Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:2.6.1.2 (alanine aminotransferase)
 26,722 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed by using a synthetic polypeptide (SP) whose sequence was derived from the structural region of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Results of several coded panels of sera obtained from volunteer blood donors and patients with apparent non-A, non-B hepatitis and/or hepatitis B virus used in this ELISA were compared with those of a commercially available first-generation C-100 ELISA (using nonstructural HCV antigens), an experimental second-generation C-200/C-22 ELISA (using both structural and nonstructural HCV antigens), and recombinant immunoblot assays RIBA-I and RIBA-II. In the majority of cases, the results obtained with the HCV-SP ELISA correlated well with those obtained by RIBA-II and C-200/C-22 ELISA. In contrast, many samples that were repeatedly reactive in the C-100 ELISA results were nonreactive with RIBA and HCV-SP ELISA. In addition, HCV-SP detected HCV-specific antibody that appeared within a month of infection and coincided with the earliest increase in alanine aminotransferase. In summary, we have developed an ELISA based on a structural HCV synthetic polypeptide, HCV-SP, that has high specificity and sensitivity and is capable of detecting specific antibodies in the acute phase of HCV infection.
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PMID:Detection of acute hepatitis C virus infection by ELISA using a synthetic peptide comprising a structural epitope. 137 3

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a fetal specific glycoprotein normally produced primarily by the fetal liver. Normally, AFP levels decline rapidly after birth, reaching undetectable levels (less than 10 ng/ml) within several months after birth. The authors have developed a more sensitive radioimmunoassay, which has allowed them to study low levels of AFP in normal adults and to determine factors which may affect its normal level. Two hundred and seventy normal Houston blood donors were screened for the absence of hepatitis B and normal ALT levels. The mean AFP level was 3.04 ng/ml +/- 1.9 SD. There was a statistically significant higher level in men compared to women (p less than .004). Regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant increase of AFP levels with age both in men (p less than .05) and in women (p less than .01). These data delineate the normal level of serum AFP in normal adults in the United States. With the normal level now defined, it becomes possible to compare levels in different populations including those exposed to hepatotoxins or hepatocarcinogens in the environment.
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PMID:Alpha-fetoprotein levels in normal adults. 137 9

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most important cause of transfusion-related non-A, non-B hepatitis. It is also thought to be the prime cause of non-transfusion-related or sporadic chronic liver disease. To assess the extent of HCV infection and its significance in this last form, we evaluated the clinical, serological and histological features of 84 consecutive HCV-related patients without a history of blood or blood products transfusion, alcohol or intravenous drug abuse or other known risk factors. Our results indicate that 68 patients (81%) had signs of chronicity, and 33 (39.2%) had superimposed cirrhosis. Serum abnormal alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyltransferase activities represented good predictive markers of liver histological signs of chronicity. The levels of serum gammaglobulins were found to parallel histological severity of liver disease. One or more hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated markers were present in 52 patients (61.9%). Only 6 (7.1%) were chronic HBV carriers, and 3 of them had signs of active virus replication. These data indicate that HCV plays a major role in the etiology of sporadic chronic liver disease. Its presence is associated with histological forms of chronic liver disease in most patients, who likely represent chronic HCV carriers.
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PMID:Hepatitis-C-virus-related chronic liver disease of sporadic type: clinical, serological and histological features. 137 48

A prospective study of liver disease has been conducted among patients entering our Dialysis Unit between 1987 and 1990. On entry, 7 patients had a history of blood transfusions but none had clinical or biochemical features of liver disease. During follow-up, 13 further patients were transfused; 1 case developed acute resolving hepatitis B and another acute non-A, non-B hepatitis progressing to chronicity. Eleven other cases showed transient or fluctuating ALT abnormalities. On entry, anti-HCV was negative by both 1st and 2nd generation ELISA assays (Ortho-Diagnostic Systems) in all cases. During follow-up, a positive reaction was detected in 17 cases: 4 patients were positive by both assays and 13 only by 2nd generation test (p less than 0.01). HCV was implicated in 66% of cases with liver disease of the non-A, non-B type and in 50% of transfused as compared to 23% of nontransfused cases (p = n.s.). These findings suggest that HCV could play a major etiological role in liver disease of hemodialysis patients and that anti-C100 reactivity is more affected by immunosuppression associated with chronic uremia.
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PMID:Hepatitis C virus infection in hemodialyzed patients detected by first and second generation assays. 138 Jan 33

Forty-six patients with chronic hepatitis delta virus infection were followed between 6 and 116 mo (mean = 32.8 mo; median = 24 mo). Nineteen patients (41%) demonstrated clinical courses with episodes of biochemical reactivation (ALT levels greater than or equal to 10 times baseline values [group A]). Twenty-seven patients (59%) had stable clinical courses without biochemical reactivation (group B). Patients in group A were younger than those in group B (30.5 vs. 35.3 yr; p = 0.03), were less likely to be intravenous drug abusers (16% vs. 52%; p = 0.01) and were more likely to be homosexual (58% vs. 22%; p = 0.01). Serum hepatitis B virus DNA, hepatitis delta virus RNA, IgM antibody to HBc, HBeAg, antibody to HBe and IgG and IgM antibody to hepatitis delta virus were measured in all patients. In group A, these markers were studied before and during reactivation and during remission. In group B, these parameters were studied in a random fashion at 7- to 10-mo intervals. The presence of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus was assessed in all patients. A total of 38 biochemical reactivation episodes was noted among the 19 patients in group A. Eleven had sequential changes in hepatitis delta virus markers, suggesting that the exacerbations were due to hepatitis delta virus. In three, the sequential changes of viral markers were consistent with the exacerbations due to hepatitis B virus. In five other patients, no sequential changes in viral markers could be demonstrated to correlate with the biochemical exacerbations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Spontaneous exacerbation of disease activity in patients with chronic delta hepatitis infection: the role of hepatitis B, C or D? 138 Apr 78

A community health survey of 923 residents aged 30 years or more was performed in Putai Township of Taiwan. To elucidate the relationships between hepatitis C virus (HCV) and surrogate tests for non-A, non-B hepatitis in hyperendemic areas of hepatitis B virus (HBV) serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglycerides, cholesterol, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) were examined. Glucose tolerance tests and the history of diabetes treatment were used to define the diabetes status. Fatty liver was diagnosed by sonography. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 2.6% (95% confidence interval, 1.6-3.6%). Elevated ALT and fatty liver were significantly associated with anti-HCV in univariate analysis. Anti-HCV was not an associated factor for fatty liver after adjusting for serum triglycerides and cholesterol, sex, body mass index and diabetes status through multiple logistic regression. However elevated ALT was still associated with anti-HCV after adjusting for serum triglycerides, sex, body mass index, HBsAg and age through multiple linear regression. The anti-HCV prevalence was similar between HBsAg-positive and negative subjects. Aggregation of HCV infection was found among spouses. It was concluded that elevated ALT and intimate contact with HCV carriers might be associated factors for HCV infection, and that HBV infection and fatty liver were not related to HCV infection in Taiwan.
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PMID:Relationship between fatty liver, alanine aminotransferase, HBsAg and hepatitis C virus. 138 55

Liver and serum samples from 67 children with hepatitis B chronic infection, whether or not treated with recombinant interferon, were analyzed for the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA. After follow-up, 44/67 (66%) still had serum and liver viral DNA; 23/67 (34%) were negative for serum hepatitis B virus DNA. Of the 23 children in the latter group, liver biopsy was available in 21 and viral DNA was not detected by Southern-blot in 20. In the remaining patient, viral DNA was in an episomal nonreplicative form. Polymerase chain reaction was performed in the 21 serum samples negative for viral DNA by conventional techniques and in the 21 liver samples (20 negative for hepatitis B virus DNA and 1 with episomal nonreplicative form). All liver samples resulted in a positive reaction to viral DNA by this technique. Serum viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction was detected in 15/21 (71%) of these patients. The mean of alanine aminotransferase values was similar in patients with or without hepatitis B virus DNA in serum by polymerase chain reaction. In summary, in the majority of the patients who respond to the therapy, there is a persistence of viral replication detected by polymerase chain reaction. This fact explains the persistence of serum HBsAg in these patients. However, more studies are necessary to determine the meaning of the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA that is only detectable by polymerase chain reaction.
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PMID:Persistence of hepatitis B virus DNA after reduction of viral replication in serum and liver. 138 16

To examine the relationship between hepatitis B core antigen-specific interferon gamma production and the liver injury, we measured the sequential change in this production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of seven patients with chronic hepatitis B. Four patients who experienced acute exacerbation showed increased interferon gamma production when the serum alanine aminotransferase level peaked or during the recovery phase. In the three patients who did not experience acute exacerbation, interferon gamma production gradually decreased in one who had a low peak of alanine aminotransferase but did not show significant change in the other two. Increased production of hepatitis B core antigen-specific interferon gamma at the time of acute exacerbation suggests that interferon gamma induced by hepatitis B core antigen plays a role in hepatocellular injury of patients with chronic hepatitis B.
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PMID:Hepatitis B core antigen-specific interferon gamma production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells during acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B. 138 10

The risk of developing a chronic carriage state after acute hepatitis B infection in adults was evaluated. Two hundred and eighty-nine HBV-susceptible heterosexual partners of acute hepatitis B patients were used to investigate the effectiveness of post-exposure immunoprophylaxis; 75 of them received hepatitis B vaccine, 72 hepatitis B hyperimmune globulin (HBIG), 71 vaccine plus HBIG and 71 placebo. Participants were interviewed, clinically examined and serum specimens were taken at 1, 3, 6 and 9 months after their first intervention. Serum samples were tested for ALT and HBV markers (HBsAg, anti-HBc and anti-HBs) using radio immunoassays. Forty-six (15.9%) of the heterosexual partners examined were infected; the incidence of HBV infections was higher among placebo (18.3%, 13/71) and HBIG (18.1%, 13/72) recipients compared to vaccine (16.0%, 12/75) and HBIG plus vaccine (11.3%, 8/71) recipients, but the differences were not statistically significant. Infections were significantly more often subclinical after immunoprophylaxis (p = 0.03). HBsAg was detected in all eight clinical and in 13 of the 38 subclinical cases. In the remaining 25 subclinical cases HBV infections were diagnosed by the development of anti-HBc and anti-HBs during the follow-up period. Finally, all 46 cases studied cleared the HBsAg.
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PMID:Chronic liver disease rarely follows acute hepatitis B in non-immunocompromised adults. 138 66

Three patients with submassive hepatic necrosis developed acute liver failure during the severe reactivation of chronic hepatitis B. The activity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA polymerase increased in all three patients immediately before the onset of hepatic failure. Liver biopsy specimens obtained before and after the episode of submassive hepatic necrosis showed progression to advanced liver cirrhosis. The nucleotide sequences of the precore and core regions of HBV-DNA were investigated in two of the three patients and in another two patients with piecemeal and bridging necrosis. The nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the HBV-DNA core region changed after reactivation in the the two patients with submassive hepatic necrosis, while the sequences in the other two patients with piecemeal necrosis remained unchanged before and after reactivation. These results suggest that the antigenicity of the HBV-DNA core region may have been changed before and after severe reactivation. Due to mutation at the core region, a different type of epitope would be expressed on the hepatocytes after submassive hepatic necrosis, which would not be a target for the cytotoxic T cell. This was evident by the continuation of the normal serum GPT for 5 and 9 years, respectively.
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PMID:Mutation of the core region of HBV-DNA and submassive hepatic necrosis in patients with anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B. 139 28


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