Background/Aims: Treatment indications for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remain contentious, particularly for patients with mild alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation. We aimed to evaluate treatment effects in this patient population. Methods: This rollover study extended a placebo-controlled trial that enrolled non-cirrhotic patients with CHB and ALT levels below two times the upper limit of normal. Following 3 years of randomized intervention with either tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or placebo, participants were rolled over to open-label TDF for 3 years. Liver biopsies were performed before and after the treatment to evaluate histopathological changes. Virological, biochemical, and serological outcomes were also assessed (NCT02463019). Results: Of 146 enrolled patients (median age 47 years, 80.8% male), 123 completed the study with paired biopsies. Overall, the Ishak fibrosis score decreased in 74 (60.2%), remained unchanged in 32 (26.0%), and increased in 17 (13.8%) patients (p<0.0001). The Knodell necroinflammation score decreased in 58 (47.2%), remained unchanged in 29 (23.6%), and increased in 36 (29.3%) patients (p=0.0038). The proportion of patients with an Ishak score ≥ 3 significantly decreased from 26.8% (n=33) to 9.8% (n=12) (p=0.0002). Histological improvements were more pronounced in patients switching from placebo. Virological and biochemical outcomes also improved in placebo switchers and remained stable in patients who continued TDF. However, serum HBsAg levels did not change and no patient cleared HBsAg. Conclusions In CHB patients with minimally raised ALT, favorable histopathological, biochemical, and virological outcomes were observed following 3-year TDF treatment, for both treatment-naïve patients and those already on therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection's effect on gestational liver function, pregnancy and delivery complications, and neonatal development. METHODS: A total of 157 HCV antibody-positive (anti-HCV[+]) and HCV RNA(+) patients (Group C) and 121 anti-HCV(+) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group B) were included as study participants, while 142 anti-HCV(-) and HCV RNA(-) patients (Group A) were the control group. Data on biochemical indices during pregnancy, pregnancy complications, delivery-related information, and neonatal complications were also collected. RESULTS: Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) rates in Group C during early, middle, and late pregnancy were 59.87%, 43.95%, and 42.04%, respectively-significantly higher than Groups B (26.45%, 15.70%, 10.74%) and A (23.94%, 19.01%, 6.34%) ( P < 0.05). Median ALT levels in Group C were significantly higher than in Groups A and B at all pregnancy stages ( P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in neonatal malformation rates across groups ( P > 0.05). However, neonatal jaundice incidence was significantly greater in Group C (75.16%) compared to Groups A (42.25%) and B (57.02%) ( χ ² = 33.552, P < 0.001). HCV RNA positivity during pregnancy was an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice ( OR = 2.111, 95% CI 1.242-3.588, P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS Chronic HCV infection can affect the liver function of pregnant women, but does not increase the pregnancy or delivery complication risks. HCV RNA(+) is an independent risk factor for neonatal jaundice.
Humans ; Female ; Pregnancy ; Adult ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Infant, Newborn ; Viremia/virology* ; Hepatitis C ; Hepacivirus/physiology* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic/virology* ; Young Adult ; Alanine Transaminase/blood*

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to evaluate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of the pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5) among < 5-year-old children in three provinces of China during 2020-2024 via a propensity score-matched test-negative case-control study. METHODS: Electronic health records and immunization information systems were used to obtain data on acute gastroenteritis (AGE) cases tested for rotavirus (RV) infection. RV-positive cases were propensity score matched with RV-negative controls for age, visit month, and province. RESULTS: The study included 27,472 children with AGE aged 8 weeks to 4 years at the time of AGE diagnosis; 7.98% (2,192) were RV-positive. The VE (95% confidence interval, CI) of 1-2 and 3 doses of RV5 against any medically attended RV infection (inpatient or outpatient) was 57.6% (39.8%, 70.2%) and 67.2% (60.3%, 72.9%), respectively. Among children who received the 3rd dose before turning 5 months of age, 3-dose VE decreased from 70.4% (53.9%, 81.1%) (< 5 months since the 3rd dose) to 63.0% (49.1%, 73.0%) (≥ 1 year since the 3rd dose). The three-dose VE rate was 69.4% (41.3%, 84.0%) for RVGE hospitalization and 57.5% (38.9%, 70.5%) for outpatient-only medically attended RVGE. CONCLUSION Three-dose RV5 VE against rotavirus gastroenteritis (RVGE) in children aged < 5 years was higher than 1-2-dose VE. Three-dose VE decreased with time since the 3rd dose in children who received the 3rd dose before turning five months of age, but remained above 60% for at least one year. VE was higher for RVGE hospitalizations than for medically attended outpatient visits.
Humans ; Rotavirus Vaccines/immunology* ; China/epidemiology* ; Case-Control Studies ; Child, Preschool ; Infant ; Rotavirus Infections/epidemiology* ; Male ; Propensity Score ; Female ; Vaccine Efficacy ; Gastroenteritis/virology* ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; Rotavirus

OBJECTIVE: Recombination events are common and serve as the primary driving force of diverse human adenovirus (HAdV), particularly in children with acute respiratory tract infections (ARIs). Therefore, continual monitoring of these events is essential for effective viral surveillance and control. METHODS: Respiratory specimens were collected from children with ARIs between January 2022 and December 2023. The penton base, hexon, and fiber genes were amplified from HAdV-positive specimens and sequenced to determine the virus type. In cases with inconsistent typing results, genes were cloned into the pGEM-T vector to detect recombination events. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) was performed to characterize the recombinant HAdV genomes. RESULTS: Among 6,771 specimens, 277 (4.09%, 277/6,771) were positvie for HAdV, of which 157 (56.68%, 157/277) were successfully typed, with HAdV-B3 being the dominant type (91.08%, 143/157), and 14 (5.05%, 14/277) exhibited inconsistent typing results, six of which belonged to species B. The penton base genes of these six specimens were classified as HAdV-B7, whereas their hexon and fiber genes were classified as HAdV-B3, resulting in a recombinant genotype designated P7H3F3, which closely resembled HAdV-B114. Additionally, a partial gene encoding L1 52/55 kD was identified, which originated from HAdV-B16. CONCLUSION A novel recombinant, P7H3F3, was identified, containing sequences derived from HAdV-B3 and HAdV-B7, which is similar to HAdV-B114, along with additional sequences from HAdV-B16.
Humans ; Adenoviruses, Human/isolation & purification* ; Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology* ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Recombination, Genetic ; Male ; Beijing/epidemiology* ; Infant ; Female ; Phylogeny ; Adenovirus Infections, Human/epidemiology* ; Acute Disease ; Genome, Viral

Background/Aims: Treatment indications for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remain contentious, particularly for patients with mild alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation. We aimed to evaluate treatment effects in this patient population. Methods: This rollover study extended a placebo-controlled trial that enrolled non-cirrhotic patients with CHB and ALT levels below two times the upper limit of normal. Following 3 years of randomized intervention with either tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) or placebo, participants were rolled over to open-label TDF for 3 years. Liver biopsies were performed before and after the treatment to evaluate histopathological changes. Virological, biochemical, and serological outcomes were also assessed (NCT02463019). Results: Of 146 enrolled patients (median age 47 years, 80.8% male), 123 completed the study with paired biopsies. Overall, the Ishak fibrosis score decreased in 74 (60.2%), remained unchanged in 32 (26.0%), and increased in 17 (13.8%) patients (p<0.0001). The Knodell necroinflammation score decreased in 58 (47.2%), remained unchanged in 29 (23.6%), and increased in 36 (29.3%) patients (p=0.0038). The proportion of patients with an Ishak score ≥ 3 significantly decreased from 26.8% (n=33) to 9.8% (n=12) (p=0.0002). Histological improvements were more pronounced in patients switching from placebo. Virological and biochemical outcomes also improved in placebo switchers and remained stable in patients who continued TDF. However, serum HBsAg levels did not change and no patient cleared HBsAg. Conclusions In CHB patients with minimally raised ALT, favorable histopathological, biochemical, and virological outcomes were observed following 3-year TDF treatment, for both treatment-naïve patients and those already on therapy.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and treatment adherence of digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (dCBT-I) in patients with insomnia disorder accompanied by anxiety and depressive symptoms, and to provide empirical evidence for its clinical application.Methods:From December 2023 to December 2024, 102 patients with insomnia disorder accompanied by anxiety and depressive symptoms were recruited from the outpatient department of Inner Mongolia Brain Hospital and randomly assigned to either the dCBT-I group ( n=56) or the digital sleep hygiene education (dSHE) group ( n=46). The dCBT-I group received a 4-week intervention comprising 5 core modules, while the dSHE group received 4 weeks of digital sleep hygiene education. Both groups received weekly guidance from clinical psychologists. Subjective sleep quality (Insomnia Severity Index, ISI), anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Scale, HAMA), and depressive symptoms (17-item Hamilton Depression Scale, HAMD 17) were assessed at baseline, week 4, week 8, and week 12. Objective sleep parameters (polysomnography, PSG) and cognitive function (Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, RBANS) were evaluated at baseline and week 4. Linear mixed-effects model was used to analyze the effects of group, timepoint, and their interaction on outcome measures, after controlling medication history, age, sex, education level, ethnicity, and marital status as covariates. Results:A total of 76 patients (dCBT-I: n=42; dSHE: n=34) completed the 4-week intervention, yielding a treatment adherence rate of 74.5%(76/102). At weeks 4, 8, and 12, the dCBT-I group demonstrated significantly lower scores on the ISI, HAMA, and HAMD 17 scales compared to the dSHE group (β=-1.70--0.66, t=-15.38--6.21, all P<0.05), along with higher rates of medication reduction (χ 2=16.40, 9.22, 6.66, all P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in PSG parameters between the two groups. However, the dCBT-I group demonstrated significant improvements in RBANS subdomains, including immediate memory, language function, and delayed memory (β=0.45, 0.86, 1.43, t=3.09, 2.67, 4.36, all P<0.05). Conclusion:dCBT-I is an effective and well-adhered intervention for patients with insomnia disorder accompanied by anxiety and depressive symptoms, warranting broader clinical implementation.

BACKGROUND:Osteoporosis affects the quality of life of patients and is prone to pathological fractures,and plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles play an important role in regulating bone balance in patients with osteoporosis.OBJECTIVE:To review the research status and prospect of different plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles in the treatment of osteoporosis.METHODS:Relevant literature in PubMed,Web of Science,and CNKI databases were searched by computer.Search time was from January 1995 to March 2024.The Chinese and English search terms were"osteoporosis,plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles,exosomes,osteoblasts,osteoclasts."Finally,53 articles were included and analyzed.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Plant-derived exosom-like nanovesicles have the advantages of low biocompatibility,low toxicity,and natural targeting.These properties not only ensure its stable presence and effective effect in the body,but also avoid unnecessary immune responses,laying the foundation for the design of long-term treatment strategies.Plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles can be anti-osteoporosis by stimulating osteoblast proliferation,inhibiting osteoclast differentiation,and promoting osteo-inhibition osteoclasts.In addition,some plant-derived exosome-like nanovesicles may be widely used in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis in the future as novel tracer targets and treatment options due to their bone-targeting.

Objective:To explore the latent-classes of HIV high risk behaviors among college students, and the association between experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV high risk behaviors, to provide evidence for reducing the HIV high risk behaviors among them.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from October to December 2019 among university students from six higher education institutions in Zhuhai City, using a multi-stage cluster sampling method, with an estimated sample size of 1 318. The study included participants who self-reported being in a romantic relationship and having sexual experience within the past year. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, IPV experiences, and HIV high risk behaviors were collected. Latent-class analysis was performed on HIV high risk behaviors, and chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze the associations between IPV experiences and different latent classes of HIV high risk behaviors.Results:The effective response rate for the survey was 95.4% (12 235/12 821). 1 382 college students from Zhuhai were included as participants in the study, with 19.4% (268/1 382) self-reporting having experienced IPV. Latent-class analysis of HIV high risk behaviors classified the participants into three latent groups: low-risk group (78.1%, 1 079/1 382), multiple sexual partners/alcohol use before sex group (15.8%, 219/1 382), and high-risk group (6.1%, 84/1 382). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that students who had experienced psychological violence were more likely to be in the group that had multiple sexual partners/alcohol use before sex (a OR=2.51, 95% CI:1.48-4.27). Those who had experienced IPV (a OR=5.74, 95% CI:3.45-9.55), physical violence (a OR=9.26, 95% CI: 5.24-16.35), sexual violence (a OR=8.46, 95% CI:4.93-14.52), or psychological violence (a OR=15.99, 95% CI:8.64-29.57) were more likely to be in the high-risk group. Students who experienced two (a OR=9.37, 95% CI:3.55-24.71) or three types of IPV (a OR=50.09, 95% CI: 21.06-119.14) were more likely to be in the high-risk group compared to those with no IPV experiences. Conclusions:HIV high risk behaviors among college students in Zhuhai exhibited heterogeneity across different latent groups, and these groups have different associations with IPV experiences. Universities should tailor targeted HIV/AIDS education and prevention strategies based on the characteristics of each latent group to reduce HIV high risk behaviors among college students.