Search results for "Hepatitis B viru"

Viral Sequence Analysis of Occult HBV Infection and Its Reactivation in Immunosuppressed Patients

2012

Mechanisms associated with reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients with occult HBV infection (OBI) remain unclear. In some cases immunosuppression is an enhancer of viral replication. However, not all patients with OBI who undergo immunosuppression experience reactivation. This study explores the role of viral heterogeneity as a determinant of occult HBV reactivation. HBV genotype, mutation patterns and quasispecies were assessed by sequencing the PreS/S region of 16 patients with OBI undergoing chemotherapy, 3 of whom experienced a OBI reactivation. The latter were also assessed at the time of reactivation. Phylogenetic analysis identified low nucleotide and amino acid diversit…

HBV viral load within subpopulations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in HBV infection using limiting dilution PCR.

1999

Abstract Extrahepatic viral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is still under debate. In this study, HBV infection rates and viral titers were examined within all PBMC subpopulations using limiting dilution-PCR (LD-PCR). PBMCs of patients with acute or chronic hepatitis B were separated by magnetic beads in monocytes, B-cells, CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells, and NK cells. Using two-round nested PCR, HBV-DNA sequences were detected in all patients examined within each PBMC subpopulation. The frequencies of HBV-positive cells and viral loads were calculated by Poisson analysis of HBV PCR results from serial dilutions of cells and cell lysat…

Usefulness of routine hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and parvovirus B19 serology in the diagnosis of recent-onset inflammatory arthritides.

2005

Active hepatitis B vaccination of dialysis patients and medical staff

1984

AbstractActive hepatitis B vaccination of dialysis patients and medical staff. One hundred six patients with terminal renal insufficiency and 29 medical personnel were given three doses of hepatitis B vaccine at an interval of 0, 1, and 6 months (Merck, Sharp and Dohme, West Point, Pennsylvania, part of a joint study no. 649). Chronic hemodialysis patients (N = 99) received 40 µg vaccine (V) i.m. Uremic patients, who were just about to start chronic dialysis treatment (N = 7), were given 40 µg V, and at the first vaccination 3ml hyperimmune globulin (HBIG) in addition. The medical personnel was alternately vaccinated with 20 µg V (N = 8), 40 µg (N = 11), 40 µg V, and 3ml HBIG at the first v…

Two versus three doses of a meningococcal C conjugate vaccine concomitantly administered with a hexavalent DTaP-IPV-HBV/Hib vaccine in healthy infant…

2007

The immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a meningococcal serogroup C (MenC) conjugate vaccine given concomitantly with DTaP-IPV-HBV/Hib vaccine according to a two- or three-dose schedule in healthy infants was evaluated. At 1 month post-vaccination, 98% (two doses) and 100% (three doses) of subjects had serum bactericidal antibody using human complement assay (hSBA) titres > or =1:8; at 12 months of age > or =89% of subjects in each group remained seroprotected. Induction of immunological memory, as evaluated by administration of a meningococcal serogroup A/C polysaccharide vaccine challenge dose, was similar for both regimens and no interference was observed in the immune response to MenC …

Baseline sero-epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in children and teenagers in Italy. A survey before mass hepatitis B vaccination

1991

During the period May 1987 to November 1989, the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers was determined by ELISA in serum samples of 7405 (55% male, 45% female) apparently healthy persons 3-19 years of age in Italy. Earlier studies of adults there had shown an intermediate degree of HBV endemicity (hepatitis B surface antigen carrier rate greater than 2%). Persons were selected by systematic cluster sampling in five different geographical areas of Italy. The overall prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was 0.6%. The overall prevalence of at least one marker of HBV was 2.8%; it increased from 1.7% among children 3-5 years of age to 4.5% in teenagers 17-19 years of age (P l…

Hepatitis B virus infection in native versus immigrant or adopted children in Italy following the compulsory vaccination.

2001

Background: Compulsory vaccination of children against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was introduced in Italy in 1991. Patients and Methods: To evaluate the current importance of pediatric HBV infection, we studied 359 HBsAg-positive children admitted to 16 centers in Italy from 1991 to 1998. 185 patients were natives of Italy and 174 (39 immigrants and 135 adopted) came from highly endemic countries (eastern Europe: 60.9%, Asia: 16.7%, Africa: 14.9% and Central and South America: 5.7%). Results: Transaminase levels were moderately altered in both Italian (mean 134 UI/l) and foreign children (mean 168 UI/l). In total, 77% of Italian children and 88% of foreign children tested HBeAg posit…

Recent insights into the relationship between inflammatory liver diseases and atherosclerosis.

2011

Atherosclerosis is a dynamic process in the human body. Many studies have evaluated atherosclerosis and its relationship with other systems in the body. Our perception of its pathogenesis is evolving with the introduction of new players in the game. It is no longer possible to consider the atherosclerosis as an independent process, unaffected by the liver and its function. Although several tasks performed by the liver, such as lipid metabolism, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the role of other disorders of the liver (autoimmune diseases, viral hepatitis, and cirrhosis) are not fully understood. In this review, the most commonly encountered inflammatory liver di…

Hepatitis B virus reactivation and alemtuzumab therapy

2005

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus infection in subjects receiving cytotoxic treatment for heamatological malignancies occurs in 21–53% of chronic HBsAg carriers and in an unknown number of HBsAg negative subjects harbouring occult HBV infection. Immmunotherapy with alemtuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against CD52 epitopes on lymphocytes cells produces deep immunosuppression. We describe two subjects with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and occult HBV infection who developed a virological and biochemical flare of hepatitis B following immunotherapy with alemtuzumab. One of them developed full blown hepatitis with seroreversion from anti-HBs to HBsAg after four weeks of alemtuzumab the…

Influence of universal HBV vaccination on chronic HBV infection in Italy: Results of a cross-sectional multicenter study

2017

Background and Aim The universal hepatitis B vaccination for infants and 12-year-old adolescents (the latter limited to the first 12 years of application) was launched in Italy in 1991. Twenty-three years later we evaluated the impact of the vaccination campaign on the burden of HBsAg-positive chronic liver diseases (CLD). Material and Methods 513 HBsAg-positive chronic carriers referring to 16 Italian liver units were investigated and compared with HBsAg carriers enrolled in previous surveys. Results The proportion of inactive carriers decreased from 20.0% in 2001 to 3.3% in 2014, while that of cirrhotic patients increased from 22.6 to 33.2%. Regarding the age class 0–33 (fully covered by …