ABSTRACT
HCV infection is known to be associated with clinical complications in thalassemic patients. D and H genotypes of SEN virus (SENV) are associated with blood-product transfusion and possibly non-A-to-E hepatitis. In this study, SENV viremia and its effect on liver ALT level in thalassemic patients, thalassemic patients infected with HCV, and HCV-infected patients were examined. Semi-nested PCR was conducted for detection of genotype H and D DNA, and the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was measured. There was no significant difference in the mean ALT level in the studied groups and between SENV-positive and SENV-negative individuals. The results also showed that SENV infection does not affect the ALT level in these patients.
Subject(s)
DNA Virus Infections/diagnosis , DNA Virus Infections/virology , Hepacivirus/isolation & purification , Hepatitis C/complications , Thalassemia/complications , Torque teno virus/isolation & purification , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Phylogeny , Torque teno virus/classification , Torque teno virus/genetics , Viremia , Young AdultABSTRACT
HCV infection is a leading cause of chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis of the liver. There are at least six major genotypes and more than 50 subtypes of HCV. The prevalence and distribution of HCV genotypes depend on geographical location. The aim of this study was to identify and compare the HCV genotypes in HCV infected blood donors and patients. In this cross-sectional study, 167 serum samples from 103 blood donors and 64 patients with hepatitis C were investigated for HCV genotypes. HCV genotyping was carried out using type-specific primers from the core region of the viral genome. The highest frequency was for genotype 1a, with 53 and 34 (51.5% versus 53.1%) of subjects in blood donors and patients respectively. Genotype 3a and 1b were the other frequent genotypes with 4 and 16 (3.9% versus 25%) and 39 and 10 (37.9% versus 15.6%) subjects, respectively. There was not any statistical significant association between the place of infection of the patients and genotype. The results of this study indicate that the distribution of genotypes in the two populations was similar. The dominant HCV genotypes between blood donors and patients were 1a, 3a and 1b respectively.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: In thalassemic children, HBV infection is common, thus immunization against HBV will reduce and prevent the rate of infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of HBV immunization and the prevalence of HBV infection in beta-thalassemic children in Tehran. METHODS: To assess the efficacy of immunization and determine the immune response of children with beta-thalassemia, sera of 99 children who had received three doses (10/20 µg) of recombinant HBV vaccine in months 0, 1, 6, were selected and tested for HBsAg, HBsAb and anti-HBc by ELISA method. Also, these sera were tested for HBV DNA using nested-PCR method. FINDINGS: In 99 beta-thalassemic children, 89 (89.9 %) were anti-HBs positive (responders) and 10 (10.1%) anti-HBs negative (non-responders). 3 (3.03%) were anti-HBc positive and 1(1.01%) was HBsAg positive. HBV DNA was not detected in any of them. CONCLUSION: Our results have revealed that hepatitis B vaccine is highly immunogenic for thalassemic children and particularly well tolerated.
ABSTRACT
Many investigations have proved relations between ABO blood groups with some diseases and factor VIII and von willebrand level in plasma. In this study we investigated a relation between ABO blood groups and factor VIII and IX inhibitors in 102 patients with haemophilia A and 48 patients with haemophilia B. The assay of inhibitor was done by Bethesda method. There were no relation between ABO blood groups and factor VIII and IX inhibitors.
Subject(s)
ABO Blood-Group System/blood , Factor IX/antagonists & inhibitors , Factor VIII/antagonists & inhibitors , Hemophilia A/blood , Hemophilia B/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
This study was conducted to measure cell-mediated immune response in healthy Epstein Barr virus (EBV)-seropositive individuals using a tissue culture "growth inhibition" assay (regression assay) where peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were tested for their ability to inhibit the outgrowth of the autologous lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Inhibition of the outgrowth of the autologous LCLs was seen after 4 weeks by the addition of PBLs from healthy EBV seropositive donors. The regression phenomenon was never seen when the donors of peripheral blood lymphocytes were EBV- seronegative. Regression assay showed that EBV- specific memory T cells were stable in healthy EBV seropositive over many years, which indicates the persistent nature of EBV infection.
