Serum hepatitis B surface antigen correlates with fibrosis and necroinflammation: A multicentre perspective in China

The kinetics of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) during the natural history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been studied, but the factors affecting them remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the factors affecting HBsAg titres, using data from multicentre, large-sized clinical trials in China. The baseline data of 1795 patients in 3 multicentre trials were studied, and the patients were classified into 3 groups: hepatitis B early antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic HBV infection (n = 588), HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (n = 596), and HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B (n = 611). HBsAg titres in the different phases were compared, and multiple linear progression analyses were performed to investigate the implicated factors. HBsAg titres varied significantly in different phases (P = .000), with the highest (4.60 log10 IU/mL [10%-90% confidence interval: 3.52 log10 IU/mL-4.99 log10 IU/mL]) in patients with HBeAg-positive chronic HBV infection. In all phases, age and HBV DNA were correlated with serum HBsAg level. In HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients, a negative correlation between HBsAg titres and fibrosis stage was observed. Alanine amonitransferase or necroinflammatory activity was also correlated with HBsAg titres in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B patients. In conclusion, decreased HBsAg titres may be associated with advancing fibrosis in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients or increased necroinflammation in those with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B. Our findings may help clinicians better understand the kinetics of HBsAg and provide useful insights into the management of this disease.

Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci of the Chinese muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi)

Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers for Muntiacus reevesi were identified and characterized in this study. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 10 across 24-48 samples. The loci showed expected and observed heterozygosities of 0.577-0.876 and 0.387-0.933, respectively, with an average polymorphic information content value of 0.682. These markers should be a useful tool for further population and conservation genetic studies of Muntiacus reevesi.

Developmental characteristics of pectoralis muscle in Pekin duck embryos

To confirm the entire developmental process and transition point of embryonic Pekin duck pectoral muscle, and to investigate the association between pectoral muscle development and their regulating genes, anatomical and morphological analyses of embryonic Pekin duck skeletal muscles were performed, and the expression patterns of its regulating genes were investigated. The anatomical analysis revealed that body weight increased with age, while increases in pectoral muscle weight nearly ceased after the embryo was 20 days of hatching (E20). The developmental morphological characteristics of Pekin duck pectoral muscle at the embryonic stage showed that E20 was the transition point (from proliferation to fusion) of Pekin duck pectoral muscle. The expression patterns of MRF4, MyoG, and MSTN indicated that E19 or E20 was the fastest point of pectoral muscle development and the crucial transition for Pekin duck pectoral muscle development during the embryonic stage. Together, these findings imply that E20 is the crucial transition point (from proliferation to fusion) of Pekin duck pectoral muscle and that there is no muscle fiber hypertrophy after E20. Results of this study provide further understanding of the developmental process and transition point of Pekin duck pectoral muscle during the embryo stage.

A study on the electrophysiological heterogeneity of rabbit ventricular myocytes the effect of ischemia on action potentials and potassium currents

With the whole-cell variant patch-clamp technique, action potentials (AP) and outward potassium currents of rabbit ventricular myocytes isolated from subendocardium and subepicardium were recorded and their changes were observed under normal and ischemia conditions. The results showed that (1) under normal condition, there were differences in the AP figures between ventricular subendocardial and subepicardial myocytes. Action potentials recorded from subepicardial myocytes had shorter action potential duration (APD) and a notch between phases 1 and 2, compared with those of subendocardial myocytes. The resting potential had no significant difference between these two populations of the action myocytes; (2) under ischemia condition, the notch of action potentials of subepicardial myocytes disappeared and the APD was shortened even more, compared with that of subendocardial myocytes; (3) under normal condition, the density of steady-state outward potassium currents of subepicardial myocytes was significantly greater than that of subendocardial myocytes; (4) under ischemia condition, the increase of steady-state outward potassium currents of subepicardial myocytes was greater than that of subendocardial myocytes. Glybenclamide could partly reverse the above changes. It is suggested that the increase of steady-state outward potassium currents during ischemia is mainly due to the opening of I(K-ATP) channels as a result of the deficiency of intracellular ATP caused by ischemia.

[Clinical biochemical observations on treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis with gusong-II]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the curative effect of Cusong II for postmenopausal osteoporosis, and try to reveal its mechanism.

METHODS

Thirty-five women, 49 to 62 years old, with 5.6 years menopause were treated as the subjects and followed for 6-9 months, 1-2 years. The course of treatment ranged from 6 months to 2 years and 1 month, and the average treatment period was 1 year and 2 months. Some related biochemical markers, such as serum estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), lasting morning urinary Ca/Cr, 24 h urinary Ca/Cr, 24 h urinary E2, 24 h urinary hydroxyproline (HOP), were measured before and after treatment.

RESULTS

After 6-9 months or 1-2 years, the levels of serum E2 and 24 h urinary E2 were raised significantly, while the levels of serum T and urinary Ca/Cr reduced evidently after 1- or 2- year treatment. The levels of serum E2 and 24 h urinary E2 were significantly correlated with levels of lasting morning urinary and 24 h urinary Ca/Cr, serum T, 24 h urinary HOP respectively.

CONCLUSION

Gusong-II could elevate the serum E2 levels of postmenopausal women, reduce the discharge of urinary Ca/Cr and HOP, inhibit the bone resorption. The rose of the serum E2 level might be correlated with the conversion of T into E2.

[Excitatory effect of alpha-adrenoceptor on the transient inward current in sheep myocardium]

Acetyl strophanthidin (AS) 0.05 mumol/L was used to induce a stable model of transient inward current (Iti) of sheep Purkinje fibers. The effect of the alpha-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) 0.3, 1.0 mumol/L on the amplitude and duration of Iti was observed in the presence of propranolol 0.5 mumol/L to block the beta-adrenoceptor. When the preparation was perfused with PE 1.0 mumol/L for 20, 50 min, the amplitude of Iti decreased from control value 12.8 +/- 1.9 nA to respectively 10.7 +/- 1.2 nA (n = 5, P < 0.05) and 9.6 +/- 1.9 nA (n = 5, P < 0.01). The D50 of Iti prolonged correspondingly from control value 145 +/- 24.4 ms to 183.3 +/- 28.1 ms (n = 5, P < 0.05) and 207.5 +/- 34.2 ms (n = 5, P < 0.01). The inhibitory effect of PE on Iti showed a dose- and time-dependent manner. Both the time for arrival of the peak value and for return to baseline of Iti prolonged. This suggests that the kinetics of Iti channel changed in the presence of PE. When the Iti was enhanced by beta- adreceptor agonist isoprenaline (ISO) 1.0 mumol/L, the addition of PE 1.0 mumol/L to the perfusate for 10 min, the inhibitory effect become more pronounced, the amplitude of Iti decreased from 15.6 +/- 3.2 nA to 10.3 +/- 2.2 nA and the D50 of Iti prolonged from 92.5 +/- 14.3 ms to 132.5 +/- 36.0 ms (n = 5, P < 0.01).

Influences of phenylephrine on delayed afterdepolarization and triggered activity in sheep Purkinje fibers

AIM

To compare the effects of phenylephrine (Phe) on DAD and TA in the absence or presence of propranolol (Pro).

METHODS

Using intracellular microelectrode methods to record transmembrane potentials in sheep Purkinje fibers.

RESULTS

Perfused Phe 1 mumol.L(-1) for 60 min, in the absence of Pro, Phe increased the amplitude of DAD from 7.5 +/- 1.2 to 9.0 +/- 2.0 mV (n = 8, P < 0.05), nonsignificantly changed the duration of DAD and induced TA in 3/11 preparations; but in the presence of Pro 0.5 mumol.L(-1) blocking beta-adrenoceptors, the amplitude of DAD increased from 7.2 +/- 1.8 to 8.3 +/- 2.1 mV at the first 20 min (n = 8, P < 0.01), and then decreased to 6.3 +/- 1.6 mV, the duration of DAD prolonged from 192 +/- 17 to 280 +/- 27 ms (n = 8, P < 0.01 vs control), meanwhile Phe could suppress the TA induced by acetylstrophanthidin and this effect was blocked by prazosin.

CONCLUSION

When Pro is efficiently used in abolishing arrhythmias evoked by catecholmines, apart from directly blocking beta-adrenoceptors, relatively aggravating excitation of alpha-adrenoceptors to suppress DAD and TA is one of the important reasons.

[Effects of isoprenaline and carbachol on delayed after-depolarization in myocardium]

The effects of isoprenaline and carbachol on the delayed after-depolarization (DAD) induced by acetyl strophanthidin of 2.0 x 10(-7) mol/L were observed in sheep cardiac Purkinje fibers. The amplitude of DAD was enhanced by isoprenaline (1.0--3.0 x 10(-8) mol/L) in a dose-dependent manner and the triggered arrhythmia was induced. Carbachol of 2.0 x 10(-6) mol/L alone had no effect on the amplitude of DAD. When the DAD was enhanced by isoprenaline or the triggered arrhythmia was induced, the same concentration of carbachol could decrease the amplitude of DAD significantly and abolish the triggered arrhythmia. However, carbachol did not attenuate the amplitude of the DAD enhanced by high concentration of calcium, aminophylline or histamine. The results suggest that carbachol can antagonize the enhancement of the DAD caused by isoprenaline. This effect is possibly mediated by activation of the muscarinic receptor, which in turn causes a decrease in the adenyl cyclase activity elevated by the activation of the beta-receptor in the membrane.