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Query: UMLS:C0019158 (hepatitis)
 30,205 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

South Africa became a democratic state with a supreme Constitution and Bill of Rights in 1994. Between 1994 and 1996 South Africans drafted a new constitution which came into force in 1997. While, the right to health, as well as socio-economic rights is provided for, the health care system in post-apartheid South Africa still mirrors that which existed during the apartheid years. There are still two health care systems. The poorly funded public sector services the majority, while the well-funded private sector services the privileged few. A lack of resources is blamed by the state for its inability to provide better and more widespread health services. This article examines, from a human rights perspective, the successes and challenges in developing the right to health between 1994 to 1999, and provides an overview of the present state of health in South Africa. This article further examines the constitutional provisions on health, and discusses recent constitutional court decisions relevant to the right to health. New and controversial health laws and regulations, affecting health care professionals, medical aid schemes and the availability of pharmaceuticals, are critiqued. The move to devolving health care to the provinces is described. Also discussed are the controversial steps taken by the Department of Health to restructure health structures and services. Progress on key health issues such as HIV/Aids, tobacco, tuberculosis, polio, measles, hepatitis, malaria and abortion are also described. Attention is focused on the role of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's health hearings in bringing to light violations of human rights in health during apartheid as well as the recommendations made to address these problems.
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PMID:A review of health and human rights after five years of democracy in South Africa. 1099 15

CMV (cytomegalovirus) is one of the Herpesviridae, known for their potential for latency and reactivation. The sequelae of fetal infection are diverse: chronic stage of early fetal infection with brain anomalies, symptomatic late fetal infection with hepatitis and thrombocytopenia and asymptomatic infection. With any of these clinical phenotypes, permanent hearing loss is possible. CMV-infection is the only relevant viral cause of perinatal hearing loss because rubella, measles and mumps have become rare due to vaccination. Recent studies have suggested beneficial effects on outcome of i.v. ganciclovir treatment in symptomatic cases. We have recently taken the challenge of treating asymptomatic newborns on the basis of active sonographic brain lesions in order to prevent labyrinth destruction. We would also like to stress the importance of suspecting children with congenital hearing loss, or hearing loss that develops in the first year of life, of having an asymptomatic congenital CMV-infection. Follow up in the first years of life is necessary in these children because further progression of hearing loss is possible.
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PMID:Congenital CMV-infection and hearing loss. 1120 44

Syncytial giant cell hepatitis in the neonatal period has been associated with many different etiologic agents and may present initially as cholestasis. Infectious causes are most common and include: (1 ) generalized bacterial sepsis, (2) viral agents, (3) toxoplasmosis, (4) syphilis, (5) listeriosis, and (6) tuberculosis. Viral hepatitis may be due to cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, herpes simplex, HHV-6, varicella, coxsackievirus, echovirus, reovirus 3, parvovirus B19, HIV, enteroviruses, paramyxovirus, and hepatitis A, B, or C (rare). Giant cell hepatitis may result in fulminant liver failure with massive hepatocyte necrosis and severe liver dysfunction leading to death, resolution with severely compromised liver function, or liver transplantation. The authors report a 6-week-old male who had an unremarkable perinatal period, became jaundiced after developing diarrhea, and subsequently developed liver dysfunction with massively increased liver enzymes and a coagulopathy. Open wedge and core liver biopsies were performed to determine if the patient should be listed for liver transplantation. Giant cell hepatitis with a significant mixed lymphocytic and neutrophilic infiltrate was present on both the wedge and core biopsies. The residual 60% of hepatocytes had ballooning degeneration and many possessed pyknotic nuclei. The hepatocytes were arranged in a pseudoacinar pattern. Electron microscopy showed paramyxoviral-like inclusions in the giant cells, characterized as large inclusions with fine filamentous, beaded substructures (18-20 nm). Paramyxoviridae are nonsegmented, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses. This family is divided into the Paramyxovirinae subfamily containing respirovirus (Sendai virus, parainfluenza virus type 3), rubulavirus (mumps, parainfluenza virus type 2), and morbillivirus genera (measles); and Pneumovirinae subfamily (pneumovirus genus [respiratory syncytial virus]). Supportive care to determine if hepatic function resolves following the viral episode, liver transplantation with fulminant liver failure, and ongoing evaluation in those who recover to assess chronic liver disease are necessary. Ultrastructural evaluation may unmask the etiologic agent for hepatitis and direct therapy.
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PMID:Neonatal syncytial giant cell hepatitis with paramyxoviral-like inclusions. 1129 22

Improvement of epidemiological situation of infectious diseases was continued in Poland in 1999. The end of epidemics of measles, pertussis, mumps, scarlatine, chickenpox, and rubella was observed. In comparison with the number of cases of infectious diseases registered in 1998, decrease in the number of notified cases of salmonellosis, dysentery, meningitis, encephalitis, and hepatitis type B and A as well as increase in the number of influenza cases and trichinosis was noticed. In 1999, compared with 1998, among all notified deaths percentage of deaths attributed to infectious diseases (0.80%) and infectious diseases death rate (7.71 per 100,000) were slightly higher as an effect of the influenza deaths increase.
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PMID:[Infectious diseases in Poland in 1999]. 1155 72

Previous studies have suggested a relationship between reproductive history, pregnancy and birth factors, and the risk of neuroblastoma. We conducted a case-control telephone interview study that included a total of 504 children under the age of 19 years with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma identified by two national collaborative clinical trials groups, the Children's Cancer Group and the Pediatric Oncology Group. A total of 504 controls, matched to cases on age, were identified by random digit dialing. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the matched odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) with adjustment for household income, and maternal race and education. In addition, case subgroups defined by age at diagnosis, tumour MYCN oncogene amplification status, and stage were evaluated. A suggestive pattern of increased risk was seen for a greater number of prior pregnancies, history of previous miscarriages and induced abortions, with nearly a twofold increase in risk for two or more prior induced abortions (OR = 1.9, 95% CI [1.0,3.7]). No association was found for the following diseases or conditions during pregnancy: hepatitis, rubella, measles, mumps, chickenpox, mononucleosis, vaccinations, morning sickness, pre-eclampsia, bleeding, proteinuria, anaemia, urinary tract infections, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease and diabetes. A weak association was found for hypertension during pregnancy. Several labour and delivery factors were related to an increased risk, including threatened miscarriage, anaesthetic during labour (specifically epidural) and caesarean delivery. We found associations between premature delivery (<33 weeks: OR = 1.9, 95% CI [0.7,4.8]), very low birthweight (<1500 g: OR = 2.6, 95% CI [0.7,10.3]) and risk of neuroblastoma. There was no consistent pattern of increased risk found for most factors within subgroups defined by age at diagnosis, stage or MYCN status.
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PMID:Association of pregnancy history and birth characteristics with neuroblastoma: a report from the Children's Cancer Group and the Pediatric Oncology Group. 1170 80

INTRODUCTION: Huanta is an interandean valley at 2,400 meters above sea level in the peruvian highlands. It is hyperendemic for HBV, and deaths related to HBV such a fulminant hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatic carcinoma make up 8% of the total mortality. A pilot program of inmunization against HBV integrated with the Expanded Immunization Program (EPI) was established in 1994, so as to limit the incidence if HBV-HDV, and as a strategy to improve EPI coverages.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,412 children under 1 year old and 5,175 children from 1 to 4 years old were scheduled for vaccination. Three doses of the recombinant DNA vaccine agains HBV were used for each child. The schedule was adapted to the EPI vaccination calendar. In children under a year the schedule was: newborns: BCG, Polio, HBVI; 2 months: Poliol DPTI, HBV2; 3 months: Polio 2, DPT2; 4 months: polio 3, DPT3, HBV3; 9 months: Measles. In the group of children from 1 to 4 years old, the schedule was: HBVI at child recruitment; HBV2: after 2 months of the first one, HBV3: after 6 month of the first one.RESULTS: One year after starting, 3 dose immunizations have been made in 1,386 (98.1%) children under one year old and 4,353 (84.1%) in children from 1 to 4 years old. No important side effects related to the HB vaccine have been recorded; one case of HAV and two of HBV occurred in children who were beginning their immunization schedule. The objective of improving vaccination coverage by the EPI was achieved; the coverage in children under one year old for DPT were 76% (1991), 64.5% (1992), 55.2% (1993), and as a result of the strategy the coverage was improved to 98.1%. The program efficacy is demonstrated by the significative reduction of the infection rates of children 3-4 years old in 1994 (24.4-30.4%) compared with the children infection rates of the same age in 1997 (2.3-5.1 %).CONCLUSION: Including the HBV vaccine within the EPI program in a hyperendemic area for HBV-HDV has improved the EPI coverages; the vaccination compaign strategy has shown its effectiveness and safety, showing impact in the reduction of infection rates.
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PMID:[IMPACT OF THE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM INTEGRATED TO THE EXPANDED IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM(EPI) IN HUANTA,1994-1997] 1214 May 82

Processes for the large-scale fractionation of human plasma using cold ethanol were initially developed by Edwin Cohn and his colleagues at Harvard to provide albumin as a treatment for shock in World War II. Procedures for further purification of gamma globulins and other proteins precipitating at lower concentrations of ethanol were then developed by Oncley et al. Gamma globulin rapidly replaced convalescent and animal sera for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases such as measles, hepatitis, and polio, then came into widespread use as replacement therapy in the primary immune deficiencies, which emerged in the antibiotic era of the early 1950s. Although it took 40 years to develop preparations of gamma globulin that could be safely given intravenously, the eventual accomplishment of that goal has led to better treatment of antibody deficiency syndromes and also the wide use of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Those uses continue to expand even as monoclonal antibodies are being introduced for specific infectious diseases in high-risk populations.
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PMID:A history of immune globulin therapy, from the Harvard crash program to monoclonal antibodies. 1216 2

The effects of measles are relatively mild in well-nourished children, but are associated with high mortality in those who are malnourished and in those who have other diseases. Complications may include bacterial pneumonia, bronchitis, otitis media, gastroenteritis, myocarditis, hepatitis, and encephalomyelitis. The Expanded Program on Immunization was introduced to India in 1978, but measles immunization did not commence until 1985 under the Universal Immunization Program. Total district coverage was achieved in 1990, followed by a peak immunization coverage figure of 90.9% in 1991. Coverage rates declined, however, to 85.8% in 1992-93. Impressive though they may be, these coverage rates obfuscate the reality that measles remains a major cause of morbidity and childhood mortality in India. Coverage levels remain under 50% in many tribal and remote areas, with 49,453 notified cases at the time of printing. Overall case fatality rates for the country are in the range of 2-15% due to a synergistic relationship between malnutrition and infection. One must therefore not rest in the fight against measles. Sudden outbreaks should be reported immediately and vitamin A supplements and immunization supplies readied in anticipation of epidemic. The many reasons why vaccine coverage rates remain low in some areas include the failure of many parents, health personnel, and some doctors to regard measles as a serious disease; restrictive vaccine administration directives requiring the presence of a physician; physician reticence to open a 10-dose vial for 1-2 patients; and parental and physician reluctance to immunize children who are slightly ill or where minor adverse side reactions such as fever and rash may be anticipated.
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PMID:Measles is down but not out. 1217 72

Although vaccination is above all an act of individual prevention, in the case of directly transmissible diseases the vaccination of individuals may contribute indirect protection through the group immunity effect known as collective or herd immunity. The effect is due to the reduced or absent contagiousness of immunized subjects and the reduced likelihood of encounters between contagious and receptive subjects when immunized subjects are numerous. For many diseases, a vaccination coverage of 80% is sufficient to prevent epidemics. Vaccines may be classified as strictly egoistic, strictly altruistic, or simultaneously egoistic and altruistic. Rabies vaccine, which offers 100% protection if administered in time, is an example of a strictly egoistic vaccine that offers no collective benefit. German measles vaccine is strictly altruistic, since it prevents a condition that is dangerous only during fetal development. Vaccines that are both altruistic and egoistic are numerous. Measles, diphtheria, and hepatitis vaccines are examples.
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PMID:[Egoistic vaccines. Altruistic vaccines]. 1232 49

The hepatotropic viruses, measles, and herpesviruses as well as different drugs were repeatedly shown to act presumably as a trigger in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AI-H). On the other hand, it is known that viral infections stimulate interferon production, which inactivates the cytochrome P-450 enzymes involved in the metabolism of several endogenous substances and exogenous environmental agents. Moreover, it was reported that several cytokines, including interferons, as well as transforming growth factor beta1 and human hepatocyte growth factor, which are abundantly produced and released in the body during infections, also downregulated expression of major cytochrome P-450 and/or other biotransformation enzymes. It seems that all these factors, in addition to individual immune response and the nature and amount of the neoantigen(s) produced, impair the equilibrium of bioactivation and detoxication pathways, thus leading to the development of AI-H in a genetically predisposed person continually exposed to harmful environmental factor(s). Possible increased/decreased density of lysine residues at position D-related human leukocyte antigen locus (DR)beta71 of the antigen-binding groove may affect the eventual steroid-sparing effect of this critical amino acid at the cellular level. In addition, some food additives, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and/or aspartame regularly consumed in excessive amounts, may eventually disturb the delicate balance between a positively charged amino acid residue at position DRbeta71 (lysine or arginine) and a negatively charged amino acid residue at position P4 on the antigenic peptide (glutamic acid or aspartic acid). This may favor formation of a salt bridge between these amino acid residues within the hypervariable region 3 on the alpha-helix of the DRbeta polypeptide and facilitate autoantigen presentation and CD4 T-helper cell activation. MSG and aspartate may also depress serum concentrations of growth hormone, which downregulate the activity of several cytochrome P-450 hepatic and other drug-metabolizing enzymes, thus increasing sensitivity to some environmental agents and possibly influencing efficacy of treatment regimens and final outcome of patients with type 1 AI-H.
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PMID:Possible pathomechanism of autoimmune hepatitis. 1252 21


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