The distribution of hepatitis B virus genotype in Hubei province and its clinical significance were investigated. HBV genotypes of 276 patients were detected by PCR-microplate sandwich hybridization-ELISA technique. The level of HBV DNA was detected by using PCR-fluorescence quantification test. Among 276 patients, there were 78 cases of HBV asymptomatic carriers, 110 cases of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 62 cases of severe hepatitis (SH) or liver cirrhosis (LC) and 26 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The genotypes of HBV included C, B, mixtures (B+C, B+D, C+D) and D, accounting for 55.8%, 25.4%, 16.7% and 2.1% respectively. The average level of HBV DNA in genotypes C, B, mixtures and D was 1.20x10(6), 7.81x10(4), 3.26x10(5) and 5.01x10(4) copies/mL respectively. The ratio of SH, LC and HCC in genotype B, C and mixtures was 20%, 30% and 48% respectively. Statistical analysis revealed the percentage of genotype mixtures infection was significantly higher than that of genotype B infection. There was no significant difference in the percentage between genotype B and genotype C or between genotype C and mixtures. The distribution of genotype B, C and mixtures in SH, LC and HCC was significantly different. The frequency of HCC was zero in patients with co-infection. Genotype D was only related with SH and LC. The increased ALT could be converted to categorical grades of severity. From mild, moderate to severity, the prevalence of genotype C showed an opposite trend, although no statistically significant difference was observed. The HBeAg positive rate was higher in patients with genotype C infection than in those with genotype B, especially in the patients whose ages were from 31 to 40 years old. Compared with genotype B, genotype C showed a higher HBeAg positive rate in patients with SH and LC. The percentage of SH, LC and HCC was higher in patients with genotype C and mixtures infection. On the contrary, the percentage of genotype B was lower. The HBeAg positive rate in patients with genotype C infection was higher than those with genotype B infection. Genotype C and mixtures may be associated with development of severe liver disease.

Objective:To determine the CD 30 expression in patients with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS).Methods:The double immunofluorescence technique and flow cytometry were used.Results:There is no significant difference among the three groups of HFRS patients on the CD + 4CD - 30 T lymphocyte subset.While the CD + 4CD + 30 T cells increase and the difference between severe group and mild-moderate group is very significant(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of interferon-alpha on the variation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Tc) and suppressor T lymphocytes (Ts) in the peripheral blood of 32 patients with chronic hepatitis B, and to analyse the relationship between the efficacy of interferon-alpha and the variation of Tc and Ts cells.

METHODSThe peripheral blood Tc and Ts cells were detected by the double-staining immunocytochemistry technique.

RESULTSAt the end of the treatment with interferon-alpha, there were 9 complete responders (CR), 12 partial responders (PR) and 11 non-responders (NR). Tc cells significantly increased and Ts cells markedly decreased in CR or PR group compared with the healthy control group. There was no significant difference in the level of Tc and Ts cells between CR and PR groups, and no significant difference in the level of Tc cells in NR, CR and PR groups, The Ts cells was significantly higher in NR group than in CR or PR group.

CONCLUSIONSThe treatment of interferon-alpha can result in the change of Tc and Ts cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The variation of Ts cells may play an important role in the efficacy of interferon-alpha against hepatitis B virus.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; cytology ; drug effects ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; drug effects ; Time Factors ; Treatment Outcome

The expression of TNF-α in the liver at different periods post Schistosoma japonica infection and the effect on liver fibrosis after supplementary injection of these eytokines were investigated. The mice infected with schistosome cercariae were divided into 3 groups: normal control group, TNF-α-untreated infection group and TNF-α-treated infection group. ABC immunohistochemistry and pathologic image multimedia quantification system were applied to dynamically detect the activity of TNF-α. The results showed that the levels of TNF-α in the liver in TNF-α-untreated infection group were slowly decreased with prolongation of infection time (from 8th, 11th, 14th to 18th week), while in the TNF-α-treated infection group, those were increased significantly after intraperitoneal injection of TNF-α at 6th week after infection. At first to 8th week after the final injection of TNF-α, the intrahepatic TNF-α levels in the TNF-α-treated infection group were significantly higher than in the other two groups (P＜0.01), and the granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis in the liver were also milder in the normal control group. It was concluded that at the early stage of Schistosoma japonica infection mouse liver mainly released Th1 cytokine and TNF-α from Th1 activated macrophages. Six weeks after infection (post egg deposition), exogenous supplement with intraperitoneal injection of TNF-α could induce the enhanced expression of Th1 cytokines and alleviate the liver granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis.

Activity of IL-1 produced by peripheral blood monocytes stimulated with lipopolysaccharide in vitro was detected from 17 acute cases, 14 chronic cases and 19 advanced cases of schistosomiasis japonica. It was found that the level of IL-1 was significantly increased and positively related to the body tempereture in the group with acute schistosomiasis. The activity of IL-1 was statistically reduced in the chronic and advanced groups, especially in the latter. After inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandin with indomethacin, the level of IL-1 was significantly increased in three groups of patients, but no apparent change in the normal contro group. The results indicate that IL-1 may play an important role in inducing the inflammatory reaction in patients with acute schistosomiasis japonica and in the immunoregulation in the chronic stage. The changes of IL-1 activity in patients with schistosomiasis japonica may be closely related to prostaglandin.

The distribution of hepatitis B virus genotype in Hubei province and its clinical significance were investigated. HBV genotypes of 276 patients were detected by PCR-microplate sandwich hybrization-ELISA technique. The level of HBV DNA was detected by using PCR-fluorescence quantification test. Among 276 patients, there were 78 cases of HBV asymptomatic carriers, 110 cases of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 62 cases of severe hepatitis (SH) or liver cirrhosis (LC) and 26 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The genotypes of HBV included C, B, mixtures (B+C, B+D, C+D) and D, accounting for 55.8%, 25.4%, 16.7% and 2.1% respectively. The average level of HBV DNA in genotypes C, B, mixtures and D was 1.20×106, 7.81×104, 3.26×105 and 5.01×104 copies/mL respectively. The ratio of SH, LC and HCC in genotype B, C and mixtures was 20%, 30% and 48% respectively. Statistical analysis revealed the percentage of genotype mixtures infection was significantly higher than that of genotype B infection. There was no significant difference in the percentage between genotype B and genotype C or between genotype C and mixtures. The distribution of genotype B, C and mixtures in SH, LC and HCC was significantly different. The frequency of HCC was zero in patients with co-infection. Genotype D was only related with SH and LC. The increased ALT could be converted to categorical grades of severity. From mild, moderate to severity,the prevalence of genotype C showed an opposite trend, although no statistically significant difference was observed. The HBeAg positive rate was higher in patients with genotype C infection than in those with genotype B, especially in the patients whose ages were from 31 to 40 years old. Compared with genotype B, genotype C showed a higher HBeAg positive rate in patients with SH and LC. The percentage of SH, LC and HCC was higher in patients with genotype C and mixtures infection. On the contrary, the percentage of genotype B was lower. The HBeAg positive rate in patients with genotype C infection was higher than those with genotype B infection. Genotype C and mixtures may be associated with development of severe liver disease.