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

The long-term follow-up of 80 heart transplant patients (70 men, 10 women) from January 1982 to July 1985 who had received cyclosporine (CsA) showed a high incidence of mild to severe liver dysfunction. Fifty patients (62.5%) had long-lasting postoperative biological disturbances (alanine amino transferase greater than 2N and/or alkaline phosphatase greater than 1.5N for 3 months or more). Most patients were asymptomatic; eight were icteric, and one had arthralgia. The most common biological feature consisted of isolated elevation of ALAT (27 cases). Assessment of causes led to a definite etiology in 42 patients: 7 cardiac failure, 13 HBsAg-positive liver disease (26%) (chronic persistent hepatitis 8, chronic active hepatitis 2, subacute necrosis 2). Fourteen patients (28%) sustained non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis (chronic persistent hepatitis 5, chronic active hepatitis 1, cirrhosis 1), and 7 (14%) sustained a drug-related hepatitis. Liver biopsy and complete virus screening was contributive to the diagnosis in nearly all patients. Additionally, prolonged impairment of liver function tests occurred in 62% of heart transplant recipients, mostly during the first 6 postoperative months. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and NANB hepatitis accounted for 26% and 28% of the cases of liver dysfunction, respectively; drug-induced hepatitis may have been involved in 14% of the cases. Complete hepatitis virus screening should be performed before heart transplant and in any case of abnormal liver function posttransplantation. HBV vaccination prior to heart transplant is recommended in HBsAg- and HBcAb-negative candidates for heart replacement. Long-term follow-up of these patients is mandatory to assess the severity of these liver dysfunctions.
 ...
PMID:Prevalence and causes of long-lasting hepatic dysfunction after heart transplantation: a series of 80 patients. 329 31

The gene encoding the major core protein P22c of hepatitis B virus is preceded by a precore sequence. Expression of the core gene with the precore in Escherichia coli results in a membrane protein of HBe antigenicity. Expression in mammalian cells generates secreted HBeAg. To study the biosynthetic pathway of HBeAg and the function of precore in this process, we translated mRNAs for core proteins with and without precore using reticulocyte lysates and microsomal vesicles. The precore sequence was cleaved cotranslationally as a signal peptide, probably at alanine 19. The processed product P23e was partially translocated to the lumen of the microsomes. The arginine-rich carboxy-terminal domain of P23e was however not translocated and susceptible to trypsin. Clusters of positive-charged amino acids seem to act as a novel type of translocation stop signal. Trypsin generated a P16e which no longer had a transmembraneous configuration. The findings may explain the biosynthesis and potential function of HBeAg in hepatitis B virus-infected hepatocytes.
 ...
PMID:Formation of transmembraneous hepatitis B e-antigen by cotranslational in vitro processing of the viral precore protein. 335 97

With the use of the dot blot hybridization technic, sera from 30 consecutive patients with acute hepatitis B were examined for the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA. In an additional five patients with acute hepatitis B, serial serum samples, beginning before the serum alanine amino transferase elevation to the clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen, also were tested for various hepatitis B virus markers, including HBV-DNA. Thirteen of the 30 patients (43%) had circulating HBV-DNA and HBeAg at the time of their first clinic visit. However, 11 additional patients with HBeAg did not have HBV-DNA in their sera. In the 13 patients with HBV-DNA, there was no correlation between the titers of HBeAg and the levels of HBV-DNA. Examination of the serial serum samples from the additional five patients showed HBV-DNA and HBeAg to be present several days before the peak of serum alanine amino transferase. In all five patients, HBV-DNA was present in the serum before the appearance of IgM anti-HBc. However, HBsAg was present in all these patients' sera at the time of HBV-DNA positivity. None of the patients in this study became chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus.
 ...
PMID:Serum hepatitis B virus DNA in acute hepatitis B. 375 98

Vaccination represents a great success in clinical immunology and new approaches for designing vaccines of the future are now available. Protective antigens could be obtained by recombinant DNA technology or by synthesis. These new immunogens are likely to be poor immunogens and require the use of carrier and adjuvants. Both carrier and adjuvant present some limitations. In this report we consider how synthetic glycopeptides analogous to muramyl dipeptide (MDP) can be used as adjuvants under suitable conditions and can also overcome some problems due to the carrier. Muramyl dipeptides and chiefly Murabutide (NAcMur-L-Ala-D-Gln-alpha-n-butyl-ester) which is a derivative currently undergoing clinical trials can enhance the immune response to conventional purified vaccines. They can be also used in synthetic vaccines. In this case they are more active when covalently linked to the immunogen. Several examples of semisynthetic monovalent and polyvalent vaccines (Streptococcus, diphtheria toxin, Hepatitis B, Plasmodium) are described as well as totally synthetic vaccines (LH-RH, Foot-and-Mouth disease virus). They demonstrate that by using Murabutide biologically active antibodies can be produced under conditions applicable to human use.
 ...
PMID:[Use of muramyl dipeptides in models of synthetic vaccines]. 389 61

Acute and convalescent sera from 368 patients drawn from a 3-year survey of viral hepatitis in West London were tested for radioimmunoassay for evidence of recent infection with hepatitis A or B and, if neither was found, antibody to Epstein-Barr (EB) virus and cytomegalovirus. In 215 patients (58%) there was evidence of hepatitis A, in 98 (27%) hepatitis B, and in 5 both A and B. 2 patients with evidence of recent EB virus infection were excluded, leaving 48 (13%) attributed to non-A, non-B hepatitis. This illness was milder than hepatitis B as judged by duration of jaundice and peak serum bilirubin alanine-aminotransferase levels. The ratio of men to women was 1.4 to 1, but there was an excess of women in their twenties, most of whom were single. Only one had received blood, and none was a drug addict.
 ...
PMID:Non-A, non-B hepatitis in West London. 611 94

Transaminase values [alanine amino transferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase (AST)] and markers for hepatitis B were serially determined in 558 hemophiliacs exposed to blood products. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) persistent for over 12 months was present in 6% of the patients. Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) was noted in 90% of the 259 patients treated with factor VIII or IX concentrates but in only 49% of the 43 patients treated with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) or cryoprecipitate. Persistently abnormal transaminase values were noted in 31% of the patients treated with commercial concentrates but in only one (2%) of the patients exposed to cryoprecipitate or FFP. This difference continued even when the two groups of patients were matched for the amount of blood products, up to 50,000 units, which they had received in the study period. In the concentrate-treated patients, no correlation could be found between transaminase values and the number of units of factor VIII or IX they had received during the six years of the study (1973-1978).
 ...
PMID:Liver dysfunction in Pennsylvania's multitransfused hemophiliacs. 677 16

We administered up to 6 monthly doses of hepatitis B vaccine to 16 chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in an attempt to eliminate the antigen. The HBsAg in this vaccine differs from native antigen. No patients had elimination of HBsAg, but one of 10 no longer carried hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), Of 13 patients without preexisting antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs), none acquired the antibody; two of three patients with preexisting heterotypic anti-HBs had transient, low-level increases in anti-HBs titers. Serum alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) levels fell in eight patients, remained unchanged in six, and increased transiently in two. Decreased ALT and HBeAg clearance, however, did not seem to be related to vaccination, and the transient ALT elevations appeared to represent sporadic, acute non-A, non-B hepatitis. No adverse effects other than sore arm and joint pain were seen. Immunization of chronic HBsAg carriers with hepatitis B vaccine, although ineffective in eliminating HBsAg, appeared to be safe. Such safety, if confirmed, would simplify the design of hepatitis B vaccination programs.
 ...
PMID:Hepatitis B vaccine administered to chronic carriers of hepatitis b surface antigen. 707 49

A new commercially available radioimmunoassay (RIA) (Abbott-HBeTM) was used for determination of hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) and its antibody (anti-HBe). Serial serum samples from 20 transiently HBsAg-positive patients with acute hepatitis were tested. In nearly all patients HBeAg could be shown for a short period with subsequent development of anti-HBe. From 24 chronic HBsAg carriers serial serum samples collected during several years were tested. In 18 of 19 initially HBeAg-positive patients the HBeAg was lost after 6 months to 6 years; in 14 anti-HBe developed. A correlation was seen between the seroconversion and normalization of elevated alanine transferase levels. From another 22 chronic HBsAg carriers single serum samples were assayed. These samples were selected because neither HBeAg nor anti-HBe could be detected by the immunodiffusion (ID) technique. They had previously been examined for HBV-associated DNA-polymerase activity. In 20 patients HBeAg or anti-HBe could be detected by RIA. Those who were DNA-polymerase negative had anti-HBe, and 3 of 4 who were DNA-polymerase positive had HBeAg. When compared to earlier results by ID in these materials a higher frequency of HBeAg and, in particular, anti-HBe was detected by the RIA. By this test, HBeAg or anti-HBe was found in nearly all patients. The usefulness of HBeAg/anti-HBe in the evaluation of infectivity and prognosis in hepatitis B has been limited by the low sensitivity of the earlier test systems. Thus, this new RIA is a valuable addition to the diagnostic tests for patients with hepatitis B.
 ...
PMID:Evaluation of a new radioimmunoassay for detecting hepatitis B e antigen and its antibody. 722 21

Variations in the serum levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. IgM antibody against the HCV 'core' structural protein (c22) and alanine amino-transferase (ALT) were measured in 23 patients with chronic hepatitis C who underwent therapy with interferon-alpha 2a (IFN alpha 2a). Low pretreatment levels of viraemia and undetectable IgM anti-core were significantly associated with a long-term response to treatment. In patients with hepatitis relapses after the end of treatment, HCV RNA levels increased before or at the same time as ALT in 29 out of 34 cases (85%). ALT flares occurred before or simultaneously with IgM anti-core elevations in 18 out of 20 cases (90%). Therefore, post-treatment hepatitis C exacerbations show the same sequence of events seen as in hepatitis B exacerbations (increases of viraemia followed by those of ALT and IgM anti-'core'). These findings underscore the diagnostic and prognostic usefulness of monitoring anti-HCV-positive patients with quantitative assays for HCV markers.
 ...
PMID:The fluctuations of hepatitis C virus RNA and IgM anti-HCV (core) serum levels correlate with those of alanine aminotransferases during the hepatitis relapses of patients treated with interferon. 748 43

Three main patterns of response are seen when interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C: 1 sustained response with alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) normalization that is maintained after cessation of therapy, with or without clearance of serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA; 2 transient response with ALT normalization during therapy followed by relapse after its withdrawal, and 3 no response with no or only partial reduction in ALT levels. In order to define variables that could predict each of these three types of response we studied 321 cases of chronic hepatitis C treated with IFN-alpha in two consecutive trials conducted in our Unit. By univariate analysis, age < 45 years (P < 0.01), known disease duration < 60 months (P < 0.01), normal gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (gamma GT) levels (P < 0.01) and infection by HCV genotype 2 or HCV genotype 3 (P < 0.01) were found to be statistically associated with sustained response while age > 45 years (P < 0.01), body weight (P = 0.05), cirrhosis (P < 0.01) and elevated gamma GT levels (P < 0.01) were associated with no response. By multivariate analysis sustained response was predicted by HCV genotype 2 (P < 0.01) and HCV genotype 3 (P < 0.01), known disease duration (P < 0.01), patient's age (P < 0.05) and associated with the use of a more aggressive treatment schedule (P < 0.05). Transient response with relapse was predicted by known duration of disease (P < 0.05), HCV genotype 1 (P < 0.05) and female sex (P < 0.05). No response was statistically associated with elevated gamma GT levels (P < 0.01), higher body weight (P < 0.05) and with the less aggressive regimen of 3 MU of natural IFN-alpha given three times weekly for 6 months (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the HCV genotype as well as the schedule of treatment greatly affect the pattern of response to IFN in chronic hepatitis C and allow us to define criteria to predict which type of response is more likely in individual patients.
 ...
PMID:Predictors of sustained response, relapse and no response in patients with chronic hepatitis C treated with interferon-alpha. 749 3


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>