytometry analysis was performed along with longitudinal immune monitoring of 97 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving PegIFNα-2a weekly for 48 weeks. RESULTS: The frequencies of mMDSCs and CD4+ Tregs increased in all HBV patients, and they were higher in the HBsAg persistence group than in the HBsAg seroclearance group. A significant decline in the frequency of mMDSCs was found in patients who realized functional cure after PegIFNα-2a treatment. In contrast, the frequency of CD4+ Tregs in both the HBsAg seroclearance and persistence groups significantly increased. Multivariate analyses indicated that the baseline serum HBsAg levels (p < .001) and mMDSCs frequency (p = .027) were independently associated with the HBsAg clearance, and the combined marker (HBsAg plus mMDSCs) displayed the highest specificity (93.1%) than any other markers in predicting HBsAg seroclearance. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a poor response to PegIFNα-2a treatment in CHB patients may be related to the frequencies of immune suppressive cells, while the therapeutic targeting of these cells might be effective in boosting anti-HBV immunity.

Molecularly imprinted polymer sheathed mesoporous silica tube as SPME fiber coating for determination of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in water.

Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNAs) are probably carcinogenic disinfection byproducts eliciting health risk concerns. The determination and surveillance of TSNAs in water is still cumbersome due to the lack of advanced sample preparation methods. Herein, we prepared a solid phase microextraction (SPME) fiber coated with the molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) sheathed mesoporous silica tube (MST) composite material, and developed a highly efficient, selective, and sensitive method for the determination of five TSNAs in water. Benefiting from the TSNAs-specific recognition of MIP and the increased specific surface area derived from MST, the MIP@MST fiber exhibited excellent extraction performance for TSNAs, which was much superior to the commercially available SPME fibers. By coupling to high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), the outstanding analytical merits such as low method detection limits (ranging 0.1-6.7 ng L-1) and good reproducibility (intra-fiber and inter-fiber relative standard deviations ranging 4.1 %-11.6 % and 3.5 %-12.2 %, respectively) were achieved with the consumption of 8 mL water sample and 100 µL methanol solvent in 50 min. The feasibility of the SPME-HPLC-MS/MS method was demonstrated in tap water and chloraminated source water, with relative recoveries for the five TSNAs ranging from 85.2 % to 108.5 %. In result, none of the TSNAs were found in the tap water samples, while 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-Butanol (NNAL) were detected in the chloraminated source water samples. The rapid and convenient SPME-HPLC-MS/MS method developed in this study offers a powerful tool for monitoring TSNAs in water.

End-of-treatment anti-HBs levels and HBeAg status identify durability of HBsAg loss after PEG-IFN discontinuation.

Background: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss, namely, the functional cure, can be achieved through the pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)-based therapy. However, it is an unignorable fact that a small proportion of patients who achieved functional cure develop HBsAg reversion (HRV) and the related factors are not well described. Methods: A total of 112 patients who achieved PEG-IFN-induced HBsAg loss were recruited. HBV biomarkers and biochemical parameters were examined dynamically. HBV RNA levels were assessed in the cross-sectional analysis. The primary endpoint was HRV, defined as the reappearance of HBsAg after PEG-IFN discontinuation. Results: HRV occurred in 17 patients during the follow-up period. Univariable analysis indicated that hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status, different levels of hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) at the end of PEG-IFN treatment (EOT) were significantly associated with the incidence of HRV through using the log-rank test. Additionally, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that the anti-HBs was superior to anti-HBc in predictive power for the incidence of HRV during the follow-up period. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis found that anti-HBs ≥1.3 log10IU/L (hazard ratio (HR), 0.148; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.044-0.502) and HBeAg negativity (HR, 0.183; 95% CI, 0.052-0.639) at EOT were independently associated with lower incidence of HRV. Cross-sectional analysis indicated that the HBV RNA levels were significantly correlated with the HBsAg levels in patients with HRV (r=0.86, p=0.003). Conclusions: EOT HBeAg negativity and anti-HBs ≥1.3 log10IU/L identify the low risk of HRV after PEG-IFN discontinuation.

Effect evaluation of different methods for removal of root canal filling materials.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of three methods in root canal retreatment to remove the filling material in the root canals. METHODS: Ninety tooth roots filled by gutta percha or plasticized material (n=45, each) were randomly divided into three groups (n=15). WaveOne (WaveOne group), 1#P drill+WaveOne (1#P+WaveOne group), and ultrasound P5 working end ET25+ProTaper Universal (P5+ProTaper Universal group) were used to remove the root canal filling material and prepare for root canal. The operating time of each canal was recorded and the percentage of residual filling material area was measured on the root canal wall of the mesial and distal dissected root section. The degree of deviation of the root canal after operation was measured for the root samples filled by gutta percha. RESULTS: The type of root filling material and the method of root canal retreatment had no significant effect on the percentage of residual area of the filling material (P>0.05). However, the remaining filling material area of apical 1/3 of the root canal was significantly higher than that of cervical 1/3 of the root canal (P<0.05). The average operating times for removing gutta-percha or plasticized material in the W and 1#P+WaveOne groups were significantly less than that in the P5+ProTaper Universal group (P=0.000). The root canal retreatment methods had no significant effect on the curvature of the root canal (P=0.650). CONCLUSIONS: WaveOne single file's cleaning ability and center positioning ability were similar to those of ProTaper Universal. Moreover, WaveOne can be independently used for most root canals without a pathway when removing the root canal fillings, thereby simplifying the process of root canal retreatment.

[Comparison of the IL-27 level in gingival crevicular fluid of cross-quadrant and the upper and lower half-mouth subgingival scaling].

PURPOSE: To investigate the changes of IL-27 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) before and after treatment with different methods for chronic periodontitis. METHODS: Sixty patients with moderate or severe chronic periodontitis were selected as study group to divide into group A (cross-quadrant) and group B (upper and lower half-mouth) randomly. Another 30 healthy people were selected as group C. Gingival crevicular fluid of group A and B were collected at baseline and each week during treatment. At the same time, the clinical parameters including PD, AL, BI and PLI were recorded. And the levels of IL-27 in GCF were measured by ELISA. SPSS 17.0 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The levels of IL-27 in GCF 2 and 3 weeks after treatment were higher in study group compared with those at baseline, while PD, AL, BI and PLI showed significant reduction. The changes except PLI in group A was more obvious than group B, which had a significant difference. After three-week treatment, IL-27 in group A had no remarkable difference compared with group C. There were significantly negative correlation between PD, AL, BI, PLI and IL-27. CONCLUSIONS: IL-27 in GCF can be considered as a potential target for prevention and treatment of chronic periodontitis. Compared with the upper and lower half-mouth subgingival scaling, cross-quadrant has more pronounced short-term effect.