The anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) effects and its mechanisms of the ethanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. (EHP) in vitro were explored. HepG2 2.2.15 cells, a stable HBV-producing cell line, were cultured as the model system to observe the anti-HBV effect. The viral antigens of cellular secretion, HBsAg and HBeAg, were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The quantity of HBV-DNA released in the supernatant was assayed by real-time PCR. In order to understand the mechanisms of the suppression of HBV replication, all HBV promoters (Cp, Xp, S1p, S2p and Fp) with luciferase reporter gene were transfected into HepG2 cells respectively. Then the activities of viral promoters were examined by luciferase reporter assay. It was found EHP effectively suppressed the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg from HepG2 2.2.15 cells in a dose-dependent manner, as well as the extracellular HBV DNA. And EHP could selectively inhibit the activity of HBV promoter Fp. Our data suggest that EHP exerts anti-HBV effects via inhibition of HBV transcription, which helps to elucidate the mechanism underlying the potential therapeutic value of EHP.

In this study, the anti-HBV effects of tea polyphenols (TP) were examined. After cells were exposed to TP for 3, 6, 9 days, amounts of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV-DNA released into the supernatant of the cultured HepG2 2.2.15 cells were detected. TP, to some extent, inhibited the secretion of HBsAg and strongly suppressed the secretion of HBeAg in a dose-dependent (P<0.01) and time-dependent manner, with 50% maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value being 7.34 microg/mL on the 9th day, but the time-dependence was not significant (P=0.051). Expression of HBV-DNA in the supernatant of the cell culture also was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent fashion (P<0.01). The IC50 of TP in inhibiting HBV DNA was 2.54 microg/mL. It concluded that TP possessed potential anti-HBV effects and may be used as a treatment alternative for HBV infection.
Antiviral Agents/*pharmacology ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flavonoids/*pharmacology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/analysis ; Hepatitis B e Antigens/analysis ; Hepatitis B virus/*drug effects ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Phenols/*pharmacology ; Tea/*chemistry

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of Bushen-Qingxin decoction for the patients with premature ovarian failure (POF) with kidney deficiency type. Methods A total of 120 POF patients were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group. The observation group were treated with Bushen-Qingxin decoction. The control group were treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT). After continuous treatment for 3 courses, the clinical efficacy, clinical symptoms and the levels of estrogen (E2), luteotropic hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were comparedbefore and after treatment. Results The total effective rate in the observation group was 86.7% (52/60), and the control group was 60.0% (36/60). The difference was statistically significant (x2=9.588, P=0.002) between two groups. The symptoms aversion to cold, and cold limbs, depressed mood, night sweats were improved significantly better than those in the control group(x2=16.464,16.214,11.525,9.938,P<0.001).After treatment,the serum E2(88.32 ± 9.35 pmol/L vs. 62.10 ± 7.22 pmol/L, t=17.848) in the observation group was significantly higher than this in the control group,while the serum FSH(32.33 ± 4.60 U/L vs.46.82 ± 5.47 U/L,t=15.704),LH(24.80 ± 3.37 U/L vs.32.16 ± 4.02 U/L, t=10.868) in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). In the follow-up of 3 months, the recurrence rate in the observation group was 3.8% (2/52), but 16.7% (6/36) in the control group. The difference was statistically significant between two groups (x2=4.231, P=0.040).Conclusions The Bushen-Qingxin decocation can significantly improve the clinical symptoms and restore ovarian function.The Bushen-Qingxin decocation is an effective method for the treatment of premature ovarian failure.

Objective Bushen-Qingxin decoction combined conjugated estrogen tablets of modulation perimenopausal women osteoporosis patients, explore the impact of bone mineral density and bone metabolic markers. Methods A total of 160 female patients were recruited in our hospital by the random number table method, and were divided into the control group 80 cases and the observation group 80 cases. The control group was treated with standard dose of conjugated estrogen tablets, while the observation group was treated with Bushen Qingxin decoction on the basis of the control group. Both groups were treated 3 period with 28 days per period. The enzyme-linked immunity analyzer was used to detect serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), C-terminal cross linked peptide (CTX-Ⅰ), tartrate resistant acid phosphatase -5b (TRACP-5b) level, and the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry measurement method was used to detect bone mineral density values. The clinical curative effect was compared between two groups. Results The total effective rate of the observation group was 91.3%, while the control group was 78.8%, which showed the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=3.971, P=3.971). After treatment, the serum BALP levels (88.55 ± 10.33 U/L vs. 80.47 ± 8.67 U/L, t=5.399) of the observation group were significantly higher than this of the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the serum TRACP-5b (501.31 ± 35.77 pg/L vs. 538.51 ± 37.69 pg/L, t=6.498), CTX- (130.09 ±Ⅰ17.55 ng/ml vs. 164.71 ± 19.45 ng/ml, t=11.928) of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P<0.01). After treatment, the bone mineral density of the observation group rose up from the baseline (t=3.396, P=0.010). Conclusions The Bushen-Qingxin decoction combined conjugated estrogen tablets can increase on women in the menopausal transition of osteoporosis in patients with bone mineral density values and serum BALP levels, reduce serum TRACP-5b, CTX-Ⅰ level.

In this study,the anti-HBV effects of tea polyphenols (TP) were examined.After cells were exposed to TP for 3,6,9 days,amounts of HBsAg,HBeAg and HBV-DNA released into the supernatant of the cultured HepG2 2.2.15 cells were detected.TP,to some extent,inhibited the secre-tion of HBsAg and strongly suppressed the secretion of HBeAg in a dose-dependent (P<0.01) and time-dependent manner,with 50% maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value being 7.34 μg/mL on the 9th day,but the time-dependence was not significant (P=0.051).Expression of HBV-DNA in the supernatant of the cell culture also was significantly decreased in a dose-dependent fashion (P<0.01).The IC50 of TP in inhibiting HBV DNA was 2.54 μg/mL.It concluded that TP possessed potential anti-HBV effects and may be used as a treatment alternative for HBV infection.

The anti-hepatitis B virus(HBV)effects and its mechanisms of the ethanol extracts of Hypericum perforatum L.(EHP)in vitro were explored.HepG2 2.2.15 cells,a stable HBV-producing cell line,were cultured as the model system to observe the anti-HBV effect.The viral antigens of cellular secretion,HBsAg and HBeAg,were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).The quantity of HBV-DNA released in the supernatant was assayed by real-time PCR.In order to understand the mechanisms of the suppression of HBV replication,all HBV promoters(Cp,Xp,S1p,S2p and Fp)with luciferase reporter gene were transfected into HepG2 cells respectively.Then the activities of viral promoters were examined by luciferase reporter assay.It was found EHP effectively suppressed the secretion of HBsAg and HBeAg from HepG2 2.2.15 cells in a dose-dependent manner,as well as the extracellular HBV DNA.And EHP could selectively inhibit the activity of HBV promoter Fp.Our data suggest that EHP exerts anti-HBV effects via inhibition of HBV transcription,which helps to elucidate the mechanism underlying the potential therapeutic value of EHP.

Objective: To observe the changes of peripheral blood picture of CHB with Peg-IFN, and explored the relationship between the changes and decline of HBV DNA, clearance of HBsAg. Methods: Patients with CHB treated with Peg-IFN α-2 a in the Second Division of Liver Disease in Beijing Ditan Hospital were monitored for blood routine examination and Liver function, kidney function, thyroid function of baseline and weeks 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, and weeks 12, 24, and 48 after the end of treatment for chronic hepatitis B, and HBV DNA, HBsAg. Results: The decrease of peripheral blood cells began to occur at week 2 of treatment. For CHB with HBeAg negative patients, white blood cells, lymphocyte, neutrophils, hemoglobin and platelets significantly decreased at 2 weeks, while a minimum value occurred at 48 weeks. The recovery was obvious at the end of treatment (48 weeks), and reached pre-treatment levels at 48 weeks after the end of treatment. For CHB with HBeAg positive patients, white blood cells, neutrophils, hemoglobin and platelets significantly decreased at 2 weeks, while a minimum value was found at 36-48 weeks. The recovery was obvious at the end of treatment (48 weeks), and reached pre-treatment levels at 48weeks after the end of treatment. For patients with CHB, hemoglobin declined by more than13.64% at 36th week, which means that the patient would have a predictive significance for decrease of HBV DNA, and drops of more than 0.33% at 2nd week means that the patient would have a predictive significance for clearance of HBsAg. Conclusions During the treatment with interferon, the variation regularity of blood picture for predicting result have a certain effect, which may help predict and monitor the change of blood picture in clinical work.

Objective: To observe the changes of peripheral blood image of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with pegylated interferon (Peg-IFN) and ribavirin, and explore the relationship between the changes and serum virological respose (SVR). Methods: Patients with CHC treated with Peg-IFN α-2 a and ribavirin in the Second Division of Liver Disease in Beijing Ditan Hospital were monitored for peripheral blood cells routine examination and Liver function, kidney function, thyroid function at baseline and week 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, and week 12, 24, 48 after the end of treatment for chronic hepatitis C, and HCV RNA. Results: The decrease of peripheral blood cell counts began to appear at week 2 of treatment. For CHC patients without cirrhosis, white blood cells, lymphocyte, hemoglobin and platelets at week 2, while minimum values were seen at week 36, and the neutrophils reached the minimum value to at week 24. Significant recovery of the peripheral blood changes was seen at the end of treatment (48 weeks), and reached pre-treatment levels at week 48 after the end of treatment. For CHC patients with cirrhosis, white blood cells, lymphocytes, hemoglobin and platelets significantly decreased at week 2, while neutrophils reached a minimum value at 2 weeks. And hemoglobin and platelets reached a minimum value at 24 weeks, and the white blood cells reached the minimum value at weeks 24-36 besides lymphocyte reached the minimum value at week 36. Significant recovery was seen at the end of treatment (48 weeks), and the blood cell counts reached pre-treatment levels at 48 weeks after the end of treatment. For patients with CHC, hemoglobin decreased by more than 27.47% at week 4, which means that the patient would have a predictive significance for SVR, as well as the of PLT reduction by more than 36.96% at week 8. Conclusions During the treatment with Peg-interferon and ribavirin, the variation of blood picture has some predicting effect, which predicts the result of antiviral treatment.

Objective: To explore the association between the efficacy of peg-IFN and the complexity of TP and RT regions of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in chronic hepatitis B. Methods: Patients with HBeAg positive, HBV DNA positive chronic hepatitis B were given peg-interferon 180 μg once a week for subcutaneous injection, and baseline information was collected from baseline and after 12 weeks’ treatment. The baseline HBV DNA TP and RT fragments were amplified, database, high-throughput sequencing, and the average genetic distance calculation. Results: Data of 108 patients were analyzed by logistic regression. RT area fragment Markov distance and TP area fragment Shannon quotient for HBV DNA response were calculated. ALT level is good for HBeAg response. HBsAg level is bad for HBsAg response. Conclusions The complexity of the baseline TP and RT regions may be associated with the efficacy of peg-interferon therapy for CHB.

Objective: To explore the persistent viral response rate (SVR) in patients with refractory chronic hepatitis C after interferon (IFN) (peginterferon 360 μg qw) and ribavirin (PR) therapy failure. The SVR of patients with refractory chronic hepatitis C was improved by PR combined with direct antiviral agents (DAA) and proper extension of the course of therapy was applied. Methods: Seventeen cases of refractory chronic hepatitis C after IFN(peginterferon 360 μg qw) and ribavirin therapy failure were given PR combined with DAA treatment. The side effects were observed and corresponding adjustments were made on drug dosage, and SVR was recorded. Results: The 17 cases completed the whole course of treatment with PR combined with DAA for 24 weeks. All the 17 patients obtained rapid viralogical response (RVR) and SVR. After treatment, the SVR rate was 100% in patients including those with virologic relapse, retreated or previously non-responsive patients with refractory chronic hepatitis C. The adverse reaction of PR combined with DAA 24 weeks was generally mild. Conclusions The use of PR combined with DAA re-treatment in patients with refractory chronic hepatitis C can achieve SVR and shorten the treatment time. PR combined with DAA re-therapy is one of effective treatments to improve the rate of sustained viral response in patients with refractory chronic hepatitis C.