Investigation of relative risk factors of Hepatitis B virus core antibody positivity among intravenous drug users in Tehran, 2013

Background: Hepatitis B virus [HBV] still continues to infect many people worldwide despite the availability of an effective vaccine for more than three decades. The high prevalence of HBV may exist in high risk groups, particularly among intravenous drug users [IDUs]. This group is among groups with a higher risk of infection due to their hazardous behaviors such as sharing needles for drug injection. This cross sectional study included 229 intravenous drug users in Tehran, in 2013 to investigate the prevalence of HBc Ab positivity and its associated risk factors among IDUs

Materials and Methods: Socio-demographic characteristics and associated risk factors were recorded during sample collection. Their serum samples were tested for the presence of total hepatitis B virus core antibody [HBc Ab] by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay [ELISA]

Results: HBc Ab was detected in 64 of 229 participants, giving an overall prevalence of 28%. History of imprisonment, injecting drugs and age has a significant correlation with HBc Ab positivity

Conclusion: Expansion of new preventive strategies through the national health system could be beneficial for decreasing the risk of acquiring HBV among high risk groups such as IDUs

Evaluation of hepatitis B infection prevalence in institutionalized intellectually disabled children

Background: Hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection causes chronic infection in human population, with high mortality. One of the high risk communities is mentally retarded children, who are institutionalized. Special conditions in these centers predispose children for HBV infection and transmission to healthy people. In this study our objective was to determine the prevalence of HBV infection among institutionalized mentally retarded children and study its associated risk factors

Materials and Methods: In this study, 250 mentally retarded children [younger than 14 years old] were included. They were living in 5 nursing institutions, located in different parts of Tehran. Hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] was measured in the sera of these patients by ELISA method

Results: Among 250 children, 20 children [8%] were HBsAg positive. HBV infection in girls was more than boys [11% to 5.6%]. Among the types of mental retardation, children with cerebral palsy had the highest positive result for HBsAg. The most HBV infection [28.5%] was seen in children with longest duration of being institutionalized [10 to 11 years]. Vaccinated children were more HBsAg positive [8.7%] than non-vaccinated children [5.3%]. However, no significant relationship was observed between any of these factors and HBsAg positivity

Conclusion: Despite improvement of people's health condition and implementation of HBV vaccination, the prevalence of HBV infection is increased in institutionalized mentally retarded children, which highlights the need for active measures to reduce this infection among this high risk population

Effects of Probiotics on Gut Microbiota in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial / 대한소화기학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several clinical trials have revealed various advantages for probiotics in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The aim of this study was to further investigate the effects of probiotic yogurt consumption on gut microbiota in patients with this disease. METHODS: A total of 305 participants were divided into three groups; group A (IBD patients receiving probiotic yogurt; n=105), group B (IBD patients receiving placebo; n=105), and control group (healthy individuals receiving probiotic yogurt; n=95). Stool samples were collected both before and after 8 weeks of intervention; and population of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides in the stool specimens was measured by Taqman real-time PCR method. ': By the end of the intervention, no significant variations in the mean weight and body mass index were observed between three groups (p>0.05). However, the mean numbers of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacteroides in group A were significantly increased compared to group B (p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.01, respectively). There were also significant differences in the mean numbers of either of three bacteria between group A and the healthy control group; however, these differences between two groups were observed both at baseline and the end of the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of probiotic yogurt by patients with IBD may help to improve intestinal function by increasing the number of probiotic bacteria in the intestine and colon. However, many more studies are required in order to prove the concept.