Objective:In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with previous 96-week treatment with tenofovir amibufenamide (TMF) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), we investigated the efficacy of sequential TMF treatment from 96 to 144 weeks.Methods:Enrolled subjects who were previously assigned (2:1) to receive either 25 mg TMF or 300 mg TDF with matching placebo for 96 weeks received extended or switched TMF treatment for 48 weeks. Efficacy was evaluated based on virological, serological, biological parameters, and fibrosis staging. Statistical analysis was performed using the McNemar test, t-test, or Log-Rank test according to the data. Results:593 subjects from the initial TMF group and 287 subjects from the TDF group were included at week 144, with the proportions of HBV DNA<20 IU/ml at week 144 being 86.2% and 83.3%, respectively, and 78.1% and 73.8% in patients with baseline HBV DNA levels ≥8 log10 IU/ml. Resistance to tenofovir was not detected in both groups. For HBeAg loss and seroconversion rates, both groups showed a further increase from week 96 to 144 and the 3-year cumulative rates of HBeAg loss were about 35% in each group. However, HBsAg levels were less affected during 96 to 144 weeks. For patients switched from TDF to TMF, a substantial further increase in the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization rate was observed (11.4%), along with improved FIB-4 scores.Conclusion:After 144 weeks of TMF treatment, CHB patients achieved high rates of virological, serological, and biochemical responses, as well as improved liver fibrosis outcomes. Also, switching to TMF resulted in significant benefits in ALT normalization rates (NCT03903796).

Objective:In chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with previous 96-week treatment with tenofovir amibufenamide (TMF) or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), we investigated the safety profile of sequential TMF treatment from 96 to 144 weeks.Methods:Enrolled subjects that previously assigned (2:1) to receive either 25 mg TMF or 300 mg TDF with matching placebo for 96 weeks received extending or switching TMF treatment for 48 weeks. Safety profiles of kidney, bone, metabolism, body weight, and others were evaluated.Results:666 subjects from the initial TMF group and 336 subjects from TDF group with at least one dose of assigned treatment were included at week 144. The overall safety profile was favorable in each group and generally similar between extended or switched TMF treatments from week 96 to 144. In subjects switching from TDF to TMF, the non-indexed estimated glomerular filtration rate (by non-indexed CKD-EPI formula) and creatinine clearance (by Cockcroft-Gault formula) were both increased, which were (2.31±8.33) ml/min and (4.24±13.94) ml/min, respectively. These changes were also higher than those in subjects with extending TMF treatment [(0.91±8.06) ml/min and (1.30±13.94) ml/min]. Meanwhile, switching to TMF also led to an increase of the bone mineral density (BMD) by 0.75% in hip and 1.41% in spine. On the other side, a slight change in TC/HDL ratio by 0.16 (IQR: 0.00, 0.43) and an increase in body mass index (BMI) by (0.54±0.98) kg/m 2 were oberved with patients switched to TMF, which were significantly higher than that in TMF group. Conclusion:CHB patients receiving 144 weeks of TMF treatment showed favorable safety profile. After switching to TMF, the bone and renal safety was significantly improved in TDF group, though experienceing change in metabolic parameters and weight gain (NCT03903796).

Objective: Cervical cancer (CC) is a serious gynecologic health issue for women worldwide.Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been well-documented in controlling malignant behavior of various cancer cells. The role of lncRNA STARD7-AS1 in regulating CC cell proliferation and autophagy and its possible mechanism were investigated in this work. Methods: RNA expression and protein levels were quantified by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The location of STARD7-AS1 in CC cells was examined using subcellular fraction assays. Cell Counting Kit-8 assays and colony forming assays were performed to measure CC cell viability and proliferation.Autophagy in CC cells was evaluated using macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) staining and transmission electron microscopy. The binding between microRNA (miR)-31-5p and STARD7-AS1 (or thioredoxin-interacting protein [TXNIP]) was determined by performing luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down or RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Results: STARD7-AS1 overexpression significantly suppressed CC cell viability and proliferation while notably inducing autophagy. STARD7-AS1 upregulated TXNIP expression via interaction with miR-31-5p. In addition, the effects of STARD7-AS1 on CC cell proliferation and autophagy were reversed by TXNIP silencing. The suppressive effect of STARD7-AS1 overexpression on phosphorylated levels of mTOR and S6K1 was countervailed by TXNIP deficiency. Conclusion In conclusion, lncRNA STARD7-AS1 inhibits CC cell proliferation and promotes cell autophagy by targeting the miR-31-5p/TXNIP axis to inactivate the mTOR signaling.

Objective: Cervical cancer (CC) is a serious gynecologic health issue for women worldwide.Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been well-documented in controlling malignant behavior of various cancer cells. The role of lncRNA STARD7-AS1 in regulating CC cell proliferation and autophagy and its possible mechanism were investigated in this work. Methods: RNA expression and protein levels were quantified by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The location of STARD7-AS1 in CC cells was examined using subcellular fraction assays. Cell Counting Kit-8 assays and colony forming assays were performed to measure CC cell viability and proliferation.Autophagy in CC cells was evaluated using macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) staining and transmission electron microscopy. The binding between microRNA (miR)-31-5p and STARD7-AS1 (or thioredoxin-interacting protein [TXNIP]) was determined by performing luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down or RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Results: STARD7-AS1 overexpression significantly suppressed CC cell viability and proliferation while notably inducing autophagy. STARD7-AS1 upregulated TXNIP expression via interaction with miR-31-5p. In addition, the effects of STARD7-AS1 on CC cell proliferation and autophagy were reversed by TXNIP silencing. The suppressive effect of STARD7-AS1 overexpression on phosphorylated levels of mTOR and S6K1 was countervailed by TXNIP deficiency. Conclusion In conclusion, lncRNA STARD7-AS1 inhibits CC cell proliferation and promotes cell autophagy by targeting the miR-31-5p/TXNIP axis to inactivate the mTOR signaling.

Objective: Cervical cancer (CC) is a serious gynecologic health issue for women worldwide.Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has been well-documented in controlling malignant behavior of various cancer cells. The role of lncRNA STARD7-AS1 in regulating CC cell proliferation and autophagy and its possible mechanism were investigated in this work. Methods: RNA expression and protein levels were quantified by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The location of STARD7-AS1 in CC cells was examined using subcellular fraction assays. Cell Counting Kit-8 assays and colony forming assays were performed to measure CC cell viability and proliferation.Autophagy in CC cells was evaluated using macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) staining and transmission electron microscopy. The binding between microRNA (miR)-31-5p and STARD7-AS1 (or thioredoxin-interacting protein [TXNIP]) was determined by performing luciferase reporter, RNA pull-down or RNA immunoprecipitation assays. Results: STARD7-AS1 overexpression significantly suppressed CC cell viability and proliferation while notably inducing autophagy. STARD7-AS1 upregulated TXNIP expression via interaction with miR-31-5p. In addition, the effects of STARD7-AS1 on CC cell proliferation and autophagy were reversed by TXNIP silencing. The suppressive effect of STARD7-AS1 overexpression on phosphorylated levels of mTOR and S6K1 was countervailed by TXNIP deficiency. Conclusion In conclusion, lncRNA STARD7-AS1 inhibits CC cell proliferation and promotes cell autophagy by targeting the miR-31-5p/TXNIP axis to inactivate the mTOR signaling.

Beta-lactams are the most widely used antibiotics. One of the principle mechanisms for Gram-negative bacteria to resist β-lactams is by producing β-lactamases that degrade β-lactams. This review highlights two regulatory mechanisms for inducing β-lactamase in Gram-negative bacteria. In the ampR-ampC paradigm, the induction of β-lactamase is intimately linked to peptidoglycan recycling. AmpR, a LysR-type transcriptional regulator, plays a central role in regulating expression of β-lactamase. Recent studies found that two-component signal transduction pathway is activated by β-lactams, which in turn induces the expression of β-lactamase. Finally, we discussed the future research directions in β-lactam resistance in Gram-negative bacteria.

Objective To study the two-phase flow dynamics distribution and red blood cell distribution under the fluid-solid coupling interaction in left coronary artery at the typical time point within one cardiac cycle,and to investigate the formation and development mechanisms of left coronary artery atherosclerotic plaque Methods The blood was regarded as a two-phase fluid.Based on fluid-solid interaction between blood and vascular wall,the computational fluid dynamics method was used to make the transient numerical simulation of two-phase flow in the left coronary artery under fluid-solid interaction;the distribution of blood flow in the left coronary artery at the typical time point within one cardiac cycle was studied,the relationship between hemodynamic parameters and the formation of atherosclerotic plaque was analyzed.Results A lowspeed eddy zone existed in an area between the distal segment of circumferential branch and the proximal outside of blunt-edge branch of the left coronary artery,where both internal wall shear stress and red blood cell volume fraction were very small and the blood flow pattern was very complicated.Conclusion At the lowspeed eddy zone that carries small wall shear stress,the lipid concentration polarization and macromolecular material deposition are easy to be produced.The area that has less red blood cells is liable to develop hypoxia,resulting in increased vascular wall permeability and intimal injury,which will activate the immune system,causing lipid accumulation in vascular wall and intimal hyperplasia and,thus,to induce the formation of atherosclerotic plaque.(J Intervent Radiol,2017,26:253-257)

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of the new investigational drug pegylated interferon α-2b (Peg-IFN-α-2b) (Y shape, 40 kD) injection (180 µg/week) combined with ribavirin in the treatment of patients with genotype 1/6 chronic hepatitis C (CHC), with standard-dose Peg-IFN-α-2a combined with ribavirin as a positive control. Methods: A multicenter, randomized, open-label, and positive-controlled phase III clinical trial was performed. Eligible patients with genotype 1/6 CHC were screened out and randomly divided into Peg-IFN-α-2b(Y shape, 40kD) group and Peg-IFN-α-2a group at a ratio of 2:1. The patients in both groups were given oral ribavirin for 48 weeks in addition and then followed up for 24 weeks after drug withdrawal. Abbott Real Time HCV Genotype II was used to determine HCV genotype, and Cobas TaqMan quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure HCV RNA level at 0, 4, 12, 24, 48, and 72 weeks. Adverse events were recorded in detail. The primary efficacy endpoint was sustained virological response (SVR), and a non-inferiority test was also performed. Results: A total of 561 patients with genotype 1/6 CHC were enrolled, among whom 529 received treatment; 90.9% of these patients had genotype 1 CHC. The data of the full analysis set showed that SVR rate was 69.80% (95% CI 65.00%-74.60%) in the trial group and 74.16% (95% CI 67.73%-80.59%) in the control group (P = 0.297 0). The data of the per protocol set (PPS) showed that SVR rate was 80.63% (95% CI 76.04%-85.23%) in the trial group and 81.33% (95% CI 75.10%-87.57%) in the control group (P = 0.849 8), and the 95% CI of rate difference conformed to the non-inferiority standard. The analysis of the PPS population showed that of all subjects, 47.9% achieved rapid virologic response, with a positive predictive value of 93.8%. The incidence rate of adverse events was 96.30% in the trial group and 94.94% in the control group, and the incidence rate of serious adverse events was 5.13% in the trail group and 5.06% in the control group. Conclusion In the regimen of Peg-IFN-α combined with ribavirin for the treatment of genotype 1/6 CHC, the new investigational drug Peg-IFN-α-2b(Y shape, 40 kD) has comparable clinical effect and safety to the control drug Peg-IFN-α-2a.

Background and purpose:More and more evidence has showed that Grb2 binding protein-2 (Gab2) is associated with tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the relationship between Gab2 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancer is not clear. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Gab2 on EMT markers and the mechanism of Gab2 on breast cancer invasion and metastasis.Methods:Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the expressions of Gab2, E-cadherin and vimentin in 80 cases of breast cancer tissues, and the correlations between them were analyzed. Western blot was used to detect the expression of Gab2 in breast tissues. After MDA-MB-231 cells were transfected with siRNA plasmid, wound healing assay was used to detect the invasive ability of transfected cells induced by epithelial growth factor (EGF) in vitro. Then Western blot was used to analyze the protein expressions of E-cadherin, vimentin, phosphorylated GSK-3β (p-GSK-3β) and nuclear Snail.Results:Gab2 was negatively correlated with the expression of E-cadherin and positively correlated with the expression of vimentin in breast cancer tissues (P<0.05). The expression of Gab2 in breast cancer tissues was higher than that in normal breast tissues adjacent to breast cancer. In vitro, Gab2 expression was significantly knocked down in MDA-MB-231 cells transfected with Gab2 siRNA plasmid (SiGab2/MDA-MB-231cells). Meanwhile, the invasive ability of SiGab2/MDA-MB-231cells was decreased with EGF stimulation. The expression of E-cadherin was increased in SiGab2/MDA-MB-231cells. However, the expressions of vimentin, p-GSK-3β and nuclear Snail were decreased in SiGab2/MDA-MB-231cells.Conclusion:Gab2 can promote the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer by EMT through GSK-3β/Snail signaling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the application value of arcuate fasciculus diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) combined with neuronavigation in epilepsy surgery. Methods A retrospective analysis of 24 patients with refractory epilepsy, admitted to our hospital from March 2011 to March 2014, was performed; the epileptic foci of these patients were adjacent to the language functional areas conformed by imaging before operation. Surgical resection was performed with the help of arcuate fasciculus of DTI, diffusion tensor fiber tracking (DT-FT) combined with neuronavigation. The surgical efficacy and language function of the patients were evaluated by Engel classification and Verbal Behavior Assessment Scale (VerBAS) at postoperative follow-up. Results During the follow-up from 12 to 47 months, according to Engel classification, in 7 patients with foci adjacent to Broca area, Engel grade I was achieved in 3, Engel grade II in 3 and Engel grade Ⅲ in one; and in 17 patients with foci adjacent to Wernicke area, seizure control was as follows: Engel grade I was noted in 13, Engel grade II in 2 and Engel grade III in 2. No perpetual language dysfunction after operation was noted in all the patients. Conclusion Arcuate fasciculus DTI combined with intraoperative neuronavigation has very high application value in the epilepsy surgery.