Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0019163 (hepatitis B)
 38,309 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Forty eight symptomless homosexual men attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic and found by screening to have hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were followed up for a median of 10 (range six to 26) months to characterise their liver disease. Initially 33/50 (66%) of the men had increased serum liver enzyme activity and 19/47 (40%) had increased serum immunoglobulin G concentrations. Liver biopsy specimens showed acute hepatitis B in 12 (39%) and chronic hepatitis B in 19 (61%) of the 31 patients who underwent liver biopsy. The course of the infection was: acute hepatitis B in 14/48 (29%), chronic persistent hepatitis B in 23/48 (48%), chronic aggressive hepatitis B in 8/48 (17%), and cirrhosis in 3/48 (6%) of the patients. Antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were present in 16/45 (36%) of the patients, but the presence of antibodies to HIV did not influence the course of hepatitis B in the observation period.
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PMID:Hepatitis B in symptomless Danish homosexual men. 325 37

The retrovirus responsible for AIDS began circulating in Africa during the 1970s. Seroepidemiologic studies in Zaire and elsewhere in Central Africa show infection rates of 6-10%, with urban rates even higher and most rural rates close to zero. The modes of transmission are analogous to those of hepatitis B. Homosexual transmission has probably played a small role in Africa. Most epidemiological studies in Central Africa show that almost all seropositive persons are young sexually active adults, with the most affected age groups 20-30 for women and 30-40 for men. The risk of male to female sexual transmission appears to be about 20%, but increases with prolonged relationships. Sperm is able to induce a chronic immunological stimulation and immune perturbations favoring clinical expression of the infection, especially if the sperm comes in contact with the partner's blood because of erosion of the vaginal or anal mucus. Infection of men by women is harder to demonstrate but it cannot yet be confirmed that there are significant differences related to sex. The virus is present in cervicovaginal secretions during the entire menstrual cycle. Seroprevalence rates among prostitutes in Central Africa have increased steadily and are correlated to the time spent as a prostitute and the annual number of clients. Sexually transmitted diseases that disturb the genital mucus appear to favor infection during heterosexual intercourse. In Zaire, 61% of women and 36% of men with AIDS are unmarried. For both sexes, numerous partners appear to increase the risk of infection. Frequent use of prostitutes increases the risk for men. Transmission from mothers to infants can occur during delivery or transplacentally during any trimester of pregnancy. The risk of transmission from an infected mother appears to be about 50%. HIV infection does not appear to have any specific clinical manifestation in the female genital tract. Some studies suggest that the likelihood of 1st trimester spontaneous abortion or of postnatal mortality is increased in infants of seropositive mothers. The clinical characteristics of AIDS in children are not specific and a positive serological test in necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Prevention of HIV infection in the foreseeable future will require health education and the use of condoms, which gained little acceptance in most of Africa.
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PMID:[Problems posed by HIV infection in women in tropical zones]. 331 23

A cross-sectional chart review study was performed of hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen screening of 532 women admitted to a New York City hospital obstetrics service from 1984 to 1985. Comparison of serologic results to risk factors for hepatitis B revealed that women born outside the United States and those with a positive test for or history of a sexually transmitted disease were more likely to be infected with HBV. Obstetric clinics with large immigrant populations should consider screening all patients for HBV.
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PMID:Hepatitis B screening in a New York City obstetrics service. 334 2

Sera from 260 men from Denmark and elsewhere attending two Copenhagen sauna clubs for homosexual men during nine months of 1982-1983 were investigated for markers for syphilis, hepatitis A and B, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Five per cent (12 men) had active syphilis, and another 35% (92) had a history of and/or serologic markers for syphilis. Ninety-four men (36%) were positive for antibodies to hepatitis A virus, ten (4%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and 153 (59%) were positive for antibodies to HBsAg. Antibodies to HIV were found in 45 (20%) of the 220 men investigated for this marker. Markers for hepatitis A and B and for syphilis were more frequent in the HIV antibody-positive individuals, but the association was significant only for markers for hepatitis B (relative risk = 2.0). Thus STD markers had little predictive value for seropositivity for antibodies to HIV. Among 37 men investigated more than once, a seroconversion rate of 3% per month for antibodies to HIV was found, but this estimate must be taken with reservation. The rate of seropositivity for antibodies to HIV among men from Denmark was 23%, and three (8%) of the 40 HIV-positive Danish men developed the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) during the four years following the initial investigation. This study shows that by 1982-1983 HIV had spread considerably in the Danish high-risk group, although there were only seven reported cases of AIDS in the country at that time.
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PMID:Sexually transmitted diseases, antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus, and subsequent development of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Visitors of homosexual sauna clubs in Copenhagen: 1982-1983. 335 36

235 homosexual men participated in a prospective study conducted in Helsinki, Finland, in 1983-86 aimed at identifying associations between sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), condom use, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The mean observation time was 22.7 months and the average age of study participants was 35.3 years. Of the 235 men, 27 (12%) gave no history of previous STD at the 1st examination. The remainder reported at least 1 STD, the most common being pubic lice (65%), gonorrhea (43%), and nongonococcal urethritis (26%). The 31 men (13%) who were seropositive for HIV infection at the end of the study had experienced significantly more STD episodes than seronegative subjects. All 9 of the seroconversions considered to have taken place during the study period involved men whose sexual behavior included unprotected receptive or insertive intercourse into the mouth or rectum. No HIV infection emerged among the men who practiced safe sex practices--monogamous sex with an HIV seronegative partner, no mucosal contact during sex, or the consistent use of condoms during anal sex. There was a weak association between HIV and hepatitis B infection, but a strong link between HIV and the prevalence of hepatitis B c antibodies. The statistically significant association observed in this sample between HIV seropositivity and heavy exposure to STDs may either reflect an enhanced probability of encountering HIV along with other pathogens or the role of other STDs as cofactors in HIV infection. The decreasing incidence of STDs observed during the follow-up period reflects counseling about risk reduction that was provided as part of the study. By the end of the study period, almost half the men had stopped practicing anal sex and almost 1/3 were using condoms. However, further spread of HIV can be expected in Finland given the fact that 57% of study subjects were still practicing anal sex at the end of the follow-up, the majority of them without condoms.
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PMID:Sexually transmitted diseases and the use of condoms in a cohort of homosexual men followed since 1983 in Finland. 339 35

In 1985, 132 female prostitutes and 55 female nonprostitutes at a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in Sydney, Australia requested to be tested for HIV antibodies and completed a questionnaire covering a wide range of social and medical issues. The 2 groups were matched for age and were similar in other respects, excluding the number of sexual partners. Laboratory personnel tested the serum using the ELISA test and confirmed by the H9 exclusionary ELISA and by immunofluorescence using a T cell line infected with HIV. All the women tested seronegative for HIV antibodies. 19% of the prostitutes and 24% of the nonprostitutes had used IV drugs. A substantial number of women from both groups reported using 1 or more other drugs. 37% of the prostitutes and 45% of nonprostitutes claimed to not have used any of the illegal drugs listed in the questionnaire, during the preceding 6 months. 29% of the prostitutes and 33% of the nonprostitutes recorded partners at risk from IV drug use. The number of sexual partners reported by the 2 groups in the month prior to the survey ranged from 1-250 (median 24.5) for prostitutes and 0-4 (median 1.50) for nonprostitutes. For a 1 year period the corresponding figures included 1-3000 (median 175) for prostitutes and 1-13 (median 3.5) for nonprostitutes. More than 1/3 reported having bisexual partners during the previous 5 years. Prostitutes had significantly more episodes of gonorrhea, chlamydial infection, and pelvic inflammatory disease than the nonprostitute group (p.05). 1/2 of the 8 prostitutes who had hepatitis B were IV drug users. 76% of nonprostitute partners and 49% of prostitute partners did not use condoms. Despite the fact that HIV antibodies were not detected in these women, the researchers concluded that HIV could spread rapidly within the prostitution population and back into the wider community through sexual contacts and IV drug use. Current control measures need to be enhanced and the medical community needs to continue to monitor prostitutes' health.
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PMID:Human immunodeficiency virus and female prostitutes, Sydney 1985. 341 Apr 67

With the advent of sexually transmitted infections for which curative therapy is not available, primary prevention has assumed greater importance. The spectrum of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) has broadened, and clinicians need to understand the mechanisms of their transmission and prevention. Modifying selection of sexual partners and avoiding certain sexual practices should theoretically reduce the risk of infection. Clinical and laboratory studies indicate that the use of condoms, diaphragms, and spermicides reduces the risk of acquiring certain infections. At present, hepatitis B is the only STD for which a safe, effective vaccine is available. Use of oral antibiotics cannot be recommended. Postcoital washing or urination have not been shown to have a protective effect against infection. Because of the potential benefits, persons at risk for STDs should be encouraged to modify their sexual behavior and use barrier methods and spermicides to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections.
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PMID:Primary prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. A primer for clinicians. 351 73

A seroepidemiological study was performed on HTLV-III, T. pallidum, C. trachomatis and Hepatitis B virus (HBV), in Butare, Rwanda, among 33 female prostitutes, 25 male customers of prostitutes, and 60 male and female controls. As compared with female controls the prostitutes had a higher prevalence of antibodies to HTLV-III (29/33 versus 4/33, p less than 0.001), T. pallidum (TPHA: 27/33 versus 6/33, p less than 0.001; RPR: 19/33 versus 2/33, p less than 0.001; FTA-Abs: 27/33 versus 5/33, p less than 0.001) and C. trachomatis (IgG IF: 31/33 versus 13/33, p less than 0.001). HBV serological markers were more often detected in the prostitutes than in the female controls (31/33 versus 18/33, p less than 0.001) although HBs antigen carriage rate was similar in both groups. As compared with male controls, the male customers of prostitutes had more frequently detectable antibodies to HTLV-III (7/25 versus 2/27, p = 0.05), and a positive RPR (10/25 versus 1/27, p less than 0.01). Among the 118 individuals studied, odds ratios and trend analysis disclosed a significant association between HTLV-III seropositivity and a positive TPHA, RPR, FTA-Abs, Chlamydia IgG IF test and serological markers to HBV. No association was found between HTLV-III seropositivity and HBs Ag carriage. This study suggests that HTLV-III has to be considered as an infectious agent transmitted among promiscuous Central African heterosexuals by sexual contact and/or parenteral contact with unsterile needles used for STD treatments.
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PMID:Seroepidemiological study on sexually transmitted diseases and hepatitis B in African promiscuous heterosexuals in relation to HTLV-III infection. 355 10

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diagnosed in 10 million patients per year in the United States. The infected individuals come from all walks of life and all age groups. They may present with either genital or nongenital signs and symptoms. Most individuals are treated as outpatients, but more than a quarter of a million hospital admissions for STDs are necessary each year. These numbers will rise precipitously as the number of AIDS cases increases. More than 10,000 deaths per year are caused by STDs, primarily because of AIDS, cervical carcinoma, and hepatitis B induced cirrhosis and hepatoma. Physicians must become highly skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of the common STDs caused by herpes simplex virus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Chlamydia trachomatis. Simple office microscopic skills are needed for the diagnosis of vaginitis, cervicitis, and urethritis, and all physicians should be encouraged to develop these skills. Physicians will need to keep abreast of the rapidly evolving changes in the diagnosis and treatment of STDs.
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PMID:The office approach to the sexually transmitted diseases: Part I. 362 20

To determine if heterosexual activity was a risk factor for acquiring hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, we studied attendees at a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic and students at a large university. Responses to self-administered questionnaires were used to exclude persons with factors known to be related to the acquisition of HBV and to determine the number of recent (past four months) and lifetime sexual partners. Serum samples were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen, and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. For white heterosexuals in the STD group, the prevalence of HBV infection was 6% for those with fewer than five recent partners vs 21% for those with five or more partners, and 5% for those with fewer than 50 lifetime partners vs 20% for those with 50 or more partners. For black heterosexuals in the STD group, no association was found between prevalence of HBV infection and number of recent or lifetime sexual partners. For the heterosexual student group (all white), the prevalence of HBV infection was 1.5% for fewer than three recent partners vs 14% for three or more partners, and 2% for fewer than ten lifetime partners vs 7% for ten or more partners. For white heterosexuals, the risk of acquiring HBV infection increases with increasing amounts of sexual activity and may reach a level similar to that of other groups previously recognized to be at high risk of acquiring hepatitis B.
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PMID:Hepatitis B virus transmission between heterosexuals. 375 69


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