丙肝病毒感染者血清乙肝病毒标志物与肝功能情况分析

乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)和丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)是引起慢性肝病的主要致病因子,并与肝硬变、肝癌的发生密切相关[1].由于这两种病毒具有相似的传播途径,所以HBV和HCV的合并感染比较常见,流行率约10%～15%[2,3].     

Interferon and other therapies for hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections

Interferon is currently the only approved medication in the United States for treatment of chronic hepatitis B and C infections. The mechanism of action of interferon and guidelines for its administration are reviewed. Important clinical studies involving its use in hepatitis B and C infections are discussed, and investigational therapies for chronic viral hepatitis are highlighted.     

Nosocomial hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and HIV infections by infectious medial personnel

Radicular dentin dysplasia (DD-I) is a rare hereditary dental alteration. It is characterized clinically by almost normal looking crowns and severe hypermobility of the teeth. The radiographic analysis, on the other hand, discloses the obliteration of all pulp chambers, the short, malformed roots and plenty of periapical bone radiolucencies on noncarious teeth. A case of radicular dentin dysplasia is presented. In this 43-year-old woman the diagnosis was supported, besides the clinical and radiographic analysis, by the pedigree of the proband, which showed the autosomal dominant pattern of feature transmission. Further-more, the electron microscopic analysis of one extracted molar revealed the atubular structure of the secondary dentin, and its globular organization.     

Chronic hepatic porphyria and hepatitis B and C virus infections

BACKGROUND: It is known that in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) there is an increased prevalence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The incidence of anti-HCV in PCT in our country is 21.7% in estimations by the second generation method, however, the incidence of HBV in PCT was not assessed so far. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 60 patients with PCT antigens and antibodies against HBV and HCV were assessed (by the anti-HCV third generation ELISA method) and in subjects with signs of HBV or HCV. HBV DNA and HCV RNA were assessed by the method of the polymerase chain reaction. PCT without detectable HBV or HCV infection was found in 45 subjects (68%). HBV infection only was confirmed in seven subjects (10.6%), however none of the patients had positive HBsAg in serum. All had only antibodies against HBV. HCV infection only was detected in seven patients (10.6%) and HBV and HCV co-infection also in seven patients (10.6%). In the group of patients with HBV and HCV co-infection there was not a single HBsAg positive subject. The mean ALT serum activity was significantly higher as compared with subjects with HBV or HCV infection only (p < 0.05) and the histological finding on liver biopsy was more serious. CONCLUSION: HBV (21%) and HCV (21%) infection participates significantly in the clinical picture of PCT. A special subgroup is formed by patients with PCT and HBV and HCV co-infection who have as a rule a higher ALT activity and more severe histological changes in the liver. The incidence of HBV and HCV infection in PCT in the Czech Republic is double as compared with Germany or Great Britain.     

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among haemodialysis patients in Pune (western India)

Vascular injuries may occur as complications of elbow dislocation and usually involve the brachial artery. A case report is presented in which only the radial artery was compromised as a result of the dislocation.     

Polymorphisms of complement component I and C1R subcomponent of C1 in nine aboriginal Taiwanese populations

Complement component I (IF) and C1R subcomponent of C1 (C1R) types were determined by isoelectric focusing and subsequent immunoblotting techniques for 658 individuals from nine aboriginal Taiwanese populations. The frequency of the IF*A allele ranges from 0.075 (Bunun) to 0.430 (Saisiat), and a new variant allele IF*B2 was found to have polymorphic frequency in the Atayal. The frequency of the C1R*1 allele ranges from 0.410 (Yami) to 0.650 (Atayal), and the frequency of the C1R*2 allele ranges from 0.265 (Atayal) to 0.586 (Saisiat). The C1R*5 allele was found in five populations (Atayal, Bunun, Ami, Puyuma, Yami), and the C1R*9 allele was found in two populations (Tsou, Puyuma). The results indicate a remarkable degree of genetic variability among these populations. The variability may reflect long-term genetic and geographic isolation of each population.     

Chronic hepatitis in children after liver transplantation: role of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis G virus infections

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic graft hepatitis occurs in 20-30% adults after liver transplantation but the prevalence and causes in children are not known. In adults, hepatitis C virus infection is prevalent prior to transplantation and recurrent infection is a frequent cause of graft dysfunction. The significance of the recently described hepatitis G virus infection remains unproven. The aim of this study was to examine the role of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis G virus infection in chronic graft hepatitis after paediatric liver transplantation. METHODS: The prevalence of graft hepatitis and the role of hepatitis C virus and hepatitis G virus infections in 80 children after liver transplantation have been studied, with a median follow up of 4.4 years (range 0.4 to 10.7), and the persistence of hepatitis G infection in the presence of immunosuppression has been determined. RESULTS: Chronic graft hepatitis was diagnosed in 19/80 (24%) children and was most frequently seen in children transplanted for cryptogenic cirrhosis (71%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of chronic hepatitis in those transplanted before or after donor anti-HCV screening. Hepatitis C infection occurred in three children transplanted prior to donor screening but in only one was associated with chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis G infection was found in 22/79 (28%) transplant recipients but was not associated with graft hepatitis. In 17/21 children hepatitis G infection persisted for a median of 5.2 years after transplantation. CONCLUSION: Chronic hepatitis occurred in 24% of children after liver transplantation, a similar prevalence to that in adults. Cryptogenic liver disease predisposed to graft hepatitis, but neither hepatitis C nor hepatitis G infection was associated. Hepatitis G virus caused a frequent and usually persistent infection after transplantation.     

Histopathology of the liver in children with chronic hepatitis C viral infection

Although the epidemiology, natural history, and pathological aspects of chronic hepatitis C are well-defined in the adult population, little is known about the characteristics of chronic hepatitis C infection in children. Reports on the histological features and progression of hepatitis C in children are scarce, and consist primarily of multicenter studies in Japanese and European children. Given the geographic variations in viral genotype and the association of pathology with genotype, whether the Japanese and European studies can be extended to the North American populations is unclear. We report the histopathology of the liver in 40 children with chronic hepatitis C infection treated in a single North American institution. The children included 19 males and 21 females ranging in age from 2.0 to 18.6 years at the time of liver biopsy (mean +/- SD: 11.4 +/- 4.3 years). Our findings indicate that the characteristic histopathological lesions of chronic hepatitis C infection, including sinusoidal lymphocytosis, steatosis, portal lymphoid aggregates/follicles, and bile duct epithelial damage, occur with approximately the same frequencies in children as have been reported in adults. Necroinflammatory activity was generally mild. Portal fibrosis was present in 78% of the specimens, including fibrous portal expansion (26%), bridging fibrosis (22%), bridging fibrosis with architectural distortion (22%), and cirrhosis (8%). Centrilobular pericellular fibrosis, which has not been previously reported in the context of chronic hepatitis C infection in adults or children, was also a prominent feature in our series, occurring with a similar frequency as steatosis or portal lymphoid aggregates/follicles. Our data suggest that in spite of mild histological necroinflammatory activity in general, the stage of fibrosis in children can be severe in spite of relatively short duration of infection.     

Seroprevalence survey of Egyptian tourism workers for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human immunodeficiency virus, and Treponema pallidum infections: association of hepatitis C virus infections with specific regions of Egypt

Blood samples from 740 Egyptian Nationals working in the tourism industry at two sites in the South Sinai governorate were screened for markers of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and Treponema pallidum. Study subjects included 467 individuals from a rural seashore tourist village and 273 persons at two hotels in a well-established resort town. Subjects' ages ranged from 15 to 70 years; 99.3% were male. The prevalence of serologic markers for currently asymptomatic or past HBV infection alone was 20.7% (n = 153), of markers for past or chronic HCV infection alone was 7.4% (n = 55), and of markers for both HBV and HCV was 6.9% (n = 51). Of the 204 individuals positive for anti-HBV core antibody, 12 (5.9%) were also positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. Two individuals (0.3%) had a serologic market suggestive of an active syphilitic infection. No subject was found to be HIV-seropositive. History of prior injections and number of injections were associated with infection with HCV. Primary residence in the Nile delta and valley areas where schistosomiasis is highly endemic, was also a statistically significant risk factor for HCV, but not HBV infection.     

Occupational exposure to HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and tuberculosis

This article reviews risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens, specifically HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C to healthcare workers. Information regarding assessing the risk of exposure, appropriate actions to take if an exposure occurs, the most recent recommendations for treatment and follow-up postexposure, and prevention strategies for avoiding exposure are presented. Additionally, current recommendations for the prevention of the transmission of tuberculosis in healthcare workers and the regulatory guidelines governing this topic are discussed.     

Preventing hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in end-stage renal disease patients: back to basics

A case in which a growing and painful mass developed in the breast 10 months after fat injection following trochanteric and abdominal liposuction is described. Treatment included lumpectomy and breast reconstruction in a second stage by bilateral subpectoral augmentation mammaplasty with textured gel-filled prostheses. Histologic examination revealed a liponecrotic pseudocyst. The development of pseudocysts and microcalcifications after breast autologous fat injection is a complication that warns against using this technique for breast augmentation.