As new evidence emerges, treatment strategies toward the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B are evolving. In 2019, a panel of national hepatologists published a Consensus Statement on the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Currently, an international group of hepatologists has been assembled to evaluate research since the publication of the original consensus, and to collaboratively develop the updated statements. The 2.0 Consensus was aimed to update the original consensus with the latest available studies, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current relevant scientific literatures regarding functional cure of hepatitis B, with a particular focus on issues that are not yet fully clarified. These cover the definition of functional cure of hepatitis B, its mechanisms and barriers, the effective strategies and treatment roadmap to achieve this endpoint, in particular new surrogate biomarkers used to measure efficacy or to predict response, and the appropriate approach to pursuing a functional cure in special populations, the development of emerging antivirals and immunomodulators with potential for curing hepatitis B. The statements are primarily intended to offer international guidance for clinicians in their practice to enhance the functional cure rate of chronic hepatitis B.

As new evidence emerges, treatment strategies toward the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B are evolving. In 2019, a panel of national hepatologists published a Consensus Statement on the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Currently, an international group of hepatologists has been assembled to evaluate research since the publication of the original consensus, and to collaboratively develop the updated statements. The 2.0 Consensus was aimed to update the original consensus with the latest available studies, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current relevant scientific literatures regarding functional cure of hepatitis B, with a particular focus on issues that are not yet fully clarified. These cover the definition of functional cure of hepatitis B, its mechanisms and barriers, the effective strategies and treatment roadmap to achieve this endpoint, in particular new surrogate biomarkers used to measure efficacy or to predict response, and the appropriate approach to pursuing a functional cure in special populations, the development of emerging antivirals and immunomodulators with potential for curing hepatitis B. The statements are primarily intended to offer international guidance for clinicians in their practice to enhance the functional cure rate of chronic hepatitis B.

As new evidence emerges, treatment strategies toward the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B are evolving. In 2019, a panel of national hepatologists published a Consensus Statement on the functional cure of chronic hepatitis B. Currently, an international group of hepatologists has been assembled to evaluate research since the publication of the original consensus, and to collaboratively develop the updated statements. The 2.0 Consensus was aimed to update the original consensus with the latest available studies, and provide a comprehensive overview of the current relevant scientific literatures regarding functional cure of hepatitis B, with a particular focus on issues that are not yet fully clarified. These cover the definition of functional cure of hepatitis B, its mechanisms and barriers, the effective strategies and treatment roadmap to achieve this endpoint, in particular new surrogate biomarkers used to measure efficacy or to predict response, and the appropriate approach to pursuing a functional cure in special populations, the development of emerging antivirals and immunomodulators with potential for curing hepatitis B. The statements are primarily intended to offer international guidance for clinicians in their practice to enhance the functional cure rate of chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Sarcopenia is a muscle-wasting condition that affects older individuals. It can lead to changes in movement patterns, which can increase the risk of falls and other injuries. Methods: Older women participants aged ≥65 years who could walk independently were recruited and classified into two groups based on knee extension strength (KES). Participants with low KES scores were assigned to the possible sarcopenia group (PSG; n=7) and an 8-week exercise intervention was implemented. Healthy seniors with high KES scores were classified as the reference group (RG; n=4), and a 3-week exercise intervention was conducted. Kinematic movement data were recorded during the intervention period. All participants' exercise repetitions were used in the data analysis (number of data points=1,128). Results: The PSG showed significantly larger movement patterns in knee rotation during wide squats compared to the RG, attributed to weakened lower limb strength. The voting classifier, trained on the movement patterns from wide squats, determined that significant differences in overall movement patterns between the two groups persisted until the end of the exercise intervention. However, after the exercise intervention, significant improvements in lower limb strength in the PSG resulted in reduced knee rotation range of motion and max, thereby stabilizing movements and eliminating significant differences with the RG. Conclusion This study suggests that exercise interventions can modify the movement patterns in older individuals with possible sarcopenia. These findings provide fundamental data for developing an exercise management system that remotely tracks and monitors the movement patterns of older adults during exercise activities.

Background: Sarcopenia is a muscle-wasting condition that affects older individuals. It can lead to changes in movement patterns, which can increase the risk of falls and other injuries. Methods: Older women participants aged ≥65 years who could walk independently were recruited and classified into two groups based on knee extension strength (KES). Participants with low KES scores were assigned to the possible sarcopenia group (PSG; n=7) and an 8-week exercise intervention was implemented. Healthy seniors with high KES scores were classified as the reference group (RG; n=4), and a 3-week exercise intervention was conducted. Kinematic movement data were recorded during the intervention period. All participants' exercise repetitions were used in the data analysis (number of data points=1,128). Results: The PSG showed significantly larger movement patterns in knee rotation during wide squats compared to the RG, attributed to weakened lower limb strength. The voting classifier, trained on the movement patterns from wide squats, determined that significant differences in overall movement patterns between the two groups persisted until the end of the exercise intervention. However, after the exercise intervention, significant improvements in lower limb strength in the PSG resulted in reduced knee rotation range of motion and max, thereby stabilizing movements and eliminating significant differences with the RG. Conclusion This study suggests that exercise interventions can modify the movement patterns in older individuals with possible sarcopenia. These findings provide fundamental data for developing an exercise management system that remotely tracks and monitors the movement patterns of older adults during exercise activities.

Background: Sarcopenia is a muscle-wasting condition that affects older individuals. It can lead to changes in movement patterns, which can increase the risk of falls and other injuries. Methods: Older women participants aged ≥65 years who could walk independently were recruited and classified into two groups based on knee extension strength (KES). Participants with low KES scores were assigned to the possible sarcopenia group (PSG; n=7) and an 8-week exercise intervention was implemented. Healthy seniors with high KES scores were classified as the reference group (RG; n=4), and a 3-week exercise intervention was conducted. Kinematic movement data were recorded during the intervention period. All participants' exercise repetitions were used in the data analysis (number of data points=1,128). Results: The PSG showed significantly larger movement patterns in knee rotation during wide squats compared to the RG, attributed to weakened lower limb strength. The voting classifier, trained on the movement patterns from wide squats, determined that significant differences in overall movement patterns between the two groups persisted until the end of the exercise intervention. However, after the exercise intervention, significant improvements in lower limb strength in the PSG resulted in reduced knee rotation range of motion and max, thereby stabilizing movements and eliminating significant differences with the RG. Conclusion This study suggests that exercise interventions can modify the movement patterns in older individuals with possible sarcopenia. These findings provide fundamental data for developing an exercise management system that remotely tracks and monitors the movement patterns of older adults during exercise activities.

Background: Preconditioning with inflammatory stimuli is used to improve the secretion of anti-inflammatory agents in stem cells from variant species such as mouse, human, and dog. However, there are only few studies on feline stem cells. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the immune regulatory capacity of feline adipose tissue-derived (fAT) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) pretreated with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Methods: To assess the interaction of lymphocytes and macrophages with IFN-γ-pretreated fAT-MSCs, mouse splenocytes and RAW 264.7 cells were cultured with the conditioned media from IFN-γ-pretreated MSCs. Results: Pretreatment with IFN-γ increased the gene expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, hepatocyte growth factor, and transforming growth factorbeta 1 in the MSCs. The conditioned media from IFN-γ-pretreated MSCs increased the expression levels of M2 macrophage markers and regulatory T-cell markers compared to those in the conditioned media from naive MSCs. Further, prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) inhibitor NS-398 attenuated the immunoregulatory potential of MSCs, suggesting that the increased PGE 2 levels induced by IFN-γ stimulation is a crucial factor in the immune regulatory capacity of MSCs pretreated with IFN-γ. Conclusions IFN-γ pretreatment improves the immune regulatory profile of fAT-MSCs mainly via the secretion of PGE 2 , which induces macrophage polarization and increases regulatory T-cell numbers.

Background: Preconditioning with inflammatory stimuli is used to improve the secretion of anti-inflammatory agents in stem cells from variant species such as mouse, human, and dog. However, there are only few studies on feline stem cells. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the immune regulatory capacity of feline adipose tissue-derived (fAT) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) pretreated with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Methods: To assess the interaction of lymphocytes and macrophages with IFN-γ-pretreated fAT-MSCs, mouse splenocytes and RAW 264.7 cells were cultured with the conditioned media from IFN-γ-pretreated MSCs. Results: Pretreatment with IFN-γ increased the gene expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, hepatocyte growth factor, and transforming growth factorbeta 1 in the MSCs. The conditioned media from IFN-γ-pretreated MSCs increased the expression levels of M2 macrophage markers and regulatory T-cell markers compared to those in the conditioned media from naive MSCs. Further, prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) inhibitor NS-398 attenuated the immunoregulatory potential of MSCs, suggesting that the increased PGE 2 levels induced by IFN-γ stimulation is a crucial factor in the immune regulatory capacity of MSCs pretreated with IFN-γ. Conclusions IFN-γ pretreatment improves the immune regulatory profile of fAT-MSCs mainly via the secretion of PGE 2 , which induces macrophage polarization and increases regulatory T-cell numbers.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic systemic disease of unknown etiology characterized by vasculopathy, excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, and fibrosis of the skin and other internal organs. Although its etiology remains elusive, approximately one third of SSc patients presents with additional autoimmune disease, which suggests that an autoimmune mechanism is a major component of the underlying pathophysiology. On the other hand, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are two main autoimmune liver diseases. A 41-year-old female previously diagnosed with PBC/AIH overlap syndrome presented with multiple, painful brownish to erythematous firm patches on the hands, arms, axillae, neck, abdomen, and thighs. Laboratory work-up yielded positive results for anti-nuclear antibody, anti-Ro/Sjögren's-syndrome-related antigen A autoantibodies, and perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies while punch biopsy of her left hand showed characteristics that are consistent with scleroderma. Herein, we report the first case of a patient with diffuse cutaneous SSc and concurrent PBC/AIH overlap syndrome and suggest that this coexistence of multiple autoimmune diseases is not a coincidence but rather that a common autoimmune pathogenesis may exist.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the importance of assessment of fetal cardiac output (CO) for the prediction of complications of pregnancy. METHODS: We evaluated 65 fetuses and all of them had a fetal cardiac scan at 20 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. To measure CO, diameters (d) of the left right ventricle outflow tract were measured just above the valves. Each left CO (LCO) and right CO (RCO) was derived using the following equation: CO = velocity time integral ×π× d²/4 × heart rate. Pregnancy complications included gestational hypertensive disorders, fetal growth restriction (FGR) and preterm birth (PTB) caused from preterm labor or preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM). RESULTS: There were 23 cases with one more pregnancy complication (FGR, 9; gestational hypertensive disorders, 8; PTB caused from PTB or PPROM, 12). The LCO was lower in complication group than in normal group (88±53 vs. 117±48 mL/min, P=0.028). The RCO to the LCO ratio (RCO/LCO) was higher in complication group (2.43±1.69 vs. 1.48±0.81, P=0.001). Regression analysis demonstrated that RCO/LCO was a significant predictor of pregnancy complication; Odds ratio was 7.76 (95% CI, 1.15 to 52.21; P=0.029). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for prediction of pregnancy complications from LCO was 0.71. The diagnostic cut-off value of LCO was 80 mL/min. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve from RCO/LCO was 0.68 and cut-off value was 1.41. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that pregnancy complications can be suspected based on fetal CO assessments at a GA of 20 to 24 weeks.
Cardiac Output* ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; Fetus ; Heart Rate ; Heart Ventricles ; Membranes ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Odds Ratio ; Pre-Eclampsia ; Pregnancy Complications* ; Pregnancy* ; Premature Birth ; Rupture ; Ultrasonography*