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

A consecutive series of 115 patients hospitalized with acute viral hepatitis in Copenhagen was studied for serological markers for hepatitis A and B virus. Thirty-nine patients had type B, 66 had type A, 3 had both type A and B, and 7 had type non-A non-B. Of the patients 81% were between 15 and 40 years of age, and there was a dominance of males due to an overrepresentation of homosexual males (30%) in both the A and B group. The main type of exposure to hepatitis type A was travel to foreign countries (53%), and for type B it was drug addiction (41%). In types A and B the duration of jaundice was positively correlated to the age of the patients but did not vary with sex or type of exposure. There was no difference in maximum alanine aminotransferase levels between the groups, but maximum bilirubin levels were lower for the type A group. Patients with hepatitis type A had a higher level of IgM than those with type B and with type non-A and non-B. We conclude that both clinically acute hepatitis type A and type B occur mainly in young adults and that foreign travel, drug addiction, and homosexuality increase the risk of getting acute hepatitis.
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PMID:Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of acute hepatitis types A, B, and non-A non-B. 12 1

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the response of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) to recombinant alpha-interferon was related to the presence or absence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) in patients with chronic non-A,non-B hepatitis. A group of 65 patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis was studied. The source of contamination was blood transfusion or administration of blood products in 32, intravenous drug addiction in 14 and unknown in 19. The patients received 1, 3 or 5 MU of recombinant alpha-interferon, three times a week, for 6 months. A complete response was defined as normal ALT by the end of recombinant alpha-interferon treatment. Sera collected before treatment were tested for anti-HCV with an enzyme immunoassay. The overall percentage of anti-HCV positive patients in the study group was 75%. There was no difference between the anti-HCV positive and the anti-HCV negative patients before the treatment with respect to age, sex ratio, source of contamination, serum albumin, prothrombin, bilirubin, ALT or prevalence of cirrhosis. In the anti-HCV positive and the anti-HCV negative groups, there was no difference in the proportion of patients receiving the 1, 3 or 5 MU dosage. The percentage of patients with complete response was not different in anti-HCV positive patients (48%) and in anti-HCV negative patients (50%). There was also no difference in the kinetics of the decrease of mean serum ALT levels between the two groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Is the response to recombinant alpha interferon related to the presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis? 164 37

The prisoner population of the penitentiaries presents an elevated prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) infection markers. In the last few years different measures have been developed to prevent infection. This study evaluates whether there have been changes in the prevalence of infection by these virus over the last few years within a penitentiary. A group of prisoners (n = 163) studied in 1985 were therefore compared with another group (n = 750) studied in 1992. Demographic, social, risk and penitentiary factors were included. In each of the subjects studied alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatitis B virus (HBsAG, antiHBs and antiHBc) and anti-HIV-1 markers were determined. It was globally observed that following the 7 years between the two studies there was a decrease in the prevalence of HBV (X = 14.63, p = 0.0001, OR = 2; CI 95%: 1.38-2.9), which was mainly observed in the group of prisoners with no drug addiction habits. No differences were observed with regard to the prevalence of anti-HIV-1 which remained similar among the IV drug consumers and not consumers (64% and 66.6% in 1985 and 1992, respectively). In conclusion, from 1985 to 1992 a decrease has been observed in the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in the penitentiary population while the prevalence of anti-HIV-1 has remained unchanged.
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PMID:[Comparative study of the prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in the prison population between 1985 and 1992]. 758 78

We studied the perinatal transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in 70 high risk mother/infant pairs. Seventy-six percent of the mothers (53 of 70) were coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 79% (55 of 70) had a history of drug addiction. During the follow-up HCV RNA was detected in 14 of 70 (20%) infants: 12% (2 of 17) in infants born to HIV-negative mothers; and 23% (12 of 53) in infants to HIV-positive mothers. The rate of vertical transmission was significantly higher in vaginally delivered infants than in those delivered by cesarean section (32% vs. 6%; P < 0.05). All 56 uninfected infants lost passively acquired anti-HCV by age 9 +/- 4 months and only 2 of 56 infants (4%) had evidence of HIV infection. Four of 14 HCV RNA-positive infants (29%) had evidence of HIV coinfection. We observed 3 clinical patterns of HCV infection: a transient viremia in 2 infants; an acute pattern in 2 infants; and a chronic pattern in 10 infants. All 4 HIV-coinfected infants had chronic HCV infection. All infants with a chronic pattern, had increased alanine aminotransferase values for more than 6 months and 5 had a liver biopsy that showed signs of chronic persistent hepatitis. HCV perinatal transmission was more frequent in infants born to HIV-coinfected mothers than in infants born to HIV-noninfected women, particularly when delivered vaginally.
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PMID:Perinatal transmission and manifestation of hepatitis C virus infection in a high risk population. 776 Nov 84

The epidemological and clinical features of hepatitis C virus infection have been evaluated in a cohort of 227 intravenous drug users enrolled at a drug dependence treatment center in the Veneto area in 1992-1993 and followed periodically. Hepatitis C virus infection was detected using second-generation anti-HCV ELISA in 171 (75%) subjects at enrollment. Anti-HCV seropositivity correlated with: a) the duration of drug abuse: 91% of intravenous drug users injecting for more than 8 years were seropositive as compared to 40% of those with a history of abuse lasting 4 years or less, p < 0.001; b) sharing of injection equipment: 85% anti-HCV positive intravenous drug users had shared at some time as compared to 64% seronegative subjects, p < 0.001; c) seropositivity for immunodeficiency virus infection: 25% anti-HCV positive intravenous drug users were coinfected as compared to 3.5% anti-HCV negative, p < 0.001; d) markers of ongoing (two cases) or previous hepatitis B virus infection were detected in 62% of anti-HCV positive but in 21% of anti-HCV negative cases, p < 0.01. Two initially anti-HCV negative intravenous drug users seroconverted during follow up giving an incidence rate of hepatitis C virus infection of 6.2 per 100 person-years. During the survey abnormal alanine aminotransferase levels were detected in 75% anti-HCV positive but in 24% anti-HCV negative cases (p < 0.001), with significantly higher levels in the former. These findings suggest that the circulation of hepatitis C virus among intravenous drug users has been decreasing in recent years, although new infections still occur.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Hepatitis C virus infection in Italian intravenous drug users: epidemiological and clinical aspects. 854 44

Twenty-two South Asian men and 32 European men who had abused alcohol for at least 1.5 years were studied at the time of admission for detoxification to an Alcohol and Drug Dependency unit. The self-confessed average alcohol consumption during the preceding 3 months was similar in the South Asians (mean 383 g/day) and Europeans (mean 435 g/day) but the total duration of alcohol abuse was significantly shorter in South Asians (geometric mean 7.4 years) than Europeans (geometric mean 13.1 years). The geometric mean values for the concentration of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin in the serum were similar in the two ethnic groups. However, the red cell distribution width, the percentages of HbA1a+b, HbA1c and total HbA1 in red cell lysates and the activities of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in the serum were all significantly higher in the South Asians than Europeans. The data suggest that South Asian men who abuse alcohol may be more susceptible to alcohol-related liver damage and acetaldehyde-mediated haemoglobin modification than European men who abuse alcohol to a similar extent for a considerably longer period.
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PMID:Ethnic differences in the biological consequences of alcohol abuse: a comparison between south Asian and European males. 855 53

A new virus named hepatitis G virus (HGV) has been detected recently. Until now, no assays for the detection of antibodies against different HGV proteins have been commercially available. Therefore, a strip immunoblot assay has been established to investigate seroreactivity against recombinant structural (core) and nonstructural proteins (NS3 and NS4) of HGV produced in Escherichia coli. Seropositivity for HGV was evaluated and concordanced with HGV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results in 709 subjects. These individuals were classified into a nonrisk or a risk group, on the basis of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) or frequent parenteral exposure, including hemophilia, intravenous drug addiction, receipt of blood transfusion, or hemodialysis. The nonrisk group consisted of 257 healthy blood donors with normal alanine transaminase (ALT) levels (ALT < 30 U/L) and 154 patients with suspected non-A-E hepatitis (ALT > 45 U/L). In the group of healthy blood donors, 1.9% (5 of 257) had detectable HGV viremia and 15.9% (41 of 257) showed antibody response to HGV. In the collective of patients with suspected non-A-E hepatitis, results from 1.9% of patients (3 of 154) were positive by HGV PCR, and 15.6% of patients (24 of 154) showed seropositivity against the recombinant HGV proteins. In six groups of patients (n = 298) with different risk factors, the prevalence of both HGV viremia (V) and serological reactivity (SR) was higher compared with that of the nonrisk group: V, 6.80%-35.2%; serological reactivity (SR), 25.4%-52.9%. The following conclusions can be derived from our data. HGV infection is widespread in the general population. The prevalence of antibodies against HGV or detectable HGV viremia is higher in patients with risk factors for parenteral viral transmission than in those without risk factors. The majority of HGV infections (70.2%) is self-limiting and not persistent in our collective of patients. We found no correlation between HGV viremia and clinical or biochemical signs of hepatitis in individuals without risk factors for acquiring parenterally transmitted agents.
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PMID:Distribution of hepatitis G viremia and antibody response to recombinant proteins with special regard to risk factors in 709 patients. 925 64

A decrease of positive donation rates for antibodies to HIV, to HCV and for HBs Ag has been observed between 1993 and 1995 both in first-time and regular donations. In first-time donors, the most important decrease has been observed for HIV and in regular donors for HCV and HBs Ag. The interval between the negative and the positive donations was inferior to 1 year for 50% of regular donors and was superior to 2 years for 20 to 30%. About 30% of HIV positive donations were positive for other markers: 23% for anti-HBc and 10% for anti-HCV. About 40% of HCV positive donations had an elevated ALT level. Risk factors related to HIV heterosexual transmission appear to be the most difficult to identify during the donor selection and the least often associated with other markers. In recently HCV-infected donors, the main risk factors were IV drug addiction (25%) and nosocomial infection (30%). The major HTLV risk factor was directly or indirectly linked to the Caribbean area. Important differences between continental France and overseas territories were observed for HIV and HBs Ag rates.
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PMID:[Screening for markers of blood-borne diseases in donated units collected in France from 1993 to 1995]. 933 19

The aim of the study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of HEV antibodies in blood donors and in healthy persons in Calabria (Italy). An age-stratified sample of blood from donors was drawn at a regional transfusion service. Sixty persons were enrolled for each of the following age-groups: 18-20, 21-30, 41-50, 51-60, > 60 years, whereas 61 persons were enrolled in the 31-40 age-group. In the oldest age-group 38 subjects were enrolled among healthy subjects attending an outpatient clinic. Participants were invited to fill in a questionnaire, including questions on demographics, such as sex, date and place of birth, place of residence, number of people in household, and occupation; exposure to specific risk factors, such as travel in hepatitis E endemic areas; history of jaundice and/or hepatitis; drug addiction and transfusion. Results of routine serological tests for blood donation (HBsAg, HCV, HIV, ALT) were also recorded. Serum samples of subjects were stored at -80 degrees C until tested. The seroprevalence of hepatitis E antibodies was studied using in parallel two commercial ELISA tests consisting of recombinant antigens and synthetic HEV polypeptides. Three hundred sixty-one persons were recruited and six of them were positive to HEV antibodies (1.7%) by the recombinant test, whereas four were positive by the synthetic peptides test (1.1%). Overall, three subjects were positive to both tests, with a prevalence of 0.8%. Of these two (0.7%) were men and one (1.3%) a woman. As to age, two (3.3%) were in the 51-60, and one (1.7%) in the > 60 age-group. None of the positive participants had travelled to highly endemic areas, and none were positive for HBsAg or HCV. The study confirms a low circulation of the HEV virus also in southern Italy, with a prevalence of infection more similar to that of northern European countries than to that of countries of the Mediterranean basin.
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PMID:Prevalence of hepatitis E antibodies in healthy persons in southern Italy. 950 77

Rifabutin pharmacokinetics were studied by the population approach (NONMEM) with 40 human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients receiving rifabutin at different doses for prophylaxis or therapy of mycobacterial infections. A two-compartment open model with first-order absorption was used as the structural pharmacokinetic model. Parameter estimates were the absorption rate constant (0. 201/h), clearance/bioavailability (CL/F; 60.9 liters/h), volume of the central compartment/bioavailability (231 liters), intercompartmental clearance (60.3 liters/h), and volume of the peripheral compartment/bioavailability (Vp/F; 1,050 liters). The distribution and elimination half-lives were 1.24 and 25.4 h, respectively. The covariates tested for influence on CL/F and Vp/F were sex, age, weight, height, body surface area, tobacco smoking, drug addiction, alanine aminotransferase levels, creatinine clearance, total protein, bilirubin, numbers of CD4(+) cells, presence of diarrhea, cachexia index, rifabutin use (prophylaxis versus therapy), rifabutin dose, study site, and the concomitant administration of clarithromycin, fluconazole, phenobarbital, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, or benzodiazepines. The only statistically significant effects on rifabutin pharmacokinetic parameters were a 27% decrease in Vp/F due to the concomitant administration of azithromycin and a 39% increase in Vp/F due to tobacco smoking. Such effects may be considered clinically unimportant. Our results confirm the lack of a correlation of rifabutin pharmacokinetic parameters with parameters of disease progression and gastrointestinal function. Also, the lack of a correlation with covariates which were previously found to be significant, such as concomitant fluconazole and clarithromycin use, may suggest that the effect of such covariates may be less important in the real clinical setting, in which several concomitant factors may influence pharmacokinetic parameters, with an overall effect of no apparent correlation.
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PMID:Population pharmacokinetics of rifabutin in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. 968


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