Preliminary report of hepatitis B virus genotype prevalence in Iran

Aim: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in Iranian hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, chronic hepatitis B and cirrhotic patients. Methods: A total of 109 HBsAg-positive patients were included in this study. HBV genotypes were determined by using INNO-LiPA methodology which is based on the reverse hybridization principle. Results: The distribution of patients with different stages of liver disease was as follows: 95 (86.4) chronic hepatitis, 11 (10) liver cirrhosis, and 3 (2.7) inactive carrier. Of the chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis patients, 26.4 were HBeAg-positive while 70 were HBeAg-negative. Genotype D was the only detected type found in all patients. Conclusion: Classifying HBV into genotypes has to be cost-effective and clinically relevant. Our study indicates that HBV genotype D prevails in the Mediterranean area, Near and Middle East, and South Asia. Continued efforts for understanding HBV genotype through international co-operation will reveal further virological diffierences of the genotypes and their clinical relevance. © 2006 The WJG Press. All rights reserved

Study on age-related bioaccumulation of some heavy metals in the soft tissue of rock oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) from Laft Port – Qeshm Island, Iran

Heavy metals widely enter into aquatic ecosystems, and cause various environmental problems due to bioaccumulation and biomagnification in food chains. The accumulation of heavy metals in bivalve tissues is affected by a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors such as physiological conditions, growth, seasonal changes, pH, salinity, temperature, genera and age. The present study investigated the effects of age of the rock oyster Saccostrea cucullata on the accumulation of Ni, Cd and Pb in the Laft Port coast located on the Qeshm Island. 200 oysters were collected and their age was determined, then they were classified into four age categories and 15 oysters from each category were selected. Samples were dry digested and the metal concentrations were measured by an ICP-OES (PerkinElmer, USA) instrument. Results revealed that the accumulation of Ni and Pb in one year old oysters (immature) was more than those in mature oysters (two, three and four year old oysters). Significant differences were observed between concentrations of Ni and Pb in mature and immature oysters. The results suggested that aging has a negative effect on bioaccumulation of Ni and Pb in S. cucullata; while it has no effect on bioaccumulation of Cd

Detection of hepatitis B virus covalently closed circular DNA in the plasma of Iranian HBeAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis B

Background: Covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a marker of HBV replication in the liver of patients infected with HBV. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between the presence of cccDNA in the plasma samples of Iranian treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B infection and HBV viral load and HBsAg levels. Patients and Methods: From April 2012 to May 2015, 106 treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B infection were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The HBsAg titer was measured by the Roche HBsAg II assay on the Cobas e411 system, and HBV DNA quantitation was performed using the COBAS TaqMan 48 kit. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for the detection of HBV cccDNA. Results: The mean (SD) age of the patients was 41.1 ± 12.4 years (range, 20 - 62 years). From a total of 106 study participants, 67 (63.2) were males. The HBV cccDNA was detected in plasma specimens in 19 (17.9) out of the total 106 patients, and a significant relationship was found between the presence of cccDNA in plasma sample of males (23.9) and females (7.7) (P = 0.039). Also, a significant correlation was found between the presence of cccDNA in plasma sample of the patients and HBV viral load level (P < 0.0001) and HBsAg titer (P = 0.0043). Conclusions: This study showed that cccDNA can be detected in the plasma specimen of 17.9 of Iranian treatment-naive patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. Therefore, designing prospective studies focusing on the detection of cccDNA in these patients would provide more information. © 2015, Kowsar Corp

Seroepidemiology of hepatitis E virus infection in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Patients undergoing regular hemodialysis (HD) are at an extreme risk of acquiring bloodstream infections compared to the general population. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is an important emerging health issue in these patients. To date, numerous studies have investigated the seroprevalence of HEV among HD patients across the world; however, the data are conflicting. The present study aimed to measure the exposure rate of HD patients to HEV infection by estimating the overall seroprevalence of HEV in this high-risk group. A systematic literature search was carried out using five electronic databases from inception to January 10, 2020, with standard keywords. Pooled seroprevalence estimates with 95 confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random intercept logistic regression model. The seroprevalence of HEV increased from 6.6 between the years of 1994 and 2000 to 11.13 from 2016 to 2020. Blood transfusion was associated with a nearly 2-fold increase in the rate of HEV seropositivity (OR = 1.99; 95 CI: 1.50-2.63, P &lt;.0001, I2 = 6.5). HEV seroprevalence among patients with HD for more than 60 months was significantly higher than those with HD for less than 60 months (27.69, 95 CI: 20.69-35.99 vs 15.78, 95CI: 8.85-26.57, respectively) (P =.06). Our results indicated increased exposure of HD patients with HEV infection over the last decade. We concluded that blood transfusion and duration of HD are considerable risk factors for acquiring HEV infection among HD patients. © 2020 International Society for Apheresis, Japanese Society for Apheresis, and Japanese Society for Dialysis Therap

E-selectin gene polymorphisms in Iranian chronic hepatitis B patients

Background and Aims: The aim of this study was to detect the substitutions Ser128Arg (A128C) and Leu554Phe (T554C) which are responsible for E-selectin polymorphisms in patients with chronic hepatitis B and healthy controls. We investigated possible association of the Ser128Arg and Leu554Phe gene polymorphisms in the E-selectin gene with susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B. Methods: Sixty-three patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection and 150 healthy subjects were recruited sequentially as they presented to clinic. Classification of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients was as asymptomatic carrier state (34 patients) and chronic hepatitis B (29 patients). Genomic DNA was isolated from anticoagulated peripheral blood Buffy coat using Miller�s salting-out method. The presence of the E-selectin gene polymorphisms was determined by using polymerase chain reaction amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). Results: Distribution of E-selectin 128 (A+C-, A+C+, A-C+) genotypes and E-selectin 554 (C+T-, T+C-, C+T+) genotypes were not statistically different in chronic hepatitis B patients and controls (P=0.41 and 0.96, respectively). Also, two groups had no significant difference in distribution of frequencies of allele 128A (P=0.41), 128C (P=0.15), allele 554C (P=0.85), and allele 554T (P=0.76). Carrying of allele 128A (OR=0.58, 95 CI=0.16-2.12), 128C (OR=1.52, 95 CI=0.84-2.74), 554C (OR=1.24, 95 CI=0.12-12.08), and allele 554T (OR=0.88, 95 CI=0.38-2.01) were not risk factors for susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B infection. Conclusions: Carrying E-selectin gene polymorphisms of Ser128Arg and Leu554Phe is not considered risk factor for susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B infection. © 2007, Kowsar Medical Publishing Company. All rights reserved

Health Literacy and Medication Practices in Senior Housing Residents

Objective: To conduct a descriptive analysis of health literacy, knowledge of prescribed medications, and methods of administering medications in a cohort of senior housing residents.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1027/thumbnail.jp

Efficacy of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate therapy in nucleoside-analogue naive Iranian patients treated for chronic hepatitis B

Background: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is a new effective treatment option for patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Objectives: To evaluate TDF efficacy in nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs)-naive Iranian patients with CHB. Patients and Methods: The NA-naive patients received TDF for at least six months. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients achieving a complete virological response (CVR) during the treatment. Multivariate Cox regression analysis determined predictive factors independently associated with the time to CVR. The secondary endpoints were biochemical and serological responses, frequency of virological breakthrough, genotypic resistance development, safety and tolerability. Results: In all, 93 patients (64.5 hepatitis B e antigen HBeAg-negative) were eligible. Of these, 70 patients completed 24 months of treatment. The cumulative CVR rates in HBeAg-negative and HBeAg-positive patients were 87% versus 53% at 24 months, respectively. The multivariate Cox regression model showed only HBeAg positivity at baseline and a high baseline HBV DNA level were independent factors predicting a CVR. No patient achieved hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBeAg loss or seroconversion and no virologic breakthrough occurred. A new amino acid substitution (rtD263E) was observed to develop in 60% of patients with viremia. Conclusions: The cumulative CVR rates showed that patients with HBeAg-negative have better virologic respond than those with HBeAg-positive during the same period. The rtD263E mutation might be associated with partial resistance to TDF. © 2015, Kowsar Corp