Search

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of entecavir(ETV) versus ETV maleate in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB). This was a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, controlled, multicentre study. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 48 weeks of treatment with 0.5 mg/day ETV (group A) or 0.5 mg/day ETV maleate (group B), then, all patients received treatment with 0.5 mg/day ETV maleate from week 49 onwards. Patients were regularly followed up. Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers were detected. Adverse events (AE) were recorded. The primary endpoint was the decline in HBV DNA in each group at the end of treatment. Secondary endpoints included the rate of HBV DNA below the lower limit of detection (LLOD) (20 I U/ml) at the end of treatment, the rate of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss, the rate of HBeAg seroconversion and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization. One hundred and thirty-seven (71 in group A) patients with HBeAg-positive CHB and 46 (21 in group A) patients with HBeAg-negative CHB completed the 240-week treatment and follow-up. Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the two groups. For the HBeAg-positive CHB patients, the mean HBV DNA level had similarly decreased from baseline in both groups (A: by 6.67 log10 IU/ ml vs. B: by 6.74 log10 IU/ml; p > .05) at Week 240. Patients who achieved undetectable levels of serum HBV DNA (<20 IU/ml) at Week 240 were similar between groups (A:91.55% vs. B:87.88%; p > .05). Both groups achieved similar HBeAg seroconversion rates at week 240 (A:26.98% vs. B:20.97%; p > .05). Both groups achieved similar normalization of ALT (A:87.32% vs. B:83.61%; p > .05) at Week 240 (p > .05). For the HBeAg-negative CHB patients, the mean HBV DNA level had similarly decreased from baseline in both groups (A: by 6.05 log10 IU/ml vs. B: by 6.10 log10 IU/ml; p > .05) at Week 240. Patients who achieved undetectable levels of serum HBV DNA at Week 240 were similar between groups (A:100% vs. B:100%). Both groups achieved similar normalization rates (A:90.91% vs. B: 95.45%; p > .05) of ALT at Week 240 (p > .05). In conclusion, long- term ETV maleate treatment was safe and efficient in Chinese CHB predominantly of genotype B or C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) is an important polypeptide that participates in the process of liver regeneration. Two forms of ALR proteins are expressed in hepatocytes. Previous data have shown that ALR is essential for cell survival and has potential antimetastatic properties in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of two forms of ALR proteins in HCC and their possible significance in HCC development. Methods: Balb/c mouse monoclonal antibody against ALR protein was prepared in order to detect the ALR protein in HCC by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. ALR mRNA expression levels were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction in HCC tissues and compared to paracancerous liver tissues in 22 HCC patients. Results: ALR mRNA expression in HCC liver tissues (1.51×106 copies/μL) was higher than in paracancerous tissues (1.04×104 copies/μL). ALR protein expression was also enhanced in HCC liver tissues. The enhanced ALR protein was shown to be 23 kDa by Western blotting. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the 23 kDa ALR protein mainly existed in the hepatocyte cytosol. Conclusion: The 23 kDa ALR protein was highly expressed in HCC and may play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Emergence of rmtB-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-KP) poses a great threat to antimicrobial treatment options. Methods: From January 2010 to December 2010, non-duplicate KPC-KP isolates from our hospital were screened for rmtB and multiple other resistance determinants with PCR. Subsequent studies included MIC determination, PFGE, and multilocus sequence typing. Records from patients with KPC-KP isolated were retrospectively reviewed. Comparisons of molecular and clinical characteristics between rmtB-positive and rmtB-negative isolates were systematically performed, as well as the environmental colonization study in ICU wards. Results: A total of 84 KPC-KP strains were collected, including 48 rmtB-positive KPC-KP (RPKP) and 36 rmtB-negative KPC-KP (RNKP) isolates. All KPC-KP isolates were multidrug resistant, with colistin and tigecycline being the most active agents. Compared with RNKP, RPKP displayed a much severer resistance phenotype. Susceptibility rates for amikacin (0% for RPKP versus 88.9% for RNKP, p < 0.01), fosfomycin (8.5% for RPKP versus 88.9% for RNKP, p < 0.01), and minocycline (6.7% for RPKP versus 52.8% for RNKP, p < 0.01), were all significantly lower in RPKP strains. Isolates belonging to PFGE pulsetype A and sequence type 11 were predominant in both groups, including 39 (81.3%) RPKP and 22 (61.1%) RNKP isolates. Nevertheless, RNKP showed more complex genetic backgrounds compared with RPKP. Diverse clinical characteristics were found in both cohorts, however, no significant differences were observed between RPKP and RNKP patients. Conclusions: RPKP strains have spread widely and gradually replaced RNKP in our hospital. They seemed to show much severer resistance phenotypes compared with RNKP and had a bigger dissemination potential. Prudent use of available active agents combined with good control practices is therefore mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Intestinal microflora play a crucial role in some severe liver diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a Lactobacillus strain and a Bifidobacterium strain on ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) liver injury. Methods: Rats were divided into six groups. Each group received either Bifidobacterium Catenulatum ZYB0401; Lactobacillus Fermentum ZYL0401; a mixture of these two bacterial strains; gentamicin; or saline by daily gavage for 7 days. On the sixth day, all rats, except those in the control group, were subjected to 20 min of liver ischemia. After 22 h of hepatic reperfusion, liver enzymes and histology, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), endotoxemia, serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), intestinal bacteria, intestinal mucosal ultrastructure, and bacterial translocation were studied. Results: All administered bacteria increased intestinal Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, decreased endotoxemia ( P < 0.01), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ( P < 0.01), and markedly ameliorated liver histology and intestinal mucosal ultrastructure. Only rats treated with Bifidobacterium Catenulatum ZYB0401 and Lactobacillus Fermentum ZYL0401 showed reduced incidence of bacterial translocation to the kidney ( P < 0.05), associated with decreased serum TNF-α and liver MDA ( P < 0.05) and increased liver SOD ( P < 0.05) compared to the I/R group. Gentamicin decreased almost all kinds of intestinal bacteria ( P < 0.01) and decreased ALT ( P < 0.01) and serum TNF-α, but failed to reduce both endotoxemia and the incidence of bacterial translocation and had no effects on liver MDA and SOD. Conclusion: Bifidobacterium Catenulatum ZYB0401 in combination with Lactobacillus Fermentum ZYL0401 could be useful in restoring intestinal microflora and in preventing liver injury in hepatic I/R of rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]