Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and immunological mechanisms of pegylated interferon α-2b (Peg-IFNα-2b) antiviral therapy in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods:A total of 166 treatment-naive CHB patients, who were treated at Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from March 2021 to March 2023, were enrolled in this study. All the patients received Peg-IFNα-2b therapy for 48 weeks. Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, HBV serological markers, biochemical parameters, peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and serum cytokine levels were detected and compared before and after treatment. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and paired sample t test were used for statistical comparison. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion by stepwise regression method, and the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of immune indicators on HBsAg seroconversion. Results:Among the 166 treatment-naive CHB patients, the rate of HBV DNA negativity following 48 weeks of Peg-IFNα-2b therapy was 71.08%(118/166), the rate of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negativity was 32.05%(25/78), and the rate of HBsAg negativity was 20.48%(34/166). HBsAg negativity rate was 52.17%(24/46) in patients with baseline HBsAg<200 IU/mL, 10.26%(4/39) in patients with baseline HBsAg 200 to <1 200 IU/mL, and 7.41%(6/81) in patients with baseline HBsAg≥1 200 IU/mL, and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=39.37, P<0.001). After 48 weeks of treatment, serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were significantly lower than those before treatment ( Z=9.33, 8.58, 5.99, 2.36, respectively, all P<0.05). lmmune indicators were detected in 58 patients, and the proportion of peripheral blood lymphocytes increased significantly post-treatment, with notable increases in CD3 + CD8 + T/CD3 + T, CD3 + CD4 + DR + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + DR + /CD3 + CD8 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD8 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD28 + /CD3 + CD8 + , and CD19 + B cells, and the differences were all statistically significant ( t=-2.56, t=-8.65, Z=-3.58, t=-3.66, Z=-3.04, t=-3.62, t=-3.87, respectively, all P<0.05). Conversely, the proportion of CD3 + , CD3 + CD4 + T/CD3 + T, CD3 + CD4 + CD45RO + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD45RO + /CD3 + CD8 + and the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio decreased significantly post-treatment ( t=3.13, t=5.61, t=3.69, Z=3.95, Z=7.33, respectively, all P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the proportion of CD16 + CD56 + natural killer (NK) cells, CD3 + CD4 + CD28 + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD4 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD4 + cells before and after treatment (all P>0.05). Serum levels of interleukin(IL)-8, IL-12P70, and IL-17 significantly decreased post-treatment ( Z=2.85, 3.26, 4.12, respectively, all P<0.05), while IL-2, IL-1β, and interferon(IFN)-α levels were significantly elevated compared to baseline ( Z=-4.92, -4.85, -9.01, respectively, all P<0.001). There were no significant differences in IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 levels before and after treatment (all P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified CD3 + CD8 + T/CD3 + T(odd ratios ( OR)=1.198, 95%confidence interval( CI) 1.003 to 1.432, P=0.046), CD3 + CD4 + DR + /CD3 + CD4 + ( OR=1.185, 95% CI 1.035 to 1.357, P=0.014), CD3 + CD8 + DR + /CD3 + CD8 + ( OR=0.813, 95% CI 0.690 to 0.958, P=0.013), CD3 + CD4 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD4 + ( OR=0.678, 95% CI 0.488 to 0.940, P=0.020), CD3 + CD8 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD8 + ( OR=1.272, 95% CI 1.069 to 1.512, P=0.007), CD19 + B cells( OR=0.752, 95% CI 0.582 to 0.971, P=0.029), IL-2( OR=8.568, 95% CI 1.927 to 38.087, P=0.005), and IL-17( OR=0.728, 95% CI 0.535 to 0.989, P=0.042) as independent factors influencing HBsAg seroconversion. The area under the curve (AUC) of the proportion of dCD19 + B cells (the reciprocal of CD19 + B cells) for predicting HBsAg seroconversion was 0.716, the sensitivity was 0.636, and the specificity was 0.809. The AUC of IL-2 was 0.657, the sensitivity was 0.818, and the specificity was 0.404. The AUC of dIL-17 (the reciprocal of IL-17 levels) was 0.624, the sensitivity was 0.727, and the specificity was 0.489. The AUC of IL-2 and dIL-17 as a combined predictor was 0.830, the sensitivity was 0.909, and the specificity was 0.787. Conclusions:Peg-IFNα-2b demonstrates significant antiviral, biochemical, and serological responses in treatment-naive CHB patients, with enhanced efficacy in patients exhibiting HBsAg levels <200 IU/mL. In patients with HBsAg<200 IU/mL, the rate of HBsAg negativity reached 52.17%.Peg-IFNα-2b can regulate the immune function of patients with CHB by increasing the proportion of activated T lymphocyte subsets and functional subsets. The proportion of CD19 + B cells, IL-2 levels, and IL-17 levels hold predictive value for achieving HBsAg seroconversion.

Objective To analyze the value of heparin-binding protein(HBP)and interleukin-17A(IL-17A)levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in predicting prognosis of elderly patients with se-vere pneumonia.Methods A total of 105 elderly patients with severe pneumonia in the hospital from May 2022 to May 2024 were selected and divided into death group(n=32)and survival group(n=73)based on their survival outcomes within 28 days after admission.The levels of HBP and IL-17A in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were compared between the two groups;the Logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the influencing factors for prognosis in elderly patients with severe pneumoni-a;the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve was plotted to analyze the predictive efficiencies of HBP and IL-17A in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for the prognosis of elderly patients with severe pneumonia.Results The levels of HBP and IL-17A in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the death group were significantly higher than those in the survival group(P＜0.01).There were significant differ-ences in the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation Ⅱ(APACHE Ⅱ)score and blood lac-tate(Lac)level between the two groups(P＜0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that HBP(OR=3.084,95％CI,1.326 to 4.694),IL-17A(OR=4.521,95％CI,2.164 to 7.841),APACHE Ⅱscore(OR=2.039,95％CI,1.069 to 2.859),and Lac(OR=2.627,95％CI,1.168 to 3.058)were influencing factors for the prognosis of elderly patients with severe pneumonia(P＜0.05).When the optimal cut-off values were set at 15.92 ng/mL for HBP and 109.34 pg/mL for IL-17A,the area under the curve(AUC)for the combined prediction of prognosis by HBP and IL-17A in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was 0.852,with a 95％CI of 0.801 to 0.948.The AUC for the com-bined prediction of prognosis by HBP and IL-17A in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was significantly higher than that for single tests(Z=2.906,2.416,P=0.007,0.014).Conclusion Increased levels of HBP and IL-17A in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,decreased APACHE Ⅱ score,and in-creased Lac are influencing factors for the prognosis of elderly patients with severe pneumonia.Com-bined detection of HBP and IL-17A in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid has high sensitivity in predicting the prognosis of elderly patients with severe pneumonia.

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and immunological mechanisms of pegylated interferon α-2b (Peg-IFNα-2b) antiviral therapy in treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B(CHB).Methods:A total of 166 treatment-naive CHB patients, who were treated at Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from March 2021 to March 2023, were enrolled in this study. All the patients received Peg-IFNα-2b therapy for 48 weeks. Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, HBV serological markers, biochemical parameters, peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and serum cytokine levels were detected and compared before and after treatment. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test and paired sample t test were used for statistical comparison. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion by stepwise regression method, and the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of immune indicators on HBsAg seroconversion. Results:Among the 166 treatment-naive CHB patients, the rate of HBV DNA negativity following 48 weeks of Peg-IFNα-2b therapy was 71.08%(118/166), the rate of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) negativity was 32.05%(25/78), and the rate of HBsAg negativity was 20.48%(34/166). HBsAg negativity rate was 52.17%(24/46) in patients with baseline HBsAg<200 IU/mL, 10.26%(4/39) in patients with baseline HBsAg 200 to <1 200 IU/mL, and 7.41%(6/81) in patients with baseline HBsAg≥1 200 IU/mL, and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=39.37, P<0.001). After 48 weeks of treatment, serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil), and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were significantly lower than those before treatment ( Z=9.33, 8.58, 5.99, 2.36, respectively, all P<0.05). lmmune indicators were detected in 58 patients, and the proportion of peripheral blood lymphocytes increased significantly post-treatment, with notable increases in CD3 + CD8 + T/CD3 + T, CD3 + CD4 + DR + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + DR + /CD3 + CD8 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD8 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD28 + /CD3 + CD8 + , and CD19 + B cells, and the differences were all statistically significant ( t=-2.56, t=-8.65, Z=-3.58, t=-3.66, Z=-3.04, t=-3.62, t=-3.87, respectively, all P<0.05). Conversely, the proportion of CD3 + , CD3 + CD4 + T/CD3 + T, CD3 + CD4 + CD45RO + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD8 + CD45RO + /CD3 + CD8 + and the CD4 + /CD8 + ratio decreased significantly post-treatment ( t=3.13, t=5.61, t=3.69, Z=3.95, Z=7.33, respectively, all P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the proportion of CD16 + CD56 + natural killer (NK) cells, CD3 + CD4 + CD28 + /CD3 + CD4 + , CD3 + CD4 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD4 + cells before and after treatment (all P>0.05). Serum levels of interleukin(IL)-8, IL-12P70, and IL-17 significantly decreased post-treatment ( Z=2.85, 3.26, 4.12, respectively, all P<0.05), while IL-2, IL-1β, and interferon(IFN)-α levels were significantly elevated compared to baseline ( Z=-4.92, -4.85, -9.01, respectively, all P<0.001). There were no significant differences in IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10 levels before and after treatment (all P>0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified CD3 + CD8 + T/CD3 + T(odd ratios ( OR)=1.198, 95%confidence interval( CI) 1.003 to 1.432, P=0.046), CD3 + CD4 + DR + /CD3 + CD4 + ( OR=1.185, 95% CI 1.035 to 1.357, P=0.014), CD3 + CD8 + DR + /CD3 + CD8 + ( OR=0.813, 95% CI 0.690 to 0.958, P=0.013), CD3 + CD4 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD4 + ( OR=0.678, 95% CI 0.488 to 0.940, P=0.020), CD3 + CD8 + CD38 + /CD3 + CD8 + ( OR=1.272, 95% CI 1.069 to 1.512, P=0.007), CD19 + B cells( OR=0.752, 95% CI 0.582 to 0.971, P=0.029), IL-2( OR=8.568, 95% CI 1.927 to 38.087, P=0.005), and IL-17( OR=0.728, 95% CI 0.535 to 0.989, P=0.042) as independent factors influencing HBsAg seroconversion. The area under the curve (AUC) of the proportion of dCD19 + B cells (the reciprocal of CD19 + B cells) for predicting HBsAg seroconversion was 0.716, the sensitivity was 0.636, and the specificity was 0.809. The AUC of IL-2 was 0.657, the sensitivity was 0.818, and the specificity was 0.404. The AUC of dIL-17 (the reciprocal of IL-17 levels) was 0.624, the sensitivity was 0.727, and the specificity was 0.489. The AUC of IL-2 and dIL-17 as a combined predictor was 0.830, the sensitivity was 0.909, and the specificity was 0.787. Conclusions:Peg-IFNα-2b demonstrates significant antiviral, biochemical, and serological responses in treatment-naive CHB patients, with enhanced efficacy in patients exhibiting HBsAg levels <200 IU/mL. In patients with HBsAg<200 IU/mL, the rate of HBsAg negativity reached 52.17%.Peg-IFNα-2b can regulate the immune function of patients with CHB by increasing the proportion of activated T lymphocyte subsets and functional subsets. The proportion of CD19 + B cells, IL-2 levels, and IL-17 levels hold predictive value for achieving HBsAg seroconversion.

Objective:To observe the influence of Xuebijing injection on the inflammatory markers and prognosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.Methods:Sixty severe COVID-19 patients admitted to Changsha Public Health Treatment Center (North Hospital of the First Hospital of Changsha City) from January to March in 2020 were randomly divided into routine treatment group, Xuebijing 50 mL group and Xuebijing 100 mL group, with 20 cases in each group. The routine treatment group was treated according to the National Health Commission's guide for COVID-19. On the basis of conventional treatment, Xuebijing injection was injected by 50 mL twice a day for 7 days in Xuebijing 50 mL group, while by 100 mL twice a day for 7 days in Xuebijing 100 mL group. The blood routine test, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ) score, 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) nucleic acid test and disease classification of three groups before and 8 days after treatment were observed.Results:① After treatment, the white blood cell count (WBC) and lymphocyte count (LYM) of three groups increased, meanwhile CRP and ESR decreased. Compared with routine treatment group, the WBC count of Xuebijing 100 mL group after treatment significantly increased (×10 9/L: 7.12±0.55 vs. 5.67±0.51, P < 0.05), and the levels of CRP and ESR in Xuebijing 50 mL and 100 mL groups significantly decreased [CRP (mg/L): 32.3±4.6, 28.0±6.2 vs. 37.3±5.9; ESR (mm/1 h): 45.9±5.7, 40.5±7.4 vs. 55.3±6.6, all P < 0.05]. Compared with Xuebijing 50 mL group, the increase of WBC, and the decrease of CRP and ESR were more significant in Xuebijing 100 mL group [WBC (×10 9/L): 7.12±0.55 vs. 5.82±0.49, CRP (mg/L): 28.0±6.2 vs. 32.3±4.6, ESR (mm/1 h): 40.5±7.4 vs. 45.9±5.7, all P < 0.05]. ② After treatment, the APACHEⅡscore of three groups decreased. In Xuebijing 100 mL group, the APACHEⅡscore after treatment was significantly lower than those in routine treatment and Xuebijing 50 mL groups (12.3±1.5 vs. 16.5±1.6, 15.9±1.4, both P < 0.05). After treatment, the 2019-nCoV nucleic acid test in three groups partly turned negative, with 9 cases in routine treatment group, 8 cases in Xuebijing 50 mL group and 9 cases in Xuebijing 100 mL group, without significant difference ( P > 0.05). The conditions of patients in the three groups were improved after treatment, among them, 8 cases in the routine treatment group were transformed into common type, 1 case into critical type; 9 cases and 12 cases of Xuebijing 50 mL group and 100 mL group were transformed into common type respectively. Xuebijing 100 mL group was improved more obviously than Xuebijing 50 mL group and routine treatment group (both P < 0.05). Conclusion:The Xuebijing injection can effectively improve the inflammatory markers and prognosis of severe COVID-19 patients.

Objective To explore the effect of betulinic acid on NAFLD and its mechanism. Methods We used the high-fat diet animal models, with or without feeding the standard chow diet containing betulinic acid for 2 months. During this period, the body weight was monitored regularly and metabolism cage was used to monitor the energy metabolism of the animals. After killing the mice, molecular biological analysis was performed on serum and tissue related to liver. Results In diet induced obese mice animal experiments, the mice body weight had been reduced and NAFLD had been improved significantly by betulinic acid. The various indexs of serum and liver tissue had also been significantly improved. The metabolic rate increased significantly. Fatty acid synthase gene and protein levels were significantly lower. Furthermore, FAS activity was significantly lower than the control mice. Liver FAS activity of the high fat mice and the high fat mice treated with betulinic acid were (1873.6 ± 85.7) and (1181.6 ± 85.7) pmol NADPH/ min/ mg protein, respectively. Conclusion Betulinic acid inhibited FAS at expression and activity level, and improved lipid deposition in liver.

Objective To evaluate the value of utility of bronchoscopy in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients with Bacteria sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis.Methods Bronchoscopy was conducted to 65 AIDS patients with bacteria sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis in the first hospital of Changsha. The patients’ bronchoalveolar lavage fluid through the electronic bronchoscopy, mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) culture, brushings and biopsy pathology were analyzed.Results 65 cases, bronchoscope alveolar lavage lfuid smear positive acid-fast stain 14 cases (21.54%), BAL mycobacterium tuberculosis culture positive 20 cases (30.76%), a bronchoscope brush positive 24 cases (36.92%), 35 cases of bronchoscopy biopsy, according to the performance under the bronchoscope positive 21 cases (60.00%), bronchoscopy combined different methods conifrmed 43 cases (66.15%).Conclusions Bronchoscopy in AIDS with bacteria sputum negative pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis, it has important application value.

The malignant phenotype of classical Hodgkin lymphoma ( cHL) is partly maintained by epige-netic aberrant ,of which consisted mainly abnormal histone methylation and deacetylation .Progress has been made in clinical trials related to the histone deacetylases inhibitors ( HDACis) in cHL.There is a close association noted between the epigenetic aberrants and the immune escape in cHL .DNA methyltransferase ( DNMT) inhibitors, HDACis and immune checkpoint blockade have shown synergistic effects .Further study to improve the cure rate in cHL by combination strategy is of significant importance .

Although chemotherapy is an effective way for advanced gastric cancer ,it does not significant-ly improve the prognosis of patients .Recently ,further researches on the mechanism of gastric cancer have led to the identification of ′driver gene′and the development of new agents that target these genes .By inhibiting the hu-man epidermal growth factor receptor 2(Her-2)for advanced gastric cancer ,it provides a new treatment for pa-tients.Trastuzumab is a kind of Her -2 monoclonal antibody ,it is the first kind of targeted therapy drug for the treatment of advanced and metastatic gastric cancer .A combination of trastuzumab with cisplatin and fluorouracil based chemotherapy can benefit patients overall survival .Therefore,in this paper,we make a review and summary of a set of recent studies related to the gastric targeted therapy .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differences of clinicopathological features and prognosis in patients with advanced gastric cancer in different locations after radical gastrectomy, and to provide optimized therapies.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 421 patients with advanced gastric cancer undergoing radical gastrectomy in our department from January to December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to cancer locations, including 48 cases of upper gastric cancer, 74 cases of middle gastric cancer and 299 cases of lower gastric cancer. Clinicopathological features and prognosis were compared among groups.

RESULTSThere were significant differences among 3 groups in lesion size(P=0.001), subtypes(P=0.033), pT classification(P=0.010), TNM staging(P=0.019) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.000). Ratio of lesion size >5 cm, and T4, N3, stage III( patients was significantly higher in upper gastric cancer group as compared to middle and lower group (all P<0.05). The survival curves showed that the general prognosis of upper gastric cancer group was worse than that of middle and lower gastric cancer group (P<0.05), while no significant difference was found between middle and lower gastric cancer group (P=0.027). Multivariate analysis revealed that depth of invasion (P=0.034, HR=1.918) was independent prognostic factor of advanced upper gastric cancer, lymph node metastasis (P=0.022, HR=1.406) was independent prognostic factor of advanced middle gastric cancer, and depth of invasion (P=0.022, HR=1.359) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.000, HR=1.519) were independent prognostic factors of advanced lower gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONAs compared to advanced middle and lower gastric cancer, advanced upper gastric cancer possesses bigger cancer lesion, deeper depth of invasion, easier metastasis of lymph nodes, later TNM staging, and worse prognosis.

Objective To explore the effect of fludarabine on treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)and its influence on survival rate.Methods 32 elderly pa-tients with CLL were treated with fludarabine,and they were also divided into stage 0~Ⅱ (n =17)group and stage Ⅲ~Ⅳ (n =15)group according to clinical stage of disease.30 elderly pa-tients with medical examination were designed as control group.Number of peripheral blood lym-phocyte were compared between 3 groups,and the relationship between complete remission rate and the clinical related factors as well as survival rate within post-treatment 3 years in CLL pa-tients were observed.Results The number of CD4+ T cells in the control group was significantly higher than that in the stage Ⅲ~Ⅳ group (P <0.01).The number of CD4+ /CD8+ in the control group was significantly higher than that in the treatment group(P <0.05).There was a close rela-tionship between the complete remission rate of fludarabine treatment and the patient’s age,stag-ing and course of treatment.The survival rate within post-treatment 3 years was 65.6%.Con-clusion Fludarabine can significantly improve the patients′immune status and increase the com-plete remission rate and survival rate.