GSDMD induces hepatocyte pyroptosis to trigger alcoholic hepatitis through modulating mitochondrial dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Mechanisms and consequences of Gasdermin D (GSDMD) activation in alcoholic hepatitis (AH) are unclear. In the present study, we investigated whether GSDMD induces hepatocyte pyroptosis by regulating mitochondrial dysfunction in AH. RESULTS: Liver damage in AH mice was assessed by HE staining, serum levels of AST, ALT, TC, and TG. The levels of IL-1ß, IL-18, LDH, inflammasome-associated proteins and hepatocyte death were assessed to determine pyroptosis. Mitochondrial dysfunction was assessed through various parameters including mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels, ROS generation, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP contents, levels of mitochondrial function-related proteins and morphological changes of mitochondria. AH induced gasdermin D (GSDMD) activation, leading to increased protein expression of N-terminal GSDMD (GSDMD-N), NLRP3, and Caspase 11 in liver tissues. Downregulation of GSDMD alleviated alcohol-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis. Alcohol also causes mitochondrial dysfunction in hepatocytes in AH, which was improved by inhibiting GSDMD. Furthermore, enhancing mitochondrial function suppressed alcohol-induced hepatocyte pyroptosis. Further, knockdown of GSDMD or dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) improved AH-induced liver injury, accompanied by a decrease in hepatocyte pyroptosis. CONCLUSION: GSDMD induces hepatocyte pyroptosis by modulating mitochondrial dysfunction during AH-induced inflammation and liver injury. These findings may pave the way to develop new therapeutic treatments for AH.

A bibliometric analysis of worldwide cancer research using machine learning methods.

With the progress and development of computer technology, applying machine learning methods to cancer research has become an important research field. To analyze the most recent research status and trends, main research topics, topic evolutions, research collaborations, and potential directions of this research field, this study conducts a bibliometric analysis on 6206 research articles worldwide collected from PubMed between 2011 and 2021 concerning cancer research using machine learning methods. Python is used as a tool for bibliometric analysis, Gephi is used for social network analysis, and the Latent Dirichlet Allocation model is used for topic modeling. The trend analysis of articles not only reflects the innovative research at the intersection of machine learning and cancer but also demonstrates its vigorous development and increasing impacts. In terms of journals, Nature Communications is the most influential journal and Scientific Reports is the most prolific one. The United States and Harvard University have contributed the most to cancer research using machine learning methods. As for the research topic, "Support Vector Machine," "classification," and "deep learning" have been the core focuses of the research field. Findings are helpful for scholars and related practitioners to better understand the development status and trends of cancer research using machine learning methods, as well as to have a deeper understanding of research hotspots.

HBV pregenome RNA as a predictor of spontanous HBeAg seroconversion in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated that HBV pregenome RNA (HBV pgRNA) could predict HBeAg seroconversion among the chronic hapatitis B (CHB) patients treated with pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) or nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs). However, the data about the prediction of HBV pgRNA for spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion is limited. METHODS: One hundred thirteen CHB patients with HBeAg-positive in the immune active phase were followed up for 76 weeks without antiviral treatment. Based on the laboratory test results of liver function, HBeAg, anti-HBe, and HBV DNA at week 76, patients were assigned to two groups: spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion (group A, n = 18) and non-spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion group. Among the latter group, 36 patients were selected as controls (group B, n = 36). RESULTS: At week 12, between group A and group B, there was a significant difference in the level of HBV pgRNA (group A 6.35 ± 1.24 log10 copies/ml and group B 7.52 ± 0.79 log10 copies/ml, P = 0.001), and the difference enlarged at week 28. The receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs) of the HBV pgRNA level and the ∆HBV pgRNA at week 28 were 0.912 (P = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.830-0.994), and 0.934 (P = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.872-0.996), respectively. The optimal cutoffs of HBV pgRNA and the reduction from baseline (∆HBV pgRNA) at week 28 for spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion prediction were 5.63 log10 copies/ml and 1.85 log10 copies/ml, respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of HBV pgRNA and ∆HBV pgRNA at week 28 were 86.7% and 87.2%, 87.5% and 89.5%, respectively. And the combination of the HBV pgRNA level and the HBV pgRNA decreased could provide better prediction. CONCLUSIONS: HBV pgRNA is a sound predictor for spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion among the CHB patients in immune active phase. Dynamic monitoring of HBV pgRNA is helpful for clinical treatment decision.

Response of microalgae size-class structure to nutrients differences in northern Yellow Sea, China.

Marine phytoplankton size-class structure affects ecological functions and shellfish culture. We use high-throughput sequencing and size-fractioned grading techniques to identify and analyze responses of phytoplankton differences in environmental variables at Donggang, northern Yellow Sea (high inorganic nitrogen (DIN)) and Changhai (low DIN) for 2021. The main environmental variables that correlate with differences in the proportional contributions of pico-, nano-, and microphytoplankton to the total phytoplankton community are inorganic phosphorus (DIP), nitrite to inorganic nitrogen ratio (NO2/dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN)), and ammonia nitrogen to inorganic nitrogen ratio (NH4/DIN), respectively. DIN, which contributes most to environmental differences, mainly positively correlates with changes in picophytoplankton biomass in high DIN waters. Nitrite (NO2) correlates mostly with changes in the proportional contribution of microphytoplankton in high DIN waters and nanophytoplankton in low DIN waters, and negatively correlates with changes in the biomass and proportional representation of microphytoplankton in low DIN waters. For near-shore phosphorus-limited waters, an increase in DIN may increase total microalgal biomass, but proportions of microphytoplankton may not increase; for high DIN waters, an increase in DIP may increase proportions of microphytoplankton, while for low DIN waters, an increase in DIP may preferentially increase proportions of picophytoplankton and nanophytoplankton. Picophytoplankton contributed little to the growth of two commercially cultured filter-feeding shellfish, Ruditapes philippinarum and Mizuhopecten yessoensis.

Clinical efficacy of Chinese herbal footbath plus traditional Chinese medicine decoction in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Chinese herbal footbath plus traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 120 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy treated in Shanghai Jinshan TCM-Integrated Hospital from January 2019 to January 2021. The eligible patients received either routine treatment (control group) or Chinese herbal GuBu Decoction footbath plus oral Yiqi Huoxue Decoction (experimental group), with 60 patients in each group. The duration of treatment was one month. Outcome measures included motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity (SNCV) of the common peroneal nerve, blood glucose, TCM symptom scores and clinical efficacy. RESULTS: TCM interventions resulted in significantly faster MNCV and SNCV versus routine treatment (P<0.05). Patients with TCM treatment exhibited lower fasting blood glucose, 2 h postprandial glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin than those with routine treatment (P<0.05). Remarkably lower TCM symptom scores were observed in the experimental group than in the control group (P<0.05). Chinese herbal GuBu Decoction footbath plus oral Yiqi Huoxue Decoction regimen was associated with a significantly higher clinical efficacy when comparing with routine treatment (P<0.05). The incidence of adverse events was not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal GuBu Decoction footbath plus oral Yiqi Huoxue Decoction can provide promising blood glucose control, alleviate clinical symptoms, accelerate nerve conduction speed and enhance clinical efficacy.

Combining the HBcrAg decline and HBV mutations predicts spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients during the immune clearance phase.

To assess predictive ability of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers and genome mutations for spontaneous hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion. A total of 113 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients were followed up for 76 weeks without antiviral treatment. Baseline basal core promoter (BCP) and precore mutations were detected and serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), HBeAg, hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg), and HBV DNA levels were serially quantified. Eighteen patients experienced spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion (Group A), and the remaining 95 patients did not experience spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion (Group B). At Week 28, HBsAg (p = 0.03) and HBcrAg (p = 0.01) levels were significantly different between Groups A and B. Reduced HBsAg (p = 0.02) and HBcrAg (p < 0.01) levels from baseline to Week 28 were significantly different between two groups. Multivariate logistic regression showed that lower HBcrAg (odds ratio [OR] = 1.02, p = 0.03) levels at Week 28, and HBcrAg levels with sharp decrease at Week 28 (OR = 0.19, p = 0.02) were related with spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) showed that reduction in HBcrAg levels from baseline to Week 28 (0.93, p = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.74-1.08) have excellent prediction value. The mutation frequencies of A1574T (51.11% vs. 18.18%, p = 0.001), G1862A (30.00% vs. 13.03%, p = 0.001), G1896A (27.22% vs. 5.45%, p = 0.001), and C1913G (32.78% vs. 12.73%, p = 0.001) in Group A were significantly higher than Group B. Baseline A1574T, G1862A, G1896A, and C1913G mutations and HBcrAg levels with a sharp decrease at Week 28 were associated with spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion.

Safety and efficacy of coblopasvir and sofosbuvir in patients with genotypes 1, 2, 3 and 6 HCV infections without or with compensated cirrhosis.

A simple, pangenotypic and effective treatment regimen for patients with a broad range of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections remains an unmet medical need. We conducted a phase 2, randomized, open study involving untreated patients with chronic HCV genotypes 1, 2, 3, or 6 infections. Patients without cirrhosis were randomly assigned in a 1:2 ratio to receive capsules of the NS5A inhibitor coblopasvir at a dose of 30 or 60 mg plus tablets of the nucleotide polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir (400 mg) once daily for 12 weeks. Patients with cirrhosis received 60 mg coblopasvir plus sofosbuvir for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was the sustained virologic response at 12 weeks after the end of therapy (SVR12). Of the 110 patients who were enrolled in the study, 59 were male, 62.7% had HCV genotype 1, 24.5% had genotype 2, 6.4% had genotype 3, and 6.4% had genotype 6. The average age was 45.5 years. A total of 10.9% of patients had compensated cirrhosis. The rate of SVR12 was 98.2% in the intention-to-treat (ITT). One genotype 6 patient with cirrhosis experienced virologic relapse. One genotype 2 patient without cirrhosis failed to complete the follow-up and quit the study. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported in 2 patients and were not related to coblopasvir and sofosbuvir. Most adverse events (AEs) did not require treatment. Coblopasvir plus sofosbuvir taken once daily for 12 weeks provided high rates of sustained virologic response (SVR) and had a good safety profile among patients with HCV genotypes 1, 2, 3, or 6 infections, including those with compensated cirrhosis.

Serum HBV core-related antigen is a good predictor for spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Early prediction of spontaneous hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion is pivotal in the prevention of unnecessary drug prescription, corresponding financial burden, and adverse reactions. One hundred and thirteen chronic hepatitis B patients with HBeAg-positive in the immune active phase were followed up for about 1.5 years. Patients were classified into two groups: spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion group (group A, n = 18) and non-spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion group. Among the non-spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion group, 35 patients were selected as controls (group B, n = 35). At week 12, there was a significant difference in hepatitis B core-related antigen (HBcrAg) levels between the two groups (group A 4.32 ± 1.05 log10 kU/ml, and group B 5.16 ± 0.53 log10 kU/ml, P = 0.004), and this significance magnified at week 28. Only two variables, HBcrAg level and the reduction in the HBcrAg levels (ΔHBcrAg) at week 28 were enrolled, with the odds ratio of 4.19 and 0.21, respectively. The optimal cutoffs of HBcrAg levels and the ΔHBcrAg at week 28 were 4.90 and 2.00 log10 kU/ml, respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of HBcrAg levels at week 28 were 73.9% and 96.7%, respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the ΔHBcrAg at week 28 were 76.2% and 93.8%, respectively. The measurement of HBcrAg is useful for monitoring the natural course of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. The dynamics of HBcrAg levels could accurately predict the spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion. J. Med. Virol. 89:463-468, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pd-Catalyzed Site-Selective p-Hydroxyphenyloxylation of Benzylic α-C(sp3)-H Bonds with 1,4-Benzoquinone.

A Pd-catalyzed, site-selective p-hydroxyphenyloxylation of benzylic α-C(sp3)-H bonds with 1,4-benzoquinone using thioamide as a directing group is reported. 1,4-Benzoquinone is employed as the p-hydroxyphenyloxy source without extra oxidants. This method exclusively gives site selectivity at α-C(sp3)-H bonds rather than the usual ß-C(sp3)-H bonds through C-H activation mode. The reactions proceed with high functional group tolerance in yields of 42-93%.

The Lumipulse G HBsAg-Quant assay for screening and quantification of the hepatitis B surface antigen.

Qualitative HBsAg assay is used to screen HBV infection for decades. The utility of quantitative assay is also rejuvenated recently. We aimed to evaluate and compare the performance of a novel ultra-sensitive and quantitative assay, the Lumipulse assay, with the Architect and Elecsys assays. As screening methods, specificity was compared using 2043 consecutive clinical routine samples. As quantitative assays, precision and accuracy were assessed. Sera from 112 treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients, four patients undergoing antiviral therapy and one patient with acute infection were tested to compare the correlations. Samples with concurrent HBsAg/anti-HBs were also quantified. The Lumipulse assay precisely quantified ultra-low level of HBsAg (0.004 IU/mL). It identified additional 0.98% (20/2043) clinical samples with trance amount of HBsAg. Three assays displayed excellent linear correlations irrespective of genotypes and S-gene mutations (R(2)>0.95, P<0.0001), while minor quantitative biases existed. The Lumipulse assay did not yield higher HBsAg concentrations in samples with concomitant anti-HBs. Compared with other assays, the Lumipulse assay is sensitive and specific for detecting HBsAg. The interpretation of the extremely low-level results, however, is challenging. Quantitative HBsAg results by different assays are highly correlated, but they should be interpreted interchangeably only after conversion to eliminate the biases.

Effect of spleen operation on antiviral treatment in hepatitis C virus-related cirrhotic patients.

AIM: To investigate the impact of spleen operation (SO) on interferon-α (IFN-α)-based antiviral treatment in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related cirrhosis. METHODS: Studies were systematically identified by searching electronic databases including MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Elsevier, and Embase up to September 30, 2013, and relevant clinical studies were reviewed. Sustained virological response (SVR) rate and adherence to therapy were taken as the endpoints of interest. RESULTS: A total of 603 patients from 16 studies were included in the systematic review. Of 372 patients who underwent SO followed by antiviral treatment, the total SVR rate was 39.5%. SVR was associated with HCV genotypes 2/3 (OR = 10.84; 95%CI: 5.47-21.47; P < 0.00001). IFN-α dose needed to be reduced in 29.4%, and IFN-α-based therapy was discontinued in 11.5% of patients. Analysis of controlled studies showed that SVRs were achieved in 34.1% of patients with SO and 31.1% of patients without SO. SO had no effect on the SVR rate in cirrhotic patients with genotype 1 HCV infection (OR = 1.28; 95%CI: 0.51-3.22; P = 0.60), but improved the SVR rate in patients with genotypes 2/3 infection, though the difference was not significant (OR = 0.36; 95%CI: 0.13-1.02; P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: SO combined with IFN-α-based antiviral therapy may be suitable in cirrhotic patients with genotypes 2/3 HCV infection, but not in those with genotype 1 infection.

Prediction of spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients during the immune clearance phase.

Spontaneous hepatitis B virus (HBV) e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion is associated with reduced risk of liver-related complications, but is poorly understood. In this study, 113 chronic hepatitis B patients in the immune active HBeAg-positive phase were followed up for 76 weeks. Based on the outcome of liver function, HBeAg, hepatitis B viral e antibody (anti-HBe) and HBV DNA at week 76, 18 patients were classified as spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion group (group A) and 95 patients were classified as non-spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion group (group B). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, only week 28 HBV DNA levels were used for the logistic regression equation, and the odds ratio was 0.505 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.366-0.697). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for HBV DNA and HBeAg levels at week 28 were 0.824 (P < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.720-0.927) and 0.832 (P < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.744-0.921), respectively. Based on the maximization of Youden's index, the optimal cutoff values of HBV DNA and HBeAg levels at week 28 were 3.84 log10 IU/ml and 1.53 log10 PEI-U/ml, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of HBV DNA levels at week 28 were 50.0%, 97.9%, 81.8%, and 91.2%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of HBeAg levels at week 28 were 94.4%, 60.0%, 30.9%, and 98.3%, respectively. In conclusion, the dynamic monitoring of HBV DNA and HBeAg levels predicted accurately determines spontaneous HBeAg seroconversion over the duration of 1 year.

[Process analysis for levulinic acid generated in waste wood liquefaction by non-development thin-layer chromatography based on oblique projection].

A rapid and quantitative method is presented for multi-component process analysis, based on multi-wavelength thin-layer chromatography (TLC) scanning but without the routine development. The samples from the waste wood liquefaction process are applied on silica plates, and just the last sample of spot need to be developed for getting separated spectra. These spectra are divided into two parts of production (levulinic acid) and background, respectively, to build an oblique projection operator. The other process samples do not need to be developed repeatedly, and are scanned to collect hybrid spectra immediately. The pure production spectrum can be separated from the process spectrum by the oblique projection algorithms to realize the production quantification. It was showed that the relative errors between the determination results by this method and those by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were less than 3.27%, and so the consistency is perfect.

Association between CISH polymorphisms and spontaneous clearance of hepatitis B virus in hepatitis B extracellular antigen-positive patients during immune active phase.

BACKGROUND: Some hepatitis B extracellular antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients in their immune active phase can clear the virus spontaneously and enter into an inactive hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier state, indicating a benign prognosis. In this study, the association between cytokine-inducible SRC homology 2 domain protein (CISH) gene polymorphisms at -292 (rs414171) and the spontaneous clearance of HBV in HBeAg-positive CHB patients in immune the active phase was investigated. METHODS: Seventy HBeAg-positive CHB patients in the immune active phase were followed up for 76 weeks without antiviral therapy. The alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, HBV DNA, HBeAg and hepatitis B extracellular antibody levels were tested regularly. At week 76, 27 patients were classified into group A (HBV DNA level below 2 104 IU/ml and the value of HBeAg declined below 10% of the baseline at week 76), and 43 patients were classified into group B (HBV DNA level higher than 2×10(4) IU/ml or the value of HBeAg did not decline substantially at week 76). CISH (rs414171) polymorphisms were also tested using the iPLEX system. RESULTS: The HBV DNA levels at week 12 were significantly greater in group B compared with group A (group A: (6.87±1.40) log10IU/ml; group B: (7.61±1.38) log10IU/ml, P = 0.034) and the HBeAg values were greater in group B at week 28 compared with group A (P = 0.001). The differences in HBV DNA and HBeAg values increased between the groups over time. Sixteen patients in group A and 11 in group B were genotype AA. Those with genotype AT or TT included 11 in group A and 31 in group B (AA vs. AT and TT, odds ratio 4.10 (95% confidence interval: 1.462-11.491), P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: CISH gene polymorphisms at -292 (rs414171) are associated with HBV clearance in HBeAg-positive CHB patients in the immune active phase, and AA is a favorable genotype for this effect.

Novel chiral stationary phases based on peptoid combining a quinine/quinidine moiety through a C9-position carbamate group.

By connecting a quinine or quinidine moiety to the peptoid chain through the C9-position carbamate group, we synthesized two new chiral selectors. After immobilizing them onto 3-mercaptopropyl-modified silica gel, two novel chiral stationary phases were prepared. With neutral, acid, and basic chiral compounds as analytes, we evaluated these two stationary phases and compared their chromatographic performance with chiral columns based on quinine tert-butyl carbamate and the previous peptoid. From the resolution of neutral and basic analytes under normal-phase mode, it was found that the new stationary phases exhibited much better enantioselectivity than the quinine tert-butyl carbamate column; the peptoid moiety played an important role in enantiorecognition, which controlled the elution orders of enantiomers; the assisting role of the cinchona alkaloid moieties was observed in some separations. Under acid polar organic phase mode, it was proved that cinchona alkaloid moieties introduced excellent enantiorecognitions for chiral acid compounds; in some separations, the peptoid moiety affected enantioseparations as well. Overall, chiral moieties with specific enantioselectivity were demonstrated to improve the performance of peptoid chiral stationary phase efficiently.

[Effect of antiviral therapy on the prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis B-related cirrhosis].

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a meta-analysis to study the effect of antiviral therapy on the prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB)-related cirrhosis. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese Biomedical Database, Chinese Journals Full-text Database, and Wan Fang Digital Journal Full-text Database were searched for studies on nucleoside analogues antiviral treatment outcome of patients with CHB-related cirrhosis (vs. controls without antiviral therapy) published between January 1998 and March 2012. Data extraction and quality assessment was performed by two independent investigators. Heterogeneity was assessed by the I2 index. In the case of homogeneity the random-effects model was applied, and in the case of heterogeneity the fixed-effects model was applied. The odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis: one high-quality randomized-controlled trial (RCT) study, four prospective cohort studies, and two case-control studies. Compared to the control group, the group treated with antiviral therapy showed a significantly lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (11.2%, 76/680 vs. 6.7%, 75/1116; OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.40 to 0.79, P = 0.001) and lower mortality (23.6%, 78/331 vs. 10.8%, 43/398; OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.55, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: Antiviral therapy with nucleoside analogues significantly reduces the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma and mortality in patients with CHB-related cirrhosis.

Etiological features of cirrhosis inpatients in Beijing, China.

BACKGROUND: The etiological spectrum of cirrhosis has changed over the years, but our knowledge of it is limited. The present study aimed to investigate the etiological features of cirrhosis inpatients and their variation in the past 18 years in Beijing. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on all patients with cirrhosis diagnosed for the first time in Peking University People's Hospital from January 1, 1993, to October 25, 2010. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0. RESULTS: A total of 2119 cirrhosis inpatients were included in this study: 1412 (66.6%) male and 707 (33.4%) female. Chronic hepatitis B accounted for 58.7%; chronic hepatitis C for 7.6%; chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus co-infection for 0.8% (16 cases); alcoholic liver disease for 9.4% (200 cases); and autoimmune diseases for 9.4% (199 cases). In the past 18 years, the percentage of chronic hepatitis B has decreased from 75.2% to 48.7%; alcoholic liver disease has increased from 5.1% to 10.6%; and autoimmune disease has increased from 2.2% to 12.9%. The percentages of chronic hepatitis B and alcoholic liver disease were higher among men, whereas the percentages of chronic hepatitis C, autoimmune diseases and cryptogenic cirrhosis were higher among women. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic hepatitis B was still the most common etiology of cirrhosis in China, but the percentage has been decreasing. The percentages of alcoholic liver disease and autoimmune diseases have been increasing. The etiological spectrum of cirrhosis inpatients differed significantly according to sex.

Study of stereomeric peptoid chiral stationary phases containing different chiral side chains.

In this study, we investigated six stereomeric peptoid chiral stationary phases (CSPs) successively combining N'-phenyl-proline amide, α-phenylethyl amine, 2-aminocyclohexyl phenylcarbamate and another α-phenylethyl amine under normal phase mode. CSPs 1-4 with R-S-(R,R)-S, R-S-(S,S)-S, R-R-(R,R)-R and R-R-(S,S)-R configuration exhibited much different enantiorecognition abilities. Overall, CSPs 1 and 2 performed better for the 55 analytes tested. CSP 5 with mixed selectors combined partial selectivities of CSPs 1 and 2. CSP 6 as enantiomeric counterpart of CSP 2 exhibited similar enantioseparation ability and reversal elution orders for analytes resolved. For several biaryl type analytes, CSP 6 even outperformed commercial Chiralpak AD-H and Chiralcel OD-H. Excellent resolution of 3,3'-diphenyl-2,2'-bi-1-naphthalol (VANOL) on CSP 6 illustrated its potential application in preparative enantioseparation. Eluting orders of enantiomers on stereomeric CSPs also provided us further insight into enantiorecognition of some analytes.

Highly stable high performance liquid chromatography stationary phase based on direct chemical modification of organic bridges in hybrid silica.

Highly monodisperse 1,4-dimethoxybenzene-bridged organic/inorganic hybrid mesoporous spheres were synthesized by condensation of 1,4-dimethoxy-2,5-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene using dodecylamine (DDA) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as co-templates. The spherical hybrid particles, which have specific surface area of 509 m²/g, pore volume of 0.8 cm³/g and average pore size of 63 Å, were characterized by elemental analysis, SEM, TEM, small angel X-ray scattering, Raman, FT-IR and nitrogen adsorption-desorption analysis. The hybrid material was further chemically modified with C12 chain group via formation of C-O-R bond, which is believed to be far more stable than traditional Si-O-Si bonding type at low pH condition. At the same time, the hybrid silica substrate has been proved to possess the improved chemical stability at high pH. In this way, combination of the hybrid silica substrate and this advanced modification method enable the stationary phase to be used in extended pH range. The chemical stability of this surface modified 1,4-dimethoxybenzene-bridged hybrid stationary phase was evaluated both at low pH (pH=0.95) and high pH (pH=11.0). Some acidic and alkaline pH chromatographic evaluations were performed to illustrate the advantages of the improved chemical stability of this packing material.

Outcome of hepatitis C virus infection in Chinese paid plasma donors: a 12-19-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Commercial plasma donation was introduced in China in the 1970s. Cases of non-A, non-B hepatitis (hepatitis C) continued to occur, with multiple outbreaks among plasma donors in Guan county, Hebei province between 1972 and 1990. The outcomes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in these paid plasma donors from six villages of Guan county were followed up for 12-19 years. METHODS: A total of 402 plasma donors with HCV infection were enrolled since anti-HCV-positive in 1991 or 1998. Follow up was maintained until death or the end of the observation period. No antiviral treatment was applied during the period of infection. RESULTS: Follow up was lost in 23 cases. After a 12-19-year follow up, 31 donors died, with the cause of death directly related to liver disease in 15 cases, and an overall mortality of 8.18% (31/379). The incidence of liver cirrhosis was 10.03%, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was 2.90%. The rate of viral spontaneous clearing was 20.32% (77/379), and 13.69% (23/168) in males and 25.59% (54/211) in females. In May 2010, detections were performed in 348 cases. Abnormality of liver function was related to HCV viremia. Sex and alcohol intake impacted the outcome of HCV infection. There was no correlation between the viral spontaneous clearance with age of infection and genotype. CONCLUSIONS: This area has a high rate of chronicity in HCV infection due to plasma donation. Twenty-five years after virus infection, liver cirrhosis or HCC developed in one-tenth of patients, with an overall mortality of 8.18%.