Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Previously Vaccinated Injection Drug User
Conclusions: HBV vaccination in infancy is effective at preventing chronic HBV infection but is less effective at preventing occult HBV infection. Similar studies examining the efficacy of adult HBV vaccination in preventing occult HBV have not been performed. This case highlights the importance of carefully determining the HBV status of high-risk individuals, as vaccination history and the presence of anti-HBs may not be adequate to rule out HBV infection, even in the absence of HBsAg.,Introduction: Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) is defined by the presence of HBV DNA in patient sera in the absence of HBsAg. Occult HBV has...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - January 31, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Expression of MicroRNA-155 is Downregulated in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients
Conclusions: The miR-155 appeared to be suppressed during HBV infection. The significantly higher miR-155 levels in ALT-elevated patients infected with HBV suggest that miR-155 levels in PBMCs correlate with the immune state of patients with chronic HBV infection.,Results: In the HBV-infected patients, the miR-155 levels were significantly lower than in the healthy controls (P = 0.001). Chronic HBV-infected patients with elevated ALT had higher levels of miR-155 compared with patients with normal ALT (P = 0.014). No correlations were found between miR-155 and ALT or HBV DNA.,Patients and Methods: Total RNA was extracted fr...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - January 29, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Antifungal Effects of Common Mouthwashes on Candida Strains Colonized in the Oral Cavities of Liver Transplant Recipients in South Iran in 2014
Conclusions: Chlorhexidine mouthwash with an exposure time of 60 seconds or more is suggested as an effective antifungal agent to be included in the medication regimen of liver transplant patients pre- and postoperatively, in order to prevent fungal colonization and subsequent systemic infections.,Results: The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS. Out of 101 samples from liver transplant recipients, 68 cases showed fungi growing within the culture media (67.4%). C. albicans and C. glabrata, respectively, were the first and second most frequent types. Mouthwash susceptibility tests revealed that their antifungal effects o...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - January 29, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Hepatitis Viruses B and D and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections in Hemodialysis Patients in the South of Iran: Prevalence and Genotypes
Conclusions: In conclusion, the prevalence of HBV infection was low in the south of Iran, but genotype D represented the major HBV genotype in this population. Among the variables, age, duration of HD, history of blood transfusion, and using shared HD devices influenced the prevalence of HBV among HD patients.,Results: Both kinds of assay determined that nine (5.88%) patients were HBV positive (HBsAg-positive), whereas no HIV- and HDV-positive patients were diagnosed. All of the diagnosed HBV samples belonged to genotype D; the prevalence of HBV is associated with age, duration of HD, history of blood transfusion, and usin...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - January 22, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Ginger Supplementation in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
Conclusions: Twelve weeks of two grams of ginger supplementation showed beneficial effects on some NAFLD characteristics. Further studies are recommended to assess the long-term supplementation effects.,Results: Ginger supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transferase, inflammatory cytokines, as well as the insulin resistance index and hepatic steatosis grade in comparison to the placebo. We did not find any significant effect of taking ginger supplements on hepatic fibrosis and aspartate aminotransferase.,Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of ...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - January 22, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
The Efficacy of Add-on Telbivudine Versus Switching to Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients With Poor Responses to Adefovir
Conclusions: Both add-on LdT and switching to PEG-IFN-α2a were satisfactory and optimal treatments for CHB patients with poor responses to ADV. Both rescue strategies resulted in significant reductions in serum viral load and ALT levels, and were associated with high rate of serological outcomes in our hospital.,Patients and Methods: Ninety-seven CHB patients with HBV DNA > 2 log10 copies/mL 48 weeks after ADV monotherapy were included in this study. Fifty-nine of these patients were treated with a combination of LdT plus ADV (LdT + ADV) daily, while thirty-eight patients were switched to PEG-IFN-α2a subcutaneous inje...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - January 22, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Hepatitis A Virus and Hepatitis E Virus Seroprevalence Among Blood Donors in Tehran, Iran
Conclusions: The present study showed that both HAV and HEV infections are still endemic in Iran.,Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HAV and HEV among a group of blood donors in Tehran, Iran.,Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed from July 2014 to December 2014, on a total of 559 blood donors referred to the Tehran blood transfusion center. The serum samples were tested for antibodies to HAV and HEV, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.,Results: In the present study, 536 (95.9%) cases were male and 23 (4.1%) female with mean age of 38 years. Out of 559 bl...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - January 18, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
The Role of Polymorphisms Near the IL28B Gene on Response to Peg-Interferon and Ribavirin in Thalassemic Patients With Hepatitis C
Conclusions: In HCV genotype-1- infected thalassemic patients with RS12979860 CC genotype and without severe comorbidities, PEG-IFN and RBV combination therapy can be tried yet in those with RS12979860 CT/TT it may be reasonable to treat cases with new direct-acting antivirals.,Results: The rate of sustained virological response (SVR) was significantly lower in thalassemic patients with HCV genotype-1 infection compared to patients with HCV genotype-3 infection. Among baseline predictors, RS12979860 and RS8099917 polymorphisms were found to be the only parameters associated with achievement of SVR in thalassemic patients w...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - January 16, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Hepatitis D Virus Infection Among Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Carriers and in “Isolated anti-HBc” Antibodies Profile in Central Tunisia
Conclusions: Although HDV had low prevalence in our area, it is vital to plan preventive strategies for HDV spread as well as HBV prevention. It is particularly important to suspect HDV infection in active HBV carriers to manage a particularly severe dual infection. HDV infection should be suspected even in negative HBsAg patients having “isolated anti-HBc” profile.,Results: Prevalence of HDV was 8.1% in HBsAg carriers group, but it was significantly higher in active than inactive hepatitis (30.2% and 4.5%, respectively, OR = 9, 95% CI: [4.48-18.58]). There was no significant association between studied risk factors an...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - January 15, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Increases in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated With Telbivudine Monotherapy and Combination Treatment
Conclusions: These findings indicate that telbivudine, used in both monotherapy and combination therapy, improves the renal function of patients with CHB. The improvements are particularly significant in patients at high renal risk.,Patients and Methods: This study included 336 Chinese CHB patients, who were selected from outpatients in Tongji Hospital. 44, 122, 66, 58, and 46 of these patients had been orally taking adefovir, telbivudine, entecavir, adefovir plus telbivudine, and adefovir plus lamivudine, respectively, for at least 24 months.,Results: The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the telbivudine and ...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - January 12, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Simple and Reliable Method to Quantify the Hepatitis B Viral Load and Replicative Capacity in Liver Tissue and Blood Leukocytes
Conclusions: A straightforward method for the quantification of intracellular HBV molecular parameters in clinical samples was developed and validated. The widespread use of such versatile assays could better define the prognosis of CHB, and allow a more rational approach to time-limited tailored treatment strategies.,Results: A plasmid construct, including sequences from the HBV genome and from the human gene hTERT, was generated as an isomolar multi-standard for HBV quantitation and normalization to the cellular contents. The specificity of the real-time assay for the cccDNA was assessed using Dane particles isolated on ...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - December 28, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
A Single Center Study Comparing the Stainable Iron Depositions in 1000 Explanted Cirrhotic Livers of Different Causes
Conclusions: The presence of high stainable iron in patients with cirrhosis, secondary to chronic viral hepatitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and alcoholic hepatitis, should not be considered indicative of the presence of hereditary hemochromatosis; however, in those patients with biliary cirrhosis, a high iron content is rare, and can be a sign of the presence of the high iron Fe (HFE) gene mutation, or another type of hereditary hemochromatosis. (Source: Hepatitis Monthly)
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - December 27, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Cholangiocarcinoma Secondary to Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in Explanted Livers: A Single-Center Study in the South of Iran
Conclusions: A comparison of our results with those obtained from other centers in both Western and Asian countries (which reported CCA in 3.6% - 36.5% of patients with PSC), shows that the incidence of CCA in the patients we studied is intermediate.,Results: Of the 181 patients, 16 were found to have CCA, two of whom had been diagnosed after pathologic study of the explanted livers. Therefore it appeared that 8.8% of the patients with PSC in our center had developed CCA before liver transplantation.,Patients and Methods: The study population comprised 181 individuals with a diagnosis of PSC who had undergone liver transpl...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - December 26, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Risk Factors for Portal Vein Thrombosis in Patients With Cirrhosis Awaiting Liver Transplantation in Shiraz, Iran
Conclusions: In our population of cirrhotic patients, treatment of variceal bleeding predisposed the patients to portal vein thrombosis, but hypercoagulable disorders by themselves were not associated with portal vein thrombosis.,Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the assessed hypercoagulable states between patients with or without portal vein thrombosis. A history of previous variceal bleeding with subsequent endoscopic treatment in patients with portal vein thrombosis was significantly higher than in those without it (P = 0.013, OR: 2.526, 95% CI: 1.200 - 5.317).,Objectives: This study aimed to...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - December 26, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
Hepatitis A Virus Infection, Vaccination and Iranian Healthcare Workers
Conclusions: Available limited studies show that Iranian healthcare personnel need HAV vaccination. However, for selecting an appropriate preventive method for this high risk group, more original studies are still needed.,Results: A gradual shift in age of HAV infection has been seen from childhood toward adulthood. Data about HAV seropositivity among Iranian HCWs are very limited. However based on the recent studies, it seems that HAV seropositivity has been reduced among HCWs in comparison with the past. All recent studies have suggested HAV vaccination for HCWs.,Evidence Acquisition: For finding related articles, a comp...
Source: Hepatitis Monthly - December 26, 2015 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research
