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)

In order to study the importance of sexual transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among intravenous drug abusers (IVDAs), and from IVDAs to others, we consecutively interviewed 171 IVDAs detained at the Stockholm Remand Prison during 4 months in 1990. Sexual histories revealed that 77% reported > or = 3 sexual partners during the last 3 years, 64% had had a sexual partner who did not inject drugs, and 61% reported a prior STD. The prevalence of HBV markers was 75%. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, a high risk for HBV markers was associated with an increasing duration of drug abuse, a high prevalence of hepatitis A markers, and an increasing number of drug injecting sexual partners during the last 3 years, indicating that sexual transmission, along with sharing of needles, may contribute to the high prevalence of HBV markers within this group. It is suggested that an adequate sexual history must be obtained from IVDAs with acute viral hepatitis in order to identify sexual partners who should be offered postexposure prophylaxis, and that non-immune IVDAs should be vaccinated against viral hepatitis A and B.
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PMID:Prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers among intravenous drug abusers in Stockholm: impact of heterosexual transmission. 846 Mar 53

Men and women patients not previously immunized or tested, attending the Adelaide (South Australia) STD clinic from 1988-1991, were tested for hepatitis B infection, and potential risk factors detected by multiple logistic regression. Of 7055 men and 3425 women patients tested 811 (11.5%) men and 250 (7.3%) women were seropositive. Among men seropositivity was associated with being Asian (odds ratio (OR) = 14.5), being Aboriginal (OR = 2.2), homosexual behaviour (OR = 3.8), intravenous drug use (OR = 3.2) being over 24 (OR = 2.7), previous STD (OR = 1.8), being unemployed (OR = 1.3) and having sex outside the state in the past 3 months (OR = 1.3). Among women seropositivity was associated with being Asian (OR = 10.3), being Aboriginal (OR = 2.4), intravenous drug use (OR = 3.8), being over 24 (OR = 1.6) and having vaginal discharge or dysuria (OR = 1.4). Seropositivity was not independently associated with being a prostitute or having multiple sex partners in the past 3 months. Among seropositive individuals, risk factors were not readily identifiable for 15% of men and 43% of women. Univariate analysis may provide misleading indicators of risk factors because of the confounding influence of other factors, particularly intravenous drug use. In selective vaccination campaigns the target group should be determined on the basis of local circumstances. In South Australia this group should include men with an STD. The success of selective campaigns will be jeopardized by the failure to identify risk factors in many of those who become infected, and in such situations universal vaccination or widespread screening may be more appropriate strategies.
Int J STD AIDS
PMID:Factors associated with hepatitis B infection. 847 58

Markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection were measured in 465 non-drug-abusing heterosexually transmitted disease (STD) patients. HBV markers were found in altogether 70 persons, of whom 7 were HBsAg carriers. Those chronically infected were all born in HBV intermediate/high endemic areas. Gonorrhoea was the only STD that was correlated to an increased risk of HBV markers. Number of sexual partners, sex and age was not correlated with HBV infection, irrespective of country of origin. The risk of having HBV markers in an STD clientele in Copenhagen was highly dependent on the country of birth, as the prevalences were 7% (21/307) in persons born in Denmark, 19% (9/47) in those born in other low endemic areas and 36% (40/111) in those born in intermediate/high endemic areas. Falling incidence of gonorrhoea and other STD may render it difficult to point out risk factors indicative of HBV immunization in heterosexual STD patients. In low-risk countries, screening for HBV markers should however be offered to all immigrants and refugees as a part of an HBV immunization program.
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PMID:Risk factors for hepatitis B virus infection in heterosexuals attending a venereal disease clinic in Copenhagen. 851 10

A significant decrease in the incidence of most STDs has been reported in Norway during the last decade, especially the last 5 years. Today, syphilis, hepatitis B and gonorrhoea are almost non-existent with incidence rates (IR) of 1.1, 0.9 and 4.4 per 100,000 respectively. The frequency of genital herpes, however, has remained unchanged (IR = 45), while chlamydial infection has shown a decrease of 13% during the last year (IR women = 240). The Chlamydia epidemic became evident in the early 1980-ies and since then has represented the major threat to the reproductive condition in young women resulting in PID, tubal occlusions and ectopic pregnancies. In Norway a preoperative screening program in connection with the performance of abortions was introduced 8-9 years ago. Since then a gradual decrease in the frequency of chlamydial positivity has been notified. At our hospital a reduction of 75% (from 11.7% to 3.1%) in the prevalence of C. trachomatis has been observed in women seeking abortion. The decrease is evident is all age groups, but predominantly in those below 25 years. At the same time the frequency of PID has decreased by 80%, while so far only a slight reduction in the frequency of ectopic pregnancies has been observed. Public and professional awareness, together with an increased prescription of anti-chlamydial drugs to women with genital infections may have contributed to this decrease. Partner tracing is not satisfactory, being performed in only one out of 5 cases. A new act for the prevention of communicable diseases will be introduced next year. This act will make partner notification mandatory and STD treatment free of charge. In Norway, 350,000 chlamydial tests (8 per 100 inhabitants) are performed per year, 39% in women < 25 years. Even today the age-specific prevalence of these women are so high that Chlamydia screening is cost-effective.
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PMID:[Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases. The norwegian experience]. 868 4

Prisons contain individuals at high risk of HIV infection, notably through intravenous drug use. For complex political, social and legal reasons penal institutions in the UK are unable to provide condoms and clean needles. The outbreak of HIV and hepatitis B that occurred in a Scottish prison in 1993 focused attention on the potential problems. Debate about the issue is hampered by a lack of useful information. Current data about risk behaviour and seroprevalence is reviewed, and compared with experience in other countries. Injecting drug use in prison appears to be common, and the majority who inject in prison share equipment, which can be used many times. Sexual activity may be a smaller risk factor, but does occur between men in prison. In addition, prisoners appear to have high rates of partner change between sentences. The true prevalence of HIV in UK prisons is difficult to assess, but the available data suggest it is between 0.1 and 4.5%, lower than in Southern Europe and the USA. A window of opportunity still exists to prevent further outbreaks of HIV in UK penal institutions and to maintain these low prevalence rates. Strenuous, and possibly unpalatable measures are needed now.
Int J STD AIDS
PMID:HIV in UK prisons: a review of seroprevalence, transmission and patterns of risk. 884 94

We investigated the prevalence of human immunodeficiency viruses-1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2), human T-lymphotropic virus type I and II, hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis D virus among intravenous drug users (IVDU) in Hiroshima, Japan, where little is known about their present levels. From June to December 1993, serum samples were collected from 47 IVDU and 98 alcoholics in Hiroshima, Japan, and examined for markers of virus infection. The prevalence of antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) and/or HCV-RNA was significantly higher in IVDU than alcoholics (74.5% vs 20.4%, 44.7% vs 10.2% respectively, P < 0.001). In contrast, the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and/or core antigen (anti-HBs and/or anti-HBc) showed no significant difference between the 2 groups (57.4% vs 66.3%). HIV-1 infection was found in one (2.1%) IVDU and genome analysis indicated that it was subtype B according to Myers' classification. Thus, an extremely low level of HIV infection and a high level of HCV infection was found in IVDU. Careful follow-up of this group is thought to be needed to minimize an outbreak of HIV-1 infection in Japan.
Int J STD AIDS
PMID:Prevalence of blood-borne viruses among intravenous drug users and alcoholics in Hiroshima, Japan. 884 4

A cross-sectional study of a cohort of 49 male human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected intravenous drug users attending the Infectious Diseases Unit of the National University of Malaysia during 1991-94 yielded a clinical profile of these patients. The mean age of respondents was 33.2 years and the mean duration of intravenous drug use was 12.7 years. On average, these men had known of their HIV-positivity for 53.2 weeks. Intravenous drug use was the only reported HIV risk factor in 34 men (69%). Clinical symptoms at intake included fatigue (49%), weight loss (47%), night sweats (31%), fever (14%), and diarrhea (6%), while clinical findings included hepatomegaly (57%), lymphadenopathy (35%), and oral thrush (29%). Anemia (82%), leucocytosis (53%), hypoalbuminemia (43%), hyperglobulinemia (88%), elevated liver enzymes and hyponatremia (57%) were frequent laboratory findings. The prevalences of hepatitis B virus, cytomegalovirus, and toxoplasma infection were 12.1%, 72.7%, and 59%, respectively. A total of 91 diagnoses were made in these 49 patients: most common were pneumonia, tuberculosis, bacteremia, infective endocardiditis, mycotic aneurysm, and psychiatric disorders. The mean duration of known progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the 7 patients at this stage was 391 days. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was the most common AIDS-defining illness. Three months into the study, 19 men (57%) had defaulted, reflecting the difficulties of involving drug addicts in research and intervention projects. Moreover, 16 patients (33%) were first confirmed HIV-positive at presentation to the hospital, suggesting that many drug users' HIV status remains unknown until they develop symptoms requiring hospital care.
Int J STD AIDS 1997 Feb
PMID:A study of Malaysian drug addicts with human immunodeficiency virus infection. 906 11

Factors affecting the response to hepatitis B vaccination in a primary care setting were examined by means of a review of case notes of patients attending 22 sexually transmissible disease services. Where not available from the notes, presence of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) was determined by testing available stored serum. One hundred and ninety-five patients completed a course of 3 injections and had an anti-HBs assay performed. The highest response rate (anti-HBs > or = 10 IU/L) was found in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative heterosexual women (16 of 17, 94.1%) followed by HIV-negative heterosexual men (11 of 12, 91.7%); HIV-negative homosexual men (105 of 120, 87.5%); and HIV-positive homosexual men (6 of 14, 42.9%). (For HIV-positive vs HIV-negative homosexual men, P = 0.0003). Eleven of 14 (78.6%) homosexual men of unknown HIV status responded to vaccination. There was a trend to lower CD4+ lymphocyte counts among HIV-infected patients who responded to hepatitis B vaccination (mean 482 cells/cm2) when compared to those that did not respond (632 cells) but this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.330). Neither the type of vaccine (recombinant, plasma-derived or mixed) nor the length of vaccination course (mean 6.2 months; range 2 to 18) affected response. This study confirmed that vaccination against hepatitis B is much less effective in HIV-infected homosexual men and marginally less effective for HIV-negative homosexual men, though the mechanism for this reduced response is uncertain. Reassuringly vaccine response was not affected by common variables in primary care settings such as vaccine type or delays in the vaccine schedule.
Int J STD AIDS
PMID:Response to hepatitis B vaccination in a primary care setting: influence of HIV infection, CD4+ lymphocyte count and vaccination schedule. 911 65

The sera of all 2186 male blood donors presenting to the blood bank of the Gondar College of Medical Sciences, a regional hospital in Northwest Ethiopia, during 1994-95 were screened for HIV-1 and treponemal antibodies; in addition, a subset of 549 donors from 1995 was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). In 1994, 12% of blood donors were HIV-positive and 13.1% had treponemal antibodies. Seroprevalence rates in 1995 were 16.7% for HIV, 12.8% for syphilis, and 14.4% for HBsAg. HIV and syphilis seroprevalence rates were highest among soldiers (30.6% and 20.9%, respectively) and daily workers (18.8% and 13.5%, respectively) and lowest among farmers (8.0% and 6.7%, respectively). In contrast, the highest rate of HBsAg was found among farmers (18.8%). HIV-infected donors were significantly more likely than HIV-negative donors to be positive for syphilis as well (odds ratio, 3.69; 95% confidence interval, 2.69-4.96), but there was no such pattern for HBsAg (odds ratio, 0.79; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-1.67). The increasing rate of HIV infection observed in the different occupational groups indicates that the HIV epidemic has not yet reached a plateau in Ethiopia. Moreover, the finding that HBsAg is not associated with HIV infection suggests that, in Ethiopia, hepatitis B has a different set of risk factors than have sexually transmitted diseases.
Int J STD AIDS 1997 Apr
PMID:Infection with HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B in Ethiopia: a survey in blood donors. 914 61

A serologic study of 230 female and 43 male-to-female transsexual Greek prostitutes from the Greater Athens area failed to confirm an association between hepatitis infection and active syphilis. Study participants were recruited at presentation to the Ministry of Health venereal diseases clinic for periodic medical examination. Rapid plasma reagin and treponemal tests indicated 4.3% of female prostitutes and 20.9% of transsexuals had active syphilis infection. The rates of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus were 50.4% and 3.9%, respectively, among female prostitutes and 65.1% and 4.7%, respectively, among transsexuals. Stratified analysis failed to detect any significant association between syphilis, hepatitis B surface antigen carriership, and exposure to hepatitis B or C infection within the two groups of sex workers. In addition, there was no significant association between syphilis, age of the sex worker, and years of legalized prostitution. It appears that, in these two populations, a syphilis diagnosis leads to intensive self-protective prevention measures against other sexually transmitted infections.
Int J STD AIDS 1997 Nov
PMID:Infection by hepatitis B and C virus in female and transsexual Greek prostitutes with serological evidence of active syphilis. 936 44


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