Accumulation of the Mutations in Basal Core Promoter of Hepatitis B Virus Subgenotype C1 Increase the Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Southern China

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype C is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In addition, HBV subgenotype C1 is the major subgenotype in Southern China. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there were the specific mutation patterns in HBV/C1 associated with Southern Chinese patients with HCC. Methods: Mutations in HBV basal core promoter (BCP) and their association with HCC were assessed in a matched cross-sectional control study of 102 HCC and 105 chronic hepatitis (CH) patients (from Guangdong, China) infected with HBV/C1. Functional analysis of HBx mutants was performed by the colony formation assay and the luciferase assays. Results: T1762/A1764 double mutations was frequently found in patients infected with HBV/C1, regardless of clinical status (64.7% in HCC and 51.4% in CH, P0.05). Unexpectedly, the adjacent V1753 or A1768 mutation significantly increased the risk of HCC (P0.05). Moreover, the prevalence of triple or quadruple mutations in BCP was significantly higher in patients with HCC than those with CH, particularly for HBeAg-positive-carriers (P0.05). Functional analysis revealed that T1762/A1764 mutation alone did not alter the transcriptional activity and the inhibitory effects on cell proliferation of HBx, but triple or quadruple mutations largely abrogated this effect.Conclusions: Accumulation of mutations involving V1753 or/and A1768 in addition to T1762/A1764 in BCP region were closely related to HCC among the patients infected with HBV/C1, particularly for HBeAg-positive-carriers. The increased risk of HCC caused by BCP variants may be attributable partially to modifying the biological functions of HBx

Effects of scleral tunnel incision or clear corneal incision with same length of phacoemulsification

AIM: To explore the differences of clinical effects between 3.0mm scleral tunnel incision and 3.0mm clear corneal incision of phacoemulsification(Phaco). METHODS: The clinical data of 114 patients with cataract(114 eyes)were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were treated with Phaco, and patients with 3.0mm scleral tunnel incision were included in control group(n=30, 30 eyes), and patients with 3.0 mm clear corneal incision were included in observation group(n=84, 84 eyes). The changes of corneal endothelial cell(CEC)density, corneal astigmatism(CA), tear meniscus height(TMH), uncorrected visual acuity(UCVA)and tear epidermal growth factor(EGF)were compared before operation and at 1wk, 1mo and 3mo after operation, and the basic conditions during perioperative period and the occurrence of complications within 3mo after operation were analyzed in the two groups. RESULTS:At 1wk, 1mo and 3mo after operation, the CEC density in the two groups was decreased significantly compared with that before operation, and the density in observation group was significantly higher than that in control group at the same time(all PPPPPCONCLUSION: The 3.0mm clear corneal incision Phaco is more appropriate than 3.0mm scleral tunnel incision, and the former one is conducive to promoting postoperative rehabilitation