ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Different stages of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can be defined by serum HBV DNA levels. This study attempts to (1) investigate serum HBV DNA levels in inactive carriers and patients with chronic HBV (CHB) infection and (2) define cut-off value between inactive carriers and HBeAg (precore antigen of HBV) negative CHB patients in Indian population. METHODS: One hundred and forty samples encompassing 42 inactive HBsAg carriers and 98 CHB patients (53 HBeAg-positive and 45 HBeAg-negative) were analysed. Serum HBV DNA levels were determined employing an in-house competitive polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) assay. RESULTS: The HBeAg-positive patients were found to have the maximum median HBV DNA load, which was significantly higher than the HBeAg-negative ones (median; 1.25 x 10(8) vs. 2.30 x 10(5) copies/mL ; P<0.05). Interestingly, the latter group has significantly higher HBV DNA levels than the inactive carriers (median; 2.30 x 10(5) vs. 4.28 x 10(3) copies/mL; P<0.05). The 2.5 x 10(4) copies/ml HBV DNA levels were optimal for discriminating CHB patients (HBeAg-negative) from inactive carriers with 75.6 and 78.6% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the extensive overlapping of HBV DNA levels in inactive carriers and HBeAg negative CHB patients, 2.5 x 10(4) copies/mL is the most favourable cut-off value to classify these individuals and would be imperative in the better management of this dreadful disease.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Child , DNA, Viral/blood , Female , Hepatitis B e Antigens/blood , Hepatitis B virus/isolation & purification , Hepatitis B, Chronic/diagnosis , Humans , India , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Sensitivity and Specificity , Viral LoadABSTRACT
Sensory nerve conduction velocities (SNCV) have been studied amongst 50 healthy soldiers between age group 21-40 years on 4 mixed peripheral nerves and one purely sensory nerve. Motor nerve conduction velocities and sensory latency rates were studied under similar standardized conditions and at the same sitting. Sensory nerve conduction velocities are faster when compared to motor nerve conduction velocities. Median nerve shows the highest values and sural nerve the slowest values of SNCV. Latency rates are fastest in median nerve and slowest in sural nerve.