OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of hepatitis virus B on the detection rate of core antigen of hepatitis virus C in sera of chronic hepatitis C patients.

METHODHCVcAg and HCV RNA in sera were detected in 88 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 62 patients co-infected with HCV and HBV. At the same time, HBV DNA and HBeAg in sera were detected in 62 patients infected with HCV and HBV. Then we analyzed the correlation between HCVcAg and HBeAg/HBV DNA. The detection rates of HCVcAg in 88 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 62 patients co-infected with HCV and HBV were 72.7% (64/88) and 38.7% (24/62), respectively (x2 = 17.358, P less than 0.01).

RESULTSThe detection rates of HCV RNA in 88 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 62 patients co-infected with HCV and HBV was 81.8% (72/88) and 53.2% (33/62)respectively (x2=20.110, P less than 0.01). In 62 patients infected with HCV and HBV, the detection rate of HCVcAg in HBeAg positive patients and HBeAg negative patients were 28.6% (12/42) and 60% (12/20), respectively (x2 = 7.547, P = 0.011). Moreover, the positive rates of HBV DNA in HBeAg positive patients and HBeAg negative patients were 42.9% (18/42) and 80% (16/20), respectively (P more than 0.05). The detection rates of HCVcAg in HBV DNA positive patients and HBV DNA negative patients were 39.1% (18/46) and 37.5% (6/16), respectively (x2 = 0.013, P = 0.908). Compared with the detection rates of HCVcAg in patients only infected with HCV, the detection rate of HCVcAg in HBeAg or HBV DNA negative patients infected with HCV and HBV were 60% (12/20) (x2 = 1.266, P = 0.261) and 37.5% (6/16) (x2 =7.635, P less than 0.01), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe detection rate of HCVcAg in patients infected with HCV and HBV is relatively low. The reason is possibly that HBeAg inhibits duplication of HCV and decreases the expression of HCVcAg.

Coinfection ; immunology ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; Hepacivirus ; immunology ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; virology ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis C Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; immunology ; virology ; Humans

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; complications ; virology ; Glycomics ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; complications ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; complications ; virology ; Neoplasm Staging

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relationship between serum HBsAg concentration and HBV replication level in hepatitis B patients with positive serum HBsAg and HBeAg, and to explore the possibility of using serum HBsAg concentration as a marker of HBV replication level in hepatitis B patients with positive serum HBeAg. METHODS: HBV DNA level and serum HBeAg, HBsAg concentration of 296 patients with positive serum HBsAg and HBeAg were quantitatively detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) and time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRIFA) respectively. HBsAg concentrations were compared among patients with different HBV DNA levels, and HBV DNA levels were compared among patients with different HBsAg concentrations. The correlation between serum HBsAg concentration and DNA replication level were analyzed. The positive, negative predictive values and coincidence rates were speculated by various HBsAg concentrations. RESULTS: If HBV DNA positive was defined as HBV DNA levels no less than 10(5) copy/mL, then 228(77.03%) patients were classified as HBV DNA positive. HBsAg concentration was positively correlated with HBV DNA replication level, but among groups with various DNA replication levels, HBsAg concentration showed no significant statistical difference (P>0.05). If the patients were divided into 2 groups, HBsAg concentration (180 microg/L) was served as the cutoff level, the DNA positive rate of the group with HBsAg concentration no less than 180 microg/L was significantly higher than that with HBsAg concentration less than 180 microg/L (chi(2)=3.998, P<0.05). DNA positive rates and average DNA levels showed no significant statistical differences between the 2 groups, if HBsAg concentrations other than 180 microg/L were used as the cutoff level. Positive predictive values, negative predictive values and the coincidence rates speculated by various HBsAg concentrations as cutoff values did not show any significant statistical difference in estimating HBV replication levels. CONCLUSION To some extent, serum HBsAg concentration is related to HBV DNA replication level in hepatitis B patients with positive serum HBsAg and HBeAg, but it is not feasible to use HBsAg concentration to monitor their HBV replication levels.
DNA, Viral ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; virology ; Humans ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo investigate genotypes of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of HBeAg negative patients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis.

METHODSHBV serological markers and ALT levels were detected in 62 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 41 cases with liver cirrhosis, using enzyme linked absorbent immunoassays and an enzyme method, respectively. A polymerase chain reaction of S region was used for HBV genotyping.

RESULTSOf the 62 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 21 (33.9%) were HBeAg negative, and 41 (66.1%) HBeAg positive. Among 41 cases with liver cirrhosis, 28 (68.3%) were HBeAg negative, and 13 (31.7%) HBeAg positive. Of these 62 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 53 (85.5%) were infected with HBV genotype C, and 9 (14.5%) with genotype B. Thirty-nine (95.1%) of the 41 patients with liver cirrhosis were infected with genotype C, and 2 (4.9%) with genotype B. The proportion of HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B patients with ALT level > 40 U/L was lower than that of the HBeAg positive group (47.6% and 85.4%, respectively) (P < 0.01). The percentage of ALT levels > 40 U/L of the negative patients with liver cirrhosis was also lower as compared to that of the HBeAg positive patients, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups, because of the small sample size (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe proportion of HBeAg negative patients is high in the group of chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis. These patients have relatively low ALT levels, and mainly have HBV genotype C infection.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; complications ; virology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; etiology ; virology ; Male

OBJECTIVETo detect humoral immune response against different function regions of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in chronic patients, and further to investigate the correlativity between anti-HCV antibody titers and HCV RNA concentration.

METHODSUsing recombinant dominate epitope antigens, e.g. HCV Core, NS3, NS4, NS5 and chimeric HVR1, a set of ELISA test reagents was formulated. Then, titers of antibodies against HCV different regions and the RNA concentration of HCV in chronic patient sera were detected by ELISA and quantitative RT-PCR technique, respectively.

RESULTSGreat differences have been noted in antibody titers and positive rate of different HCV function regions in chronic patients. Antibodies against HCV Core and HVR1 have the highest positive rate, then NS3, NS4, and NS5 in sequence.

CONCLUSIONThe titer of antibodies against different regions of HCV in chronic patients has good correlation with HCV RNA concentration.

Hepatitis C Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; RNA, Viral ; blood

China ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; virology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Serotyping

OBJECTIVETo investigate the discrepancy of HBsAg titre and correlation of HBV DNA levels among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), HBV-related liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSHBsAg titre and HBV DNA in serum samples were measured among 47 CHB, 72 LC and 54 HCC cases using Abbott chemiluminescence and fluorescence quantitative PCR, respectively. Statistical analyses among multiple groups, between two groups and about the correlation were performed using Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman test, respectively.

RESULTSThe median HBsAg titre level in serum samples decreased from 2361.10 IU/ml in CHB cohort to 1001.64 IU/ml in LC cohort and 594.35 IU/ml in HCC cohort, suggesting a statistically significant difference (x2 = 24.394, P less than 0.05). Moreover, HBsAg titre in CHB group was significantly higher than that in LC group ( Z = -3.754, P less than 0.05). CHB patients had significantly higher HBsAg titre than HCC cases ( Z = -4.630, P less than 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference in HBsAg titre between LC and HCC group. Among HBeAg positive patients, HBsAg titre decreased from 3259.83 IU/ml in CHB group to 1077.30 IU/ml in LC group and 789.72 IU/ml in HCC group, indicating a significant difference (x2 = 15.643, P less than 0.01). Among HBeAg negative patients, HBsAg titre declined from 1669.00 IU/ml in CHB group to 1001.64 IU/ml in LC group and 582.05 IU/ml in HCC group, suggesting of a significant difference (x2 = 6.423, P less than 0.05). Positive correlation between HBsAg titre and HBV DNA was found in CHB ( r = 0.297, P less than 0.05), LC (r = 0.346, P less than 0.05) and HCC (r = 0.452, P less than 0.05), respectively.

CONCLUSIONHBsAg titre level in serum decreased progressively from CHB to LC and HCC group. There were positive correlations between HBsAg titre and HBV DNA level in CHB, LC and HCC.

Adult ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; virology ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged

Four hundreds and ninety sheep sera from seven breeds raised at eight counties and one city of Aksu region in Xinjiang were tested by ELISA for the presence of antibodies against hepatitis E virus (HEV), and the positive rate differences were compared based on administrative areas, breeds and age by Chi-square test. The result showed that the general positive rate was 28.98% (142/490), the positive rate were 35.44% (28/79), 29.67% (27/91), 20% (4/20), 40% (12/30), 32.5% (26/80), 38% (19/50), 22.5% (9/40), 8% (4/50) and 26% (13/50) respectively in eight counties and one city, there was a significant difference between Xayar and other administrative areas (P<0.01); there was also a significant difference among age ranges (P<0.01), being 38.75% (31/80) over 2 years old, 15.45% (17/110) below 1 year old; The seroprevalence was still related to breeds, i. e. there was a significant difference between Mongolia sheep and other breeds (P<0.01). From these data, it is confirmed that there is a possibility of previous and potential infection of sheep HEV in Aksu region of Xinjiang Autonomous.
Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; China ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis E ; epidemiology ; transmission ; veterinary ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; physiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Sheep ; blood ; virology ; Sheep Diseases ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology

Adult ; Carrier State ; blood ; immunology ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; blood ; virology

OBJECTIVETo study the simple infection and super/co-infection of HAV-HEV, HGV in patients with viral hepatitis.

METHODSUsing EIA method to detect anti-HAV IgM, HBV serum markers, anti-HCV IgM, anti-HDV IgM, anti-HEV IgM, anti-HGV IgM in viral hepatitis patients with different clinical types.

RESULTSSeventy-three percent patients (154/210) had HBV infection markers, twenty-nine percent patients (61/210) had HAV infection marker, eight percent patients (17/210) had HCV, HDV infection markers, ten percent patients (21/210) had HEV infection and seven percent patients (15/210) had HGV infection. Only nine percent patients (20/210) had viral hepatitis serum markers negative. In all clinical types, sixty-one percent patients had only one type hepatitis virus infection, thirty-two percent patients had two types of hepatitis virus super/co-infection, six percent patients had three types of hepatitis virus super/co-infection. Super/co-infection often occurred in patients who had cirrhosis or hepatic failure.

CONCLUSIONHBV and HAV infection is very common in viral hepatitis patients, whereas HCV, HDV, HEV and HGV infection is relatively low; double super/co-infection of HAV-HEV, HGV frequently occurs in severe patients with viral hepatitis.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; GB virus C ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis A ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis A virus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis E ; epidemiology ; virology ; Hepatitis E virus ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis Viruses ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Superinfection