Hepatitis B antigens and antibodies in asymptomatic carriers and in chronic liver diseases.

88% of asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers and 97% of HBsAg positive patients with chronic hepatitis or non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis showed high titers of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). A high titer of anti-HBc, thus suggested to be an indicator of persistent hepatitis B virus infection, was found rarely in seronegative patients with chronic hepatitis, non-alcoholic cirrhosis, or alcoholic liver diseases. It was not revealed in idiopathic portal hypertension or Budd-Chiari syndrome. In asymptomatic HBsAg carriers of 20--29 years of age, hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) was significantly more frequently found in males than in females. There were differences in sex ratio, age, and history of blood transfusion between B type and non-B type of chronic hepatitis and non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis.     

乙型肝炎表面抗原携带者乙肝血清学标志物模式转变分析

目的了解本地人群中乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBsAg)携带者乙肝血清学标志物模式的转变规律。方法对2008、2010年来本院进行健康体检的HBsAg携带者746例,用酶联免疫吸附试验法检测乙型肝炎(下称乙肝)血清学标志物,分别按性别、年龄2008年乙肝血清标志物模式进行分组统计处理。结果共检出乙肝血清学标志物模式转变者55例。经χ2检验,可认为男性HBsAg携者乙肝血清学标志物模式转变率(8.24%)高于女性(1.94%);不同年龄组乙肝血清学标志物模式转变率相同;乙肝"1、3、5"与"1、5"模式转变率相同;乙肝"1、3、5"、"1、5"模式转变率(分别为13.89%、13.66%)高于乙肝"1、4、5"模式(4.02%)。结论本实验结果总体上应属于乙肝血清学标志物模式的自然转变,需加强对少见模式的验证。     

Local xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction: a measure of T-cell function in asymptomatic HBsAg carriers

The local xenogeneic graft-versus-host reaction was used as a bioassay to assess T lymphocyte function in 31 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers and 40 healthy controls. Positive local gvh reaction was found in all normal subjects and in only 12 of the carriers tested. Analysis of persistence of HBsAg positivity demonstrated that patients with protracted carrier state (1-5.5 years) mostly exhibited negative local gvh reaction. Controversely, patients with a short duration of carrier state (6-12 months) showed positive local gvh reaction, similar to the range of the healthy subjects. Also, no correlation was observed between the magnitude of local gvh reaction and T-rosette percentage.     

HBsAg in the hepatocytes in chronic liver diseases

The paper is concerned with the results of studying 2038 liver biopsies in which HBsAg was determined. The studies indicate that the most complete information of the etiology of chronic liver diseases can be obtained on simultaneous determination of HBsAg in the blood and liver tissue.     

The content of immunoglobulins in blood serum of asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg with alcoholism

The purpose of the case study was to investigate the concomitant influence of HBsAg and of alcohol on the content of immunoglobulins in blood serum, since the immunoglobulins are an important parameter of immunoreactivity. The study showed the patients with alcoholism to have a higher content of IgA and IgM versus healthy subjects. At the same time, the carriers of HBsAg with alcoholism had the level of IgG by 20% higher and a 2-fold higher concentration of IgA versus healthy subjects. The content of IgG and IgA was higher and that of IgM lower in blood serum of the HBsAg carriers with alcoholism versus the parameters observed in patients with alcoholism of the control group. Thus, patients with alcoholism who had concomitant effects from HBsAg and from alcohol had a potentiatedly higher content of IgA and IgG in blood serum. A lack of growth in the IgM level as observed in blood serum of patients with alcoholism due to HBsAg can be regarded as a prognostically unfavorable sign in the sense of HBsAg persistence and possible development of chronic viral hepatitis B.     

Difference of subtypes of hepatitis B surface antigen between asymptomatic carriers and patients with chronic liver diseases

Subtypes of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were studied in 20 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers and 18 HBsAg-seropositive patients with chronic hepatitis or live cirrhosis. Among them 25 were university students. In the male university students, subtypes adw was found to be significantly higher in asymptomatic HBsAg carriers than in patients with chronic hepatitis (p=0.04). The difference in subtypes of HBsAg between male asymptomatic carriers and male patients with liver disease was further confirmed by the combined results of university students and other subjects (p=0.007).     

Incidence of HBsAg in persons living with HBsAg carriers]

The prevalence of HBsAg was studied, by Counterelectrophoresis and Radioimmunoassay, in 232 household contacts of 65 HBsAg carriers. The overall incidence of HBsAg in household contacts was 14,65%, as compared with the generally accepted figure of about 1% in the general population in Italy. As far as the prevalence of HBsAg and abnormal liver function tests is concerned, no differences were found between contacts of carriers with Chronic Active Liver Disease and contacts of asymptomatic carriers. The prevalence of HBsAg was similar in spouses (13,5%) and in blood relatives (15,3%) of carriers. It is concluded that: 1) Household contacts of HBsAg carriers are at higher risk of acquiring HBsAg infection than the general population. 2) Such risk is not increased by the presence of Chronic Active Liver Disease in the index cases. 3) Further studies are required in order to clarify the relative roles of environmental and genetic factors as determinants of HBsAg transmission.     

Hepatitis B virus DNA in anti-HBe-positive asymptomatic carriers

OBJECTIVES: We examined the level of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and the mutations in the precore, core and polymerase regions of HBV in sera from anti-HBe-positive asymptomatic carriers (ASC). METHODS: The amount of HBV DNA was determined semiquantitatively by mutation site-specific assay in sera from 19 anti-HBe-positive ASC and 31 HBeAg-positive patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). The mutations in the precore, core and polymerase (terminal protein) regions, spanning 1,037 nucleotides, of HBV in sera from three cases each of anti-HBe-positive ASC, HBeAg-positive ASC and HBeAg-positive CLD were examined by directly sequencing the amplified HBV DNA. RESULTS: The level of HBV viremia in anti-HBe-positive ASC was significantly lower than that in HBeAg-positive CLD patients (p < 0.01). By sequence analysis, there were a few missense mutations detected in HBeAg-positive ASC and HBeAg-positive CLD patients. In contrast, many mutations, especially in the central or N-terminal half of the core region and N-terminal part of the polymerase region, were detected in anti-HBe-positive ASC. CONCLUSION: Mutations not only in the precore/core region, but also in the polymerase region of HBV might cause damage to some important functions for efficient replication of HBV and be involved in the reduced amount of HBV in anti-HBe-positive ASC.     

Diagnosis and management of asymptomatic MEN 2 gene carriers

RET genetic testing affords valid clinical strategies in the diagnosis and management of MEN 2. For at risk family members, the test provides accurate diagnosis of gene carriers and best chance of cure of medullary thyroid carcinoma by prophylactic total thyroidectomy. The test results, however, may have medical, psychological, ethical, and social effects on the individuals as well as their families, it is important for an individual to know the potential consequences and to give an informed consent before having the genetic test. Health care providers should make efforts to be aware of these potential effects and to support a tested individual throughout the entire screening process.     

Abnormal liver enzyme levels. Evaluation in asymptomatic patients

Chronic elevation of serum aminotransferase levels, even in the absence of symptoms, often reflects chronic hepatitis or other significant underlying liver disease. Patients with persistently abnormal alkaline phosphatase levels may have extrahepatic biliary tract disease or a chronic cholestatic disorder. Physicians can discover unsuspected liver disease without undue risk, expense, or inconvenience to the patient by means of the following: a carefully taken history and thorough physical examination, appropriate timing of follow-up blood tests, and timely referral for percutaneous liver biopsy or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.     

高校学生HBsAg携带者心理状况调查及应对措施探讨

目的 了解高校学生携带HBsAg状况及携带者的心理状态,探讨其预防干预措施.方法 采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法检测商丘市某高校2008级入学新生血清乙肝5项指标,以问卷调查的方式了解影响学生乙型肝炎血清指标的因素,并用症状自评量表(SCL-90)对血清HBsAg阳性的学生进行心理测试.结果 该年级学生HBsAg阳性率为6.77%;乙肝5项的构成为7种感染模式;不同性别、乙肝感染家族史、输血史、疫苗接种史的学生,HBsAg阳性率差异显著;携带HBsAg的学生有明显的抑郁、焦虑、敌对、恐惧心理.结论 大学生在校期间要重视对乙肝的预防;学校应加强对学生的卫生知识及心理健康教育,制订并实施相应的预防干预措施.     

高校学生HBsAg携带者心理状况调查及应对措施探讨

目的了解高校学生携带HBsAg状况及携带者的心理状态,探讨其预防干预措施。方法采用酶联免疫吸附试验（EusA）法检测商丘市某高校2008级入学新生血清乙肝5项指标,以问卷调查的方式了解影响学生乙型肝炎血清指标的因素,并用症状自评量表（SCL．90）对血清HBsAg阳性的学生进行心理测试。结果该年级学生HBsAg阳性率为6．77％;乙肝5项的构成为7种感染模式;不同性别、乙肝感染家族史、输血史、疫苗接种史的学生,HBsAg阳性率差异显著;携带HBsAg的学生有明显的抑郁、焦虑、敌对、恐惧心理。结论大学生在校期间要重视对乙肝的预防;学校应加强对学生的卫生知识及心理健康教育,制订并实施相应的预防干预措施。     

Effect of morphine on PHA-stimulated human lymphocyte transformation.

The effect of morphine on lymphocyte blastoid transformation induced by PHA was studied in vitro by observing the uptake of 3H-thymidine into nucleic acid of the lymphocytes. Morphine at the estimated clinical blood concentrations did not inhibit lymphocyte blastoid transformation.