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Abstract Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health challenge in Nigeria, with high prevalence rates among pregnant women. The prevalence of overt and occult hepatitis B infection (HBIOV and HBIOC) among pregnant women was investigated to understand the burden and associated risk factors in this population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 pregnant women. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected, and blood samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and real time Polymerase Chain Reaction max Eco 48 system. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software (v6) and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS 23.0). A significance level of P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The overall prevalence of hepatitis B infection was 6.0% (12/200), comprising 2.5% HBIOC and 3.5% HBIOV. The participants, aged 19 to 43 years, were predominantly married (89.5%) and urban-dwelling (69.0%), with diverse educational levels and occupations. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic factors such as age, marital status, or education between HBIOC and HBIOV groups. However, significant associations were observed between HBV infection and risk factors including blood transfusion (p = 0.01), cigarette exposure (p = 0.03), and alcohol consumption (p = 0.01). Viral load was significantly higher in the HBIov group [4.84 log IU/mL (IQR: 4.00–9.14)] compared to the HBIoc group [2.30 log IU/mL (IQR: 2.19–3.00)] (p = 0.001). Conclusion The findings reveal a 6.0% prevalence of hepatitis B infection among pregnant women, with 3.5% overt and 2.5% occult infections. The results emphasize the need for HBV DNA testing in screening protocols to detect occult and overt HB infections and address key risk factors to improve antenatal care and prevention strategies.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health challenge in Nigeria, with high prevalence rates among pregnant women. The prevalence of overt and occult hepatitis B infection (HBIOV and HBIOC) among pregnant women was investigated to understand the burden and associated risk factors in this population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 pregnant women. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected, and blood samples were screened for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA) using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and real time Polymerase Chain Reaction max Eco 48 system. Data were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software (v6) and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS 23.0). A significance level of P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The overall prevalence of hepatitis B infection was 6.0% (12/200), comprising 2.5% HBIOC and 3.5% HBIOV. The participants, aged 19 to 43 years, were predominantly married (89.5%) and urban-dwelling (69.0%), with diverse educational levels and occupations. There were no statistically significant differences in demographic factors such as age, marital status, or education between HBIOC and HBIOV groups. However, significant associations were observed between HBV infection and risk factors including blood transfusion (p = 0.01), cigarette exposure (p = 0.03), and alcohol consumption (p = 0.01). Viral load was significantly higher in the HBIov group [4.84 log IU/mL (IQR: 4.00–9.14)] compared to the HBIoc group [2.30 log IU/mL (IQR: 2.19–3.00)] (p = 0.001). Conclusion: The findings reveal a 6.0% prevalence of hepatitis B infection among pregnant women, with 3.5% overt and 2.5% occult infections. The results emphasize the need for HBV DNA testing in screening protocols to detect occult and overt HB infections and address key risk factors to improve antenatal care and prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It is not known exactly how COVID-19 and common viral hepatitis HBV and HCV infections affect each other's course. The effects of drugs used in the treatment of COVID-19 patients on the liver and the risk of acute hepatic exacerbation in patients with Hepatitis B infection are another issue that needs to be investigated. All these reasons require investigation of the relationship between COVID-19 and HBV and HCV infections. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C infections in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and to evaluate the clinical characteristics of the patients. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional prevalence study. The study included 1026 patients over the age of 18 who applied to the COVID-19 outpatient clinic of the university hospital between January 1 and June 30, 2021 and whose PCR test was found to be positive. Participants were verbally informed about the content of the study and their written consent was obtained. The personal information form was applied by the researcher through face-to-face interviews. Venous blood samples were taken by COVID outpatient clinic nurses and Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Anti HBs, Hepatitis B core antibody (Anti-HBc IgG), Anti HCV, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin and hemogram values were studied. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the IBM SPSS 20 package program. Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for comparisons between groups. Statistical significance was accepted as p<0.05. Results: The average age of the participants was 45.11±16.12, 53.6% (n=550) were female, 30.0% (n=308) were high school graduates, and 25.7% (n=264) were housewives. The most common clinical complaints in patients were cough 39.9%, fatigue 34.3% and fever 26.1%. 55.4% of the participants had no known chronic disease. The most common chronic disease was hypertension 19.3%. In patients with positive PCR tests, seropositivity rates for HBsAg, anti-HCV, anti-HBs and Anti-HBc IgG were found as 1.4% (n=14/1026), 0.5% (n=5/1026), 48.5% (n=498/1026), 18.2% (n=187/1026), respectively. When the hepatitis serology results of the patients were compared according to gender, Anti-HBs negativity was found to be higher in women than in men (p=0.034). Conclusion: The seropositivity rates of HBV and HCV in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were found to be lower than those in the general population when compared to seroprevalence studies conducted in our country and region. Based on these data, chronic viral hepatitis may not be considered a primary risk factor for COVID-19. However, more detailed new studies are needed to definitively prove this idea and show the interaction between COVID-19 and viral hepatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal disturbances of the periodic solution of the hepatitis B dynamics model corresponding to the chronic recurrent form of the disease are found. The dependence of the optimal disturbance on the phase of periodic solution is analyzed. Four phases of the solution are considered, they correspond to clinically different periods of development of the immune response and severity of the disease, namely, activation of antiviral immune reactions, attenuation of reactions, peak and minimum viral load. The possibility of using optimal disturbances to exit the domain of attraction of the considered periodic solution using minimal impact is studied. The components of disturbances that may underlie the phenomenon of spontaneous recovery from chronic hepatitis B observed in clinical practice are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major public health burden. The mechanisms of immune evasion during chronic HBV (CHB) infection are poorly understood. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G, an immune checkpoint molecule, plays a crucial role in the tolerance mechanisms of various infectious diseases. The 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), including the HLA-G + 3142 C > G polymorphism (rs1063320) and the 14-pb Ins/Del (rs66554220) has been strongly suggested to influence HLA-G expression. This study conducted a case-control analysis to evaluate the potential correlation between the HLA-G + 3142 C > G polymorphism and HBV infection outcome in a Tunisian cohort. The HLA-G + 3142 C > G polymorphism was analysed by PCR-RFLP in 242 patients with chronic HBV infection (116 males and 126 females), 241 healthy controls (116 males and 125 females), and 100 spontaneously resolved subjects (52 males and 48 females). Patients with chronic HBV infection showed a higher frequency of the + 3142G allele compared to healthy controls and spontaneously resolved subjects (p = 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). An association between the + 3142G allele and high HBV DNA levels was observed when HBV patients were stratified based on their HBV DNA levels (p = 0.016). Furthermore, the dominant model (GG + GC vs CC) was associated with liver function parameters, including AST, ALT, and high HBV DNA levels (p = 0.04, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). However, there was no significant association found between this polymorphism and the fibrosis stage (p = 0.32). The haplotype analysis, using a subset of previously published data on the HLA-G 14-pb Ins/Del polymorphism, revealed an association between the Ins/G haplotype and chronic HBV infection (H1: InsG, p < 0.001). Our findings suggest that the + 3142G allele is a risk factor for the persistence and progression of HBV infection, while the + 3142C allele serves as a protective allele associated with the spontaneous resolution of the infection. Additionally, the HLA-G 3′UTR haplotype Ins/G is associated with chronic HBV infection in the Tunisian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Although hepatitis B infection is highly endemic in Africa, information on its epidemiology among pregnant women in the region is limited. Therefore, this systematic review provided up-to-date information on the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) infection among pregnant women in Africa. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews. The Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and African journals online were searched to identify relevant studies published between January 1, 2015, and May 21, 2024, on hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant women living in Africa. The Joanna Briggs Institute tool was used to assess the methodological qualities of the included studies. The random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of HBV infection. I2 assessed the amount of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using Egger’s test and a funnel plot. Results We included 91 studies from 28 African countries. The pooled prevalence of hepatitis B infection among pregnant women in Africa was 5.89% (95% CI: 5.26–6.51%), with significant heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 97.71%, p

Abstract Objectives Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and is highly prevalent in China. To better understand the epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B in China and develop effective disease control strategies, we employed temporal and spatial statistical methods. Methods We obtained HBV incidence data from the Public Health Science Data Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention for the years 2006 to 2018. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and SaTScan scanning technology, we conducted spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatiotemporal scan analysis to create a map and visualize the distribution of hepatitis B incidence. Results While hepatitis B incidence rebounded in 2011 and 2017, the overall incidence in China decreased.In the trend analysis by item, the incidence varies from high to low. The global spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed a clustered distribution, and the Moran index analysis of spatial autocorrelation within local regions identified five provinces as H-H clusters (hot spots), while one province was an L-L cluster (cold spot). Spatial scan analysis identified 11 significant spatial clusters. Conclusions We found significant clustering in the spatial distribution of hepatitis B incidence and positive spatial correlation of hepatitis B incidence in China. We also identified high-risk times and regional clusters of hepatitis B incidence.

Abstract Background Current research has been inconclusive regarding whether hepatitis B infection is associated with an increased risk of periodontitis. This study aims to test the null hypothesis that no association exists between hepatitis B infection and an increased risk of periodontitis using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009–2014). Methods We performed a cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2009–2014) to assess the rate of the prevalence of periodontitis in patients with and without hepatitis B infection. Participants who had tested for hepatitis B and periodontitis were included. The included participants were divided into no/mild periodontitis and moderate/severe periodontitis groups according to their periodontal status. The association between hepatitis B infection and chronic periodontitis was evaluated by multivariable regression analyses adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education level, income-to-poverty ratio, smoking, alcohol, BMI, ALT, AST, creatinine, hypertension, and diabetes. Results A total of 5957 participants were included and divided into two groups: inactive periodontitis group (n = 3444) and active periodontitis group (n = 2513). The results showed that participants with hepatitis B had a higher risk of periodontitis. After adjusting for covariables, adults with hepatitis B infection were 38% more likely to have periodontitis compared to those without hepatitis B infection (95% Confidence Interval [CI]:1.085–1.754). Conclusions In general, the results suggest that CHB is positively associated with the more severe periodontitis. These results suggest that people with hepatitis B infection should take good periodontal care measures to avoid the occurrence and development of periodontitis.

Background: Although hepatitis B infection is highly endemic in Africa, information on its epidemiology among pregnant women in the region is limited. Therefore, this systematic review provided up-to-date information on the epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) infection among pregnant women in Africa. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews. The Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and African journals online were searched to identify relevant studies published between January 1, 2015, and May 21, 2024, on hepatitis B virus infection in pregnant women living in Africa. The Joanna Briggs Institute tool was used to assess the methodological qualities of the included studies. The random effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of HBV infection. I2 assessed the amount of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's test and a funnel plot. Results: We included 91 studies from 28 African countries. The pooled prevalence of hepatitis B infection among pregnant women in Africa was 5.89% (95% CI: 5.26–6.51%), with significant heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 97.71%, p < 0.001). Family history of hepatitis B virus infection (AOR = 2.72, 95%CI: 1.53–3.9), multiple sexual partners (AOR = 2.17, 95%CI: 1.3–3.04), and sharing sharp materials were risk factors for hepatitis B infection. Conclusion: An intermediate endemic level of hepatitis B virus infection (2–7%) was observed among pregnant women in Africa. To prevent disease transmission, interventions should focus on pregnant women with a family history of hepatitis B infection, multiple sexual partners, and sharing sharp materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and is highly prevalent in China. To better understand the epidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B in China and develop effective disease control strategies, we employed temporal and spatial statistical methods. Methods: We obtained HBV incidence data from the Public Health Science Data Center of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention for the years 2006 to 2018. Using Geographic Information System (GIS) and SaTScan scanning technology, we conducted spatial autocorrelation analysis and spatiotemporal scan analysis to create a map and visualize the distribution of hepatitis B incidence. Results: While hepatitis B incidence rebounded in 2011 and 2017, the overall incidence in China decreased.In the trend analysis by item, the incidence varies from high to low. The global spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed a clustered distribution, and the Moran index analysis of spatial autocorrelation within local regions identified five provinces as H-H clusters (hot spots), while one province was an L-L cluster (cold spot). Spatial scan analysis identified 11 significant spatial clusters. Conclusions: We found significant clustering in the spatial distribution of hepatitis B incidence and positive spatial correlation of hepatitis B incidence in China. We also identified high-risk times and regional clusters of hepatitis B incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) affects 300 million people worldwide and is being targeted by the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), working towards elimination of hepatitis B virus (HBV) as a public health threat. In this piece, we explore the evidence and potential impact of peer support to enhance and promote interventions for people living with CHB. Peer support workers (PSWs) are those with lived experience of an infection, condition or situation who work to provide support for others, aiming to improve education, prevention, treatment and other clinical interventions and to reduce the physical, psychological and social impacts of disease. Peer support has been shown to be a valuable tool for improving health outcomes for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV), but to date has not been widely available for communities affected by HBV. HBV disproportionately affects vulnerable and marginalised populations, who could benefit from PSWs to help them navigate complicated systems and provide advocacy, tackle stigma, improve education and representation, and optimise access to treatment and continuity of care. The scale up of peer support must provide structured and supportive career pathways for PSWs, account for social and cultural needs of different communities, adapt to differing healthcare systems and provide flexibility in approaches to care. Investment in peer support for people living with CHB could increase diagnosis, improve retention in care, and support design and roll out of interventions that can contribute to global elimination goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is devoted to the technology developed by the authors that allows one for fixed values of parameters and tracing by parameters to calculate stationary solutions of systems with delay and analyze their stability. We discuss the results of applying this technology to the Marchuk–Petrov antiviral immune response model with parameter values corresponding to hepatitis B infection. The presence of bistability and hysteresis properties in this model is shown for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current research has been inconclusive regarding whether hepatitis B infection is associated with an increased risk of periodontitis. This study aims to test the null hypothesis that no association exists between hepatitis B infection and an increased risk of periodontitis using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009–2014). Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2009–2014) to assess the rate of the prevalence of periodontitis in patients with and without hepatitis B infection. Participants who had tested for hepatitis B and periodontitis were included. The included participants were divided into no/mild periodontitis and moderate/severe periodontitis groups according to their periodontal status. The association between hepatitis B infection and chronic periodontitis was evaluated by multivariable regression analyses adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, education level, income-to-poverty ratio, smoking, alcohol, BMI, ALT, AST, creatinine, hypertension, and diabetes. Results: A total of 5957 participants were included and divided into two groups: inactive periodontitis group (n = 3444) and active periodontitis group (n = 2513). The results showed that participants with hepatitis B had a higher risk of periodontitis. After adjusting for covariables, adults with hepatitis B infection were 38% more likely to have periodontitis compared to those without hepatitis B infection (95% Confidence Interval [CI]:1.085–1.754). Conclusions: In general, the results suggest that CHB is positively associated with the more severe periodontitis. These results suggest that people with hepatitis B infection should take good periodontal care measures to avoid the occurrence and development of periodontitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Sri Lanka is considered a country of low endemicity, with an HBV infection prevalence estimated at less than 2%. However, there is a high risk of HBV transmission among family members and close contacts of infected patients. Preventing intra-familial transmission is crucial in managing Hepatitis B. This study aimed to evaluate the HBV infection status among family contacts of HBV-infected patients followed up at the National Hospital, Kandy, Sri Lanka. Methods: Laboratory data on serological markers from 148 family contacts of 42 index cases were analyzed. All index cases were followed up at the Department of Virology at the National Hospital, Kandy, after being referred from gastroenterology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD), and medical clinics. Serum samples from the close contact of family members of these index cases were tested for HBV serological markers between March 2017 and February 2021. Results: Out of the 148 family members, 25 (16.89%) showed evidence of exposure to HBV (reactive anti-HBc) at the time of screening. Six family members (4.1%) were positive for HBsAg. Among these, two had evidence of active infection (reactive HBeAg/non-reactive anti-HBe) and four had seroconverted to anti-HBe. Among exposed contacts, 19/25 (12.8%) were non-reactive for HBsAg, indicating past infection, of whom 13/25 (8.7%) were positive for anti-HBs indicating immunity following infection. Among 32 spouses, six (18.75%) showed evidence of exposure to HBV infection. In two index cases, all family members had evidence of HBV infection. Thirty-six (24.3%) family members had taken the HBV vaccine prior to screening. Among them, 26 (17.6%) showed adequate immunity against Hepatitis B (anti-HBs antibody titer > 10 mIU/ml), and all were negative for anti-HBc, indicating immunity following vaccination. Conclusion: The HBV infection rate among family members (16.9%) is significantly higher than in the general population (<2%). Understanding the transmission dynamics of intrafamilial HBV infection is crucial for identifying high-risk family members, guiding targeted vaccination strategies, facilitating early diagnosis and monitoring, and preventing vertical transmission. Effective measures for preventing intrafamilial transmission of HBV include contact screening, vaccinating non-immune family members, providing health education, and counseling family members on transmission risks and preventive behaviors. These interventions play a pivotal role in reducing the spread of HBV within families and mitigating the long-term health consequences of chronic infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections affect approximately 296 million people around the world, and the prevalence of any past or present HBV infection during the years 2015–2018 was as high as 4.3%. Acute HBV infection often presents with nonspecific symptoms and is usually self-limited, but 5% of patients can have persistent infections leading to chronic HBV infection and the risk of turning into chronic HBV infection is significantly higher in babies with vertical transmission (95%). Patients with chronic HBV infection are usually asymptomatic, but 15 to 40% of chronic HBV carriers develop cirrhosis and/or hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition to liver-related disorders, HBV is also associated with several extrahepatic complications, including glomerulonephritis, cryoglobulinemia, neurologic disorders, psychological manifestations, polyarthritis, and dermatologic disorders. Making the diagnosis of HBV can be challenging since patients with chronic infections can remain symptom-free for decades before developing cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, and patients with acute HBV infection may have only mild, nonspecific symptoms. Therefore, understanding how this virus causes extrahepatic complications can help clinicians consider this possibility in patients with diverse symptom presentations. The pathophysiology of these extrahepatic disorders likely involves immune-related tissue injury following immune complex formation and inflammatory cascades. In some cases, direct viral infection of extrahepatic tissue may cause a clinical syndrome. Currently, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases recommends treatment of chronic HBV infections with interferon therapy and/or nucleos(t)ide analogs, and this treatment has been reported to improve some extrahepatic disorders in some patients with chronic HBV infection. These extrahepatic complications have a significant role in disease outcomes and increase medical costs, morbidity, and mortality. Therefore, understanding the frequency and pathogenesis of these extrahepatic complications provides important information for both specialists and nonspecialists and may help clinicians identify patients at an earlier stage of their infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV; RHBV) is a significant concern during immunosuppressive therapy, as it can lead to severe hepatitis and liver failure. The article reports a case of RHBV during treatment with guselkumab, an interleukin-23 inhibitor in a patient with inactive HBV infection and psoriasis. This report highlights the importance of screening for HBV prior to immunosuppressive therapy and initiating prophylactic therapy when necessary to prevent reactivation and its complications.

To study the correlation between quantitative Hepatitis B DNA and HBeAg positivity among HBsAg positive patients in a tertiary care hospital. To detect HBsAg, HBeAg levels by CMIA (Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay). To perform quantitative Hepatitis B virus DNA assay using Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. The study took place between July and December 2022 for 6 months. Sixty four patients were included in the study for whom HBsAg was positive by CMIA and for whom HBeAg (detected by CMIA) and Hepatitis B Virus DNA by quantitative Real Time PCR was performed. Of the 64 HBsAg reactive patients, the ‘e’ antigen of Hepatitis B virus was positive in six patients. In all the six HBeAg positive patients, HBV DNA was detected with a range of 78-10,288 IU/ml with 66% having levels more than 2000 IU/ml and requiring treatment. Among the 58 patients who were negative for the ‘e’ antigen of Hepatitis B virus, the Hepatitis B Viral DNA was detected in 27 patients with a range of 10-1,76,000 IU/ml, with 21% of patients having levels more than 2000 IU/ml. HBeAg is a good serological test to detect viral replication. However, it alone might not be sufficient as quantitative HBV DNA levels are more accurate and it does identify more patients who may require treatment.

Abstract Background Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global health concern, with an increased incidence and risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients chronically infected with HBV are likely to experience chronic oxidative stress, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. Photobiomodulation is induced by the absorption of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with a red or infrared laser by cytochrome C oxidase enzyme, resulting in mitochondrial photoactivation. Although it is widely used in clinical practice, the use of LLL as adjuvant therapy for persistent HBV infection is uncommon. This study aimed to investigate the effect of LLLT dosage from 2 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2 of red diode laser (650 nm) on both hepatoma cell lines (HepG2.2.15 [integrated HBV genome stable cell model] and non-integrated HepG2), with a subsequent impact on HBVsvp production. Methods The present study evaluated the effects of different fluences of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) irradiation on various aspects of hepatoma cell behavior, including morphology, viability, ultrastructure, and its impact on HBVsvp synthesis. Results In response to LLLT irradiation, we observed a considerable reduction in viability, proliferation, and HBVsvp production in both hepatoma cell lines HepG2.2.15 and HepG2. Ultrastructural modification of mitochondria and nuclear membranes: This effect was dose, cell type, and time-dependent. Conclusions The use of LLLT may be a promising therapy for HCC and HBV patients by reducing cell proliferation, HBVsvp production, and altering mitochondrial and nuclear structure involved in cellular death inducers. Further research is required to explore its clinical application.

Introduction: This study evaluated the clinical and analytical performances of the Access HBsAg and the Access HBsAg Confirmatory assays on the DxI 9000 Access Immunoassay Analyzer (Beckman Coulter, Inc.). Materials and methods: Diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of the Access HBsAg and Access HBsAg Confirmatory assays were evaluated by comparing the Access assays to the final HBsAg sample status determined using the Architect, PRISM, or Elecsys HBsAg assays, along with Architect or PRISM HBsAg Confirmatory assays. Imprecision, sensitivity on seroconversion panels, analytical sensitivity on WHO, and recognition of HBV variants were also evaluated. Results: A total of 7534 samples were included in the analysis (6047 blood donors, 1032 hospitalized patients, 455 positive patients’ samples). Access HBsAg assay sensitivity and specificity were at 100.00% (99.19–100.0) and 99.92% (99.82–99.97), respectively. Sensitivity of Access HBsAg Confirmatory assay was 100.00% (99.21–100.0) on the 464 HBsAg positive samples. The use of a high positive algorithm for the Access HBsAg assay, wherein samples with S/CO ≥ 100.00 were considered positive without requiring repeat or confirmatory testing, was successfully evaluated with all 450 specimens with S/CO greater than 100.00 (sensitivity 100.00%; 99.19–100.0). Access HBsAg assay demonstrated good analytical performance, equivalent recognition of seroconversion panels compared to Architect assay, and an analytical sensitivity between 0.022 and 0.025 IU/mL. All HBV genotypes, subtypes and mutants were well detected without analytical sensitivity loss. Conclusion: Access HBsAg and Access HBsAg Confirmatory assays demonstrated robust performances. They provide low samples volume requirements and a simplified process, no systematic retesting for high positive samples.

Introduction: Hepatitis B infection is an occupational disease of professionalshealthcare professionals at the global level. It is estimated that 600,000 to 800,000 healthcare professionals in the world experience an accident at work. The results of evidence-based studies suggest that there is a gap in knowledge about HBV among healthcare professionals. Aim: The aim of this research is to assess knowledge and attitudes about the hepatitis B virus and prevention measures in the population of healthcare professionals employed in tertiary healthcare institutions in Montenegro. Material and Methods: A transversal prospective research („cross-sectional” study) was conducted, where the results were obtained using the original author’s questionnaire. The research was conducted in a tertiary level health institution (Clinical Center of Montenegro). The questionnaire was conducted on a voluntary and anonymous basis. Among the methods of inferential statistics, Pearson’s rank coefficient and ANOVA test were used. Among the statistical methods, the Chi square test (X 2-test) was used. The results are shown in a table. The level of significance is p<0.05. Results: There were 272 health professionals who took part in the research, among whom the largest share in the research was nurses and technicians with a percentage of participation of 76.1%, then doctors 17.3%, laboratory technicians 5.5%. The majority of respondents were female gender 77%, while male respondents participated in the research with 23%. The average age of our respondents was 38.76 years. The results of our research showed a high level of knowledge of professionalshealthcare professionals about the ways of transmission of HBV infection, while a significantly lower level of knowledge of professionalshealthcare professionals about knowing the symptoms of HBV infection and the risk of developing certain diseases caused by this virus is recorded. Of the examined group of health professionals, 81.5% point out that they are often exposed to contact with the patient’s blood in their work, while 52.2% of respondents state that in their previous work they had an accident in which they came into contact with the patient’s blood one or more times. Conclusion: Analyzing the data obtained from the research, one gets the impression of incomplete information, knowledge and interest about the HBV virus among health professionals, especially when it comes to the respondents’ knowledge of the symptoms of this infection, its risk for the occurrence of other diseases and the importance of general and specific prevention. In this regard, as a proposal for measures to be planned and implemented in KCCG, it would primarily refer to the continuous education of employees at all levels of education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the correlation between quantitative Hepatitis B DNA and HBeAg positivity among HBsAg positive patients in a tertiary care hospital. To detect HBsAg, HBeAg levels by CMIA (Chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay). To perform quantitative Hepatitis B virus DNA assay using Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction. The study took place between July and December 2022 for 6 months. Sixty four patients were included in the study for whom HBsAg was positive by CMIA and for whom HBeAg (detected by CMIA) and Hepatitis B Virus DNA by quantitative Real Time PCR was performed. Of the 64 HBsAg reactive patients, the 'e' antigen of Hepatitis B virus was positive in six patients. In all the six HBeAg positive patients, HBV DNA was detected with a range of 78-10,288 IU/ml with 66% having levels more than 2000 IU/ml and requiring treatment. Among the 58 patients who were negative for the 'e' antigen of Hepatitis B virus, the Hepatitis B Viral DNA was detected in 27 patients with a range of 10-1,76,000 IU/ml, with 21% of patients having levels more than 2000 IU/ml. HBeAg is a good serological test to detect viral replication. However, it alone might not be sufficient as quantitative HBV DNA levels are more accurate and it does identify more patients who may require treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global health concern, with an increased incidence and risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients chronically infected with HBV are likely to experience chronic oxidative stress, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. Photobiomodulation is induced by the absorption of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with a red or infrared laser by cytochrome C oxidase enzyme, resulting in mitochondrial photoactivation. Although it is widely used in clinical practice, the use of LLL as adjuvant therapy for persistent HBV infection is uncommon. This study aimed to investigate the effect of LLLT dosage from 2 J/cm2 to 10 J/cm2 of red diode laser (650 nm) on both hepatoma cell lines (HepG2.2.15 [integrated HBV genome stable cell model] and non-integrated HepG2), with a subsequent impact on HBVsvp production. Methods: The present study evaluated the effects of different fluences of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) irradiation on various aspects of hepatoma cell behavior, including morphology, viability, ultrastructure, and its impact on HBVsvp synthesis. Results: In response to LLLT irradiation, we observed a considerable reduction in viability, proliferation, and HBVsvp production in both hepatoma cell lines HepG2.2.15 and HepG2. Ultrastructural modification of mitochondria and nuclear membranes: This effect was dose, cell type, and time-dependent. Conclusions: The use of LLLT may be a promising therapy for HCC and HBV patients by reducing cell proliferation, HBVsvp production, and altering mitochondrial and nuclear structure involved in cellular death inducers. Further research is required to explore its clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Europe; hepatitis B infection; hepatitis C infection; migrants; refugees EN Europe hepatitis B infection hepatitis C infection migrants refugees 634 637 4 07/25/23 20230801 NES 230801 Abbreviations EEA European Economic Area EU European Union HBV hepatitis B virus HCV hepatitis C virus Migrants from some areas of the world bear a high burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection and may represent a major proportion of chronic HCV carriers in countries where the background infection rate is otherwise low. The rate of HBV infection among migrants to European Union (EU) countries born in highly endemic regions was reported as 6%, compared to 1% in the general population.[4] Regarding HCV infection, migrants account for a large proportion of HCV cases in the EU/EEA (on average 14% of cases and >50% of cases in some countries).[4] Data from 50 studies reporting on 38,635 migrants from all world regions show an overall seroprevalence of HCV of 1.9% (95% CI: 1.4-2.7, I I i SP 2 sp 96.1). Estimating the scale of chronic hepatitis C virus infection in the EU/EEA: a focus on migrants from anti-HCV endemic countries. In this country, migrants account for 35% of HCV infections, despite representing only 22% of the population.[1] Passos-Castilho and colleagues aimed to investigate sub-groups of migrants, defined as persons born outside of Canada with permission to live permanently in Canada, who displayed the highest HCV infection rates and changes over time. [Extracted from the article]

This study presents an optimal control and stability analysis of a mathematical model for the spread of Hepatitis B with a harmonic mean type incidence rate, providing insights into the effectiveness of control measures and the long-term behavior of the disease dynamics. The hepatitis B virus causes hepatitis B infection. It is one of the most serious viral infections out there, as well as a global health issue. Various stages, such as chronic and acute carrier stages, serve an essential role in the transition of hepatitis B infection. Chronic disease is characterized by the presence of individuals who do not show any symptoms but are nevertheless able to spread the illness. In this study, we focused on the infectiousness of hepatitis B at different stages of illness and created an endemic model by means of a nonlinear occurrence rate. To accomplish so, we start by dividing the infectious group into two further sub-classes: i.e., acute infected and chronic carriers, both of which can transmit horizontally and vertically. The suggested model’s basic characteristics are provided. The method of the next-generation matrix is utilized to compute the basic reproduction number. The biological significance of the threshold state is thoroughly researched and addressed. We also discover the criteria for investigating all of the model’s potential equilibria in terms of the fundamental reproduction number. Finally, to supplement our analytical work, we do the numerical estimation.

Abstract Objective Liver cirrhosis, which is considered as the terminal stage of liver diseases, has become life-threatening among non-communicable diseases in the world. Viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C) is the major risk factor for the development and progression of chronic liver cirrhosis. The asymptomatic stage of cirrhosis is considered as the compensated cirrhosis whereas the symptomatic stage is considered as decompensated cirrhosis. The latter stage is characterized by complex disorder affecting multiple systems of liver organ with frequent hospitalization. In this paper, we formulate system of fractional differential equations of chronic liver cirrhosis with frequent hospitalization to investigate the dynamics of the disease. The fundamental properties including the existence of positive solutions, positively invariant set, and biological feasibility are discussed. We used generalized mean value theorem to establish the existence of positive solutions. The Adams-type predictor-evaluate-corrector-evaluate approach is used to present the numerical scheme the fractional erder model. Results Using the numerical scheme, we simulate the solutions of the fractional order model. The numerical simulations are carried out using MATLAB software to illustrate the analytic findings. The analysis reveals that the number of decompensated cirrhosis individuals decreases when the progression rate and the disease’s past states are considered.

Objective: This study aimed to classify open-access gene expression data of patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HBV + HCC) and chronic HBV without HCC (HBV alone) using the XGBoost method, one of the machine learning methods, and reveal important genes that may cause HCC. Methods: This case-control study used the open-access gene expression data of patients with HBV + HCC and HBV alone. Data from 17 patients with HBV + HCC and 36 patients with HBV were included. XGBoost was constructed for the classification via 10-fold cross-validation. Accuracy, balanced accuracy, sensitivity, selectivity, positive-predictive value, and negative-predictive value performance metrics were evaluated for model performance. Results: According to the feature-selection method, 18 genes were selected, and modeling was performed with these input variables. Accuracy, balanced accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive-predictive value, negative-predictive value, and F1 score obtained from XGBoost model were 98.1%, 98.6%, 100%, 97.2%, 94.4%, 100%, and 97.1%, respectively. Based on the predictor importance findings acquired from XGBoost, the RNF26, FLJ10233, ACBD6, RBM12, PFAS, H3C11, and GKP5 can be employed as potential biomarkers of HBV-related HCC. Conclusions: In this study, genes that may be possible biomarkers of HBV-related HCC were determined using a machine learning-based prediction approach. After the reliability of the obtained genes are clinically verified in subsequent research, therapeutic procedures can be established based on these genes, and their usefulness in clinical practice may be documented.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in children (contact subjects) of chronic HBsAg (index subjects) and to investigate the factors associated with this infection in these children. Patients and methods: this was a retrospective cross-sectional study of HBsAg positive patients (index subjects), whose families (contact subjects: spouses and children) were routinely screened for HBV infection. Results: The median age of our 44 subjects was 43.1 ± 7.49 years. The average number of children per index subject was 2.3 ± 1.1. The median age of the 92 children was 9.3± 4.55 (1 to 15 years) and 43 (44.8%) were vaccinated against HBV. The prevalence of HBV infection was 24%. The independent factors associated with HBV infection in children were HBV DNA for index subjects> 2000 IU/ml (OR = 11.5; p = 0.001), the existence of HBV in both parents (OR = 7.9; p = 0.03) and no HBV vaccination in children (OR = 30.9; p = 0.003). Conclusion: Immunization coverage of children of index subjects was insufficient. In addition to vertical transmission, the risk of intrafamilial transmission was high in the presence of at least one of the three associated factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection require chronic and personalized care to improve outcomes. Large language models (LLMs) can potentially provide medical information for patients., Aim: To examine the performance of three LLMs, ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4.0, and Google Gemini, in answering HBV-related questions., Methods: LLMs' responses to HBV-related questions were independently graded by two medical professionals using a four-point accuracy scale, and disagreements were resolved by a third reviewer. Each question was run three times using three LLMs. Readability was assessed via the Gunning Fog index and Flesch-Kincaid grade level., Results: Overall, all three LLM chatbots achieved high average accuracy scores for subjective questions (ChatGPT-3.5: 3.50; ChatGPT-4.0: 3.69; Google Gemini: 3.53, out of a maximum score of 4). With respect to objective questions, ChatGPT-4.0 achieved an 80.8% accuracy rate, compared with 62.9% for ChatGPT-3.5 and 73.1% for Google Gemini. Across the six domains, ChatGPT-4.0 performed better in terms of diagnosis, whereas Google Gemini demonstrated excellent clinical manifestations. Notably, in the readability analysis, the mean Gunning Fog index and Flesch-Kincaid grade level scores of the three LLM chatbots were significantly higher than the standard level eight, far exceeding the reading level of the normal population., Conclusion: Our results highlight the potential of LLMs, especially ChatGPT-4.0, for delivering responses to HBV-related questions. LLMs may be an adjunctive informational tool for patients and physicians to improve outcomes. Nevertheless, current LLMs should not replace personalized treatment recommendations from physicians in the management of HBV infection., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article., (©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

One of the main causes of chronic hepatitis is mother to child transfer which is also known as vertical transfer (VT). Although there are several studies regarding the VT mechanism and its risk factors, none of these studies succeeded in explaining this process, completely. We conducted this study aiming at investigating VT mechanism and risk factors in this region. The present study was a descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study on HBS Ag positive pregnant women, which was conducted from March 2018 to March 2020 in Amir-Al-Momenin Hospital in Zabol, Sistan-and-Baluchestan province, Iran. In this study all samples were tested for HBV markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe, anti-HBc, and HBV-DNA) and anti-HCV by enzyme-linked im­munosorbent assay (ELISA). All statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS version 22 software. Totally 43 infants of HBS antigen positive mothers were investigated. HBe antibody and HBe antigen were found in 25 (62.5%) and 2 (5%) of mothers, respectively. There was no significant difference between the newborns with and without hepatitis B infection regarding maternal age (p=0.216), duration of the infection in mother (p=0.892), AST (0.779), AL (0.449) and ALP (0.065). Mothers with positive viral load during pregnancy delivered newborns with positive HBS antigen much more than mothers with negative HBS antigen. However, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.642). Although positive viral load was more common in neonates delivered from positive viral load mothers, the observed difference was also remained non-significant (p=0.978). Our study provided evidences regarding that demo­graphic, immunologic and clinical characteristics of mothers with hepatitis B infection did not play considerable role in the vertical transmission of the infection to the newborns as well as the severity of the following infection. We also sug­gested the possibility of placenta acting as a source of infection in VT. Further longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes are needed to show the exact predictors of transmission of the infection from infected mothers to their children.

Viral hepatitis has long been underrated as a danger to global health. The UN only recently called for worldwide action to tackle viral hepatitis and lessen the disease burden in its "2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". Hepatitis B virus (HBV), which causes liver cirrhosis and malignancy, is a main cause of death globally. This review analyses innovative HBV therapeutic vaccine candidates for which a patent was filed between January 2010 and March 2022 and presents future improvement techniques for vaccine efficacy. Although there is a preventative vaccine for HBV infection, over 3% of people worldwide have the disease on a long-term basis and can no longer benefit from it. Most people will have chronic HBV infection for the rest of their lives once it has been diagnosed. Moreover, only a small percentage of treated patients experience a functional cure with persistent hepatitis B surface antigen reduction. A significant proportion of deaths are caused by liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer, which are both caused by chronic hepatitis B infection. Hence, there is an urgent need for novel medications due to the inadequacies of the current therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Liver cirrhosis, which is considered as the terminal stage of liver diseases, has become life-threatening among non-communicable diseases in the world. Viral hepatitis (hepatitis B and C) is the major risk factor for the development and progression of chronic liver cirrhosis. The asymptomatic stage of cirrhosis is considered as the compensated cirrhosis whereas the symptomatic stage is considered as decompensated cirrhosis. The latter stage is characterized by complex disorder affecting multiple systems of liver organ with frequent hospitalization. In this paper, we formulate system of fractional differential equations of chronic liver cirrhosis with frequent hospitalization to investigate the dynamics of the disease. The fundamental properties including the existence of positive solutions, positively invariant set, and biological feasibility are discussed. We used generalized mean value theorem to establish the existence of positive solutions. The Adams-type predictor-evaluate-corrector-evaluate approach is used to present the numerical scheme the fractional erder model. Results: Using the numerical scheme, we simulate the solutions of the fractional order model. The numerical simulations are carried out using MATLAB software to illustrate the analytic findings. The analysis reveals that the number of decompensated cirrhosis individuals decreases when the progression rate and the disease's past states are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It is crucial to know the underlying causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for optimal management. This study aims to classify open access gene expression data of HCC patients who have an HBV or HCV infection using the XGboost method. Material and Methods: This case-control study considered the open-access gene expression data of patients with HBV-related HCC and HCV-related HCC. For this purpose, data from 17 patients with HBV+HCC and 17 patients with HCV+HCC were included. XGboost was constructed for the classification via tenfold cross-validation. Accuracy, balanced accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, the positive predictive value, the negative predictive value, and F1 score performance metrics were evaluated for a model performance. Results: With the feature selection approach, 17 genes were chosen, and modeling was done using these input variables. Accuracy, balanced accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and the F1 score obtained from the XGboost model were 97.1%, 97.1%, 94.1%, 100%, 100%, 94.4%, and 97%, respectively. Based on the variable importance findings from the XGboost, the ALDOC, GLUD2, TRAPPC10, FLJ12998, RPL39, KDELR2, and KIAA0446 genes can be employed as potential biomarkers for HBV-related HCC. Conclusion: As a result of the study, two different etiological factors (HBV and HCV) causing HCC were classified using a machine learning-based prediction approach, and genes that could be biomarkers for HBV-related HCC were identified. After the resulting genes have been clinically validated in subsequent research, therapeutic procedures based on these genes can be established and their utility in clinical practice documented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is recognized as one of the most important occupational hazards to Health Care Workers (HCWs) globally. HCWs having good risk perception, is critical in adopting and adhering to preventive measures against occupational exposures and subsequent infection with the virus. This study assessed the level of risk perception for HBV infection among healthcare workers in five healthcare settings in Accra, Ghana, and identified how risk perception for HBV varies across the various professional categories. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among six cadres of healthcare workers from five facilities in 2019. A structured questionnaire and susceptibility sub-scale was adapted and used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS Software version 25. Results: There were 313 HCWs who participated in the study. Mean age, 35 years (±7.6). The overall mean risk perception score was 92.3. There was a significant difference in risk perception scores between the six cadres of staff (F = 3.26, df 312, p = 0.007). A Post Hoc analysis showed a significant difference between the risk perception scores of Doctors and Orderlies, mean difference of 6.723, (p = 0.017; 95% CI = 0.83–12.60). Post-tertiary level education and training in infection prevention and control were significantly associated with high-risk perception for HBV. Conclusion: HCWs have a high-risk perception for HBV infection and the risk perception varies across the various professional categories. The high level of risk perception observed in this study could be utilized to design preventive interventions for healthcare workers to prevent occupational exposures and subsequent infections.

Background. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the most common infections worldwide, having negative impact on world health due to the tendency for chronification with late complications such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Natural killer (NK) cells as part of innate antiviral defense influence the clinical course of HBV infection: elimination of the virus or chronic disease. Aim. Therefore, we investigated the polymorphisms of the main gene systems, regulating NK-cell function: killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) and their appropriate HLA class I ligands in 144 HBV infected patients (124 chronic carriers and 20 spontaneously recoved) and 126 ethnically matched healthy controls from the Bulgarian population in a case-control study. Methods. KIRs and HLA ligands were determined by PCR-SSP or PCR high-resolution typing methods. Results. KIR2DL5B allele variant was significantly less frequent in spontaneously recovered (SR) patients compared to healthy controls (10.0% vs. 45.5%, Pcorr=0.006). The presence of KIR3DL1*004 allele was higher in chronic HBV carriers (CH) than in controls (33.1% vs. 17.6%, Pcorr=0.036). Additionally, SR patients differed from healthy individuals by the lower frequency of HLA-Bw4Ile80 group ligands (30.0% vs 63.7%, P=0.015). Three KIR genotypes were found more frequent in healthy in comparison with HBV infected individuals: ID2 (13.5% vs 5.6%, P=0.025), KIR genotype containing 6 activating KIRs (18.0% vs 7.6%, P=0.017), and KIR genotype composed of 4 activating and 5 inhibitory KIRs (23.8% vs 5.6%, P=0.001). Conclusion. These data suggest that inherited KIR and HLA class I ligand polymorphisms may influence the clinical course of HBV infection.

• Genotype D is the most prevalent HBV genotype in Morocco followed by genotypes A and E. • Liver enzymes are normal in >65 % of cases. • HBeAg-negative patients are prevalent in Morocco. • Most of HBeAg-negative patients have genotype D. • Existence of positive cases among children despite anti-HBV vaccination. In alignment with Morocco's national strategy for eliminating viral hepatitis, we aimed to characterize and update the virological profile of chronic hepatitis B patients. Demographic, serological and molecular parameters of 804 HBsAg-positive patients were retrospectively analyzed. Overall, 58.24 % were HBV-positive (55.37 % males, p = 0.74). The median age was 46 years (37-57). Patients ≤ 24 years comprised 5 % of HBsAg-positive and 4.34 % of HBV-positive cases. The median viral load was 2.62 log 10 IU/mL (1.87-3.44). The prevalent genotypes were D (91.04 %), A (7.55 %) and E (1.41 %). Liver enzymes were normal in most of cases. 91.04 % of patients were HBeAg-negative, with 92.23 % having genotype D (p < 0.001). Co-infection rates with other hepatitis viruses were low. Significant associations were found between HBeAg-negative status, genotype D, viral load, and liver enzyme levels (p < 0.001). We highlighted the need for prenatal HBsAg screening for pregnant women and prioritizing the birth-dose vaccine to prevent mother-to-child transmission, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a serious global public health problem, with significant morbidity and mortality from acute and chronic complications. Increasing awareness and improving knowledge of HBV helps reduce the risk of the disease. Although many studies have been conducted on HBV in Ghana, few have focused on examining knowledge, attitude and preventive practices among adolescents towards the disease. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess HBV knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) among adolescents in high schools in the Asante Mampong Municipality in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 398 adolescents from six senior high schools within the Asante Mampong Municipality. Data was collected using a 30-item structured questionnaire. Each item had two response options: "Yes" and "No". A scoring system was generated and respondents were given a score on each item answered. A positive response to an item was scored 1 point and a negative response was scored 0. Scores were then summed up and averaged to give the mean knowledge, attitude and practice scores. RESULTS: The majority of the respondents were male (60%), between 15 and 17 years (45%), Christian (93%) and in their first year of study. The adolescents had basic knowledge, positive attitude, and poor practices towards HBV. There was no significant relationship between the demographic variables of the respondents and KAP mean scores. CONCLUSION: There is the need to introduce health education and awareness programs in schools within the Asante Mampong Municipality to improve students' level of knowledge of HBV. Countrywide studies examining KAP towards HBV infection among adolescents are also warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the vaccine response of treatment-naive juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients who were fully vaccinated against Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and then compare their antibody status with healthy controls. In this multicenter study, initial visit hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) and anti-hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-Hbs) titers of 262 treatment-naive JIA patients who were followed up regularly between May 2015 and October 2019 were evaluated retrospectively from patients' medical records and compared with 276 healthy peers. Both HbsAg and anti-Hbs antibody titers were tested by the ELISA technique. Anti-HBs titers ≥ 10 IU/L were considered as reactive indicating seroprotection against HBV. In the JIA group, seropositivity rate was 59.1% while 72.9% of the control group were immune against HBV (p = 0.002). The median titer for anti-Hbs was 14 (range: 0–1000) IU/L in the patient group and 43.3 (range: 0–1000) IU/L in the control group (p = 0.01). Neither JIA patients nor healthy controls were positive for HbsAg. Patients with JIA vaccinated according to the national vaccination schedule were evaluated at their first visit in pediatric rheumatology outpatient clinics for anti-Hbs presence and it was found that they have lesser seroprotectivity than their age and sex-matched routinely vaccinated, healthy peers. So, to complete missing vaccines and booster vaccine doses, assessing the immune status of the patients at the time of diagnosis against HBV should be in the check-list of physicians dealing with pediatric rheumatic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related factors, including the viral load, genotype, and genomic mutations, have been linked to the development of liver diseases. Therefore, in this study we aimed to investigate the influence of HBV genetic variability during acute and chronic infection phases. A real-time nested PCR was used to detect HBV DNA in all samples (acute, n = 22; chronic, n = 49). All samples were sequenced for phylogenetic and mutation analyses. Genotype A, sub-genotype A1, was the most common genotype in the study population. A total of 190 mutations were found in the pre-S/S gene area and the acute profile revealed a greater number of nucleotide mutations (p < 0.05). However, both profiles contained nucleotide mutations linked to immune escape and an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinomas (acute, A7T; chronic, A7Q). Furthermore, 17 amino acid substitutions were identified in the viral polymerase region, including the drug resistance mutations lamivudine and entecavir (rtL180M), with statistically significant differences between the mutant and wild type strains. Owing to the natural occurrence of these mutations, it is important to screen for resistance mutations before beginning therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Hailay Kinfe,1 Endalew Gemechu Sendo,2 Ketema Bizuwork Gebremedhin2 1St. Petros Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; 2School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Ketema Bizuwork Gebremedhin Email ketema2005@yahoo.comBackground: Hepatitis B infection is among the most common public health concerns globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The prevalence of hepatitis B infection is more common among most vulnerable populations, including pregnant women. However, there are limited studies on hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in low-income countries, including Ethiopia, and the previous studies focused on the general population rather than the pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and examine factors associated with hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women in the Northern Ethiopia.Methods: nstitution-based cross-sectional study design and a structured face-to-face interview were used to collect data from the study participants. Simple random sampling method was used to select eligible study participants. Data were entered using EpiData version 3.1, and SPSS version 20 was used for the data analysis. We analyzed the data to examine factors associated with hepatitis B virus infection using binary and multivariable logistic regression models.Results: The overall prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among the study participants was 9.2%. The majority (46.7%) of the study participants infected by hepatitis B were in the age group 25– 34 years. The study found that married study participants were more likely to be infected by hepatitis B when compared to the unmarried study participants. Having history of abortion [OR = 0.12 (95% CI: 0.03, 0.47), P < 0.01] and having history of tattooing [OR = 0.21 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.62), P < 0.01] were found to be statistically significantly associated with the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among pregnant women.Conclusion: A significant number of pregnant women participating in the study were infected by the hepatitis B virus which needs efficient intervention to reduce the infection rate. Further, educational status, having history of surgery, dental procedure, ear piercing, abortion and tattooing were found statistically to be significant before controlling for confounders. But, after controlling for confounders, only having history of tattooing and having history of abortion were found to be independent factors affecting the prevalence of the infection.Keywords: pregnancy, hepatitis B infection, hepatitis B virus, Ethiopia

Background and Objectives: Despite the increased sensitivity of screening tests, the HBV can be transmitted during the window period and occult hepatitis B infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate HBV markers and prevalence of OBI among HBsAg negative blood donors in Golestan province. Materials and Methods: Anti-HBc (IgM and IgG), anti-HBs and anti-HBe tests on 4313 serum samples (HBsAg negative) were performed by ELISA method. Also, all samples for the presence of HBV- DNA were tested by using NAT methods. SPSS software and chi-square test were used for data analysis. Results: Of the 4313 samples, 384 (8.9%) sera were anti-HBc positive. Also, of 384 anti-HBc positive samples, 302 (78.65%) were anti-HBs positive and 152 (39.6%) were anti-HBe positive. Thirty-nine (0.90%) samples were anti-HBc positive, anti-HBs negative and anti-HBe negative. HBV-DNA was not detected in any of specimens. Conclusion: Based on the results of retesting the isolated anti-HBc samples that after one year recalling, had undetectable HBV-DNA and for the prevention of the decreasing of healthy blood donation (due to false positive anti-HBc) and preservation of the blood supplies; Individual Donor Nucleic Acid Testing (ID-NAT) along with the anti-HBc testing for the improving blood safety is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data are lacking or outdated on burden of HIV, viral hepatitis infection, and sexually transmitted infections such as syphilis among people deprived of liberty in the Asia-Pacific region. We aimed to evaluate the proportion of viral hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV), HIV, and syphilis infections, and factors associated with HCV, HBV, and HIV infection in a central male prison. A cross-sectional study was performed among 1,028 people deprived of liberty from a central male prison in Bangkok, Thailand. People deprived of liberty were screened for HIV, HBV, HCV, and syphilis infections during 2018–2019. HBV and HCV were defined as positive hepatitis B surface antigen and positive anti-HCV antibody, respectively. Proportions (95% confidence interval [CI]) of infections were calculated based on the binomial distribution. HBV proportion was reported for different age groups. Risk factors associated with HCV infections were evaluated by logistic regression model. The median age was 38 (interquartile range, 32–50) years, and 6.9% reported use of injection drugs. The proportion of HIV, HBV, anti-HCV, HCV RNA, and syphilis was 2.9% (95% CI, 1.9–4.1), 6.4% (5–8.1), 5.9% (4.6–7.6), 4.2% (3–5.6), and 4.8% (3.5–6.3), respectively. One (0.1%), 7 (0.6%), and 2 (3%) were co-infected with HIV/HBV, HIV/HCV, and HDV/HBV, respectively. HBV proportion differed across age groups: 3.7% in <30 years, 7% in 31–40 years, 9.7% in 41–50 years, and 5.5% in >50 years. Factors associated with HCV infection were older age, lower education level, previous incarceration, and injection drug use. In multivariable models, older age was associated with HBV infection, and men having sex with men was associated with HIV infection. The proportion of blood-borne infections was higher among males than among the general population. HBV vaccination, routine HCV screening, and treatment with pan-genotypic direct-acting antivirals with minimal specialist requirements should be implemented in Thai prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Patients co-infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In sub-Saharan Africa, the overlap between high HIV and HBV prevalence may increase the incidence of HCC. This study investigated the impact of HBV/HIV co-infection on age at presentation and survival of HCC. Methods Ethical approval was obtained to recruit, following informed written consent, patients diagnosed with HCC at oncology units at four South African hospitals. Between December 2012 and August 2015, patients newly diagnosed with HCC were recruited and provided demographic and clinical data and blood specimens. Patients were tested for HBV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV. Survival data was available for a subset of patients. Results Of 107 HCC cases, 83 (78%) were male. Median age was 46 years (range 18 to 90 years), 68/106 (64%) were HBsAg-positive, and 22/100 (22%) were HIV infected. Among HBV surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive HCC cases, 18/66 (27%) were HIV-infected compared to 3/34 (9%) among those that were HBsAg-negative (p = 0.04). A greater proportion of HBV/HIV co-infected cases were female than HBV mono-infected (6/18, 33% vs 6/47, 13%; p = 0.005). In addition, HBV/HIV co-infected females presented at a younger mean age (36.8 years) than HBV mono-infected women (50.5 years) (p = 0.09). Median survival was 82 days among the HIV-infected HCC patients compared to 181 days among those without HIV (p = 0.15). Conclusions HCC is an important complication in the HIV/HBV infected patient. HIV-positive patients presented with HCC at a younger age than HIV-negative patients, this effect appears to be greater in women. These data provide more evidence supporting the call to address. HCC as a cause of morbidity and mortality in the HBV/HIV co-infected patient population. (281 words).