Biomedical subjects

Oliver Kirschberg

Publications and source records attributed to Oliver Kirschberg.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

SEN virus does not affect treatment response in hepatitis C virus coinfected patients but SEN virus response depends on SEN virus DNA concentration.

AIM: To clarify the effect of SEN virus (SENV) infection on a combination therapy including interferon alfa (IFN-alpha) or pegylated-IFN with ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis and the effect of a combination therapy on SENV. METHODS: SENV DNA was determined by polymerase chain reaction in serum samples from 95 patients with chronic hepatitis C. Quantitative analysis was done for SENV H DNA. RESULTS: Twenty-one (22%) of 95 patients were positive for SENV DNA. There was no difference in clinical and biochemical parameters between patients with HCV infection alone and coinfected patients. The sustained response rate for HCV clearance after combination therapy did not differ between patients with SENV (52%) and without SENV (50%, n.s.). SENV DNA was undetectable in 76% of the initially SENV positive patients at the end of follow-up. SENV H response to combination therapy was significantly correlated with SENV DNA level (P=0.05). CONCLUSION: SENV infection had no influence on the HCV sustained response rate to the combination therapy. Response rate of SENV to the combination therapy depends on SENV DNA level.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

A multiplex-PCR to identify hepatitis B virus--enotypes A-F.

Eight genotypes (A-H) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) are known with variations in nucleotide sequences greater than 8%. Several recent publications found that the clinical course and outcome of antiviral therapy depended on the genotype of the infecting HBV strain. Large epidemiological studies will require the availability of a system which is rapid, reliable and can be performed on a large number of samples. We have developed a multiplex-PCR assay which uses genotype-specific primer pairs for HBV genotypes A-F. These primer pairs specifically amplified HBV DNA of the respective genotype, either in single or in multiplex-PCR. Sensitivity of the assay was in the range of 10(4) genome equivalents.

DNA Primers↗

PubMedDate not supplied

SEN virus infection.

The SEN virus (SEN-V) belongs to a recently discovered group of DNA viruses whose members (SEN-V-D and SEN-V-H) are associated with post-transfusion hepatitis. It is a single-stranded circular, non-enveloped DNA virus of approximately 3600 to approximately 3800 nucleotides with at least three open reading frames (ORFs). Eight different strains of SEN-V have been identified and provisionally classified as members of the Circoviridae family, a group of small, single-stranded, non-enveloped circular DNA viruses that includes the TT virus (TTV), TUS01, SANBAN, PMV and YONBAN. Prevalences in different populations show great variability with marked differences between different countries and groups. Although parenteral transmission is very likely, other routes of transmission cannot be excluded. Mother to infant transmission has been demonstrated. The effect of SEN-V on chronic liver diseases has been studied. The influence of SEN-V on the response to HCV therapy was investigated in three studies, with contradictory results. Data for other acute and chronic liver diseases are sparse. Further studies are needed to define the pathogenesis and clinical importance of SEN-V infection.

Adult↗