Transforming growth factor-ß: An early predictor of a functional cure in chronic hepatitis B treated with interferon.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between the serum transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß level and HBsAg loss has not been clearly elaborated in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: Two cohorts of patients with CHB were studied. Cohort A: A total of 207 hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative CHB patients who finished ≥1 year nucleos(t)ide analogue monotherapy and sequentially received PEGylated interferon treatment for less than 96 weeks were included. Cohort B: Forty HBeAg-positive patients who initially received entecavir therapy for at least 96 weeks were included. Their viral markers and serum TGF-ß levels were measured at different time points during therapy. RESULTS: The levels of serum TGF-ß and HBsAg (0-24 W) were significantly lower in the patients who had HBsAg< 0.05 IU/mL at 48 weeks than in patients who did not in cohort A. We got the same results when we further divided the patients into subgroups according to the initial HBsAg cut-off values (1000 IU/mL, 100 IU/mL, 50 IU/mL) in cohort A. However, HBeAg seroconversion did not lead to the downregulation of TGF-ß levels. The levels of serum TGF-ß were significantly correlated with HBsAg quantitation in cohort A (12-24 W) but not in cohort B (0-48 W). The levels of TGF-ß at week 12 could be used as an early index to predict a functional cure (AUC=0.818) as well as the levels of HBsAg itself (AUC=0.882) in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients treated with PEGylated interferon. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of serum TGF-ß were significantly associated with HBsAg loss but not with HBeAg seroconversion and could be used as an early index to predict a functional cure in CHB patients treated with PEGylated interferon.

[Investigation of preoperative anxiety and postoperative quality of life in patients with periodontal mucogingival surgery].

PURPOSE: To evaluate preoperative anxiety and postoperative quality of life in patients with periodontal mucogingival surgery, and provide a theoretical basis for preventing preoperative anxiety and improving postoperative quality of life in mucogingival surgery. METHODS: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 26 patients with mucogingival surgery were randomly selected, including 13 cases undergoing free gingival graft and 13 cases undergoing subepithelial connective tissue graft. All patients were asked to answer the following questionnaires which included self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), modified dental anxiety scale (MDAS), pain evaluation using visual pain scale (VAS), clinical performance evaluation (swelling, bleeding, nausea, oral odor), and oral function evaluation (chewing, speaking, sleeping, working). Data analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0 software package. RESULTS: The preoperative SAS score was 44.33±11.99, 4 patients had anxiety, accounting for 15.38%. The preoperative MDSA score was 9.85±2.41, 4 patients had anxiety, accounting for 15.38%. The VAS values at 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, 7 days, and 10 days after surgery were moderate pain (4.54±1.32), mild pain (3.31±1.31), mild pain (2.00±1.14), and painless( 0.70±0.72), painless (0.08±0.27). The VAS values at 1 day, 3 days, and 5 days after FGG were greater than those after CTG (P<0.05).The most common discomforts after mucogingival surgery were swelling, bleeding, disturbance in chewing and speech. Swelling, disturbance in chewing and speech persisted until 7 days after surgery, and bleeding continued until 5 days after surgery. The postoperative discomfort of FGG was significantly higher than that of CTG. CONCLUSIONS: Four had preoperative anxiety prior to mucogingival surgery. The main clinical symptoms after surgery were moderate to mild pain, swelling, bleeding, disturbance in chewing and speech within 1-7 days after surgery. The effect of CTG on the quality of life of patients was significantly less than that of FGG.