AIM: To study the influences of P1 promoter activity of furin gene on the functions of hepatocytes in patients with liver cirrhosis.METHODS: The patients with liver cirrhosis of 180 cases were recruited.The single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP-229 C/T) in P1 promoter of furin gene was genotyped using competitively differentiated polymerase chain reaction.The relationships between the promoter activity based on genotyping and the serum levels of liver enzymes,total bilirubin,albumin and prothrombin were observed.RESULTS: The distribution frequencies of allele C and T were 75.3%(271/360) and 24.7%(89/360).Those of genotypes CC,CT and TT were 62.2%(112/180),26.1%(47/180) and 11.7%(21/180),respectively.The distribution frequencies of the genotypes were not related to the serum levels of major liver enzymes,albumin,total bilirubin and prothrombin,except for alkaline phosphatase and ?-glutamyl transferase.CONCLUSION: The activity of furin promoter exerts no effects on the main functions of hepatocytes,suggesting that furin may be a new therapeutic target for HBV infection.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of low-intensity warfarin anticoagulation in over 80-year-old patients with nonvascular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Methods The 180 NVAF patients aged over 80 years were randomly assigned into 2 groups: 90 patients in lowintensity warfarin anticoagulation group (target value of INR 1.6-2.0), the other 90 patients in standard-intensity warfarin anticoagulation group (target value of INR 2. 0-3.0). All patients were followed up in outpatient-department for one year. Main outcome measures included the incidence rates of bleeding and thromboembolic events, and secondary outcome measures included the warfarin dosage and times of INR＞3.0. Results The incidence rate of thromboembolic events was 4.4% (4/90) in low-intensity group and 3.3% (3/90) in standard-intensity group with no statistically significant difference between these two groups (P＞0. 05). However, the incidence rate of hemorrhage was significantly lower in low-intensity group than in standard-intensity group [5.6% (5/90) vs. 16.7%(15/90), P＜0. 05]. Meanwhile the warfarin dosage was significantly lower in low-intensity group than in standard-intensity group [(1. 55±0. 63) mg vs. (2.31±0.57) mg, P＜0.05]. The times of INR＞3.0 were less in low-intensity group than in standard-intensity group (P＜0. 05). Conclusions Therapy with low-intensity warfarin anticoagulation in NVAF patients aged over 80 years may be equally effective as, but safer than that with standard-intensity warfarin.