The association of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 response with radiologic response and survival in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: A prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The role of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) in response assessment among patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) remains unknown. The authors studied the association of the CA 19-9 response (defined as a reduction >50% from baseline) with the radiologic response and the outcome in patients with unresectable iCCA.

METHODS

A prospective cohort of 422 patients who were initially diagnosed with unresectable iCCA, had baseline CA 19-9 levels ≥100 U/mL, and received treatment with systemic therapies at the authors' institution between January 2017 and December 2021 were enrolled in this study. The radiologic response was assessed using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. A landmark assessment of the CA 19-9 response and the radiologic response was performed. The associations between CA 19-9 response and imaging response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed.

RESULTS

Two hundred sixty-seven patients (63.3%) had a CA 19-9 response. A CA 19-9 response was observed in 123 of 132 (93.2%) radiologic responders and in 144 of 290 (49.7%) radiologic nonresponders (p < .001). CA 19-9 responders outperformed nonresponders in median PFS (10.6 vs. 3.6 months; hazard ratio [HR], 4.8 months; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.8-6.0 months; p < .001) and OS (21.4 vs. 6.3 months; HR, 5.3 months; 95% CI, 4.2-6.7 months; p < .001). The common independent predictors of both OS and PFS included metastasis, CA 19-9 nonresponder status, and radiologic nonresponder status in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

CA 19-9 response is a valuable addition to assess tumor response and is associated with improved outcomes in patients with iCCA. Achieving a CA 19-9 response should be one of the therapeutic objectives of patients with iCCA after systemic therapies.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

A decline in carbohydrate antigen 19-9 levels from elevated baseline levels should be one of the therapeutic aims of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who are managed with systemic therapies.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia arising from malignant tumors]

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, cytogenetics, molecular biology, treatment, and prognosis of patients with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia (t-MDS/AML) secondary to malignancies. Methods: The clinical data of 86 patients with t-MDS/AML in West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 2010 and April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical characteristics, primary tumor types, and tumor-related therapies were analyzed. Results: The study enrolled a total of 86 patients with t-MDS/AML, including 67 patients with t-AML, including 1 patient with M(0), 6 with M(1), 27 with M(2), 9 with M(3), 12 with M(4), 10 with M(5), 1 with M(6), and 1 with M(7). Sixty-two patients could be genetically stratified, with a median overall survival (OS) of 36 (95% CI 22-52) months for 20 (29.9%) patients in the low-risk group and 6 (95% CI 3-9) months for 10 (14.9%) in the intermediate-risk group. The median OS time was 8 (95% CI 1-15) months in 32 (47.8%) patients in the high-risk group. For patients with non-acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and AML, the median OS of the low-risk group was 27 (95% CI 18-36) months, which was significantly longer than that of the non-low-risk group (χ(2)=5.534, P=0.019). All 9 APL cases were treated according to the initial treatment, and the median OS was not reached, and the 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were 100.0%, (75.0±6.2) %, and (75.0±6.2) % respectively. Of the 58 patients with non-APL t-AML (89.7%), 52 received chemotherapy, and 16 achieved complete remission (30.8%) after the first induction chemotherapy. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates of the non-APL t-AML group were (42.0 ± 6.6) %, (22.9±5.7) %, and (13.4±4.7) %, respectively. The median OS of patients who achieved remission was 24 (95% CI 18-30) months, and the median OS of those who did not achieve remission was 6 (95% CI 3-9) months (χ(2)=10.170, P=0.001). Bone marrow CR was achieved in 7 (53.8%) of 13 patients treated with vineclar-containing chemotherapy, with a median OS of 12 (95% CI 9-15) months, which was not significantly different from that of vineclar-containing chemotherapy (χ(2)=0.600, P=0.437). In 19 patients with t-MDS, the 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS rates were (46.8±11.6) %, (17.5±9.1) %, and (11.7±9.1) % with a median OS of 12 (95% CI 7-17) months, which was not significantly different from that in t-AML (χ(2)=0.232, P=0.630) . Conclusions: Breast cancer, bowel cancer, and other primary tumors are common in patients with t-MDS/AML, which have a higher risk of adverse genetics. Patients with APL had a high induction remission rate and a good long-term prognosis, whereas patients without APL had a low remission rate and a poor long-term prognosis.

Impact of chemoradiotherapy on the survival of unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a retrospective cohort analysis

BACKGROUND

The role of chemoradiotherapy in unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer is still unclear.

METHODS

Data from patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify the independent prognostic factors of survival. Propensity score matching was carried out to minimize the interference of confounding factors. Subgroup analysis was performed to screen the characteristics of patients who would benefit from chemoradiotherapy.

RESULTS

A total of 5002 patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer were included. Among them, 2423 (48.4%) received chemotherapy, and 2579 (51.6%) received chemoradiotherapy. The median overall survival of all patients was 11 months. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that age (p < 0.001), marital status (p < 0.001), tumor size (p = 0.001), N stage (p = 0.015) and radiotherapy (p < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors of survival. Both before (HR, 0.817; 95% CI, 0.769-0.868; p < 0.001) and after (HR, 0.904; 95% CI, 0.876-0.933; p < 0.001) propensity score matching, chemoradiotherapy significantly improved the median overall survival of patients from 10 to 12 months. Subgroup analysis showed that chemoradiotherapy was significantly associated with improved survival regardless of sex, primary site or N stage. In addition, the following subgroups all significantly benefited from chemoradiotherapy: age ≥ 50 years, not divorced, grade 2-4, tumor size > 2 cm, adenocarcinoma, mucinous adenocarcinoma and white race.

CONCLUSIONS

Chemoradiotherapy is highly recommended for patients with unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Regio- and chemoselective hydroamination of unactivated alkenes with anthranils via NiH-catalysis

A NiH-catalyzed polarity-reversed hydroamination of β,γ-, γ,δ- and δ,ε-unsaturated alkenes with electrophilic anthranils was developed. This reaction proceeds in a highly regio- and chemoselective manner to afford γ, δ and ε-arylamines bearing a carbonyl or alcohol functionality with 100% atom efficiency. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the chemoselectivity is controlled by the base and the alcohol product is derived from the base-catalyzed hydrosilylation of the CO bond.

[Temporal and spatial variation of vegetation net primary productivity and its driving factors in Ningxia, China from 2000 to 2019]

Ningxia is an important agriculture-pastoral area in China. Research on the temporal and spatial variations of net primary productivity (NPP) in this area and its driving factors would help understand the trends and leading factors of NPP variations, and reveal vegetation restoration status and causes. Based on the NPP data of MODIS, we used Theil-Sen Median trend analysis, correlation analysis, overlay analysis and other methods to analyze the spatiotemporal variations and driving factors of NPP in Ningxia. The results showed that NPP of Ningxia vegetation showed a fluctuating upward trend during 2000-2019, with a linear growth rate of 5.46 g C·m^-2·a^-1. The NPP presented a spatial characteristics of "two high and two low", with the highest in the southern mountain area, followed by the Yellow River irrigation area, and the lowest in the hilly area of the central arid zone and Helan Mountain. 84.2% of the NPP in the study area was under significant restoration, mainly distributed in the central and southern mountainous and hilly areas. The NPP varied significantly with altitude and was significantly affected by the terrain. NPP center of gravity had generally moved to the south, with the increase and growth rate of NPP of vegetation in the south being greater than that in the north. The annual precipitation in Ningxia had shown an increasing trend, while the average annual temperature had slightly decreased. The NPP was significantly affec-ted by precipitation (R²=0.291), whereas the correlation between mean annual temperature and NPP was weak. 96.9% of the study area was at a state of vegetation restoration, which was promoted by both climate change and human activities.

[Effects of deficit irrigation on seed production performance and water use efficiency of two native plant species in arid areas]

Scientific irrigation is of great significance to plant seed production. With two excellent native plant species in desert steppe, Agropyron mongolicum and Lespedeza potaninii, as the objects, and full irrigation as the control, we explored the effects of deficit irrigation in different growth stages on the seed production and water use efficiency (WUE) of those two species. The results showed that, compared with the control, soil water content of both species decreased under deficit irrigation. The decrease of soil water content of A. mongolicum mainly occurred in the 0-60 cm soil layer, while there was no obvious stratification for the reduction of soil water content of L. potaninii. There were significant differences in the yield components of A. mongolica under deficit irrigation. The seed yield of deficit irrigation at the flowering stage was the highest. There were significant differences in the numbers of fertile tillers, florets and pods of L. potaninii among treatments, but no significant difference in seed yield. There were positive correlations between seed yield of A. mongolicum and the numbers of fertile tillers (r=0.776) and spikelets (r=0.717). The racemes of L. potaninii was significantly negatively correlated with the number of fertile tillers (r=-0.685), and positively correlated with the number of florets (r=0.412). Compared with full irrigation, water consumption of seed production of the two native plant species was reduced under deficit irrigation, but water use efficiency was improved, with the strongest improvement at the flowering stage of A. mongolicum (32.9%) and at the branching stage of L. potaninii (27.4%). Therefore, proper deficit irrigation could improve water use efficiency of both plant species. From the perspective of water use efficiency and seed yield, deficit irrigation could be used for artificial breeding of A. mongolicum and L. potaninii seeds in arid area, with the suitable growth stage for deficit being the flowering and the branching stages, respectively.

[Research advances on the effects of grazing on plant functional traits in grassland]

Plant functional traits is connected with vegetation adaptability to the environment. The trade-off between plant functional traits reflects resource reintegration and acquisition under grazing pressures. We summarized the differences of plant functional traits under grazing disturbance, focused on the linkages between grazing disturbance and plant functional traits. We introduced that the variation of plant functional traits resulted from the coordination between plant genetic characteristics and environmental filtration, summarized the effects of grazing on nutritional and reproductive traits, and noted that plants could use survival and reproductive strategies to adapt to the grazing disturbance. We mainly focused on the effects of grazing on plant population, community and ecosystem. The expression of plant functional traits was different under grazing disturbance. Therefore, plant functional traits could be used as indicators to explain population growth and reproduction, community assembly, and ecosystem function. In order to better serve the ecological environment of grassland with plant functional traits, reasonable grazing resis-tant species could be screened according to plant functional traits. Based on life history characteristics of grassland plant population, the scientific grazing mechanism should be formulated, and the responses of plant functional traits and resource allocation to grazing disturbance should be conducted from the perspective of individual-based level in the future.

Effects of rotation grazing time on the characteristics of soil seed bank in desert steppe

Exploring the characteristics of soil seed bank under seasonal grazing plays an important role in the reasonable use of desert steppe. We examined seed bank species composition, density, vertical distribution, diversity in the soil of 0-5, 5-10, 10-15 cm soil layers and the relationship with vegetation and soil environmental factors in Ningxia desert steppe. The treatments included enclosure (FY), traditional time rotation grazing (FG), delayed to start rotation grazing (YG), early to end rotation grazing (TG), delayed to start and early to end rotation grazing (YT) and free grazing (ZY). The results showed that there were nine families and 21 species in the soil seed bank in the study area. The species composition of soil seed bank in TG seed bank with 13 species was the largest, while FY and ZY soil seed banks had the least, with 8 species, respectively. The den-sity of ZY soil seed bank was significantly higher than that of FY, YG, TG and YT. The number of perennial species seeds in the soil seed bank of FY was the largest, reaching 32.0%, while that in the ZY was the least, only 12.4%, mainly with sexually reproduced annual weeds. Soil seed bank was mainly concentrated in the 0-5 cm surface layer. With increasing soil depth, the size of soil seed bank decreased. The dominance and diversity of soil seed bank were the highest in FY, while the dominance, diversity and uniformity were the lowest in ZY. The similarity between soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation was generally low. In contrast, the FG and ZY seed banks had higher similarity with vegetation, and the FY was the lowest. Soil moisture, organic matter, total nitrogen concentration, total phosphorus concentration, and soil bulk density were the main soil factors affecting soil seed bank. Compared with traditional whole year free grazing, seasonal four-zone rotation grazing could increase species richness and abundance of perennial plants in soil seed bank of desert steppe, as well as the total species richness, diversity and uniformity of the seed bank. Although the effect sof seasonal four-zone rotation grazing on seed bank was not as good as the long-term enclosure grassland, it was of great significance to the utilization and protection of desert steppe.

Deep soil C and N pools in long-term fenced and overgrazed temperate grasslands in northwest China

Fencing for grazing exclusion has been widely found to have an impact on grassland soil organic carbon (SOC) and total nitrogen (TN), but little is known about the impact of fenced grassland on the changes in deep soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) stocks in temperate grasslands. We studied the influence of 30 years fencing on vegetation and deep soil characteristics (0-500 cm) in the semi-arid grasslands of northern China. The results showed that fencing significantly increased the aboveground biomass (AGB), litter biomass (LB), total biomass, vegetation coverage and height, and soil water content and the SOC and TN in the deep soil. The belowground biomass (BGB) did not significantly differ between the fenced and grazed grassland. However, fencing significantly decreased the root/shoot ratio, forbs biomass, pH, and soil bulk density. Meanwhile, fencing has significantly increased the C and N stocks in the AGB and LB but not in the BGB. After 30 years of fencing, the C and N stocks significantly increased in the 0-500 cm soil layer. The accumulation of SOC mainly occurred in the deep layers (30-180 cm), and the accumulation of TN occurred in the soil layers of 0 to 60 cm and 160 to 500 cm. Our results indicate that fencing is an effective way to improve deep soil C and N stocks in temperate grassland of northwest China. There were large C and N stocks in the soil layers of 100 to 500 cm in the fenced grasslands, and their dynamics should not be ignored.

[Anti-prostate cancer effect of roemerine: An experimental study]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the anti-prostate cancer (PCa) effect of roemerine in vitro and in vivo in the mouse model of PCa.

METHODS

We detected the effects of roemerine on the proliferation, apoptosis and migration of PCa cells DU145, LNCaP, PC-3 and 22RV1, screened out the sensitive cell line and constructed a tumor-bearing model in mice for verification of the antitumor efficacy of roemerine in vivo.

RESULTS

Roemerine inhibited the proliferation and migration of the DU145, LNCaP, PC-3 and 22RV1 cells and induced their apoptosis in different degrees, particularly those of the LNCaP cells. The average tumor weight was less in the roemerine intervention group (［1.99±0.95］ g) than in the control (［2.95±1.04］ g), the least in the high-dose roemerine (30 mg/kg) plus paclitaxel intervention group (［0.90±0.16］ g). The mean heart, liver, and kidney indexes were markedly lower in the roemerine (0.58±0.06, 6.20±0.42 and 1.49±0.33) than in the paclitaxel group (0.66±0.04, 6.99±0.72 and 1.95±0.34), while the mean spleen and thymus indexes were remarkably higher in the former (0.54±0.11 and 0.06±0.01) than in the latter (0.41±0.09 and 0.05±0.01). Pathological staining showed a lower degree of malignancy and metastasis in both the roemerine and the roemerine + paclitaxel intervention group than in the control, as well as a lower degree of visceral injury in the roemerine and roemerine + paclitaxel groups than in the paclitaxel group.

CONCLUSIONS

Roemerine has some anti-PCa effect and alleviates adverse reactions in paclitaxel combination administration.

[Efficacy of GLIDE chemotherapy for patients with newly diagnosed advanced-stage or relapsed/refractory extranodal natural killer cell lymphoma]

目的

研究GLIDE（吉西他滨、门冬酰胺酶、异环磷酰胺、地塞米松、依托泊苷）方案治疗初发进展期及复发难治性结外鼻型NK/T细胞淋巴瘤（ENKL）患者的有效性及安全性。

方法

纳入2010年3月至2016年3月收治的初发进展期及复发难治性ENKL患者42例，给予GLIDE方案化疗，中位疗程数为3(2~6）个，评估化疗结束后缓解率及早期（2个疗程后）缓解率，采用Kaplan-Meier方法统计无进展生存（PFS）及总生存（OS），同时采用Cox回归方法进行多因素分析，寻找影响患者PFS及OS的独立预后因素。

结果

31例（73.8%）患者达到完全缓解（CR），其中22例（52.4%）为早期CR，31例CR患者中14例接受序贯自体造血干细胞移植（ASCT）。1年PFS与OS率分别为65.6％和82.7%，4年PFS与OS率分别为48.2％和63.1%，中位OS时间未达到，中位PFS时间为30.5个月。多因素分析提示美国东部肿瘤协作组体能状态评分（ECOG评分）0~1分以及CR后序贯ASCT为减少复发、延长患者生存的有利因素。

结论

GLIDE方案能够有效治疗初发进展期及复发难治性ENKL, ECOG评分0~1分及CR后序贯ASCT治疗是患者获得较长PFS和OS时间的独立预后因素。

Radiosensitivity in HeLa cervical cancer cells overexpressing glutathione S-transferase π 1

The aims of the present study were to investigate the effect of overexpressed exogenous glutathione S-transferase π 1 (GSTP1) gene on the radiosensitivity of the HeLa human cervical cancer cell line and conduct a preliminarily investigation into the underlying mechanisms of the effect. The full-length sequence of human GSTP1 was obtained by performing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers based on the GenBank sequence of GSTP1. Subsequently, the gene was cloned into a recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid, and the resulting construct was confirmed by restriction analysis and DNA sequencing. A HeLa cell line that was stably expressing high levels of GSTP1 was obtained through stable transfection of the constructed plasmids using lipofectamine and screening for G418 resistance, as demonstrated by reverse transcription-PCR. Using the transfected HeLa cells, a colony formation assay was conducted to detect the influence of GSTP1 overexpression on the cell radiosensitivity. Furthermore, flow cytometry was used to investigate the effect of GSTP1 overexpression on cell cycle progression, with the protein expression levels of the cell cycle regulating factor cyclin B1 detected using western blot analysis. Colony formation and G₂/M phase arrest in the GSTP1-expressing cells were significantly increased compared with the control group (P<0.01). In addition, the expression of cyclin B1 was significantly reduced in the GSTP1-expressing cells. These results demonstrated that increased expression of GSTP1 inhibits radiosensitivity in HeLa cells. The mechanism underlying this effect may be associated with the ability of the GSTP1 protein to reduce cyclin B1 expression, resulting in significant G₂/M phase arrest.

[Establishment of a detection method for hepatitis B virus large surface protein (HBV-lP)]

OBJECTIVE

To establish enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of hepatitis B virus large surface protein(HBV-LP) in serum.

METHODS

A sandwich reaction was preformed with horseradish peroxidase labeled monoclonal antibody of HBV-LP as the catalytic enzyme. Several reactions liquid's concentration and reaction conditions were optimized. The method was evaluated in all aspects such as sensitivity, specificity, stability and so on.

RESULTS

The detection limit was 5 ng/ml. Interassay and intra-assay RSD were both less than 10%. After stored at 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C for 3, 5, 7 days, the analysis showed correlation coefficient higher than 0.98 and RSD lower than 10%.

CONCLUSION

Established ELISA for determination of serum HBV-LP has high sensitivity and repeatability. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay;

[Correlation of homocysteine in plasma with NOS and endogenous CO in the penile corpus cavernosum of type 2 diabetic rats]

OBJECTIVE

To study the correlation of homocysteine (Hcy) in plasma with nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) in the penile corpus cavernosum of type 2 diabetic rats.

METHODS

This study included 40 male Wistar rats, 10 as controls (Group A) and the other 30 as diabetes mellitus (DM) models. Four weeks after the model establishment, the model rats were divided into a DM group (Group B, n = 10), an insulin treated group (Group C, n = 10), and a folic acid and vitamin B12 treated group (Group D, n = 10). All the rats were injected with apomorphine and observed for penile erection at 8 and 12 weeks, and the levels of total plasma Hcy (tHcy), NOS and CO in the penile corpus cavernosum were measured at 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Compared with Group A, the level of tHcy was significantly increased, while NOS and CO activities in the penile cavernous tis-sue and erectile function remarkably decreased in Group B (P < 0.01). The incidence rate of high Hcy was 55% in the DM rats. In comparison, the level of tHcy was obviously decreased, and the NOS activity and erectile function markedly increased in Groups C and D (P < 0.01). The Hcy level showed a significant negative correlation with NOS activity (rA = -0.89, rB = -0.76, rc = -0.91, rD = -0.91) and CO content (TA = -0.82, r, = -0.77, rc = -0.93, rD = -0.81).

CONCLUSION

High plasma Hcy can decrease NOS and CO activities in the penile corpus cavernosum, and consequently induce erectile dysfunction in DM rats, while insulin, folic acid and vitamin B12 can improve their penile erectile function by increasing NOS and CO activities.

[ZnPP IX and L-NAME reduce the cGMP content in the penile tissue of rats]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of CO release inhibitor zinc protoporphyria IX (ZnPP IX) and NO release inhibitor L-NAME on the content of cGMP in the penile tissue of rats.

METHODS

Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal control, a ZnPP IX, and an L-NAME group, given saline (1 ml/kg/d), ZnPP IX (45 micromol/kg/d) and L-NAME (50 mg/kg/d), respectively, for 7 days. Then all the rats were killed, homogenate made from their penile tissues and detected for the contents of NOS, NO, CO and cGMP.

RESULTS

The contents of CO, NOS, NO and cGMP were all reduced in both the ZnPP IX and L-NAME groups as compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

ZnPP IX and L-NAME can reduce the concentrations of CO and NO in the penile tissues of rats, and consequently the content of cGMP.

[Evaluation of the ELISA and the enhanced chemiluminescence immunoassay in use to determine the serum markers for liver fibrosis]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the detection method of ELISA and Enhanced Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (ECLIA) in use to determine serum hyaluronate acid (HA), laminin (LN), type IV collagen (IV-C) and type III procollagen (PC III).

METHODS

253 patients with chronic hepatitis B were determined the four liver fibrosis serum markers with both the ECLIA and ELISA, and then compared with pathology results separately.

RESULTS

Both the detection results of ELISA and ECLIA can reflect that the patient's liver fibrosis from hepatitis to liver cirrhosis aggravated gradually. Compared with ELISA, the results of ECLIA and pathology have a better correlation.

CONCLUSIONS

The detection of four liver fibrosis serum markers by ECLIA could indicate the better the response of the state of live fibrosis.

[Clinical application of acellular dermal matrix to prevent gustatory sweating syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the clinical effect of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) on preventing Frey syndrome after parotidectomy.

METHODS

Fifty-seven patients were randomized into two groups, ADM group (30 patients) receiving acellular dermal matrix and control group (27 patients) without application of acellular dermal matrix. The incidence of Frey syndrome was evaluated after operation.

RESULTS

The incidences of Frey syndrome were 13.3% in ADM group and 55.6% in control group. There was significant difference in Frey syndrome incidence between the two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The application of acellular dermal matrix could effectively prevent Frey syndrome after parotidectomy.

[Significance of hepatitis B virus PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, large protein, PreS2-Ab detection and the prediction of HBV DNA replication.]

BACKGROUND

To explore the significance of hepatitis B virus PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, large protein (LP) detection and the prediction of viral replication.

METHODS

PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, LP and HBV markers were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 201 cases of infected serum. Serum HBV DNA level was quantitatively detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTS

There were significant differences in positive rate between the PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag, LP, and HBsAg; the positive rate of PreS2-Ag and LP were higher than that of the HBeAg. No significant differences were found in the positive rates between LP and the levels of HBV DNA and there was a positive correlation between quantitations of HBV DNA and HBV-LP.

CONCLUSION

Serum PreS1-Ag, PreS2-Ag and LP were laboratory markers that can accurately reflect HBV DNA reproduction, and were helpful complementarity to traditional HBV M. There is a close correlation between the number of copies of HBV DNA and the levels of HBV-LP.

Hantavirus infection among Rattus norvegicus in Japan

Seroepizootiological study of hantavirus infection among 393 urban rats (Rattus norvegicus) captured in six regions in Japan during the period from 1990 to 1994 was carried out by the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test and Western blot (WB). Fifteen out of 393 (3.8%) rat sera were antibody-positive by IFA, i.e., Tokyo Port (12.8%, 6/47), Shimizu Port (5.7%, 2/35), Otaru Port (1.5%, 1/65) and Nagoya City (3.6%, 6/167). In two other regions, i.e., Kasai Seaside Park and Haneda Airport, rat sera were antibody-negative. One serum with a lower IFA titer, 1:64, from Otaru Port was confirmed to be antibody-positive by WB, while two sera from Shimizu Port (IFA titer, 1:32 and 1:64) were not. In Nagoya City, one out of four sera (IFA titer, 1:32) and one of two sera (IFA titer, 1:64) were also confirmed to be antibody-positive by WB. Continuous hantavirus infection among rats in Tokyo Port, Shimizu Port and Nagoya City and the existence of hantavirus among rats in Otaru Port were demonstrated.