Budd-Chiari syndrome secondary to retro-hepatic vena cava web: An unusual cause of epigastric pain.

Epigastric abdominal pain is a common indication for consultation. In the majority of cases, medical history, clinical examination and routine biological exams allow for an easy diagnosis. Sometimes the symptomatology is unusual, in which case it is essential to perform a complete clinical examination and to use various imaging techniques to search for eventual atypical causes. Membranous obstruction of inferior vena cava is a rare cause of such a phenomenon. We describe a Budd-Chiari syndrome caused by membranous obstruction of inferior vena cava in a 66-year-old woman with no medical history as a rare cause of epigastric abdominal pain. We will describe this clinical experience in the light of the literature and point out the contribution of radiological imaging in the diagnosis of this rare pathology.

Investigate the Presence of HBV Surface Antigen in Pregnant Women, Cairo City in Egypt.

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver, and hepatitis B is a common and dangerous liver disease caused by the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) of the DNA hepadnavirus family. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) considered hepatitis B infection a major health problem worldwide. One way of transmitting this disease is a transmission from a carrier mother to a child. This study aimed to investigate the presence of HBV surface antigen in pregnant women referred to Kasra Al-Aini Hospital in Cairo. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was performed on pregnant women. One thousand pregnant women were selected with their consent to participate in this study, and after preparing a blood sample, an Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay kit, used for Hepatitis B Virus surface antigen detection, a questionnaire containing questions about socio-individual characteristics. Among 1000 samples, 13 samples were equal to 1.3% had HBsAg positive. No significant relationship was found between the prevalence of HBs Ag in the city and rural location, education, occupation, age, and history of abortion in pregnant women. History of dialysis in pregnant women, tattooing, and type of job of the pregnant woman was not considered risk factors. However, injection drug users, history of previous surgery, and blood transfusion can be considered suspicious factors (P≤0.05). The prevalence of hepatitis B infection in pregnant women in Cairo was 1.3, which is lower than the study statistics in most parts of the world. However, to evaluate this amount more accurately, there is a need to conduct a study with a higher sample size.

Evaluation of HBs-Ag and anti-HBc levels in serum and saliva of patients with hepatitis B.

Background: Hepatitis B is a common infectious disease with serious complications. Health care workers (HCWs) are among the susceptible groups for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection. Hepatitis B Virus is usually diagnosed through serological tests, which are invasive and expensive. Having in mind that saliva can be seen in many cases as an indicator of serological changes, in this study we aimed to assess the specificity and sensitivity of salivary HBs-Ag and anti-HBc, as the 2 diagnostic markers of HBV infection, compared to serological results of these markers. Methods: Samples were obtained from 39 individuals diagnosed with hepatitis B and 20 healthy individuals. In this study serum HBs-Ag and anti-HBc of all the patients were evaluated by their physicians in the previous week. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected and sent to laboratory for evaluating salivary HBs-Ag and anti-HBc. Specificity and sensitivity were evaluated through data analysis by SPSS software. Results: Serum was considered as a reference test and saliva as an index test. Sensitivity and specificity for oral fluid assay were measured: Sensitivity and specificity of salivary HBs-Ag were 86% and 95%, respectively, and they were 71% and 95%, respectively, for anti-HBc. Conclusion: Our results suggest that salivary tests of HBs-Ag and anti-HBc marker could have the potential to replace serological tests for these markers.

Celiac Disease and Portal Hypertension: A Causal Association or Just a Coincidence?

INTRODUCTION: Celiac disease (CD) has been linked to portal hypertension (PHT) of varied etiology, but the causality association has never been proved. We aim to study the prevalence of CD in patients of PHT of different etiology. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted from June 2017 to December 2018 involving all the cases of PHT of varied etiology. Consecutive patients of PHT with chronic liver disease (CLD) of defined etiology like ethanol, viral hepatitis (B or C), Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS), autoimmune-related cirrhosis, and cryptogenic CLD (cCLD) (group A) and those with noncirrhotic PHT (NCPHT), which included noncirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) and extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) (group B), were screened for CD by IgA anti-tTG antibody followed by duodenal biopsy in serology-positive patients. RESULTS: Out of a total of 464 patients, group A constituted 382 patients, CLD related to ethanol (155), cCLD (147), hepatitis B (42), hepatitis C (21), autoimmune (10), and BCS (7), whereas 82 patients were in group B with NCPF (64) and EHPVO (18). Total 29 patients were diagnosed with CD in both groups, 17 in group A (4.5%) and 12 in group B (14.6%). In group A, 13 patients with cCLD, two with HBV-related CLD, one with BCS, and one with autoimmune-related CLD were concomitantly diagnosed as CD. In group B, CD was diagnosed in 12 patients of NCPF (11) and EHPVO (1). Liver histology showed chronic hepatitis in two patients and was normal in three patients. CONCLUSION: CD is common in PHT of different etiology, especially in cCLD, NCPH and autoimmune hepatitis; however, the etiological basis for this association is still to be defined. The likelihood of CD is higher in liver disease than the general population, and these patients should be screened for CD.

Occult Hepatitis Infection in Transfusion Medicine: Screening Policy and Assessment of Current Use of Anti-HBc Testing.

HBV still represents a global risk factor in transfusion medicine. The residual risk of HBV is not limited to pre-seroconversion window period but it extends to donors with occult HBV infection (OBI) characterized by the presence of HBV DNA in liver and by the absence of the virus surface antigen. Each country developed an appropriate blood screening policy according to local HBV prevalence, yields of infectious units per different screening methods and cost-effectiveness. We underline the need of maintaining a high level of attention for OBI carrier identification in all blood banks worldwide where the screening procedures are generally based on a combination of both serological markers and nucleic acid amplification test. In this context, markers such as hepatitis B surface antibodies and hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc) might be useful, although the use of this latter is highly debated and still controversial. Our aim is to give an overview on the relevant diagnostic approaches for the routine screening for HBV focusing on the feasibility of anti-HBc testing as precautionary measure in preventing OBI transmission worldwide. In our tailored algorithm, the loss of about 1% of 'anti-HBc only' donors, does not significantly affect the blood supply while improving recipient safety.

Association of chronic hepatitis B infection with metabolic syndrome and its components: Meta-analysis of observational studies.

INTRODUCTION: Observational studies evaluating the association between chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) have yielded inconclusive results. OBJECTIVE: The current meta-analysis was conducted to identify whether CHB infection plays a role in the risk of MetS and its components. METHODS: The electronic search of MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and EMBASE databases was systematically performed from their inception until February 2017 to identify all eligible studies. The most adjusted risk estimates and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of chronic hepatitis B with MetS and its components were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies, with a total sample size of 138,994,999 subjects and 35,481,231 individuals with MetS were included in this Meta-analysis. The results of pooled analysis revealed that CHB infection is related to reduced risk of MetS (OR=0.83, 95%CI=0.71-0.79, random effects), with evidence of significant heterogeneity (I2=89%, P<0.001). This association was an age, gender, and ethnicity-dependent relationship. Moreover, CHB was associated with reduced risk of elevated blood pressure, reduced HDL-cholesterol, increased fasting glucose, and, most strongly with increased triglycerides in some subgroups. The sensitivity analyses confirmed the stability of the results. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that CHB is associated with decreased risk of MetS and some of its single components.

Dietary exposure and liver cancer risk assessment of aflatoxins in foods consumed in Mongolian people / Монголын Анагаах Ухаан

This cross-sectional survey was conducted in seven district of the capital city Ulaanbaatar ofMongolia, and border post in Zamiin-Uud, and Altanbulag province from March to December 2015.A total of 380 samples including 70 flours, 114 rice’, 41 various peanuts, 15 maize and maizeproducts, 24 milks, 6 yoghurts, 39 beers, 27 dried fruits and 44 herbal teas were randomly collectedfrom supermarkets, hypermarkets, department stores, factories, and bazaars in Ulaanbaatar city,and Zamiin-Uud, and Altanbulag province.HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)were used for the total aflatoxins (B1+B2) and aflatoxin M1 detection.The survey found that (148) 38.9% of all analysed food samples were contained aflatoxins (B1+B2),and aflatoxin M1 were ranging from 0.0094 μg kg-1to 2.4μg kg-1. The levels of aflatoxins (B1+B2)were below the maximum tolerance limit in EU and worldwide regulations. Mean concentrationlevel of aflatoxins (B1+B2) was 0.17 μg kg-1 in all positive samples. Mean daily low and high foodintake were respectively, 63 g and 245 g. Based on the daily food consumption data, estimatedexposure dose of aflatoxins (B1+B2) was 0.16734 mg kg-1bw day-1 in individuals with a daily low foodintake, and 0.65078 mg kg-1bw day-1 in individuals with a daily high food intake (95th percentile). Theexposure dose of aflatoxins from daily high food intake exceeds the estimated provisional maximumtolerable daily intakes, 0.4 μg kg-1 body weight day-1 for adults with hepatitis B (Kuiper-Goodman,1998). Furthermore, estimated excess cancer risk values to liver cancer incidence by ingestion ofthese foods for aflatoxins (B1+B2) and aflatoxin M1were calculated to be 0.0448 mg kg-1bw day-1forindividuals negative for hepatitis Band 1.344 mg kg-1bw day-1 for individuals positive for hepatitis B.Thus, the findings of our survey showed that the potential hazard associated with aflatoxin in foodin Mongolia has not been serious. However, most researchers suggested that no level of aflatoxinexposure is considered safe.Conclusion: Currently, the levels of the total aflatoxins and aflatoxin M1 were lower than the maximumpermissible levels in UE and the USFDA, and worldwide regulations. Currently, estimated exposuredose of the total aflatoxins and M1aflatoxin through daily high food intake was risked in populationwith hepatitis B virus. However, in Mongolian population has not been excess liver cancer risk.

[Follow-up of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection with no indication for treatment. Ultrasound follow-up for carriers of the hepatitis B surface antigen]. / Seguimiento de los pacientes con infección crónica por virus B sin indicación de tratamiento. Seguimiento ecográfico en los portadores del antígeno de superficie del virus de la hepatitis B.

Ultrasonography enables us to easily study HBV liver disease progression. The presence of an irregular border in the liver, a hyperechoic pattern and an increase in the size of the caudate lobe are objective signs of cirrhosis. The slowing of the portal flow measured by Doppler echocardiography has a high specificity and sensitivity for establishing the noninvasive diagnosis of portal hypertension. For HBV carriers with no active replication data and no associated liver disease, the periodicity of ultrasound examinations for the early diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma has not been established. One of the limitations of this technique is the interobserver and intraobserver variability. Staff who are assigned to this technique need sufficient experience and dedication.

Reference intervals for serum creatinine levels in the healthy geriatric population.

BACKGROUND: There are few reliable reference values of enzymatically assayed serum creatinine (Scr) levels categorized within a small age interval in the healthy geriatric population. The aim of this study was to establish the reference intervals (RIs) for Scr in the elderly population. METHODS: Healthy, elderly Chinese Han ethnic individuals aged between 60 and 89 years old were recruited for this study. We stratified the reference individuals by gender and age (60-69, 70-79 and 80-89 years), and the Scr values were measured by an enzymatic method. The central 95 percentile RIs were determined using non-parametric statistical methods. RESULTS: The Scr values in the elderly population show a Gaussian distribution and age/sex related differences. The RIs for Scr in the reference population with respect to age (ranges of 60-69, 70-79 and 80-89 years) were 52.9-94.5, 57.3-106.2 and 59.0-110.8 µmol/L for males, respectively, and 44.3-75.4, 47.1-85.5 and 45.1-90.9 µmol/L for females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We have established the RIs for Scr measured with an enzymatic method in the healthy Chinese Han ethnic elderly population, which can provide a reference for both clinical and laboratory studies.

Virologic and histologic characterisation of dual hepatitis B and C co-infection in Egyptian patients.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Data about dual hepatitis C (HCV) and B (HBV) co-infection are still scarce, especially in endemic areas such as Egypt. Therefore, we aimed to characterise the virologic and histologic pattern of dual B/C co-infection in a tertiary care centre in Egypt. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After obtaining approval from the review board, a retrospective design to evaluate the data registry between January 2009 and December 2012 of patients with dual HCV and HBV seropositivity (BC-group) at the Viral Hepatitis Unit in Ministry of Health and Assiut University Hospital, Egypt was conducted. Data for hepatitis B e antigen (HBe-Ag) and anti-HB core status, anti-hepatitis delta virus (anti-HDV), HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA assays and liver biopsy (METAVIR scoring) results were collected. Two other matched groups of mono-HCV (C-group) and HBV (B-group) were selected as controls. All patients were naive for antiviral therapy. RESULTS: A total of 3300 patients were enrolled. Dual infection was observed in 25 (0.7%) patients (all males, mean=35.2±10.2years). Four patients (16%) were HBe-Ag-positive. Six (24%) patients were HBV-DNA-negative and all were positive for HCV RNA. Between groups, raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was found in 76%, 41.7% and 49.2% of the BC, B and C groups, respectively (p=0.023). HBV DNA >2000IUml(-1) was more in the B-group than in the BC-group (63.9% vs. 36%; p=0.042) and HCV RNA >800,000IUml(-1) was more in the BC-group than in the C-group (28% vs. 12.3%; p=0.009). Histologically, there is no statistical significant difference between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Dual hepatitis B/C infection is not uncommon and their virologic and histologic profile is modest. Further evaluation with regard to treatment and long-term follow-up is warranted.

Hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infection: epidemiology and risk factors in a large cohort of pregnant women in Lorestan, West of Iran.

BACKGROUND: There are little data on the prevalence of serological markers of hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses in pregnant women in Iran. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among pregnant women in Lorestan, west of Iran. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum samples of 827 pregnant women who lived in rural (36.8%) and urban areas (63.2%) of Lorestan were collected during 2007-2008. Data were obtained through questionnaires. Samples were first screened for anti-HCV and anti-HBc by ELISA. Those who were positive for anti-HBc were tested for HBsAg. RESULTS: Anti-HBc was found in 28 of 827 pregnant women (overall prevalence, 3.4%; 14 of 523 in urban areas, 2.7%; 14 of 304 in rural areas, 4.6%). Of the 28 positive samples, 6(0.7%) were positive for HBs-Ag. Only 2 samples (0.2%) were anti-HCV-positive. CONCLUSIONS: These results underscore the need for prenatal screening for HBV infection in pregnant women and treatment of newborns from HBsAg-positive mothers.More studies are needed to identify risk factors of HCV infection and highlight the importance of HCV screening and treatment programs.

Hook's effect - a rare presentation in HBsAg screening.

Detection of Hook's effect, the false negative results in HBs Ag immunoassay screening. Two drops of donor's serum was added to the sample well of hepacard device using a dropper and was allowed to react for 20 minutes and results read thereafter. The hepacard device when read after 20 minutes showed only one distinct pink test line and no control line. Serial dilutions (1:10, 1: 20) of the donors sample in normal saline was done and the test was re-run. Sample in 1: 10 dilution showed both control and faint pink test line, which intensified to pink band in 1: 20 diluted sample. The goal in the immunoassay detection of HBsAg should be to minimize erroneous results; so as not to endanger patient health and the blood supply.

Influencia del Aloe vera L. sobre la respuesta inmune humoral de ratones Balb/C inmunizados contra el virus de la hepatitis B / Influence of Aloe vera L. on the immune humoral response of Balb/C mice immunized against the hepatitis B virus

Se realizó un estudio utilizando el extracto acuoso de Aloe vera L. para determinar su actividad inmunogénica en ratones Bal/C inmunizados con la vacuna recombinante contra hepatitis B (Herbiovac HB) de producción nacional. Específicamente se evaluó la latencia, la intensidad, la durabilidad y la memoria inmunológica a través de extracciones que se les hicieron en varios tiempos (3, 5, 27 semanas, 1 año y 15 días después de los 2 últimos tiempos); la muestra obtenida fue procesada mediante micro ELISA tipo sandwich para cuantificar anticuerpos contra el virus de la hepatitis B (anti HB). Se trabajó con 2 grupos de trabajo (control y tratamiento con Aloe) a los que se les inoculó por vía subcutánea solución salina y extracto acuoso inyectable de Aloe B M respectivamente durante 21 días. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que todos los animales sero-convirtieron y tuvieron hiper-respuesta; además se encontró elevación de la respuesta humoral con presencia de los títulos de anticuerpos protectores después del año. Los estudios de anatomía patológica a los órganos primarios y secundarios de la respuesta inmune denotaron proliferación celular en timo y aumento del área de células B en el bazo.

A study was conducted by using the aqueous extract of Aloe vera L. to determine its immunogenic activity on Balb/C mice immunized with the recombinant vaccine against hepatitis B (Herbiovac HB) of national production. The latency, intensity, durability and the immunological memory were evaluated through extractions made at different times (3, 5, 27 weeks, 1 year and 15 days after the last 2 times). The sample obtained was processed by sandwich micro ELISA to quantify antibodies against the hepatitis B virus (anti HB). The control group and the group treated with Aloe were inoculated saline solution and injectable aqueous extract of Aloe B M by subcutaneous route, respectively, during 21 days. The results attained showed that all the seroconverted animals and had a hyperresponse. Elevation of the humoral response with presence of titers of protective antibodies was found after a year. The studies of pathological anatomy undertaken in the primary and secondary organisms of the immune response showed cellular proliferation in the thymus and increase of the area of B cells in the spleen.

Three Cases with Cutaneous Polyarteritis Nodosa / 대한류마티스학회지

Systemic polyarteritis nodosa is a necrotizing vasculitis that involves small and medium-sized muscular arteries in the multiple organ systems, whereas cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (CPAN) is a localized disease characterized by necrotizing vasculitis of small and medium-sized arteries in the skin without life-threatening organ involvement. CPAN is usually limited to skin, muscle, and joints. It is chronic but takes a benign course. The most common cutaneous manifestations include nodules, ulcers and a livedo reticularis pattern on the extremities. We describe three cases with CPAN showing necrotizing vasculitis on the skin without systemic symptoms or visceral involvement. In Korea, most previously published cases with CPAN have shown a good response to a short term of corticosteroids or colchicine administration. However, two of our three patients required another immunosuppressive agent in addition to corticosteroids to manage their intractable skin lesions, and the remaining one showed a good response to a short course of prednisolone. In addition, there was one patient with CPAN having hepatitis B surface antigen, which might be associated with his refractory skin disease.

Subtypes of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Among Chronic Liver Disease / 영남의대학술지

Four subtypes of hepatitis B surface antigen are useful in the epidemiologic studies of the route of virus transmission and clinical significance of simultaneous occurance of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen in the same serum as well as useful marker for population migration. The sera were obtained from 214 HBs Ag positive patients who are diagnosed as chronic liver disease and following up in the Yeungnam university hospital. The subtypes were determined by solid-phase sandwich EM using monoclonal antibodies. Among 214 specimens, the subtype adr was 93.9%, adw was 2.8%, ayr was 0.9%, ar was 0.9%, adwr was 1.4% and ayw was not detected. There were no correlation between subtype pattern and disease. In summary, the subtype adr was prominent in our study and the difference of subtype pattern by severity of disease was not significant. However, to determine the prognostic value of HBs Ag subtype and relationship between subtype and disease progression, long-term follow up will be needed.

Immunohistochemical Investigation on Expression of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen, Transforming Growth Factor-alpha, and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

In an attempt to evaluate the expression of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBs Ag), transforming growth factor-ct(TGF-alpha), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC), an immunohistochemical investigation(ABC method) was performed using 31 surgically resected HCCS. The authors examined the expression rate and patterns, histopathologic correlation, and inter-relationships among these expressions. The results were summarized as follows. 1) Among 25 seropositive HCCS, 15 cases showed tissue expression of HBs Ag(60.0%), being expressed as a predominantly cytoplasmic pattern. Its expression rate in low grade HCC was significantly high(76.9%), in contrast to a low rate in high grade HCC(41.7%)(P<0.05). Adjacent nonenoplatic tissue showed a higher expression rate(82.6%). 2) TGF-alpha was expressed in 23 of 31 cases of HCC(74.3%). The intensity and extent of its expression did not correlate tyros with histopathologic features. Bile duct epithelium, juxtaposed and/or entrapped liver cells, and cirrhotic nodules were variably expressed, of which intense peripheral reaction within the nodules was frequently noted. 3) PCNA was expressed throughout the neoplastic tissue of HCC. Its index was significantly high(34.4 13.6), being compared to low index index(3.5 2. 1) in the nonneoplastic tissue(P<0.005). High grade tumors revealed a higher index than the low grade tumors(P<0.05). Conclusively, this data confirms that PCNA index offers useful information about cell proliferation associated with histologic degrees of malignancy of HCC, albeit TGF-alpha is also involved in cellular proliferation of both liver cell and bile duct epithelium. Changes in incidence and cellular localization of HBs Ag expression between the neoplastic and nonneoplastic tissues suggest that an integrated viral genome could be functionally altered during hepatocarcinogenesis. A significant inter-relationship among these expressions was not observed.

Analysis of The Test Results about The Disease Possibly Transmitted by Donor Eye

We analyzed the result of the tests about HBs Ag, HCv Ag, HIV Ag and VDRL in the blood of the donor and evaluated sex and age distribution, cause of death of the donor, which were obtained from Central Eye Bank at St. Mary's Hospital from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1994. 1. Hepatitis B surface Ag in the blood was positive in 13 donors(4.80%) and Hepatitis C Ag was in 4 donors(1.48%). 2. VDRL test in the blood was positive in 11 donors(4.06%) and HIV Ag was in 1 donor(0.37%). 3. In sex and age distribution, 128 donors(47.23%) were male and 3 donors(52.77%) were from 71 to 80 years was the major group of donors(67 donors: 24.72%). 4. The most common cause of death was respiratory disease(94 donors: 34.69%) and then tumor(76 donors: 28.04%), circulatory disease(66 donors: 24.35%), metabolic disease (19 donors: 7.01%), infection(9 donors: 3.32%) and trauma(7 donors: 2.58%).