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Biomedical subjects

B G Hansson

Publications and source records attributed to B G Hansson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Hepatitis B virus DNA detected by PCR in sera and liver tissues of Chinese patients with chronic liver diseases.

To investigate the HBV infection and its replication in Chinese patients with chronic liver disease, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect hepatitis B virus DNA in sera of 410 patients with chronic liver disease and liver samples from 188 patients. The HBV DNA detectability in all serum samples was 58%. Among them 100% HBeAg-positive and 58% anti-HBe cases were HBV DNA detectable respectively. However, HBV DNA was also found in 23% HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc positive chronic cases. Furthermore, 30% anti-HBs positive chronic cases who had neutralizing antibody against HBV infection, continued to contain HBV DNA. Our findings indicate that HBV infection and its replication are dominant cause of chronic liver disease and some HBV variants may escape from the protective antibody to induce chronic liver disease, even anti-HBs antibody circulated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Acute sporadic viral hepatitis in Ethiopia: causes, risk factors, and effects on pregnancy.

One hundred and ten consecutive cases of acute sporadic hepatitis among Ethiopian patients were studied to define viral causes, identify risk factors, and analyze demographic and clinical data. IgM antibodies to hepatitis A virus were found in nine patients (8%), and hepatitis B surface antigen and IgM antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen were found in 22 (20%); these findings were considered evidence of acute hepatitis A and hepatitis B, respectively. Sera from the remaining 79 patients were tested for antibodies to hepatitis E virus by a blocking fluorescent antibody test. Thirty-six (33%) of these patients were seropositive, as compared to 4 (7%) of 59 healthy control subjects; for 43 patients (39%), the cause of the acute sporadic hepatitis was unidentified. Twenty-one (19%) of the patients had antibodies to hepatitis C virus, as determined by ELISA. Demographic, biochemical, and clinical data (except in regard to sequelae) were comparable for the different types of infections. The study subjects included 32 pregnant women, 19 (59%) of whom had hepatitis E virus infection; these infections caused death in eight of the women (mostly in the third trimester) and 10 fetal complications. Thus, hepatitis E virus is a common cause of acute sporadic viral hepatitis in Ethiopian patients, and its occurrence during pregnancy is associated with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Effect of isoprinosine on HIV antigenaemia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of isoprinosine on HIV-antigen expression in HIV-positive patients without AIDS. DESIGN: Serum samples from anti-HIV-positive patients without AIDS participating in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of isoprinosine in the treatment of HIV infection were analysed for the presence of HIV antigen. SETTING: Data and samples were collected from the 21 medical centres who participated in the Scandinavian multicentre placebo-controlled isoprinosine study. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Samples were available from 19 of 21 participating centres. Of 866 patients who enrolled, baseline serum samples were available for 642 (74%; 308 isoprinosine- and 334 placebo-treated patients). INTERVENTIONS: Treatment was 1 g isoprinosine administered orally three times a day or matching placebo for 24 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Comparison of HIV-antigen levels before and during treatment in both the isoprinosine-treated group and the placebo-treated group of patients. RESULTS: During the study, AIDS developed in 19 patients; 17 of whom were receiving placebo treatment and two isoprinosine. The proportion of HIV-antigen-positive patients developing AIDS during treatment was significantly different from the proportion of HIV-antigen-negative patients in whom AIDS developed (6 versus 2%; P = 0.02). No significant changes in HIV-antigen levels were observed between the isoprinosine- and the placebo-treated group of HIV-antigen-positive patients. Median HIV-antigen levels did not change significantly in either the isoprinosine- or the placebo-treated group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that isoprinosine does not have antiviral activity against HIV in vivo.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Hepatitis C virus antibodies and hepatitis C virus RNA in Chinese blood donors determined by ELISA, recombinant immunoblot assay and polymerase chain reaction.

Antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were determined in Chinese blood donors from the city of Wuhan by a second generation ELISA screening test and a confirmatory recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA II). Two materials of 281 and 222 sera were sampled under similar conditions in 1989 and 1990, respectively. The first collection of sera was sent to Sweden in lyophilized form, the second directly as fresh unfrozen sera. A high proportion (7.1%) of the lyophilized sera reacted positively in the anti-HCV screening assay, but only seven (2.5%) were positive by the RIBA confirmatory test. In four of these sera HCV-RNA could be detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. In the second material of fresh sera six reacted positively in the screening anti-HCV ELISA, but only one was RIBA positive and four were RIBA indeterminate. None of these sera was positive for HCV-RNA. Thus, the overall prevalence of anti-HCV among the 503 Chinese blood donors, as identified by RIBA, was 1.6%, and of HCV-RNA by PCR 0.8%. The confirmed antibody prevalence is higher than reported from the Western world. Caution about using data from the screening ELISA only, especially if sera have been handled in an unorthodox way, is emphasized.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis B and C viruses among different groups of medical staff.

The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) among the medical staff of a department of infectious diseases and a dialysis unit was studied (n = 80). Among medical staff from some selected emergency and operating units at elevated risk for blood exposure (n = 231) the prevalence of antibodies to both hepatitis B and C viruses was determined. Three out of 311 staff members tested (0.96%) were positive for anti-HCV, 1 from an emergency unit and 2 from surgery departments. 14/231 tested for anti-HBc (6.1%) were positive. None of these was positive for HBsAg. Thus, the prevalence of anti-HCV among medical staff frequently dealing with anti-HCV positive patients or at elevated risk for blood exposure was low and did not differ considerably from what has been found among healthy blood donors. The prevalence of markers for passed hepatitis B was only slightly augmented compared to what has been reported from the general population.

Hepacivirus↗
PubMed1992

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus infection with an unusual pattern of serological markers.

A 73-year-old man presented with acute hepatitis, judged to be a reactivation of hepatitis B virus infection. His serum samples during a follow-up time of 16 months showed an unusual pattern of serological markers. He was consistently HBeAg positive, HBsAg fluctuated just under the cut-off value and he had a low level of circulating anti-HBs. By electron microscopy numerous aggregates of surface antigen particles, but not complete virions were seen. He was HBV DNA positive by hybridization. The complete precore and core genes and a region of the surface gene were amplified from his serum by PCR. These findings emphasize the need for expanded serological testing in some patients with acute clinical hepatitis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Chronic liver disease in Ethiopia: a clinical study with emphasis on identifying common causes.

Between July 1986 and April 1989, 334 hospitalized adult Ethiopian patients with chronic liver disease were studied according to a protocol to define their clinical features and to identify risk factors with the aim of preventive intervention. Of these, 14 had chronic hepatitis, 208 cirrhosis and 112 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Both clinical and histological diagnostic criteria were employed. A detailed questionnaire was used to document demographic and clinical data. A common clinical presentation among patients with chronic hepatitis was darkening of the face and hands with or without hypertrichosis of the face and blisters over the dorsi of the hands. This overt or latent form of porphyrea cutanea tarda (PCT) responds to chloroquine. Patients with cirrhosis of the liver commonly present for the first time with ascites, splenomegaly, haematemesis and/or melena from oesophageal varices, and mental changes due to hepatic encephalopathy. Overt or latent forms of PCT are also common features. Peculiar to these cirrhotics is the rarity of spider naevi, gynaecomastia, testicular atrophy, Dupuytren's contracture, parotid gland enlargement and clubbing of the fingers. Exhaustion, loss of appetite, rapid loss of weight, right upper quadrant and/or epigastric pain (all often of less than 6 months' duration, a big, hard, tender and grossly nodular liver with bruit, signs of portal hypertension, and/or hepatic encephalopathy, in a young male with a rapid down hill course characterize the Ethiopian patient with HCC. Serum anti-nuclear factor, anti-mitochondrial anti-bodies and anti-smooth muscle anti-bodies were absent in those with chronic hepatitis and were uncommon in the cirrhotics and HCC cases. One or more hepatitis B virus markers were found in 86% of chronic hepatitis, 88% cirrhosis and 78% HCC and the HBsAg carrier state was found in 36%, 29% and 23%, respectively. Among the HBsAg carriers, HBeAg positivity was less common than anti-HBe but anti-HDV was significantly higher than in the healthy general population. Alphafetoprotein (AFP) levels greater than 500 mg/ml were present in 16 (8%) cirrhotics and 58 (52%) patients with HCC. Histologically, 3 of the chronic hepatitis patients had progressed to cirrhosis, 8 of the cirrhotic patients had chronic active hepatitis and 85% of HCC cases occurred in a background of macronodular cirrhosis. Three cirrhotics developed HCC during follow-up.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Human papillomavirus infection of the male diagnosed by Southern-blot hybridization and polymerase chain reaction: comparison between urethra samples and penile biopsy samples.

A group of 108 healthy men aged 18 to 23 years underwent penoscopy after application of acetic acid. In 39 (37%) aceto-white lesions were found and a biopsy was taken. From 105 patients a urethra sample was collected with a brush. The prevalence of HPV-DNA by dot-blot and Southern-blot hybridizations (DBH/SBH) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as well as the correlation between results from urethra samples and penile aceto-white epithelium were examined. In urethra, HPV-DNA was detected in four of the 66 patients (6%) with normal epithelium and in three of the 39 (8%) with aceto-white epithelium by using DBH/SBH. By PCR the corresponding findings were eight (12%) and 10 (26%) HPV-DNA-positive patients, respectively. Out of the 39 biopsy samples HPV-DNA was detected in six (15%) by DBH/SBH and in 17 (44%) by PCR. Twenty-two (56%) of the patients with aceto-white lesions were by PCR positive in either the urethra sample or biopsy. All samples positive by DBH/SBH were also positive by PCR except for one biopsy with HPV 35, a type not tested for by PCR. HPV 11 was the most common finding in urethra and HPV 6 and 16 in aceto-white epithelium.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Outbreak of acute hepatitis E virus infection among military personnel in northern Ethiopia.

An outbreak of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection occurred from October 1988 to March 1989 in military camps in northern Ethiopia. The epidemic was waterborne and entirely confined to military men, of whom 423 hospitalized, icteric patients were studied. The clinical course was mild and short, without any fulminant hepatitis or death. All sera tested for anti-HAV-IgM were negative and among 54 (13%) patients who were positive for HBsAg, 7 (2%) were positive for anti-HBc IgM. On the other hand, 28 of 30 (93%) patients had antibodies against hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) in contrast to 1 of 29 (3%) asymptomatic controls (P less than .01). The need for an easily available, inexpensive serologic test for HEV infection, protection of water supplies from fecal contamination, adequate chlorination and/or boiling of drinking water, and health education about personal and environmental hygiene, especially in communities at high risk, is emphasized.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Hepatitis C virus RNA in blood donor sera detected by the polymerase chain reaction: comparison with supplementary hepatitis C antibody assays.

The low specificity of screening ELISAs for antibodies to hepatitis C virus in blood donors has called for confirmatory tests. Two types of supplementary antibody assays are available, recombinant immunoblot assays (RIBA-1 and RIBA-2) and an antibody consumption test referred to as a neutralization assay. Amplification of viral nucleic acid by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) provides an antibody independent mode of detecting viral infection. We applied reverse transcription-double PCR to detect an HCV 5'-noncoding viral RNA sequence in serum specimens and compared PCR findings with confirmatory antibody tests. This study includes sera from 37 blood donors found positive by the Ortho anti-HCV (C100-3) ELISA out of 14,591 donations. Of the 37 positive sera, 8 were positive by RIBA-1 and 1 further by RIBA-2. Seven of the RIBA positive sera contained HCV RNA by PCR. Among the 8 indeterminate and the 21 negative donor sera by RIBA-1, no PCR positive serum was found. The 37 anti-HCV positive donor sera identified by Ortho ELISA were also tested by Abbott anti-HCV (C100-3) ELISA whereby 22 were positive. Of these 22 sera plus 1 further with ELISA OD just below cutoff, 8 were positive by the "neutralization assay," (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL, USA) and 6 of these, including the borderline serum, were PCR positive. One of the two neutralizable but PCR negative sera was RIBA positive and the other was indeterminate. However, one ELISA (Abbott Laboratories) positive (OD 1.99) serum was not neutralizable but nevertheless contained HCV RNA by PCR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Blood Donors↗
PubMed1991

Antibody to hepatitis-C-virus-related proteins in sera from alanine-aminotransferase-screened blood donors and prospectively studied recipients.

A prospective study of posttransfusion non-A, non-B hepatitis was conducted in Malmö, Sweden, in 1984-1985, in which donors were alanine aminotransferase (ALT) screened but not ALT selected. Among 741 patients studied at 0, 6, and 12 weeks after transfusion, 13 developed non-A, non-B hepatitis, and these were further followed up. Stored sera from the 13 hepatitis patients and their 123 donors were tested for anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) by ELISA and if positive, analyzed by recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA). All ALT-elevated blood units (n = 301) and a similar number of ALT-normal units were also tested. Only 4/13 patients with non-A, non-B hepatitis seroconverted to anti-HCV, all with ALT peaks greater than 10 times the upper normal. All seroconversions occurred within 5 months after transfusion and could be confirmed by RIBA. Hepatitis C in recipients occurred both after transfusion of blood that was strongly positive, weakly positive, and/or negative for anti-HCV by ELISA. In donors grouped by ALT levels, the anti-HCV prevalence varied between 0.4 (normal ALT) and 14% (ALT elevated greater than or equal to 2 times). Of the total of 9 donor units positive by ELISA, only 5 were confirmed by RIBA. Of the 5 recipients of the RIBA-positive blood units, 3 went into hepatitis, 1 remained normal at 10.5 weeks, and 1 showed a slight, transient ALT elevation at week 12. The recipients of ELISA-positive but RIBA-negative blood remained healthy.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1991

Antibody to a hepatitis C virus related protein among patients at high risk for hepatitis B.

Anti-HCV prevalence in treated hemophiliacs, their heterosexual partners, intravenous drug addicts and homosexual men was studied. In hemophiliacs and many of the intravenous drug addicts, greater than or equal to 2 sera drawn 1-18 or 1-17 years apart were available. Anti-HCV testing was performed by ELISA (Ortho). Among patients with severe and moderate hemophilia A, 87% (98/112) were positive for anti-HCV at least once and among patients with severe and moderate hemophilia B, 83% (24/29) were positive for anti-HCV. Seroconversion to anti-HCV was observed in 21% of hemophilia patients. In hemophilia A, HCV infection generally occurred during the first years of life and in hemophilia B somewhat later. Loss of anti-HCV antibody was seen in 12% (17 patients). The rest, 54% (76 patients) were seropositive in first and last samples. All 12 tested spouses to anti-HCV positive men were anti-HCV negative. 80% of the drug addicts (137/172) were seropositive for anti-HCV. In those with greater than 1 serum tested, 8% were consistently negative and 68% consistently positive. 21% seroconverted to anti-HCV while 3% lost antibody. 10% (22/211) of homosexual men were anti-HCV positive. Intravenous transmission of HCV thus seemed highly efficient whereas sexual transmission was much less efficient.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

HBsAg/IgM complexes as a prognostic marker of chronicity in acute hepatitis B virus infection.

A simple radioimmunoassay for the detection of HBsAg/IgM complexes is described. 52 patients with acute hepatitis B infection were tested, 35 with self-limiting disease (group I) and 17 who became chronic carriers (group II). In the first sampling, taken during the early clinical phase, 24/35 patients (69%) in group I and 16/17 (94%) impending chronic carriers had detectable HBsAg/IgM complexes. The mean s/n values were significantly higher (p less than 0.01) in the group of chronic carriers. In the second sampling, taken with a mean of 31 and 39 days after the first samples in the first and second group, respectively, 2/35 (6%) and 15/17 (88%) were positive for HBsAg/IgM complexes (p less than 0.001). A comparison of HBsAg/IgM complexes results with the detection of HBeAg/anti-HBe showed that 7/14 (50%) patients with acute self-limiting disease lost their complexes before converting to anti-HBe. In the group of chronic carriers, HBeAg was generally lost before or at the same time as the HBsAg/IgM complexes (2.5 months to greater than 9 years after the onset of infection). The method described is easy to perform and could be entered into routine testing of patients with a newly acquired hepatitis B virus infection as an additional prognostic marker, complementing the HBsAg/anti-HBs and the HBeAg/anti-HBe systems.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1991

Successful treatment of fulminant hepatitis B and fulminant hepatitis B and D coinfection explained by inhibitory effect on the immune response?

Foscarnet has been shown to inhibit the proliferation of human T and B lymphocytes in vitro. The production of lymphokines was more strongly affected than the DNA synthesis. Monocyte function was only partly inhibited by the highest foscarnet concentration tried. The influence of foscarnet on the immune system could explain the beneficial effect observed in patients with HBV-related fulminant hepatitis treated with foscarnet.

Antiviral Agents↗
PubMed1990

Immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine simultaneously administered with the expanded programme on immunisation (EPI).

To assess the immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine simultaneously administered with the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) vaccines, a total of 300 consecutive infants, ranging in age between 6 weeks and 6 months, were alternatively assigned to the revised EPI and to EPI plus plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine (Hevac B Pasteur). Four dosages (2 mcg or 0.5 ml each) of hepatitis B vaccine were given intramuscularly. HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs were determined at day 0 and at day 210 in both groups by radioimmunoassay methods. The anti-HBs titre levels and geometric mean titres (GMTs) were determined at day 180 and day 210. There were three new hepatitis B virus infections in the control group and none in the study group by day 210. The seroconversion rates in the study group were 66% at day 180 and 84% at day 210, the respective GMTs being 116 and 940. Although the duration of observation is short (7 months) and the difference in the rate of infection between the two groups is not statistically significant (P greater than 0.05), the immunogenicity of the vaccine appears to be good. The simultaneous administration of hepatitis B vaccine and the EPI vaccines is logistically ideal. However, we suggest a further study using a larger dose of the Hevac B Pasteur vaccine to find out if a higher seroconversion rate than the 84% observed in this study could be achieved.

Female↗
PubMed1990

Reactivation of viral replication in anti-HBe positive chronic HBsAg carriers.

Reactivation of hepatitis B virus replication was investigated in an unselected group of 44 HBV DNA negative, anti-HBe positive chronic HBsAg carriers. Twenty-five patients (54%) were intravenous drug addicts and 7 (16%) were male homosexuals. Sixteen patients had evidence of delta infection and five of the seven male homosexuals had human immunodeficiency virus infection. The patients were followed for 1 to 180 months (median, 24 months) while HBV DNA negative, anti-HBe positive. Reactivation, defined as reappearance of HBV DNA or HBeAg, or both, was detected in six patients corresponding to an annual reactivation rate of 5%. Reactivation in four patients was detected by reversion to HBV DNA positivity only, whereas HBeAg/anti-HBe status remained unchanged. Two patients became both HBV DNA and HBeAg positive. None of the patients developed hepatitis-like symptoms and transaminase elevation was only observed in two patients. Reactivation in two patients was ascribed to human immunodeficiency virus infection and in one patient to chronic lymphatic leukaemia. It is concluded that HBV DNA seems to be superior to HBeAg in the detection of reactivation of HBV replication and that reactivation associated with clinical symptoms leading to progression in chronic liver disease is a rare event in the population studied.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Age-specific prevalence of hepatitis A virus antibody in Ethiopian children.

Three groups of individuals in Ethiopia, with different socioeconomic status, were studied demographically and serologically to determine the age-specific prevalence of antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV). A total of 959 subjects, 89% of whom were children under 15 years of age, were tested for anti-HAV by radioimmunoassay. Evidence of infection started early, found in 50% of the population before 5 years of age, increased rapidly with age and became universal after 15 years of age. A comparison of anti-HAV prevalences between 2 socioeconomic groups (children of health professionals versus children of lower income group) revealed a significant difference (p less than 0.01). These data show that HAV infection in Ethiopia is widespread and that environmental and socioeconomic factors play a major role in its transmission. The widespread prevalence of anti-HAV and anti-HBs also suggest that non-A, non-B virus(es) may be a major cause of the commonly observed sporadic cases of acute viral hepatitis in adult Ethiopians.

Adolescent↗