Hepatitis E: An Underdiagnosed,Emerging Infection in Nonendemic Regions

Although hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the primary cause of enterically transmitted acute hepatitis and jaundice in developing countries, locally acquired HEV infections are increasing in nonendemic countries. As such, HEV is emerging as an underdiagnosed cause of infection. This report describes three clinically variable cases of HEV infection with unusual clinical presentations. These cases highlight the fact that HEV should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with unexplained hepatitis (acute or chronic) with or without extrahepatic manifestations. HEV should also be considered in patients with persistently elevated liver enzymes who have not travelled to known HEV-endemic regions. Lack of knowledge among physicians and an absence of standardized diagnostic tests may result in increased morbidity and mortality from HEV infection.     

Immune responses against hepatitis C virus genotype 3a virus-like particles in mice: A novel VLP prime-adenovirus boost strategy

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection represents a major health threat to global population. In India, approximately 15–20% of cases of chronic liver diseases are caused by HCV infection. Although, new drug treatments hold great promise for HCV eradication in infected individuals, the treatments are highly expensive. A vaccine for preventing or treating HCV infection would be of great value, particularly in developing countries. Several preclinical trials of virus-like particle (VLP) based vaccine strategies are in progress throughout the world. Previously, using baculovirus based system, we have reported the production of hepatitis C virus-like particles (HCV-LPs) encoding structural proteins for genotype 3a, which is prevalent in India. In the present study, we have generated HCV-LPs using adenovirus based system and tried different immunization strategies by using combinations of both kinds of HCV-LPs with other genotype 3a-based immunogens. HCV-LPs and peptides based ELISAs were used to evaluate antibody responses generated by these combinations. Cell-mediated immune responses were measured by using T-cell proliferation assay and intracellular cytokine staining. We observed that administration of recombinant adenoviruses expressing HCV structural proteins as final booster enhances both antibody as well as T-cell responses. Additionally, reduction of binding of VLP and JFH1 virus to human hepatocellular carcinoma cells demonstrated the presence of neutralizing antibodies in immunized sera. Taken together, our results suggest that the combined regimen of VLP followed by recombinant adenovirus could more effectively inhibit HCV infection, endorsing the novel vaccine strategy.     

Immunogenicity and safety of a novel yeast Hansenula polymorpha-derived recombinant Hepatitis B candidate vaccine in healthy adolescents and adults aged 10–45 years

The aim was to determine whether the immunogenicity of an investigational hepatitis B vaccine (spHB) is at least as high as that of a licensed control vaccine, Engerix B^®, and to evaluate its safety before inclusion in new pediatric combination vaccines. Two randomized, controlled, blind-observer, Phase 3 trials were performed: one in Argentina (344 participants aged 10–15 years, 10 μg HBsAg/dose) and one in Uruguay (344 participants aged 16–45 years, 20 μg HBsAg/dose). Both vaccines were given in a 0, 1, 6 month schedule to all participants with a baseline anti-Hep B antibody titer <0.6 mIU/mL. Antibody titers were measured pre-dose 1, 1 month after dose 2, pre-dose 3, and 1 month after dose 3. Statistical non-inferiority analyses were performed on seroprotection rates (SP) post-dose 3 (% with anti-Hep B titers ≥10 mIU/mL; delta non-inferiority limit of −10%). In both studies, SP for the spHB vaccine was 100% and the spHB vaccine was non-inferior in terms of SP to the licensed control vaccine. GMTs post-dose 3 were approximately 1.8- and 4.1-fold higher for spHB in the 10–15 year and 16–45 year age groups, respectively. Reactogenicity was low for each vaccine, after each dose. This highly immunogenic hepatitis B candidate vaccine was selected for further investigation as a component of new pediatric combination vaccines.     

婴儿肝炎综合征63例临床分析

对我科1989-1990年中收治的婴儿肝炎综合征63例的临床表现、合并症、治疗等方面进行了分析。笔者认为婴儿肝炎综合征为一组临床症候群。病因诊断有其重要性。腹部B超检查有助于肝炎和胆道闭锁的鉴别,可作为常规检查方法。并认为用肾上腺皮质激素治疗有效。     

抗—HCV阳性单采浆供血员HGV感染随访研究

为了解单采浆供血员庚型肝炎病毒（ＨＧＶ）感染及其转归，对１０２名抗－ＨＣＶ阳性单采浆供血员冻存血清进行抗－ＨＧＶ和ＨＧＶＲＮＡ检测，对抗－ＨＧＶ和（或）ＨＧＶＲＮＡ阳性者作３年随访研究。采用ＥＩＡ法检测抗－ＨＧＶ，包被抗原来自ＨＧＶ不同功能区的合成肽。应用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ法检测ＨＧＶＲＮＡ，引物选自ＨＧＶＮＳ３区。结果表明，抗－ＨＣＶ阳性单采浆供血员ＨＧＶＲＮＡ阳性率为１９．６１％（２０／１０２），抗－ＨＧＶ阳性率为１７．６５％（１８／１０２），ＨＧＶ感染率（抗ＨＧＶ和／或ＨＧＶＲＮＡ阳性）为２４．５１％（２５／１０２），而对照组仅为０．９４％（１／１０６）。提示单采血浆是ＨＧＶ感染的重要危险因素。ＨＧＶＲＮＡ和抗－ＨＧＶ的３年阴转率分别为３５．００％（７／２０）和１１．１１％（２／１８），说明ＨＧＶ感染有慢性携带趋势     

原发性肝癌,肝硬化患者血清中丙肝病毒抗体的检测

应用国产ELISA试剂盒对157例肝癌、肝硬化病人血清中抗-HCV及HBV-M进行检测，101例肝癌10例抗-HCV阳性，阳性率为9．9％；56例肝硬化6例抗-HCV阳性，阳性率为10．7％；肝癌组抗HCV与HBsAg双阳性率79％（8／101），HBsAg阳性率为723％（73／101），明显高于HCV感染率，说明HBV仍是乙肝流行地区的主要相关因素。14例抗-HCV阳性（包括可疑阳性），肝癌外周血中8例（57．1％）HBsAg阳性，推测HCV可单独作用但更常与HBV形成混合感染参与慢性肝病的癌变过程。     

Treatment of hepatitis B and C after liver transplantation. Part 2, hepatitis C

Abstract End-stage liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus is a major indication for liver transplantation. However, recurrence of hepatitis in the graft is a major issue. HCV re-infection after transplantation is almost constant, and recent data confirm that it significantly impairs patient and graft survival. Factors that may influence disease severity and consequent progression of HCV graft injury remain unclear. Chronic HCV infection develops in 60%–80% of patients, and 6%–28% ultimately progress to cirrhosis within 5 years. Pre-transplantation antiviral treatment is not easily related to poor tolerance. Attempts to administer prophylactic post-transplantation antiviral treatment are under evaluation but are limited by antiviral drug side effects. Treatment of established graft lesions with interferon or ribavirin as single agents has been disappointing. Combination therapy gave promising results, with sustained virological response in 25% of patients, but indications, modality and duration of treatment should be assessed.     

EDTA Registry centre survey, 1986. Report from the European Dialysis and Transplant Association Registry

This paper summarises the information given on the 1986 EDTA Registry centre questionnaire which was returned by 82% of the 2,065 known dialysis and transplant centres in 33 European countries. Information is given on the number of patients alive on haemodialysis according to the type of dialysis facilities available where the patient was receiving dialysis and the number of patients receiving special types of dialysis. The centre questionnaire also included questions on testing for HIV infection, serological evidence or symptoms of AIDS and the diagnosis of hepatitis B in patients and staff. The data given in response to these questions are presented together with data on the involvement of dietitians and social workers in the treatment of patients with end stage renal failure. Finally, information on transplant activity in Europe and the treatment policies of transplanting centres is provided.     

Recent Ⅳ-drug users with chronic hepatitis C can be efficiently treated with daily high dose induction therapy using consensus interferon:An open-label pilot study

INTRODUCTION Under physiological conditions, interferon-α (IFN-α) is a key cytokine produced by virtually all cells in the mammalian organism in response to a variety of bacterial and viral stimuli. In response to viral infection, IFN-α produced by the infected target cells induces a number of cellular genes involved in inhibition of viral replication. In addition, IFN-α is secreted by stimulated NK-cells and T-cells and exerts a multitude of immune stimulatory effects of innate a…