OBJECTIVETo investigated the relationship between the serum levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines and the progress of viral hepatitis C and the outcome of interferon therapy.

METHODSSerum cytokine detection used the method of ELISA. HCV genotype were classified by direct sequencing. HCV RNA loads were determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-2 and TGF-beta in serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C were lower hut IL-5 was higher than those of normal control. The level of IL-6 was positively related to the sera level of ALT and was negatively related to sera HCV RNA load. Patients of HCV genotype 1 had higher sera quantities of IL-6 than those of genotype 2 and patients of genotype 2a had lower sera quantities of IL-2 than those of 2b. The levels of IL-2 had the tendency to decrease whereas IL-6 had the tendency to increase when time went on. The level of TGF-beta increased at early phase but decrease later. There were no difference of all cytokines detected between the groups of response and nonresponse before interferon therapy, hut the quantity of serum IFN-gamma were increased after interferon therapy in the response group.

CONCLUSIONThe tested cytokines co-participate in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C and have the relationship with the clinical manifestations of the patients. There were no correlation between the levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines in the serum before IFN treatment and the result of IFN therapy. Increasing IFN-gamma in the serum induced by IFN treatment is associated with sustained virological response.

Adult ; Aged ; Cytokines ; blood ; immunology ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis viruses in Mianyang of the Sichuan province.

METHODSEIISA was used for detecting anti-HAV IgG, HBsAg/HBsAb, anti-HCV IgG and anti-HEV IgG of the serum samples. All sample were collected in Mianyang areas in 2007.

RESULTS1352 samples were detected. The positive rates of anti-HAV, HBsAg/HBsAb, anti-HCV,and anti-HEV are 81.07% (1096/1352), 5.40% (73/1352) and 61.32% (829/1352), 0.37% (5/1352) and 49.26% (666/1352), respectively. The positive rate at different age group, for anti-HAV was 38.21% of 10-19 years old, 83% of 20-29 years old, 88% of 30-39 years old, 95.03% of 40-49 years old, 97% of 50-59 years old, 97.77% of 60-69 years old, 97.52% of > or =70 years old. For HBsAg/HBsAb were 5.65% or 50.83%, 10.0% or 68.0%, 5.20% or 78.80%, 5.97% or 78.11%, 6.50% or 62.50%, 1.12% or 51.40%, 4.96% or 30.58% at the same age group, respectively,for anti-HCV, was 0.33% of 10-19 years old, 0.80% of 30-39 years, 0.56% of 60-69 years old, 0.83% of > or =70 years old.For HEV-IgG was 26.58% of 10-19 years old, 42.0% of 20-29 years old, 55.22%-61.0% of 30-> or =70 years old, for anti-HEV IgM, was 10.06% (53/527) in the positive samples of HEV-IgG.

CONCLUSIONThe inoculation againt HAV and HBV is enhanced in the young population. HBsAg carrier and HCV infection is decreasing. The HEV infection is actually increasing.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic ; blood ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis A ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Hepatitis Antibodies ; blood ; classification ; Hepatitis B ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Hepatovirus ; classification ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Young Adult

Graft Rejection ; Hepacivirus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; etiology ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; RNA, Viral ; blood ; Risk Factors ; Secondary Prevention

To estimate the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Korean adults and to present the putative route of HCV transmission among them, serum samples from 4917 adults older than 20 years of age were tested for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV), and histories of blood transfusion and other pertinent information were obtained by self-administered questionnaires. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV was 1.7%; prevalence was 1.4% in subjects with normal levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 3.3% in those with slightly elevated and 5.9% in those with markedly elevated levels of the enzymes. The prevalence of anti-HCV increased with increasing age (P < 0.01), but was not associated with blood transfusion. The present study suggests that the prevalence of HCV infection was 1.4% and that the major routes of HCV transmission may be other than blood transfusion in healthy Korean adults.
Adult ; Aged ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepacivirus/immunology/*isolation & purification ; Hepatitis Antibodies/*blood ; Hepatitis C/*epidemiology/immunology/transmission ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Radioimmunoassay ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo study the status of detection of hepatitis C core antigen in intravenous drug addictions, and discuss the foreground of the hepatitis C core antigen ELISA test system.

METHODSHCV core antigen, HCV RNA quantity, anti HCV-IgG, HBsAg were analysis in all the plasma samples taken from 93 cases of intravenous drug users.

RESULTSThe specialty and sensitivity of HCV core antigen in intravenous drug addictions 100% -54% separately. When HBsAg were positive, the sensitivity of HCV core antigen was 38%, while HBsAg negative, the sensitivity of HCV core antigen was 69% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe detections of HCV core antigen showed high specialty but low sensitivity in intravenous drug addictions. The positive rate has positive relation with HCV RNA virus logarithm quantity. Coinfection with HBV are the interfere factor of HCV core antigen detection. In screening experimentations, the detection of HCV core antigen in plasma may be applied as supplement method for anti-HCV-IgG. It can also be used to monitor viremia in HCV infection.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C ; diagnosis ; virology ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; blood ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Substance Abuse, Intravenous ; virology ; Young Adult

INTRODUCTIONDried blood spot (DBS) collection is an appealing alternative to whole blood or plasma sampling, as it has technical and economic advantages over the latter.

MATERIALS AND METHODSA prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at a Malaysian tertiary referral hospital from November 2009 to March 2010. One hundred and fifty paired specimens of DBS and plasma were analysed by the standard assays for HIV Ag/Ab, HBsAg, anti-HBS and anti-HCV, separately (total 600 paired specimens). DBS sample titres were then compared to the results of plasma testing, which was used as the gold standard.

RESULTSFor the HIV Ag/Ab assay with a cut-off point of 0.35 Relative Light Units (RLUs), the sensitivity and specificity were both 100%. For the HBsAg assay, the sensitivity was 96.5% and the specificity was 97.8%, with a cut-off point of 1.72 RLUs. Sensitivity for the anti-HBs test was 74.2% and the specificity was 86.9%, using a cut-off point of 0.635 RLUs. For the anti-HCV assay, the sensitivity was 97.3% and the specificity was 100%, with a cut-off point of 0.10 RLUs.

CONCLUSIONDBS is an ideal choice to be used as a screening tool for the detection of HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus infections. However, different cut-off values need to be used for the validation of test positivity in DBS samples because the small amount of blood in the DBS specimens leads to lower assay titres.

Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dried Blood Spot Testing ; HIV Antibodies ; blood ; immunology ; HIV Antigens ; blood ; immunology ; HIV Infections ; diagnosis ; Hepacivirus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis B ; diagnosis ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis C ; diagnosis ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; blood ; immunology ; Humans ; Malaysia ; Plasma ; virology ; Prospective Studies ; Referral and Consultation ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Specimen Handling

OBJECTIVETo investigate the utility of the HCV core antigen ELISA in the detection of HCV infection in hemodialysis patients and to compare with Anti-HCV antibodies 3rd generation ELISA.

METHODSTwo hundred fifty hemodialysis patients were included in the study. Anti-HCV antibodies and total HCVcAg was determined by ELISA kits. HCV RNA was determined using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSForty-three out of 250 (17.2%) patients were positive for anti-HCV antibodies and 18% were positive for HCVcAg. 13/250 (5.2%) were positive for HCVcAg but anti-HCV negative, All 13 were confirmed viremic by in-house nested RT-PCR leading to specificity of 100%. Viral load of (49258 +/- 28682) copies/ml were detected in HCVcAg positive cases was higher in comparison to (23938 +/- 10780) copies/ml in the anti-HCV positive group (P < 0.05). The viral load of 4 negative cases for HCVcAg assay but anti-HCV positive was 306 +/- 161 copies/ml which was significantly lower in comparison to HCVcAg positive group (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONDetection of total HCVcAg together with anti-HCV will be useful for patients undergoing hemodialysis who have a longer window period due to immunosuppressed state. HCVcAg was compatible for the HCV RNA in serum and total HCVcAg ELISA is both a cost-effective and a less labor-intensive alternative to PCR, enhancing its clinical utility.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C ; blood ; diagnosis ; virology ; Hepatitis C Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Dialysis ; adverse effects ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

In order to identify the risk factors for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, a case-control study was conducted from September 1993 to April 1994. HCV infection was confirmed by the second generation of recombinant immunoblot assay. Sixty-four cases and 128 controls matched for age and sex with a 1:2 ratio of cases to controls were enrolled. Exposure data were obtained from all participants by self-administered questionnaire and the odds ratios of possible risk factors of HCV infection analysed. Sixty-four cases consisted of forty-two patients with chronic hepatitis, nine with cirrhosis, one with hepatocellular carcinoma, and twelve with normal liver function. History of acute hepatitis (OR 3.9) and transfusion (OR 2.4) were associated with an increased risk of HCV infection. Operation, acupuncture, endoscopy, tooth extraction, tattooing, ear piercing, needle sharing and family history of hepatitis were not associated with an increased risk of HCV infection. In conclusion, transfusion remains the major route of transmission of HCV in Korea.
Adult ; Base Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA, Viral/analysis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepacivirus/genetics/immunology/isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C/*epidemiology/immunology/virology ; Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Risk Factors ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't