Natural History of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Ahvaz City,Iran

Objective: A long persistent of Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) infection may develop liver cirrhosis or hepatocellularcarcinoma (HCC) and about one million people die due to HBV -related liver cancer and end-stage liver disease annuallyworldwide. The natural history of CHB phases comprises four phases: immune tolerant (HBeAg detectable and ALT(Alanine Transaminase) normal, HBeAg-positive immune active (HBeAg detectable, anti-HBe antibodies undetectableand ALT persistently elevated), HBeAg-negative immune active (HBeAg undetectable, anti-HBe antibodies presentand ALT persistently elevated), inactive carrier (HBeAg undetectable, anti-HBe antibodies present and ALT normal).The evaluation of chronic hepatitis B phases is a crucial to manage the burden of disease and limit the developmentof associated complications, such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus this study conducted toevaluate the natural history of HBV infection in patients with chronic HBV infection in Ahvaz city, Iran. Methods: Inthis study, 71 non-treated CHB individuals were recruited including 44 (62%) males and 27(38%) females. The serawere tested for HBV markers, HBsAg, HBcIgG, HBeAg, and HBeAb. ALT assay and HBV viral load were carried outfor each CHB individual. Results: Based on the analysis of serological, ALT status and viral load, the results showed:immune tolerance 5(7%), eAg+ Immune Clearance 14(19.7%), eAg- Immune Clearance 29 (40.84%) and InactiveCarrier 23 (32.39%). The HBeAg seroconversion was observed in a male age 18 year. Conclusion: The results ofthe natural history of individuals with chronic hepatitis B phases CHB shows immune tolerance (7%), eAg+ ImmuneClearance (19.7%), eAg- Immune Clearance (40.84%) and Inactive Carrier (32.39%). To prevent the consequence ofCHB infection, an individual in immune tolerance phase should be tested periodically for ALT level, HBV markers,HBsAg, HBcIgG, HBeAg, HBeAb and HBV viral load. Then decision-making therapy can be applied for CHB patientsat early stage of immune clearance.     

Slc39a14 gene encodes ZIP14, a metal/bicarbonate symporter: similarities to the ZIP8 transporter

The mouse and human genomes contain 14 highly conserved SLC39 genes. Viewed from an evolutionary perspective, SLC39A14 and SLC39A8 are the most closely related, each having three noncoding exons 1. However, SLC39A14 has two exons 4, giving rise to Zrt- and Irt-related protein (ZIP)ZIP14A and ZIP14B alternatively spliced products. C57BL/6J mouse ZIP14A expression is highest in liver, duodenum, kidney, and testis; ZIP14B expression is highest in liver, duodenum, brain, and testis; and ZIP8 is highest in lung, testis, and kidney. We studied ZIP14 stably retroviral-infected mouse fetal fibroblast cultures and transiently transfected Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) polarized epithelial cells. Our findings include: 1) ZIP14-mediated cadmium uptake is proportional to cell toxicity, but manganese is not; 2) ZIP14B has a higher affinity than ZIP14A toward Cd(2+) (K(m) = 0.14 versus 1.1 microM) and Mn(2+) uptake (K(m) = 4.4 versus 18.2 microM); 3) ZIP14A- and ZIP14B-mediated Cd(2+) uptake is most inhibited by Zn(2+), and next by Mn(2+) and Cu(2+); 4) like ZIP8, ZIP14A- and ZIP14B-mediated Cd(2+) uptake is dependent on extracellular HCO(3)(-); 5) like ZIP8, ZIP14 transporters are localized on the apical surface of MDCK-ZIP cells; and 6) like ZIP8, ZIP14 proteins are glycosylated. Tissues such as intestine and liver, located between the environment and the animal, show high levels of ZIP14; given the high affinity for ZIP14, Cd(2+) is likely to act as a rogue hitchhiker-displacing Zn(2+) or Mn(2+) and entering the body to cause unwanted cell damage and disease.     

Rapid analysis of trans,trans-muconic acid in urine using microextraction by packed sorbent

A simple and fast method has been developed for the determination of urinary trans,trans-muconic acid (ttMA) based on micro-extraction by packed sorbent (MEPS), followed by HPLC-UV detection. Parameters affecting the performance of MEPS were investigated. The results of the MEPS-HPLC-UV procedure were compared with the results of the conventional SPE method. The procedure was used for the determination of ttMA in urine samples of benzene-exposed subjects. The calibration curve was obtained in the range of 0.1 to 2 μg/mL, and the method showed high linearity (R²=0.9997). The LOQ was 0.1 μg/mL. For the MEPS method, the withinand between-day precision ranged from 3.0 to 5.1% and 3.3 to 5.2%, respectively. The within-and between-day accuracy ranged from 93.3 to 99.3% and 91.5 to 96.0%, respectively. The developed MEPS-HPLC-UV method is suggested as an alternative to the existing conventional SPE method for the biomonitoring of benzene-exposed subjects.     

Cytologic features of “dry-type” cutaneous leishmaniasis

Exfoliative cytology smears from the lesions of 179 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania tropica were studied with specific reference to cellular reactions and their effect on the parasite. Aggregates of the parasite (so-called Leishman Donovan bodies) were present within macrophages and in some fibroblasts. The nature of the inflammatory reaction to the disease was studied by performing differential counts of the inflammatory cells present in the smears. These were correlated with the number of Leishman Donovan bodies. There was an inverse relationship between the number of Leishman Donovan bodies and the percentage of small lymphocytes, neutrophils, and type I macrophages. It is postulated that aggregates of activated macrophages (designated types II and III) and the Leishmanian milieu (sticky matrix) protect the amastigote Leishmania parasites from being eradicated by the inflammatory and immune reaction. The cytoplasmic blebbing of the parasitophorous vacuoles and cell to cell connection of the activated histiocytes could be shown by the CD-68 immunostaining of the tissue biopsy. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1998;19:182–185. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.