The Gut Microbiota and Respiratory Diseases: New Evidence.

Human body surfaces, such as the skin, intestines, and respiratory and urogenital tracts, are colonized by a large number of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, with the gut being the most densely and extensively colonized organ. The microbiome plays an essential role in immune system development and tissue homeostasis. Gut microbiota dysbiosis not only modulates the immune responses of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract but also impacts the immunity of distal organs, such as the lung, further affecting lung health and respiratory diseases. Here, we review the recent evidence of the correlations and underlying mechanisms of the relationship between the gut microbiota and common respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), lung cancer, and respiratory infection, and probiotic development as a therapeutic intervention for these diseases.

Current status of the diagnosis and treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection with immune control / 临床肝胆病杂志

Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with immune control generally have no or little liver damage, with a low incidence rate of adverse events, and spontaneous HBsAg seroclearance may occur in some patients. Most scholars do not recommend antiviral therapy for such patients in China and foreign countries. However, with the gradual aging of chronic HBV infection, patients with immune control are also faced with disease progression and the development of liver cirrhosis or liver cancer. This article introduces the clinical significance of appropriate timing of antiviral therapy for the prognosis of patients with chronic HBV infection with immune control.

Research advances in the diagnosis and treatment of patients in the immune tolerance stage of chronic hepatitis B virus infection / 临床肝胆病杂志

Patients in the immune tolerance stage of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are in a state of high viral replication and low inflammation in the liver, and they often have no disease progression. Therefore, antiviral therapy is not recommended in related guidelines. Recent studies have found that the patients in the immune tolerance stage have immune response and liver injury, which is a risk factor for liver cancer, and therefore, antiviral therapy should be actively initiated to prevent disease progression. This article summarizes the research advances in the diagnosis and treatment of patients in the immune tolerance stage of chronic HBV infection and points out that there are still controversies over the application of antiviral therapy in such patients. Appropriate timing of antiviral therapy has a great significance in improving patients’ prognosis and reducing their economic burden.