@@

Objective To evaluate the performance of aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) in the assessment of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection patients with transaminase level less than two times of upper limits of normal (ULN),and to analyze the clinical utility in antiviral therapy.Methods A total of 349 clinically diagnosed chronic HBV infection with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level less than 2 × ULN were enrolled.Liver biopsy and routine laboratory tests were performed to calculate the ratio of AST to platelet (PLT),namely the APRI,and to compare the relationship between liver fibrosis and APRI.Diagnostic performance of APRI model was assessed by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the ROC curve (AUC) analysis.Correlation between APRI and liver fibrosis was determined by Spearman rank correlation analysis.Results The AUC of APRI≥0.273 for significant liver fibrosis was 0.641 with sensitivity of 48.3％,specificity of 75.7％ and positive predictive value of 73.9％.The AUC of APRI≥0.311 for cirrhosis was 0.771 with sensitivity of 68.6％,specificity of 76.8％,and negative predictive value of 93.5％.In patients with HBV DNA level ranging from 1 × 103 to 1 × 105 copy/mL,the optimal cut-off value of APRI was 0.179 for significant fibrosis (P＝0.00) and 0.283 for cirrhosis (P=0.00).By Spearman rank correlation analysis,APRI was positively correlated with histologic stages of fibrosis (r=0.370,P＜0.01).Conclusions APRI can be utilized to assess liver fibrosis in HBV infection with ALT and AST level less than 2 × ULN.APRI≥0.273 (pathologic stages of fibrosis ≥S2) has obvious hepatic fibrosis,which may help physician to select the optimal time for antiviral therapy.APRI may serve as a potential tool for assessing liver fibrosis according to HBV DNA levels.

Objective To investigate the association between polymorphism of TNFα-308 and mutations of HBV C region in patients with chronic HBV infection. Methods Ninety-five patients with chronic HBV infection were recruited in the study. The single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) of TNFα-308 Was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism(RFLP). Mutations of nt1762/1764, nt1896, nt1899, nt1862, as60, aa87 and as97 in HBV C region were detected by direct sequencing after PCR amplification. Mutations of the above points among different genotypes were compared by Fisher's exget test. Results Three different genotypes G/G(63/95, 66.3%), G/A(28/95, 29.5%) and A/A(4/95, 4.2%) were found in TNFα-308 site. The rates of mutations of aa87 and aa97 points in patients with G/G, G/A and A/A genotype were 39.3%(24/61), 11.5%(3/26) and 50.0% (2/4), respectively(F=7.658, P<0.05);while the mutation rates of nt1762/1764, nt1896, nt1864, nt1899 and aa60 were of no statistical significance among different genotypes(F=0.669, 1.542, 1.123, 2.420 and 0.966, P>0.05). Conclusion Compared with G/G genotype, antigenicity of HBV may be more stable in patients with TNFα-308 G/A genotype, which is beneficial to HBV clearance.

Current undergraduate education in traditional Chinese Medicine combines classroom teaching with a small number of practical courses, which has showed its limitations of increasingly bad medical environment and employment situation. Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine explored new ways and means of medical education in recent years. Therefore, reforming based on the integration of clinical teaching pattern for TCM Bachelor has been carried out step by step. It meant that classroom teaching and clinical practice were fully integrated by moving classroom in the affiliated hospitals. It has been proved to work. With the experiences of the development, we have successfully explored a mature mean for the integration clinical teaching pattern. Here, we discussed the codes of such practice in order to strive to maximize the effectiveness of such practice.

Under the background of dual-track training mode, the current clinical program of professional master's graduate education lacks complete and unified content and requirements. We set out a unified teaching scheme of subspecialty, in the main subject acupuncture. We identified the teaching management and innovated the teaching and examination methods in the scheme. Our research gradually formed a multidisciplinary talents training system, as the foundation of developing the standardization training. This method could help to cultivate qualified graduates as the high quality talents for the national medicine development.

A total of 60 non-acupuncture master postgraduates were divided into control class and experimental class randomly, 30 postgraduates in each class. The control class was taught by traditional teaching methods and experimental class was taught by new teaching methods. The test was conducted after one month later. All the scores were analyzed by SPSS17.0. The result showed that the oretical score ,the practical score and disease recognition rates in the experimental class were significantly higher than those in the control class (P<0.05). The questionnaires showed experimental class had obvious advantage than control class (P<0.05). The new teaching methods of acupuncture has obvious advantage than traditional teaching methods and can provide a new way for teaching acupuncture during resident standardization training.

Objective To investigate the predictive factors of virological response in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB)patients treated with adefovir dipivoxil (ADV).Methods A total of 203 HBeAg-positive CHB patients treated with ADV (Mingzheng)10 mg once daily for 48 weeks were recruited.The gene polymorphisms at positions-238 and-308 in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α promoter region were determined by the restriction fragment length polymorphism assay of products amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RFLP).The serum levels of TNF-a at baseline were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Hepatitis B virus (HBV)genotypes were tested by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and HBV subgenotypes were tested by HBV S gene sequencing.Factors related to ADV response were determined by Logistic regression analysis.Results The HBV DNA negative rate,alanine aminotransferase (ALT)normalization rate,HBeAg loss rate and seroconversion rate,and combined response rate at week 24 and 48 of treatment in 203 patients were 31.5% (64/203),59.1% (120/203),15.8% (32/203),8.9% (18/203),13.3% (27/203)and 58.6% (119/203),78.3% (159/203),29.6% (60/203),16.7% (34/203),25.6% (52/203),respectively.HBV DNA negative rate at week 24 was higher in patients with HBV genotype B,that was higher in patients with TNF-α-308G/A genotype,and that was higher in patients with higher baseline ALT level or lower baseline HBV DNA level [OR = 0.405,95 % CI (0.191 - 0.859),P =0.019;OR=0.292,95%CI(0.132-0.643),P=0.002;OR=0.933,95%CI(0.989-0.997),P＜0.01 ;OR=2.089,95%CI (1.412-3.092),P＜0.01].Meanwhile,HBV DNA negative rate at week 48 were higher in patients with higher HBV DNA negative rate at week 24 or higher baseline ALT level [OR=0.029,95%CI(0.007-0.126),P＜0.01;OR= 0.995,95%CI(0.991-0.999),P=0.016].Conclusions HBV genotype,TNF-α-308 genotype,baseline levels of ALT and HBV DNA are predictors of virological response at week 24 in HBeAg-positive CHB patients treated with ADV.And the HBV DNA negative rate at week 24 and baseline ALT level are predictors of virological response at week 48.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of TNFα,ALT,HBV DNA loads and HBV serological markers in response to adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods Two hundred and three HBeAg.positive CHB patients were administered with ADV 10 mg/d for 48 weeks.HBV serological markers and TNFα at the baseline were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(EUSA),and HBV DNA loads were detected by PCR.Logistic regression was used to identify predictive factors for serological response at 48th week after the treatment.Results The rates of HBV DNA clearance,ALT normalization,HBeAg lOSS,HBeAg seroconversion and response at 24th week were 31.5%(64/203),59.1%(120/203),15.8%(32/203).8.9%(18/203)and 13.3%(27/203)respectively,while those at 48th week were 58.6%(119/203),78.3%(159/203),29.6%(60/203),16.7%(34/203)and 25.6%(52/203),respectively.Patients who achieved HBeAS loss at 48th week were found to have higher rates of HBV DNA clearance.HBeAg loss and seroconversion at 24th week and higher TNFα at baseline(P=0.017,0.ooI,0.029 and 0.040),while those who achieved HBeAg seroconversion at 48th week were found to have higher rate of HBeAg seroconversion at 24th week.and lower baseline HBV DNA loads(P=0.000 and 0.004).Conclusion For HBeAg.positive CHBpatients with ADV treatment,the rate of HBV DNA clearanee,HBeAg loss and seroeonversion at 24th week and TNFα at baseline may be used to predict the rate of HBeAg 1088 at 48th week:the rate of HBeAgseroconversion at 24th week and baseline HBV DNA loads may be used to predict the rate of HBeAgseroeonversion at 48th week.

BACKGROUND: A large number of experiments in vivo and in vitro have shown that mesenchymal stem cells may obviously inhibit the lymphocytes and other immunocytes.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on the immune function and prognosis of patients suffering decompensated liver cirrhosisn due to hepatitis B.METHODS: 118 patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to hepatitis B were randomly divided into control group (n=59) and observation group (n=59). The two groups all received normal medical treatment, and in addition, the observation group also received human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation. (4.0-4.5)×108 stem cells were transplanted twice by intervention via proper hepatic artery (10 mL) and intravenous infusion (10 mL) within 1 week after admission. The levels of serum interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10, transforming growth factor-β and the percentage of lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood were determined in the two groups before and 1, 4 weeks after treatment. The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and Child-Pugh score of 118 patients after treatment for 12 weeks were observed and recorded, and liver failure, complications and survival during follow-up period in the two groups were observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After treatment for 1 and 4 weeks, the levels of serum interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P <0.001), but the levels of serum interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). After treatment for 1 week, the percentagesof CD3+CD4+T cell and CD4+CD25+Treg cells in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.001), but the percentages of CD3+CD8+ T cells and CD3-CD19+ B cells were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). After treatment for 4 weeks, the percentages of CD3+ T cell ,CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001), but the percentages of CD3+CD8+ T cell and CD3-CD19+ B cells were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). After treatment for 12 weeks, the MELD and Child-Pugh scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05).During the follow-up period, none of the cases in the observation group developed liver failure, but five cases in the control group did. In addition, the incidence of complications and cumulative mortality in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). These results show that the human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell transplantation may alleviate liver inflammation and improve liver function, and then may reduce the incidence of hepatic failure and mortality for patients with decompensated cirrhosis due to hepatitis B.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of qualitative and quantitative fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) in identifying colorectal cancer, so as to provide insights into perfecting screening strategies for colorectal cancer. Methods: Participants in the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program for Key Populations in Zhejiang Province from May 2020 to December 2021 were recruited, and their demographic information, lifestyle and disease history were collected through a questionnaire survey. Qualitative or quantitative FIT along with a questionnaire-based risk assessment were employed as the initial screening tests. Individuals who were positive in any FIT or had high-risk assessment results were required to attend a subsequent colonoscopy examination. The positive rate, detection rate of colorectal cancer, positive predictive value and number of colonoscopies required were compared between qualitative and quantitative FITs, and stratified analyses by gender and age were conducted. Results: Totally 4 099 769 participants were included. The qualitative FIT group included 3 574 917 individuals, yielding a positive rate of 11.35%, a detection rate of 1.19%, a positive predictive value of 0.48% and 83.84 colonoscopies required to detect one cancer case. The quantitative FIT group involved 524 852 individuals, yielding a positive rate of 6.70%, a detection rate of 2.31%, a positive predictive value of 1.01% and 43.23 colonoscopies required to detect one cancer case. The quantitative FIT group showed significantly higher detection rate of colorectal cancer, higher positive predictive value and less number of colonoscopies required compared to the qualitative FIT group (all P<0.05). The same results were obtained after stratification by gender and age. Conclusion Compared to qualitative FIT, quantitative FIT improves the detection of colorectal cancer and reduces the workload of colonoscopy examinations, making it more suitable for colorectal cancer screening in large-scale populations.