Anti-HBs in immunized children with cuban hepatitis B vaccine and impact of booster dose after five years

Hepatitis B virus infection and associated diseases are a major public health problem. This study was planned to find out the persistence of antibody against hepatitis B surface antigen in Iranian vaccinated children after five years. Anti-HBs titers in a group of healthy good - responder children who were vaccinated with Cuban hepatitis B vaccine in infancy were measured after five years. Children with antibody titers <100mlU/mI were revaccinated and retested after four weeks. Mean anti-HBs titers in 68 children [29 females, 39 males] were 482.1mIU/mL at six months after the third dose of primary vaccination and 153mIU/mL at five years later. Total mean anti-HBs titers in 36 [52.9%] children out of 68 [17 females, 19 males] were 38.3mIU/ml and 4 [5.8%] of 68 children [two of each sexes] had no detectable antibody after five years. Total mean anti-HBs titers in these hypo- responder and non- responder were 774.3mIU/mL and 625.5mIU/mL respectively after booster dose. In a group of children, who were immunized with Cuban hepatitis B vaccine from birth, anti-HBS titers fell at 6.5 years of age and almost half of children became hypo responder or no responder and their anti-HBs titers developed secondary rise after booster vaccination. All children showed immunologic memory to a booster dose

Inhibition of HBsAg secretion from Alexander cell line by Phyllanthus amarus.

Alexander cell line, an human hepatocellular carcinoma derived cell line which has the property of secreting HBsAg in the supernatant was used to study the antiviral property of phyllanthus amarus. Aquous extract of Phyllanthus amarus was evaluated for its in vitro ability to inhibit HBsAg secretion on a dose dependent manner. It was seen that P. amarus at 1mg/ml concentration on a single dose inhibited the secretion of HBsAg for a period of 48 hours. This experiment proved the anti hepatitis B virus property of P. amarus at cellular level and further confirmed its beneficial use in the treatment of acute and chronic hepatitis B and healthy carriers of HBV.