Risk Of Chronic Hepatitis Research Articles

Genetic variants in the 6p21.3 region influence hepatitis B virus clearance and chronic hepatitis B risk in the Han Chinese population

Background and aimA genome-wide association study has indicated the association of numerous genes in the 6p21.3 region with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this study, we screened 12 representative single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the 6p21.3 region and investigated their association with the risk of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) to better understand the molecular etiology underlying CHB risk in the Han Chinese population. MethodsBetween March 2021 and November 2022, we included 183 patients with CHB (case group) and 196 with natural HBV clearance (control group). Allele typing of the selected SNPs was performed using snapshot technology. The correlation between the 12 chosen SNPs and the risk of chronic HBV infection was examined using binary logistic regression analysis. Interacting genes of the variants were identified, and expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) were analyzed using the 3DSNP database. ResultsWe validated 12 previously reported CHB susceptibility sites, including rs1419881 of transcription factor 19 (TCF19), rs3130542 and rs2853953 of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-C, rs652888 of euchromatic histone-lysine-methyltransferase 2 (EHMT2), rs2856718, rs9276370, rs7756516, and rs7453920 of HLA-DQ, rs378352 of HLA-DOA, and rs3077, rs9277535, and rs9366816 of HLA-DP. Logistic regression analyses revealed that polymorphisms such as rs9276370, rs7756516, rs7453920, rs3077, rs9277535, and rs9366816 were positively correlated with natural HBV clearance in the dominant model. Conversely, rs3130542 and rs378352 were identified as risk factors for CHB. Haplotype analysis revealed that rs9276370, rs7756516, and rs7453920 in HLA-DQ were TTG and GCA haplotypes. Although the TTG haplotype was positively correlated with a higher risk of CHB, the GCA haplotype significantly influenced the natural clearance of HBV. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that rs378352, rs3077, and rs9366816 were located within enhancer states; rs3077 and rs9366816 overlapped with nine transcription factor-binding sites, whereas rs378352 altered five sequence motifs. Furthermore, eQTL analysis demonstrated the functional tendencies of eight statistically significant SNPs (rs3130542, rs9276370, rs7756516, rs7453920, rs378352, rs3077, rs9277535, and rs9366816). ConclusionsGenetic variations within the 6p21.3 region were associated with chronic HBV infection in the Han Chinese population in southern China. Furthermore, the GCA haplotype including rs9276370, rs7756516, and rs7453920 of HLA-DQ contributed significantly to natural HBV clearance, implying that multiple SNPs exert a cumulative allelic effect on HBV infection.

Interaction analysis of FADS2 gene variants with chronic hepatitis B infection in Chinese patients.

The risk of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is often affected by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) metabolism which is strongly influenced by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the PUFA metabolic pathway. Given this, we designed this study to determine the relationship between specific polymorphisms within fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2), a key enzyme in PUFA metabolism, and CHB infection. We completed this evaluation using a case-control study comprising 230 CHB patients and 234 unrelated healthy controls in which the genetic relationships between three previously identified SNPs, isolated via mass spectrometry, and CHB infection. Our data revealed that none of these three SNPs (rs174568, rs174601, and rs2727270) were significantly associated with susceptibility to CHB infection when compared to healthy controls. However, when we stratified our cohort by sex, male subjects with the TC genotype for FADS2 exhibited a decreased risk for CHB infection (OR=0.62, 95%CI=0.39-0.96; OR=0.64, 95%CI=0.41-1.00; OR=0.57, 95%CI=0.36-0.90). Furthermore, age stratification revealed that both the T allele and the TC genotypes for each of the three target SNPs were less common in Chinese CHB cases in people younger than 50years old. Correlation analysis also revealed that there was no statistically significant relationship between these three SNPs and HBV-DNA replication or hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels. Thus, our data suggests that rs174568, rs174601, and rs2727270 may affect the CHB outcomes in various age or sex subgroups, suggesting that they may be useful predictive or diagnostic biomarkers of CHB infection in some populations.

Effectiveness of hepatitis B hyperimmunglobulin and vaccine in preventing perinatal transmission in children born from a mother with chronic B hepatitis

Background. Viral hepatitis is still one of the important health problems all over the world today. Hepatitis B is a life-threatening liver infection that can cause chronic infections. It increases the risk of death from cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. One of the most important factors in chronic or acute hepatitis B infection is the age of infection. The earlier the virus is encountered, the greater the risk of chronicity of the disease. Prevention of perinatal transmission of the disease is of great importance. The most effective way to control hepatitis B infection is to prevent contamination and ensure immunity. There is a safe and effective vaccine available that provides 98–100% protection against hepatitis B. Prevention of hepatitis B infection control the development of complications, including chronic disease and liver cancer. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine and hepatitis immunoglobulin administered to prevent perinatal hepatitis B infection transmission in babies born to mothers with chronic hepatitis B infection. Materials and methods. Fifty-five children born to mothers with chronic hepatitis B infection in our hospital between January 1, 2013 and January 1, 2019 and accepted to participate in the study were included in our study. In retrospective file examination, maternal gestational age, maternal hepatitis B test, delivery method, baby birth weight, baby birth week, whether immunoglobulin and hepatitis B vaccine were administered to these babies in the first 24 hours after birth, hepatitis B vaccine and immunoglobulin administration time, bathroom status, infant hepatitis B tests, additional studies on the child’s viral diseases (hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus) and the baby’s liver transaminase tests (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase) were evaluated. The vaccination program of the baby, the control of the mother’s hepatitis B status, the time of the breast milk intake, the height and weight of the baby, the follow-up of the mother during pregnancy and the drug use status were collected. Children previously diagnosed with chronic B hepatitis were excluded from the study. Results. Hepatitis B surface antigen tests were positive in two infants who received three doses of hepatitis B vaccine. The mothers of both of these babies were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B envelope antigen. Forty-three (78.2 %) patients had a protective antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen, while 12 (21.8 %) didn’t have it. Conclusions. Hepatitis B serology should be checked in women who live in countries with high risk of chronic hepatitis B infection and who are pregnant, and babies born to these mothers should have hepatitis B vaccine and immunoglobulin.

GAS5 rs2067079 and miR-137 rs1625579 functional SNPs and risk of chronic hepatitis B virus infection among Egyptian patients

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant health issue worldwide.. We attempted to fulfill the molecular mechanisms of epigenetic and genetic factors associated with chronic HBV (CHBV). Expression levels of the lncRNA growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) and miR-137 and their corresponding SNPs, rs2067079 (C/T) and rs1625579 (G/T) were analyzed in 117 CHBV patients and 120 controls to investigate the probable association between these biomarkers and CHBV pathogenesis in the Egyptian population. Serum expression levels of GAS5 and miR-137 were significantly down-regulated in cases vs controls. Regarding GAS5 (rs2067079), the mutant TT genotype showed an increased risk of CHBV (p < 0.001), while the dominant CC was a protective factor (p = 0.004). Regarding miR-137 rs1625579, the mutant genotype TT was reported as a risk factor for CHBV (p < 0.001) and the normal GG genotype was a protective factor, p < 0.001. The serum GAS5 was significantly higher in the mutant TT genotype of GAS5 SNP as compared to the other genotypes (p = 0.007). Concerning miR-137 rs1625579, the mutant TT genotype was significantly associated with a lower serum expression level of miR-137 (p = 0.018). We revealed the dysregulated expression levels of GAS5 and miR-137 linked to their functioning SNPs were associated with CHBV risk and might act as potential therapeutic targets.

Intracellular Accumulation of IFN-λ4 Induces ER Stress and Results in Anti-Cirrhotic but Pro-HCV Effects.

IFNL3/IFNL4 polymorphisms are inversely associated with the risk of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and cirrhosis, two major risk factors for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To further explore these inverse associations and their molecular underpinnings, we analyzed IFNL3/IFNL4 polymorphisms represented by the IFNL4 genotype (presence of rs368234815-dG or rs12979860-T alleles) in HCV patients: 2969 from Japan and 2931 from Taiwan. IFNL4 genotype was associated with an increased risk of HCV-related HCC (OR=1.28, 95%CI=1.07-1.52, P=0.0058) in the general population of Japanese patients, but not in Taiwanese patients who achieved treatment-induced viral clearance. IFNL4 genotype was also associated with a decreased risk of cirrhosis (OR=0.66, 95%CI=0.46-0.93, P=0.018, in Taiwanese patients). We then engineered HepG2 cells to inducibly express IFN-λ4 in the presence or absence of interferon lambda receptor 1 (IFNLR1). Induction of IFN-λ4 resulted in its intracellular accumulation, mainly in lysosomes and late endosomes, and increased ER stress, leading to apoptosis and reduced proliferation. We identified the very-low-density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR), which facilitates HCV entry into hepatocytes, as a transcript induced by IFN-λ4 but not IFN-λ3. Our results suggest that the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-cirrhotic but pro-HCV associations observed for IFNL3/IFNL4 polymorphisms are, at least in part, contributed by intracellular accumulation of IFN-λ4 causing ER stress in hepatic cells.

Interaction analysis of gene variants related to one-carbon metabolism with chronic hepatitis B infection in Chinese patients.

The risk of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection is influenced by aberrant DNA methylation and altered nucleotide synthesis and repair, possibly caused by polymorphic variants in one-carbon metabolism genes. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between polymorphisms belonging to the one-carbon metabolic pathway and CHB infection. A case-control study using 230 CHB patients and 234 unrelated healthy controls was carried out to assess the genetic association of 24 single nucleotide polymorphisins (SNPs) determined by mass spectrometry. Three SNPs, comprising rs10717122 and rs2229717 in serine hydroxymethyltransferase1/2 (SHMT2) and rs585800 in betaine-homocysteine S-methyltransferase (BHMT), were associated with the risk of CHB. Patients with DEL allele, DEL.DEL and DEL.T genotypes of rs10717122 had a 1.40-, 2.00- and 1.83-fold increased risk for CHB, respectively. Cases inheriting TA genotype of rs585800 had a 2.19-fold risk for CHB infection. The T allele of rs2229717 was less represented in the CHB cases (odds ratio = 0.66, 95% confidence interval = 0.48-0.92). The T allele of rs2229717 was less in patients with a low hepatitis B virus-DNA level compared to the control group (odds ratio = 0.49, 95% confidence interval = 0.25-0.97) and TT genotype of rs2229717 had a significant correlation with hepatitis B surface antigen level (p = 0.0195). Further gene-gene interaction analysis showed that subjects carrying the rs10717122 DEL.DEL/DEL.T and rs585800 TT/TA genotypes had a 2.74-fold increased risk of CHB. The results of the present study suggest that rs10717122, rs585800 and rs2229717 and gene-gene interactions of rs10717122 and rs585800 affect the outcome of CHB infection, at the same time as indicating their usefulness as a predictive and diagnostic biomarker of CHB infection.

Prevalence and knowledge of hepatitis B infection in pregnant women in a primary health center of Patna district, Bihar.

Introduction:There is a risk of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)infection to the newborn through perinatal transmission from a hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive mother that can later cause liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma. This study was undertaken in a primary health center (PHC)in the Patna district to determine the prevalence of HBV among pregnant women and assess their knowledge across different characteristics.Methodology:A cross-sectional study was done among 275 pregnant women attending the PHC for the first time, using consecutive sampling. The study duration was 12 months. Socioeconomic, obstetric, risk history, and levels of knowledge about hepatitis B were collected followed by rapid diagnostic test (RDT)for serum HBsAg. Univariate analysis was used to compare the knowledge levels across different background characteristics. The significance was set at P < 0.05.Results:Hepatitis B-positive pregnant women were 0.4%. Out of the 275 participants, only 43 had heard about hepatitis B. The mean knowledge score was 0.65 (±1.73) with 1.45% having adequate knowledge. The knowledge score was significant across education (P 0.040), category (P 0.022), hepatitis B immunization status (P 0.003), and risk factor (P 0.039).Conclusion:Knowledge was higher in the literate women belonging to the general category and higher social class, who received hepatitis B vaccination. However, the overall level of knowledge among the pregnant women was very poor, so they should be targeted for quality health education. Additionally, identifying the afflicted pregnant women through point-of-contact diagnosis will aid in community prevention of chronic hepatitis B.

Breed-related expression patterns of Ki67, \u03b3H2AX, and p21 during ageing in the canine liver

Cellular senescence is a molecular hallmark of ageing that is associated with multiple pathologies, and DNA damage marker γH2AX, together with cell cycle inhibitor p21, have been used as senescence markers in multiple species including dogs. Idiopathic canine chronic hepatitis has recognised breed-related differences in predisposition and prognosis, but reasons behind this are poorly understood. This retrospective study using archived post mortem tissue aimed to provide insight into liver ageing in 51 microscopically normal canine livers across seven breed categories, including those with and without increased risk of chronic hepatitis. Immunohistochemistry was conducted for γH2AX, p21, and cell proliferation marker Ki67, and the mean number of positive hepatocytes per high power field was determined. All three markers were strongly correlated to each other, but no age-dependent expression was seen in the combined study population. Overall expression levels were low in most dogs, with median values representing less than 1.5% of hepatocytes, but this increased to 20–30% in individual dogs at the upper end of the range. Individual breed differences were noted in two breeds that have increased risk of chronic hepatitis, with English Springer Spaniels having lower expression of Ki67 than other dogs, and Labradors having higher expression of Ki67 and γH2AX than other dogs. These results warrant further investigation in these breeds and highlight a need to validate reliable markers of cellular senescence in dogs.

A non-synonymous variant rs12614 of complement factor B associated with risk of chronic hepatitis B in a Korean population

BackgroundHepatitis B is known to cause several forms of liver diseases including chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and hepatocellular carcinoma. Previous genome-wide association study of CHB risk has demonstrated that rs12614 of complement factor B (CFB) was significantly associated with CHB risk. In this study, fine-mapping study of previously reported GWAS single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; CFB rs12614) was performed to validate genetic effect of rs12614 on CHB susceptibility and identify possible additional causal variants around rs12614 in a Korean population. This association study was conducted in order to identify genetic effects of CFB single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and to identify additional independent CHB susceptible causal markers within a Korean population.MethodsA total of 10 CFB genetic polymorphisms were selected and genotyped in 1716 study subjects comprised of 955 CHB patients and 761 population controls.ResultsA non-synonymous variant, rs12614 (Arg32Trp) in exon2 of CFB, had significant associations with risk of CHB (odds ratio = 0.43, P = 5.91 × 10− 10). Additional linkage disequilibrium and conditional analysis confirmed that rs12614 had independent genetic effect on CHB susceptibility with previously identified CHB markers. The genetic risk scores (GRSs) were calculated and the CHB patients had higher GRSs than the population controls. Moreover, OR was found to increase significantly with cumulative GRS.Conclusionsrs12614 showed significant genetic effect on CHB risk within the Korean population. As such rs12614 may be used as a possible causal genetic variant for CHB susceptibility.

Vital Signs: Newly Reported Acute and Chronic Hepatitis C Cases - United States, 2009-2018.

IntroductionHepatitis C is a leading cause of death from liver disease in the United States. Acute hepatitis C infection is often asymptomatic, and >50% of cases will progress to chronic infection, which can be life-threatening. Hepatitis C can be diagnosed with a blood test and is curable, yet new cases of this preventable disease are increasing.MethodsNational Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System data were analyzed to determine the rate of acute hepatitis C cases reported to CDC by age group and year during 2009–2018 and the number and rate of newly reported chronic cases in 2018 by sex and age. The proportion of adults aged ≥20 years with hepatitis C who reported having ever been told that they had hepatitis C was estimated with 2015–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.ResultsDuring 2018, a total of 3,621 cases of acute hepatitis C were reported, representing an estimated 50,300 cases (95% confidence interval [CI] = 39,800–171,600). The annual rate of reported acute hepatitis C cases per 100,000 population increased threefold, from 0.3 in 2009 to 1.2 in 2018, and was highest among persons aged 20–29 (3.1) and 30–39 years (2.6) in 2018. A bimodal distribution of newly reported chronic hepatitis C cases in 2018 was observed, with the highest proportions among persons aged 20–39 years and 50–69 years. Only 60.6% (95% CI = 46.1%–73.9%) of adults with hepatitis C reported having been told that they were infected.Conclusions and Implications for Public Health PracticeIncreasing rates of acute hepatitis C among young adults, including reproductive-aged persons, have put multiple generations at risk for chronic hepatitis C. The number of newly reported chronic infections was approximately equal among younger and older adults in 2018. The new CDC hepatitis C testing recommendations advise screening all adults and pregnant women, not just persons born during 1945–1965, and those with risk factors.

Association of VDR (rs2228570, rs731236, rs7975232, rs1544410) and DBP (rs7041) genes polymorphisms with chronicity of hepatitis B in Iranian patients

BackgroundHost genetic factors and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in host genes play important roles in the progression of disease stages and response to treatment of viral infections, including hepatitis B infection. Vitamin D plays a key role in a wide range of biological activities such as the immune response, proliferation and cellular differentiation. Since the biological effects of this vitamin are affected by the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) and the vitamin D-Binding Protein (DBP), in this study we investigated the association between VDR and DBP SNPs with the risk of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection in Iranian patients. MethodsOur case-control study consisted of two groups including 100 patients with CHB and 100 healthy controls. SNP of ApaI (rs7975232), TaqI (rs731236), BsmI (rs1544410) and FokI (rs2228570) VDR-related and DBP (rs7041) gene loci were determined by PCR-RFLP method. Serum ALT and AST levels and HBV virus load were determined and its association with SNP was investigated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software (V22.0). ResultsThe results of this study showed that the TT (Homozygous Mutant) genotype of FokI locus (C>T; rs2228570) compared with CC (Homozygous Wild Type) and CT (Heterozygous) genotypes may be associated with an increased risk of CHB infection (P; 0.012, OR 2.674 (1.233–5.800), 95% CI). The T allele was also significantly associated with CHB infection (P; 0.009, OR 1.687 (1.136–2.506), 95% CI) compared to the C allele FokI. In this study, no significant relationship was found between CHB infection and rs7975232, rs731236, rs1544410 and rs7041 polymorphisms (P > 0.05). Also, there was no significant relationship between serum ALT and AST levels and HBV Viral load in patients with rs2228570 polymorphism (P > 0.05). DiscussionAccording to the results, VDR FokI (rs2228570) polymorphism has an impact on the chance of chronicity of hepatitis B in Iranian patients.

Polymorphisms of Antioxidant System Genes in HCV Infection and Their Role in the Development of Chronic Hepatitis C

To study the contribution of polymorphic variants of antioxidant system enzyme genes to the susceptibility to chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and to elicit their associative relationships with a clinical course of the disease. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of antioxidant enzymes genes, superoxide dismutase SOD2 (rs4880, C47T), and catalase CAT (rs1001179, G262A) were studied in 100 patients with CHC, 86 “anti-HCV carriers,” and 64 healthy individuals. The study involved a genomic DNA analysis with the use the diagnostic kit “SNP Screen.” DNA was extracted from samples collected from the cheek epithelium. There was a statistically significant relationship between CAT SNPs (rs1001179, G262A) and a high risk of chronic hepatitis C. It has been found that the presence of the CAT gene (G262A) G allele increases the susceptibility to chronic hepatitis C. Patients with the CAT SNP (G262A) G allele (GG and GA genotypes) had significantly higher ALT levels than those with the A allele (AA genotype). The study has demonstrated that CHC patients with the CAT SNP (G262A) G allele (G/G G/A genotype) had a significantly higher risk of liver fibrosis progression as compared with those with the A/A genotype. Thus, with hepatitis C virus infection, polymorphic variants of CAT genes (G262A) are risk factors for the development of chronic hepatitis C and affect a clinical course of the disease, including the development of hepatic cytolysis, and as a result, the formation of liver fibrosis. The roles of genes polymorphisms coding for the anti-oxidant enzyme which play a role in the development of CHC were evaluated. The G/A genotype of CAT SNP (rs1001179, G262A) is a genetic risk factor for the development of chronic hepatitis C, with the G/G genotype of CAT SNP (rs1001179, G262A) being a risk factor for liver fibrosis.

Effect of body mass index on Disease progression in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Background and study aim: In recent years the burden of obesity and metabolic syndrome has been increasing. These diseases are associated with increased risk for chronic hepatitis B virus infection as well as worsened outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between obesity, defined according to body mass index, and hepatitis B viral load and fibrosis stage according to liver biopsy, among chronic hepatitis B Egyptian patients.

Highlights of This Issue

There is growing evidence suggesting that soy isoflavones play a protective role in the development of cancer. However, few epidemiological studies have investigated the association between soy isoflavone intake and bladder cancer. This prospective study in Japan detected a decreased risk of bladder cancer among men who had higher intakes of total soy and isoflavones, suggesting a protective effect of soy isoflavone intake against bladder cancer in men. This finding by Wada and colleagues on the potential benefit of consuming soy foods against bladder cancer is promising and warrants further studies.Americans living in rural communities face many challenges when it comes to receiving adequate cancer care. This has resulted in a growing disparity in mortality and incidence for certain cancers in rural areas when compared to their urban counterparts. In order to understand and improve cancer control in rural communities, the NCI conducted an assessment of the current state of research through a progressive series of portfolio analyses, meetings, and funding opportunity announcements. In this commentary, Kennedy and colleagues provide an overview of the NCI's vision for rural cancer control, and detail recommendations stemming from a recently held meeting to advance rural cancer control research. This commentary also serves as an introduction to the CEBP Focus on Rural Cancer Control, which contains three additional commentaries and six research articles.Human papillomavirus self-sampling is a promising method to improve cervical cancer screening coverage, but not all routine screening non-attenders accept self-sampling. Harder and colleagues investigated determinants of participating in self-sampling among 21,314 non-attenders in a Danish routine screening program who were invited to order a self-sampling test. Information on socio-demographic, health-related, and lifestyle characteristics were obtained from registries and questionnaires. Basic education, low income, non-Western origin, and being unmarried were associated with lower self-sampling participation. Women with prior schizophrenia and long-term screening non-attenders were less likely to participate. The study highlights that although self-sampling can increase cervical cancer screening coverage, certain population groups may remain unscreened.The use of alerts and reminders in the electronic health record has led to increased screening for a variety of conditions. However, implementation of screening recommendations for chronic hepatitis B among foreign-born persons at risk has been suboptimal. Chak and colleagues randomized patients at risk for chronic hepatitis B to receive an electronic medical alert reminding primary care physicians to screen for the virus during clinic visits. The study shows that electronic alerts increase screening for chronic hepatitis B—a condition known to cause liver cancer in affected patients. In the age of digital medicine, the study has broad implications for mass screening of patients at risk for this chronic viral infection.

The association between PIN1 genetic polymorphisms and the risk of chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis: A case-control study.

Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase NIMA-interacting 1 (PIN1) reportedly plays a crucial role in tissue inflammation and tumourigenesis. Our previous studies have demonstrated that PIN1 gene polymorphisms are significantly related to the pathogenesis of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver cancer in a Guangxi population. As chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC), and liver cancer are development processes, we further investigated whether any relationship exists between PIN1 gene polymorphisms and the risk of CHB and HBV-related LC. We used the polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism and the deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing method to analyze 3 common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs2233678, rs2233679, and rs2233682) of the PIN1 gene in 192 CHB patients, 171 HBV-related LC patients, and 201 healthy controls in this research. The results revealed that carriers of the rs2233682 A allele had a significantly decreased risk of HBV-related LC (LC vs. controls: odds ratio [OR] = 0.262, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.071–0.959, P = .043; LC vs. CHB: OR = 0.198, 95% CI = 0.049–0.803, P = .023). Similar relationships were observed for the PIN1 rs2233682 GA genotype among the groups (LC vs. controls: OR = 0.248, 95% CI = 0.067–0.919, P = .037; LC vs. CHB: OR = 0.184, 95% CI = 0.044–0.773, P = .021). This reduced risk was more obvious in older CHB patients (age ≥50 years). No such correlations were found for PIN1 rs2233678 and rs2233679. However, the haplotypes constructed from these SNP (GCA for controls and CCG for CHB) were associated with a significantly decreased risk of HBV-related LC. In summary, the findings of this study suggest that the PIN1 rs2233682 A allele might be related with a decreased risk of HBV-related LC in a Guangxi population.

Elevated Arsenic Exposure Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection: NHANES (2003-2014) in U.S. Adults.

Studies concerning the association between arsenic exposure and hepatitis B virus (HB V) infection have been lacking. The present study aimed to examine the association between total urinary arsenic (TUA) and infection of HBV. A total of 5186 participants from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2014 were included in the analysis. We used logistic regression to evaluate the association. We defined two measures of TUA. TUAI was the sum of arsenous acid, arsenicacid, monomethylarsonic acid and dimethylarsenic acid. TUA2 was defined as TUA minus arsenobetaine and arsenocholine. The results showed that the weighted overall prevalence of HBV infection was 6.08%. For NHANES 2003-2014, the medians (interquartile range) of TUAI and TUA2 were 5.60 μg/L (3.97-8.09 μg/L) and 4.91 μg/L (2.36-9.11 μg/L), respectively. Comparing the highest quartile to the lowest quartile after multivariable adjustment showed that the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for TUAI and TUA2 were 2.44 (1.40-4.27) and 2.84 (1.60-5.05), respectively. In conclusion, elevated urinary arsenic was associated with the risk of HBV infection. Further studies, especially prospective studies, are needed to confirm the causal relationship between arsenic exposure and HBV infection.

Engaging new refugee in Australian communities at risk for chronic hepatitis B infection into care: A peer-educator intervention.

Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) infection and subsequent liver complications are rising in prevalence in Australia due to increased migration from endemic regions. Nearly 50% of all those living with CHB in Australia are undiagnosed, leading to missed opportunities for liver cancer and cirrhosis prevention. Health literacy around CHB among refugee communities such as Afghan, Rohingyan, and Sudanese populations (all with a high prevalence of CHB) is low, partly due to a paucity of targeted health promotion programmes; despite the release of the Victorian Hepatitis B Strategy (2016-2020). We developed a peer-education intervention in these three communities to deliver CHB focused radio programmes and community forums in their own language, following a needs assessment consisting of semistructured interviews and surveys. Effectiveness of this intervention was measured through paired comparison of disease-knowledge assessment pre and post forum. Community forums were held between 2015 and 2016, with 25 attendees at the Rohingyan forum (68% male), 10 attendees at the Afghan forum (90% male) and 0 attendees at the Sudanese forum. Participants demonstrated a significant improvement in CHB knowledge between pre- and post-forum surveys (p-value<0.05). A peer-educator approach was a cost-effective health promotion strategy in building CHB knowledge and dispelling misconceptions within the Afghan and Rohingya communities. There were significant barriers in the engagement of the South Sudanese community, which will inform future strategies for health promotion.

Genetic association of complement component 2 variants with chronic hepatitis B in a Korean population.

Numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with an increased risk of liver diseases, chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma have been identified. In this study, we scrutinized the genetic effects of C2 variants, which were conflicting in previous results, on the risk of chronic hepatitis B in a Korean population. We genotyped 22 common C2 genetic variants of 977 chronic hepatitis B cases including 302 chronic hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma cases and 785 population controls. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the effects of genotype on the risk of chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma. Logistic regression analyses showed that six C2 single nucleotide polymorphisms had significant associations with the risk of chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma among the Korean subjects. Stepwise analysis revealed that causal markers (rs9267665 and rs10947223) were identified among the C2 variants (stepwise P=3.32×10-9 and 2.04×10-5 respectively). In further conditional analysis with previous chronic hepatitis B-associated loci, these two single nucleotide polymorphisms were independently associated with the risk of chronic hepatitis B. In addition, we investigated the ability of genetic risk scores combining 12 multi-chronic hepatitis B loci to predict the risk of chronic hepatitis B. Individuals with higher genetic risk scores showed increased risk for chronic hepatitis B. Our results suggested that the C2 gene might be a susceptibility locus for chronic hepatitis B in Korean populations. The cumulative genetic effects may contribute to future etiological explanations for chronic hepatitis B.

Ribavirin in Acute Hepatitis E Infection in Patients with Gynecological Cancer: A Case Series

Hepatitis E virus infection is usually a self-limited disease. However, during the last years there has been growing evidence for prolonged and chronic infection occurring in patients with immunosuppression. Also patients with malignant and rheumatic diseases have been identified to be at risk for chronic hepatitis E. However, their course and prognosis are not well characterized and there have been no reports of hepatitis E virus infection in patients with gynecological cancer. Here, we report three Caucasian females with breast and ovarian cancers presenting with elevation of aminotransferase levels during anticancer treatment. Although only few or no clinical hints suggested hepatitis E virus infection, the diagnosis of hepatitis E virus infection was confirmed by seroconversion, which might occur with some delay, and/or by polymerase chain reaction. While two patients had a self-limited course, the third patient with a high-risk oncological constellation required ribavirin in order to resume chemotherapy. These cases highlight the need for hepatitis E virus testing in patients with gynecological cancer and elevated aminotransferase levels. Further, these cases show that in selected high-risk patients, ribavirin treatment may be necessary based on the decision of a multidisciplinary team.

Association of TERT polymorphisms with chronic hepatitis B in a Chinese Han population.

In this study, we investigated the association between the polymorphisms of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene and the risk of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in a Chinese Han population. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TERT (rs10069690, rs2242652, rs2853677 and rs2853676) were genotyped from 224 CHB patients and 300 healthy controls using the Sequenom Mass-ARRAY platform. We used genetic model, haplotype analyses, chi-square test, logistic regression analysis to evaluate the association between SNPs and CHB risk. The relative risk was estimated by odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We found that rs10069690 was significantly associated with an increased CHB risk in the dominant model (adjusted OR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.06–2.71, P = 0.031) and additive model (adjusted OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.09–2.41, P = 0.018). The haplotype “TA” (rs10069690 and rs2242652) was found to be associated with an increased risk of CHB (adjusted OR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.05–2.38, P = 0.027). Our results suggested potential genetic contributes for TERT in CHB development in a Chinese Han population. Future functional and association studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm these findings.