Reevaluating antiviral thresholds in HBV DNA-negative inactive HBsAg carriers: a multicenter histopathological analysis.

Background: The definition of inactive HBsAg carriers (IHC) varies globally, particularly regarding HBV DNA thresholds. Whether HBV DNA negativity reliably predicts histological quiescence remains uncertain.

Aims: This study evaluated liver pathology in IHC patients to reassess antiviral therapy thresholds.

CyTOF reveals platelet subtype changes predicting the efficacy of combined immunotherapy and targeted therapy in liver cancer.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors combined with angiogenesis inhibitors are currently the first-line treatment for liver cancer. However, some patients still exhibit poor therapeutic outcomes. Platelets, as a critical component of blood, play a significant role in liver cancer progression by influencing angiogenesis and the tumor immune microenvironment.

Analysis of the Disease Spectrum Characteristics of Inherited Metabolic Liver Diseases in Two Hepatology Specialist Hospitals in Beijing over the Past 20 Years.

Background And Aims: Inherited metabolic liver diseases (IMLDs) have complex etiologies and vary widely in clinical presentation, with a significant overall incidence. With the advancements in diagnostic and treatment technologies, an increasing number of children with inherited metabolic diseases are surviving into adolescence and adulthood. These advancements have improved our understanding of the IMLD disease spectrum and clinical outcomes.

A greater frequency of circulating CCR7loPD-1hi follicular helper T cells indicates a durable clinical cure after Peg IFN-α therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background: Emerging evidence indicates that the treatment duration of pegylated interferon-α and HBsAb may predict relapse in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who achieved clinical cure. However, the host immunological mechanisms contributing to clinical relapse remain poorly characterized.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the immunological factors associated with relapse in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who achieved clinical cure based on pegylated interferon-alpha treatment.

Efficacy and safety of GLS4 with entecavir vs entecavir alone in chronic hepatitis B patients: A multicenter clinical trial.

Objectives: GLS4 is a first-in-class hepatitis B virus (HBV) capsid assembly modulator that inhibits HBV replication by interfering with assembly and disassembly of the virus nucleocapsid, this prospective, open-label, comparative, phase 2b trial evaluated the antiviral activity and safety of GLS4/ritonavir (RTV) combined with entecavir in hepatitis B e antigen-positive patients.

Methods: 250 CHB patients were enrolled, including treatment-naïve patients and those interrupted anti-HBV drugs for ≥ 6 months (Part A, n=125), and patients who had taken ETV for ≥1 year and had achieved viral suppression (Part B, n=125). Patients were randomly allocated to receive 120 mg GLS4/100 mg RTV plus 0.

Atomically precise silver-based bimetallic clusters for electrocatalytic urea synthesis.

Electrocatalytic urea synthesis from CO and nitrate holds immense promise as a sustainable strategy, but its complicated synthesis steps and controversial C-N coupling mechanism restrict the design of efficient catalysts. Atomically precise metal cluster materials are ideal model catalysts for investigating the C-N coupling issues. Here we synthesize two atomically precise bimetallic clusters, AgPd(PTFE)(TPP) and AgAu(PTFE)(DPPP), both with icosahedral cores and similar ligands.

Stromal softness confines pancreatic cancer growth through lysosomal-cathepsin mediated YAP1 degradation.

The progression and malignancy of many tumors are associated with increased tissue stiffness. Conversely, the oncogenically transformed cells can be confined in soft stroma. Yet, the underlying mechanisms by which soft matrix confines tumorigenesis and metastasis remain elusive.

Comparative efficacy and safety of tenofovir amibufenamide vs tenofovir alafenamide in the initial 48-week treatment of high viral load chronic hepatitis B: A single-centre retrospective study.

Background/aim: Tenofovir amibufenamide (TMF) employs innovative ProTide technology and a methylation strategy to enhance the lipid solubility and plasma stability of the amide bond, providing advantages over tenofovir alafenamide (TAF). Despite promising Phase III clinical trial results demonstrating its antiviral efficacy, real-world data on TMF remains scarce. This study evaluates the antiviral efficacy and safety of TMF compared to TAF as the initial treatment in patients with high viral loads of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Distinctive Pattern of Metal Deposition in Neurologic Wilson Disease: Insights From 7T Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging.

Background And Objectives: Noninvasive and accurate biomarkers of neurologic Wilson disease (NWD), a rare inherited disorder, could reduce diagnostic error or delay. Excessive subcortical metal deposition seen on susceptibility imaging has suggested a characteristic pattern in NWD. With submillimeter spatial resolution and increased contrast, 7T susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) may enable better visualization of metal deposition in NWD.

Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction on Metallic CoNi-Terminated Catalyst with Industrial-Level Current Density in Neutral Medium.

Green ammonia synthesis through electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (eNORR) can serve as an effective alternative to the traditional energy-intensive Haber-Bosch process. However, achieving high Faradaic efficiency (FE) at industrially relevant current density in neutral medium poses significant challenges in eNORR. Herein, with the guidance of theoretical calculation, a metallic CoNi-terminated catalyst is successfully designed and constructed on copper foam, which achieves an ammonia FE of up to 100% under industrial-level current density and very low overpotential (-0.

Stepwise structural evolution toward robust carboranealkynyl-protected copper nanocluster catalysts for nitrate electroreduction.

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (NCs) are emerging as idealized model catalysts for imprecise metal nanoparticles to unveil their structure-activity relationship. However, the directional synthesis of robust metal NCs with accessible catalytic active sites remains a great challenge. In this work, we achieved bulky carboranealkynyl-protected copper NCs, the monomer ·3PF and -carboranealkynyl bridged dimer ·4PF, with fair stability as well as accessible open metal sites step by step through external ligand shell modification and metal-core evolution.

Peg-IFNα combined with hepatitis B vaccination contributes to HBsAg seroconversion and improved immune function.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate immunological variations between a group that received the hepatitis B vaccine and a non-vaccine group. We focused on a cohort that achieved HBsAg seroclearance after Peg-IFNα treatment of CHB.

Methods: We enrolled twenty-eight individuals who achieved HBsAg seroclearance after Peg-IFNα treatment.

Tandem Nitrate-to-Ammonia Conversion on Atomically Precise Silver Nanocluster/MXene Electrocatalyst.

Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate (NO RR) to synthesize ammonia (NH ) provides a competitive manner for carbon neutrality and decentralized NH synthesis. Atomically precise nanoclusters, as an advantageous platform for investigating the NO RR mechanisms and actual active sites, remain largely underexplored due to the poor stability. Herein, we report a (NH ) [Ag (mba) ] nanoclusters (Ag NCs) loaded on Ti C MXene (Ag /MXene) for highly efficient NO RR performance towards ambient NH synthesis with improved stability in neutral medium.

The potential serum sphingolipid biomarkers for distinguishing Wilson disease.

Background: The diagnosis of Wilson's disease (WD) remains a challenging endeavor in clinical practice. Serum sphingolipids play a significant role in the development of liver disease. In this study, we examined the serum sphingolipid profile in patients with WD and explored the potential diagnostic utility of serum sphingolipid metabolites.

Clinical study of hepatitis B vaccine in achieving hepatitis B surface antibody seroconversion in patients with functional cure.

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance is the highest treatment goal recommended by the current guidelines for hepatitis B. Levels of antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) are strongly associated with HBsAg recurrence, but hepatitis B vaccination may increase the anti-HBs seroconversion rate and reduce recurrence. We conducted a retrospective clinical study to ascertain the effect of this vaccination on the seroconversion rate and levels of protective anti-HBs after HBsAg.

CRISPR/Cas13-assisted carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae detection.

Background/purpose: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is capable of causing serious community and hospital-acquired infections. However, currently, the identification of CRKP is complex and inefficient. Hence, this study aimed to develop methods for the early and effective identification of CRKP to allow reasonable antimicrobial therapy in a timely manner.

CRISPR/Cas13a-Assisted accurate and portable hepatitis D virus RNA detection.

Background & Aims: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection accelerates the progression of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, posing a large economic and health burden to patients. At present, there remains a lack of accurate and portable detection methods for HDV RNA. Here, we aim to establish a convenient, rapid, highly sensitive and specific method to detect HDV RNA using CRISPR-Cas13a technology.

Higher TP53BP2 expression is associated with HBsAg loss in peginterferon-α-treated patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background & Aims: HBsAg loss is only observed in a small proportion of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who undergo interferon treatment. Investigating the host factors crucial for functional cure of CHB can aid in identifying individuals who would benefit from peginterferon-α (Peg-IFNα) therapy.

Methods: We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) by enrolling 48 patients with CHB who achieved HBsAg loss after Peg-IFNα treatment and 47 patients who didn't.

Performance of Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) RNA Testing for the Diagnosis of Active HDV Infection: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a defective virus and causes severe liver disease. Several HDV RNA assays have been developed, however the diagnostic efficacy remains unclear.This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of HDV RNA assays to aid in the diagnosis of active hepatitis D.

ATP7B R778L mutant hepatocytes resist copper toxicity by activating autophagy and inhibiting necroptosis.

Wilson's disease (WD) is an inherited disease characterized by copper metabolism disorder caused by mutations in the adenosine triphosphatase copper transporting β gene (ATP7B). Currently, WD cell and animal model targeting the most common R778L mutation in Asia is lacking. In addition, the mechanisms by which hepatocytes resist copper toxicity remain to be further elucidated.

IP10 and Anti-HBc can Predict Virological Relapse and HBsAg Loss in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients after Nucleos(t)ide Analog Discontinuation.

Introduction: To assess predictive ability of serum interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP10) and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) levels for virological relapse (VR) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss after nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) discontinuation.

Methods: In this multicenter prospective study, overall 139 patients were followed up for 24 months after NA discontinuation.

Results: End of treatment (EOT) IP10 and anti-HBc were 29.

Lower end of treatment HBsAg and HBcrAg were associated with HBsAg loss after nucleos(t)ide analog cessation.

Background: Since hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss is rarely achieved with nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) treatment, most patients require life-long NA treatment. Previous studies have shown that some patients remain virologically responsive even after NA cessation. However, there is still controversy surrounding whether NA discontinuation increases the HBsAg loss rate.