Correlations Among Serum Hepatitis B Surface Antigen and Hepatitis B e Antigen Titers and Viral Load in Chinese Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to provide a detailed and comprehensive analysis of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HBeAg, and serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), predominantly genotypes B and C. METHODS: HBV serological markers, HBsAg titer, HBeAg titer, and HBV DNA were detected and genotyped in 129 Chinese patients with CHB. RESULTS: HBeAg-positive CHB patients were younger, had higher serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, and HBV DNA levels and were more likely to be infected with HBV genotype C. The median HBsAg titer was significantly higher in HBeAg-positive compared with HBeAg-negative CHB patients (3.73 versus 2.93; p < 0.01), and the median HBsAg titer was significantly higher in patients with genotype C. The correlation between HBsAg titer and HBV DNA was stronger in HBeAg-positive CHB patients (r = 0.56; p < 0.01). HBeAg titer was positively correlated with serum HBsAg titer (r = 0.77; p < 0.01) and serum HBV DNA (r = 0.72; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: This study detected key differences in HBsAg expression between HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative CHB patients, which may have practical implications for the use of quantitative serological clinical biomarkers.

[Effect of puerarin on hypoxia induced proliferation of PASMCs by regulating reactive oxygen].

To discuss the effect of puerarin (Pue) on the proliferation of hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and discuss whether its mechanism is achieved by regulating reactive oxygen. PASMCs of primarily cultured rats (2-5 generations) were selected in the experiment. MTT, Western blot, FCM and DCFH-DA were used to observe Pue's effect the proliferation of PASMCs. The Western blot was adopted to detect whether ROS participated in Pue's effect in inhibiting PASMC proliferation. The PASMCs were divided into five groups: the normoxia group, the hypoxia group, the hypoxia + Pue group, the hypoxia + Pue + Rotenone group and the hypoxia + Rotenone group, with Rotenone as the ROS blocker. According to the results, under the conditions of normoxia, Pue had no effect on the PASMC proliferation; But, under the conditions of hypoxia, it could inhibit the PASMC proliferation; Under the conditions of normoxia and hypoxia, Pue had no effect on the expression of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) among PASMCs, could down-regulate the expression of hypoxia-induced cell cycle protein Cyclin A and proliferative nuclear antigen (PCNA). DCFH-DA proved Pue could reverse ROS rise caused by hypoxia. Both Rotenone and Pue could inhibit the up-regulated expressions of HIF-1α, Cyclin A, PCNA caused by anoxia, with a synergistic effect. The results suggested that Pue could inhibit the hypoxia-induced PASMC proliferation. Its mechanism may be achieved by regulating ROS.

[Effect of puerarin on PI3K/AKT pathway-mediated apoptosis of PASMCs].

To discuss the effect of puerarin (Pue) on the proliferation of hypoxia-induced pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) and discuss whether the extracellular signal PI3K/AKT pathway was involved in the Pue-induced PASMC apoptosis. With the serum starvation group (SD group) as the control group, the MTT colorimetry method, Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit and Western blot were used to detect Pue's effect on apoptosis of rat PASMCs. The protein immunoblot assay was used to detect whether PI3K/AKT pathway was involved in the inhibition of hypoxia-induced PASMC apoptosis process. The results show that under normoxic conditions, Pue had no effect on PASMC apoptosis; Under hypoxia conditions, Pue can inhibit PASMC apoptosis; Under normoxic and hypoxic conditions, Pue had no effect on TNF-α expression. Pue can reverse hypoxia-induced Bcl-2 (P <0.01), up-regulate it and down-regulated Bax (P <0.01). Under normoxic conditions, Pue had no effect on P-AKT expression. Both LY294002 and Pue can inhibit hypoxia-induced Bcl-2, up-regulation of P-AKT expression and down-regulation of Bax expression. Compared with the hypoxia + Pue group or the hypoxia + LY294002 group, the hypoxia + Pue + LY294002 group showed more significantly changes in Bcl-2, Bax, P-AKT expressions. The results show that, Pue can inhibit the hypoxic-induced PASMC apoptosis, which may be regulated through PI3K/AKT pathway.