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Biomedical subjects

Hui Zhuang

Publications and source records attributed to Hui Zhuang.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

[The clinical characteristics and outcome of 45 early stage patients with SARS].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical characteristics and therapeutic effect in the early stage of patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). METHODS: A total of 45 clinical diagnosed SARS patients were enrolled in the study. RESULTS: 43 (95.6%) of all 45 patients had exposure to SARS patients and the average incubation time was (7.3 +/- 4.7) days (range 2 to 20 days). The clinical features including fatigue (60%), dry cough (68.9%), dyspnea (53.3%), joint pain (26.7%) and diarrhea (26.7%). The laboratory test show that 33% patients with leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, 53.3% with elevated serum aminotransferase and 26.6% with increased creatinine kinase levels. The occurrence of abnormal chest radiographs was (4.2 +/- 2.9) days from the onset, and CT scanning was better than X-ray in the early diagnosis. The average time for the progression and improvement of the chest radiographs were (9.3 +/- 4.1) and (14.5 +/- 5.0) days, respectively. The administration of corticosteroids was started (4.8 +/- 3.5) days from the onset and the maximal dosage using of steroids was (8.4 +/- 3.9) days. There was a significant difference in the dosage of steroid between severe and mild patients [(610.6 +/- 212.4) mg/day vs (268.1 +/- 202.5) mg/day, P < 0.001)]. The IgG antibody was detected in 22 out of 34 (64.7%) patients and the average time for the occurrence of antibody was (18.2 +/- 6.4) days (range 9-27 days). CONCLUSION: Exposure to the SARS patients happened in most patients. The most common clinical features were fever and fatigue. The most common laboratory abnormalities were leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Serum antibody was not detected until on the 9th day of the course of illness; CT is a more sensitive method for detection of the abnormal chest radiographs than regular X-ray test. The early usage of cortiscosteroids was an efficient method for the treatment, and the dosage of steroids should be individualized.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

[Primary investigation on the changing mode of plasma specific IgG antibody in SARS patients and their physicians and nurses].

OBJECTIVES: To primarily investigate the changing mode of anti-SARS coronavirus IgG antibody in clinically diagnosed SARS patients and the possibility of subclinical infection in physicians and nurses through close association with SARS patients. METHODS: The plasma levels of anti-SARS coronavirus IgG antibody of 57 normal subjects, 127 physicians and nurses worked in SARS wards for one month and 73 SARS patients with different course of SARS were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Plasma anti-SARS coronavirus IgG antibody was not detected in normal subjects and the clinical personnel. After 0-7 days, 8-10 days, 11-14 days, 15-20 days of onset of disease, the positive rates were 0.33%, 52%, 86% respectively, and the general positive rate was 61%. CONCLUSION: The specificity and sensitivity of ELISA to detect plasma anti-SARS IgG antibody were satisfactory. Cases with positive reaction could be diagnosed as patients already infected by the virus. The specific IgG antibody didn't emerge in some patients in the early stage of the disease, and the negative results didn't indicate that they were not infected. And follow-up investigation should be made in those patients. Unlike common epidemic infectious diseases, SARS probably hadn't the potentiality of subclinical infection.

Adult↗

[Identification of phenotype and Interferon-alpha-producing capability of circulating type II dendritic cells and its clinical implication in HBV-infected patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the number, phenotype, and interferon-alpha (INF-alpha) of type II dendritic cells (DC2) in persons with hepatitis B and evaluate the role of DC2 subset in the immunopathogenesis of chronic HBV infection. METHODS: Peripheral blood was extracted from 103 hepatitis B (HB) virus-infected persons, including 11 cases of HB virus (HBV)-infected persons, 11 cases of acute HB, 81 cases of chronic HB, and 11 cases of asymptomatic HBV infection, and 25 healthy blood donors used as controls. Flow cytometry was used to calculate the number and the phenotype of circulating DC2. Ultraviolet-inactivated herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 was added into the suspension of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and then co-cultured for 24 hours to stimulate the production of INF-alpha by DC2 that was examined by ELISA assay. RESULTS: The number of DC2 in patients with chronic HB was 3.3 +/- 1.0 10(6)/L, significantly lower than that in the healthy controls (7.2 +/- 2.4 10(6)/L, P < 0.01). However, the number of DC2 was not significantly different between any other groups. The proportion of GS2 to PBMCs in the patients with chronic HB was 1.12 +/- 1.13 approximately 0.22 +/- 0.10, all significantly lower than that in the healthy controls (0.32% +/- 0.13%, P < 0.01). However, the proportion of GS2 to PBMCs was not significantly different between any other groups. The decrease of number of DC2 and that of proportion of DC2 to PBMCs in patients with chronic HB were related with the progress of disease. The INF-alpha concentration in the suspensions of PBMCs of different groups without stimulation by HSV-1 were low and there was no significant difference in INF-alpha concentration between different groups. The INF-alpha concentration in the suspension of PBMCs of healthy controls was 789 +/- 82 pg/ml, significantly higher than those of the patients with acute HB (161 +/- 36 pg/ml) and the patients with chronic HB (183 +/- 113 pg/ml, 147 +/- 39 pg/ml, and 156 +/- 39 pg/ml, all P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between the patient groups (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The number and INF-alpha producing function of DC2, and the numbers of NK cells and CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood of patients with chronic HB decrease significantly, which results the deficiency of HBV-specific immune response.

Adolescent↗

Retrospective analysis of non-A-E hepatitis: possible role of hepatitis B and C virus infection.

In an effort to determine the cause of non-A-E hepatitis, a retrospective study was undertaken on a group of patients with hepatitis but without serological infection markers of hepatitis viruses A-E. A total of 60 patients admitted to Beijing Ditan Hospital during the period of September 1997 and September 1999 were chosen for this study. These patients were diagnosed as either acute or chronic hepatitis, but no serological markers of hepatitis viruses A-E were detected. Since TT virus (TTV), human parvovirus B19 (B19), SEN virus (SENV), and GB virus C/HGV were reported to be associated with hepatitis, attempts were made to detect the presence of these viruses in the sera of patients with non-A-E hepatitis by a nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) method. Also, more sensitive nPCR and RT-nPCR methods were used to determine HBV DNA and HCV RNA in these patients. Results derived from these analyses demonstrate that HBV DNA was detected in most of these patients (47/60, 78.3%), suggesting that HBV infection played a major role in occult non-A-E hepatitis and detection of HBV DNA by more sensitive PCR methods such as nPCR should be considered for diagnosis of HBV infection. In addition, HCV RNA was detected in three (5%) of these patients. However, GBV-C (HGV) RNA was not detected, and TTV, B19, and SENV appear not to be associated with non-A-E hepatitis, as the prevalence rates of these viruses in patients with non-A-E hepatitis were similar to those in patients with viral hepatitis A-E. The results from this study indicate that co-infection of TTV or B19 with HBV did not increase the severity of the disease.

Alanine Transaminase↗

Pathogenicity of GB virus C on virus hepatitis and hemodialysis patients.

AIM: To determine the pathogenicity of GB virus C (GBV-C) on liver and the effects of its co-infection on the clinical features and prognosis of patients with hepatitis B and C. METHODS: Cross-sectional study was carried out in 413 patients with acute, chronic hepatitis B or liver cirrhosis, and in 67 hemodialysis patients. A 20-month prospective cohort study was carried out in 95 hepatitis B and 80 hepatitis C patients. A reverse transcriptase nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR) of the 5'-noncoding region was used to detect circulating GBV-C RNA. Liver function was determined by an automated analyzer for all patients. RESULTS: The prevalence of GBV-C in the high-risk populations with the virus transmitted via blood was high, ranging from 16.2 to 28.8 %. Co-infection with GBV-C in hepatitis B patients did not affect the clinical features of the disease or liver function. The dialysis patients infected with GBV-C alone did not develop functional changes to the liver. Prospective cohort study showed that GBV-C co-infection did not affect the clinical features, prognosis or negative serum conversion rate of chronic hepatitis B and C. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that GBV-C has no marked pathogenicity on liver, so it may not be a hepatitis virus.

Cohort Studies↗

[Detection of SEN virus in sera of patients with chronic hepatitis B and general population in 5 cities of China].

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of SEN virus (SENV) infection in CHB patients in five cities of China. METHODS: A nest-polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used for detection of SENV-D and SENV-H in sera of 595 CHB patients from 5 cities of China and 96 normal individuals from Beijing. A total of 7 SENV strains were analyzed by direct sequencing. RESULTS: The prevalence rates of SENV in CHB patients and normal individuals were 61.3% and 62.5%, respectively (chi(2) = 0.047, P = 0.829). The prevalence rates of CHB patients between 5 cities were different. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that the homology between 4 SENV-D strains was 91% - 98% and 95% - 98% between 3 SENV-H strains isolated from 5 cities in China. CONCLUSION: SENV-D/H were prevalent in CHB patients of China and their prevalence rates were similar to that in normal individuals.

China↗

[Prevalence of hepatitis B virus core promoter mutant isolated from asymptomatic carriers from areas with higher and lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in Guangxi].

OBJECTIVE: To understand the prevalence of HBV core promoter mutant (T1762 A1764 mutant) isolated from asymptomatic carriers from areas with higher and lower incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Guangxi. METHODS: A nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used for amplification of HBV DNA core promoter in sera, and then HBV DNA nPCR products were sequenced by direct sequencing. RESULTS: The results show that 50.6% (39/77) of all HBV asymptomatic carriers were positive for HBV DNA HBV DNA positive rates of the samples from HCC higher incidence area, Longan County, and from lower incidence area, Guilin city were 55.6% (20/36) and 46.3% (19/41), respectively. HBV core promoter mutants could be seen in 35% in Longan positive samples and 47.4% in Guilin. The common mutations in both regions were all double mutations (nt 1,762 A-->T; nt 1,764 G-->A), accounting for 25% and 21%, respectively. The difference of the double mutant between Longan County and Guilin city was not significant (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data implicated that the prevalence of HBV core promoter mutant isolated from asymptomatic carriers may not be correlated with the incidence of HCC in Guangxi.

Adolescent↗

[Detection of anti-HEV IgG and analysis of partial HEV RNA sequence].

OBJECTIVES: To investigate HEV infection in swine and the genotype relationship between swine and human HEV. METHODS: Anti-HEV IgG antibody was detected in the sera of swine using enzyme linked immunoassay (EIA), and HEV RNA was amplified by reverse transcription nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-nPCR). The Vector NTI Suite 7 and TreeView softwares were used for nucleotide sequences phylogenetic analysis of HEV isolated from human and swine. RESULTS: The anti-HEV IgG positive rate was 16.67% (18/108). Among the 18 anti-HEV IgG positive sera, 2 sequences (11.11%, called S18 and S43, respectively) of HEV ORF1 (102-387bp) were amplified, with the identity of 99% between them. They had 76% to 77%, 78%, 76% to 79%, 85% to 86%, 77%, 80%, 79% and 75% - 79% homology at the nucleotide level with human HEV genotypes 1 to 8, respectively. One (S18) of them was also amplified out in ORF2 region (5,994-6 297bp) and showed 76% to 78%, 74%, 74% to 77%, and 85% to 94% identity with human HEV genotypes 1 to 4 at the nucleotide level, respectively. CONCLUSION: HEV sequences isolated from swine belong to human HEV genotype 4.

Animals↗

[Core promoter mutations of HBV isolated from patients with chronic hepatitis B in Guangxi].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between HBV core promoter mutations and liver damage or HBeAg status. METHODS: Nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) was used for amplification of HBV DNA core promoter in 59 sera from patients with chronic hepatitis B in Guangxi, then the HBV DNA positive products were sequenced by direct sequencing. RESULTS: The HBV DNA positive rate of was 59.3%(35/59). All the patients were infected by mutants. The commonest mutation was the double mutation (A --> T at nt1762 and G --> A at nt1764), counting for 57.1% (20/35). The next was C --> G at nt1799, counting for 54.4% (19/35), but this was no function. A --> G at nt1752 (resulting in isoleucine to valine) was seen in 37.1% (13/35) of the HBV DNA positive patients, and T --> C at nt1753 was seen in 20% (7/35). The significant difference in the frequency of T1762A1764 mutant was found between HBeAg positive patients (31.3%) and negative patients (79.0%). CONCLUSIONS: HBV core promoter mutations are common among patients with chronic hepatitis B in Guangxi. T1762A1764 mutant is associated with HBeAg status and chronic hepatitis.

Adolescent↗

[Rapid detection of genotypes of TT virus using a heteroduplex mobility assay].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a simple, sensitive, specific and less-costly method for detecting genotypes of TT virus (TTV). METHODS: TTV DNA was tested by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) in sera from 180 patients with different types of viral hepatitis and 96 normal individuals in Beijing. TTV genotypes were determined in 40 sera collected from TTV DNA positive patients by heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) and through sequencing. RESULTS: The positive rates of TTV DNA in viral hepatitis patients and normal individuals were 22.2% (40/180) and 19.8% (19/96), respectively (chi(2) = 0.220, P = 0.639). TTV DNA positive rates of patients with hepatitis A, B, C, E and non-A to E were 20.0% (6/30), 16.7% (5/30), 23.3% (7/30), 36.7% (11/30) and 18.3% (11/60), respectively. Of 40 TTV DNA positive patients, 20 (50.0%) were TTV G1, 7 (17.5%) TTV G2, 10 (25.0%) coinfected with different genotypes of TTV, and 3 untyped by HMA. Twenty G1 and 7 G2 detected by HMA were confirmed by sequence analysis. Of 10 patients coinfected with different genotypes of TTV, 5 were G1 and G2, 2 G1 and G3, 1 G1 and G4, 1 G1 and G3, and 1 with G1, G2 and G3 coinfections. CONCLUSION: HMA was recognized as simple, sensitive, specific and less-costly, thus could be used for genotyping of TTV.

DNA, Viral↗

[Ten years outcome observation of infants with hepatitis C virus mother to infant transmission].

OBJECTIVE: To study the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) vertical transmitted infants. METHODS: Thirteen HCV vertical infected infants were followed up for 10 years. HCV antibody and HCV RNA in the blood samples from them were tested using second generation HCV antibody EIA kits and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Among the 13 infants, one developed clinical hepatitis C, and serum HCV antibody and HCV RNA could be detected for 7 and 8 years, respectively. Three were subclinical hepatitis C, serum HCV antibody continued to be positive for 12 months (2 infants) and 24 months (1 infant), respectively, and serum HCV RNA turned to be negative at the 24th month (2 infants) and the 60th month (1 infant), respectively. Nine were HCV insidious infection, whose serum HCV antibody and HCV RNA turned to be negative in 12 months. During the eight to ten years, there was no infants with anti-HCV or HCV RNA positive again. CONCLUSIONS: It is rarely happened that vertical transmitted HCV induce chronic HCV carrying state and chronic viral hepatitis, and most of the infected infants have good outcome.

Child↗

Prevention and treatment of hepatitis B recurrence after liver transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of liver transplantation on end-stage hepatitis B related liver diseases, and the prevention and treatment strategies of hepatitis B recurrence after the transplantation. METHODS: The efficacy of combined treatment of lamivudine and hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) therapy on 24 patients who had received liver transplantation was retrospectively studied. RESULTS: All the 24 patients with end-stage hepatitis B-related liver diseases treated with lamivudine alone or combined therapy of lamivudine and HBIG showed normal liver function and 21 of them lost hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers. However, the remaining 3 patients became HBsAg positive again soon after liver transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Liver transplantation is effective for patients with end-stage hepatitis B-related liver diseases. Combined treatment of lamivudine and HBIG may prevent the recurrence of hepatitis B after the operation.

Adult↗

Reduced antigenicity of the hepatitis B virus HBsAg protein arising as a consequence of sequence changes in the overlapping polymerase gene that are selected by lamivudine therapy.

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus vaccine escape mutants has increased as a consequence of the introduction of global vaccination programs. Furthermore and as a consequence of the organization of the genome of hepatitis B virus (HBV) into overlapping reading frames, the selection of polymerase mutants during long-term lamivudine therapy can select viruses with changes in the overlapping S gene coding for the hepatitis B small antigen (HBsAg). We have investigated the role of lamivudine in selecting HBV mutants with antigenically altered HBsAg protein using pooled human vaccine sera in enzyme immunosorbent assays and radioimmunoassays. HBsAg proteins containing the vaccine escape mutations G145R and D144E/G145R demonstrated markedly reduced binding to anti-HBs antibody. HBsAg mutants including E164D, W196S, I195M, M198I, and E164D/I195M (corresponding to the polymerase protein changes of V519L, M550I, L526M/M550V V553I, and V519L/L526M/M550V) selected during lamivudine treatment also demonstrated reduced binding to anti-HBs antibody. These findings raise the possibility of lamivudine-resistant mutants arising that possess antigenically distinct HBsAg proteins.

DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase↗