In response to the global rise in obesity, bariatric surgery has become increasingly more popular and successful As a result, the demand for body contouring following massive weight loss is rapidly growing. Although b...In response to the global rise in obesity, bariatric surgery has become increasingly more popular and successful As a result, the demand for body contouring following massive weight loss is rapidly growing. Although bariatric procedures may produce impressive weight loss, people who achieve massive weight loss are often unhappy with the hanging folds of skin and subcutaneous tissue that remain. This review examines the nature of the post-bariatric deformity in each body region and briefly reviews common approaches to their treatment.展开更多
AIM: To compare the antiviral efficacy of adefovir (ADV) in lamivudine (LMV)-resistant patients with LMV treatment in nucleoside-naive patients, using serum samples collected sequentially during the course of tre...AIM: To compare the antiviral efficacy of adefovir (ADV) in lamivudine (LMV)-resistant patients with LMV treatment in nucleoside-naive patients, using serum samples collected sequentially during the course of treatment progressing from LMV to ADV.METHODS: Forty-four patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were included. The patients were initially treated with LMV and then switched to ADV when LMV resistance developed. Antiviral efficacy was assessed by measuring the following: reduction in serum HBV DNA from baseline, HBV DNA negative conversion (defined as HBV DNA being undectable by the hybridization assay), and HBV DNA response (either HBV DNA level ≤ 10^s copies/mL or a ≥ 2 log10 reduction from baseline HBV DNA level).RESULTS: After two and six months of treatment, HBV DNA reduction was greater with LMV compared to ADV treatment (P = 0.021). HBV DNA negative conversion rates were 64% and 27% after one month of LMV and ADV treatment respectively (P = 0.001). Similarly, HBV DNA response rates were 74% and 51% after two months of LMV and ADV treatment respectively (P = 0.026). The time taken to HBV DNA negative conversion and to HBV DNA response were both delayed in ADV treatment compared with LMV.CONCLUSION: The antiviral efficacy of ADV in LMV-resistant patients is slower and less potent than that with LMV in nucleoside-naive patients during the early course of treatment.展开更多
OBJECTIVE: To develop a new kind of vector system called gene-viral vector, which combines the advantages of gene and virus therapies. METHODS: Using recombinant technology, an anti-tumor gene was inserted into the ge...OBJECTIVE: To develop a new kind of vector system called gene-viral vector, which combines the advantages of gene and virus therapies. METHODS: Using recombinant technology, an anti-tumor gene was inserted into the genome of replicative virus specific for tumor cells. The cell killing effect, reporter gene expression of the green fluorescence protein, anti-tumor gene expression of mouse interleukin-12 (mIL-12) and replication of virus were observed by the methods of cell pathology, fluorescence microscopy, ELISA and electron microscopy, respectively. RESULTS: A new kind of gene-viral vector system of adenovirus, in which the E1b-55 kD gene was deleted but the E1a gene was preserved, was constructed. The vector system, like the replicative virus ONYX-015, replicated and proliferated in tumor cells but not in normal ones. Our vector had an advantage over ONYX-015 in that it carried different kinds of anti-tumor genes to enhance its therapeutic effect. The reporter gene expression of the green fluorescence protein in tumor cells was much better than the adenovirus vector employed in conventional gene the rapy, and the expression in our vector system was as low as or even less than that in the conventional adenovirus gene therapy system. Similar results were observed in experiments with this vector system carrying the anti-tumor gene mIL-12. Replication and proliferation of the virus carrying the mIL-12 gene in tumor cells were confirmed by electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Gene-viral vectors are new vectors with an anti-tumor gene inserted into the genome of replicative virus specific for tumor cells. Because of the specific replication and proliferation of the virus in tumor cells, expression of the anti-tumor gene is increased hundreds to thousands of times. This approach takes full advantages of gene therapy and virus therapy to enhance the effect on the tumor. It overcomes the disadvantages of conventional gene therapy, such as low transfer rate, low gene expression, lack of target tropism, and low anti-tumor activity. We believe that this is a promising means for future tumor treatment.展开更多
文摘In response to the global rise in obesity, bariatric surgery has become increasingly more popular and successful As a result, the demand for body contouring following massive weight loss is rapidly growing. Although bariatric procedures may produce impressive weight loss, people who achieve massive weight loss are often unhappy with the hanging folds of skin and subcutaneous tissue that remain. This review examines the nature of the post-bariatric deformity in each body region and briefly reviews common approaches to their treatment.
文摘AIM: To compare the antiviral efficacy of adefovir (ADV) in lamivudine (LMV)-resistant patients with LMV treatment in nucleoside-naive patients, using serum samples collected sequentially during the course of treatment progressing from LMV to ADV.METHODS: Forty-four patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were included. The patients were initially treated with LMV and then switched to ADV when LMV resistance developed. Antiviral efficacy was assessed by measuring the following: reduction in serum HBV DNA from baseline, HBV DNA negative conversion (defined as HBV DNA being undectable by the hybridization assay), and HBV DNA response (either HBV DNA level ≤ 10^s copies/mL or a ≥ 2 log10 reduction from baseline HBV DNA level).RESULTS: After two and six months of treatment, HBV DNA reduction was greater with LMV compared to ADV treatment (P = 0.021). HBV DNA negative conversion rates were 64% and 27% after one month of LMV and ADV treatment respectively (P = 0.001). Similarly, HBV DNA response rates were 74% and 51% after two months of LMV and ADV treatment respectively (P = 0.026). The time taken to HBV DNA negative conversion and to HBV DNA response were both delayed in ADV treatment compared with LMV.CONCLUSION: The antiviral efficacy of ADV in LMV-resistant patients is slower and less potent than that with LMV in nucleoside-naive patients during the early course of treatment.
文摘OBJECTIVE: To develop a new kind of vector system called gene-viral vector, which combines the advantages of gene and virus therapies. METHODS: Using recombinant technology, an anti-tumor gene was inserted into the genome of replicative virus specific for tumor cells. The cell killing effect, reporter gene expression of the green fluorescence protein, anti-tumor gene expression of mouse interleukin-12 (mIL-12) and replication of virus were observed by the methods of cell pathology, fluorescence microscopy, ELISA and electron microscopy, respectively. RESULTS: A new kind of gene-viral vector system of adenovirus, in which the E1b-55 kD gene was deleted but the E1a gene was preserved, was constructed. The vector system, like the replicative virus ONYX-015, replicated and proliferated in tumor cells but not in normal ones. Our vector had an advantage over ONYX-015 in that it carried different kinds of anti-tumor genes to enhance its therapeutic effect. The reporter gene expression of the green fluorescence protein in tumor cells was much better than the adenovirus vector employed in conventional gene the rapy, and the expression in our vector system was as low as or even less than that in the conventional adenovirus gene therapy system. Similar results were observed in experiments with this vector system carrying the anti-tumor gene mIL-12. Replication and proliferation of the virus carrying the mIL-12 gene in tumor cells were confirmed by electron microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Gene-viral vectors are new vectors with an anti-tumor gene inserted into the genome of replicative virus specific for tumor cells. Because of the specific replication and proliferation of the virus in tumor cells, expression of the anti-tumor gene is increased hundreds to thousands of times. This approach takes full advantages of gene therapy and virus therapy to enhance the effect on the tumor. It overcomes the disadvantages of conventional gene therapy, such as low transfer rate, low gene expression, lack of target tropism, and low anti-tumor activity. We believe that this is a promising means for future tumor treatment.