[Evaluation of the efficacy of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B combined with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by high-sensitivity detection of HBV DNA levels].

Objective: To observe the efficacy of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) combined with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), so as to provide evidence-based evidence in these special populations. Methods: Data from 91 CHB cases who received TDF 300 mg/d antiviral therapy for 96 weeks were analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 43 cases with NAFLD were included in the study group, and 48 cases without NAFLD were included in the control group. The virological and biochemical responses of the two groups of patients at 12, 24, 48, and 96 weeks were compared. Among them, 69 patients underwent highly sensitive detection of HBV DNA. The t-test and χ (2) test were performed on the data. Results: ALT normalization rate was lower in the study group (42%, 51%) at 12 and 24 weeks of treatment than that in the control group (69%, 79%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at 48 and 96 weeks. HBV DNA concentration below the lower limit of detection (200 IU/ml) was lower in the study group at 12 weeks of treatment than in the control group (35% vs. 56%), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups at 24, 48, and 96 weeks. Furthermore, HBV DNA concentration below the lower limit was significantly lower in the study group than that in the control group at 12, 24, 48, and 96 weeks of treatment when the lower limit of HBV DNA detection was set at 20IU/ml, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The HBeAg serological negative conversion rate was gradually higher in the study group at 48 and 96 weeks of treatment than in the control group, and the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: TDF antiviral treatment can affect the virological and biochemical responses of NAFLD in chronic hepatitis B.

MiR-325-3p promotes locomotor function recovery in rats with spinal cord injury via inhibiting the expression of neutrophil elastase.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the potential function of miR-325-3p in vascular integrity and inflammatory response following spinal cord injury (SCI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protein levels of ANG-1, ANG-2, and caspase-3 in HUVECs incubated with 0, 100, 200, 400, and 800 ng/ml NE for 24 h were determined. The regulatory effect of overexpressed miR-325-3p on the protein levels of ANG-1 and ANG-2 was determined by Western blot. The SCI model in SD rats was established by spinal injury at T10. Subsequently, the relative levels of miR-325-3p, ANG-1, and ANG-2 were determined in SCI rats and controls. Furthermore, SCI rats were administrated with miR-325-3p mimics or negative control and the relative levels of miR-325-3p, ANG-1, and ANG-2 were examined as well. At day 14, the protein levels of iNOS and GFAP in SCI rats and those overexpressing miR-325-3p were detected. BBB (Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan) locomotor rating scale was applied for evaluating the locomotor function recovery at day 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 following SCI. RESULTS: NE treatment in HUVECs downregulated ANG-1 and upregulated ANG-2 and caspase-3 in a dose-dependent manner. The overexpression of miR-325-3p upregulated NE-induced decreased the level of ANG-1 and downregulated NE-induced increased level of ANG-2. After the establishment of the SCI model in rats, the miR-325-3p level gradually decreased in SCI rats relative to controls in a time-dependent manner. ANG-1 level in SCI rats decreased to the lowest on the first day following SCI, and gradually increased at day 3, 5, and 7. ANG-2 level was firstly upregulated and achieved the peak on day 3, and then decreased at day 5 and 7. Moreover, SCI rats overexpressing miR-325-3p showed a higher level of ANG-1 and lower level of ANG-2 than those of SCI rats. Overexpression of miR-325-3p downregulated the protein levels of iNOS and GFAP in SCI rats. BBB scale showed elevated locomotor function recovery in SCI rats overexpressing miR-325-3p compared with SCI rats. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-325-3p protects the integrity of the vascular wall, reduces infiltration of inflammation, and improves locomotor function recovery at post-SCI.

Supplementation with CTGF, SDF1, NGF, and HGF promotes ovine in vitro oocyte maturation and early embryo development.

The strategies for improving the in vitro maturation (IVM) of domestic animal oocytes focus on promoting nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. The identification of paracrine factors and their supplementation in the culture medium represent effective approaches for oocyte maturation and embryo development. This study investigated the effects of paracrine factor supplementation including connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and stromal derived factor 1 (SDF1) on ovine oocytes and early parthenogenetic embryos using an in vitro culture system. First, we identified the optimal concentrations of CTGF (30 ng/mL), SDF1 (10 ng/mL), NGF (3 ng/mL), and HGF (100 ng/mL) for promoting oocyte maturation, which combined, induced nuclear maturation in 94.19% of oocytes. This combination also promoted cumulus cell expansion and inhibited oocyte/cumulus apoptosis, while enabling a larger proportion (33.04%) of embryos to develop into blastocysts than in the controls and prevented embryo apoptosis. These novel findings demonstrate that the paracrine factors CTGF, SDF1, NGF, and HGF facilitate ovine oocyte and early parthenogenetic embryo development in vitro. Thus, supplementation with these factors may help optimize the IVM of ovine oocytes and early parthenogenetic embryo development strategies.

Association between -1082G/A, -819C/T, and -592C/A genetic polymorphisms in IL-10 and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Chinese population.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common form of endocrine disease in humans; genetic factors are known to contribute to the development of this disease. In this case-control study, we investigated the relationship between the -1082G/A, -819C/T, and -592C/A polymorphisms in interleukin 10 (IL-10) and the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a Chinese population. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (N = 228) and control subjects (N = 240) were recruited from the Department of Endocrinology at the People's Hospital of Linyi City, between September 2013 and April 2015. The IL-10 -1082G/A, -819C/T, and -592C/A polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that patients carrying the AA genotype of IL-10 -592C/A were at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to those carrying the CC genotype [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03-2.95]. In addition, individuals carrying the A allele of IL-10 -592C/A showed a 1.34-fold higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus compared to those carrying the C allele (adjusted OR = 1.34; 95%CI = 1.03- 1.75). There was no significant correlation between the IL-10 -1082G/ A and -819C/T polymorphisms and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In conclusion, this study shows that the -1082G/A polymorphism of IL-10 contributes to the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus, and may be considered a biomarker for early screening of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Chinese population studied here.

Alkyne-based, highly stereo- and regioselective synthesis of stereodefined functionalized vinyl tellurides.

(Z)-beta-Aryltellurovinylphosphonates and (Z)-beta-aryltellurovinyl sulfones were synthesized via the highly stereoselective anti-hydrotelluration of 1-alkynylphosphonates and 1-alkynyl sulfones. The configurations of these compounds were characterized via 1H NMR spectra or NOESY experiments and by X-ray diffraction analysis; (E)-beta-aryltellurovinyl sulfones were obtained with the reaction of sodium aryltellurate with (E)-2-iodovinyl sulfones to confirm the stereochemistry of the above anti-hydrotelluration. When the tandem reaction of alkynes with diaryl ditellurides and sodium arylsulfinates was carried out in AcOH/H2O (4/1), the corresponding (E)-beta-aryltellurovinyl sulfones were obtained in one step in good yields. This reaction is highly regio- and stereoselective and proceeds by using arylsulfinate as the sulfonyl radical precursor and diaryl ditellurides as free radical acceptors. (E)-1-Iodo-2-aryltelluroalkenes can be obtained by the anti-addition of ArTeI with terminal alkynes in THF. The stereochemistry of compound 17b was also determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.