1 and 8% (w/v) NaCl. The optimal pH for growth is between 7.0 and selleck chem inhibitor 8.0 with pH 5.5 being the lowest possible pH at which growth occurs. Strain TF-218T possesses oval cells 0.4-0.9 x 0.7-2.0 ��m in size (Figure 2) and is motile by means of a single polar flagellum. On marine agar circular, slightly convex, smooth, glistering, yellowish-white colonies 1.5-2.5 mm in diameter are formed [1]. TF-218T utilizes D-glucose, glycerol, leucine, serine, acetate, citrate and succinate [1]. Figure 2 Scanning electron micrograph of P. daeponensis DSM 23529T In addition to the findings reported in [1], we observed that strain DSM 23529T is able to form blue colonies on YTSS medium, as described for the closely related strain Y4I [11]. This is probably due to the presence of genes for indigoidine biosynthesis in the genome (see below).

The utilization of carbon compounds by P. daeponensis was also determined for this study using Generation-III microplates in an OmniLog phenotyping device (BIOLOG Inc., Hayward, CA, USA). The microplates were inoculated at 28��C with a cell suspension at a cell density of 95-96% turbidity and dye IF-A. Further additives were vitamins, micronutrients and sea-salt solutions. The exported measurement data were further analyzed with the opm package for R [30,31], using its functionality for statistically estimating parameters from the respiration curves and translating them into negative, ambiguous, and positive reactions. The strain was studied in two independent biological replicates, and reactions with a different behavior between the two repetitions were regarded as ambiguous.

For P. daeponensis strain DSM 23529T, positive reactions were observed for pH 6, 1% NaCl, 4% NaCl, 8% NaCl, D-glucose, inosine, glycerol, D-aspartic Brefeldin_A acid, L-aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid, L-histidine, L-pyroglutamic acid, L-lactic acid, ��-keto-glutaric acid, D-malic acid, L-malic acid, lithium chloride, ��-hydroxy-butyric acid, ��-hydroxy-butyric acid, ��-keto-butyric acid, acetoacetic acid, propionic acid, acetic acid and sodium bromated.

5, 5.0, 7.5 ��g/ml of METO was analyzed on 3 different days. Measure the solution at 296 nm (A1) and 223nm (A2). The results were reported in terms of relative standard deviation. Method precision Intraday Test solutions containing 2, 4, 6 ��g/ml then TELM and 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 ��g/ml of METO was analyzed three times on the same day. Measure the solution at 296 nm (A1) and 223 nm (A2). The results were reported in terms of relative standard deviation. Interday Test solution containing 2, 4, 6 ��g/ml TELM and 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 ��g/ml of METO was analyzed on 3 different days. Measure the solution at 296 nm (A1) and 223 nm (A2). The results were reported in terms of relative standard deviation. Specificity Specificity is a procedure to detect quantitatively the analyte in presence of component that may be expected to be present in the sample matrix.

Commonly used excipients in tablet preparation were spiked in a preweight quantity of drug and then absorbance was measured and calculation done to determine quantity of drugs. [Figure 6] Figure 6 UV spectrum showing standard mixture of TELM and METO (4:5 ��g/ml), test sample of TELM and METO (4:5 ��g/ml), and placebo. Accuracy The accuracy of the method was determined by calculating recoveries of TELM and METO by the standard addition method. Accuracy is performed at three levels 25, 50 and 75%. Known amount of standard solutions of TELM (0, 1, 2 and 3 ��g/ml) and METO (0, 1.25, 2.5 and 3.75 ��g/ml) were added to a pre-quantified test solution of TELM (4 ��g/mL) and METO (5 ��g/mL). Absorbance of solution was measured at selected wavelength for TELM and METO.

The amount of TELM and METO was calculated at each level by absorbance correction equation method and % recoveries were computed. Limit of detection and limit of quantitation Limit of detection is the lowest amount of analyte in a sample which can be detected but not necessarily quantitated as an exact value and limit of quantitation is the lowest amount of analyte in a sample which can be quantitatively determined with suitable precision and accuracy.[32] For these prepare linearity at the lowest concentration mixture containing TELM (0.16 – 0.24 ��g/ml) and METO (0.2 – 0.3 ��g/ml) and measure The absorbance at 296 nm and 223 nm.

Plot the calibration curve of absorbance vs concentration for individual wavelength and determine regression line equations for TELM and METO and find out the the limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) were calculated using the standard deviation Entinostat of repeatability and slope (S) of the calibration of new calibration curve for LOD and LOQ. where, N = the standard deviation of the response and S = slope of the calibration curve. Analysis of TELM and METO in combined tablet Twenty tablets were weighed and the average weight was calculated. The tablet powder equivalent to 10 mg of TELM and 12.5 mg of METO were weighed and transferred to 100 ml volumetric flask.

Literature reveals that potentiometric,[2] spectrophotometric,[6,7] and chromatographic methods[8�C15] have been reported for their individual analysis, along with other combinations in pharmaceutical formulation and biological fluids. However, no method has been www.selleckchem.com/products/Rapamycin.html reported for their simultaneous determination in their combined fixed dose tablet formulation, to the best of our knowledge. The aim of the present study is to develop a feasible, rapid, sensitive, and specific HPLC method for the analysis of the investigated drugs. Figure 1 Structure of tolperisone hydrochloride Figure 2 Structure of etodolac MATERIALS AND METHODS Chemical The TOLP and ETD standard was obtained from Lupin Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Mumbai. The tablet formulation was obtained as a gift sample from Zydus Cadila Health Care Ltd.

All the chemicals used were of Analytical Reagent grade and the solvents were of HPLC grade. HPLC grade water, methanol, acetonitrile, orthophosphoric acid, and tri-ethylamine (TEA) were purchased from S.D Fine Chemicals, Mumbai, India. Apparatus Separation was performed with a Shimadzu LC_10_AT, equipped with a Rheodyne injector valve with a 20.0 ��l loop and a UV / VIS detector, and the PDA (SPD_M_10_A VP) detector operated at 257 nm. The Class-VP software was applied for data collection and processing. A Chemline digital pH-meter was used for pH measurements. Chromatographic conditions A Phenomenex C18 column (150 mm �� 4.6 mm, 5 ��) was used in this study. The mobile phase was a phosphate buffer (KH2PO4) of pH 5.5 : Methanol : Acetonitrile : Tri-ethylamine (40 : 40 : 20 : 1.

5) adjusted to pH with orthophosphoric acid. The flow rate was 1.0 mL / minute and UV detection was performed at 257 nm by UV detector at 257 nm. The mobile phase was shaken on an ultrasonic bath for 30 minutes. The resulting transparent mobile phase was filtered through a 0.45-��m membrane filter (Millipore, Ireland). Preparation of standard stock solutions Stock solutions containing 150 ��g / ml of TOLP and 400 ��g / ml ETD were prepared in methanol and were used as working solutions. The solutions were kept in tight closed containers and were found to be stable for at least one week, when kept in the refrigerator. Study of experimental parameters Different experimental parameters including, mobile phase composition, detection wavelength, and flow rate were intensively studied, in order to specify the optimum conditions for the assay procedure.

The variables were optimized by changing each, in turn, while keeping all others constant. Construction of the calibration curve Aliquots of the standard solutions covering the final working concentration range of 3.0 �C 21.0 ��g / ml for TOLP and 8 �C 56 ��g / ml ETD were transferred into a series Drug_discovery of 10 ml volumetric flasks and diluted with the de-gassed mobile phase up to the mark. Aliquots of 20 ��l were injected (n = 6) and eluted with the mobile phase under the reported chromatographic conditions.

oshimai JL-2 NirK, it is compound library possible that this glutamine residue can function as a copper-binding ligand similar to stellacyanin and azurin. The large and small subunits of nitric oxide reductase (NorB and NorC) are predicted to be co-transcribed along with nitrite reductases in T. oshimai JL-2, T. thermophilus JL-18 and T. scotoductus SA-01 (Figure 6). Figure 7 Thermus oshimai JL-2 gene Theos_1053 encodes a Copper-containing nitrite reductase. Amino acid sequences of known Cu-containing nitrite reductases from Pseudomonas aureofaciens (P. aureofaciens, GI: 287907), Achromobacter cycloclastes (A. cycloclastes … Genes encoding the 15 subunit NADH-quinone oxidoreductase [55] were identified in both genomes (Theos_0703 to 0716, 1811 in T. oshimai JL-2; TTJL18_1786 to 1799, 1580 T. thermophilus JL-18).

nrcDEFN, a four gene operon encoding a novel NADH dehydrogenase, is adjacent to the nar operon in the megaplasmid of T. thermophilus HB8 and has been previously implicated in nitrate reduction [43]. In T. thermophilus JL-18, the operon is present (Figure 6), although (TTJL18_2313) is truncated (NarE in HB8: 232 AA, in JL-18: 78 AA). In T. oshimai JL-2, only nrcN is present. Theos_0161 and Theos_0162, orthologs of Wolinella succinogenes NrfA and NrfH [56], respectively, were identified in T. oshimai JL-2 suggesting that T. oshimai JL-2 may be capable of respiratory nitrite ammonification, although this phenotype has not yet been observed in Thermus [6]. Other possible electron transport components include a ba3-type heme-copper oxidase (Theos_1499, 1498, 1497, T.

oshimai JL-2; TTJL18_0925, 0926, 0927 T. thermophilus JL-18) and bc1 complex encoded by the FbcCDFB operon [57]. (Theos_0106 to 0109, T. oshimai JL-2; TTJL18_2018 to 2021 T. thermophilus JL-18). In addition, both T. oshimai JL-2 and T. thermophilus JL-18 harbor genes for archaeal-type V0-V1 (vacuolar) type ATPases, which appears to have been acquired from Archaea prior to the divergence of the modern Thermales [58]. Genes involved in iron reduction T. scotoductus SA-01 has been reported to be capable of dissimilatory Fe3+ reduction; however, the biochemical basis of iron reduction has not been elucidated in Thermus [41,59]. Sequences of proteins involved in iron reduction [60] in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (MtrA, MtrF, OmcA) and Geobacter sulfurreducens KN400 (OmcB, OmcE, OmcS, OmcT, OmcZ) were used as search queries into Thermus genomes using BLASTP.

No hits were found in T. oshimai JL-2, T. thermophilus JL-18, or T. scotoductus SA-01. This suggests that the biochemical basis of iron reduction is distinct in Thermus compared to Shewanella and Geobacter, and offers no predictive information on whether T. oshimai JL-2 and T. thermophilus JL-18 may be able to respire iron. Genes involved in sulfur Carfilzomib oxidation A complete sox cluster comprising of 15 genes, including soxCD, is present in T. oshimai JL-2 and T.

The advantages of minimally invasive surgery have been instrumental for this growth [4]. Many operations have been devised, with the Roux selleck chem en Y gastric bypass being the most effective as far as excess weight loss is concerned, and sleeve gastrectomy being preferred by a growing number of surgeons due to its simplicity, effectiveness, and low rate of complications. In 2006, a new technique was presented, initially named total vertical gastric plication, better known today as laparoscopic greater curvature plication (Evidence Level III) [5]. Developed in Iran by Dr Talebpour as a cheap alternative to Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, it appears to be gaining ground as its theoretical advantages of technical simplicity and low complication rate are of major importance to the growing industry that Bariatric Surgery has become, as well as to the industry of Bariatric Tourism.

2. Aim Laparoscopic Greater Curvature Plication (LGCP) or Gastric Plication is a relatively new technique. Gastric Plication was initially proposed by Wilkinson and Peloso [6] in 1981 and introduced in 2006 by Dr Talebpour in Iran [5]. Operating in private hospitals throughout the country with scarce equipment, Dr Talebpour sought to develop a novel operation to mimic the well-established results of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, without the need to use costly equipment such as endoscopic staplers which were hard to come by. What he came up with was the LGCP which he initially named Total Vertical Gastric Plication, initially tested in animal models (especially sheep) and subsequently applying it to his volunteer patients.

First results were published in 2006, and in 2007 a series of 100 consecutive patients were published, successfully placing LGCP on the map and adding it to the armament for the treatment of Morbid Obesity. There is currently AV-951 ongoing debate on the application of LGCP. The operation itself carries many potential advantages when compared to LSG, mainly due to the fact that there are no anastomotic lines and the risk of leak from a staple line is inherently inexistent. However, there are currently relatively few publications from authors performing the LGCP, resulting on very few data concerning the results as well as the complication rate of the LGCP, especially when compared to the LSG which has been extensively researched. This fact leads to distrust from the part of the international surgical community, and also led the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery to issue a statement in March 2011, containing the following recommendations [7]. Gastric plication procedures should be considered investigational at present.

Similar to the L. sphaericus C3-41 genome [55], we did not find the homolog of rtp (replication terminator protein-encoding gene) in the chromosomal assembly of OT4b.31. A total of 42 hypothetical protein coding sequences were assigned as putative transposable elements, with ref 3 the most frequent families being IS66, IS110, IS1272 and IS3. In addition, five prophage regions were identified, of which one region is intact and 4 regions are incomplete. Lactobacillus phage C5 (intact), Bacillus phage 105, Clostridium phage c-st, Bacillus Phage SPP1 and Bacillus phage W�� predicted regions were allocated at contigs 34, 8, 15, 18 and 37, respectively. Only lysis proteins were predicted in phages C5 and c-st regions. The only genes remaining in the phage 105 region are those for coat proteins, integrase, and hypothetical and phage-like coding sequences.

This is probably the remnant of phage invasion and genome deterioration during evolution. In addition, any previously reported phages in the genome of L. sphaericus C3-41 are in the genome of OT4b.31. Two elements contain conserved domains from the Listeria pathogenicity island LIPI-1, functionally assigned as a thiol-activated cytolysin and a phosphatidylinositol phospholipase C. The first was confirmed to correspond to the L. sphaericus B354 sphaericolysin coding gene in contig 18 (H131_12483). Sphaericolysin B354 has been reported to be widespread across L. sphaericus DNA homology groups not only including IIA, IIB, IV and V [56] but also non-grouped species such as OT4b.31.

Upstream, in the same contig, a Bacillus toxin from the family Mtx2 (PFam PF03318) was found and described as a hypothetical Sip1A toxin coding sequence (H131_12498). Purified from Bacillus thuringiensis strain EG2158, Sip1A is a secreted insecticidal protein of 38 KDa having activity against Colorado Potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) [57]. Considering that L. sphaericus OT4b.31 was isolated from beetle larvae, we suggest potential coleopteran larvicidal activity. To our knowledge, strain OT4b.31 is the first report of a predicted Sip1A-like toxin in a native Lysinibacillus sphaericus. Unexpectedly, mtx or bin mosquito pathogenic genes were not found in the OT4b.31 genome, despite a previous report showing positive evidence of BinA/B toxins with no larvicidal activity [10]. A total of 32 CDSs were described as surface (S) layer proteins or S-layer homologs (SLH).

Drug_discovery The putative S-layer gene sllB (H131_05299) previously reported in L. sphaericus JG-A12 [58] was found in a 3,696 bp sequence allocated in contig 8. Three sequences with conserved domains similar to Slp5 and Slp6 were identified in contigs 8 (H131_05339, H131_05344) and 22 (H131_16838). Bacillus sp. B-14905 was the most similar sequence for the majority of S-layer protein domains.

During enamel biomineralization, spontaneous self-assembly www.selleckchem.com/products/Tipifarnib(R115777).html of the amelogenin protein in nano-spheres plays an important role in controlling the growth of apatite crystals with carbon dioxide. This process can be implemented for forming other mineralized tissues such as bone and cement, in which nano-structures were similarly used.5 Nanomaterials for periodontal drug delivery Researchers have attempted to generate an effective and satisfactory drug delivery system for the treatment of periodontal diseases by producing nanoparticles impregnated with triclosan. It was concluded that the application of triclosan particles into the test area alleviated inflammation.5 Although this study investigated only periodontal therapy, it indicated that targeted drug delivery with nanomaterials is possible for other treatments.

The best example of the future use of this technology is a procedure called Arestin?, in which microspheres containing tetracycline are placed into periodontal pockets and tetracycline is administered locally.5 An in-vitro study performed with a toothpaste containing nanosized carbonate apatite showed that dentin tubules were effectively sealed, which is important for sustained treatment of dentin sensitivity.46 Nanotechnology for preventing dental caries The use of a toothpaste containing nanosized calcium carbonate enabled remineralization of early enamel lesions.47 Furthermore, a study that investigated the bacteriostatic effects of silver, zinc oxide, and gold nanoparticles on Streptococcus mutans, which causes dental caries, reported that compared to the other nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles had an antimicrobial effect in lower concentrations and with lower toxicity.

48 Digital dental imaging Advances in digital dental imaging techniques are also expected with nanotechnology. In digital radiographies obtained by nanophosphor scintillators, the radiation dose is diminished and high-quality images are obtained.49 Applications of nanotechnology in oral and maxillofacial surgery Selective cell manipulation and surgery performed with tools sized at the molecular level will provide great benefits, particularly in tumor tissue surgery.50 FUTURE FIELDS OF APPLICATION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN DENTISTRY In nanodentistry, millions of active analgesic nanoparticles in a colloidal suspension are placed into the patient��s gingiva, and the anesthesia effectiveness is controlled by the dentist Brefeldin_A via nanorobots moving into the gingival sulcus. Nanorobotic analgesics are an excellent modality to provide comfort to the patient and alleviate anxiety. Many of the adverse effects and complications associated with the use of typical local analgesic solutions are absent.

At low ASO concentrations (5 to 25 nmol/L), we observed an average decrease Pazopanib purchase in cell proliferation of 55% at 72 hours post-transfection with either miR-17�C92 polycistron or miR-21 ASOs (Figure 6A). We also observed a markedly smaller, albeit significant, reduction in cell proliferation (~20%) following control transfections with an ASO against miR-122, a major liver miRNA that is not expressed in HepG2 cells (Figure 6A). A t-test demonstrated that as compared with control, the reduction seen in all test groups was significant at P < 0.001, including treatment with control ASO (miR-122). However, reduction caused by treatment with ASO to either miR-21 or the miR-17�C92 polycistron was significant as compared with control ASO (miR-122) P < 0.001 at 5 nmol/L and 10 nmol/L respectively and maintains this significance for all other doses.

Thus, although control ASO (miR-122) treatment had a minor, yet statistically significant effect on proliferation, it could not account for the significant decrease in proliferation seen with ASO treatment to miR-17�C92 or miR-21. In addition, treatment with ASOs that selectively repress individual members of the miR-17�C92 polycistron revealed that loss of a single miRNA could not account for the proliferative decrease that resulted from knockdown of the complete polycistron (Figure 6B). Figure 6 Knockdown the miR-17�C92 polycistron or miR-21 reduces HepG2 cell proliferation. Cell proliferation was measured by MTS, dose-response data from 0 to 100 nmol/L total ASO transfected, 72 hours after transfection. Data expressed as % of control .

.. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis demonstrated that the reduction in proliferation following ASO miRNA treatments of HepG2 cells is attributed to a retardation of the cell cycle (Figure 7). At 48 hours following transfection with the ASO mixture directed against the miR-17�C92 polycistron, we observed a statistically significant increase in the percentage of cells in G1 as compared to non-treated cells or cells treated with a sequence-scrambled ASO (Figure 7A). Furthermore, ASO treatment against individual members of the miR-17�C92 polycistron demonstrated that loss of miR-17.5p expression alone resulted in the retention of cells in G1 (Figure 7B). Therefore, miR-17.5p may be the most effective miRNA in the polycistron that affects the G1-S phase progression of HepG2 cells.

Additionally, in WHK44 cells, a woodchuck hepatoma cell line expressing N-myc 1,24 cells accumulated in G1 on treatment with ASOs against miRNAs of the miR-17�C92 polycistron (supplemental Figure 3, see Cilengitide http://ajp.amjpathol.org), demonstrating the conserved role of the miR-17�C92 polycistron in in vitro models for HCC. Figure 7 Knockdown of the miR-17�C92 polycistron causes a retardation of the cell cycle.

Of note, changes in total liver volumes on octreotide strongly correlated with concomitant changes in total kidney volumes. Evidence that this correlation was observed CHIR99021 CAS during octreotide therapy, but not during placebo, corroborates the hypothesis that octreotide-associated changes in liver and kidney volumes reflected a specific treatment effect rather than the natural history of the disease. Treatment was also well tolerated and was not associated with any clinically relevant change in any considered safety parameter. Indeed, only two patients prematurely withdrew from the trial because of asthenia reported after 3 months of placebo treatment in one case and detection of two nonsymptomatic gallstones at per-protocol ultrasound evaluation after 5 months of treatment with octreotide in the second case.

Notably, this adverse event fully recovered with the dissolution of the gallstones over 2 months of treatment with ursodeoxycholate acid. Two patients with ADPKD and liver cysts were previously reported to have reduction in liver volumes during 4 and 8 months of octreotide therapy, respectively (14); however, data were uncontrolled and, most important, were confounded by concomitant treatments such as cyst aspiration or fenestration/ablation, which conceivably contributed to the reduction in liver volumes. Another clinical trial run in parallel with and independent of the study presented here found that a treatment period of the same duration (6 months) with another long-acting somatostatin analogue (lanreotide) achieved a reduction of liver volume in patients with autosomal-dominant polycystic liver disease or ADPKD (15) similar to the reduction we observed in ADPKD patients.

Finding that lanreotide also limited the growth of kidney volumes in the subgroup of patients with ADPKD confirmed and extended our previous data that the growth of ADPKD kidneys can be prevented by octreotide therapy (6). Of interest, in the study presented here octreotide-induced reduction in total liver volume was explained by the concomitant reduction in parenchyma volume without appreciable changes in macroscopic cyst volumes. We speculate that apparently normal parenchymal volume might include overgrown bile ductules and cysts with volumes smaller than the detection threshold of the CT scan evaluation (6), and that the reduction of these volumes might explain the reduction in the parenchymal volume we observed during octreotide treatment.

This is consistent with in vitro Entinostat evidence that octreotide-inhibited proliferation of cholangiocytes from rats with polycystic liver disease reduced the circumferential area of bile ducts and of new cysts even before the development of macroscopic cysts (4). However, larger studies are needed to confirm or reject the hypothesis that octreotide might reduce liver parenchyma volume because of its effects on smaller cysts.

Approximately 10�C20% of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection have liver kinase inhibitor Imatinib Mesylate cirrhosis at first presentation, and an additional 20�C30% of patients will eventually develop this condition and its complications within one or more decades [3], [4]. Previous studies indicated an annual risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of 1�C6%, and a similar or higher risk of hepatic decompensation after the development of cirrhosis [5], [6]. Although antiviral treatment using nucleot(s)ide analogues (NUCs) suppresses HBV effectively [7], liver-related events (LREs) including hepatic decompensation, HCC, and liver-related death still occur and remain an important watershed in the management algorithm of patients with CHB.

Because LREs usually develop in patients with advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, the early detection of advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and the assessment of their severity for the design of optimal surveillance and intervention strategies are important. Although liver biopsy (LB) has been the gold standard for assessing liver fibrosis to date [8], it is prone to sampling error and interpretational variability [9]. Recently, liver stiffness measurement (LSM) using transient elastography (FibroScan?) has been introduced for assessing liver fibrosis with accurate, reproducible, and reliable results [10], [11]. Furthermore, because LSM can be expressed numerically as a continuous variable, clinicians can grade the degree of liver fibrosis, even in patients with cirrhosis, and assess the risk of developing liver-related complications and HCC [12]�C[14].

Thus, we hypothesized that LSM could predict the development of LREs in CHB patients who were receiving antiviral treatment using NUCs due to histologically advanced liver fibrosis or cirrhosis with a high viral load. Previous cross-sectional studies have reported an association between LSM and the presence of liver-related complications or HCC in patients with CLD [12], [13], [15], [16]. However, few prospective longitudinal studies have investigated the role of LSM as a predictor of LRE development in patients with advanced liver fibrosis. Thus, we evaluated the usefulness of LSM in assessing the risk of LRE development in CHB patients showing histologically advanced liver fibrosis with a high viral load.

Batimastat Methods Patients Between March 2006 and April 2010, a total of 178 NUC-na?ve CHB patients underwent LB to assess the degree of liver fibrosis and necroinflammation before starting antiviral treatment at Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. CHB was defined as the persistent presence of serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) for more than 6 months and HBV DNA positivity on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Patients who provided written informed consent and received LB and LSM were consecutively enrolled in this prospective study.