HBsAg Positivity Research Articles

Hepatitis D seroprevalence: An alarming situation and war without weapon.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of HDV in HBs Ag positive patients and the burden of true viral hepatitis infection (viremia) as evidenced by detectable either HBV DNA and/or HDV RNA (single or dual infection). Study Design: Cross-sectional Observational Study. Setting: Al-Tibri Medical College Hospital, Karachi, and OPD Saylani Welfare Trust, Karachi. Period: August 2021 to July 2022. Material & Methods: All patients of both genders with HBsAg positivity were included in the study. All included subjects underwent a process of evaluation through history, physical examination, baseline or specific laboratory tests of Anti HDV Ab and PCR for detection of HBV DNA and HDV RNA, if applicable, followed by classification of subjects as follows: group I: Only HBs Ag positive (no active infection), group II: HBs Ag positive along with HBV DNA detected by PCR (HBV infection), group III: HBs Ag and Anti HDV Ab positive but no HBV or HDV viremia (no active infection), group IV: Both HBs Ag and Anti HDV Ab positive with HBV viremia (HBV infection), group V: Both HBs Ag and Anti HDV Ab are positive for HDV viremia (HDV infection), and group VI: Both HBs Ag and Anti HDV Ab positive with both HBV and HDV viremia (Dual infection). Results: A total of 237 subject’s data were analyzed with a mean age of 29.03±9.262 years (range of 12 to 66 years), with males 143 (60.3%) and females 94 (39.7%), but dual infection was more prevalent in females, but statistically these differences turned out to be insignificant (p-0.061). According to age group, almost 89.5% of subjects were below the age of 40, while only 10.5 % were >40 years of age. Another significant finding in our results was that all 11 subjects in group VI (with dual viral infection) were under the age of 40 years. and this difference was statistically significant too (p 0.001), as shown in Table I. Conclusion: Our study highlighted that HDV is still prevalent in our part of the world and that it mainly affects younger age groups. Hence, it demands an urgent, extensive screening campaign of the masses to assess the exact HDV burden and offer preventive measures, including a vaccine against HBV. Otherwise, due to deficient treatment options, we have to lose the battle because this is the war and we are without weapons.

Prediction model of radiotherapy outcome for Ocular Adnexal Lymphoma using informative features selected by chemometric algorithms

Background:Ocular Adnexal Lymphoma (OAL) is a non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that most often appears in the tissues near the eye, and radiotherapy is the currently preferred treatment. There has been a controversy regarding the prognostic factors for systemic failure of OAL radiotherapy, the thorough evaluation prior to receiving radiotherapy is highly recommended to better the patient’s prognosis and minimize the likelihood of any adverse effects. Purpose:To investigate the risk factors that contribute to incomplete remission in OAL radiotherapy and to establish a hybrid model for predicting the radiotherapy outcomes in OAL patients. Methods:A retrospective chart review was performed for 87 consecutive patients with OAL who received radiotherapy between Feb 2011 and August 2022 in our center. Seven image features, derived from MRI sequences, were integrated with 122 clinical features to form comprehensive patient feature sets. Chemometric algorithms were then employed to distill highly informative features from these sets. Based on these refined features, SVM and XGBoost classifiers were performed to classify the effect of radiotherapy. Results:The clinical records of from 87 OAL patients (median age: 60 months, IQR: 52–68 months; 62.1% male) treated with radiotherapy were reviewed. Analysis of Lasso (AUC = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.72–0.77) and Random Forest (AUC = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.62–0.70) algorithms revealed four potential features, resulting in an intersection AUC of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.75–0.82). Logistic Regression (AUC = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.72–0.77) identified two features. Furthermore, the integration of chemometric methods such as CARS (AUC = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.62–0.72), UVE (AUC = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.66–0.75), and GA (AUC = 0.65, 95% CI: 0.60–0.69) highlighted six features in total, with an intersection AUC of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.78–0.83). These features included enophthalmos, diplopia, tenderness, elevated ALT count, HBsAg positivity, and CD43 positivity in immunohistochemical tests. Conclusion:The findings suggest the effectiveness of chemometric algorithms in pinpointing OAL risk factors, and the prediction model we proposed shows promise in helping clinicians identify OAL patients likely to achieve complete remission via radiotherapy. Notably, patients with a history of exophthalmos, diplopia, tenderness, elevated ALT levels, HBsAg positivity, and CD43 positivity are less likely to attain complete remission after radiotherapy. These insights offer more targeted management strategies for OAL patients. The developed model is accessible online at: https://lzz.testop.top/.

P549 Liver stiffness assessed with TE-CAP tends to increase with longer duration of disease in Crohn’s disease: A prospective cohort study for the evaluation of hepatic abnormalities in inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract Background Intestinal mucosal injury is supposed to cause liver disease and abnormal liver profiles are frequently observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Therefore, we investigated the hepatic manifestations of IBD in Korea. Methods A prospective cohort for the evaluation of hepatic abnormalities in IBD was established at Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Busan, Korea in 2018. From December 2018 to June 2023, patients who diagnosed with IBD were consecutively enrolled and conducted both abdominal sonography and transient elastography-controlled attenuation parameter (TE-CAP) with liver function tests, viral tests, lipid profiles, and fecal calprotectin. Results Three hundred twelve (138 Crohn's disease, CD, 174 ulcerative colitis, UC, and 200 men) patients were enrolled. Mean ages (years old) were 46.4 in UC and 37.5 in CD. Mean body mass indexes, BMIs were 23.1 in UC and 21.9 in CD. Mean CAP (dB/m) score was 222.439 (±55.375) [UC 232.408 (±53.476), CD 209.869 (±55.358)]. Mean E (kPa) value was 4.481 (±1.801) [UC 4.496 (±2.028), CD 4.461 (±1.474)]. Mean fecal calprotectins were 982 in UC and 1160 in CD. The mean durations of disease (months) were 36.8 in UC and 44.0 in CD. In abdominal sonography, abnormal findings in gallbladder were found 38/169 (22.4%) in UC and 38/137 (27.7%) in CD (P=0.834). (Table 1) HBs Ag positivity was 7/173 (4.0%) in UC, 5/138 (3.6%) in CD (P=0.847). Anti-HBs was positive in 115/173 (66.4%) in UC and 68/138 (49.2%) in CD (P=0.002). Anti-HBc IgG was positive in 46/112 (29.1%) in UC and 17/130 (13.0%) in CD (P=0.001). Anti-HCV was positive in 0/173 (0.0%) in UC and 3/138 (2.1%) in CD (P=0.051). In UC patients, CAP value was associated with BMI (r=0.498, P<0.0001), triglyceride (TG) (r=0.264, P<0.0001), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (r=0.162, P=0.033). E value was related to BMI (r=0.267, P<0.0001). In CD patients, CAP value was associated with BMI (r=0.661, P<0.0001), total cholesterol (r=0.290, P=0.001), TG (r=0.286, P=0.001), LDL (r=0.217, P=0.011) and fecal calprotectin (r=-0.343, P<0.0001). E value was associated with total bilirubin (r=0.369, P<0.0001), ALP (r=0.236, P=0.005), r-GTP (r=0.318, P<0.0001), AST (r=0.384, P<0.0001), ALT (r=0.277, P<0.001) and disease duration (r=0.239, P=0.005). In CD patients with a disease duration of more than 1 year, the E value was confirmed to increase gradually as the disease period lengthened (r=0.346, P=0.004). (Figure 1) Conclusion In CD patients, liver stiffness tends to increase with longer duration of disease or active liver inflammation. Both UC and CD patients, fatty liver may occur attributed to abnormal metabolic profiles. In addition, there is a need to encourage HBV vaccination in IBD patients in HBV endemic area, especially in UC patients.

P264 The utility of ANCA in Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Taiwan

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes two chronic idiopathic inflammatory diseases: ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn disease (CD). The diagnosis of IBD depends on clinical, endoscopic, histological, radiological and biochemical criteria, which may be invasive, time consuming and usually not accepted by patients with IBD. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) is believed to be related to IBD. The aim of this study was to investigate these serological markers and the evidence for their use in the diagnosis and management of IBD in Taiwan. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study in adult IBD patients who had received the serum examinations using the medical records of China Medical University Hospital between 1 January 1980 and 31 October. 2023. Results A total of 301 IBD patients (194 with UC, 107 with CD) were included in this current study. A high proportion were male (IBD 70.41%; UC 65.63%, and CD 76.71%). The mean diagnostic age of these enrolled patients was 42.9 years. In our patients, the prevalence of positive anti-HCV Ab is 0.0% in UC patients and 0.96% in CD patients. However, the prevalence of positive HBsAg was 14.5% in UC patients and 9.4% in CD patients. The prevalence of pANCA was 21.2% in UC patients and 1.4% in CD patients, respectively. The prevalence of cANCA was 3.1% in UC patients and 0.0% in CD patients. This pattern of low sensitivity and high specificity for pANCA is also seen in UC patients in various cohort studies. The serum positivity of p-ANCA was significantly higher in UC patients (Figure 1). UC patients with positive p-ANCA were older than CD patients with positive p-ANCA (44.9 vs. 37.3 years). Furthermore, we found that the incidence of positive p-ANCA in UC patients with E1, E2, and E3 at diagnosis was 3.5%, 39.2%, and 57.1%, respectively (Table 1). The serum levels of ANCA-IgG were indeed higher in patients in the severe group than those in the moderate and mild groups. Conclusion Serological biomarkers have been demonstrated to be a series of rapid, non-invasive approaches for assessments of early diagnosis, disease activity and prognosis for IBD. ANCA may be helpful in the early diagnosis of UC and in differentiating it from CD. UC patients with positive ANCA have a higher rate of intestinal mucosal vasculitis than UC patients with negative ANCA. Furthermore, ANCA may also contributes to the pathogenesis of HBV-related systemic vasculitis. Therefore, the management of HBV-related vasculitis includes control the immune complex formation and reaction as well as antiviral agents to reduce the antigenic load resulting in reduction of inflammation. Moreover, effective biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity need to be investigated in the future.

Associations of five blood heavy metals with hepatitis B virus infection and immunity in adults: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundHeavy metal pollution has emerged as a significant concern for human health, prompting increased awareness of its potential adverse effects. While previous research has established a connection between heavy metals and liver function biomarkers, the specific relationship between heavy metals and HBV infection remains unexplored. This cross-sectional study aims to investigate the potential correlations between five blood heavy metals - lead, cadmium, mercury, manganese, and selenium - and the presence of HBsAg, HBsAb, and HBcAb in adults.MethodsThe study utilized data from NHANES 2007–2018. Participants were classified into four groups based on their infectious status, and the association between heavy metals and HBV infection was analyzed using multiple logistic regression and stratification analysis.ResultsA total of 8431 participants were included, with 5 436 classified as Susceptible, 1 765 as Vaccinated, 865 as Natural Infection, and 103 as Acute/Chronic HBV Infection. The Vaccinated group exhibited a lower mean age (34.52 ± 14.16 years) compared to the other groups. Statistically significant differences in heavy metal concentrations (except selenium) were observed among the groups (P < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates, lead was significantly associated with HBV infection (Q2: OR 2.37, 95%CI 1.04–5.39; Q3: OR 2.34, 95%CI 1.01–5.40), and positive trends were observed for high blood concentrations of mercury (Q4: OR 3.03, 95%CI 1.31–7.04) and manganese (Q4: OR 2.52, 95%CI 1.20–5.28). Furtherly, the presence of lead reduced the protection of HBsAb (Q2: OR 0.84, 95%CI 0.73–0.97; Q3: OR 0.77, 95%CI 0.66–0.90; Q4: OR 0.83, 95%CI 0.70–0.98). Subgroup analysis indicated that cadmium was associated with an increased risk of HBV infection in Asians (OR 1.36, 95%CI 1.03–1.78) and individuals with a BMI range of 25 to 30 (OR 1.60, 95%CI 1.17–2.18).ConclusionsThe study’s findings suggest a correlation between elevated blood Pb concentrations and reduced immunization rates against hepatitis B. Individuals with a positive HBsAg exhibit lower blood Se concentrations and higher blood Hg and Mn concentrations.

Liver and atherosclerotic risks of patients with cryptogenic steatotic liver disease.

In 2023, a new nomenclature of "metabolic associated steatotic liver disease" (MASLD) has emerged by incorporating cardio-metabolic criteria to redefine "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease" (NAFLD). Among steatotic liver disease (SLD), those having no known causes and without any one of cardio-metabolic criteria are deemed to have cryptogenic SLD. This study aims to compare the liver and atherosclerotic risks between MASLD and cryptogenic SLD patients. We analyzed participants with liver ultrasound data from the Taiwan Bio-Bank cohort, excluding those with positive HBsAg, positive anti-HCV, or "frequent drinker". MASLD involves hepatic steatosis and any of five cardiometabolic risk factors, whereas cryptogenic SLD features hepatic steatosis without these risk factors. Liver fibrosis severity was assessed by using NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS), while atherosclerosis was determined by carotid plaques on duplex ultrasound. Among 17,595 subjects (age 55.47 ± 10.41; males 31.8%), 7538 participants (42.8%) had SLD, comprising 96.5% of MASLD and 3.5% of cryptogenic SLD. Cryptogenic SLD patients are younger and had a lower percentage of male than those with MASLD. After propensity score matching for age and sex, patients with cryptogenic SLD exhibited milder glucose and lipid profiles, fewer carotid plaques, lower liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis markers than those with MASLD. In this large population-based study, cryptogenic SLD, the excluded group, occupy only 3.5% in NAFLD patients. It has lower liver and atherosclerotic risks than MASLD, supporting its exclusion from NAFLD and justifying the rationale for the new disease name and diagnostic criteria of MASLD.

Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation with Immunosuppression: A Hidden Threat?

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in the setting of immunosuppressive therapy is an increasingly recognized and preventable cause of elevated liver enzymes and clinical hepatitis in treated patients. However, not all immunosuppressive therapies confer the same risk. The purpose of this article was to review the literature on risks of HBV reactivation associated with immunosuppressive agents and propose a management algorithm. We searched Google Scholar, PubMed, and MEDLINE for studies related to hepatitis B reactivation and various immunosuppressive agents. The risk of HBV reactivation was found to differ by agent and depending on whether a patient had chronic HBV (HBsAg+) or past HBV (HBsAg-, anti-HBc+). The highest risk of reactivation (>10%) was associated with anti-CD20 agents and hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Multiple societies recommend HBV-specific anti-viral prophylaxis for patients with positive HBsAg prior to the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy, while the guidance for HBsAg- patients is more variable. Clinicians should check HBV status prior to beginning an immune-suppressive therapy. Patients with positive HBsAg should be initiated on antiviral prophylaxis in the majority of cases, whereas HBsAg- individuals should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Further research is required to determine the optimum duration of therapy.

Seroconversion among children with HBsAg-positive mothers in Indonesia and factors affecting the anti-HBs titers

Background and aimAround 2% of newborns are at risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection from their mothers. To prevent this, infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers are given hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and hepatitis B (HB) vaccine as immunoprophylaxis. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of immunoprophylaxis in infants born to HBsAg-positive mothers and the contributing factors. MethodsThe study was conducted on a group of 87 children, ranging from nine months to under 36 months, born to HBsAg-positive mothers and received immunoprophylaxis within 24 h after birth followed by a national immunization schedule at the Community Health Center (CHC) in three administrative cities of DKI Jakarta. We measured the levels of HBsAg and anti-HBs, and utilized ordinal logistic regression models to identify factors that influence the anti-HBs titers after vaccination. ResultsOut of 87 children, only one child had positive HBsAg results. The data showed that 88.5% of the children had seroprotection with anti-HBs levels ≥10 mIU/mL. Additionally, 48.3% of the children had a high protective response with anti-HBs levels ≥100 mIU/mL, while 11.5% had a non-protective response. Children under one year of age, with a family history of HBV carriers, and who received five doses of the HB vaccine exhibited higher levels of anti-HBs titer category with adjusted OR 3.9 (95%CI: 1.3–11.6), 5.3 (95%CI: 1.1–27.4), and 8.3 (95%CI: 2–34.8), respectively. ConclusionThe administration of HBIG and HB vaccine successfully prevented vertical transmission, resulting in a high seroprotection rate.

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen, associated risk factors, and liver enzyme abnormalities among individuals with diabetes in Aksum town public hospitals, Tigray, northern Ethiopia.

hepatitis is an inflammatory disease of the liver; it is a major threat to public health and is more prevalent worldwide. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with increasing mortality and burden of disease particularly in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study intended to assess the prevalence of HBsAg, associated risk factors, and liver enzyme abnormalities among individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Aksum town public hospitals, Tigray, northern Ethiopia. a hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 359 randomly selected individuals with diabetes mellitus in public hospitals of Aksum town from February 10 to May 10, 2021. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was entered into Epi-Data version 3.1 and analysis was made using the statistical software SPSS version 21 for Windows. Bivariate and multivariate Logistic regression model was applied to show association between the dependent and independent variables; P <0.05 and 95% confidence interval was considered for statistical significance. in this study, 359 individuals with DM were included with a mean age (mean ± SD) of 46.44 ±16.58 years. The percentage of female participants was 44.3% (159/359). The prevalence of HBsAg among individuals with diabetes mellitus in Aksum town public hospitals was 12.8% (95% CI:8.9-17.0%). The associated risk factors were being employed [AOR:13.38, 95% CI 2.79-64.11; p<0.05], having history of multiple sexual partner [AOR:3.49, 95% CI 1.33-9.12; p<0.05], having history of body incision or piercing [AOR:3.80, 95% CI 1.12-12.90; p<0.05], liver enzyme abnormalities [AOR:6.90, 95% CI 2.17-21.94; p<0.005], and being single and widowed in marital status [AOR:4.42, 95% CI1.62-12.07; p<0.05]. based on the HBsAg positivity, the prevalence of HBV among individuals with diabetes mellitus in this study area was high, as compared to the national findings. Therefore, integrated efforts should be made at the community and health facility level to raise awareness of the associated risk factors, and reduce the spread of HBV; targeted screening of HBV among people with diabetes is also important to minimize liver abnormalities.

Hepatitis B virus serology in first-degree relatives and spouses of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma at a Nigerian hospital

Abstract Background: The link between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been well established. There is a dearth of scientific data on the important phenomenon of familial clustering of these diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. This study evaluated the prevalence and risk of HBV infection in first-degree relatives and spouses of patients with HCC. Materials and Methods: This case–control study was conducted in a Nigerian hospital. A total of 211 first-degree relatives and spouses of confirmed 110 patients with HCC and 212 matched controls were consecutively recruited. All participants were screened for the HBV serological markers using the Aria lateral immunoassay kits. Logistic regression was used to determine the odds ratio while bivariate analysis was used to calculate χ2. Results: The prevalence of HBsAg was higher in the first-degree relatives and spouses of patients with HCC than in the controls (17.1% versus 3.3%, P &lt; 0.001, odds ratio 5.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.6–13.7). Among the relatives, the prevalence of HBsAg positivity was highest in the parents and siblings of HCC patients compared with the children and spouses (P &lt; 0.0001). Furthermore, the relatives of female index patients had a higher prevalence of HBV than the relatives of the male HCC patients (75.0% versus 27.0%, p = 0.012). Significant risks for HBV infection included lower vaccination rate, low educational status and tattoo acquisition (p = 0.006, 0.010 and 0.023 respectively). Conclusion: This study provides important local-based population data (perhaps the first of its kind) supporting the scientific postulation of familial clustering of HBV infection and HCC. It also underscores the importance of targeting first-degree relatives and spouses of patients with HCC for HBV screening to reduce the infection and its sequelae.

Enhanced Diagnostic Accuracy in Hepatitis B: Human vs. Sheep-Derived Antibodies in HBsAg Confirmatory Testing.

HBsAg confirmatory testing is crucial for accurately diagnosing HBV infection and avoiding false positives. We compared the performance of human-derived and sheep-derived anti-HBs reagents in the Elecsys HBsAg confirmatory test (Roche Diagnostics, Germany). Samples with a HBsAg COI of 0.9 or more underwent confirmatory testing with both reagents. Results showed a high overall agreement rate of 98% between human and sheep reagents. The average confirmation percentage with sheep anti-HBs was significantly lower than with human anti-HBs (6.9% vs. 20.0%, p = 0.002). Additionally, some strongly positive HBsAg samples could not be neutralized. This suggests that the polyclonal antibodies in these reagents have different specificities and affinities for HBsAg epitopes. The findings emphasize the importance of reagent specificity and affinity to ensure accurate HBV diagnosis. Additional HBV markers and clinical context must be considered to confirm the diagnosis.

The impact of hepatitis B and C positive serologies on the outcomes of non-hepatic solid organ transplantation in the United States.

Chronic viral hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infection could negatively affect outcomes of non-hepatic solid organ transplantations due to the risk of viral reactivation in the presence of immunosuppression. This study aimed to determine post-transplant outcomes in patients with HBV or HCV positivity receiving non-hepatic solid-state organ transplant. Data was collected from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) 2006-2021 for patients (≥18) who received a lung, heart, or kidney single organ transplant in the U.S. Hepatitis C positivity (HCV+) was determined as positive HCV Ab and hepatitis B positivity (HBV+) as positive HBsAg. We included N = 30,872 lung, N = 36,990 heart and N = 280,162 kidney transplant recipients. The prevalence of HBV+ was 1.3% in lung, 1.5% in heart and 1.7% in kidney patients, HCV+ was 2.2%, 2.2% and 5.0%, respectively. Post-transplant survival of patients with vs. without HBV+ was similar in all solid organ transplants (all p > .05). Similarly, there was no difference in post-transplant survival between lung transplant recipients with vs. without anti-HCV (all p > .05). Heart transplant recipients with HCV+ had higher crude post-transplant mortality (all p < .01). Similarly, there was higher post-transplant mortality in kidney transplant recipients with HCV+ (1-year: 6% vs. 3%; 5-year: 21% vs. 13%; 10-year: 47% vs. 31%; all p < .0001). In multivariate analysis controlling for confounders, only the association of HCV+ with higher post-kidney transplant mortality remained significant: adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) (95% CI) = 1.16 (1.12-1.20), p < .0001. There was no association of viral hepatitis seropositivity with the risk of graft failure in all groups (p > .05). In most cases, the presence of HBV or HCV serologies is not associated with adverse post-transplant outcomes in non-hepatic solid organ transplants. However, kidney transplant recipients who are positive for HCV serology have an increased risk for post-transplant mortality.

Introduction of the Hepatitis B Vaccine-Birth Dose: Methods of Improving Rates in a Milieu of Vaccine Hesitancy.

The hepatitis B virus is a public health threat, chronically infecting over 240 million persons worldwide. The hepatitis B vaccine is 90% effective in preventing perinatal transmission if the first dose is given within the first 24 h of life, followed by a minimum of two subsequent doses. Antigua and Barbuda instituted a hospital-based birth dose vaccination policy in October 2021. Data were extracted from hospital logbooks from November 2021 to October 2022, and a database was created. Frequency distributions of the hepatitis B birth dose, barriers to administration, and maternal and healthcare system factors were analyzed. The positive maternal HBsAg prevalence rate was 0.6%. The timely and total birth dose coverage was 72% and 81%, respectively. In total, 10.5% of parents refused the vaccine, of which 76% either felt uncomfortable or preferred to wait. Moreover, 100% of hepatitis B-exposed babies were vaccinated, with 83% of them receiving the Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin. Barriers to vaccine administration included vaccination hesitancy, gaps in knowledge of medical staff, and the inconsistent vaccination supply. Instituting a quality improvement team, health information system, robust educational efforts, and addressing barriers will make achieving the WHO programmatic targets of eliminating mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B by 2030 possible.

The role of HBIG in real life for patients undergoing liver transplantation due to HDV-related cirrhosis.

Recommended post-liver transplant (LT) prophylaxis in patients with hepatitis delta includes a nucleos(t)ide analogue (NA) and anti-hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) indefinitely. We analysed the use of HBIG in real-life clinical practice and its impact on HBV/HDV recurrence in 174 HDV-related LT patients from 10 Spanish liver transplant centres (1988-2018). Median post-LT follow-up was 7.8 (2.3-15.1) years and patient survival at 5 years was 90%. Most patients (97%) received HBIG in the immediate post-LT, but only 42% were on HBIG at the last control. Among those discontinuing HBIG, the median time on treatment was 18 (7-52) months. Post-LT HBsAg+ was detected in 16 (9%) patients and HBV-DNA in 12 (7%). Despite HBsAg positivity, HDV recurrence was reported only in three patients (1.7%), all of whom were not receiving NA and had discontinued HBIG. Our data suggest that a finite HBIG prophylaxis in HDV-LT is feasible, especially if high-barrier NAs are used.

Investigation of the change in seroprevalence of viral hepatitis in patients receiving hemodialysis treatment over the years: A Single-Center Study

Objective: In this study, it was aimed to evaluate HBV, HCV, and HIV seroprevalence and their 9-year changes in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) treatment in the Giresun province in Turkey. Material-Methods: A total of 607 patients over the age of 18 who received hemodialysis treatment in Giresun – Turkey, provincial and district hospitals in 2013 and 2022 were included in our study. The files of the patients were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic characteristics of the patients and serology results of HBV, HCV, HDV, and HIV were recorded. The data was evaluated using the IBM SPSS Statistics 25.0 program. Results: A total of 607 patients, 385 of whom received HD treatment in 2013 and 222 who received HD treatment in 2022, were included in the study. 230 (59.7%) in 2013 and 135 (60.8%) in 2022 of male patients. While the mean age of the patients was 60.26±14 years in 2013, it was 63.08±13.18 years in 2022. In 2013, HBsAg positivity was detected in 9 (2.3%), HBV-DNA positivity in 4 (44.4%), anti-HCV positivity in 31 (8.1%), and HCV-RNA positivity in 8 (25.8%) patients. In 2022, HBsAg positivity was detected in 4 (1.8%), HBV DNA positivity in 2 (50%), and anti-HCV positivity in 31 (8.1%) patients. Compared with dialysis duration, the anti-HCV positivity rate was significantly increased in patients with long dialysis duration (p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion: In line with the health policies, the epidemiological data obtained support a decrease in the population’s seroprevalence of HBV and HCV. However, according to the results of our study, it was determined that there was no significant decrease in HBsAg seroprevalence in patients who received HD treatment over nine years. As a result, it was concluded that it would be beneficial to closely monitor the seroprevalence of viral hepatitis in patients receiving HD treatment.

Novel Chemotherapy-Free Initial Treatment of Rituximab Biosimilar Plus Pegylated Interferon α-2b in Pts with Untreated Advanced Indolent B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Results of the Ripple 3-Year Follow-up Study

Background: Indolent B-cell lymphoma (iBCL) are clinically heterogeneous and accounts for 10-15% of all kinds of subtypes in NHL in China. Although iBCL have a relatively good survival, majority of these lymphomas is considered incurable. The favorable activity and safety profile of rituximab monotherapy in the initial treatment of iBCL has been proven. Interferon alpha (IFN-α) was effective in modulating immune responses and may enhance the clinical efficacy of rituximab in vitro and in vivo studies. Clinical combination of rituximab and conventional IFN-α was associated with fewer early treatment failures compared to single agent rituximab. Peginterferon-α-2(peg-IFN-α2) has a longer half-life with less toxicity. It is also recommended as one of the therapeutic options for chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB) infection. The RIPPLE study (ClinicalTrials. gov identifier: NCT04246359) was initiated to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab plus pegylated interferon α-2b for treatment-naive patients with iBCL. This publication provides long-term follow-up data. Methods: This trial enrolled pts aged 18-80 years with newly diagnosed iBCL including follicular lymphoma (FL, grade 1-2,3a), marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). Pts were eligible if they had ECOG ≤ 2, adequate organ function and bone marrow function, and at least one measurable or evaluable lesion. Further eligibility criteria were HBsAg positivity with HBV DNA load &amp;lt;3000 IU/mL prior to study; serum ALT level of &amp;lt;5 times the upper limit of normal. During induction phase, pts received rituximab biosimilar (Henliritux ® Shanghai Henlius Biotech) 375 mg/m 2 intravenous infusion on d1. Peg-IFN-α2b (Pegberon ®, Xiamen Amoytop Biotech) was given at a dose of 135ug, subcutaneously, on d1,8. The combination repeated every 21 days for 6 cycles. Responded pts receive rituximab (every 2 months) plus peg-IFN-α2b (every month) maintenance at the dose described above, for up to 2 years until disease progression and intolerance. Simultaneously, CHB pts orally treated with entecavir continuously. The primary endpoint is ORR assessed by investigators per Lugano 2014 criteria. Key secondary endpoints included TTR, DOR, PFS, OS, HBV DNA load clearance, and safety. Adverse events (AEs) were summarized according to NCI CTCAE v5.0. Results: From September 2018 to July 2021, 57 eligible pts with median age of 54 (range, 29-75) years were enrolled from 6 institutions in China. Thirty (56.1%) are female, 21(36.8%) pts were symptomatic and 22(38.6%) pts with FLIPI score≥3, 6(10.5%) pts suffer from hepatitis B with HBV DNA load &amp;lt;3000 IU/mL at study entry. At cutoff date, there were 26(45.6%) FL (grade 1-2), 21(36.8%) MALT, 7(12.3%) FL (grade 3a) , 2(3.5%) SLL, 1(1.8) LPL pts enrolled. Of 57 response evaluable pts, 38(66.7%) pts achieved an objective response including 29(50.9%) pts with CR based on investigators. ORR were 69.2% (18/26), 71.4% (5/7), 61.9% (13/21), 0, 100% (2/2) and the CR rates were 46.2% (12/26), 71.4% (5/7), 52.4% (11/21), 0, 50% (1/2) for FL (grade 1-2), FL (grade3a), MALT, LPL, SLL, respectively (Figure 1-2). Median HBV DNA load clearance time was 1.8 months (1.3-2.1months), no hepatitis B virus reactivation reported. With median follow-up time was 34.2 months (IQR:26.5-42.3 months), median OS, PFS and DoR was not reached; 3-years OS and PFS rate of whole cohort was 92.5%, 70.4%, respectively (Figure 3 C-D). Median TTR was 3.0months (1.5-5.2months). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were hematological relevance toxicities. The most common hematological TEAEs (&amp;gt;30%) were neutropenia 63.2% (36/57), anemia 36.5% (19/57), thrombocytopenia 29.8% (17/57). Non-hematological TEAEs (&amp;gt;10%) were fever (28.1%, 16/57), transaminase elevated (26.3%, 15/57), fatigue (26.3%, 15/57), infusion reaction (21.7%, 10/46). No treatment-related death occurred. Conclusion: Rituximab biosimilar plus pegylated interferon α-2b provided favorable response in newly diagnosed advanced iBCL with mild toxicity. No hepatitis B virus reactivation was observed.

Hepatitis B virus reactivation in hepatitis B core antibody positive lung transplant recipients

BackgroundSolid organ transplant recipients with resolved hepatitis B (HBV) infection are at risk for reactivation, however, most of the studies have focused on kidney transplant recipients and have short to intermediate term follow up. Risk factors for reactivation are also uncertain, with some studies suggesting surface antibody (anti-HBs) may be protective. MethodsThis retrospective single center study aimed to assess the risk of HBV reactivation (HBVr) in lung transplant recipients with prior HBV infection as well as the value of anti-HBs titers in predicting HBVr. Surface antigen (HBsAg) negative, core antibody (anti-HBc) positive adult lung and heart-lung SOTR from 2005 to 2019 were included. The primary outcome was HBVr after transplant, defined as seroreversion to HBsAg positivity. The secondary outcome compared anti-HBs titers at transplant and at posttransplant month 12. ResultsThe cohort included 38 lung and heart-lung recipients with anti-HBc positive, HBsAg negative pretransplant serology. Reactivation occurred in 3 of 38 (8%) at 49, 69 and 94 months posttransplant. Two (5% of cohort) subjects died as a consequence of HBVr. Two of the 3 HBVr patients had anti-HBs titers >10 IU/ml at transplant and one had anti-HBs >100 IU/ml at time of HBV reactivation. We did not find a statistically significant decrease in anti-HBs titers one year after transplant in subjects with baseline anti-HBs>10 IU/ml. ConclusionThe prolonged time to reactivation highlights the lifelong risk. The 8% rate of reactivation and 5% mortality support a preferred strategy of indefinite HBV antiviral prophylaxis over monitoring in anti-HBc positive lung recipients.

Determining the Seroprevalence and the Knowledge of Viral Hepatitis B Infection among Beauticians in Yenagoa LGA, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Cosmetology is a rapidly growing field, resulting in increasing numbers of beauty centers and beauticians. Ear piercing is a common practice in Nigeria and, in recent years piercing of other body parts has greatly increased in popularity. Beauty treatments, such as piercing, tattooing, manicuring, and barbing are used by many people. Individuals working in barber shops, hairdressing and beauty centers are likely to have contact with blood through applications such as shaving, manicure, pedicure and skin care. The aim of this study was to determine hepatitis B virus (HBV) seroprevalence in a sample of beauticians in Yenagoa local government area, Bayelsa State (Nigeria) and to assess the level of knowledge of these professionals regarding viral hepatitis. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving a total of 120 beauticians (hairdressers and manicurists/pedicurists) that were selected by a multistage sampling method. Data was collected by an interviewer-administered questionnaire for knowledge assessment and serum samples were tested for HBsAg positivity using commercial enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) kits. Data collected were analyzed using the statistical package for social science (SPSS), version 25 software. Of the total 120 participants 16 (13.3%) were males and 104 (86.7%) were females. The prevalence of HBV infections among the respondents was 7.5%. The knowledge of beauticians on awareness of viral hepatitis B was 5.8%, and their knowledge on ways of transmission was 61.7%. Conclusions: the findings indicate that, due to their low level of awareness of viral hepatitis B existence, beauticians working in Yenagoa Local Government Area are in a risk of HBV infection even though the seroprevalence of HBV was low.

Liver fibrosis in pars cohort study: A large-scale study on the prevalence and correlated factors

Backgrounds and study aimsThe fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) is a non-invasive scoring system for estimating liver fibrosis severity as a biomarker of chronic liver disease. We aimed to estimate the prevalence and severity of chronic liver disease at the community level using FIB-4. Patients and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted using the Pars Cohort database collected in Valashar, Fars province, Iran. Participants were divided into three groups based on their FIB-4 scores: low risk of liver fibrosis (FIB < 1.45), intermediate cases (1.45 ≤ FIB-4 ≤ 3.25), and high risk of liver fibrosis (FIB-4 > 3.25). ResultsIn total, 9269 individuals with a mean age of 52.65 years were enrolled in the study, of which 4278 (46.2 %) were male. Among all participants, 7853 (84.7 %) were in the low-risk, and 65 (0.7 %) were in the high-risk groups. In the final ordinal regression model, male gender, being a farmer or rancher, living in rural areas, history of opioid use, history of jaundice, no history of diabetes, history of depression, and positive HBs Ag were independently associated with higher FIB-4 scores. ConclusionOur study revealed that males, individuals residing in rural areas, and those engaged in farming and ranching occupations face a heightened risk of liver fibrosis. These findings emphasize the need for future programs for early detection and effective management of liver fibrosis in these at-risk populations.

Comparative analysis of seroepidemiological survey results of hepatitis B among people aged 1-69 years in Tibet Autonomous Region in 2014 and 2020

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of hepatitis B prevention and control in Tibet Autonomous Region by comparative analysis of the results of seroepidemiological surveys of hepatitis B in 2014 and 2020. Methods: The required sample size was calculated based on the estimated HBsAg positivity rates of permanent residents aged 1-4, 5-14, 15-29, and 30-69 years. A total of 7 163 people and 4 802 people were required in 2014 and 2020, respectively. The subjects were selected by stratified multistage cluster random sampling method, using questionnaires to obtain basic information, and 5 ml of venous blood was collected from each subject to detect HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc, and rechecked the HBsAg positive samples. SPSS 22.0 software was used to analyze the survey results, calculate the positive rate and 95% confidence interval. Results: A total of 7 069 people were investigated in 2014 and 4 913 people in 2020. In 2020, the positive rate of HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc was 9.20% (452/4 913), 37.11% (1 823/4 913), and 32.75% (1 609/4 913), respectively, and decreased by 22.95%, 15.54%, and 1.92% as compared with the rate in 2014. The positive rate of HBsAg of people aged 1-, 5-, 15- and 30-69 years in 2020 was 2.23% (8/358), 2.85% (20/701), 6.86% (69/1 006) and 12.46%(355/2 848), respectively, decreased by 61.82%, 62.75%, 54.81% and 24.21% as compared with the rate in 2014. The positive rate of anti-HBs of people aged 1-4 years was 52.79% (189/358), 10.30% increased compared with 2014; for people aged 5-, 15-, and 30-69 years was 32.67% (229/701), 37.67% (379/1 006) and 36.03%(1 026/2 848), respectively, decreased by 20.84%, 14.13% and 16.52% as compared with the rate in 2014. The positive rate of anti-HBc of people aged 1-, 5-, 15-, 30-69 years was 4.19% (15/358), 6.42%(45/701), 21.07% (212/1 006), and 46.95% (1 337/2 848), respectively, decreased by 59.63%, 58.93%, 50.49%, and 12.10% as compared with the rate in 2014. Conclusions: The prevention and control of hepatitis B in Tibet have made partial achievements. The prevalence of HBsAg among people aged 1-69 years in 2020 had declined compared with 2014, but it is still at a high epidemic level. People have a high risk of HBV infection for a low level of anti-HBs. It is necessary to strengthen the vaccination of hepatitis B further and effectively implement the strategy of blocking mothers and children of the hepatitis B virus.