细胞间粘附分子-1和P-选择素的检测在炎性腹水和非炎性腹水鉴别诊断中的价值

目的　通过检测肿瘤性腹水、结核性腹水和肝硬化腹水患者的细胞间粘附分子 1(I CAM 1)和P$C选择素 (P selection)水平 ,探讨其鉴别炎性和非炎性腹水的意义。方法　采用酶联免疫吸附法 (ELISA)检测 2 9例肿瘤性腹水、2 0例结核性腹膜炎腹水和 13例肝硬化性腹水患者腹水的ICAM 1和P 选择素水平。结果　肿瘤性腹水ICAM 1水平为 (63 .5 4± 3 7.68)ng/L ,结核性腹水水平为 (12 3 .85± 41.85 )ng/L ,肝硬化腹水水平为 (3 5 .95± 11.5 0 )ng/L ,肿瘤性腹水P 选择素水平为 (3 .0 3± 1.2 6)ng/L ,结核性腹水水平为 (4 .2 6± 1.63 )ng/L ,肝硬化腹水水平为 (2 .72±1.49)ng/L。结核性腹水患者ICAM 1和P 选择素水平明显高于肿瘤性腹水 (P <0 .0 5 )和肝硬化性腹水 ,两者水平在肿瘤性腹水和肝硬化腹水之间的差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论　ICAM 1和P 选择素的表达与机体炎症反应被激活有关 ,结核性腹膜炎患者腹水中ICAM 1和P 选择素水平明显增高 ,检测腹水中ICAM 1和P 选择素的水平对鉴别炎性和非炎性腹水有帮助     

2型糖尿病患者外周血基质细胞衍生因子1水平与大血管病变的关系

目的探讨2型糖尿病（T2DM）患者外周血基质细胞衍生因子1（SDF-1）水平与大血管并发症的关系。方法测定55例无微血管并发症的T2DM患者和26名健康对照者外周血中SDF-1水平、内皮祖细胞（EPCs）数量、EPCs表面SDF1的受体CXCR4表达率。糖尿病患者分单纯糖尿病组、大血管病变组。结果SDF1水平和EPCs数量对照组、单纯糖尿病组、大血管病变组依次降低（P〈0．0S或0．01）;单纯糖尿病组、对照组、大血管病变组CXCR4表达率依次降低（P〈0．05或0．01）;SDF-1水平与EPCs数量成正相关（r=0．327,P〈0．05）,颈动脉内膜中层厚度与SDF-1、EPCs负相关（r=-0．342、0．298,P〈0．05）。结论T2DM患者外周血中SDF-1／CXCR4轴的变化与大血管并发症的发生、发展有关。     

CXCR4及其配体SDF-1在甲状腺乳头状癌颈淋巴结转移中的作用

目的探讨趋化因子受体4（CXCR4）及其配体基质细胞衍生因子-1（SDF-1）在甲状腺乳头状癌颈部淋巴结转移中的作用。方法采用免疫组化SP法检测53例甲状腺乳头状癌患者癌组织中CXCR4蛋白和颈部转移淋巴结组织中SDF-1蛋白表达情况。结果癌组织中CXCR4蛋白呈高表达水平,与癌旁正常组织比较,P〈0．05;CXCR4蛋白表达与甲状腺乳头状癌临床分期及淋巴结转移有关;癌细胞转移者颈部淋巴结组织中SDF-1蛋白呈高表达,显著高于无转移者,SDF-1蛋白表达仅与淋巴结转移有关（P〈0．05）;癌组织中CXCR4蛋白表达与淋巴结组织中SDF-1蛋白表达水平呈负相关（r=-0．3207,P=-0．0171）。结论CXCRd及其配体SDF-1在甲状腺乳头状癌中相互协调,共同促进甲状腺乳头状癌细胞向颈部淋巴转移。     

内皮素-1和细胞间黏附分子-1检测在胸腹水鉴别诊断中的价值

目的 通过检测不同病因胸腹水中内皮素-1(ET-1)和细胞间黏附分子1(ICAM-1)水平,探讨其在鉴别胸腹水性质中的意义。方法 83例来自临床上已确诊病人的胸腹水标本,分为三组:A.结核组(21例);B.恶性肿瘤组(29例);C.肝硬化组(33例)。采用放免法检测ET-1含量,酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测ICAM-1水平。结果 结核性腹水ICAM-1水平为129.67±39.72ng/L(x±s),肿瘤性腹水水平为72.63±32.75ng/L,肝硬化腹水水平为30.55±19.88 ng/L,结核性腹水ET-1水平为68.24±19.48 ng/L,肿瘤性腹水水平为42.17±16.40 ng/L,肝硬化腹水水平为22.46±16.77 ng/L,ICAM-1和ET-1水平在结核性腹水中明显高于肿瘤性腹水(P<0.05)和肝硬化性腹水(P<0.01),两者水平在肿瘤性腹水和肝硬化腹水之间的也存在显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论ICAM-1和ET-1的表达与机体炎症反应被激活及肿瘤的侵袭与转移有关,故结核性及肿瘤性胸腹水中ICAM-1和ET-1水平有不同程度的增高,ET-1及ICAM-1水平可作为一种筛选手段,以初步鉴别胸腹水的性质。     

原发性肝癌患者血清IL-18结合蛋白水平检测及意义

目的：探讨原发性肝癌患者血清IL-18结合蛋白水平检测的意义。方法采用ELISA法检测原发性肝癌46例、乙型肝炎肝硬化41例及正常人15例血清IL-18结合蛋白水平,比较各组血清IL-18结合蛋白水平的差异。结果原发性肝癌患者血清IL-18结合蛋白水平为（12.36±9.96）ng/ml,明显高于乙型肝炎肝硬化组（7.69±3.22）ng/ml,（P=0.01）;肝癌Ⅲ期患者血清IL-18结合蛋白为（18.53±11.77）ng/ml,明显高于肝癌Ⅱ期（7.62±3.95）ng/ml,（P＜0.01）;原发性肝癌伴腹水者血清IL-18结合蛋白为（15.35±11.35）ng/ml,明显高于不伴腹水者（7.27±1.89）ng/ml,（P＜0.01）。结论检测外周血IL-18结合蛋白水平对判断原发性肝癌患者的病情有一定的帮助。     

SDF-1、CXCR4在三阴性乳腺癌组织中的表达及其与患者预后的相关性

目的探讨基质细胞衍生因子-1（SDF-1）及基质细胞衍生因子受体-4（CXCR4）在三阴性乳腺癌（TNBC）组织中的表达和临床意义。方法用免疫组化法检测77例TNBC组织中SDF-1和CXCR4的表达,分析SDF-1和CXCR4与TNBC临床病理特征及患者预后的关系。结果 SDF-1和CXCR4在TNBC中高表达率分别为41.6%、64.9%,且二者表达呈显著正相关（P=0.041）;SDF-1和CXCR4高表达与患者年龄、肿瘤大小、临床分期及组织学分级不相关（P〉0.05）,与淋巴结转移及无瘤生存呈显著正相关;多因素分析结果表明：SDF-1是TNBC患者无瘤生存的独立预后因素（OR=2.318,95%CI=1.028～5.230）。生存分析显示SDF-1和CXCR4高表达者无瘤生存时间短于低表达者（P均〈0.05）。结论 TNBC中SDF-1/CXCR4表达可作为判断TNBC预后的重要生物学指标。     

房颤对外周血CD34+造血祖细胞的影响及SDF-1/CXCR4在心房中的表达

目的:研究不同类型的房颤(AF)对人外周血CD34+造血祖细胞（CD34+HPCs）的影响,以及持续心房快速起搏犬心肌基质细胞衍生因子-1（SDF-1）及其受体CXCR4的表达,初步探讨CD34+HPCs及SDF-1/CXCR4在AF时心肌损伤修复中的作用。方法: 应用流式细胞术测定阵发性AF患者组(n=35)、持续性AF患者组(n=35)及窦性心律者对照组(n=30)外周血中CD34+HPCs的百分含量;并对持续性AF患者组中24例患者成功进行体外直流电复律后48 h,测定外周血中CD34+HPCs的百分含量。另外,将成年健康杂种犬13条随机分为两组:即快速起搏组(n=7)和假手术组(n=6),均开胸后于右心耳缝植AOO型起搏器,快速起搏组以400次/min起搏6周,假手术组不起搏。应用RT-PCR测定左心耳和左心房CXCR4 mRNA的表达水平,用蛋白质免疫印迹法检测左心房SDF-1蛋白的表达。结果: 持续性AF患者组外周血中CD34+HPCs的百分含量明显高于阵发性AF患者组和对照组（P<0.05）;而后两组间无差别。持续性AF患者成功进行体外直流电复律后48 h,外周血中CD34+HPCs的百分含量较复律前明显下降（P<0.05）。快速起搏组犬左心耳和左心房CXCR4 mRNA表达的水平明显高于假手术组（P<0.05）,左心耳增高16.7%,左心房增高18.8%;SDF-1蛋白质表达的水平亦明显高于假手术组（P<0.01）。结论: 持续性AF患者外周血中CD34+HPCs的数量增加;心房快速起搏犬心房SDF-1/CXCR4的表达增加。CD34+HPCs和SDF-1/CXCR4可能参与了持续性AF患者心房损伤时心肌组织的修复过程。     

房颤对外周血CD34＋造血祖细胞的影响及SDF-1／CXCR4在心房中的表达

目的：研究不同类型的房颤（AF）对人外周血CD34＋造血祖细胞（CD34＋HPCs）的影响,以及持续心房快速起搏犬心肌基质细胞衍生因子-1（SDF-1）及其受体CXCR4的表达,初步探讨CD34＋HPCs及SDF-1/CXCR4在AF时心肌损伤修复中的作用。方法： 应用流式细胞术测定阵发性AF患者组（n=35）、持续性AF患者组（n=35）及窦性心律者对照组（n=30）外周血中CD34＋HPCs的百分含量;并对持续性AF患者组中24例患者成功进行体外直流电复律后48 h,测定外周血中CD34＋HPCs的百分含量。另外,将成年健康杂种犬13条随机分为两组：即快速起搏组（n=7）和假手术组（n=6）,均开胸后于右心耳缝植AOO型起搏器,快速起搏组以400次/min起搏6周,假手术组不起搏。应用RT-PCR测定左心耳和左心房CXCR4 mRNA的表达水平,用蛋白质免疫印迹法检测左心房SDF-1蛋白的表达。结果： 持续性AF患者组外周血中CD34＋HPCs的百分含量明显高于阵发性AF患者组和对照组（P〈0.05）;而后两组间无差别。持续性AF患者成功进行体外直流电复律后48 h,外周血中CD34＋HPCs的百分含量较复律前明显下降（P〈0.05）。快速起搏组犬左心耳和左心房CXCR4 mRNA表达的水平明显高于假手术组（P〈0.05）,左心耳增高16.7%,左心房增高18.8%;SDF-1蛋白质表达的水平亦明显高于假手术组（P〈0.01）。结论： 持续性AF患者外周血中CD34＋HPCs的数量增加;心房快速起搏犬心房SDF-1/CXCR4的表达增加。CD34＋HPCs和SDF-1/CXCR4可能参与了持续性AF患者心房损伤时心肌组织的修复过程。     

SDF-1／CXCR4在老年卵巢癌组织中的表达及意义

目的探讨趋化因子SDF-1及其受体CXCR4在老年人上皮性卵巢癌组织中的表达及意义。方法应用westernblotting方法定量检测43例老年患者上皮性卵巢癌组织中SDF-1和CXCR4的蛋白表达情况。结果老年人上皮性卵巢癌组织中SDF-1／CXCR4蛋白表达较卵巢良性肿瘤对照组明显增加,其相对表达量分别为（2．38±0．20）和（3．32±0．26）,差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论SDF-1／CXCR4生物学轴可能在老年人卵巢癌的发生与转移过程中起着重要作用。     

睾酮通过SDF-1α/CXCR4轴调控骨髓内皮祖细胞迁移

目的　探讨雄激素睾酮对小鼠骨髓源性内皮祖细胞（BM-EPC）迁移功能的影响及其机制。方法　6周龄雄性BALB/C小鼠,切除双侧睾丸,饲养4周,培养、鉴定BM-EPC。收集贴壁细胞随机分为8组：分别添加0、1、10、100　nmol/L睾酮以及相应浓度睾酮加氟他胺（雄激素受体阻断剂）预处理。Transwell实验检测各组BM-EPC经或未经趋化因子受体4（CXCR4）抑制剂AMD3100处理后向基质细胞衍生因子1α（SDF-1α）的迁移。逆转录聚合酶链反应和Western　blot检测各组BM-EPC　CXCR4的表达。Transwell实验检测BM-EPC的迁移。结果　与对照组相比,睾酮呈浓度依赖性促进BM-EPC向SDF-1α迁移（放大200倍视野下,A组：61.80±9.31;B组：83.20±6.53;C组：107.00±12.85;D组：134.80±8.64;P＜0.05）。与对照组相比,睾酮呈浓度依赖性促进BM-EPC　CXCR4　mRNA的表达（CXCR4　mRNA的相对表达量：A组：0.065±0.005;B组：0.114±0.002;C组：0.149±0.019;D组：0.209±0.013;P＜0.05）。睾酮呈浓度依赖性促进BM-EPC　CXCR4蛋白的表达（CXCR4与Actin表达量之比：A组：0.23±0.06;B组：0.40±0.02;C组：0.62±0.04;D组：0.77±0.05;P＜0.05）,但此作用被雄激素受体阻断剂氟他胺阻断。AMD3100阻断了不同浓度睾酮对BM-EPC的迁移作用。结论　睾酮通过雄激素受体途径作用于SDF-1α/CXCR4轴,上调BM-EPC　CXCR4的表达而增强其迁移功能。     

Evaluation of interleukin-12-induced interferon-y production in vitro by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Interleukin-12 plays an important role in anti-tumor immune response by induction of interferon-gamma production by T cells and NK cells, and by activation of cytotoxic T cells and NK cells. We evaluated interleukin-12-induced interferon-gamma production as one of the immunological markers of patients with chronic liver diseases. METHODOLOGY: Interleukin-12-induced interferon-gamma production was measured in vitro in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 28 hepatocellular carcinoma patients, 10 liver cirrhosis patients, 14 chronic hepatitis patients and 16 healthy individuals. RESULTS: The hepatocellular carcinoma patients exhibited a reduced interleukin-12 responsiveness for interferon-gamma production compared to the liver cirrhosis patients, the chronic hepatitis patients and the healthy individuals. The reduced interferon-gamma production seemed to roughly reflect clinical stage in the hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The interferon-gamma production correlated with neither alpha-fetoprotein nor protein induced by vitamin K absence II. CONCLUSIONS: The level of interleukin-12-induced interferon-gamma production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly lower than that in the patients with liver cirrhosis which is thought to be a premalignant state. The measurement of interferon-gamma production may be useful in evaluating severity of chronic liver disease from an immunological point of view.     

Hepatitis delta virus infection in southern Taiwan

To determine the prevalence of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection in Southern Taiwan in comparison to that of Northern Taiwan, a consecutive series of 389 HBsAg-positive patients were tested for serum antibody to HDV (anti-HD) by radioimmunoassay. The anti-HD was positive in 2/122 (1.6%) asymptomatic "healthy" carriers, 1/61 (1.6%) blood donors, 1/24 (4.2%) patients with acute type B hepatitis, 4/25 (16%) carriers with superimposed acute hepatitis, 5/53 (9.4%) patients with chronic hepatitis, 3/42 (7.1%) patients with liver cirrhosis and 1/62 (1.6%) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Our findings confirm that the prevalence of HDV infection is low in asymptomatic carriers, acute type B hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma, but significantly higher in patients with chronic active liver disease. No significant difference in the prevalence of HDV infection between Southern and Northern Taiwan was observed.     

人前心钠肽在肝病诊断中的价值

目的:检测肝病患者血清中人前心钠肽(proatrial natriuretic peptide,proANP)水平,评价proANP在肝病患者中的诊断价值.方法:收集我院住院患者中肝功能检查异常的、经临床和实验室检查证实无细菌感染患者血清32例(其中肝硬化13例、原发性肝癌12例、药物性肝炎3例、慢性重度乙型肝炎4例)作观察组,选择20例来我院作健康体检的成人血清作对照组,同时进行proANP检测.结果:正常对照组成人血清proANP浓度分别与肝硬化组、原发性肝癌组、药物性肝炎组和慢性重度乙型肝炎组患者血清proANP浓度比较,均有显著性差异(t=8.970,9.088,3.826,8.240,均P<0.001).各肝病组间进行比较,慢性重度乙型肝炎组与其他3组比较差异有显著性,其余各组间差异无显著性.结论:血清中proANP水平增高,对多种肝病患者的诊断具有一定的诊断价值.     

庚型肝炎病毒抗体在不同人群中的检测及意义

为了解庚型肝炎病毒(GBV-C/HGV)在我国人群的感染状况,应用ELISA法对277例各种肝病及103例肝炎高危人群血清进行了抗-GBV-C/HGV-IgG的检测。结果:急性肝炎、慢性肝炎、重型肝炎、肝炎肝硬变和肝癌患者抗-GBV-C/HGV检出率分别为20.3％(13/64)、15.6％(19/122)、26.7％(12/45)、28.2％(11/39)和28.6％(2/7);在HAV、HBV、HCV、HAV+HBV、HBV+HCV、HBV+HDV和HAV+HBV+HCV肝炎病人中检出率分别为15.6％(5/32)、26.1％(31/119)、20.7％(6/29)、26.1％(6/23)、28.6％(4/14)、18.2％(2/11)、33.3％(1/3)和在非甲-戊型肝炎中的检出率为12.1％(4/33);献血员、血液透析者、静脉毒瘾者抗-GBV-C/HGV检出率分别为14.7％(5/34)、6.3％(2/32)和8.1％(3/37),以上结果组间均无显著差异(P>0.05)。研究表明,在我国部分肝病及肝炎高危人群中存在庚型肝炎病毒感染,GBV-C/HGV与HAV、HBV、HCV、HDV之间存在多种形式的同时或重叠感染,非甲-戊型肝炎中存在GBV-C/HGV感染,但感染率并不高,提示GBV-C/HGV可能是非甲-戊型肝炎的一种病原体,但并非是非甲-戊型肝炎的主要致病因子。     

The Correlation between NK Cell and Liver Function in Patients with Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background/Aims

This study aimed to detect the expression of natural killer (NK) cell receptor natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) in the peripheral blood of patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma and to discuss the correlation between NK cell cytotoxicity and liver function.

Methods

The number of NK cells and the expression of NK cell receptor NKG2D in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytometry in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis B cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B, and healthy controls.

Results

When compared with patients in the healthy and the chronic hepatitis B groups, the primary hepatocellular carcinoma group showed significant decreases in all parameters, including the cytotoxicity of NK cells on K562 cells, expression rate of NKG2D in NK cells, number of NKG2D⁺ NK cells, expression level of NKG2D, and number of NK cells (p<0.05). The activity of NK cells showed a positive correlation, whereas the Child-Pugh scores in the primary hepatocellular carcinoma and the hepatitis B cirrhosis groups showed a negative correlation with all parameters detected above.

Conclusions

The decrease of NK cell activity in patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma is closely related to their lower expression of NKG2D. Liver function affects the expression of NKG2D and the activity of NK cells.     

In vitro migratory capacity of CD34+ cells is related to hematopoietic recovery after autologous stem cell transplantation

To investigate whether the migratory ability of peripheral blood-derived CD34+ cells of patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is related to the homing efficiency of these cells, the migration in vitro of these cells was determined and correlated with in vivo hematopoietic recovery. Large inter-individual differences of the in vitro migratory ability of the CD34+ cells were observed, ranging from 1.1% to 16.4% for spontaneous migration and 6.2% to 40.8% for SDF-1-induced (100 ng/mL) migration. Significantly faster hematologic recovery was observed in those patients who received transplanted CD34+ cells that showed high spontaneous and SDF-1-induced migration in vitro (P <.05). Moreover, CD34+ cells from healthy G-CSF-mobilized donors exhibited significantly higher spontaneous and SDF-1-induced (P <.01) migration than CD34+ cells from patients mobilized with chemotherapy and G-CSF. The lower migratory capacity in vitro of patient-derived CD34+ cells was not due to lower expression of CXCR-4 but probably reflected decreased motogenic behavior of the cells. These results indicate that the migratory capacity of the cells is important for hematopoietic recovery. The data suggest that the engraftment potential of autologous stem cells is more or less impaired by treatment before or during the mobilization procedure and might possibly be restored by in vitro manipulation of the cells. In addition, an exponential relation between CXCR-4 expression and number of CD34+ cells that mobilized to the peripheral blood was found (P <.001), suggesting that CXCR-4 expression plays a role in the mobilization of CD34+ cells.     

Hepatitis G infection and therapeutic response to interferon in HCV-related chronic liver disease.

Circulating HGV-RNA was determined in 117 patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease and in 200 healthy blood donors. The patients, aged 50.8+/-13.8 years, were classified as chronic hepatitis (CH; n = 82), liver cirrhosis (n = 25) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; n = 10). HGV-RNA was detected in 5 (4.3%) patients, all with CH and in 10 (5%) of blood donors. The majority of all groups (52% to 70%) were infected with HCV genotype II/1b, including 4/5 patients with HGV co-infection. Of 5 patients with HGV co-infection, 4 were positive for anti-HBs and anti-HBc and none exhibited jaundice. A 24-week course of interferon treatment with 12-month follow-up was achieved in 27 patients with chronic active hepatitis, including 3 with HGV co-infection. Of these, 55.6% responded to the therapy, but only 6/27 (22.2%) patients were sustained responders. The majority of sustained responders were HCV genotype III/2a (4/6) while genotype II/1b was found in the majority of patients with relapse (7/9) and non-responders (9/12). At the 48- month follow up, 2/6 sustained responders (one with HGV co-infection) became HCV RNA positive. These results show that the prevalence of HGV infection in HCV-related chronic liver disease is low, as in the general population, and is found in younger patients with chronic hepatitis. HGV coinfection does not interfere with clinical severity, disease progression or response to interferon in patients with HCV-related chronic liver disease. The favorable factors ofinterferon treatment for HCV infection are young age, low HCV-RNA levels and HCV genotype III/2a.     

The seroprevalence of anti-HTLV-1 antibodies in patients with various liver diseases

The prevalence of antibodies to human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), which is linked to the etiology of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), was examined in 380 patients with various liver diseases in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, which is one of the most endemic area for HTLV-1. Eighteen patients with acute hepatitis (AH), 201 chronic hepatitis (CH), 93 liver cirrhosis (LC) 40 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 28 with other liver diseases were examined. Among these patients, 110 patients had histories of blood transfusion. HTLV-1 specific antibodies were assayed by the ELISA method and the Western blotting method. The rate of positive reaction was 8.9% in all, 5.6% in AH, 6.0% in CH, 10.8% in LC, 17.5% in HCC and 14.3% in the cases of other liver diseases. The prevalence of anti-HTLV-1 antibodies in about 62,000 healthy blood donors in this area was 4.7%. The overall sero-prevalence in the patient group was significantly higher (p less than 0.001), than in healthy blood donors, particularly in the LC and HCC groups. Although the occurrence increased with age, no difference between sex was observed. Patients who had received blood transfusions were found to have a higher rate (17.2%), than those who had not (5.9%), and healthy blood donors. No difference was found between the two groups regarding family history of liver disease. This study indicates that blood transfusions may be an important route to the HTLV-1 infection.     

Seroepidemiolgy of hepatitis viruses of chronic liver diseases in Bangladesh: high prevalence of HCV among blood donors and healthy person

Forty eight (9.7%) and 27 (5.5%) of 495 apparent healthy persons and 15 (18.8%) and five (6.2%) of 80 blood donors from Dhaka, Bangladesh were found to be infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV), respectively. Five apparent healthy persons and two blood donors were infected with both HBV and HCV. Genotyping in 20 anti-HCV positive sera revealed that 13 (65%) had genotype 1b and the rest, seven (35%) had genotype 2a. These data suggest that several million people of Bangladesh being unaware of their infective conditions has been carrying hepatitis viruses that may lead to chronic liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. As HCV genotype 1b was prevalent among HCV-carriers in Bangladesh, interferon should be used cautiously for type C hepatitis until facilities for quantification or genotyping of HCV become possible.