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The quantification of hepatitis B virus(HBV) core antibody (anti-HBc) is related to host immunity and can be detected in the serum of patients with current or past infections. The antibody against core antigen of HBV plays an important role in the inflammation pathogenesis of liver,evaluation of epidemiology history and of treatment strategy. Chronic HBV infection is closely related to active transcription and persistence of covalently closed circular DNA(cccDNA) in the liver. The result of quantitative anti-HBc antibody examination shows a good correlation with cccDNA level so it is a potential index for comprehensive evaluation of HBV infectious diseases.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious neoplastic disease with increasing incidence and mortality, accounting for 90% of all liver cancers. Hepatitis viruses are the major causative agents in the development of HCC. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) primarily causes acute infections, which is associated with HCC to a certain extent, as shown by clinicopathological studies. Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections lead to persistent liver inflammation and cirrhosis, disrupt multiple pathways associated with cellular apoptosis and proliferation, and are the most common viral precursors of HCC. Mutations in the HBV X protein (HBx) gene are closely associated with the incidence of HCC, while the expression of HCV core proteins contributes to hepatocellular lipid accumulation, thereby promoting tumorigenesis. In the clinical setting, hepatitis D virus (HDV) frequently co-infects with HBV, increasing the risk of chronic hepatitis. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) usually causes acute infections. However, chronic infections of HEV have been increasing recently, particularly in immuno-compromised patients and organ transplant recipients, which may increase the risk of progression to cirrhosis and the occurrence of HCC. Early detection, effective intervention and vaccination against these viruses may significantly reduce the incidence of liver cancer, while mechanistic insights into the interplay between hepatitis viruses and HCC may facilitate the development of more effective intervention strategies. This article provides a comprehensive overview of hepatitis viruses and reviews recent advances in research on aberrant hepatic immune responses and the pathogenesis of HCC due to viral infection.

Objective: To explore the role of transient elastography technology in the assessment of disease staging and treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Methods: Patients who were clinically diagnosed with chronic HBV infection at Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 was collected. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) examination was performed more than once by transient elastography. The count data were expressed as cases (%) and the χ (2) test was made. Fisher's exact test was used with theoretical frequency less than 5. The measurement data between two groups was compared by t-test. Multiple groups were compared with an analysis of variance. Results: 1 055 patients were included in this study, including 669 (63.4%) males and 386 (36.6%) females. 757 (71.8%) patients were untreated. Among the untreated patients, the LSM value in the immune clearance (10.2 ± 3.8) kPa (187 cases, 40.4%), and the reactivation stages (9.1 ± 3.4) kPa (114 cases, 24.6%) was significantly higher than that in the immune tolerance (8.7 ± 3.6) kPa (78 cases, 16.8%) and immune control stages (8.4 ± 3.5) KPa (84 cases, 18.1%), and the difference between the four groups was statistically significant ( F = 5.31 and P = 0.03). With ALT (male: 30 U/L, female: 19 U/L) as defined the normal value, the LSM value in the immune tolerance and the immune control stages were (5.8 ± 0.9) kPa and (7.1 ± 2.5) kPa, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of patients in the immune tolerance and immune control stages, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.01). There were 294 (38.8%) patients with uncertain period, excluding patients with fatty liver. Patients with uncertain periods were divided into four gray zone (GZ) groups: immune tolerance stage: LSM (5.1 ± 1.3) kPa was significantly lower than GZ-A (6.5 ± 2.4) kPa, t = 2.06, P = 0.03, and the difference was statistically significant; immune control stage: LSM was (5.6 ± 1.5) kPa, which was also lower than GZ-C (6.8 ± 1.3) kPa, t = 3.08, P = 0.02, and the difference was statistically significant; immune clearance stage: LSM > 8.0 kPa. LSM values showed a year-by-year reduction in patients with expanded indications who started antiviral treatment and were followed up for three years. Conclusion: The LSM value is significantly lower after the decrease of the defined high-normal ALT value in patients with the immune tolerance and immune control stages of chronic HBV infection. The LSM values of GZ-A and GZ-C in the uncertain periods of chronic HBV infection are higher than those of patients in the immune tolerance and immune control stages.

Objective To discuss the association of allele polymorphisms SNP-rs1799724 （C＞T） in the TNF-α and SNP-rs11559013（G＞A） in the ALCAM with HCV chronic infection in Han population in Yunnan province. Methods 434 HCV chronic infectious patients and 444 healthy individuals of Han Chinese population in Yunnan province were recruited. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms （SNPs） in the SNP-rs1799724（C＞T） of TNF-α gene and SNP-rs11559013（G＞A）of ALCAM gene were determined by real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction. We evaluated the associations of the two SNPs with HCV chronic infection. Results The distributions of allele and genotype of SNP-rs1799724（C＞T） in the TNF-α and SNP-rs11559013（G＞A）in the ALCAM between hepatitis C virus （HCV） chronic infectious patients and the healthy controls were not statistically significant （P > 0.05）. Conclusion SNP-rs1799724（C＞T） in the TNF-α and SNP-rs11559013（G＞A） in the ALCAM have no association with HCV chronic infection in the Han population in Yunnan province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the association between SNP-1082G/A (rs1800896), -819C/T (rs1800871), -592C/A (rs1800872) polymorphisms in the IL-10 promoter region and HCV chronic infection in Han nationality in Yunnan province. Methods 379 HCV chronic infectious patients and 364 healthy individuals of Han nationality in Yunnan province were recruited. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-10 promoter region, -1082G/A (rs1800896), -819C/T (rs1800871) and -592C/A (rs1800872) were determined by real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction. The haplotypes were constructed and the association between these three SNPs and haplotypes and HCV chronic infection were analyzed. Results The frequencies of SNPs -1082G/A (rs1800896), -819C/T (rs1800871), -592C/A (rs1800872) in the IL-10 promoter region between hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infectious patients and the healthy controls were not statistically significant (> 0.05) at both allele and genotypes levels. The frequencies of haplotypes constructed by SNP-1082G/A (rs1800896), -819C/T (rs1800871) and -592C/A (rs1800872) also showed no significant difference (> 0.05). Conclusion SNPs -1082G/A (rs1800896), -819C/T (rs1800871), -592C/A (rs1800872) in the IL-10 promoter region were not associated with HCV chronic infection in the Han nationality in Yunnan province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection usually causes acute hepatitis and has a self-limiting progression. The patients often recover within 6 months with good prognosis. Recent studies have found that HEV infection may become chronic in special situations, which manifests as persistent liver function abnormalities for at least 6 months after acute HEV infection and the presence of viral nucleic acid in serum, feces, and/or liver tissue. Chronicity of HEV infection mainly occurs in immunocompromised patients, and it is rare but very dangerous in clinical practice. An understanding of the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, treatment methods, and preventive measures of chronicity of HEV infection helps clinical physicians develop an effective management regimen and improve patient prognosis. This article introduces related issues, in order to raise the awareness of this disease among clinical physicians.