Objective To observe the early efficacy and safety of combined sequential administration of lamivudine and interferon alfa-2b in patients with hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B. Methods 71 patients were divided into combined therapy growp (23 eases),interferon group (27 cases) and lamivudine group (21 cases).patients in the first group were given sequential combination treatment with of lamivudine monotherapy for nine weeks followed by lamivudine plus interferon alfa-2b for 15 weeks while patients in the interferon group and Lamivudine group received interferon alfa-2b monotherapy and lamivudine respectively. Results At 24weeks, 43.37% of the patients who received sequential combination treatment and 33.33% of those who received interferon alfa-2b monotherapy had HBeAg seroconversion,which is higher than those who received lamivudine monotherapy(9.52%, P0.05). The normolization rates of ALT in combining group , interferon group and Lamivudine group were 60.87%, 51.85% and 19.04% respectively(P

Objective To investigate the effect of miRNA-200b-specific inhibitor on hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) activation,proliferation,and extracellular matrix production.Methods The miRNA-200b-specific inhibitors were designed,synthesized,and transfected into HSCs with lipofectamine 2000.The supernatant and HSCs were collected after incubation for 48 h.The expression of miR-200b was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).The expression ofα-smooth muscle actin (oα-SMA) protein in HSCs was detected by Western blotting.The cell proliferation was assayed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method.Contents of type Ⅲ procollagen and hyaluronic acid in supernatant were determined by radioimmunoassay.Results Compared to the control group,miRNA-200b expression was decreased in the miRNA-200b inhibitor group by 82％ (P ＜ 0.01),α-SMA protein expression was reduced in the miRNA-200b inhibitor group by (19 ± 3) ％ (P ＜ 0.05),and the activity of HSCs proliferation was reduced by(33 ± 5)％ (P ＜0.01),and the contents of type Ⅲ procollagen and hyaluronic acid in supernatant were reduced in miRNA-200b inhibitor group by (35 ± 4)％ and (31 ± 2)％,respectively(P ＜0.01).Conclusions The miRNA-200b-specific inhibitor could significantly reduce the expression of miRNA-200b,and inhibit HSC proliferation,activation,and extracellular matrix production.

Objective:To observe the therapeutic effects of lung protective ventilation on acute lung injury caused by chest trauma and seawater.Methods: Acute lung injury was induced in 18 healthy dogs by open pneumothorax and seawater and the dogs were then randomly divided into 3 groups: non-treatment group(received no treatment),common treatment group(nasal ventilation,thoracic drianage and intravenous 5% glucose solution) and lung protective ventilation group(mechanical ventilation,thoracic drianage and intravenous 5% glucose solution).Blood samples were taken at different time points to observe the changes of blood gas(PaO_(2),PaCO_(2)and PaO_(2)/FiO_(2)),hemodynamic parameters(heart rate,mean blood pressure,cardiac output) and cytokines(TNF-?,IL-4 and IL-8).Results: After injury,PaO_(2) declined significantly in the dogs,PaO_(2)/FiO_(2) was lower than 300 and the levels of TNF-?,IL-6 and IL-8 were increased obviously.PaO_(2),PaO_(2)/FiO_(2) and TNF-? level were significantly higher in lung protective ventilation group than those in common treatment group(P

Objective To investigate the effect of microRNA-21 (miR-21) antisense oligonucleoti-de on collagen synthesis in the rat hepatic satellite cells ( HSCs) .Methods Rat hepatic stellate cells were isolated and cultured; the miR-21 antisense oligonucleotide was transfected into HSCs with lipofectamine 2000;after incubation 48 h, the HSCs were collected.The expression of miR-21 was detected with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) , andα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein in HSCs with Western blot.The cell proliferation was assayed with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium ( MTT) method.Re-sults Compared to scrambled control group, the expression of miR-21 was reduced by 76%( P <0.01), the proliferation activity of HSCs was reduced by(26 ±3)%( P <0.01), the expressions of type I and III collagen proteins were reduced by(61 ±7)%and (48 ±6)%( P <0.01).Conclusions The miR-21 an-tisense oligonucleotide could reduce significantly the expression of miR-21, and inhibit HSC proliferation and extracellular matrix production.

Objective To study the diagnostic value of common inflammatory markers in patients with infectious diseases. Methods One hundred sepsis patients, 100 viral infection patients,100 pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 100 gonorrhea patients were analyzed retrospectively. The contents of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (HP), ceruloplasmin (CER), α1-acid glycoprotein (α1-AAG), α1-antitrypsin (α1-AAT), white blood cell count (WBC) and erythrocyte sedimetation rate (ESR) were measured. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, Youden's index,positive and negative likelihood ratios and total coincidence rate were calculated respectively. Results The area under the ROC curve, sensitivity, specificity, Youden's index and positive likelihood ratios,positive predictive value and total coincidence rate of PCT in sepsis patients were 0. 895, 0.84, 0.92,0.76, 10.50, 0.91 and 0.88, respectively, which were superior to CRP, HP, CER, α1-AAG, α1-AAT, WBC and ESR. Conclusions PCT is a better inflammatory reactive parameter than other parameters currently applied in practice and may serve as a rapid and sensitive test in the early stage of severe bacterial infections.

Objective To investigate the effect of TGFβ1 siRNA on hepatic satellite cells (HSCs) activation, proliferation and extracellular matrix production. Methods The TGFβ1, siRNA plasmid was transfected into HSCs with Lipofectamine 2000. The supernatant and HSCs were collected after incubation for 72h. The expression of TGFβ1, and a-SMA protein in HSCs was detected by. Western blotting. The expression of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The cell proliferation was assayed by MTT method. Contents of typeⅣ collagen and hyaluronic acid in supernatant were determined by radioimmuno-assay.Results Compared with scrambled control group, the TGFβ1, and a-SMA protein expression,the activity of HSCs proliferation,the expression of typeⅠ and Ⅲ collagen mRNA,and the contents of type Ⅳ collagen and hyaluronic acid in supernatant were reduced in TGFβ1, siRNA group by (79±5)%,(55±4)%, (25±4)% ,(63±6)% ,(57±4)% ,(53±8)% ,(46±8)% ( P<0.01),respectively.Conclusion TGFβ1, siRNA could significantly reduce the expression of TGFβ1,inhibited HSC activation,proliferation and extracellular matrix production.

Objective To investigate the effects of dexamethasone on absorption of lung edema in rabbits with seawater drowning-induced acute lung injury.Methods Seawater(4 ml/kg body weight)was instilled into the lower trachea of ventilated and anesthetized rabbits.These rabbits were assigned randomly to receive intravenous injection of 1 mg/ kg body weight of dexamethasone(dexamethasone group,DG)or 2 ml of normal saline(control group,CG).Lung edema was measured by extravascular lung water index(EVLWI)using a gravimetric method.Three hours after treatment, epithelial Na~+ channel subunit-?(?-ENaC)mRNA and Na~+/K~+-adenosine triphosphatase subunit-?l(NKA-?l) protein abundances in lung tissues were respectively measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting,and NKA activity was measured by monitoring the release of inorganic phosphate(Pi)from adenosine triphosphate(ATP).Results The DG's EVLWI was significantly lower than the CG's[(0.508?0.089)vs.(0.648?0.102),P＜0.05)],but the DG's NKA activity,?-ENaC mRNA and NKA-?l protein abundances were significantly higher than the CG's,correspondingly(P＜0.05).Conclusions With up-regulation of the NKA activity and expressions of?-ENaC and NKA-?l,dexamethasone treatment could promote the absorption of lung edema in rabbits with seawater drowing-induced acute lung injury.

OBJECTIVETo explore the value of ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT in evaluating bronchial mucosa involvement in patients with saroidosis.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted among 6 sarcoidosis patients with and 14 patients without bronchial mucosa involvement to collect the data including the standard uptake value (SUVMax/Mean) of ¹⁸F-FDG, serum angiotensin converting enzyme (sACE), and proportion of lymphocytes and CD4⁺/CD8 ⁺ T lymphocyte ratio in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).

RESULTSThe lung focal SUV(Max/Mean) was higher in patients with bronchial mucosa involvement than those without (7.04 ± 5.83/5.00 ± 4.69 vs 5.68 ± 3.66/3.82 ± 2.39), but such differences were not statistically significant (P=0.565/0.495). The SUV(Max/Mean) of the hilum of the lung and the mediastina lymph nodes were significantly higher in patients with bronchial mucosa involvement (13.28 ± 5.57/10.48 ± 4.43 vs 6.20 ± 1.77/4.52 ± 1.43, P=0.0003/0.0002; 13.84 ± 4.35/9.69 ± 2.74 vs 7.16 ± 2.52/5.28 ± 1.77, P=0.0004/0.0004). The level of sACE and CD4⁺/CD8 ⁺ T lymphocyte ratio in BALF were also significantly higher in patients with bronchial mucosa involvement (60.58 ± 16.3 vs 49.16 ± 13.3 IU/L, P=0.045; 7.30 ± 5.0 vs 2.90 ± 3.1, P=0.026). The proportion of lymphocytes in BALF was comparable between the patients with and without bronchial mucosa involvement (44.10 ± 10.3% vs 35.30 ± 12.5%, P=0.148).

CONCLUSIONSFor patients with saroidosis, ¹⁸F-FDG PET-CT is useful in evaluating bronchial mucosa involvement, which is one of the key features of active sarcoidosis.

Bronchi ; pathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; blood ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Respiratory Mucosa ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sarcoidosis ; diagnosis

Objective: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss is seldom achieved with nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients but may be enhanced by switching to finite pegylated-interferon (Peg-IFN) alfa-2a. We assessed HBsAg loss with 48- and 96-week Peg-IFN alfa-2a in chronic hepatitis B patients with partial response to a previous NA. Methods: Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients who achieved HBeAg loss and hepatitis B virus DNA < 200 IU/mL with previous adefovir, lamivudine or entecavir treatment were randomized 1:1 to receive Peg-IFN alfa-2a for 48 (n = 153) or 96 weeks (n = 150). The primary endpoint of this study was HBsAg loss at end of treatment. The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier is NCT01464281. Results: At the end of 48 and 96 weeks' treatment, 14.4% (22/153) and 20.7% (31/150) of patients, respectively, who switched from NA to Peg-IFN alfa-2a cleared HBsAg. Rates were similar irrespective of prior NA or baseline HBeAg seroconversion. Among those who cleared HBsAg by the end of 48 and 96 weeks' treatment, 77.8% (14/18) and 71.4% (20/28), respectively, sustained HBsAg loss for a further 48 weeks. Baseline HBsAg < 1 500 IU/mL and week 24 HBsAg < 200 IU/mL were associated with the highest rates of HBsAg loss at the end of both 48- and 96-week treatment (51.4% and 58.7%, respectively). Importantly, extending treatment from 48 to 96 weeks enabled 48.3% (14/29) more patients to achieve HBsAg loss. Conclusion Patients on long-term NA who are unlikely to meet therapeutic goals can achieve high rates of HBsAg loss by switching to Peg-IFN alfa-2a. HBsAg loss rates may be improved for some patients by extending treatment from 48 to 96 weeks, although the differences in our study cohort were not statistically significant. Baseline and on-treatment HBsAg may predict HBsAg loss with Peg-IFN alfa-2a.