[Association between interleukin-20 gene Rs 1518108 polymorphisms of and the risk of chronic hepatitis B]

The outcome of Hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection is variable in different individuals. Liver injuries in chronic HBV infection appear to be mostly due to the host's immune response to control the infection. Various studies have provided evidence for an association between single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs] within interleukin genes and susceptibility to infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to examine IL-20 gene SNP [rs1518108] in regard to genotype and allele frequencies and its association with HBV outcome. The SNP at position rs1518108 of IL-20 gene was analyzed in the patients with chronic HBV infection and healthy volunteers as control group. Blood samples were collected from 134 ELISA positive hepatitis B patients as well as 119 healthy controls. Evaluation of SNP was performed to find differences in allele and genotype frequencies by PCR-RFLP method in this case-control study. Results showed a slightly higher CT genotype among the patients but the difference was not statistically significant [P=0.856]. Genotype and allele frequencies were found in both groups and no significant difference was observed in the frequency of interleukin-20 gene polymorphism [rs1518108] between chronic HBV patients and healthy subjects in relation to genotype [P=0.827] and allele [P=0.784] frequencies. The results suggested that there is no correlation between interleukin-20 [rs1518108] polymorphism with HBV infection or disease progression. Polymorphism could not be regarded as a host genetic factor associated with the HBV infection outcome. Genetic factors other than interleukin-20 or other polymorphisms of this gene, seem to be involved in the process of viral clearance and prevention of chronic hepatitis B

Frequency of risk factors of HIV and hepatitis infections among the homeless in tehran, iran [2005-2007]

Background and Purpose: Identifying the risk factors of Hepatitis C, B, and HIV is necessary to prevent their increasing prevalence. Therefore, we sought to identify the frequency of their risk factors among the homeless of Tehran, Iran during 2005 to 2007

Methods and Materials: This descriptive analytical study was conducted during 2005 to 2007 on the homeless population of Tehran, Iran. Two groups of patients were enrolled in this study: 103 HIV-positive and 75 hepatitis patients were examined [total 178], and relevant risk factors were investigated. The relevant details of the participants were obtained and recorded by a questionnaire, HIV and Hepatitis diagnosis using Eliza technique. Data were analyzed using Chi square and factor analysis in SPSS 13

Results: 60.8% of the HIV positive cases and 43.88% of the hepatitis cases had no relations with their friends; the difference was statistically significant [p=0.027]. Also, 94.2% of the AIDS cases and 85.1% of the hepatitis cases were deprived of their family support, and the difference was statistically significant [p=0.o44]. the prevalence of addiction to crack and heroin was 28% and 44.7% in hepatitis and AIDS sufferers respectively, where the difference was statistically significant [p=0.023]. The results of factor analysis revealed five major factors: familial factors [relation with family, relation with friends, lifestyle], type of addiction [opium, crack, heroin], social factors [sex, incarceration history, family support], personal factors [age, marital status, living parents], cultural factors [education, psychological problems]. The five factors related to HIV comprised 68.42% of the total variance, and those of hepatitis 56.69% of the total variance

Conclusion: The risk factors among the two groups are having no relations with friends, lack of family support and addiction to crack or heroin