Abstract: Objective　To investigate the expression level and clinical significance of serum liver fibrosis-associated lncRNA1 (lnc-LFAR1) in patients with chronic hepatitis B cirrhosis, aiming to analyze its correlation with interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and liver function. Methods　Patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) cirrhosis and CHB diagnosed and treated in Dongguan City People's Hospital from March 2016 to December 2019 were selected and divided into the liver cirrhosis group (n=80) and the CHB group (n=80), and 80 healthy people with physical examination during the same period were selected as healthy group. The serum levels of lnc-LFAR1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), albumin (ALB), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and liver function indicators, including albumin (ALB) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured and analyzed. The correlation between serum lnc-LFAR1 expression level and IL-6, IL-1β was assessed, and the levels of lnc-LFAR1, IL-6, IL-1β, ALB and ALT were compared among patients with CHB cirrhosis of different Child-Pugh grades. Results The serum levels of lnc-LFAR1, IL-6, IL-1β and ALT in the patients with liver cirrhosis [(1.85± 0.62), (41.76±13.92) ng/mL, (7.78±1.95) pg/mL, (148.37±29.67) U/L] were higher than those in the CHB group [(1.42±0.47), (23.56± 7.85) ng/mL, (5.42±1.41) pg/mL, (87.59±17.52) U/L] and the healthy group [(1.01±0.34), (6.70±2.23) ng/mL, (3.13± 0.78) pg/mL, (15.44±3.10) U/L] (P<0.05), while the ALB levels (30.54±3.82) g/L were lower than those in the CHB group (37.27±4.34) g/L and the healthy group (45.26±5.66) g/L (P<0.05). Serum lnc-LFAR1, IL-6, IL-1β and ALT levels in the CHB group were higher than those in the healthy group (P<0.05), and ALB levels were lower than those in the healthy group (P<0.05); the serum levels of lnc-LFAR1, IL-6, IL-1β in patients with CHB cirrhosis were negatively correlated with ALB (P<0.05), and positively correlated with ALT (P<0.05); the serum expression level of lnc-LFAR1 in patients with CHB cirrhosis was positively correlated with IL-6 and IL-1β (r=0.598, 0.571, P<0.05); with the increase of Child-Pugh grade, the serum levels of lnc-LFAR1, IL-6, IL-1β, and ALT in patients with CHB cirrhosis gradually increased (P<0.05), and the level of ALB gradually decreased (P<0.05). Conclusions Serum lnc-LFAR1 expression level is higher in patients with CHB cirrhosis, which is obviously related to IL-6, IL-1β, ALB and ALT. Therefore, the evaluation of serum lnc-LFAR1 expression level is helpful in the clinical assessment of the condition of CHB cirrhosis patients.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with concurrent hepatitis e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody (anti-HBe) during antiviral therapy. Methods A total of 115 CHB patients with concurrent HBeAg and anti-Hbe detection during antiviral therapy were enrolled in this retrospective study. All patients received pegylated-IFN-alpha-2a (Peg-IFNα-2a, n = 50) or entecavir (ETV, n = 65) for antiviral treatment. Their biochemical virological and serological response and clinical outcome were detected and analyzed. Results Among the patients treated with Peg-IFNα-2a, 31 (62.0%) achieved HBeAg seroconversion and 6 (12.0%) achieved HBsAg seroconversion at the end of treatment. About 35.4% of patients, who received ETV, achieved HBeAg seroconversion and none of them achieved HBsAg seroconversion at the end of treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion High rates of HBeAg seroconversion and HBsAg loss could be achieved in CHB patients, with co-existence of HBeAg and anti-HBe, who received Peg-IFNα-2a, but not ETV therapy.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of gravidas with HBV in Nanfang Hospital from 2008 to 2014. Methods 22 906 gravidas were retrospectively investigated. Results The HBsAg positive rates were 11.64% and 6.16% when the gravidas were divided into Cantonese and non-Cantonese groups (χ2 =193.370, P < 0.005). The ALT abnormal rates in HBeAg positive and HBeAg negative gravidas were 17.96% and 6.68% (χ2=62.594, P<0.005). Conclusion The HBsAg positive rate of gravidas in Guangdong and the ALT abnormal rate of HBeAg positive gravidas are higher.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of 4 treatment options for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients following a suboptimal response to 24-week interferon monotherapy.

METHODSThe data of 193 HBeAg-positive CHB patients with suboptimal response to 24-week interferon monotherapy were collected from Nanfang Hospital between September, 2010 and January, 2013. According to the subsequent treatments, the patients were divided into group A with additional entecavir or adefovir, group B with further interferon monotherapy, group C with conversion to NAs therapy, and group D with direct therapy withdrawal, and the biochemical and virological results at weeks 24, 48 and 72 were analyzed in the 4 groups.

RESULTSAt week 48, the HBV DNA negative rates and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization rates were both significantly higher in group A and C than in group B (P<0.05); in group A, ETV therapy subgroup had a significantly higher HBV DNA negative rate than ADV therapy subgroup at week 48 (90.3% vs 59.5%, Χ=8.255, P=0.004). At week 72, 39.7%(27/68) of the patients in group A achieved HBeAg seroconversion, a rate significantly higher than those in groups B (Χ=4.238, P=0.040) and C (Χ=7.681, P=0.006); the HBV DNA negative rate and ALT normalization rate in group A were 85.3%(58/68) and 86.8%(59/68), respectively, both significantly higher than those in group B (Χ=23.018, P<0.001; Χ=5.987, P=0.014) but comparable to those in group C (P>0.05). In the two subgroups in group A, the HBV DNA negative rate and HBeAg seroconversion rate were both significantly higher in ETV subgroup (Χ=9.823, P=0.002; Χ=5.450, P=0.020). In group D, all the patients remained HBeAg-positive with abnormal ALT levels and high level of HBV DNA.

CONCLUSIONFor HBeAg-positive CHB patients with suboptimal response to 24-week interferon monotherapy, combined treatment with NAs (especially ETV) and extension of the treatment course can significantly improve the HBeAg seroconversion rates, HBV DNA negative rates, and ALT normalization rates.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Guanine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Interferons ; therapeutic use ; Organophosphonates ; therapeutic use