sodium-ethylxanthate and Hepatitis-B

A new vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, produced in mammalian Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, contains the small(s), middle (Pre S2) and large (Pre S1) surface proteins of HBV. Three injections of a 5-micrograms or 10-micrograms dose were administered intramuscularly (i.m.) at 0, 1 and 6 months to a group of 105 young adults, who were monitored for a period of 6 months after the third injection. Seroconversion rates were 100% after the second injection of the 5-micrograms or 10-micrograms dose. Geometric mean titres of HBsAb at 1 month after the third injection were 12,156 mIU ml-1 and 13,482 mIU ml-1 in those receiving the 5-micrograms and 10-micrograms dose respectively. The vaccine was well tolerated with no significant adverse events. These preliminary results suggest that the Pre S-s recombinant vaccine, produced in mammalian cells, is highly immunogenic, leading to 100% seroconversion in the population tested after injection of only two doses of 5 micrograms.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Antibody Formation; CHO Cells; Cricetinae; Female; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antibodies; Hepatitis B Core Antigens; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis B Vaccines; Humans; Male; Sex; Vaccines, Synthetic

We performed a case-control study to evaluate the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A total of 305 newly diagnosed HCC cases (80% males) and 610 subjects (81% males) unaffected by clinically evident hepatic disease admitted to the 2 main hospitals in Brescia, North Italy, were recruited as cases and controls, respectively. Among the 122 HCC cases positive for HCV RNA, genotype 1b was found in 83 patients (68%), genotype 2 in 36 (29.5%) and genotype 1a in 3 (2.5%). Among the controls, 15 were infected with genotype 1b and 15 with type 2. Analysis of HCV envelope 1 nucleotide sequence among 25 cases and 8 controls infected with genotype 2 showed subtype 2c in 96% of cases and in all controls, and subtype 2a in 1 HCC case. The odds ratio (OR) for HCV RNA positivity adjusted for hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers and alcohol intake was 26.3 [95% confidence interval (CI): 15.8-44], and it was higher for genotype 1b (OR = 34.2) than type 2 (OR = 14.4). The OR for HCV RNA was 35.6 (95% CI: 14.5-87.1) when the HBV markers were all negative and 132 (15.3-890) when HBsAg positivity was present; the OR was 26.1 (95% CI: 12.6-54.0) among subjects with alcohol intake of 0-40 g/day and increased to 62.6 (23.3-168) and 126 (42.8-373) with an alcohol intake of 41-80 and >80 g/day, respectively. In conclusion, synergism was found between HCV infection and HBV infection and alcohol intake in causing HCC.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Alcohol Drinking; Antibodies, Viral; Antigens, Viral; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Case-Control Studies; Female; Genotype; Hepacivirus; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C; Humans; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Risk Factors; RNA, Viral; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Sex

The authors tested, by molecular hybridization, for hepatitis B virus DNA in serum specimens of 182 asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) Greek carriers who were heterosexual partners of patients with acute hepatitis B (group A: 96 cases) or healthy subjects who were susceptible to hepatitis B (group B: 86 cases). The mean age (34.1 +/- 10.4 vs. 33.9 +/- 8.4 years) and the mean duration of sexual contact (6.9 +/- 8.9 vs. 7.2 +/- 6.3 years) were similar in the two groups of carriers. Hepatitis B virus DNA was detected significantly more frequently in group A than in group B (59.4% vs. 11.6%, p less than 0.001). In particular, in group A, hepatitis B virus DNA was detected in 96.9% of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and 41% of antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe)-positive carriers. In contrast, in group B, hepatitis B virus DNA was identified in only 10.8% of anti-HBe-positive carriers (p less than 0.001). These differences were especially significant in the young and middle-aged carriers (16-49 years old) and during the first four years of sexual contact. These data suggest that 1) there is a positive correlation between the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum and the epidemiologic evidence of sexual transmission of hepatitis B virus, 2) hepatitis B virus DNA is a better indicator of infectivity than HBeAg/anti-HBe, and 3) the detection of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum probably identified carriers with high infectivity and potentially higher risk of transmitting hepatitis B virus to their sexual partners.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Carrier State; DNA, Viral; Female; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis B virus; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Radioimmunoassay; Sex

We suggest that subtle alterations in T-cell functions in male homosexuals makes them more likely to have silent anicteric hepatitis B infection, and perhaps more likely to become chronic carriers with significant chronic liver disease. This immunodeficiency might also explain why they respond less favourably to antiviral therapy. In future trials of antiviral therapy homosexual males should be randomised separately. Further studies of the immunomodulatory effects of new and existing agents will be of value in designing drug regimes particularly suited to the treatment of homosexual HBV carriers.

Topics: Anal Canal; Carrier State; Child; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B e Antigens; Homosexuality; Humans; Immunity; Male; Risk; Sex