替比夫定对HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者HBV特异性T细胞免疫动态变化的研究

目的观察替比夫定治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙肝患者对HBV特异性T细胞细胞亚群的影响。方法选取2013年12月至2015年1月在我院接受替比夫定治疗的HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者10例,其中完全应答(CR)组3例,部分应答(PR)组4例,无应答(NR)组3例,观察治疗后HBV特异性细胞毒T淋巴细胞(CTL)水平及HBV DNA、干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)等的变化。结果三组患者HBV DNA水平随着治疗时间的延长而下降,CR组和PR组差异有统计学意义(F=17.21,P0.05)。患者HBV特异性CTL水平随着治疗时间的延长而增加,对于CR组,强烈的增殖反应在12周时达到最高,持续反应到36周(t=28.27,P0.05),对于PR组,强烈的增殖反应出现在12周(t=15.57,P0.05),而NR组则无明显的增殖反应(P=0.286)。患者治疗后第3个月IFN-γ和TNF-α含量较治疗开始时高,差异有统计学意义(F_(IFN-γ)=23.43,F_(TNF-α)=18.27,P0.05),第6个月、第12个月IFN-γ和TNF-α含量均高于治疗第3个月,差异有统计学意义(F_(IFN-γ)=27.35,F_(TNF-α)=16.17,P0.05);第6个月和第12个月IFN-γ、TNF-α含量比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论替比夫定治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者能有效抑制HBV的复制,降低HBeAg水平,HBV特异性细胞毒T淋巴细胞功能随着治疗的延长而增强,治疗后HBeAg血清学转换的发生与HBV特异性细胞毒T淋巴细胞水平升高有关。     

基线HBsAg和ALT水平是替比夫定治疗HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者e抗原血清学转换的重要预测因素

目的评价初治、单药使用替比夫定治疗HBeAg阳性的慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者48周的e抗原血清学转换的基线预测因素。方法97例HBeAg阳性CHB患者分别以基线HBsAg、ALT和HBVDNA水平高低分组,对比两组治疗48周时生化学、病毒学和血清学应答情况。结果基线HBsAg-101500IU／mL组e抗原阴转率和血清学转换率均为42．3％,基线HBsAg〉1500IU／mL组分别为20％和17．8％,两组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;基线ALT〉5ULN组e抗原阴转率和血清学转换率均为45．1％,基线ALT05ULN组分别17．4％和15．2％,两组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．01）;基线HBVDNA〈8．0log-10copies／mL组和基线HBVDNA≥8．0log-10copies／mL组e抗原阴转率和血清学转换率相比,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;基线水平HBsAg≤1500IU／mL且ALT〉5ULN的CHB患者共40例作为观察组,其余57例患者作为对照组,治疗48周时观察组e抗原阴转率和血清学转换率均为45％,对照组分别为22．8％和21．1％,两组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论基线HBsAg水平≤1500IU／mL和ALT水平〉5ULN的HBeAg阳性慢性乙型肝炎患者,在接受替比夫定治疗48周时,有较高的e抗原转阴率和血清学转换率;基线HBsAg和ALT水平是替比夫定治疗e抗原血清学转换的重要预测因素。     

抗病毒治疗后慢性乙型重型肝炎预后分析

目的分析慢性乙型重型肝炎抗病毒后影响预后的因素,探讨慢性乙型重型肝炎治疗策略。方法通过回顾性观察153例慢性乙型重型肝炎的临床资料,包括年龄、性别、白蛋白(ALB)、总胆红素(TB)、凝血酶原时间(PT)、甲胎蛋白(AFP)、胆碱酯酶(CHE)、谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、乙肝病毒核酸(HBV DNA)载量、是否存在肝硬化和是否存在并发症等情况,采用Cox比例风险模型对可能影响其预后的因素进行单因素和多因素回归分析。结果其中年龄、TB、PT、是否存在肝硬化、是否存在并发症是影响预后的独立因素。结论年龄、TB、PT、是否存在肝硬化、是否存在并发症对患者的预后有相关。     

Consolidation treatment needed for sustained HBsAg-negative response induced by interferon-alpha in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance is considered as functional cure in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to assess the durability of HBsAg clearance achieved by interferon-based therapies in patients with CHB who were originally positive for hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg). In this prospective study, HBeAg-positive CHB patients with confirmed HBsAg loss under interferon-based therapies were enrolled within 12 weeks from end of treatment and followed up for 48 weeks. Virological markers, biochemical indicators, and liver imaging examinations were observed every 3-6 months. Sustained functional cure was analysed as primary outcome. Factor associated with sustained HBsAg loss or reversion was also investigated. The rate of HBsAg loss sustainability was 91.8% (212/231). Patients receiving consolidation treatment for 12-24 weeks or ≥ 24 weeks had higher rates of sustained HBsAg negativity than those receiving consolidation treatment for < 12 weeks (98.3% and 91.2% vs. 86.7%, P=0.068), and the former groups had significantly higher anti-HBs levels than the later (P < 0.05). The cumulative incidence of HBsAg reversion and HBV DNA reversion was 8.2% and 3.9%, respectively. Consolidation treatment of ≥ 12 weeks[odd ratio (OR) 3.318, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.077-10.224, P=0.037) was a predictor of sustained functional cure, and HBeAg-positivity at cessation of treatment (OR 12.271, 95% CI 1.076-139.919, P=0.043) was a predictor of HBsAg reversion. Interferon-alpha induced functional cure was durable and a consolidation treatment of ≥ 12-24 weeks was needed after HBsAg loss in HBeAg-positive CHB patients.     

Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) modifications in hepatic cirrhosis, aggressive chronic hepatitis, persistent chronic hepatitis, and in minimal pathology

A total of 104 patients with various liver diseases were studied. Hepatic biopsy was performed and the AST, ALT and TPA in serum were measured. Higher levels of TPA, AST and ALT were found in CAH and LC, lower in CPH and MHP. High serum TPA values, usually suggesting the possibility of neoplasm, should be considered with attention. A follow-up with periodic TPA assays (in addition to AST and ALT) is suggested in patients with acute hepatitis, in order to predict further possible complications such as CAH and LC.     

Prognostic value of early features in rheumatoid disease.

Extensive data on 102 patients who presented with rheumatoid disease within a year of onset were gathered by a prospective study to assess the prognostic value of early features. Outcome was evaluated at a mean 4-5 years from onset on the basis of functional grade, extent of joint disease, early morning stiffness, and grip strength. Twenty-six patients improved, 14 pursued a mild steady course, and 62 had a persistently severe or deteriorating condition. The features recorded at the first visit were correlated with outcome. Those indicating a poor prognosis were: older age at onset, being underweight, poor grip strength, many affected joints, involvement of wrist or metatarsophalangeal joints, poor functional status, fulfilment of many of the American Rheumatism Association criteria for rheumatoid disease, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate, seropositivity on sheep cell agglutination or latex tests, low haemoglobin level, raised blood urea level, and early erosions on x-ray films.     

Immunochemical characteristics of hepatitis B e antigen subspecificities, HBeAg/1 and HBeAg/2

The molecular interrelation between hepatitis B e Ag 1 (HBeAg/1) and HBeAg/2 was examined immunochemically. Major polypeptides with m.w. around 17,000 (P17) and one minor polypeptide with m.w. 18,000 (P18) that had HBeAg activity were consistently detected in 12 different serum samples by immunoblotting analysis. To examine the polypeptide composition of HBeAg/1 and HBeAg/2, precipitin lines of HBeAg/1-anti-HBeAg/1 and HBeAg/2-anti-HBeAg/2 were separately cut from the agarose gel and analyzed by immunoblotting. HBeAg/1 and HBeAg/2 showed similar P17 and P18 compositions. Monomeric forms of P17 and P18 in a solution of 0.1% SDS showed HBeAg/1 activity, whereas polymeric forms of these polypeptides showed HBeAg/2 activity. The stability of HBeAg subspecificities to SDS and 2-ME was examined. When HBeAg was incubated in a buffer containing 0.1% SDS and 0.1% 2-ME, only the HBeAg/2 precipitin line disappeared in agarose gel concurrently with the conversion of HBeAg molecules to a monomeric from a polymeric form. In contrast, neither monomerization nor the disappearance of HBeAg/2 was seen when SDS or 2-ME was used by itself. These results indicate that hydrophobic forces and disulfide bonds may be involved in the association of P17 and P18 in serum and that HBeAg/2 activity depends upon association of HBeAg-polypeptides but that HBeAg/1 activity does not. The possibility that the epitopes of HBeAg/2 are specific for the conformation of polymerized molecules is discussed.     

Prognostic value of DNA flow cytometry in sympathoadrenal paragangliomas.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether ploidy patterns are related to prognosis in sympathoadrenal paragangliomas (SAP) using flow cytometry. STUDY DESIGN: DNA flow cytometric analysis of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples from 36 patients with SAP was performed. Eight cases fulfilled at least one of the following malignancy criteria: (1) extensive invasion of adjacent structures (5 cases), (2) local recurrence (3 cases), or (3) metastases (4 cases). RESULTS: Of the 36 tumors, 22 (61%) showed nondiploid patterns (12 aneuploid, 10 tetraploid). All diploid tumors were benign, while all malignant cases showed nondiploid patterns (P = .0131). The differences between diploid and aneuploid tumors and between diploid and tetraploid tumors, with regard to the malignancy of the disease, were statistically significant (P = .03311 and .01976, respectively). Only one malignant tumor had a DNA index < 1.75 (P = .00259). CONCLUSION: Anomalous DNA ploidy patterns are frequent in SAP, without necessarily implying malignancy. However, diploid DNA content may be a marker of a good prognosis. The likelihood of malignancy is greater in the tetraploid and peritetraploid range.     

Prognostic value of morphometry in acute lymphoblastic leukemia of childhood.

The prognostic value of morphometric features was studied in a group of 33 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and compared with clinical and hematologic parameters. Air dried, May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained specimens were prepared from iliac crest biopsies, and for each patient, 150 blasts and their nuclei were selected according to a stratified selection method and measured on a graphic tablet system. Univariate overall survival analysis showed the French-American-British (FAB) classification to be the strongest clinical parameter (P less than .0001). However, the significance was mainly due to the fact that both L3 cases died; the results for L1 and L2 were less satisfactory, with a survival rate (at 10 years) of 69% for the 26 L1 cases and 80% for the five L2 cases. The nuclear/cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio was the best morphometric feature (P less than .0001) and provided more satisfactory classification results than did FAB: only 2 of the 21 (10%) cases with N/C ratios greater than 0.90 died (7 and 9.5 years after the diagnosis, respectively), and 9 of the 12 (75%) cases with N/C ratios greater than or equal to 0.90 died. For recurrence-free survival analysis, essentially the same results were obtained. The N/C ratio retained its significant prognostic value after recurrence: 11 of the 15 patients with eventual recurrences died; 9 of them had an (original) N/C ratio less than or equal to 0.90. Three of the four recurring cases that survived after recurrence had an N/C ratio greater than 0.90 (P less than .03).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)