Objective To investigate the relationship between HBV-DNA level during the course and progress tO cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.Methods From 2001 to 2007,a total of 239 chronic hepatitis B patients confirmed by liver biopsy were followed up for a median time of 28 months.HBV-DNA level was measured at baseline and end point.Results Those who progressed to cirrhosis were older and with higher HBV-DNA levels at the end point.Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the higher the HBV-DNA level at end point,the higher the risk to cirrhosis(X2=11.736,P=0.019).There was no difference between patients with and without cirrhosis at baseline of HBV-DNA level(P=0.531).The Cox regression indicated that the independent risk factors of cirrhosis were as followings:HBV-DNA level at the end point,stage of fibrosis,hepatitis B e antigen negative and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase at entry with relative risk ratio of 1.898,1.918,8.976 and 1.006,respectively.Conclusion HBV-DNA level is correlated with progress to cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Objective To investigate the effects of low dosage of β-elemene on the radiosensitivity of rabbit VX2 renal transplant carcinoma model. Methods We took the rabbit VX2 renal transplant carcinoma as the model. Experimental rabbits were divided into three groups: the control group, the radiation group, and the radiation +β-elemene (radiosensitivity) group. The change of tumor was observed by Spiral CT and B ultrasound to compare its regrowth period. The tumor was measured by light microscopy and electron microscopy. Results The tumor in radiosensitivity group was restrained obviously and the sensitization enhancement ratio (SER) of β-elemene was 1.89. Different apoptosis was observed under transmission electron microscopy. Conclusion Low dosage β-elemene can enhance the radiosensitivity of rabbit VX2 renal transplant carcinoma model and induce the apoptosis of tumor cells, but the mechanism needs further study. It promotes apoptosis in mechanisms in vitro.

Alkali-salinity exerts severe osmotic, ionic, and high-pH stresses to plants. To under-stand the alkali-salinity responsive mechanisms underlying photosynthetic modulation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis, physiological and diverse quantitative proteomics analyses of alkaligrass (Puccinellia tenuiflora) under Na2CO3 stress were conducted. In addition, Western blot,real-time PCR, and transgenic techniques were applied to validate the proteomic results and test the functions of the Na2CO3-responsive proteins. A total of 104 and 102 Na2CO3-responsive proteins were identified in leaves and chloroplasts, respectively. In addition, 84 Na2CO3-responsive phospho-proteins were identified, including 56 new phosphorylation sites in 56 phosphoproteins from chloro-plasts, which are crucial for the regulation of photosynthesis, ion transport, signal transduction, and energy homeostasis. A full-length PtFBA encoding an alkaligrass chloroplastic fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) was overexpressed in wild-type cells of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803, leading to enhanced Na2CO3 tolerance. All these results indicate that thermal dissipation, state transition, cyclic electron transport, photorespiration, repair of pho-tosystem (PS) Ⅱ, PSI activity, and ROS homeostasis were altered in response to Na2CO3 stress, which help to improve our understanding of the Na2CO3-responsive mechanisms in halophytes.