A P value <0.05 was considered significant. Most of the experiments were repeated in three or four independent trials with similar results, and representative images are included in this article. All other materials and methods are described in the Supporting Materials and Methods. IL-22R1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was detected in quiescent and activated mouse HSCs (mHSCs), and these levels were comparable to IL-22R1 mRNA levels in hepatocytes (Fig. 1). IL-22R1 mRNA expression increased further after treatment with IL-22 in cultured

HSCs (Fig. 1B). Rapamycin clinical trial Expression of IL-10R2 mRNA, which is also required for IL-22 signaling, was detected in HSCs as well as in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells (Fig. 1A). Additionally, western blotting selleck screening library analyses revealed the expression of IL-22R1 protein in primary mHSCs, which was slightly increased after IL-22 treatment (Fig. 1C). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses detected IL-22R1 protein expression on the surface of primary mHSCs, and comparable expression levels were observed in HSCs from wild-type (WT) and IL-22TG mice (Supporting Fig. 1A,B). Finally, the expression of

IL-22R1 and IL-10R2 mRNA was also detected in primary human HSCs (hHSCs) from 3 human donors and in the hHSC cell line, LX2 (Fig. 1D). The effects of IL-22 on the signaling pathways in HSCs are shown in Fig. 1E. IL-22 exposure significantly activated STAT3 in all samples, with peak effects observed at 30-60 minutes. Activated STAT3 levels returned to basal levels by 120 minutes. IL-22 also induced extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) MCE activation in primary mHSCs and, to a lesser extent, in hHSCs and LX2 cells. Furthermore, IL-22-dependent STAT3 activation in HSCs was further confirmed by immunostaining for phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) in the nuclei of HSCs (Supporting Fig. 1C,D). IL-22 has been shown to promote hepatocyte survival and proliferation4; therefore, we examined the potential antiapoptotic and

mitogenic effects of IL-22 on HSCs. The nuclear morphology of HSCs revealed a significant increase in apoptosis after a 4-hour incubation with cycloheximide (CHX) that was markedly reduced in IL-22 pretreated HSCs (Fig. 2A and Supporting Fig. 2). The antiapoptotic function of IL-22 in HSCs was further demonstrated by a reduction in CHX-mediated induction of caspase-3 and -7 activity and cleaved caspase-3 expression in HSCs after IL-22 treatment (Fig. 2A,B). Furthermore, Fig. 2C shows that serum and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), but not IL-22 treatment, increased bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation in HSCs (Fig. 2C), indicating that IL-22 does not affect HSC proliferation. Finally, the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, such as pSTAT3 and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), was markedly increased, whereas expression of the mitogenic protein, cyclin D1, was slightly elevated in HSCs after IL-22 exposure (Fig. 2D).

A P value <0.05 was considered significant. Most of the experiments were repeated in three or four independent trials with similar results, and representative images are included in this article. All other materials and methods are described in the Supporting Materials and Methods. IL-22R1 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was detected in quiescent and activated mouse HSCs (mHSCs), and these levels were comparable to IL-22R1 mRNA levels in hepatocytes (Fig. 1). IL-22R1 mRNA expression increased further after treatment with IL-22 in cultured

HSCs (Fig. 1B). selleck screening library Expression of IL-10R2 mRNA, which is also required for IL-22 signaling, was detected in HSCs as well as in hepatocytes and Kupffer cells (Fig. 1A). Additionally, western blotting check details analyses revealed the expression of IL-22R1 protein in primary mHSCs, which was slightly increased after IL-22 treatment (Fig. 1C). Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses detected IL-22R1 protein expression on the surface of primary mHSCs, and comparable expression levels were observed in HSCs from wild-type (WT) and IL-22TG mice (Supporting Fig. 1A,B). Finally, the expression of

IL-22R1 and IL-10R2 mRNA was also detected in primary human HSCs (hHSCs) from 3 human donors and in the hHSC cell line, LX2 (Fig. 1D). The effects of IL-22 on the signaling pathways in HSCs are shown in Fig. 1E. IL-22 exposure significantly activated STAT3 in all samples, with peak effects observed at 30-60 minutes. Activated STAT3 levels returned to basal levels by 120 minutes. IL-22 also induced extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) medchemexpress activation in primary mHSCs and, to a lesser extent, in hHSCs and LX2 cells. Furthermore, IL-22-dependent STAT3 activation in HSCs was further confirmed by immunostaining for phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3) in the nuclei of HSCs (Supporting Fig. 1C,D). IL-22 has been shown to promote hepatocyte survival and proliferation4; therefore, we examined the potential antiapoptotic and

mitogenic effects of IL-22 on HSCs. The nuclear morphology of HSCs revealed a significant increase in apoptosis after a 4-hour incubation with cycloheximide (CHX) that was markedly reduced in IL-22 pretreated HSCs (Fig. 2A and Supporting Fig. 2). The antiapoptotic function of IL-22 in HSCs was further demonstrated by a reduction in CHX-mediated induction of caspase-3 and -7 activity and cleaved caspase-3 expression in HSCs after IL-22 treatment (Fig. 2A,B). Furthermore, Fig. 2C shows that serum and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), but not IL-22 treatment, increased bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation in HSCs (Fig. 2C), indicating that IL-22 does not affect HSC proliferation. Finally, the expression of antiapoptotic proteins, such as pSTAT3 and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), was markedly increased, whereas expression of the mitogenic protein, cyclin D1, was slightly elevated in HSCs after IL-22 exposure (Fig. 2D).

Methods: Twenty male SD rats were randomly divided into 2 Cell Cycle inhibitor groups:

the model group (n = 10) and the control group (n = 10). Rats in the model group were treated with chronic and comprehensive stress. Open-field test was used to confirm the accomplishment of modeling. The serum concentration of IL-4 and IL-13 were determined by ELISA and the expression of TMEM16A in the myenteric plexus was detected by immunofluorescence. Results: The mean serum concentration of IL-4 in the model group (8.09 ± 0.92 pg/ml) was significantly higher than that in the control group (6.98 ± 0.69 pg/ml) (t = 3.363, P < 0.01), while the mean serum

concentration Akt inhibitor of IL-13 in the model group (5.96 ± 0.67 pg/ml) was also significantly higher than that in the control group (5.26 ± 0.73 pg/ml) (t = 2.322, P < 0.05). Positive expression of TMEM16A in the myenteric plexus was observed under the fluorescence microscope. Compared with the control group, the expression of TMEM16A in the model group were decreased in all sections of the intestine. Conclusion: In model rats treated with chronic and comprehensive stress, the expression of Th2-related cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13) were increased, and it might result in the damage of interstitial cells of Cajal by affecting the expression of TMEM16A through the JAK/STAT pathway. Key Word(s): 1. IL-4;

2. IL-13; 3. TMEM16A; 4. ICC; Presenting Author: FENGPING ZHENG Additional Authors: SHENGLIN WEN, LI TAO Corresponding Author: FENGPING ZHENG Affiliations: The third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University Objective: To evaluate the relationship of the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with life events and social support. Methods: The life event scale (LES) and social support rating scale (SSRS) were applied for investigating eighty-three patients with IBS and seventy-six MCE healthy control respondents. Results: The score of negative life events was higher in the IBS group than the control group (21.2 ± 17.4 vs. 9.5 ± 11.0, P < 0.05). The score of positive life events and total stress in the IBS group was not significantly different from the control group (P > 0.05). Compared with controls, the social support offered to IBS patients was lower (37.6 ± 7.2 vs. 43.9 ± 4.8, P < 0.05) and IBS patients utilization of social support was also lower (5.6 ± 3.2 vs. 8.2 ± 2.7, P < 0.05). Conclusion: IBS patients experienced a higher level of negative life events and acquired a lower level of social support compared with healthy control respondents. Key Word(s): 1. IBS; 2. life event; 3.

When new-onset DM was further stratified this website by the post-surgical status of DM, postoperative resolved new-onset DM is associated with longer DFS and OS. Multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model indicated longstanding DM is an independent

unfavorable predictor of OS and PFS, whereas postoperative resolved new-onset DM is an independent favorable predictor of OS and PFS. Morbidity was higher (p = 0.025) and postoperative hospital stay was longer (p = 0.002) in new-onset diabetics compared with longstanding and nondiabetic patients. There was no difference in the adjuvant chemotherapy toxicity rate among longstanding diabetics, new-onset diabetics, and nondiabetics. Conclusion: Different status of DM has different impacts

AP24534 on outcome after resection for PDAC. Long-standing DM is related to progression of disease, whereas post-surgical resolved new-onset DM is a favorable prognostic factor. Both diabetics and nondiabetics can safely undergo adjuvant chemotherapy; however, more careful management should be instituted for patients with postoperative new-onset DM. Key Word(s): 1. new-onset diabetes; 2. pancreatic cancer; 3. survival; Presenting Author: ANJIANG WANG Additional Authors: SI XU, JUNBO HONG, PI LIU, LIANG XIA, YIN ZHU, WENHUA HE, YOUXIANG CHEN, NONGHUA LV Corresponding Author: NONGHUA LV Affiliations: The first affiliated hospital of Nanchang University Objective: The BISAP score has not been validated in Chinese patients with acute pancreatitis in different phases. We MCE公司 are aimed to compare the ability of the BISAP, Ranson and APACHE II scoring systems to predict persistent organ failure and mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) in different phases based on the revised Atlanta Classification. Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with AP admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from November, 2009 to January, 2012 were

recruited prospectively. Demographics and clinical data were collected to calculate Ranson, APACHE II, and BISAP scores for the first 3 days of their hospitalization. Patients were classified into early phase group (≤7 days) and late phase group (>7 days) based on time span between the onset of AP and admission to our hospital. Poor prognosis was defined as the development of persistent organ failure (POF) or death. Results: A total of 350 consecutive patients with AP were recruited. Of those, 310 (54.5% male, age 50.47 ± 16.35 years) finished the follow-up. The three scoring systems studied showed modest, but similar accuracy for predicting POF or death (AUC: 0.68–0.84), which failed to predict the prognosis of AP patients on the late phase. Scoring on the initial 3 days of their hospitalization showed modest to high accuracy for predicting POF or death (AUC: 0.69–0.95). However, the differences of predicting value among the first 3 days were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

When new-onset DM was further stratified Pritelivir by the post-surgical status of DM, postoperative resolved new-onset DM is associated with longer DFS and OS. Multivariate analysis with the Cox proportional hazards model indicated longstanding DM is an independent

unfavorable predictor of OS and PFS, whereas postoperative resolved new-onset DM is an independent favorable predictor of OS and PFS. Morbidity was higher (p = 0.025) and postoperative hospital stay was longer (p = 0.002) in new-onset diabetics compared with longstanding and nondiabetic patients. There was no difference in the adjuvant chemotherapy toxicity rate among longstanding diabetics, new-onset diabetics, and nondiabetics. Conclusion: Different status of DM has different impacts

click here on outcome after resection for PDAC. Long-standing DM is related to progression of disease, whereas post-surgical resolved new-onset DM is a favorable prognostic factor. Both diabetics and nondiabetics can safely undergo adjuvant chemotherapy; however, more careful management should be instituted for patients with postoperative new-onset DM. Key Word(s): 1. new-onset diabetes; 2. pancreatic cancer; 3. survival; Presenting Author: ANJIANG WANG Additional Authors: SI XU, JUNBO HONG, PI LIU, LIANG XIA, YIN ZHU, WENHUA HE, YOUXIANG CHEN, NONGHUA LV Corresponding Author: NONGHUA LV Affiliations: The first affiliated hospital of Nanchang University Objective: The BISAP score has not been validated in Chinese patients with acute pancreatitis in different phases. We medchemexpress are aimed to compare the ability of the BISAP, Ranson and APACHE II scoring systems to predict persistent organ failure and mortality in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) in different phases based on the revised Atlanta Classification. Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with AP admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from November, 2009 to January, 2012 were

recruited prospectively. Demographics and clinical data were collected to calculate Ranson, APACHE II, and BISAP scores for the first 3 days of their hospitalization. Patients were classified into early phase group (≤7 days) and late phase group (>7 days) based on time span between the onset of AP and admission to our hospital. Poor prognosis was defined as the development of persistent organ failure (POF) or death. Results: A total of 350 consecutive patients with AP were recruited. Of those, 310 (54.5% male, age 50.47 ± 16.35 years) finished the follow-up. The three scoring systems studied showed modest, but similar accuracy for predicting POF or death (AUC: 0.68–0.84), which failed to predict the prognosis of AP patients on the late phase. Scoring on the initial 3 days of their hospitalization showed modest to high accuracy for predicting POF or death (AUC: 0.69–0.95). However, the differences of predicting value among the first 3 days were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).

As in males, reproductive competition between females has also led to the evolution of ornaments that signal their condition and reproductive status

to the opposite sex. For example, female facial colouration in several cercopithecine monkeys is brighter during the fertile phase of their oestrus cycles than at other times (Setchell, Wickings & Knapp, 2006; Dubuc et al., 2009). Similarly, the detailed structure of copulatory calls given by females changes with their stage of oestrus (O’Connell & Cowlishaw, 1994; Semple et al., 2002) and playback experiments show that males discriminate between calls given by females at different stages of their cycle and are most attracted to the calls of females in late oestrus (Semple Talazoparib chemical structure & McComb, 2000). One of the most striking examples of female ornaments are the cyclical perineal swellings found in monkeys and apes that live in multi-male groups where males have access to multiple partners (Clutton-Brock & Harvey, 1976; Zinner et al., 2004). In these species, females can gain support and protection for themselves and their offspring from males they consort with and may increase their direct fitness by attracting and mating with multiple males (Smuts, 1985; Palombit, 2000; Alberts & Fitzpatrick, 2012). The long duration of perineal swellings relatively to the fertile (periovulatory)

period may allow females to mate with multiple males when the probability of ovulation is not maximal, which may help to confuse

paternity certainty and decrease infanticide risk for future offspring (Nunn, 1999). Males may maximize their direct check details fitness by mating with females with large swellings for the size and colouring of female sexual swellings varies throughout the menstrual cycle of females, providing an approximate indicator of variation in fecundity (Emery & Whitten, 2003; Plavcan, 2004; Zinner et al., 2004; Higham et al., 2008, 2009). Consequently, the gradual nature of the 上海皓元医药股份有限公司 signal may allow females to concentrate paternity in a high-ranking males at times where ovulation probability is maximal to secure paternal care for their future offspring (Nunn, 1999; Alberts & Fitzpatrick, 2012). Moreover, in several species, individual differences in the relative size of the swellings (which are consistent across cycles) are positively correlated with the female’s body condition and reproductive success (Domb & Pagel, 2001; Huchard et al., 2009). As might be expected, large swellings are more effective in attracting males and evolutionary models suggest that swellings may have originated as a signal of receptivity and subsequently evolved to signal differences in individual quality (Huchard et al., 2009). The evolution of traits that enhance female competitiveness raises questions about the mechanisms limiting their development.

As in males, reproductive competition between females has also led to the evolution of ornaments that signal their condition and reproductive status

to the opposite sex. For example, female facial colouration in several cercopithecine monkeys is brighter during the fertile phase of their oestrus cycles than at other times (Setchell, Wickings & Knapp, 2006; Dubuc et al., 2009). Similarly, the detailed structure of copulatory calls given by females changes with their stage of oestrus (O’Connell & Cowlishaw, 1994; Semple et al., 2002) and playback experiments show that males discriminate between calls given by females at different stages of their cycle and are most attracted to the calls of females in late oestrus (Semple http://www.selleckchem.com/products/bay-57-1293.html & McComb, 2000). One of the most striking examples of female ornaments are the cyclical perineal swellings found in monkeys and apes that live in multi-male groups where males have access to multiple partners (Clutton-Brock & Harvey, 1976; Zinner et al., 2004). In these species, females can gain support and protection for themselves and their offspring from males they consort with and may increase their direct fitness by attracting and mating with multiple males (Smuts, 1985; Palombit, 2000; Alberts & Fitzpatrick, 2012). The long duration of perineal swellings relatively to the fertile (periovulatory)

period may allow females to mate with multiple males when the probability of ovulation is not maximal, which may help to confuse

paternity certainty and decrease infanticide risk for future offspring (Nunn, 1999). Males may maximize their direct HDAC inhibitors list fitness by mating with females with large swellings for the size and colouring of female sexual swellings varies throughout the menstrual cycle of females, providing an approximate indicator of variation in fecundity (Emery & Whitten, 2003; Plavcan, 2004; Zinner et al., 2004; Higham et al., 2008, 2009). Consequently, the gradual nature of the 上海皓元 signal may allow females to concentrate paternity in a high-ranking males at times where ovulation probability is maximal to secure paternal care for their future offspring (Nunn, 1999; Alberts & Fitzpatrick, 2012). Moreover, in several species, individual differences in the relative size of the swellings (which are consistent across cycles) are positively correlated with the female’s body condition and reproductive success (Domb & Pagel, 2001; Huchard et al., 2009). As might be expected, large swellings are more effective in attracting males and evolutionary models suggest that swellings may have originated as a signal of receptivity and subsequently evolved to signal differences in individual quality (Huchard et al., 2009). The evolution of traits that enhance female competitiveness raises questions about the mechanisms limiting their development.

We then applied three different prediction GDC-0980 purchase methods—diagonal linear discriminant analysis, support vector machines, and k-nearest neighbor—to determine the prediction accuracy of the selected panel (method B) using data on the remaining 22 pairs.32 The hierarchical clustering of the methylation data was performed with the top 1,000 most significantly differentially methylated sites and with the two selected panels of CpG sites using methods A and B. Gene-ontology analysis

was performed by the PANTHER classification system (http://www.pantherdb.org) to compare the significant methylated gene lists with the reference (National Center for Biotechnology Information, human genome build 36).33 The binomial test was used to identify significantly enriched pathways, biological processes, molecular functions, cellular components, and protein class terms after Bonferroni’s correction for

multiple comparisons, with a cutoff of p ≤ 0.05. To investigate whether methylation levels are affected by HCC risk factors, such as HBsAg status, HCV status, cigarette smoking (i.e., ever/never), alcohol consumption (i.e., ever/never), AFB1-DNA adduct level, and gender within tumor and adjacent nontumor tissues separately, Regorafenib solubility dmso we used a two-sample t test with Bonferroni’s correction for multiple testing. In the second-stage confirmatory analysis, Pearson’s correlations between methylation levels using Illumina arrays and pyrosequencing on selected sites were calculated. All analyses were conducted using the R language (http://www.r-project.org/). Clinical and pathological characteristics are described in Table 1. Almost 90% of cases were male and 79% were HBsAg positive. Approximately 31% of 上海皓元医药股份有限公司 subjects were positive for HCV. Seven subjects were negative for both HBV and HCV, 36 subjects were positive

for HBsAg and negative for HCV, 13 subjects were both HBV and HCV positive, and the remaining 6 subjects were negative for HBsAg and positive for HCV. Thus, viral infection, primarily HBV, was the major risk factor in this population. The average age at HCC diagnosis was 52.2 ± 14.2 years. Approximately 40% of cases smoked and 13% consumed alcohol, but data were missing for approximately 20% of subjects. AFB1-DNA adducts, measured previously in all tumor tissues and in approximately half of the adjacent tissues,34, 35 are also summarized in Table 1. Reproducibility of the Illumina platform was evaluated using replicates of four paired samples on a different day. High concordance was observed for all eight replicates, with coefficients of determination (R2) ranging from 0.96 to 0.98. A representative example of the concordance between two replicates for an adjacent tissue sample is given in Supporting Fig. 1 and is consistent with previous studies.

Twelve patients met criteria for severe CP, 14 for moderate CP,

28 formed an abdominal pain group (non-CP). Peak bicarbonate concentrations could distinguish click here between severe CP, moderate and non-CP. (p < 0.001, p = 0.026), whereas f-elastase-1 and enzymes, individually could not distinguish between moderate CP and non-CP. Duodenal lipase and amylase separated well between severe and moderate CP (p = 0.001 and p = 0.022). The non-CP group showed values equal to healthy controls without pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Conclusion: Conclusions: Measuring bicarbonate and enzymes in duodenal juice during an upper endoscopy after secretin stimulation was able to grade patients and distinguish patients with and without CP. Lipase and amylase differentiated moderate from severe CP, whereas bicarbonate separated patients with and without CP. Key Word(s): 1. selleckchem chronicpancreatitis; 2. endoscopic; 3. secretin; 4. bicarbonate; Presenting Author: CUI CHEN Corresponding

Author: CUI CHEN Affiliations: Second Military Medical University Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficiency of a novel double-lumen gastric tube in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients. Methods: Fifty AP patients on gastrointestinal decompression treatment were randomly divided into two groups. The observation group was given the double-lumen gastric tube indwelling decompression and the control group using ordinary gastric tube. Parameters such as serum amylase, gastric tube drainage patency, abdominal distension and bowel movements recovery 上海皓元 time were observed and statistically processed. Results: The drainage effectiveness of the double-lumen gastric tube was better than ordinary tube. At the same time, the double-lumen tube can significantly reduce abdominal distension, and promote the recovery of pancreatitis.

Conclusion: The double-lumen gastric tube has significantly better indwelling effect than ordinary tube, and it might be worthy of promotion and application in patients with acute pancreatitis. Key Word(s): 1. Acute pancreatitis; 2. Double-lumen; 3. Gastric tube; 4. Decompression; Presenting Author: PHONTHEP ANGSUWATCHARAKON Additional Authors: VEERANUCH ROJYINDEELERT, SOMBAT TREEPRASERTSUK, RAPAT PITTAYANON, RUNGSUN RERKNIMITR Corresponding Author: PHONTHEP ANGSUWATCHARAKON Affiliations: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University Objective: The prediction of severity is important to guide for management and to predict prognosis in acute pancreatitis. Bedside Index for Severity of Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP) is simple and can be completed in 24 hours. We aimed to compare BISAP, Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Examination (APAHCE)-II, Ranson score and CT severity index (CTSI) in predicting severity and mortality. Methods: Medical records of patients’ diagnosed with acute pancreatitis during 2001–2012 were extensively reviewed. The BISAP and APACHE-II were calculated by using data within 24 hours of admission.

Results The 90 patients had received a median 156 weeks of NUCs treatments before EOT.

Seventy patients (77.8%) achieved the recommended APASL treatment endpoint, including 15 (53.6%) HBeAg-positive and 55 (88.7%) HBeAg-negative patients. During the median follow-up period of 36.6 weeks (range 3 to 102 weeks), VR and CR developed in 71.1% and 37.8% of patients, respectively. In HBeAg-positive patients, the median time to VR and CR were 24.1 and 66.4 weeks, respectively. There was no significant predictor selleck chemicals of VR, while achieving APASL treatment endpoint was the only predictor of CR (HR = 0.127, p = 0.014). In the 15 HBeAg-positive patients who achieved APASL treatment endpoint, 8 (53.3%) and 3 (20%) patients still developed HDAC inhibitors list VR and CR, respectively. In HBeAg-negative patients, the median time to VR and CR were 31.9 and 74.7 weeks, respectively. Neither achieving APASL treatment endpoint nor low qHBsAg level at EOT were not associated with VR and CR. In the 16 HBeAg-negative patients with HBsAg <200 IU/mL at EOT, 11 (68.8%) and 3 (18.8%) patients still developed VR and CR, respectively. Conclusions The risk of VR is high after cessation of NUCs treatment even achieving APASL treatment endpoint in both HBeAg-positive and –negative CHB patients.

Low HBsAg level at EOT could not confer relapse-free status. HBV viral load should be closely monitored for all patients after cessation of NUCs. Disclosures: The following people have nothing to disclose: Yi-Hsiang Huang, I-Cheng

Lee, Cheuk-Kay Sun, Chien-Wei Su, Yuan-Jen Wang, Han-Chieh Lin Background Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a serious public health burden, especially in Southeast Asia. The approved antiviral drugs for CHB treatment include nucleotide analogs and interferons (IFNs), both of which are effective in selected patients and limited by resistance or considerable side-effect. Herbs have increasingly drawn attention as potential sources of antiviral drugs. Among them, Dandelion belongs to the Compositae family and one of its components is traxasterol. It has been reported that dandelion extracts possessed anti-influenza virus properties and traxasterol inhibited Epstein-Barr virus early antigen. The aim of present study was to investigate the inhibitory effect and underlying mechanism of dandelion extract and traxasterol on HBV replication 上海皓元 in vitro. Methods Dandelion or traxasterol was added to human hepatoblastoma cell line which are stably transfected with HBV clone-HepG2.2.15, with lamivudine as a positive control. After culture, supernatants were collected to measure HBV DNA, pregenomic (pg) RNAs, HBsAg and HBeAg by reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) or commercial enzyme-linked immunoassay. Intracellular HBsAg and HBcAg expression were determined by immunofluorescence and western blotting. And the level of polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB) expression was determined by western blotting.