Association between hepatitis B virus infection and metabolic syndrome: a retrospective cohort study in Shanghai, China

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) and hepatitis B (HBV) infection are two major public health problems in China. There are few studies about their association, and the results of these studies are contradictory. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess the association between MS and HBV in a Shanghai community-based cohort. Methods: Nine hundred seventy-six Shanghai residents were recruited from the Putuo community. 480 HBV infections were in exposed group and 496 non-infections in unexposed group. All metabolic-related parameters and hepatitis B serology were tested with routine biochemical or immunological methods. “Exposed” was defined by HBV infection represented by hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and without anti-virus treatment. “Unexposed” were subjects who didn’t infect with HBV (Represented by HBsAg) and no MS when they entered the cohort. MS was defined based on the updated National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and related 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the association between HBV infection and MS over a 20-year follow-up period. Results: Of 976 subjects recruited, 480 had latent HBV infection (exposed subjects). After adjusting for age, the crude HR was 2.46 (95% CI: 1.77, 3.41). After adjusting for potential risk factors of MS (age, gender, smoking, passive smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and diet), the HR was 2.27 (95% CI: 1.52, 3.38). Conclusions: This 20-year follow-up retrospective cohort study in Shanghai showed a positive association between HBV infection and MS

Status and significance of testing for hepatitis B surface antigen and surface antibody

Following Blumberg's discovery of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), many attempts have been made to develop several in vitro diagnostic techniques for the detection of this antigen and its homologous antibody. The two-dimensional micro-Ouchterlony immunodiffusion has been the first technique used, rapidly replaced by procedures of increasing sensitivity characterized as second-generation and the currently available third-phase tests which include radioimmunoassay (RIA), reverse passive haemagglutination (RPHA), reverse passive latex agglutination (RPLA) and enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Among these, RIA appears to be the most sensitive and specific, whereas EIA, RPHA and RPLA have the advantage of long shelf-life of stable reagents, no need for sophisticated and expensive equipment and no hazard associated with the handling of radioactive isotopes. Moreover, the sensitivity of EIA should increase by objective reading with a colorimeter. The most sensitive method for the detection of surface antibody (anti-HBs) is again RIA, whereas passive haemagglutination (PHA) had the advantage of providing titres. Finally EIA, based on inhibition of a known amount of HBsAg, has at least the same sensitivity as PHA, but has the advantage that reagents are more stable and that it permits screening for both HBsAg and anti-HBs with the same reagents at the same time. The application of these highly sensitive techniques for the detection of HBsAg and anti-HBs has resulted in a consistent reduction in the incidence of post-transfusion hepatitis type B and in a better understanding of the aetiology, epidemiology and natural history of this infection

Importanza della determinazione dell'ALT nelle diagnosi delle epatiti virali

Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Biblioteca Centrale, P.le Aldo Moro, 7, ROMA (Italia) / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal

Growth of sucrose crystals and tapering effect studied by Holographic interferometry

Effects of dopant raffinose on the growth of sucrose crystals are studied by means of holographic interferometry. By the distibution of hologram fringes the selective doping effect is measured on (100), (110) and (1-10) forms. An interpretation is put forward for the tapering effect in the wedge shaped crystals