Objective To investigate the genotype distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Guangdong Province by linear probe assay (LiPA) and core,non-structural protein 5B (NS5B) sequence analysis,and to evaluate the accuracy of LiPA for genotyping.MethodsOne hundred and ten HCV specimens from chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients in Guangdong Province were genotyped by both core,NS5B sequence analysis and INNO-LiPA 2.0.The data were then analyzed with SPSS 10.0 software.ResultsAmong the 110 specimens,core and NS5B fragment could be amplified from 97 and 62 specimens,respectively,while both fragments were obtained from 57 specimens. The results of genotyping by core sequence analysis were completely consistent with the results of NS5B sequencing.One hundred and two specimens were classified into five subtypes,i.e.genotype 1a,2a,3a,3b,6a,with frequencies of 61.8％ (64),9.8％ (10),3.9％ (4),3.9％ (4),20.6％ (21),respectively.All but genotype 6 strains can be genotyped correctly by using INNO-LiPA 2.0.However,only subtype 1b and 3b could be genotyped accurately.81.5％ genotype 6a strains were genotyped as 1b by mistake. Conclusions Genotype 6a has become the second most prevalent genotype in Guangdong Province.The LiPA cannot distinguish genotype 6a from 1b strains accurately which needs further investigation.

Objective To investigate the efficacy of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN)+ ribavirin (RBV) treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC),and to evaluate the predictors of treatment response.Methods One hundred and thirty CHC patients treated with PEG-IFN a-2a 180 μg weekly or PegIFNα-2b 80 μg weekly plus RBV 900-1200 mg/d for 48 weeks in Guangdong Province were enrolled.The clinical data including age,gender,body mass index (BMI),spleen index (SPI),the diameter of portal vein (PV),hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype,HCV RNA level were collected at baseline,week 4,12,24,48 of treatment and week 24 of follow-up.Patients obtained sustained virological response (SVR) were compared to those with non-sustained virological response (NSVR).The related factors of SVR were analyzed.The data were compared by t test,chi square test or Logistic regression.Results The total SVR rate was 84％ (109/130),among which rapid virological response ( RVR ),early virological response ( EVR ),and end-of-treatment virological response (ETVR) were 21％ (27/130),72％ (94/130) and 93％ (121/130),respectively.HCV genotype was determined in 70 patients and the SVR rate was 82 ％ (45/55) in the genotype 1 patients and 87％ (13/15) in the genotype non-1 patients.Age,baseline HCV RNA,BMI and SPI were all negatively associated with SVR rate (regression coefficient＜0,all OR＜1,all P＜0.05),while EVR and total cumulative treatment dose of RBV were positively associated with SVR rate (regression coefficient＞0,both OR＞ 1,both P＜0.05).However,RVR,PV and total cumulative treatment doses of PEG-IFN were not associated with SVR rate (P＞0.05).Conclusions The SVR rate of PEG-IFN plus RBV combined treatment is high in CHC patients and more than 80％ of patients can be cured.However,the SVR rates are lower in patients elder than 35 years,with previous treatment failure history,baseline HCV RNA＞6 × 105 IU/mL,BMI＞26 kg/m2,SPI＞40 cm2,or the total cumulative treatment doses of RBV less than 80 ％ of standard dose.

OBJECTIVETo determine the prevalence of mutations in the non-structural protein 5B (NS5B) of the hepatitis C virus (HCV),which are associated with natural resistance to non-nucleoside and nucleoside polymerase inhibitors (PIs),in treatment-naive hepatitis C patients in south China.

METHODSA nested PCR protocol that amplified three different regions of NS5B was used to detect the naturally occurring drag-resistant substitutions.Direct PCR sequencing was performed to analyze the sequences.

RESULTSNS5B mutations known to confer resistance to nucleoside PIs,such as A15G,S96T and S282T,were mainly detected in HCV genotype 6a (20/88,22.73%).Of the NS5B mutations known to confer resistance to non-nucleoside PIs,C316N and S365A were detected in HCV genotype lb (60/60,100% and 2/60,3.33%, respectively) and I482L and V499A were mainly detected in HCV genotype 2a (9/9,100% and 4/4,100%, respectively) and HCV genotype 6a (9/9,100% and 4/4,100%, respectively).Other NS5B mutations found in the study population included A1 5S,S365F,S365P,S368A and S368L;although none of these has been previously shown to confer resistance to PIs.

CONCLUSIONNaturally occurring dominant PI resistance mutations in NS5B exist in treatment-na(i)ve hepatitis C patients in south China and may be related to the virus genotype.

Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; China ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; drug effects ; genetics ; Hepatitis C ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Mutation ; Viral Nonstructural Proteins ; genetics

Objective To investigate the impact of splenectomy with periesophagogastric devascularization on liver function of patients with liver cirrhosis and hypersplenism. Methods Clinical data of 177 patients with liver cirrhosis and hypersplenism who underwent splenectomy with periesophagogastric devascularization in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2010 to December 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 120 males and 57 females with the mean age of (54±13) years old. The informed consents of all patients were obtained and the ethical committee approval was received. Firstly splenectomy was performed during the operation, and then the dilated esophageal and gastric fundus veins were dissected and cut off. The changes of blood routine and liver function of the patients before and 5 d, 10 d, 3 months after operations were observed. The measurement data between multiple groups were compared by one-way analysis of variance and LSD-t test. Results The hypersplenism of patients improved markedly. The white blood cell (WBC) and platelets (Plt) levels 5 d, 10 d, 3 months after operations signiifcantly increased when compared with those before operations (LSD-t=14.37, 10.67, 6.60 and 5.06, 11.43, 12.10;P<0.05). And the liver function of patients also improved markedly. The aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (TB) levels 10 d, 3 months after operations signiifcantly decreased when compared with those before operations (LSD-t=7.80, 10.09, 8.21 and 10.76, 12.51, 11.13;P<0.05). Conclusion Splenectomy with periesophagogastric devascularization can not only cure the hypersplenism of patients with liver cirrhosis and hypersplenism, but also markedly improve the liver function of them.

In order to verify the correlation between Polygonum multiflorum-induced liver injury and HLA-B*35 : 01 alleles, six hospitalized patients diagnosed with Polygonum multiflorum-induced liver injury (PM-DILI) were selected, and their clinicopathological data were collected. Simultaneously, blood HLA-B* 35 : 01 allele detection was performed. Among the six PM-DILI cases, 4 were male, aged 38.83 ± 10.13 years old. The types of liver injury were hepatocellular injury types in all, and the severity of liver injury in five cases was grade 3. The histological presentations were acute hepatitis and acute cholestatic hepatitis. PM-DILI cases were all HLA-B*35:01 carriers, with a carrier rate of 100%. This finding indicates that PM-DILI is significantly correlated with HLA-B*35:01 alleles. Therefore, HLA-B*35 : 01 alleles can be used as an important predictive indicator for PM-DILI.