Coulter au5800 automatic biochemical analyzer

Routine biochemistry [alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (r-GT), total bilirubin (TBil), albumin (Alb) and prothrombin time (PT)] and virologic tests [HBV-DNA level, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), hepatitis B envelop antigen (HBeAg), hepatitis B envelop antibody (anti-HBe)] was performed. HBV-DNA < 5 * 10² IU/mL was defined as low HBV-DNA, whereas, ≥ 5 * 10² IU/mL was defined as high HBV-DNA [27 (link)]. HBeAg⁺ is defined as positive hepatitis B envelop antigen, and HBeAg⁻ is defined as negative hepatitis B envelop antigen. The Scheuer's scoring system was applied for pathology diagnosis of inflammation and fibrosis grading of liver tissue. Liver cirrhosis is defined as ≥ S4 of Scheuer's scoring system. Serum ALT, AST, AKP, r-GT, TBil and Alb (reflecting liver function) were quantified using Beckman coulter AU5800 automatic biochemical analyzer. HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg and anti-HBe were determined using commercial ELISA kits (Abbott Diagnostics, IL). Serum HBV DNA levels were measured using qPCR, Roche Amplicor (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Branchburg, NJ, USA). Serum IL-34 and MCSF were quantified using ELISA (R&D Systems, Lille, France). Results were expressed as a concentration of cytokine production.