[Serum iron, hepatic iron deposition, and inflammatory hepatic necrosis/fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C]

We studied the effects of serum iron level, hepatic iron deposition and other metabolic disorders i.e., insulin resistance in hepatic fibrosis development. Among 60 patients with chronic hepatitis C, we measured serum iron, ferritin and transferring level. Meanwhile, hepatic biopsies were obtained from 43 patients for whom iron deposition, inflammatory necrosis/fibrosis score and steatosis were determined. Hepatic iron deposition was significantly associated with waist circumference, ferritin level >200ng/ml, fasting C-peptide >1.9ng/ml, AST/ALT ratio >1, and fasting triglyceride >200mg/dl. On the other hand, it was not correlated with the following: grading, preportal-precital hepatitis [A], necrosis [b], focal lytic necrosis [C], focal apoptosis [C], and portal inflammation [D]. Our findings suggested an interaction between hepatic iron deposition and waist circumference, ferritin, fasting C-peptide, AST/ALT, and fasting triglyceride

[Association between body mass index [BMI] and sociodemographic factors among Iranian females aged 15-44 years]

With respect to the high expenses of obesity treatment and its associated complications, there is an urgent need for a suitable approach towards behavioral change in obese subjects. The present study was conducted to determine the association between body mass index [BMI] and sociodemographic factors among Iranian females aged 15-44 years. For this cross sectional study, 2969 females aged 15-44 years were selected through a cluster sampling. We evaluated BMI and its association with occupation, educational level, family size, place of residence, marital status, and age. Logistic regression analysis was used to eliminate the effect of confounding factors. The mean BMI was 25.6 +/- 5.2kg/m2 while 46.2% of subjects had normal BMI, however, 4.6% had severe obesity. BMI was significantly higher among 35-44 years old, married, illiterate, and house keeper females. Regression analysis showed that illiteracy and lower educational level could increase BMI. Our results revealed that the mean BMI of Iranian females exceeds normal value, however, during a 5-year period the frequency of obesity did not alter significantly among females aged >20 years. Age increment, illiteracy, marriage, and housekeeping are associated with higher BMI level

[Liver steatosis and chronic hepatitis-B infection: viral and host risk factors]

Liver steatosis and chronic hepatitis B infection are the most common causes of chronic liver diseases in Iran. There have been a limited number of studies throughout the world, evaluating the association of hepatitis B infection and steatosis. We studied the association between some of viral and host factors and the presence of steatosis among patients with chronic hepatitis B infection. In this analytical cross-sectional study, 71 patients with chronic hepatitis B infection were preliminarily assessed by liver biopsy. The patients were divided into two groups based on either presence or absence of steatosis in liver tissue. These two groups were compared in terms of different host and viral factors along with their stage of fibrosis. Of 71 patients, 30 [42.3%] had significant steatosis [in >5% of hepatocytes, according to Brunt classification]. Sex and gender were not significantly different in 2 groups. The mean BMI, serum levels of FBS, cholesterol, TG, GGT, were significantly higher in steatosis group compared to those of non-steatosis one [P<0.05]. In contrast, the mean levels of AST, ALT, ALK-P were not significantly different in these groups. The frequency of HBeAg positivity and the mean level of viral load of two groups had no significant difference. There was also no significant difference in the mean stages of fibrosis between two groups. It seems that certain metabolic hosts factors such as BMI, FBS, cholesterol, TG, GGT are associated with steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection while such an association was not found with the evaluated viral factors. We suggest further investigations to evaluate the role of other factors [such as HBV genotype] in the future

Virologic characteristics of chronic hepatitis B

Virologic characteristics and liver enzyme status as well as histopathologic features could be used to determine prognosis of hepatitis B. The present study was conducted to determine the virologic characteristics of chronic hepatitis B in a group of Iranian patients. For this cross sectional study 150 patients who had referred to a GI clinic in Tehran were selected. They had positive HBsAg for at least 6 months. Complementary laboratory tests were achieved as follow: liver function tests, HBeAg, HBeAb, HBcAb and HBsAb. Liver biopsy was performed if indicated. Totally, 40.1% were carrier, 48.3% had chronic hepatitis, and 11.6% had developed cirrhosis. 45 were HBeAg positive as compared to 77 who were HBeAg negative. Four patients had concurrent HCVAb and HBsAg. HBsAb was positive in 5 patients. HBeAg was positive in 13 [26%] females and 32 [33%] males [NS]. Results have revealed that HBeAg was correlated with chronic hepatitis B [p < 0.001]. The high frequency of negative HBeAg in patients with chronic hepatitis B necessitate the introduction of DNA assay for definite diagnosis