慢性乙型肝炎免疫致病机制和免疫治疗现状

核苷类似物和干扰素等抗病毒药物已被广泛应用于慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)的临床治疗,并取得了一定疗效.然而现有的抗病毒药物虽可显著抑制HBV复制,但却不能完全清除体内的共价闭合环状DNA(cccDNA),难以持久恢复患者的抗病毒免疫功能,导致HBsAg长期存在.因此,要实现HBsAg血清学转化,清除慢性HBV感染患者体内cccDNA,必须依靠患者特异性抗病毒免疫能力的恢复.     

乙型肝炎患者血清中乙型肝炎病毒共价闭合环状DNA的检测

目的 检测不同肝脏病变程度的乙型肝炎患者外周血中的HBV共价闭合环状DNA(HBV cccDNA),评价其相关的影响因素和临床意义.方法 共观察57例乙型肝炎患者,其中轻度慢性乙型肝炎患者26例,重型乙型肝炎患者31例.患者入院后行PT、肝功能、肝炎病毒血清标志物等常规检测,并进行总HBV DNA和HBV cccDNA检测.Logistic逐步回归分析影响血清HBVcecDNA检出率的相关因素.结果重型乙型肝炎组13份血清标本HBV cccDNA为阳性,轻度慢性乙型肝炎组仅1份血清标本HBV cccDNA为阳性,血清HBV cccDNA的含量为1.25×103～4.88×104拷贝/mL,两组患者血清HBV cccDNA检出率差异有统计学意义(P=0.0014).血清HBV cccDNA检测诊断重型乙型肝炎患者的灵敏度和特异度分别为41.94%和96.15%.Logistic逐步回归分析显示,血清HBV ccvDNA的检出率与PT有关(X<'2>=7.2192,P=0.0072),而与患者的年龄、性别、血清总HBV DNA、TBil和ALT水平无相关性.结论 部分乙型肝炎患者特别是重型肝炎患者外周血中可以检测出HBV cccDNA,血清HBV cccDNA的检出可作为支持重型乙型肝炎诊断的指标之一.     

为进一步提高我国乙型肝炎临床科研水平而努力

新生儿乙型肝炎疫苗普种使我国的HBs Ag流行率由1992年的9.75%降低至2006年的7.18%。但现有慢性HBV感染者仍然高达9000万,其中慢性乙型肝炎患者2000万~3000万。干扰素类及核苷和核苷酸类药物可有效抑制HBV复制、延缓疾病进展,但难以彻底治愈乙型肝炎。积极研发针对HBV复制过程特异靶点的直接抗病毒药物以及针对其免疫应答关键环节的免疫疗法,是实现乙型肝炎治愈目标的技术关键。中国学者在优化现有乙型肝炎治疗方案、探索新疗法等方面开展了卓有成效的工作。采用公共卫生策略来提高乙型肝炎预防和治疗的可及性和可负担性、扩大预防接种和规范化治疗的覆盖人群是降低乙型肝炎相关疾病负担和社会经济负担的最有效手段。     

慢性乙型肝炎抗病毒治疗的现状和进展

全球有20亿人曾经受到乙型肝炎病毒（HBV）的感染，其中约4亿发展成为慢性乙型肝炎患者，中国约占其中的三分之一（约1．3亿）。慢性乙型肝炎是导致肝硬化、肝癌、肝功能衰竭的主要原因，而肝硬化和原发性肝癌的发生与HBV的持续复制密切相关。因此，抗病毒治疗是慢性乙型肝炎治疗的关键。近年来，越来越多的抗病毒药物应用于临床，其疗效和存在的问题得到逐步深入的认识，故选择何种抗病毒药物成为临床上经常遇到的问题。现将抗病毒药物治疗慢性乙型肝炎的现状和进展综述如下。     

慢性乙型肝炎免疫治疗新策略

慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)是全球重要的传染病之一,目前主要的治疗药物为干扰素与核苷和核苷酸类药物,具有较好疗效,但尚未达到彻底清除人体内HBV的最终目标。因此,探索治疗新策略以及研发新的治疗药物有重要意义。HBV的持续感染与机体内免疫状态密切相关,目前研究表明免疫治疗有助于实现彻底治愈CHB。结合CHB患者的免疫状态,综述了Toll样受体激动剂、细胞治疗、治疗性疫苗等免疫治疗新策略的研究进展。     

慢性乙型肝炎的免疫治疗进展

近年来,核苷(酸)类似物和干扰素(IFN)等抗病毒药物已广泛应用于慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)治疗,并取得了一定疗效.现有的抗病毒药物虽可显著抑制HBV复制,并部分恢复宿主的特异性免疫功能,但作用并不持久.慢性HBV感染患者要清除肝内HBV及感染肝细胞,必须依靠有效的特异性抗病毒免疫功能.     

中国北方地区321例乙型肝炎病毒相关肝细胞癌患者的流行病学和临床特征分析

背景:我国是肝细胞癌(HCC)高发区,其中大部分HCC与乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)感染相关,有必要对其自然史和临床进程作大样本调查研究。目的:了解中国北方地区HBV相关HCC患者的流行病学和临床特征。方法:对中国北方地区321例HBV相关HCC患者作流行病学问卷调查,行肝功能、甲胎蛋白(AFP)、HBV血清标志物和HBV DNA水平检测,并进行统计分析。结果:321例HBV相关HCC患者中,仅7.2%接受过抗病毒治疗;46.4%和25.5%分别有肝硬化和肝癌家族史;38.3%有饮酒史。21.0%的患者乙型肝炎e抗原(HBeAg)阳性,62.3%乙型肝炎e抗体(HBeAb)阳性,HBeAg阳性者合并肝硬化的比例和HBV DNA水平较高。84.5%的患者HBV DNA阳性,但其中仅42.6%HBV DNA≥5.0log10,HBV DNA高水平者合并肝硬化的比例显著高于HBV DNA低水平者。无症状HBV感染、慢性乙型肝炎、代偿性和失代偿性肝硬化患者分别占4.1%、24.1%、39.0%和32.9%。71.0%的患者AFP升高,但其中仅33.8?P≥400ng/ml。结论:本组HBV相关HCC患者中,HBeAg阳性和高HBV DNA水平者不多,但病情常较重。肝硬化是HCC的重要危险因素,饮酒和肝癌家族史对HCC的发生有一定影响。血清AFP筛查有助于HCC的诊断。     

慢性乙型肝炎患者12周自发性HBV DNA水平变化分析

目的 分析慢性乙型肝炎患者12周内自发性HBV DNA水平下降情况.方法 回顾性分析2003-2005年未接受抗病毒药物治疗的慢性乙型肝炎患者12周内自发性HBV DNA水平下降情况,并根据患者基线ALT、总胆红素(TBil)水平进行分组,分析基线ALT、TBil对自发性HBVDNA水平下降的影响.两组间计量资料比较采用t检验或Wilcoxon符号秩和检验;多组数据均值比较采用方差分析;组间率的比较采用x2检验.结果 共收集213例慢性乙型肝炎患者,男性174例,女性39例,年龄18～65(33.0±10.0)岁.其中慢性乙型肝炎轻～中度124例,慢性乙型肝炎重度89例;12周时失访19例(8.92%).所有患者HBV DNA基线均值为(6.66±1.03)log10拷贝/ml,12周时为(5.98±1.53)log10拷贝/ml(P<0.01).慢性乙型肝炎重度患者基线时HBVDNA水平均值低于慢性乙型肝炎轻～中度患者,分别为(6.45±0.99)log10拷贝/ml与(6.81±1.04)log10拷贝/ml(P<0.05);但两组12周时HBV DNA水平均值及HBV DNA水平下降值的差异均无统计学意义.12周时HBV DNA≤3 log10拷贝/ml患者的基线ALT及TBil值高于HBVDNA>3 log10拷贝/ml组,但差异均无统计学意义.12周时HBV DNA水平下降值≥2 log10拷贝/ml与<2 log10拷贝/ml两组患者的基线ALT、TBil水平相近(P>0.05).基线ALT水平≤5倍正常值上限(ULN)与>5×ULN两组患者12周时HBV DNA水平均值及HBV DNA水平下降值的差异均无统计学意义;两组患者12周时HBV DNA≤3 log10拷贝/ml、HBV DNA水平下降值≥2 log10拷贝/ml的比例,差异也无统计学意义(P>0.05).基线时ALT≤5 × ULN及TBil≤5×ULN组HBV DNA水平均值高于其他3组(P<0.05),但12周时各组HBV DNA水平均值、HBV DNA下降值比较,差异无统计学意义. 结论 慢性乙型肝炎患者12周内存在一定程度的自发性HBV DNA水平下降,但肝脏炎症损伤程度与患者12周内自发性HBV DNA水平下降程度无明显的相关性.     

抗病毒经治慢性乙型肝炎患者的再治疗

随着抗病毒药物,包括聚乙二醇干扰素(Peg-IFN)和核苷(酸)类似物(NAs)在临床上的长期和广泛应用,加之我国慢性乙型肝炎防治指南的颁布和不断更新,同时,中华医学会肝病学分会和感染病学分会的专家对慢性乙型肝炎防治指南的广泛巡讲、解读,使包括基层医院在内的广大肝病工作者对慢性乙型肝炎抗病毒治疗的认识不断提高,越来越多的患者接受了抗病毒治疗.然而,由于HBV本身的特点、机体对HBV的免疫耐受或免疫功能低下,不能自发地清除病毒,以及所用药物抗病毒作用的局限性,即不能彻底清除肝组织内病毒复制的模板cccDNA等因素,同时评价抗病毒治疗疗效的指标均为病毒学或血清学的替代指标,因此,不能确定哪些患者停药后疾病不复发.所以在接受抗病     

乙型肝炎相关性肝衰竭患者HBV DNA低水平复制及特异性抗体表达的临床意义

目的探讨乙型肝炎相关性肝衰竭患者血清HBV DNA低水平复制及HBV特异性抗体表达的相关因素及临床意义。方法收集2008年6月至2013年12月于天津市第二人民医院住院治疗的391例乙型肝炎相关性肝衰竭患者及394例慢性乙型肝炎患者的病历资料。比较乙型肝炎相关性肝衰竭与慢性乙型肝炎患者HBV DNA表达的不同及影响因素分析。根据HBV血清学标志物(HBV M)特异性表达的不同将肝衰竭患者分为特异性抗体阳性(指抗-HBs、抗-HBe和抗-HBc同时阳性)和特异性抗体阴性(无抗-HBs、抗-HBe和抗-HBc同时阳性)2组,分析2组患者HBV DNA水平的变化和生存情况。组间比较采用独立样本t检验或MannWhitney秩和检验,计数资料比较采用χ2检验。结果乙型肝炎相关性肝衰竭患者HBV DNA水平低于慢性乙型肝炎组,差异有统计学意义(Z=-16.469,P0.05);HBeAg阳性和阴性的肝衰竭患者HBV DNA水平均低于相应的慢性乙型肝炎患者,差异有统计学意义(Z分别为-11.665和-12.853,P0.05)。在391肝衰竭病例中,HBV特异性抗体阳性组29例(7.42%),死亡25例(86.21%),HBV特异性抗体阴性组362例(92.58%),死亡157例(43.37%),2组病死率差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。特异性抗体阳性组患者HBV DNA水平明显低于特异性抗体阴性组,差异有统计学意义(Z=-3.594,P0.05)。2组HBeAg阴性患者HBV DNA水平均低于HBeAg阳性患者,差异有统计学意义(Z分别为7.427和7.513,P0.05)。结论 HBV M表达形式及机体免疫状态的动态变化在乙型肝炎相关性肝衰竭的发生发展过程中起着一定作用,HBV DNA低水平复制系机体处于免疫清除期所致,而同时伴抗-HBs、抗-HBe、抗-HBc 3个抗体同时阳性则提示机体对HBV的超强免疫反应,致使病情恶化、发展迅速,病死率高。     

Three layer functional model and energy exchange concept of aging process

Relying on a certain degree of abstraction, we can propose that no particular distinction exists between animate or living matter and inanimate matter. While focusing attention on some specifics, the dividing line between the two can be drawn. The most apparent distinction is in the level of structural and functional organization with the dissimilar streams of ‘energy flow’ between the observed entity and the surrounding environment. In essence, living matter is created from inanimate matter which is organized to contain internal intense energy processes and maintain lower intensity energy exchange processes with the environment. Taking internal and external energy processes into account, we contend in this paper that living matter can be referred to as matter of dissipative structure, with this structure assumed to be a common quality of all living creatures and living matter in general. Interruption of internal energy conversion processes and terminating the controlled energy exchange with the environment leads to degeneration of dissipative structure and reduction of the same to inanimate matter, (gas, liquid and/or solid inanimate substances), and ultimately what can be called ‘death.’ This concept of what we call dissipative nature can be extended from living organisms to social groups of animals, to mankind. An analogy based on the organization of matter provides a basis for a functional model of living entities. The models relies on the parallels among the three central structures of any cell (nucleus, cytoplasm and outer membrane) and the human body (central organs, body fluids along with the connective tissues, and external skin integument). This three-part structural organization may be observed almost universally in nature. It can be observed from the atomic structure to the planetary and intergalactic organizations. This similarity is corroborated by the membrane theory applied to living organisms. According to the energy nature of living matter and the proposed functional model, the decreased integrity of a human body's external envelope membrane is a first cause of the structural degradation and aging of the entire organism. The aging process than progresses externally to internally, as in single cell organisms, suggesting that much of the efforts towards the restoration and maintenance of the mechanisms responsible for structural development should be focused accordingly, on the membrane, i.e., the skin. Numerous reports indicate that all parts of the human body, like: bones, blood with blood vessels, muscles, skin, and so on, have some ability for restoration. Therefore, actual revival of not only aging tissue of the human body's membrane, but the entire human body enclosed within, with all internal organs, might be expected. We assess several aging theories within the context of our model and provide suggestions on how to activate the body's own anti-aging mechanisms and increase longevity. This paper presents some analogies and some distinctions that exist between the living dissipative structure matter and inanimate matter, discusses the aging process and proposes certain aging reversal solutions.     

Unusual responses of nocturnal pineal melatonin synthesis and secretion to swimming: Attempts to define mechanisms

Abstract: The effect of swimming at night on rat pineal melatonin synthesis was compared with that of light exposure at night. Rats were forced to swim at 0030 hr (lights out at 2000 hr) and sacrificed by decapitation 15 and 30 min later, immediately after swimming. Other groups of animals were exposed to white light (650μW/cm²) for 15 and 30 min at same time. Swimming caused a rapid and highly significant drop in the melatonin content in the pineal gland; however, the activity of N-acetyltransferase (NAT), the supposed rate limiting enzyme in the melatonin production, was not changed. Despite the drop in pineal melatonin levels, serum concentrations of the indole remained elevated in the rats that swam. In contrast, melatonin levels in the pineal and serum of light exposed rats fell precipitously, accompanied by a significant suppression of NAT activity. Since we anticipated that the strenuous exercise associated with swimming may induce release of artrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from the heart, which in turn could cause the release of pineal melatonin, in a second study we injected physiological saline intravenously to stretch the cardiac muscle and release ANP. Three milliliters of normal saline was injected during the day into the jugular vein of anesthetized rats that were pretreated with isoproterenol to stimulate pineal melatonin production. Animals were killed 15 min after the saline injection, and pineal NAT activity and pineal melatonin levels were measured. The saline injections caused no alteration in the elevated levels of either NAT or melatonin. These data suggest that the disparity in pineal NAT activity (which was high) and pineal melatonin (which was low), in animals swum at night, may not be caused by ANP which is released during strenuous exercise such as swimming.     

Melatonin and photoperiodic time measurement: Seasonal breeding in the sheep

Abstract: Well-established circadian physiology supports the view that photoperiodic time measurement utilizes the coincidence between the presence of light and a photosensitive phase of a 'biological clock' to alter reproductive status—the so-called external coincidence model of seasonal breeding. In this review, we examine the mechanism whereby photoperiod interacts with presumed suprachiasmatic nuclei activity to allow endogenous melatonin to normally synchronize reproductive activity to the optimal time of year. The Romney Marsh sheep is particularly explored as an experimental model. It is suggested that the on/off activity of seasonal reproduction may be a robust mechanism able to be predictably manipulated by the judicious use of the light/dark cycle and exogenous melatonin, but firmly based on circadian principles.     

Serological survey of HIV and syphilis in pregnant women in Madagascar

Objectives Peripartal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Treponema pallidum, the causative agent of syphilis, leads to severe consequences for newborns. Preventive measures require awareness of the maternal infection. Although HIV and syphilis testing in Madagascar could be theoretically carried out within the framework of the national pregnancy follow‐up scheme, the required test kits are rarely available at peripheral health centres. In this study, we screened blood samples of pregnant Madagascan women for HIV and syphilis seroprevalence to estimate the demand for systemic screening in pregnancy. Methods Retrospective anonymous serological analysis for HIV and syphilis was performed in plasma samples from 1232 pregnant women that were taken between May and July 2010 in Ambositra, Ifanadiana, Manakara, Mananjary, Moramanga and Tsiroanomandidy (Madagascar) during pregnancy follow‐up. Screening was based on Treponema pallidum haemagglutination tests for syphilis and rapid tests for HIV, with confirmation of positive screening results on line assays. Results Out of 1232 pregnant women, none were seropositive for HIV and 37 (3%) were seropositive for Treponema pallidum. Conclusions Our findings are in line with previous studies that describe considerable syphilis prevalence in the rural Madagascan population. The results suggest a need for screening to prevent peripartal Treponema pallidum transmission, while HIV is still rare. If they are known, Treponema pallidum infections can be easily, safely and inexpensively treated even in pregnancy to reduce the risk of transmission.     

Variabilité des concentrations plasmatiques de l’angiotensinogène et risque d’hypertension artérielle chez le rat transgénique

Aim

Genetic polymorphisms of the human angiotensinogen gene are frequent and may induce up to 30% increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations with a blood pressure increase of up to 5 mmHg. Their role for the pathogenesis of human arterial hypertension remains unclear. High plasma angiotensinogen levels could increase the sensitivity to other blood pressure stressors.

Methods

Male transgenic rats with a 9-fold increase of plasma angiotensinogen concentrations and male non-transgenic rats aged 10 weeks were treated or not with NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester for 3 weeks in their drinking water (n = 3/group). Systolic blood pressure and body weight were measured at baseline and at the end of the study when left ventricular weight and ventricular expression of angiotensin I-converting enzyme and procollagen Iα1 were determined (polymerase chain reaction).

Results

At baseline, transgenic rats had +18 mmHg higher bood pressure and –8% lower body weight compared to non-transgenic rats (P < 0.05) without significant changes for the vehicle groups throughout the study (P > 0.05). NG-Nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester increased blood pressure, left ventricular weight and left ventricular weight indexed for body weight by +41%, +17.6% and +18.6% (P < 0.05) in transgenic and +25%, +5.3% and +6.7% (P > 0.05) in non-transgenic rats compared to untreated animals, respectively. Cardiac gene expression showed no differences between groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Increased plasma angiotensinogen levels may sensitize to additional blood pressure stressors. Our preliminary results point towards an independent role of angiotensinogen in the pathogenesis of human hypertension and associated end-organ damage.     

Morphological and immunocytochemical heterogeneity of cultured pinealocytes from one-week-and two-month-old rats: Planimetric and densitometric investigations

Abstract: In vitro preparations of rat pinealocytes are widely used for biochemical analyses of signal transduction processes. This paper deals with morphological and immunocytochemical features of such preparations. Special attention was paid to the problems of whether pinealocytes represent a heterogeneous cell population and how such heterogeneity may develop during ontogeny. The investigations were performed with cells which were obtained from the pineal organ of one-week-and two-month-old rats, attached to synthetic peptide-coated coverslips or tissue culture chamber slides, and maintained under in vitro conditions overnight. The attached cells were then fixed with paraformaldehyde. These preparations yielded monolayers of spherical cells of different sizes; most cells were isolated, but some of them were aggregated and formed small clusters. On the average, the cells from the one-week-old animals were smaller than the cells from the two-month-old animals. Immunocytochemical demonstration of S-antigen, a pinealocyte-specific marker, showed that the majority of the cells from two-month-old animals were intensely or moderately labelled. Pinealocytes from one-week-old animals were less S-antigen immunoreactive. Only very few cells (less than 1% displayed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity. Planimetric investigations of the cell size and semiquantitative densitometric investigations of the intensity of the S-antigen immunoreaction revealed that (i) pinealocytes kept in vitro form a heterogeneous cell population, and that (ii) this heterogeneity increases during postnatal development from one-week-old to two-month-old animals. Two groups of pinealocytes can be distinguished based on their developmental fate: pinealocytes of one group grow dramatically, but show only a moderate increase in S-antigen immunoreactivity, and pinealocytes of the other group retain their size, but display a distinct increment in S-antigen immunoreacti vitv.     

Effects of pinealectomy and melatonin administration on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in rats with both ovaries intact or after unilateral ovariectomy

Abstract: In earlier studies from other laboratories it was shown that melatonin decreased ovarian weight in rats and inhibited compensatory hypertrophy of the remaining ovary after unilateral ovariectomy. This study was designed to examine the influence of melatonin on certain indices of ovarian hyperplasia and/or hypertrophy in adult female rats with both ovaries preserved and with either an intact pineal gland or with the pineal gland removed (pinealectomy, PX) or, finally, in sham-PX animals. Similar studies were conducted on rats after unilateral ovariectomy, referring the examined parameters to the remaining intact ovary. The studies included mitotic activity of granulosa layer cells and corpus luteum cells, ovarian weight, ovarian cross-sectional area, cross-sectional area of the granulosa layer of all the Graafian follicles and the cross-sectional areas of the corpora lutea, visible on the ovarian cross-section. On the basis of results, we conclude that: 1) the effect of PX on the processes of ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy may vary; analogously, exogenous melatonin administration may influence ovarian hyperplasia and hypertrophy in different ways; 2) PX and exogenous melatonin may, under certain conditions, exert similar biological effects, even synergistic effects; 3) melatonin inhibits ovarian growth processes, while the effects of PX are variable; 4) the results indicate that in experiments performed on rats, with the use of two control groups, i.e., intact and sham-PX, melatonin effects on these two groups may differ.