Hepatitis Monthly

2/8/2017

Review Article

Estimating the Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Exposure Among General Population in Iran

Behzad Hajarizadeh, Bita Mesgarpour, Mohammad Javad Nasiri, Seyed Moayed Alavian, Shahin Merat, Hossein Poustchi, Reza Malekzadeh, Abbas Sedaghat, Ali Akbar Haghdoost

DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.11715

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Methods: MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Scientific Information Database were searched for studies assessing the prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) or hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc Ab) among the general population between 2006 and 2016 in at least one city of Iran. National prevalence was estimated by two methods. Method 1 used only prevalence estimates of provinces with available survey data. In method 2, all provinces were classified based on the risk of HBV infection among blood donors. HBV prevalence in provinces with missing data was extrapolated from the provinces with available data, and with comparable risk of HBV infection among blood donors. In both methods, national prevalence was estimated using pooled provincial prevalence estimates, weighted by the province population size.

Results: Thirteen studies from 12 provinces were included. The prevalence of HBs Ag and anti-HBc Ab varied markedly across provinces. Provincial HBs Ag prevalence ranged from 0.76% to 5.10% (I-square = 91.7%) and provincial anti-HBc Ab prevalence ranged from 4.17% to 36.90% (I-square = 99.3%). Using method 1, the national prevalence of HBs Ag and anti-HBc Ab was estimated as 1.84% (95%CI: 1.61%, 2.09%), and 13.59% (95%CI: 12.92%, 14.29%), respectively. Using method 2, the national prevalence of HBs Ag was estimated as 1.79% (95% uncertainty range: 1.67%, 1.91%), equating to 1,347,000 (1,253,000 - 1,434,000) individuals living with chronic HBV infection in Iran. The prevalence of HBs Ag and anti-HBc Ab was higher among men compared to women.

4/8/2017

Review Article

Resveratrol: Is It Really Good for Liver Health?

Sabine Weiskirchen, Ralf Weiskirchen

DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.12074

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Context: Resveratrol is a natural occurring stilbene present in a limited number of dietary food products and beverages. It is assumed that resveratrol has health-promoting effects by lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, improving microcirculation, and inhibiting platelet aggregation. Altogether, these beneficial effects lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. The “French paradox” assumes that a diet with moderate consumption of red wine lowers the risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Based on its healthful activities, a large number of studies were performed during the last decades investigating potential biological effects of resveratrol on liver homeostasis and its potential application as a hepatoprotective drug.

4/8/2017

Review Article

Risk of HBV Reactivation in Patients Infected with HBV/HCV Treated with DAA

Malgorzata Pawlowska, Krzysztof Domagalski

DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.12317

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The exact number of HBV/HCV co-infected patients is unknown. In many cases of HBV/HCV co-infection, HCV inhibits replication of HBV. After treatment and eradication of the dominant virus, the other one may then become active. The overall dominant effect appears to be hepatitis C over hepatitis B. Therefore, when planning treatment for eradication of HCV, the risk of HBV reactivation should be taken into account. In interferon-based therapies of patients with HBV/HCV co-infection, some cases of HBV reactivation without hepatitis were observed because IFN is effective against both viruses. In contrast, DAA treatment of hepatitis C in HBV/HCV co-infection is not well established. Currently, no clinical trials have been published regarding treatment of HBV/HCV co-infected patients with HCV DAA therapy. There is several research on HCV DAA therapy in HBV/HCV co-infection, which describes cases of HBV reactivation during and after DDA therapy for HCV. Result of the first available studies demonstrated that patients with HBV/HCV co-infection treated with DAA against HCV should be monitored for HBV reactivation during and after DAA treatment, even though HBV may be inactive at the time of treatment initiation.

16/7/2017

Review Article

Exosome: An Emerging Participant in the Development of Liver Disease

Pengyi Guo, Haitao Yu, Yi Wang, Xiaozai Xie, Gang Chen

DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.58021

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30/5/2017

Research Article

Hepatitis B Virus Genotypes, Epidemiological Characteristics, and Clinical Presentation of HBV Chronic Infection in Immigrant Populations Living in Southern Italy

Evangelista Sagnelli, Loredana Alessio, Caterina Sagnelli, Luciano Gualdieri, Mariantonietta Pisaturo, Carmine Minichini, Giovanni Di Caprio, Mario Starace, Lorenzo Onorato, Margherita Macera, Gaetano Scotto, Nicola Coppola

DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.13260

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Results: Of the 1727 investigated immigrants, 170 (9.8%) were HBsAg-positive. These 170 subjects, prevalently males (86.5%), aged 31.0 ± 8.5 years and living in Italy for nearly 2.5 years, prevalently (80%) from sub-Saharan Africa. HBV DNA was detected in 113 (66.5%) and HBV genotypes in 109 subjects: genotype E in 69.9%, genotype A in 16.5%, genotype D in 11.9%, and genotype C in 2.7%. Genotype E was detected in 70 (83.3%) out of 84 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and in 5 from the other areas. Of these 75, 16% were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive and none circulated anti-hepatitis D virus (HDV); 69.3% were inactive HBV carriers, 22.7% had chronic hepatitis and 8% cirrhosis with multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 2 patients. Half of the 18 subjects with genotype A, prevalently from sub-Saharan Africa (61%), were inactive HBV carriers, 7 had chronic hepatitis, and 1 had liver cirrhosis. Of the 13 subjects with genotype D, prevalently from Eastern Europe or India-Pakistan subcontinent, 8 were HBV inactive carriers and 5 had chronic hepatitis.

9/8/2017

Research Article

Transient Elastography in Methotrexate Administered Patients

Fariborz Mansour-Ghanaei, Ali Erfani, Afshin Shafaghi, Farahnaz Joukar, Asghar Hajiabasi, Habib Zayeni, Abbas Darjani, Zahra Atrkar Roushan, Alireza Mansour-Ghanaei, Ehsan Hajipour Jafroudi

DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.57917

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Results: The assessment of steatosis using FibroScan showed mild, moderate, and severe stenosis in 15.8%, 13.9%, and 26.7%, respectively. With regards to grading of hepatic fibrosis, 67.0% were graded as F0 to F1, 7.0% as F2, 7.0% as F2 to F3, 2.0% as F3, 11.0% as F3 to F4, and 6.0% as F4. A significant association was found between body mass index, waist circumferences, and fibrosis. The association between the severity of hepatic fibrosis and indices of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and serum albumin was significant. No relationship was revealed between the severity of hepatic fibrosis and MTX dosage as well as duration of MTX use.

9/8/2017

Brief Report

Pediatric Hepatocellular Carcinoma, a Single Center Study from the South of Iran: Case Series

Bita Geramizadeh, Ali Kashkooe, Ali Bahador, Seyed Mohsen Dehghani, Alireza Shamsaeefar, Kurosh Kazemi, Seyed Ali Malekhosseini

DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.11837

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Hepatitis Monthly

Published by: Kowsar

Hepatitis Monthly: Aug 2017, 17 (8), 7 articles.