OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effect, liver pathohistological changes (including pathology, HBV markers in liver tissue) in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODS70 patients of chronic hepatitis B were administered 100 mg Lamivudine orally daily for 1 year. The serum HBV-DNA, HBeAg/anti-HBe, hepatic chemistry and the hepatic fibrosis markers were studied. The needle biopsy of liver were performed in 35 patients before and after treatment and Knodell pathological score were done, HBsAg, HBcAg, alpha-SMA in liver tissue were examined by immunohistochemistry method.

RESULTSAfter 1 year treatment the full response rate, partial response rate and no response rate were 23.72%, 69.49% and 6.78%, the patients in whom HBeAg seroconversion had higher base-line Alanine aminotransferase levels than the patients without seroconversion. Activity index of hepatic histology in 41.18% patients had a significant decrease. Histological assessment revealed that necrosis in portal area, pylenphlebitis and fibrosis were obviously alleviated. The liver immunohistochemistry examination showed HBcAg and alpha-SMA in liver decreased significantly in the patients with HBeAg seroconversion, no obvious alteration was observed in HBsAg expression. Lamivudine seems an effective compound with high safety and low side effect.

CONCLUSIONThese results suggested that lamivudine (100mg/d) could suppress HBV-DNA replication, promote ALT normalization, accelerate HBeAg/anti-HBe seroconversion, improve the liver pathological changes, slow down the development of liver fibrosis

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Biopsy, Needle ; Child ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Humans ; Interferon Type I ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Interferon-alpha ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Recombinant Proteins ; Ribavirin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Safety ; Treatment Outcome ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo investigate the positive rate of auto antibodies and autoimmune liver diseases in patients with abnormal liver function and it's clinical significance.

METHODS511 sera with abnormal ALT (>40 U/L) were continuously collected, all the sera were examined for antibodies and clinical information of 469 cases were studied.

RESULTSAmong the 511 sera, 14.09% of them showed of ANA positive, 0.59% of SMA positive, 2.94% of AMA positive, 0.98% of AMA-M2 positive, 0.59% of SS-A positive, 0.19% of SS-B positive, 0.19% of JO-1 and 0.78% of dsDNA positive and all SLA/LP, LC-1 and LKM-1 and ANA profile were negative. Clinical information was analyzed on 469 cases which have complete data from the 511 patients. Of these 469 cases, 5 cases (1.06%) were found to be PBC, 2 case (0.43%) were AIH, no PSC was found, 77.78% patients among those with positive auto antibodies were diagnosed as viral hepatitis and there were 18.29% patients with viral hepatitis showed different auto antibodies.

CONCLUSIONThe high titer auto antibodies were important criterion for diagnosis of autoimmune liver diseases. The positive rate of autoantibodies of autoimmune liver diseases was similar to hepatitis C and E

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cholangitis, Sclerosing ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged

Adult ; Echinococcosis, Hepatic ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Peritonitis, Tuberculous ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Tuberculosis, Hepatic ; complications ; diagnosis ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether three biallelic polymorphisms at the position -592, -819 and -1082 in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene were associated with the incidence of autoimmune liver disease.

METHODSThe IL-10 -592 and IL-10-1082 polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms analysis (PCR-RFLP), while polymerase chain reaction- sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP) assay was used to detect IL-10 -819 polymorphisms.

RESULTSAmong 54 Chinese patients with AIH or 77 Chinese patients with PBC versus healthy controls, the frequency of AA, GA genotypes at IL-10 gene promoter -1082 position was 87.0% or 83.1% versus 90.0%, 13.0% or 16.9% versus 10.0%, respectively (P > 0.05), the GG genotype in Chinese populations is absent; the frequency of CC, CT, TT genotypes at IL-10 gene promoter -819 position was 11.11% or 9.1% versus 8.1%, 44.4% or 53.3% versus 45.0%, 44.4% or 37.7% versus 46.9%, respectively (P > 0.05); the frequency of CC, CA, AA genotypes at IL-10 gene promoter -592 position was 4.9% or 14.3% versus 10.0%, 51.2% or 53.3% versus 51.9%, 43.9% or 32.5% versus 38.1%, respectively (P > 0.05). No alleles differed significantly in each groups.

CONCLUSIONThere were no association between IL-10 gene polymorphisms and autoimmune liver disease

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo present an improved method to obtain pure, viable, freshly isolated hepatic stellate cells.

METHODSAdult male SD rats were used. All procedures were performed with the animals under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia. Three days after the single intravenous administration of 1 ml liposome-encapsulated CL2MDP, which has selective cytotoxicity of Kupffer cells, livers were perfused with D-Hank's solution containing 100 U/ml heparin for 10 to 15 minutes, and then with 0.05% collagenase dissolved in D-Hank's solution for 25 to 30 minutes. The liver was then gently homogenized and further incubated in 0.025% collagenase, and 0.005% DNAase I for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C under constant stirring. This suspension was filtered through stainless steel gauze and centrifuged for 2 minutes at 50 x g to remove parenchymal cells. Sinusoidal cells in the supernatant were recovered by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 300 x g. The cells were resuspended in the presence of 28.7% Nycodenz stock solution. The final concentration of Nycodenz at this stage was 11.5%. Following centrifugation for 17 minutes at 1400 x g, The cells at the top of this Nycodenz solution were collected. Cells were resuspended in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, The cells were seeded in 50 ml culture flask at a density of 500,000 cells/ml, The cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion staining, the purity of hepatic stellate cells was identified by the expression of Desmin using immunocytochemistry method. Endogenous peroxidase staining was used to detect Kupffer cells.

RESULTSThe yield rate of hepatic stellate cells was 3 x 10(7) per rat, the cell viability was more than 95%, the desmin positive cell rate was 90%, no endogenous peroxidase positive cells were detected.

CONCLUSIONThe method for the isolation of hepatic stellate cells was developed without Kupffer cells confusion. The availability of highly purified stellate cells will facilitate the investigation of their functions in primary culture.

Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Kupffer Cells ; cytology ; Liver ; cytology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Ultracentrifugation ; methods

OBJECTIVETo improve the diagnosis and treatment level of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in the patients with advanced liver disease, get better curative effect and prognosis.

METHODSRegistered the body temperature, symptoms and signs in the abdomen, and blood routine test, the polymorphonuclear (PMN) cell count, and ascites culture in the patients with cirrhosis and fulminant hepatitis. These patients were given supporting therapies including use plasma and albumin as well as antibiotics treatment according to drug sensitivity or empiric. Changes of the body temperature, symptoms and signs were used to evaluate the effect of therapy.

RESULTS186 of 275 inward patients with end-stage liver disease during this period were considered as SBP by ascites culture or clinical experience with various degree symptoms and signs such as pain, distention, higher tension and touch pain in the abdomen. Infective rate was 67.6%. Among them 138 patients had abnormal body temperature more than 37.4 degrees C. 106 patients with leukocyte count in the peripheral blood more than 10 x 10(9)/L; 137 patients with PMN more than 80% in differential cell count; 103 patients with PMN more than 250/mm(3) in ascites. Only 29 patients were culture positive. 82 patients were cured, 17 patients with improvement, 18 patients with inefficacy or deterioration. 42 patients died of hepatic-renal failure and 27 patients died because of upper alimentary tract bleeding, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSigns and symptoms of SBP were atypical in the patients with end-stage liver disease. Ascites culture positive rate was not high. Early diagnosis and proper use antibiotics according to culture and empirics were important to increase effect and improve prognosis

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Bacterial Infections ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; complications ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritonitis ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; therapy ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo study on the expression and genomic imprinting status of IGF2 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODSRT-PCR semi-quantitation analysis was used to test IGF2 in paired hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent normal tissue. Restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect the imprinting status of IGF2. The relationships between the expression level of IGF2, its imprinting status, and clinical information were analyzed.

RESULTSThe expression pattern of IGF2 was quite variable among the various HCC cases; the expression of IGF2 mRNA on cancer tissue was significantly higher than that on paired normal tissues (t=3.695); LOI was found in 11 HCC cases.

CONCLUSIONSIt is supposed that the enhanced expression of IGF2 gene was involved in the carcinogenesis of HCC; LOI of IGF2 may be a prophase manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Female ; Genomic Imprinting ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the induction of antitumor immune responses and therapeutic effects of 10-hydroxycamptothecinc-treated (HCPT) DC-Hepa fusion vaccines by DC fused with hepal-6 cell from hepatoma.

METHODSThe fused cells were isolated by magnetic cell sorting and adherent culture. Cell apoptosis was detected by Rhodamine123/PI double-labeled assay, CTL activity by 4 h (51)Cr releasing assay. Protective and therapeutic effects of the fusion vaccine to the tumor-bearing mice was also observed.

RESULTSThe apoptosis rate was 29.7%+/-4.1% when DC-Hepa fusion vaccine was treated with 50 microg/ml HCPT for 24 h. After treatment with the HCPT-DC-Hepa fusion vaccine, the tumor grew obviously slowly, survival period of the mice was prolonged, induced more potent CTL cytotoxicity, and resisted against the rechallenge of Hepal-6 cells.

CONCLUSIONVaccination with HCPT-DC-Hepa fusion vaccine could elicit potent antitumor responses, which will provide a new approach to the DC-mediated therapeutic antitumor immunity.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Camptothecin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cancer Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; genetics ; immunology ; Cell Fusion ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; transplantation ; Female ; Liver Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Rats ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVEAs our previous comparative proteomics study on high and low metastasis human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell strains revealed that cytokeratin 19 (CK19) was related to higher metastasis potential, we further investigated the relationship between serum CK19 level in HCC patients and their clinico-pathologic characteristics.

METHODSSerum CK19 levels of 101 normal controls and 108 pathology-proven HCC patients were determined using radioimmunoassay, and the their correlation with clinico-pathologic parameters were studied.

RESULTSThe upper limit of one-side 98% confidence interval of normal serum CK19 level was 2.3 microg/L. Among 108 HCC patients, 24 (22.2%) had increased serum CK19 level, ranging from 2.4 to 45.5 microg/L. There were 12 patients (11.1%) with increased CK19 level but normal AFP level. The percentage of poor differentiated tumor was higher in CK19 increased cases (37.5%, 9/24) than in CK19 normal cases (20.2%, 17/84). Moreover, the presence of portal vein tumor emboli was significantly higher in CK19 increased cases (25.0%, 6/24) than in CK19 normal cases (6.0%, 5/84). (Chi-square = 7.403, P < 0.01) In addition, the percentage of TNM stage III/IV tumor was significantly higher in CK19 increased patients (54.2%, 13/24) than in CK19 normal cases. (chi-square = 13.300, P < 0.005)

CONCLUSIONSome HCC patients do have increased serum CK19 level, which could be related to portal vein tumor emboli, poor tumor differentiation and advanced tumor stages.

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; genetics ; Proteome ; analysis