Although long‐term antiviral treatment with nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) can lead to histological improvement in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), a substantial proportion of patients still fail to achieve regression of fibrosis. Here, we investigated whether peginterferon alpha (Peg‐IFNα） add‐on therapy had benefits on fibrosis regression in patients with sustained severe fibrosis even after long‐term NA treatment. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 50 patients with CHB receiving 48 weeks of Peg‐IFNα add‐on therapy. All enrolled patients had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis (S score ≥ 3) at baseline and underwent NA treatment for at least 1 year before Peg‐IFNα addition. Paired liver biopsies before and after Peg‐IFNα add‐on treatment and laboratory tests at baseline, 24 weeks of treatment, 48 weeks of treatment and long‐term follow‐up were analysed. Of the 50 patients enrolled in this study, 34 patients (68.0%) had significant regression of fibrosis, and 42 (84.0%) showed significant remission of inflammation after Peg‐IFNα add‐on treatment. Compared with nonresponders, patients with significant histological improvement showed faster hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decline and tended to have higher cumulative hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and HBsAg loss rates during long‐term follow‐up. Peg‐IFNα add‐on therapy led to significant regression of fibrosis and resolution of inflammation in patients with advanced fibrosis after long‐term NA treatment.

Although nucleos(t)ide analog (NA) monotherapy is effective in hepatitis B virus suppression and fibrosis regression, serological response rates are not satisfactory. Studies assessing the benefits of combination therapy with NAs and peginterferon alpha (PegIFNα) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) have produced conflicting results and mainly focused on serological outcomes. Histological changes in response to combination therapy have not been evaluated in real‐world practice. This study aimed to evaluate the histological changes in response to NA‐PegIFNα combination therapy in CHB patients and to comprehensively compare the efficacy of NA‐PegIFNα combination therapy and NA monotherapy. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 40 CHB patients who underwent either NA‐PegIFNα combination therapy or NA monotherapy. Changes in histology at 48 weeks after treatment initiation were evaluated. Serological characteristics were also analysed and compared between the NA‐PegIFNα combination therapy and NA monotherapy groups and between histological responders and nonresponders. Compared to baseline biopsies, both fibrosis staging and necroinflammatory grading scores were significantly lower in the second biopsies examined post‐treatment in both groups. Nearly all patients experienced a reduction in inflammation (87.5% in both groups), but there was a subgroup of patients who exhibited either no significant improvement or fibrosis progression (33.3% and 31.2% in the NA monotherapy and NA‐PegIFNα combination therapy groups, respectively). Nearly, all patients achieved ALT normalization and sustained virological response (SVR) after 48 weeks of antiviral treatment. Approximately one‐third of individuals (36.8% and 30% in the two groups, respectively) achieved HBeAg loss at 48 weeks after treatment initiation. Although there were no significant differences in overall rates of histological, biochemical, virological and serological responses between the two groups, an earlier virological response and a higher cumulative SVR rate over time were observed during long‐term follow‐up in patients treated with NA‐PegIFNα combination therapy (P = 0.0129). Trends of more rapid HBeAg loss and a higher cumulative HBeAg loss rate throughout long‐term follow‐up were also observed but were not statistically significant. The ALT normalization rates at 24 and 48 weeks after treatment initiation were associated with the histological response. Significant regression of fibrosis and resolution of necroinflammation were induced with either NA‐PegIFNα combination therapy or NA monotherapy. Significant biochemical, virological and serological responses were observed in both groups, and the response rates at 48 weeks were similar in the two groups. Over time during long‐term follow‐up, the virological and serological responses were faster and superior following the combination regimen.

Presented here is a trinuclear cluster-based Cd(II) compound, namely, {[(CH3)2NH2][Cd6K(bdc)6(btz)3(H2O)6]}n (1 H2bdc = terephthalic acid, Hbtz = 1H-benzotriazole), has been solvothermally prepared and structurally determined by the single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, elemental analysis, powder X-ray diffraction analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Notably, compound 1 shows excellent photocatalytic activity for degradation of MV irradiated by UV light. In addition to this, the biological activity of the new compound on bacterial infection was evaluated, and the corresponding mechanism was also studied. The ELISA assay was used to evaluate the TNF-α and IL-1β released into plasma after compound treatment. Then, the relative expression levels of the bacterial survival gene were measured with real-time RT-PCR.

Abstract Objectives: To discuss the prevention and containment of COVID-19 at a general hospital in Shenzhen China; to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of its confirmed patients, which is intended to provide a model for other hospitals in COVID-19 management.Methods: The General Hospital of Shenzhen University sets up 4 medical zones relative to the COVID-19 prevention and containment. In so doing, the suspected patients classified into different kind of ward receive different treatment (Classified and Separated Treatment). The epidemiological distribution and clinical characteristics of 28 confirmed cases in the hospital were analyzed.Results: There are no medical personnel infected cases, no cross-infection among the patients in the hospital, and no misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis of COVID-19. The majority of cases in the group is from 15 to 60 years old, 25 cases had a definite travel history or close contact history in the epidemic area, and parents and spouses of the confirmed patients are the main contact groups. Fever and respiratory symptoms have a high proportion, 4 diarrhea and 4 asymptomatic cases. Additionally, the decrease of lymphocyte is observed in 8 cases. Chest CT scan shows viral pneumonia in 14 cases，All patients were confirmed by nucleic acid tests.Conclusions: Classified and Separated Treatment facilitates management of COVID-19 in the general hospital. Relative to suspected patients in the general hospital, diagnosis matters more than treatment. Epidemiological history, lymphocyte count, and chest CT scan play an important role as the indicator in early diagnosis of COVID-19.