Prevalence of hepatitis D virus in hepatitis B virus infected patients referred to Taleghani hospital, Tehran, Iran

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HDV infection between HBV chronic patients referred to gastroenterology ward of Taleghani hospital Tehran, Iran and also investigating the risk factors in acquiring the HDV infection. Hepatitis B virus [HBV] and Hepatitis D virus [HDV] are major public health issues. Worldwide there are approximately 350 million individuals chronically infected with the HBV. A significant part of them, including 15 to 20 million coinfected with HDV. Hepatitis Delta virus is transferred mostly through blood and body fluids. HBV and HDV infections were evaluated by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Liver functional tests were assessed through auto analyzer. Patients were interviewed and data along the test results were entered into SPSS program. We used chi-square, independent t-test and logistic regression for statistical analysis. 278 [54.6%] patients of the study group were male and 231 [45.4%] were female and the mean age of patients was 40.03 +/- 14.93. From 509 patients, 39[7.7%] had anti-HDV antibody. In a uni-variable analysis, age [p=0.001], periodontal procedures [p=0.015], endoscopy [p=0.024] and colonoscopy [p=0.012] were significantly related to HDV seropositivity. After adjustment by logistic regression, age remained the only significant factor in acquiring HDV infection. We highly recommend the health care workers to strictly follow the disinfection protocols of medical instruments. Since HDV seroprevalence changes over time, regular epidemiological studies are necessary to monitor the epidemiological trend of infection

[Tumor necrosis factor-alpha -308 G/A polymorphism in Iranian patients with chronic hepatitis C]

The impact of genetic changes like Single nucleotide polymorphisms on expression rate and function of cytokine is under study. The aim of the present study was to determine TNF-alpha cytokine gene polymorphism -308 G/A association with the susceptibility to hepatitis C [HCV] chronic infection. In this case-control study, 152 HCV infected patients and 164 healthy controls were studied. Genotyping was carried out by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction [ARMS-PCR] and the distribution of the TNF-alpha Gene -308 G/A polymorphism was compared in these groups. Tetra-primer ARMS-PCR employs two pairs of primers to amplify two alleles in one PCR reaction. The frequency of the TNF-alpha gene polymorphism at position -308 in HCV patients was GG [88.8%], GA [11.2%], AA [0%] and in healthy controls was GG [75%], GA [24%], AA [0%] [OR=2.626, 95%CI=1.419-4.860, P=0.002]. There was a significant difference in genotype or allele frequency between HCV patients and control group [P<0.05]. Present study showed an association between TNF-alpha promoter polymorphism [-308] and hepatitis C in an Iranian population

Evaluation of antibody frequency against HBV, HCV and HTLV-1

This study was designed to evaluate the frequency of antibody against these viruses in individuals attending the endoscopy ward of Taleghani hospital Tehran, Iran. Blood-borne viruses such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus and HTLV-1 virus are among the world's public health problems. Hepatitis viruses cause liver problems and HTLV-1 infection can lead to adult T-Cell lymphoma [ATL]. Blood samples of 219 individuals attending the endoscopy ward of Taleghani hospital between years 2009-2011 were collected. A questionnaire containing demographic data was completed for each subject. Blood samples were tested for antibody against HTLV-1, HCV and HBc by ELISA [Dia.pro Italy]. In case of positive results for anti-HBc, samples were also tested for HBs Ag antigen. Ninety two subjects were male and 127 were female. Mean age of the population was 39.87 +/- 16.47. None of the subjects had anti-HCV antibody, while 4 of them had anti-HTLV-1 antibody and 26 anti-HBc antibody; which only two of these individuals had HBs Antibody. The results of this study show that frequency of anti-HCV and anti-HTLV-1 antibodies are very low, while the frequency of anti-HBc was higher in the population. Since HTLV-1 is the causative agent of a type of blood cancer, it seems that screening of donated bloods in this region should be considered

Molecular prevalence of JC virus in Tehran, Iran

Since data about prevalence of JC virus in Iranian population is scarce, this study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of JC virus in healthy individuals who had attended Fajr hospital and Farjam clinical laboratory in Tehran, Iran. JC virus is the causative agent of progressive multifocal encephalopathy [PML] in individuals with suppressed immune system. There are some evidences that this virus is responsible for some forms of cancers for example colorectal and gastric cancers in humans. Urine samples from 133 healthy individuals older than 18 years old were collected and after extraction of viral DNA, PCR was performed to determine the presence of virus. Results of the test and demographic data of subjects were entered into SPSS program and were analyzed by it. 71 subjects were male and 62 individuals were female. Mean age of the population was 42.23 +/- 13.47. From the total number of 133 subjects, 51 [38.3%] individuals were positive for the presence of JC virus. Gender had statistically significant relationship with JC virus presence [p= 0.042]. Age was not significantly related to JC virus presence status [p= 0.3]. Obtained rate of JC prevalence in this study is similar to the results of studies in India and Philippine. Because of this virus's role in AIDS and the role of this virus in gastrointestinal cancers have been revealed in recent years, the more extended studies on the prevalence of this virus in different populations in Iran is necessary

Enteric hepatitis viruses

Hepatitis viruses are infectious agents that can infect liver and cause inflammation. The infection triggers immune response against infected cells that leads to the destruction of hepatic cells. This destruction has two consequences: leaking ALT and AST liver enzymes which increases during the course of disease and accumulation of bilirubin - a red pigmented compound released from dead red cells- which causes the yellow coloration of eyes and skin. These viruses transmit through diverse routes i.e. blood transfusion, sexual contacts and consuming water or food contaminated by feces. Enteric hepatitis viruses use the latter route for transmission; hence their outbreaks are more common in underdeveloped countries. There are currently two distinguished enteric hepatitis viruses, hepatitis A and hepatitis E. These viruses belong to different family to viruses and their epidemiological characteristics are different. These infections can be diagnosed by an ELISA for IgM antibody. A vaccine has been developed in last decade of twentieth century for hepatitis A virus, which is administered mostly in the developed world i.e. U.S and Japan. Treatment for these infections is mostly supportive; however, in the case of fulminant hepatitis the liver transplantation might be necessary