ABSTRACT
We assessed the long-term immunity to hepatitis B among 242 Egyptian children aged 6-12 years who had received a full vaccination course in infancy, and investigated the factors associated with immunity. Only 39.4% of the children had protective (> or = 10 lU/L) hepatitis B surface antibody levels (HBsAb). This proportion decreased with age but the decrease was not statistically significant. The mean level of HBsAb decreased significantly with increasing age (P = 0.026). A significant negative correlation was found between current age and HBsAb levels (r = -0.31, P = 0.041). Age and weight-for-age were found to be significant predictors of non-protective HBsAb levels.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis B Vaccines/immunology , Vaccination , Age Factors , Body Weight , Child , Cross-Sectional Studies , Egypt , Female , Health Services Needs and Demand , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/immunology , Humans , Immunity, Active , Immunization Schedule , Immunization, Secondary , Logistic Models , Male , Multivariate Analysis , National Health Programs , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Socioeconomic Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Urban Health/statistics & numerical data , Vaccination/methodsABSTRACT
To determine seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies and potential risk factors for and age of contracting symptomatic hepatitis A infection among children of different socioeconomic status (SES) in Cairo, we carried out a cross-sectional study on 426 children aged 3-18 years from low SES areas and 142 from high SES areas. Seroprevalence was significantly higher with age. Seropositivity to anti-HAV antibodies was significantly higher among children of low and very low SES, 90%, compared to children of high SES, 50%. Water supply and sewage disposal were the most significant risk factors for HAV seropositivity in children of low SES. Children of high SES were more likely to be vulnerable to infection in adolescence than those of low SES.
Subject(s)
Child Welfare/statistics & numerical data , Hepatitis A/epidemiology , Social Class , Urban Health/statistics & numerical data , Adolescent , Age Distribution , Alanine Transaminase/blood , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Egypt/epidemiology , Endemic Diseases/statistics & numerical data , Female , Hepatitis A/immunology , Hepatitis A/metabolism , Hepatitis A Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis A Virus, Human/immunology , Humans , Male , Population Surveillance , Refuse Disposal/statistics & numerical data , Residence Characteristics/statistics & numerical data , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Sex Distribution , Socioeconomic Factors , Water Supply/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
To determine seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus [HAV] antibodies and potential risk factors for and age of contracting symptomatic hepatitis A infection among children of different socioeconomic status [SES] in Cairo, we carried out a cross-sectional study on 426 children aged 3-18 years from low SES areas and 142 from high SES areas. Seroprevalence was significantly higher with age. Seropositivity to anti-HAV antibodies was significantly higher among children of low and very low SES, 90%, compared to children of high SES, 50%. Water supply and sewage disposal were the most significant risk factors for HAV seropositivity in children of low SES. Children of high SES were more likely to be vulnerable to infection in adolescence than those of low SES
Subject(s)
Hepatitis A , Hepatitis A Virus, Human , Child Welfare , Risk Factors , Urban Health , Social Class , Water Supply , Age Distribution , Sex Distribution , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
We assessed the long-term immunity to hepatitis B among 242 Egyptian children aged 6-12 years who had received a full vaccination course in infancy, and investigated the factors associated with immunity. Only 39.4% of the children had protective [>/= 10 IU/L] hepatitis B surface antibody levels [HBsAb]. This proportion decreased with age but the decrease was not statistically significant. The mean level of HBsAb decreased significantly with increasing age [P = 0.026]. A significant negative correlation was found between current age and HBsAb levels [r = -0.31, P = 0.041]. Age and weight-for-age were found to be significant predictors of non-protective HBsAb levels
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B , Hepatitis B Vaccines , Hepatitis B Antibodies , Age Factors , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
The objective of the present study was to determine the long-term reproductive effects of gestational and lactational exposure (0, 0.1, 0.5, 2.5 and 10 mg/kg/day) to genistein on male mice at levels comparable to or greater than human dietary exposures. Testicular growth, sperm count and motility, and sperm fertilizing ability in vitro was assessed in male offspring on postnatal days (PND) 105 and 315. Selected genes were also examined by real-time PCR to determine whether genistein caused changes in gene expression similar to those previously observed with diethylstilbestrol (DES). No significant treatment-related effects on male offspring body weight, anogenital distance, seminal vesicle weight or testis weight were observed. There were also no significant effects on sperm count, the percent of motile sperm or the number of motile sperm at any age. The in vitro fertilizing ability of epididymal sperm was increased significantly in the high-dose group approximately 17% (P < 0.001) on PND 105 and 315. The results indicate that developmental exposure of mice to genistein at human exposure levels does not induce adverse effects on sperm quality or changes in testicular gene expression similar to DES.
