BACKGROUND: To investigate the musculoskeletal manifestations and factors aggravating hepatic enzyme in patients with hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viral infection. METHODS: Eighty seven patients with HBV (72 patients) and HCV (15 patients) infection complaining of musculoskeletal symptoms were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: Extrahepatic manifestations of patients with hepatitis viral infection were arthralgia/ arthritis (77%/72%), dermatologic manifestations(16%), neurologic manifestations (11%), and constitutional symptoms (6%). The kinds and the incidence of extrahepatic symptoms were not different between two viral infections. The rheumatologic diagnosis of patients with hepatitis viral infection were RA (41%), fibromyalgia (13%), Sj gren's syndrome (7%), SLE (5%), sacroiliitis (5%), Behcet's disease (5%), carpal tunnel syndrome (3%), and unclassified arthritis (32%). The diagnosis were not different between the two groups. There was no association of the hepatitis viral infection with any specific rheumatic disease. The patterns of arthritis were polyarthritic (79%), oligoarthritic (16%), and monoarthritic (5%) and the involvement sites were peripheral (89%), root (38%), and axial(29%). The involvement of root joint in patients with HBV (41%) infection was more frequent than HCV (22%) infection (p<0.05). The involvement of axial and peripheral joint was not different between the two groups. The prevalence of rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibody were 48% and 21% in patients with hepatitis viral infection respectively. Patients taking steroid, hydroxychloroquine, bucillamine, or combined disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) tended to have aggravated hepatic enzyme level (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The patients with hepatitis viral infection showed various musculoskeletal manifestations without relation to any specific rheumatic disease. The patients with HBV infection had more involvement in root joint than HCV infection. The steroid, hydroxychloroquine, bucillamine, or combined DMARDs were related to aggravated hepatic enzyme.
Antirheumatic Agents ; Arthritis ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ; Diagnosis ; Fibromyalgia ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatovirus ; Humans ; Hydroxychloroquine ; Incidence ; Joints ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Sacroiliitis

Background and Objectives: Municipal solid waste workers (MSWWs) are important in the city’s waste management. With these vital contributions, they face unique occupational hazards and health risks. This study aims to determine the prevalence of occupational infections, such as soil-transmitted helminth infections (STHI) and hepatitis A virus (HAV), as well as the occurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection among the MSWWs of Baguio City. Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study collected data from volunteer MSWWs using a questionnaire to gather information on age, duration of employment, use of gloves in the workplace, and hand hygiene practices. Stool samples were obtained from participants and were analyzed for STHI using the Formalin Ether Concentration Technique (FECT). H. pylori infection was detected using the SD Bioline rapid antigen test kit on stool samples while blood samples were collected and tested for HAV antibodies using the Aria IgG/IgM rapid test kit. Results: Of the 44 volunteer MSWWs tested, 25 were infected with hazardous pathogens. Specifically, six workers (13.6%) were infected with STHI, four (9.1%) were infected with HAV and 15 (34.1%) were infected with H. pylori. Among those infected with STHI, Ascaris lumbricoides and Endolimax nana were the predominant species, each with a prevalence rate of 33.3%. In contrast, Blastocystis hominis and hookworm infections each had a prevalence rate of 16.7%. A significant association was found between STHI prevalence and the preference for alcohol hand rubs over hand washing, with a p-value of 0.008. Conclusion The analysis revealed a significant associat ion between the prevalence of STHI and the preference for alcohol hand rubs over hand washing, suggesting that MSWWs may have a false sense of security regarding their hygiene practices. The findings revealed the critical importance of proper hand washing in preventing STHI. Future research should expand data collection to encompass a broader range of socio-demographic, environmental, and lifestyle factors that may influence infection rates. Additionally, including a control group of individuals not exposed to waste management could help differentiate between factors specific to waste handling and those related to other occupations. This study emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts among researchers, public health authorities, and waste management agencies to enhance the health and safety of MSWWs while addressing broader public health concerns related to waste management practices.
Human ; Hepatitis A virus (HAV) ; Helicobacter pylori

No abstract available.
Adult ; Hepatitis A virus ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Immunization ; Influenza, Human ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Tetanus ; Vaccination

No abstract available.
Hepatitis A/prevention & control ; Hepatitis A Antibodies/*blood ; Hepatitis A Virus, Human/*immunology ; Humans ; Korea ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

No abstract available.
Hepatitis A/prevention & control ; Hepatitis A Antibodies/*blood ; Hepatitis A Virus, Human/*immunology ; Humans ; Korea ; Seroepidemiologic Studies

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

Infection-induced acute hepatitis complicated with acute pancreatitis is associated with hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus or hepatitis E virus. Although rare, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection should be considered also in the differential diagnosis if the patient has acute hepatitis combined with pancreatitis. We report a case of EBV infection with cholestatic hepatitis and pancreatitis with review of literature. An 11-year-old female was admitted due to 1-day history of abdominal pain and vomiting without any clinical symptoms of infectious mononucleosis. Diagnosis of reactivated EBV infection was made by the positive result of viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgM, VCA IgG, Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen and heterophile antibody test. We performed serologic tests and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to exclude other viral or bacterial infection, autoimmune disorder, and structural problems. The patient's symptoms recovered rapidly and blood chemistry returned to normal with conservative treatment similar to previously reported cases.
Abdominal Pain ; Bacterial Infections ; Capsid ; Cholangiopancreatography, Magnetic Resonance ; Cholestasis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Hepatitis ; Hepatitis A virus ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis E virus ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; Pancreatitis ; Serologic Tests ; Vomiting

PURPOSE: Assessing the immunogenicity of a single dose of hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccines is important because some people receive only a single dose. However, previous studies have shown variable results and have not examined the effects of demographic characteristics other than gender. This study was performed to examine the immunogenicity of a single dose of HAV vaccine according to the vaccine type and demographic characteristics in young adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seronegative medical school students were randomly allocated to receive either Havrix or Epaxal. RESULTS: After approximately 11 months, the seroconversion rate in 451 participants was 80.7%. In men, the Havrix group showed a significantly higher seroconversion rate (81.9%) than the Epaxal group (69.2%), whereas both vaccine groups showed similarly high immunogenicity in women (Havrix: 90.1%, Epaxal: 92.9%; P for interaction=0.062). According to the results of a multivariate analysis, Epaxal showed significantly lower immunogenicity than Havrix only in men. Age, obesity, drinking, smoking, and follow-up time did not significantly affect seroconversion in either gender. CONCLUSION: The seroconversion rate of single-dose HAV vaccines was low in men, particularly in those who received Epaxal. Our results suggest that gender effects should be considered when comparing the immunogenicity of different HAV vaccines.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis A/*immunology/*prevention & control ; Hepatitis A Vaccines ; Hepatitis A Virus, Human/*immunology/*pathogenicity ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) is a major public health concern in the Philippines where one out of eight Filipinos is infected with the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Studies in the US among family physicians and in Canada among family medicine trainees have found that there were knowledge gaps with regards to CHB.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the knowledge on prevention, detection, and management of Chronic Hepatitis B among family medicine residents in Metro Cebu.
METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire focused on Hepatitis B vaccination, screening of at-risk patients, diagnostic testing, recognizing and managing patients with CHB and cirrhosis. The tool was adopted from a nationwide survey of Canadian family medicine trainees on hepatitis B. This was distributed to all family medicine residents of accredited training hospitals in Cebu.
RESULTS: Thirty-nine family medicine residents in total were able to participate in the survey. On routine vaccination for hepatitis B, 69% respondents recommended it to their patients. However, only 5% were able to correctly identify the recommended screening tests for Hepatitis B status and 36% of respondents used ALT/AST as an initial screening test for HBV. In correctly interpreting serologic patterns of HBV, 72% to 87% were able to answer correctly but only 8% were able to identify CHB patients who are at risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
CONCLUSION: Results show that family medicine residents of Cebu need a review and an update in their knowledge on vaccination, use of appropriate screening tests, identifying risk factors for hepatitis B and recognizing those at risk for cirrhosis. Improvements in this area could help the trainees in decreasing risk of transmission for HBV; assist patients in receiving appropriate counsel, medical service and proper monitoring and assessment for treatment.

Human ; Hepatitis B Virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Family Practice ; Liver Neoplasms ; Hepatitis B ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Vaccination

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between pre-core G1896A point mutation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and safety of breast feeding.

METHODSSerum and breast milk samples were collected from 62 pregnant women of HBV DNA positive/HBeAg negative. PCR-solid phase hybridization was used to detect the point mutation in pre-core region G1896A of HBV from pregnant women, and HBV DNA loads in sera and breast milk were determined by fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR).

RESULTSThe prevalence of point mutation was 61.3% (38/62) in 62 pregnant women with HBsAg positive/HBeAg negative. The positive rate of HBV DNA in breast milk of group with point mutation (28.9%) was similar to that of group without mutation (29.2%, chi2=0.0003, P>0.05). However, The positive rate of HBV DNA in breast milk of group with high HBV loads (56.0%) was significantly higher than that of group with low HBV loads (10.8%, chi2=14.79, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe point mutation in pre-core region G1896A of HBV dose not affect the positive rate of HBV DNA in breast milk and higher HBV DNA loads in serum of pregnant women might increase the risk of mother-infant transmission.

Breast Feeding ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; transmission ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Milk, Human ; virology ; Point Mutation ; Pregnancy