Hepatitis C Virus Infection Status Research Articles

APOB codon 4311 polymorphism is associated with hepatitis C virus infection through altered lipid metabolism

BackgroundIt has been reported that some single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in lipid regulators such as apolipoproteins and cell surface molecules for hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry into hepatocytes are associated with HCV infection. However, it is unknown how HCV infection is affected by altered lipid metabolism resulting from the SNPs. We investigated the relationship between these SNPs and HCV infection status, and also analyzed the mechanism by which these SNPs mediate HCV infection via lipid metabolism alterations.MethodsSerum lipid and apolipoprotein profiles were tested in 158 HCV-positive and 220 HCV-negative subjects. We selected 22 SNPs in five lipid regulator genes which were related to HCV entry into hepatocytes and to lipid metabolism (APOA1, APOB, SR-B1, LDLR, and APOE), and their polymorphisms were analyzed using the PCR-sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe-Luminex method.ResultsAn APOB N4311S (g.41553a > g) SNP, rs1042034, was significantly associated with HCV positivity; the HCV positivity rate for the minor allele AA genotype was significantly higher than for genotype AG + GG (P = 0.016). Other SNPs except for APOB P2712L SNP rs676210, which is in linkage disequilibrium with rs1042034, showed no significant difference in genotype distribution. The serum level of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in the genotype AA group was significantly lower than in the genotype non-AA group (P = 0.032), whereas the triglyceride (TG) level was significantly higher (P = 0.007).ConclusionAn APOB SNP, rs1042034, is closely associated with HCV infection through lipid metabolism alteration. The minor allele AA genotype might contribute to facilitating serum LDL uptake into hepatocytes via LDLR by modifying their affinity and interaction and may have an influence on HCV infection by their entry to the liver through the LDLR.

Current Status of Hepatitis C Virus-Infected Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients in Japan.

Complete recovery using interferon therapy in Japanese hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected dialysis patients is difficult to achieve because >70% of the HCV genotypes observed in Japan are type 1. In 2016, new direct-acting antiviral drugs against HCV genotype 1 were reported to be effective and safe for HCV-infected hemodialysis patients. Although new direct antiviral therapy has become available, no large-scale studies evaluating the status of HCV infection in Japanese hemodialysis patients have been conducted since 2007. Therefore, we conducted a questionnaire survey to determine the current status of HCV infection in patients. Our results indicated that the HCV antibody prevalence was 5.02%, and HCV RNA prevalence was 72.3%. Genotype testing revealed that 62.1% of patients had HCV genotype 1. New direct antiviral therapy may improve the survival of Japanese HCV-infected dialysis patients.

A syndemic approach to assess the effect of substance use and social disparities on the evolution of HIV/HCV infections in British Columbia.

BackgroundCo-occurrence of social conditions and infections may affect HIV/HCV disease risk and progression. We examined the changes in relationship of these social conditions and infections on HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections over time in British Columbia during 1990–2013.MethodsThe BC Hepatitis Testers Cohort (BC-HTC) includes ~1.5 million individuals tested for HIV or HCV, or reported as a case of HCV, HIV, HBV, or tuberculosis linked to administrative healthcare databases. We classified HCV and HIV infection status into five combinations: HIV-/HCV-, HIV+monoinfected, HIV-/HCV+seroconverters, HIV-/HCV+prevalent, and HIV+/HCV+.ResultsOf 1.37 million eligible individuals, 4.1% were HIV-/HCV+prevalent, 0.5% HIV+monoinfected, 0.3% HIV+/HCV+ co-infected and 0.5% HIV-/HCV+seroconverters. Overall, HIV+monoinfected individuals lived in urban areas (92%), had low injection drug use (IDU) (4%), problematic alcohol use (4%) and were materially more privileged than other groups. HIV+/HCV+ co-infected and HIV-/HCV+seroconverters were materially most deprived (37%, 32%), had higher IDU (28%, 49%), problematic alcohol use (14%, 17%) and major mental illnesses (12%, 21%). IDU, opioid substitution therapy, and material deprivation increased in HIV-/HCV+seroconverters over time. In multivariable multinomial regression models, over time, the odds of IDU declined among HIV-/HCV+prevalent and HIV+monoinfected individuals but not in HIV-/HCV+seroconverters. Declines in odds of problematic alcohol use were observed in HIV-/HCV+seroconverters and coinfected individuals over time.ConclusionsThese results highlight need for designing prevention, care and support services for HIV and HCV infected populations based on the evolving syndemics of infections and social conditions which vary across groups.

Exacerbations of oral lichen planus and elevated levels of aminotransferases

Liver enzymes appear to be involved in oral lichen planus (OLP), but it is not known whether the elevation develops concomitantly with exacerbations of disease. We compared the levels of serum hepatic aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) aminotransferases as markers of OLP exacerbation in patients with chronic hepatitis C from those with chronic liver disorders, seronegative for hepatitis C virus (HCV). We studied 71 patients with OLP, (48 HCV seropositive and 23 HCV seronegative with chronic liver diseases) measuring AST and ALT. Association of HCV infection status with serum aminotransferase levels in relation to several types of OLP, exacerbations, and clinical score was studied by means of logistic and linear regression (correcting for age and sex). Of 476 patients screened, 71 were eligible for the study. Patients in the HCV seropositive group had more elevation of AST and ALT levels (mean level, 51.0 U/l; normal level, <45) than patients in the HCV seronegative group (mean level, 47.5 U/l). Mean serum AST and ALT exceeded the upper limit of the normal range in 33 of 48 (68.8%) in the HCV antibody-positive group and in 9 of 23 (39.5%) in the HCV antibody-negative group. Exacerbations of OLP were more frequent in the high-level AST and ALT group, while HCV status group played a minor role. Among patients with OLP, mild elevation in aminotransferase levels was more common in patients infected with HCV. AST and ALT concentrations were elevated in association with exacerbation of OLP.

Prevalence of hepatitis B and C and factors for infection and nonimmune in inflammatory bowel disease patients in China.

The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and the risk factors related to the infection and nonimmune status. A retrospective study was carried out at two clinical centers. The prevalence of viral markers and risk factors related to HBV and HCV infection and nonimmune status were analyzed in IBD patients. Age-matched and sex-matched healthy individuals were recruited as the controls. A total of 980 IBD patients were included in this study. Present and past HBV infection was detected in 41.21% of the IBD group, which was higher than that in the general population (P=0.003). Age older than 30 years (P=0.000), ulcerative colitis (P=0.002), and previous surgery (P=0.039) were found to be significant risk factors for HBV infection in the multivariate analysis. 36.43% of the patients in the IBD group had nonimmune status against HBV, and age less than 40 years (P=0.011) and Crohn's disease (P=0.002) were identified as independent risk factors in the multivariate analysis. The prevalence of HCV infection was low and similar to that of the general population. The prevalence of HBV infection in IBD patients in China was higher than that in Europe, USA, and the general population in China, but the prevalence of HCV infection in IBD patients was similar to that in the general population in this study. The frequency of nonimmune status against HBV was high, especially in young Crohn's disease patients, and HBV vaccination should be intensified and have a targeted coverage.

Association between APC promoter methylation and clinicopathological features of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: a meta-analysis with PRISMA guideline

Background: The adenomatous polyposis coli ( APC ) has been reported as a key tumor suppressor gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the clinical significance of APC promoter methylation in HCC remains unclear. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between APC promoter methylation and clinicopathological characteristics of patients with HCC. Methods: Eligible publications were identified by online electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, EBSCO and the Cochrane Library). The combined odds ratios (ORs) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated and summarized under the random-effects model. Results: Final 21 available studies were included in the current study. APC promoter methylation was significantly higher in HCC than in normal live tissues, liver cirrhosis, and healthy blood samples (OR=11.46, P 0.1). APC promoter methylation was shown to be associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection status of patients with HCC (OR=2.86, P=0.005; OR=3.50, P=0.001; respectively), but not correlated with clinical stage, gender, and vascular invasion status (P>0.1). Conclusions: APC promoter methylation may be correlated with HCC, especially for patients with HBV and HCV infection status. Promoter methylation of the APC may be a potential noninvasive biomarker using blood samples in the detection of HCC. More studies with large samples sizes are needed to validate our findings in the future.

Genetic basis for variation in plasma IL-18 levels in persons with chronic hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus-1 infections.

Inflammasomes are multi-protein complexes integrating pathogen-triggered signaling leading to the generation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-18 (IL-18). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) infections are associated with elevated IL-18, suggesting inflammasome activation. However, there is marked person-to-person variation in the inflammasome response to HCV and HIV. We hypothesized that host genetics may explain this variation. To test this, we analyzed the associations of plasma IL-18 levels and polymorphisms in 10 genes in the inflammasome cascade. 1538 participants with active HIV and/or HCV infection in 3 ancestry groups are included. Samples were genotyped using the Illumina Omni 1-quad and Omni 2.5 arrays. Linear regression analyses were performed to test the association of variants with logIL-18 including HCV and HIV infection status and HIV-RNA, in each ancestry group and then meta-analyzed. Eleven highly correlated SNPs (r2=0.98-1) in the IL18-BCO2 region were significantly associated with logIL-18; Each T allele of rs80011693 confers a decrease of 0.06 log pg/mL of IL-18 after adjusting for covariates (rs80011693; rs111311302 β=-0.06, P-value=2.7×10-4). In conclusion, genetic variation in IL18 is associated with IL-18 production in response to HIV and HCV infection and may explain variability in the inflammatory outcomes of chronic viral infections.

A systematic review of treatment response rates in Pakistani hepatitis C virus patients; current prospects and future challenges.

Background:The estimated hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers are approximately 10 million in Pakistan which usually progresses to chronic hepatitis, with rare cases of spontaneous viral eradication. The present article reviews the treatment status of HCV infection in Pakistani population and various factors associated with the treatment response rates.Methods:Literature on anti-HCV therapy was searched in PubMed, Google Scholar and PakMediNet. Thirty three different studies representing different geographic regions of Pakistan published from 2002 to 2016 were included in the present review. Weighted mean, standard error estimates (SE) and standard deviation (SD) were determined for each population group.Results:Mean value for sustained virological response (SVR) for standard IFN plus ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy was 68.38% ± 14.13% (range 33.8%–87.10%; SE 3.08) and pegylated-IFN plus RBV combination therapy 64.38% ± 8.68% (range 55.0%–76.00%; SE 3.88). The lowest value for SVR has been reported to be 24.3% (for genotype 1; administering INF-α 2b 3MU 3 times/week and RBV 1000–1200 mg/day for 48 weeks) while highest of 87.5% (genotype 3a; INF-α 2a 3MU 3 times/week and RBV 1000–1200 mg/day for 24 weeks). The mean value for rapid virological response (RVR) was found to be 48.18% ± 29.20% (SE 9.73). As PEG-interferon and direct acting antivirals (DAAs) are relatively expensive, interferon-alfa (IFN-α) and RBV combination therapy have been used widely to treat HCV infected patients in Pakistan for the last one and half decade. On average, 2.45% of the patients discontinued treatment due to severe side effects.Conclusion:We encourage further studies on understanding host and viral factors associated with specific focus on harder to treat viral variants (relapsers and nonresponders). These variants are currently rising in the country.

Impact of universal access to hepatitis C therapy on HIV-infected patients: implementation of the Spanish national hepatitis C strategy

In April 2015, the Spanish National Health System (SNHS) developed a national strategic plan for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Our aim was to analyze the impact of this on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients included in the HERACLES cohort during the first 6 months of its implementation. The HERACLES cohort (NCT02511496) was set up in March 2015 to evaluate the status and follow-up of chronic HCV infection in patients co-infected with HIV in the south of Spain. In September 2015, the data were analyzed to identify clinical events (death, liver decompensation, and liver fibrosis progression) and rate of treatment implementation in this population. The study population comprised a total of 3474 HIV/HCV co-infected patients. The distribution according to liver fibrosis stage was: 1152 F0–F1 (33.2 %); 513 F2 (14.4 %); 641 F3 (18.2 %); 761 F4 (21.9 %); and 407 whose liver fibrosis was not measured (12.3 %). During follow-up, 248 patients progressed by at least one fibrosis stage [7.1 %; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 6.3–8 %]. Among cirrhotic patients, 52 (6.8 %; 95 % CI: 5.2–8.9 %) developed hepatic decompensation. In the overall population, 50 patients died (1.4 %; 95 % CI: 1.1–1.9 %). Eight hundred and nineteen patients (23.56 %) initiated interferon (IFN)-free treatment during follow-up, of which 47.8 % were cirrhotic. In our study, during 6 months of follow-up, 23.56 % of HIV/HCV co-infected patients included in our cohort received HCV treatment. However, we observed a high incidence of negative short-term outcomes in our population.

Characterization of differential antibody production against hepatitis C virus in different HCV infection status.

BackgroundThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update on hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing approach, in which it omitted the use of recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) in the diagnostic algorithm and recommended that future studies are needed to evaluate the performance of HCV testing without RIBA. As Egypt has the highest prevalence of HCV worldwide, we aimed to evaluate the value of RIBA in HCV testing in a high prevalence population. Our objective was to clarify whether enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) anti-HCV signal-to-cutoff (S/CO) ratios were able to discriminate true positive from false positive anti-HCV antibody status and to evaluate the role of RIBA in solving this problem which may lead to a redefined strategy for diagnosis of HCV infection. Our second objective was to elucidate the effects of different HCV peptides of both structural and non-structural proteins on the humoral immune response to HCV infection. MethodsThe current study drew results from 167 individuals divided into three groups: Group I: included 77 HCV antibody positive (ELISA) high risk health care workers (HCW), Group II: included 56 presumably uninfected individuals who showed normal liver enzymes, negative HCV RNA and were asymptomatic. Their ELISA HCV antibody S/C ratio ranged from 0.9 to <5. Group III: included 34 patients enrolled from outpatient clinics of Ain Shams Hospital with persistent viral replication, elevated liver enzymes, and chronic HCV related liver disease. All study participants were assessed for the presence of anti-HCV antibodies by 3rd generation ELISA which was confirmed by RIBA.ResultsInterpreting the results of both ELISA and RIBA together, false positive results were highly significantly increased in HCW when compared with the other two groups. Indeterminate and false negative results were only found in the presumably uninfected group. For differentiated antibody responses by RIBA, chronic HCV cases had the highest frequency of positive antibody response to core peptides while the presumably uninfected group had the lowest. Antibody response to E2 was found less frequently in chronic cases than Core 1, Core 2 and NS3. The specific antibody response to the different HCV peptides showed the same distribution of frequencies in both chronic HCV cases and the presumably uninfected individuals with the chronic cases having the highest frequencies. This distribution was different from the HCW. The most evident difference was the reaction towards NS3 which was the highest antibody producing peptide in chronic HCV and presumably uninfected individuals whereas in HCW Core1 was the highest.ConclusionThe HCV antibody immunoblot assay (RIBA) is still necessary for the detection of false positive cases which can occur quite frequently in countries of high prevalence as Egypt. Indeterminate RIBA results indicate a waning antibody response in elderly individuals who recovered from previous or distant HCV infection.

Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection and Risk of Pancreatic Cancer: A Population-Based Cohort Study (JPHC Study Cohort II).

The aim of this study was to assess the association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the risk of pancreatic cancer among Japanese adults. A total of 20,360 subjects of the Japan Public Health Center (JPHC)-based prospective study cohort II with available data on HBV and HCV infection status from blood samples were followed up until the end of 2010 for an average of 16 years. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to calculate HRs and 95% confidence intervals (CI). During 324,394 person-years, 116 newly diagnosed cases of pancreatic cancer were identified. Compared with individuals without a positive infection marker, the multivariate-adjusted HRs were 1.22 (95% CI, 0.81-1.84) for anti-HBc and 0.69 (95% CI, 0.28-1.69) for anti-HCV. There were no pancreatic cancer cases among HBsAg-positive participants. In the JPHC study, we did not observe a statistically significant association between hepatitis B or C and the risk of pancreatic cancer. Our results do not support an association between hepatitis B or C and the risk of pancreatic cancer.

High level of serum cholesteryl ester transfer protein in active hepatitis C virus infection.

To determine the significance of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) in lipoprotein abnormalities in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We evaluated the significance of the serum concentration of CETP in 110 Japanese patients with chronic HCV infection. Fifty-five patients had active HCV infection, and HCV eradication had been achieved in 55. The role of CETP in serum lipoprotein abnormalities, specifically, in triglyceride (TG) concentrations in the four major classes of lipoproteins, was investigated using Pearson correlations in conjunction with multiple regression analysis and compared them between those with active HCV infection and those in whom eradication had been achieved. The serum CETP levels of patients with active HCV infection were significantly higher than those of patients in whom HCV eradication was achieved (mean ± SD, 2.84 ± 0.69 μg/mL vs 2.40 ± 1.00 μg/mL, P = 0.008). In multiple regression analysis, HCV infection status (active or eradicated) was an independent factor significantly associated with the serum CETP level. TG concentrations in low-density lipoprotein (mean ± SD, 36.25 ± 15.28 μg/mL vs 28.14 ± 9.94 μg/mL, P = 0.001) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (mean ± SD, 25.9 ± 7.34 μg/mL vs 17.17 ± 4.82 μg/mL, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with active HCV infection than in those in whom HCV eradication was achieved. The CETP level was strongly correlated with HDL-TG in patients with active HCV infection (R = 0.557, P < 0.001), whereas CETP was not correlated with HDL-TG in patients in whom HCV eradication was achieved (R = -0.079, P = 0.56). Our results indicate that CETP plays a role in abnormalities of lipoprotein metabolism in patients with chronic HCV infection.

Long-term Outcomes After Liver Transplantation Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Recipients.

Early outcomes after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) + liver transplantation (LT) are encouraging, but data are lacking regarding long-term outcomes and comparisons with matched HIV- patients. We examined outcomes among 180 HIV+ LT, and compared outcomes to matched HIV- counterfactuals (Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients 2002-2011). Iterative expanding radius matching (1:10) on recipient age, race, body mass index, hepatitis C virus (HCV), model for end-stage liver disease score, and acute rejection; and donor age and race, cold ischemia time, and year of transplant. Patient survival and graft survival were estimated using Kaplan-Meier methodology and compared using log-rank and Cox proportional hazards. Subgroup analyses were performed by transplant era (early: 2002-2007 vs. modern: 2008-2011) and HCV infection status. Compared to matched HIV- controls, HIV+ LT recipients had a 1.68-fold increased risk for death (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.68, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.28-2.20; P < 0.001), and a 1.70-fold increased risk for graft loss (aHR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.31-2.20; P < 0.001). These differences persisted independent of HCV infection status. However, in the modern transplant era risk for death (aHR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.52-2.35; P = 0.79) and graft loss (aHR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.42-1.88; P = 0.77) were similar between monoinfected and uninfected LT recipients. In contrast, independent of transplant era, coinfected LT recipients had increased risk for death (aHR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.43-3.53; P < 0.001) and graft loss (aHR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.33-3.22; P = 0.001) compared to HCV+ alone LT recipients. These results suggest that outcomes among monoinfected HIV+ LT recipients have improved over time. However, outcomes among HIV+ LT recipients coinfected with HCV remain concerning and motivate future survival benefit studies.

Interferon (IFN) and Cellular Immune Response Evoked in RNA-Pattern Sensing During Infection with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV).

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects hepatocytes but not dendritic cells (DCs), but DCs effectively mature in response to HCV-infected hepatocytes. Using gene-disrupted mice and hydrodynamic injection strategy, we found the MAVS pathway to be crucial for induction of type III interferons (IFNs) in response to HCV in mouse. Human hepatocytes barely express TLR3 under non-infectious states, but frequently express it in HCV infection. Type I and III IFNs are induced upon stimulation with polyI:C, an analog of double-stranded (ds)RNA. Activation of TLR3 and the TICAM-1 pathway, followed by DC-mediated activation of cellular immunity, is augmented during exposure to viral RNA. Although type III IFNs are released from replication-competent human hepatocytes, DC-mediated CTL proliferation and NK cell activation hardly occur in response to the released type III IFNs. Yet, type I IFNs and HCV-infected hepatocytes can induce maturation of DCs in either human or mouse origin. In addition, mouse CD8+ DCs mature in response to HCV-infected hepatocytes unless the TLR3/TICAM-1 pathway is blocked. We found the exosomes containing HCV RNA in the supernatant of the HCV-infected hepatocytes act as a source of TLR3-mediated DC maturation. Here we summarize our view on the mechanism by which DCs mature to induce NK and CTL in a status of HCV infection.

Hepatitis B and C virus infection and risk of lymphoid malignancies: A population-based cohort study (JPHC Study)

BackgroundSeveral studies have assessed the association between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. However, few studies are cohort by design, conducted within the Asian context and even fewer studies consider other lymphoid malignancies. The aim of this study was to assess the association between HBV and HCV and the risk of lymphoid malignancies among Japanese adults. Materials and methodsThe Japan Public Health Center prospective-based Study Cohort II was initiated in 1993/1994. 20,360 subjects with available data on HBV and HCV infection status from blood samples were followed up until the end of 2010 for an average of 16 years. During 324,139 person-years, 120 newly diagnosed cases of lymphoid malignancies were identified. Cox proportional hazards models were employed to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). ResultsOf 20,360 subjects, 508 were HBsAg positive, 11,035 were anti-HBc positive, and 1,129 subjects were anti-HCV positive at baseline. The presence of HBsAg was positively associated with malignant lymphoma, especially with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (HR=3.56, 95%CI=1.37–9.18) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (HR=7.22, 95%CI=2.34–22.29). In contrast, no clear association was observed between the presence of anti-HBc and anti-HCV. ConclusionIn conclusion, HBsAg but not anti-HBc or anti-HCV was positively associated with malignant lymphoma, particularly non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in Japanese adults.

Nosocomial hepatitis C virus transmission from tampering with injectable anesthetic opioids.

The extent of provider-to-patient hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission from diversion, self-injection, and substitution ("tampering") of anesthetic opioids is unknown. To quantify the contribution of opioid tampering to nosocomial HCV outbreaks, data from health care-related HCV outbreaks occurring in developed countries from 1990 to 2012 were collated, grouped, and compared. Tampering was associated with 17% (8 of 46) of outbreaks, but 53% (438 of 833) of cases. Of the tampering outbreaks, six (75%) involved fentanyl, five (63%) occurred in the United States, and one each in Australia, Israel, and Spain. Case counts ranged from 5 to 275 in the tampering outbreaks (mean, 54.8; median, 25), and 1-99 in the nontampering outbreaks (mean, 10.4; median, 5); between them, the difference in mean ranks of counts was significant (P < 0.01). To estimate HCV transmission risks from tampering, risk-assessment models were constructed, and these risks compared with those from surgery. HCV transmission risk from exposure to an opioid preparation tampered by a provider of unknown HCV infection status who is a person who injects drugs (PWID; 0.62%; standard error [SE] = 0.38%) exceeds 16,757 times the risk from surgery by a surgeon of unknown HCV infection status (0.000037%; SE = 0.000029%) and 135 times by an HCV-infected surgeon (0.0046%; SE = 0.0033%). To pose a 50% patient transmission risk, an infected surgeon may take 30 years, compared to <1 year for a PWID tamperer, and weeks or days for a PWID tamperer who intensifies access to opioids. Disproportionately, many cases of HCV infection from nosocomial outbreaks were attributable to provider tampering of anesthetic opioids. Transmission risk from tampering is substantially higher than from surgery.

Prognostic impact of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with immunochemotherapy in the context of a novel prognostic index

ObjectivePatients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been associated with development of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), yet its impact on several clinical aspects, including phenotypic characteristics and treatment-related toxicities as well as survival outcome after rituximab-based immunochemotherapy, remains controversial. MethodsTo elucidate the characteristics of HCV-positive DLBCL in the context of a new prognostic model, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network International Prognostic Index (NCCN-IPI), we retrospectively analyzed DLBCL patients diagnosed and treated with immunochemotherapy at our institute during the last decade. ResultsIn all, HCV infection was identified in 22 (17.7%) of 124 DLBCL patients. Except for being more likely to present with an advanced stage of disease, patients with HCV infection were phenotypically indistinguishable from HCV-negative cases. Multivariate analysis showed 3 factors independently predicted a dismal overall survival (OS) outcome: lower albumin level (<3g/dL vs. ≥3g/dL, p<0.001; HR=13.21, 95% CI=2.69–64.98, p=0.001), presence of HCV infection (vs. HCV-negative; HR=9.75, 95% CI=1.97–48.34, p=0.005), and poor NCCN-IPI risk (high-intermediate or high vs. low-intermediate or low; HR=5.56, 95% CI=1.17–26.55, p=0.031). ConclusionsOur study has demonstrated that HCV infection status and low serum albumin level add important prognostic values to the newly proposed NCCN-IPI model for patients with DLBCL.

Assessment of Evidence for Positive Association and Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C in Diabetic Patients in a Developing Country

Background and AimThe data related to the association between hepatitis virus infections and diabetes mellitus (DM) are conflicting. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis...

Hepatitis C surveillance in Canada.

Hepatitis C is a highly transmissible virus that can lead to chronic liver disease. It continues to be a major public health concern in Canada. To describe surveillance trends of reported cases of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Canada by age and sex from 1991-2012. Cases of HCV reported to the Canadian Notifiable Disease Surveillance System were compiled at the national level. As most reported cases are not differentiated by acute or chronic HCV infection status, presented results are based on total HCV cases. Time trends are provided from 1991-2012, with a more detailed examination of age and sex patterns from 2005-2012. The rate of reported HCV infection increased sharply from 1991 (the year it was first notifiable) until 1998, when the highest overall rate of 66.9 per 100,000 was observed. From that time until 2012, rates of reported cases decreased in both sexes, but remained consistently higher among males than females. In 2012, the overall rate of reported HCV infection was 29.3 per 100,000. In younger age groups, rates among females were marginally higher, while males in older age groups (30 and above) exhibited substantially higher rates. This surveillance summary presents the longer-term trends in reported cases and corresponding rates of HCV in Canada using national surveillance data. Canada continues to experience a downward trend in HCV rates; however, the burden of infection will continue to increase as chronically infected individuals develop severe illness.

Rate of infection and related risk factors on hepatitis C virus in three counties of Jiangsu province

To investigate the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection rate among general population in Jiangsu province and to analyze the main risk factors for HCV infection. Subjects in 3 counties were surveyed by stratified cluster random sampling in the National Major Science and Technology Projects demonstration area in Jiangsu province. Interview was carried out with uniformly- designed questionnaires. Blood samples were collected and anti-HCV tested. Data were analysed under SPSS 13.0. Case-control study was conducted on two groups with subjects under 1:4 matching by sex, age, village of residence and status of HCV infection. Cox's proportional hazards regression analysis was then performed to analyze the risk factors for HCV infection. The positive rate of anti-HCV was higher in females (0.965%, 95%CI:0.899%-1.035%) than in males (0.572%, 95%CI:0.517%-0.632%). Significant differences were noticed among the positive rates of anti-HCV in the three counties (0.131%, 95%CI:0.103%-0.164%;0.316%, 95%CI: 0.268%-0.370%; 2.173% , 95% CI:2.039%-2.315% , respectively). Peak prevalence of anti-HCV (1.577%, 95%CI:1.425%-1.740%) was observed among persons at 50-59 years of age. Bottom rate (0.161%, 95%CI:0.125%-0.204%) was observed below 30 years of age. High anti-HCV positive rate was detected in people with lower education background or belonged to 'floating population'. Factors as having histories of hospitalization (OR = 3.049, 95% CI:1.322-7.036), blood transfusion (OR = 14.319, 95%CI:2.318-88.459) or sharing razor (OR = 3.604, 95%CI:1.096-11.851) were risk factors of HCV infection in the area with the lowest anti-HCV positive rate. In another county, factor as having histories of 'blood products transfusion' (OR = 7.202, 95% CI:1.170-44.310) appeared important while in the third county, having history of 'blood donation' (OR = 7.496, 95%CI:6.121- 9.180); 'blood transfusion' (OR = 2.305, 95%CI:1.578-3.369) and 'invasive physical examination' (OR = 1.258, 95% CI:1.021-1.549) appeared to be important. Age seemed a risk factor for HCV infection. "Sharing razor" was a specifically important risk factor among the 30- year-olds. "Having received acupuncture" was noticed a risk factor only among people at 50-59 years of age while "Having received invasive physical examination" was important in the 50-59 and 60-69 year-olds. High anti-HCV positive rate was observed in people at middle of aged population, as well as in those with poor education or under 'floating'. Unsafe blood donation or having received blood-product transfusion might be the risk factors in the last decades. Factors as sharing razor, having received acupuncture or invasive examination might be specifically risky in different populations.