Perinatal Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus

Perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the predominant mode of transmission in countries with a high prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen carriage. Perinatal transmission can occur via three modalities: intrauterine transmission; transmission during delivery; and postpartum transmission and perinatal transmission results in a high frequency of chronic infection. Therefore, it is important to prevent perinatal transmission. At-birth prophylaxis with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) and the first dose of the HBV vaccine can prevent transmission during delivery or in the postpartum period, but it has no effect on the intrauterine route of transmission. Due to the residual risk of perinatal transmission despite correct use of birth prophylaxis with HBIG and vaccine, other strategies (namely, antiviral drugs, HBIG to the mother, and mode of delivery) have been tested in several studies. [Archives Medical Review Journal 2016; 25(3.000): 304-318

Could mean platelet volume be a useful marker for infectious diseases? a review of literature

Mean platelet volume (MPV), a parameter of complete blood count analysis, measures the average size of platelets. The alterations of MPV levels have been described as a diagnostic or prognostic predictor in patients with infectious diseases including sepsis, infective endocarditis, pneumonia, brucellosis, cellulitis, acute pyelonephritis, ascites fluid infection, hepatitis B or hepatitis C in recent studies. Although some matters still remain unclear, it can be said that MPV, especially in a score system, may be a cost-effective and useful marker for monitoring and predicting outcomes in patients with some infectious diseases in the future. [Med-Science 2016; 5(4.000): 1059-62