Photocatalysis effect of nanometer TiO2 and TiO2-coated ceramic plate on Hepatitis B virus.

The photocatalysis effect of nanometer TiO2 particles and TiO2-coated ceramic plate on Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) was investigated. The ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) standard method was used to assess the efficiency of TiO2 material to destroy the HBsAg. The research has shown that the suspension of TiO2 (0.5g/L) can destroy most of the HBsAg under the irradiation of mercury lamp, with the light intensity of 0.6mW/cm(2) at 365nm wavelength, or under the sunlight irradiation for a few hours. TiO2-coated ceramic plates can also destroy the HBsAg under the irradiation of mercury lamp, with the light intensity of 0.05mW/cm(2) at 365nm wavelength or under the room daylight for a few hours.

Antiviral activity of 1,7-disulphoanthraquinone.

The antiviral activity of 1,7-disulphoanthraquinone (DSA) against hepatitis B viruses was investigated by measuring the titer of HBV surface antigen in the treated serum obtained from the blood of patients with acute infection. The presence of HBsAg was tested by the Vitek Immuno Diagnostic Assay System (VIDAS). The concentration of DSA in the samples was equal to 0.01, 0.1 and 1%, respectively. The results presented clearly showed an extensive disintegration of the virus envelope at elevated temperatures, which resulted in a substantial decrease in the concentration of HBsAg in the serum containing DSA. The concentration of HBsAg decreased also upon UV irradiation of the serum containing DSA in a photochemical reactor for 5 to 15 min, but the effect of degradation was not complete.

[Possibilities of using UV-irradiated blood in the prevention of serum hepatitis after blood transfusions during surgery]. / Vozmozhnosti ispol'zovaniia UF-oblucheniia krovi v profilaktike syvorotochnogo gepatita pri gemotransfuziiakh v khirurgii.

It was shown in 31 samples of donor blood containing HBsAg that independent of the irradiation dose HBsAg was not detected in 66.7% of the photomodified blood when using short wave UV radiation. Long-wave UV radiation provides disappearance of HBsAg in 50%. A conclusion is made on expedience of irradiation of the donor blood with ultraviolet rays before transfusion.

[Effect of gamma radiation on the components of hepatitis B virus and the delta antigen]. / Vliianie gamma-izlucheniia na komponenty virusa gepatitia B i del'ta-antigen.

The influence of ionizing irradiation on the serological activity of purified HBsAg, receptors to polymerized albumin, DNA-polymerase activity, delta agent, and delta antigen was studied. Different radiosensitivity of hepatitis B virus components and delta-system was demonstrated. The possibility of sterilization by irradiation of purified HBsAg preparations suitable for construction of a vaccine against hepatitis B was shown.

The relationship of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibody to atomic bomb radiation in the Adult Health Study sample, 1975-1977.

A frequency of positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBs) was determined among 2566 atomic bomb survivors in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan during the two-year period 1975 to 1977. The frequency of positive HBsAg (79% of subjects remained persistently antigen positive) was significantly higher in those exposed to 100 rad or more than in the controls. This difference between exposure groups was more marked among the younger age groups. However, contrary to expectation, there was no difference between the dose groups in the distribution by high vs. low titers among the antigen-positive individuals. There was no difference between the two comparison groups in the occurrence of positive anti-HBs reactions (prevalence of hepatitis B virus). The above findings suggest that immune competence, using the prevalence of positive HBsAg as an index, is depressed in the high dose group, but further study, including follow-up of those with persistent positive HBsAg reactions, is called for. With respect to HBsAg subtypes, adr occurs with higher and adw with lower frequency in Nagasaki than in Hiroshima, corresponding to earlier reports for the Japan archipelago of reverse and complementary distributions of these two subtypes.