Effects of entecavir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate on the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND: Whether different anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) drugs have different effects on COVID-19 is controversial. We aimed to evaluate the incidence of COVID-19 in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving anti-HBV treatment, and to compare the impact of entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) on the severity of COVID-19. METHODS: CHB outpatients were enrolled from December 2022 to February 2023. Questionnaires were used to collect whether subjects were currently or previously had COVID-19 within the past 2 months, and the information of symptoms, duration, and severity if infected. RESULTS: Six hundred thirty CHB patients were enrolled, 64.3% (405/630) patients were currently or previously had COVID-19. No COVID-19 patient required hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, oxygen support or died. Majority of patients reported mild (32.8% [133/405]) and moderate (48.1% [195/405]) symptoms. After propensity score matching, 400 matched patients were obtained (ETV: 238; TDF: 162), among which the incidences of COVID-19 were comparable between ETV and TDF-treated patients (60.1% [143/238] vs. 64.2% [104/162], p = 0.468). The proportion of patients complicated with any symptom caused by COVID-19 were also similar (ETV vs. TDF: 90.9% [130/143] vs. 91.3% [95/104], p = 1.000). In addition, the severity of overall symptom was comparable between ETV and TDF-treated patients, in terms of proportion of patients complicated with severe symptom (9.8% vs. 8.7%, p = 0.989), symptom duration (4.3 vs. 4.3 days, p = 0.927), and symptom severity score (4.1 vs. 4.0, p = 0.758). Subgroup analysis supported these results. CONCLUSIONS: During the current pandemic, the vast majority of CHB patients experienced non-severe COVID-19, and ETV and TDF did not affect COVID-19 severity differently.

Antibody response and safety of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in chronic hepatitis B patients with and without cirrhosis.

Background: The immune response and safety of inactivated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), especially those with cirrhosis, are not clear. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines among CHB patients with and without cirrhosis. Patients and methods: A total of 643 CHB patients who received two doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (BBIBP-CorV and CoronaVac) were enrolled. Serum samples were collected and tested for SARS-CoV-2 S-receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) immunoglobulin G (IgG) at enrollment. Data on adverse events (AEs) within 7 days after the second dose were obtained using a questionnaire. Results: A total of 416 non-cirrhotic and 227 cirrhotic patients were included in the analysis. Cirrhotic patients had lower antibody titers than non-cirrhotic patients after adjusting for age, sex, and time interval (2.45 vs. 2.60 ng/ml, p = 0.034). Furthermore, the study revealed that cirrhotic patients demonstrated a slower rate of seropositivity increase, with the highest rate being recorded at week 4 and reaching 94.7%. On the other hand, among non-cirrhotic patients, the seropositivity rate peak was observed at week 2 and reached 96.0%. In addition, cirrhotic patients displayed a more rapid decline in the seropositivity rate, dropping to 54.5% after ≥16 weeks, while non-cirrhotic patients exhibited a decrease to 67.2% after the same time period. The overall incidence of AEs was low (18.4%), and all AEs were mild and self-limiting. In addition, 16.0% of participants had mild liver function abnormalities, and half of them returned to normality within the next 6 months without additional therapy. The participants who experienced liver function abnormalities showed a higher seropositivity rate and antibody titer than those who did not (91.6% vs. 79.5%, p = 0.005; 2.73 vs. 2.41 ng/ml, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Cirrhotic CHB patients had lower antibody titers to inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines than non-cirrhotic patients. The vaccines were generally well tolerated in both non-cirrhotic and cirrhotic CHB patient groups. Patients with abnormal liver function may have a better antibody response than those without.

Effect of Composite Edible Coatings Combined with Modified Atmosphere Packaging on the Storage Quality and Microbiological Properties of Fresh-Cut Pineapple.

This study investigated the effect of edible coating (EC), modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), and edible coating + modified atmosphere packaging (EC + MAP) treatments on the quality of fresh-cut pineapples during storage at 4 °C. The quality differences were analyzed by measuring the quality, physiological indicators, and total microbial counts. After 8 d of storage, the brightness (L*) values of the EC + MAP and control samples were 72.76 and 60.83, respectively. The water loss and respiratory rate of the EC + MAP were significantly inhibited from 0% and 29.33 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1 to 4.13% and 43.84 mg CO2 kg-1 h-1, respectively. Furthermore, the fresh-cut pineapples treated with EC + MAP presented a good appearance, with lower total soluble solids (TSS) and relative conductivity and higher titratable acid (TA), ascorbic acid (AA), total phenol content, and firmness compared to the other treatment groups. At the end of storage, the EC + MAP samples exhibited the lowest polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, peroxidase (POD) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content at 28.53 U, 60.37 U, and 1.47 nmol·g-1, respectively. Furthermore, the efficiency of EC + MAP treatment exceeded that of EC or MAP alone, preventing key problems involving the surface browning and microbiological safety of the fresh-cut pineapples. The results showed that EC + MAP treatment was more successful in maintaining the storage quality and extending the shelf life of fresh-cut pineapples.

Comparison of Different Varieties on Quality Characteristics and Microbial Activity of Fresh-Cut Pineapple during Storage.

This study compared the quality and storage characteristics of four pineapple varieties to select those displaying adequate storage resistance and those suitable for freshly cut processing. Four varieties of pineapple, namely Tainong No.16, Tainong No.17, Tainong No.11, and Bali, were used to analyze the quality differences in freshly cut pineapple during storage by measuring the quality, physiological indicators, and total microbial count. The results indicated that the nutritional quality and storability of freshly cut pineapples differed significantly among the varieties. During refrigeration at 4 °C, Tainong No.11 and Bali displayed the shortest storage period of 4 d, while Tainong No.17 and Tainong No.16 presented storage periods of 5 d and 6 d, respectively. A sensory evaluation indicated that the Tainong No.16 variety was superior in terms of consumer preference, while the Bali slices were generally rated lower than the other cultivars. Additionally, the sensory properties, weight loss, firmness, and ascorbic acid (AA) content of Tainong No.16 changed the least during storage, with values of 60.75%, 6.48%, 75.15%, and 20.44%, respectively. Overall, the quality order of the four varieties of freshly cut pineapples during storage was: Tainong No.16 > Tainong No.17 > Tainong No.11 > Bali. Moreover, two-way ANOVA showed that the main effect of variety and storage time on the storage quality of fresh-cut pineapple was significant (p < 0.05). The interaction effect of variety and storage time on other quality characteristics of fresh-cut pineapple was significant (p < 0.05) except for Titratable acid (TA) and AA. In conclusion, Tainong No.16 displayed higher storage potential than the other varieties. The results of this work provide application possibilities to promote the successful processing of pineapple cultivars as freshly cut produce.

Real-life impact of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and entecavir therapy on lipid profile, glucose, and uric acid in chronic hepatitis B patients.

The impact of long-term nucleos(t)ide analogs treatment on host metabolism is a concern. Hence, we conducted this study to compare the effect of entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) on metabolic parameters among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. In this real-life retrospective study, 2030 CHB outpatients treated with ETV or TDF at Nanfang Hospital, China, were included. For treatment-naïve patients, pretreatment and semiannual metabolic parameters were collected. For treatment-experienced patients, metabolic parameters were collected at the first visit. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the effects of potential confounding factors. Among 122 treatment-naïve patients and 1908 treatment-experienced patients, ETV-treated patients were older with a higher percentage of metabolic syndrome. After PSM, the characteristics were comparable between the two groups. For treatment-naïve patients, four lipid parameters, including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels showed a decreasing trend during the 42-month TDF treatment, while they remained relatively stable or increased during ETV treatment. At Month 30, the levels of TC and LDL among TDF-treated patients were significantly lower than those among ETV-treated patients (TC: 4.7 mmol/L vs. 3.9 mmol/L, p = 0.004; LDL: 3.0 mmol/L vs. 2.4 mmol/L, p = 0.009). For treatment-experienced patients, we also observed lower levels of lipid parameters in patients with different durations of TDF treatment. The levels of glucose and uric acid were similar among ETV- and TDF-treated patients. TDF has a lipid-lowering effect in CHB patients, which provides a basis for the selection of antiviral drugs for aging CHB patients.

Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B: Prevalence and Risk Factors.

BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is an increasingly serious global problem that has adverse effects on the physical and mental health of patients. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of SD and its related factors in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: A total of 673 outpatients with CHB from October 2019 to December 2020 were included in the analysis. Demographic and clinical information was collected at enrolment. The Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale was used to evaluate SD. OUTCOMES: The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of SD in CHB patients and its associated factors. Secondary outcomes were the corresponding scores in five domains of ASEX: drive, arousal, lubrication and/or erection, orgasm and satisfaction from orgasm. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 47.0 years, with 85.6% male and 88.1% with cirrhosis. The SD prevalence was 25.4% and was increased with the decrease in liver function reserve (Child-Pugh A vs Child-Pugh B: 24.6% vs 44.8%, P = .016), the progression of liver fibrosis (FIB-4 < 1.45, 1.45-3.25, and > 3.25: 21.3%, 26.5%, and 34.4%, respectively; P < .001), and the aggravation of depression (without, mild, and moderate to severe: 18.1%, 33.6%, and 34.2%, respectively; P < .001). In multivariate analysis, SD was independently correlated with female sex (OR: 5.627, 95% CI: 3.501 - 9.044, P < .001), liver fibrosis (OR: 1.730, 95% CI: 1.054 - 2.842, P = .030), depression (OR: 2.290, 95% CI: 1.564 - 3.354, P < .001), and frequent diarrhea and/or upper respiratory tract infection/urinary system infection (OR: 2.162, 95% CI: 1.313-3.560, P = .002). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study revealed the current situation of SD in CHB patients in China, and appealed to clinicians to pay attention to the physical and mental health of the CHB patients. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This study has a large sample size and detailed demographic and clinical data. It evaluated the relationship between SD and liver function reserve and liver fibrosis degree, and compared gender differences of SD. However, this study is a cross-sectional study design and does not include healthy controls. The effects of conflicts between the couple, SD in a partner, antidepressants and hormone changes on SD were not analyzed. CONCLUSION: SD in CHB patients was highly prevalent, and its prevalence increased significantly with the deterioration of liver function reserve, liver fibrosis and depression. Additional longitudinal studies are needed to further explore its causality. Xingmei L, Siru Z, Junhua Y, et al. Sexual Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B: Prevalence and Risk Factors. J Sex Med 2022;19:207-215.

Association of Serum Hepatitis B Virus RNA With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Risk in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Under Nucleos(t)ide Analogues Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Whether serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA associates with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients has not been fully elucidated. METHODS: We enrolled 2974 patients receiving nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) from a prospective, observational CHB cohort to investigate the effect of serum HBV RNA, measured at study entry (baseline), on HCC development, using Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: During median follow-up of 4.4 years, 90 patients developed HCC. Patients with detectable baseline HBV RNA (n = 2072) exhibited significantly higher HCC risk than those with undetectable level (5-year HCC incidence estimated by Kaplan-Meier method: 4.1% versus 1.8%, P = .009; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.21, P = .005). HBV RNA levels of 609-99 999 and ≥100 000 copies/mL were associated with incrementally increasing HCC risk (aHR = 2.15 and 3.05, respectively; P for trend = .003), compared to undetectable level (<609 copies/mL). Moreover, patients with single-detectable either HBV DNA or RNA and double-detectable DNA and RNA had 1.57- and 4.02-fold higher HCC risk, respectively, than those with double-undetectable DNA and RNA (P for trend = .001). CONCLUSIONS: High-level HBV RNA is associated with increased HCC risk in NAs-treated patients. Achieving undetectable HBV RNA may contribute to better clinical outcomes, indicating it could be a valuable endpoint of anti-HBV treatment.

Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized with the Peel Extract of Mango.

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from biological waste, as well as their excellent antibacterial properties, is currently attracting significant research attention. This study synthesized AgNPs from different mango peel extract concentrations while investigating their characteristics and antibacterial properties. The results showed that the AgNPs were irregular with rod-like, spherical shapes and were detected in a range of 25 nm to 75 nm. The AgNPs displayed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), showing a more significant impact when synthesized with 0.20 g/mL of mango peel extract. Therefore, the antibacterial effect of different diluted AgNP concentrations on the growth kinetic curves of E. coli and S. aureus after synthesis with 0.20 g/mL mango peel extract was analyzed. The results indicated that the AgNP antibacterial activity was higher against S. aureus than against E. coli, while the AgNP IC50 in these two strains was approximately 1.557 mg/mL and 2.335 mg/L, respectively. This research provides new insights regarding the use of postharvest mango byproducts and the potential for developing additional AgNP composite antibacterial materials for fruit and vegetable preservation.

Antifungal Effect of Chitosan/Nano-TiO2 Composite Coatings against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Cladosporium oxysporum and Penicillium steckii.

Postharvest pathogens such as C. gloeosporioides (MA), C.oxysporum (ME) and P. steckii (MF) are the causal agents of disease in mangoes. This paper presents an in vitro investigation into the antifungal effect of a chitosan (CTS)/nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) composite coating against MA, ME and MF. The results indicated that, the rates of MA, ME and MF mortality following the single chitosan treatment were 63.3%, 84.8% and 43.5%, respectively, while the rates of mycelial inhibition were 84.0%, 100% and 25.8%, respectively. However, following the addition of 0.5% nano-TiO2 into the CTS, both the mortality and mycelial inhibition rates for MA and ME reached 100%, and the mortality and mycelial inhibition rate for MF also increased significantly, reaching 75.4% and 57.3%, respectively. In the MA, the dry weight of mycelia after the CTS/0.5% nano-TiO2 treatment decreased by 36.3% in comparison with the untreated group, while the conductivity value was about 1.7 times that of the untreated group, and the protein dissolution rate and extravasation degree of nucleic acids also increased significantly. Thus, this research revealed the potential of CTS/nano-TiO2 composite coatings in the development of new antimicrobial materials.