It has been nearly 20 years from the discovery of hepatitis C virus (HCV)and clinical diagnosis of hepatitis C to antiviral therapy with interferon,and significant progress has been made.Substantial changes have taken place in both the concept and strategy for antiviral treatment of hepatitis C,with more and more direct-acting antiviral agents emerging in recent years;these changes are as follows:from the control of HCV to clinical cure,from a sustained virologic response (SVR)rate around 30%with conventional interferon therapy to an SVR rate of 70%-80% with standard therapy with pegylated interferon and ribavirin,and from evaluating the difficulty of treatment based on genotypes and viral load to determining the treatment strategy according to host IL28B genotypes and response patterns (rapid virologic re-sponse and complete early virologic response).The progress in antiviral therapy strategies for hepatitis C is systematically reviewed for re-understanding of refractory hepatitis C.

Different subtypes of chronic hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection occurred clinically because of the status of virus’s interaction with immune system. In patients with immune tolerance,high level of HBV DNA was found,serum hepatitis B e antigen(HBeAg)was positive,and serum level of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)was normal with only mild or no inflammation in liver tissue. However,not all the patients with normal ALT were in immune tolerance status,the disease could progress insidiously and develop into liver cirrhosis. Whether these patients need anti-viral therapy has always been a hotspot of study. This article reviewed the correlation between immune status and HBV infection,the identification of patients with normal ALT but not in immune tolerance status,and the indication of anti-viral therapy for these patients.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Liver Transplantation

OBJECTIVE:To establish a method for content determination of schisandrin and schisandrin B in compound wurenchun capsule by RP-HPLC.METHODS:Column lichrosphere C18 was used,mobile phase of water and MeOH(gradient elution)was set up,the flow rate was 1.0mL?min-1,the column temperature was 30℃and the detection wavelength was 254nm.RESULTS:The linear ranges of schizandrin and schisandrin B were within 0.182 4～1.641 6?g(r=1.000 3)and 0.189 6～ 1.706 4?g(r=0 .999 9),respectively.The average recoveries were 98.32%(RSD=1.02%)and 97.22 %(RSD=0.94%),respectively.CONCLUSION:The established method is convenient,accurate and highly specific,and it can be used for the quality control of compound wurenchun capsule.

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is a flavonoid compound isolated from licorice. It possesses excellent antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities. This study aims to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the alleviatory effect of ISL on energy metabolism imbalance caused by type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were used in in vivo experiments. The high-fat-high-glucose diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin was applied to establish T2DM animal model. All animal experiments were performed in accordance with the Institutional Guidelines of Laboratory Animal Administration issued by the Committee of Ethics at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. HepG2 cells were used in in vitro experiments. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to examine the protein and mRNA levels of mitochondrial function-related targets. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in HepG2 cells were measured by the flow cytometry. Additionally, the molecular docking of ISL and key target proteins was analyzed. It was found that ISL significantly inhibited the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I and increased the protein levels of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) in the livers of mice and HepG2 cells. It also obviously decreased the ROS levels and increased the MMP levels in cultured HepG2 cells. In addition, ISL promoted mitochondrial biogenesis by activating proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1α (PGC-1α) and enhanced mitophagy by upregulating Parkin. It also improved mitochondrial fusion by increasing the mRNA and protein levels of mitofusin 2 (MFN2). In conclusion, ISL alleviates energy metabolism imbalance caused by T2DM through suppression of excessive mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and promotion of mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, and fusion.

Isoliquiritigenin (ISL) is an active chalcone compound isolated from licorice. It possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. In our previous study, we uncovered a great potential of ISL in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, this study aims to reveal the mechanism underlying the alleviatory effects of ISL on T2DM-induced glycolipid metabolism disorder. High-fat-high-sugar diet (HFD) combined with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) were used to establish T2DM mice model. All animal experiments were carried out with approval of the Committee of Ethics at Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. HepG2 cells were used in in vitro experiments, and sodium palmitate (SP) was applied to establish insulin resistance (IR) model cells. The effects of ISL on body weight, fasting blood glucose levels, and pathological changes in the livers of mice were examined. Enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were applied to detect the regulatory effects of ISL on key targets involved in glucolipid metabolism. Additionally, molecular docking and analytical dynamics simulation methods were used to analyze the interaction between ISL and key target protein. The results indicate that ISL significantly downregulates the transcriptional levels and inhibits the activities of key enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis, including pyruvate carboxylase (PC), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase (FBP). It also downregulates the transcriptional and protein levels of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), the two transcriptional factors involved in gluconeogenesis. Thus, ISL inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis in T2DM mice. In addition, ISL reduces total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels in the livers of T2DM mice. Moreover, ISL downregulates the mRNA levels of lipogenesis genes and upregulates those of genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, lipid uptake, and lipid export. In conclusion, ISL suppresses hepatic gluconeogenesis, promotes lipolysis, and restrains lipogenesis in T2DM mice, thereby improving the abnormal glycolipid metabolism caused by T2DM.

Objective To observe the application of dysphagia ventilation swallowing and speaking valve inchildren with swallowing disorder after tracheostomy.Methods Four children with tracheostomy done and swallowing disorders(3 with brainstem encephalitis caused by hand,foot and mouth disease and 1 post-surgery case of cerebellar astrocytoma)were observed.Videofluoroscopic swallowing studies(VFSS)showed cricopharyngeal achalasia and silent aspiration.After VFSS assessments,ventilation swallowing and speaking valves(Passy-Muir,USA,PMVs)were applied to the 4 children.After that they received comprehensive swallowing trainings including balloon dilatation,breathing exercises,sensory stimulation and electrical stimulation.Results Four children could pronounce with PMVs immediately.After(36.50 ± 35.63)d of comprehensive intervention,all of them could live without tracheostomy tube or nasal feeding tube,their swallowing function improved obviously and could take food per os.Conclusions The application of PMVs combining with swallowing training is effective for children with swallowing disorder and dysphonia after tracheostomy.It is helpful to decrease the risk of aspiration,to open the cricopharyngeus muscle and to restore pronunciation.

Background: Radiation pneumonitis is one of the most common complications during radiotherapy of thoracic tumors. It impacts the quality of life of the patients and has life-threatening danger. However, there is a lack of drugs for prevention and treatment of this disease. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Liangxue Jiedu Huoxue Decoction, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in prevention of radiation pneumonitis. Design, setting, participants and interventions: A prospective randomized clinical study was conducted. A total of 100 patients diagnosed with lung cancer from Department of Radiotherapy, Chinese PLA General Hospital, who were planning to receive radiotherapy, were randomly assigned into treatment group and control group, with 50 patients in each group. In the treatment group 3 cases were lost to follow-up and one case was excluded, while in the control group 6 cases were lost to follow-up and 2 cases were excluded. Patients in the treatment group were treated with Liangxue Jiedu Huoxue Decoction in addition to radiotherapy, while patients in the control group were treated with radiotherapy alone. Main outcome measures: The incidence rates of radiation pneumonitis in the two groups were calculated. Acute radiation injury scoring criteria by Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), clinical-radiographic-physiologic (CRP) score system, and Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPS) were used to evaluate the status of the patients. Results: The incidence rate of radiation pneumonitis was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (13.04% versus 33.33%, P<0.05). According to the RTOG scale, the extent of lung injury was improved in the treatment group as compared with that in the control group (P<0.05). The CRP score in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The KPS score in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Liangxue Jiedu Huoxue Decoction can decrease the incidence rate of radiation pneumonitis, reduce the extent of the lung injury, alleviate the symptoms of radiation pneumonitis, and improve life quality of the patients.

Objective To investigate the operation timing of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC)after endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST).Methods A total of 240 patients with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis received EST combined with LC.They were divided into 3 groups by random digits table method with 80 cases each:3 days after EST(group A),7 days after EST(group B),and 30 days after EST (group C).Intraoperative and postoperative clinical data were compared among three groups.Results The operation time of LC in group B [(52.5 ± 6.4) min] was longer than that in group A and group C [(35.8 ± 5.7),(34.6 ± 2.6) min],and there was significant difference (P ＜ 0.01).The intraoperative conversion rate in group B [10.0 ％ (8/80)] was higher than that in group A and group C [1.3 ％ (1/80),1.3 ％ (1/80)],and there was significant difference (P ＜ 0.05).The amount of bleeding in group B [(51.7 ± 4.8) ml] was larger than that in group A and group C [(27.9 ± 6.4),(28.2 ± 3.6) ml],and there was significant difference (P ＜ 0.01).The cost of hospitalization in group C [(15 361.2 ± 1 007.8) yuan] was more than that in group A and group B [(10 085.1 ± 695.4),(10 632.4 ± 855.9) yuan],and there was significant difference (P＜ 0.01).Conclusion LC performed 3 days after EST can reduce the operation difficulty and conversion rate,and shorten the operation time,and this modality is safe and effective.

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with duodenaljejunal bypass (LSG + DJB) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods The clinical data of 17 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who underwent LSG + DJB at the Xijing Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University from March 2013 to February 2014 were retrospectively analyzed.The fasting blood glucose,postprandial 2-hour blood glucose,glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body mass index (BMI) in 17 patients before operation were (9.2 ± 0.6) mmol/L,(14.4 ± 2.2) mmol/L,8.3％ ± 1.2％ and (29.4 ± 2.2) kg/m2,respectively.All the patients received LSG + DJB and were followed up by outpatient examination up to March 2015.The pre-and post-operative 12-month fasting blood glucose,postprandial 2-hour blood glucose,HbA1 c and BMI in 17 patients were compared.Measurement data with normal distribution were presented as-x ± s and analyzed by the t test.Results All the 17 patients received successful laparoscopic LSG + DJB without conversion to open surgery.The operation time,volume of intraoperative blood loss and recovery time of postoperative gastrointestinal function were (141 ±53)minutes,40 mL and 2.5 days.Of 3 patients with postoperative complications,1 patient with anastomotic leakage at postoperative day 5 received reoperation by laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass,1 patient with digestive tract obstruction at postoperative day 10 released obstruction by reoperation and 1 patient with left subphrenic abscess and leakage at the upper of the stomach at postoperative week 2 was cured by the symptomatic treatment.The duration of hospital stay was 5.2 days.All the patients were followed up for a median time of 16 months (range,13-24 months).The postoperative 12-month fasting blood glucose,postprandial 2-hour blood glucose,HbA1c and BMI in 17 patients were (5.5 ± 0.7)mmol/L,(8.8 ± 1.7)mmol/L,5.1％ ± 0.7％ and (24.7 ± 2.3)kg/m2,which were significantly different from preoperative indicators (t =19.96,10.52,12.06,31.99,P ＜ 0.05).During the follow-up,no anastomotic ulcer and stenosis,dumping syndrome and severe malnutrition were occurred.Conclusion LSG + DJB is safe and feasible for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus,with a good short-term hypoglycemic effect.