An analysis of articles published from 1996-2005 in the Chinese Journal of Hepatology (Zhonghua Ganzangbing Zazhi / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the academic level, subject location, influence, readership, degree of usage and recognition by the readers of the Chinese Journal of Hepatology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By referring to the "Chinese & T Journal Citation Reports" edited by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China, the numbers, types, pertinent diseases, funding statues, citing, and the intervals between receiving and the publication of all the articles published in the 72 issues of the Chinese Journal of Hepatology were statistically analyzed. The work units and the geographic locations of the authors were also analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During the past ten years, 2,437 articles were published, 27.4 percent of the total received. Of the published articles 892 were on viral hepatitis (36.6%), 428 on liver fibrosis or cirrhosis (17.6%), 421 on liver cancer (17.3%), and 696 on other subjects (28.6%). The impact factor and the total cited numbers of the articles of the journal were among the top five in the profession. Some other reference indexes used to evaluate the periodicals of the journal were better than average level of other periodicals in China. The number of references of each original article in this journal averaged 4.6, most of which were English ones. The average number of the authors of each articles were 4.5, and 89.7 percent of all the articles were written by two authors. Only one article was from an American author (first author), and the others first authors were all from 31 provinces, main cities and PLA institutions in China. Of the total 2,437 articles, 71.7% (1,744) were from the following: Chongqing (387), Shanghai (381), Beijing (315), Guangdong (227), PLA institutions (212), Zhejiang (115), and Hubei (107).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Chinese Journal of Hepatology is a periodical which has been highly regarded by professionals and has a great influence in academic fields.</p>

Citation analysis of the Chinese Journal of Hepatology (Zhonghua Ganzangbing Zazhi) in the year 2005 / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the academic level and the popularity of the Chinese Journal of Hepatology in China in 2005.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We used bibliometrics to analyze statistically the original articles of the Chinese Journal of Hepatology cited by Chinese periodicals included in the Wanfang Data in 2005.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) 699 published papers in the journal in 2005 were cited 1673 times and 44 of them were cited 720 times in total. (2) The papers published in the Chinese Journal of Hepatology were cited by journals in China starting from 1993 through 2005. Of all the cited articles, 1.49% of them were cited in the same year as they were published. (3) Non-specific rate of the Chinese Journal of Hepatology was 96.17%, and self-cite rate was 3.83%. (4) Papers published in the Chinese Journal of Hepatology were cited by 400 Chinese periodicals, 99 of them are journals included in the Chinese Science Citation Database, and 110 of them are Chinese core periodicals.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Chinese Journal of Hepatology is one of the high level academic Chinese periodicals. This journal reflects the progress in research on liver diseases in China.</p>

Comprehensive evaluation of the Chinese Journal of Hepatology (Zhonghua Ganzangbing Zazhi) from 1999 to 2003 / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The Chinese Journal of Hepatology is a key journal in the research field of liver diseases in China. Ranked by the impact factor, which was issued and used by the Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China, it is in fourth position among medical journals in China. In order to evaluate the journal, some facts about it were surveyed, including the number of pages, the number of papers in each issue, organizations of the authors, funding for their works, the impact factor, immediacy index, statuses of the articles' references, and a listing of their being cited.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The number of pages of each issue, the number of papers in every volume, and citations were quantitatively analyzed. Funding, impact factor, immediacy index, citations and organizations of the authors were analyzed by weighted Rank Sum Ratio (RSRw).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the five years, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003, (1) The Chinese authors came from 26 of the 31 provinces and cities in China. 48.8% in 1999 to 71.7% in 2003 of the authors were working in medical universities or medical colleges, and some authors were overseas experts. (2) The number of articles cited in the five years were 702, 1158, 1087, 1178 and 1744. (3) The number of papers published were 248, 221, 242, 212 and 336. (4) Impact factors of the journal were 0.897, 0.931, 1.421, 1.858, 1.440. With the cites, immediacy index, cited rate, ratios of research provided by national or international funds and number of organizations of authors evaluated, the RSRw results of the five years were 0.2750, 0.3417, 0.5000, 0.5000 and 0.5000.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The Chinese Journal of Hepatology is well-known and is one of the highest academic quality medical journals in China. It reflects the progress of liver disease research in China.</p>

A study of the dosage and efficacy of entecavir for treating hepatitis B virus / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the antiviral activity and safety of entecavir in patients with chronic HBV infection as a preliminarily step in selecting 0.1 mg or 0.5 mg as a better dosage for a further large scale clinical trial.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>This was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled and dose-ranging trial of entecavir usage in 212 patients with chronic HBV infection. The patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups: 0.1 mg entecavir (69), 0.5 mg entecavir (72) and, placebo (71) groups and treated for 28 days. The patients were then followed for 56 days without treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The proportion of subjects who achieved the primary endpoint at day 28, with their HBV DNA level decreased >2 log or undetectable, was significantly greater in the entecavir 0.1 mg and 0.5 mg dose groups compared with the placebo group (P < 0.01 for both comparisons). The mean change from baseline in HBV DNA levels at day 28 was greater for entecavir 0.1mg and 0.5 mg groups compared with the placebo group (both P < 0.01). The mean change from baseline in HBV DNA levels at day 28 for entecavir 0.5 mg group was greater than that of the entecavir 0.1 mg group (P < 0.01). During the 56-day post-dosing follow-up phase, the entecavir 0.5 mg group was associated with greater and more sustained suppression of viral replication than the entecavir 0.1 mg group (P < 0.01). There were no clinically meaningful differences in the incidence of any adverse events between the entecavir dosing and the placebo groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Entecavir at both 0.1 mg and 0.5 mg doses demonstrated superior antiviral activity compared with a placebo. Since the entecavir 0.5 mg dose appears to have greater antiviral activity than the 0.1 mg dose and with a comparable safety and tolerability profile, the 0.5 mg entecavir dose could be used in further trials.</p>

Clinical investigation of famciclovir in chronic hepatitis B patients irresponsive to alpha interferon treatment / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of famciclovir on the decreasing levels of serum HBV-DNA and ALT and HBeAg/antiHBe seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients irresponsive to 3 months treatment with alpha interferon.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and nineteen patients with chronic HBV infection, defined as positive HBsAg, HBeAg and HBV DNA, were enrolled and randomly half-and- half put into famciclovir and placebo groups. The two groups received either famciclovir 500 mg tid or a placebo treatment for 24 weeks, and then were followed-up for another 24 weeks with no treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the end of 24 weeks, the log value of HBV DNA dropped from 6.54+/-1.26 to 5.70+/-2.03 in the famciclovirt group and were elevated from 6.30+/-1.32 to 6.51+/-1.65 in the placebo group (P < 0.01). The rate of cases with persistence HBV DNA dropped 2 log of quantity in the famciclovir group and was 28.28% (28/99); it was 9.47% (9/95) in the placebo group (P < 0.01). Those with persistence negative HBV DNA was 28.28% (28/99) in the flamciclovir treated group and 14.74% (14/95) in the placebo group (P < 0.05). Those persistently being HBeAg negative were 7.69% (7/91) in the famciclovir treated group and 3.33% (3/90) in the placebo group (P > 0.05). The HBeAg/antiHBe seroconversion was 4.40% (4/91) in the famciclovir group and 2.22% (2/90) in the placebo group (P > 0.05). The percentage of cases with normal of ALT level was 15.15% in the famciclovir group and 6.35% in the placebo group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Famciclovir is effective in inhibiting HBV DNA replication and in decreasing serum ALT levels. The rate of HBeAg/antiHBe seroconversion in the famciclovir treated group was similar to that of the placebo group. Famciclovir was well tolerated without severe adverse effects during our treatment.</p>

The difference between the positive rate of anti-HCV in the patients with severe viral hepatitis detected by the first generation or second generation enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the positive rate of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in sera of patients with severe viral hepatitis between 1984-1990 year and 1997-2003 year.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum anti-HCV was detected by enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). It was detected by the first generation (1st) ELISA (Ortho Co. USA) in 79 cases of severe viral hepatitis during 1984-1990 year, and it was detected by the second generation (2nd) ELISA (Xiamen Xingchuang Co. China) in 251 cases of severe viral hepatitis during 1997-2003 year.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive rate of serum anti-HCV was 51.9% detected by the 1st ELISA in 79 cases of severe viral hepatitis during 1984-1990 year, and it was 1.2% detected by the 2nd ELISA in 251 cases of severe hepatitis during 1997-2003 year (chi2 = 133.68, P </= 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>To compare with the positive rate of serum antibody to hepatitis C virus in severe viral hepatitis detected by the 1st ELISA, it was lower that detected by the 2nd ELISA</p>

Efficacy and safety in chronic hepatitis B adolescent patients with lamivudine therapy / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analysis the efficacy and safety of lamivudine (made in China) therapy for 52 weeks in adolescent patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and five teenage CHB patients were treated with lamivudine 100 mg once daily for 52 weeks. Patients with elevated ALT at baseline were in group 1 and those with normal ALT were in group 2. The changes of HBV DNA, HBV seromarkers and ALT at the end of 12, 24 and 52 weeks after lamivudine therapy were compared with those at baseline. Adverse events were recorded and evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At the end of 52 weeks of lamivudine therapy, HBV DNA-ve, HBeAg loss and anti-HBe seroconversion were observed in 92.0%, 24.4% and 22.0% in group 1 patients and 76.1%, 14.2% and 14.2% in group 2 patients respectively. No significant differences were found between two groups. At 12, 24 and 52 weeks, normalization rates of ALT were 59.0%, 66.7% and 76.0%, normal ALT with undetectable HBV DNA were 44.9%, 64.1% and 70.7% at the same time. During 52 weeks lamivudine treatment 26 mild adverse events were observed in 18 patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Lamivudine can inhibit HBV replication rapidly and normalize ALT in majority adolescent CHB patients. HBeAg loss or seroconversion of anti-HBe was observed in some of these patients. All patients in this study were safety and well tolerated.</p>

Study on the replication of Hepatitis B Virus in primary hepatocytes from heterogenous species / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>By studying the possibility and degree of the replication and expression of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) genes in normal liver cells from heterogenous species, such as primary duck hepatocytes (PDH) and primary rat hepatocytes (PRH), to investigate the species-specificity of HBV infection and replication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PDH and PRH isolated by in situ perfusion with low concentration collagenase were transfected with complete HBV genome by electroporation (transfection group, about 1.19 10(12) copies of linear HBV DNA/1 10(7) PRH/PDH). From 1 day to 15 days after transfection, HBsAg and HBeAg in the supernatants and lysates of PRH/PDH were measured with IMX System, HBcAg was assayed with western blotting, Immunol dot blotting and Immunocytochemistry. Moreover, HBV S-mRNA and X-mRNA were tested with RT-PCR. Meanwhile, replicative intermediates of HBV DNA were analyzed by Southern blotting and Dot blotting. PRH/PDH electroporated only was used as control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HBsAg in the lysates of transfected PDH group were 15.24 (1day), 14.55 (3 days) and 5.13 ( 5 days; P/N values, positive>or=2.1), HBeAg all was negative (<2.1), and both were negative in the supernatants of transfected group. Viral antigen production in transfected rat hepatocytes: HBsAg in the lysates of transfected hepatocytes was positive, P/N values ranging from 2.17 to 93.41, The average P/N values was 14.74+/-31.82, and could be maintained for 15 days after transfection. Whereas, HBsAg in the supernatants of transfected group was only found positive on 1 day after transfection, which P/N value was 6.66. HBeAg and HBcAg in the lysates of PRH of transfection group were positive during the first 3 days following transfection, P/N values was around 2.8. The total amount of HBV DNA in the transfected PDH and PRH groups was strongly positive by dot blotting, whereas that of the control group was negative. Southern blot analysis of intracellular total HBV DNA indicated that there were relaxed circular (RC), covalently closed circular (ccc) and single-stranded (SS) HBV DNA replicative intermediates in the transfected PDH and PRH groups, there was no integrated HBV DNA in the cellular genome. Control groups were negative at all.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Expression of HBV genes and production can occur in hepatocytes from nonmammalian species or mammalian species, which strongly supports the idea that replication of HBV has no critical species-specificity, and yet it depends on the endoenvironment of hepatocyte.</p>

Chronic hepatitis B treated with domestic manufactured lamivudine in 2200 patients: a phase IV study / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To further verify the efficacy and safety of locally manufactured lamivudine on patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>2200 patients with CHB were recruited and received lamivudine orally 100 mg once daily for 12 months. The efficacy assessments included virologic response rate (defined by the absence of serum HBV DNA, HBeAg loss and HBeAg/HBeAb seroconversion), percentage of patients with normalization of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Meanwhile improvement of quality of life (QOL) measured by mos SF-36 QOL questionnaire and liver histology evaluation were conducted in some patients. The safety assessments included adverse events, serious adverse events and laboratory abnormalities. All 2200 patients received at least one dose of medication and were all included in the safety population.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Ninety seven percent of patients (2137/2200) recruited were HBV DNA positive by dot blot (sensitivity GRT or equal to 1.0 pg/ml) at baseline. At the end of 12 months treatment, HBV DNA was undetectable in 80% patients (1538/1920) with HBV DNA positive before treatment. Among the 79%(1744/2200) of the patients recruited had positive HBV DNA accompanied abnormal ALT levels at baseline, 72% patients became ALT normal. And among the 84% (1843/2200) of the patients recruited were HBV DNA and HBeAg positive, anti-HBe negative, 16% (269/1650) patients achieved HBeAg/HBeAb seroconversion after 12 months of lamivudine treatment. The HBeAg/HBeAb seroconversion rate was positive correlation to the ALT level before treatment. A total of 304 patients completed the health-related QOL questionnaire. After 12 months treatment, lamivudine improved both their physical and mental health, especially for their mental health. 133 evaluable, paired liver biopsies were obtained for histological assessment, among whom 115 patients had abnormal ALT levels at baseline. Compared with pre-treatment most of their liver injury got alleviated (51.9%) or no further deterioration (36%), only 12% worsening. During the 12 months treatment, 9% patients withdrew from the study and 17% patients showed at least one adverse event, mild or moderate. There were no obvious difference between this study and the previously reported lamivudine Phase II or III study with regard to the kinds, incidence and severity of adverse events.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The efficacy and safety profile of the locally manufactured lamivudine 100 mg tablets are similar with those of the previously reported available lamivudine tablets imported in treating Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients.</p>

Long-term health-related quality of life in chronic hepatitis B patients / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate their long-term outcome and the efficacy and economic significance of antiviral drugs by investigating the long-term health-related quality of life (HQL) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The HQL of 101 CHB patients with biopsy-proven 6 to 18 years ago and 105 persons of general population as control was studied with revised SF-36 questionnaire.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The HQL in CHB patients was lower than that in general population in physical functioning, role physical, general health, mental health, and specific symptoms (mu > or = 2.10, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The long-term HQL in chronic hepatitis B patients is poor.</p>

An in vitro model of hepatitis B virus gene replication and expression in primary rat hepatocytes transfected with circular viral DNA / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an in vitro model of hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and expression in primary rat hepatocytes (PRH) transfected with circular viral DNA for further study on the interaction of HBV with hepatocytes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Circular viral DNA containing complete HBV genome were transfected into PRH by electroporation (transfected group, about 4mug of circular viral DNA/1 10(7)cells). From day 1 to day 10 after transfection, HBsAg and HBeAg in the supernatants and lysates of PRH were measured with IMX system. HBcAg was assayed with western blotting, immunol dot blotting and immunocytochemistry. Meanwhile, HBV S-mRNA and X-mRNA were tested with RT-PCR, and replicative intermediates of HBV DNA were analyzed by southern blotting and dot blotting. Moreover, Transmission electron microscopy was used if viral particles were produced in transfected rat hepatocytes. PRH electroporated only was used as control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Viral antigen production in transfected rat hepatocytes: HBsAg in cell lysates was positive. P/N values ranged from 4.83 to 85.69, and could be maintained for 10 days after transfection. The average P/N values was 18.239 27.459. Whereas, HBsAg was negative in the supernatants of transfected group (P/N values, negative<2.1). HBeAg in the supernatants and lysates of transfected hepatocytes all was negative (P/N values<2.1) during 10 days following transfection. HBcAg was only found positive in transfected hepatocytes by immunol dot blotting. (2) Detection of viral transcripts: transcription of HBV DNA was investigated by preparing total RNA from rat hepatocytes 2 days after transfection and looking for S-mRNA and X-mRNA by RT-PCR. Results showed S-mRNA positive, X-mRNA negative. (3) HBV DNA replication analysis: intracellular total DNA was extracted 2 days after transfection and analysed by southern blotting. All replicative DNA intermediates, including relaxed circular (rcDNA), covalently closed circular (cccDNA), and single-stranded (ssDNA) linear HBV DNA forms, were indicated. Dot blotting showed intracellular HBV DNA positive in transfected group during 10 days after transfection. However, viral particles were not found in transfected hepatocytes during 3 days after transfection.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Circular HBV DNA transfected into primary adult rat hepatocytes could obtain continuous replication and stable expression of HBV surface antigen. This in vitro model has high reproducibility and stability, and is useful for directly studying the interaction of HBV with hepatocytes.</p>

A study on the long-term outcome of hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B compared with that of hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B / 中华传染病杂志

0.05)between the two groups.Conclu- sion The long-term outcomes of e-CHB is not markedly different compared with that of e+CHB.