Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Y Ashur

Publications and source records attributed to Y Ashur.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

Bcl-2 rearrangement in patients with chronic hepatitis C associated with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia type II.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is found in 80% to 90% of patients with essential mixed cryoglobulinemia (EMC) type II, which is associated with monoclonal IgMk produced by monoclonal B cells. It was investigated whether bcl-2 rearrangement is associated with the clonal B-cell proliferation of EMC induced by hepatitis C. The study groups were composed of 15 patients with HCV and EMC, 12 patients with HCV without EMC, and 7 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) unrelated to HCV. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes was applied to JH and to bcl-2 to study whether JH/bcl-2 translocation was present in these patients. Thirteen of 15 (86%) of patients with HCV-related EMC had the JH/bcl-2 translocation, a significantly higher rate than in HCV patients without EMC (16%; P < .001). Bcl-2 rearrangement was not detected in the patients with CLD not related to HCV. The JH/bcl-2 translocation may constitute a pathogenetic link for the development of NHL in patients with HCV infection. (Blood. 2000;96:2910-2912)

Adult↗
PubMed2000

A balanced 5:1 carbohydrate:protein diet: a new method for supplementing protein to patients with chronic liver disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Protein malnutrition in patients with chronic liver disease contributes to bone and muscle weakness and compromises immune function and survival. In contrast, high-protein diets may induce or exacerbate hepatic encephalopathy. The aim of the present study was to test whether increased amounts of protein, balanced by dietary carbohydrate in a 1:5 ratio, may be given to chronic liver disease patients in order to minimize postprandial increases in plasma amino acid (AA) concentrations. METHODS: Eight patients with chronic liver disease were studied. Each received, in a randomized order, three different diets of 2510 kJ of either high protein (37:50:28, carbohydrate:protein:fat), high carbohydrate (126:10:6) or a balanced 5:1 carbohydrate:protein diet (105:21:11). All patients were followed for plasma AA, glucose and insulin levels, as well as for cognitive and behavioral changes. RESULTS: Following the high protein diet, AA concentrations were significantly increased. In contrast, after the balanced diet, AA levels were practically constant enabled. All diets was well tolerated and no cognitive or behavioral changes appeared. CONCLUSION: The administration of a balanced 5:1 carbohydrate:protein diet may enable patients with chronic liver disease to tolerate increased amounts of dietary protein, without altering plasma amino acid concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Reply

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Comparison of immunogenicity of two hepatitis A vaccines--VAQTA and HAVRIX--in young adults.

Two new hepatitis A vaccines have been developed, and their immunogenicity tested using different immunoassays. The present study was designed to compare the immunogenicity of these two hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccines--VAQTA and HAVRIX--as determined by seroconversion rates and anti-HAV titers, and using the same immunoassay. Healthy volunteers (15-30 y), seronegative for anti-HAV, were randomized in an open single center study to four groups of 20-21 vaccinees each, to receive either a 25 U or a 50 U dose of VAQTA, or HAVRIX at 720 EU or 1440 EU/dose, administered at 0, 1 and 6 m or at 0 and 6 m, respectively. Four weeks after primary immunization, seroconversion rates were 100% for VAQTA and 95% for HAVRIX, following injection of 50 U or 1440 EU, respectively (p = NS) and anti-HAV GMTs were 40 and 37 mIU/ml for VAQTA and HAVRIX, respectively. At 6 months, prior to the booster dose, seroconversion rates were 100% for both vaccines, with anti-HAV GMTs of 111 and 70 mIU/ml for VAQTA and HAVRIX, respectively (P < 0.05). At month 7, four weeks after the only booster injection, using the two dose regimen, anti-HAV titers were 2212 and 1511 mIU/ml for VAQTA and HAVRIX, respectively (P < NS). Using three doses of 25 U/dose of VAQTA or 720 EU/dose of HAVRIX at 0, 1 and 6 m did not produce any clinically evaluable advantage over the two dose regimen for either vaccine. No significant adverse events were observed using either vaccine. In summary, both vaccines have similar immunogenicity demonstrated using identical immunoassays for evaluation. These results also confirm the outstanding immunogenicity of a single dose of either of the HAV vaccines and support their use in pre- and possibly postexposure prophylaxis against hepatitis A virus infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Comparison of immune reactivity and pharmacokinetics of two hepatitis B immune globulins in patients after liver transplantation.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) immune globulin (HBIg) administration will prevent HBV graft reinfection in HBV patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). However, the expenditure for such prophylaxis is extremely high ranging between $2,000 to $10,000 per month in various countries for an undefined period and presumably for life. As a consequence, there is a need for introduction of additional and less expensive modes of treatment. In a preliminary clinical trial a new HBIg preparation has been shown to induce longer lasting levels of circulating antibodies to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) in patients after OLT compared with previous experience with conventional HBIg preparations. In the present study the pharmacokinetics of this new HBIg, OMRI-Hep-B, were studied and compared with a conventional, licensed preparation, Hepatect. Fifteen post-OLT patients (2-8 years post-OLT, 18-62 years of age, 6 men, 9 women) were treated intravenously with 49 doses of OMRI-Hep-B or Hepatect given at least once, alternately, at 10,000 to 14,000 units per injection ( approximately 130 IU/kg body weight). The new HBIg was well tolerated and no adverse effects were observed. Administration of OMRI-Hep-B was shown to induce high and long-lasting levels of circulating anti-HBs antibodies and greater areas under the curve (AUC) compared with the conventional preparation. Thus, anti-HBs half-life was 22 +/- 1.3 days for OMRI-Hep-B recipients and 13 +/- 1.3 days for Hepatect recipients (P <.001). Time to reach trough anti-HBs levels of 150 mIU/mL was significantly longer after administration of OMRI-Hep-B than after Hepatect (79 +/- 4.5 and 52 +/- 3.8 days, respectively; P <.001). In summary, the pharmacokinetic profile of the new HBIg, and in particular its prolonged elimination half-life, may reduce the cost of administration by approximately 30% and improve the quality of life of patients by extending the interval between repeated immune globulin injections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Interference of antibody production to hepatitis B surface antigen in a combination hepatitis A/hepatitis B vaccine.

A randomized trial comparing 3 manufacturing consistency lots of a combination hepatitis A/hepatitis B vaccine to each other and to hepatitis A vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine given separately and concurrently was done to evaluate safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity. Healthy volunteers >/=11 years of age were divided into 4 groups. Each of 3 groups received a separate consistency lot of the combination vaccine, and 1 group received separate but concurrent injections of hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines. Injections were given at weeks 0 and 24. The combination vaccine was generally well tolerated. The hepatitis A portion of the combination vaccine produced clinically acceptable high seropositivity rates 4 and 52 weeks after the first injection. The hepatitis B portion of the vaccine did not produce clinically acceptable seropositivity rates 4 weeks after the second injection. Lack of antibody production may be attributed, at least in part, to immunologic interference.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Hepatitis C-associated cryoglobulinemia presenting with pericardial effusion.

A 54-yr-old man underwent orthotopic liver transplantation for cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C virus and associated with cryoglobulinemia and proteinuria. Four months after transplantation, the patient was reinfected with hepatitis C virus and cryoglobulinemia recurred, accompanied by increasing proteinuria, ascites, and pleural and pericardial effusion. Serum cryoglobulins and pleural and pericardial effusion disappeared rapidly following treatment with ribavirin, whereas proteinuria remain unchanged. We believe that pericardial effusion is an unusual presentation of hepatitis C virus-associated cryoglobulinemia.

Cryoglobulinemia↗
PubMed1997

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients with persistent infection--a preliminary report.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has nucleotide sequence diversity distributed throughout the viral genome, with variants showing even less than 70% homology. There is some evidence that sequence variation of HCV genotypes partly determines the course of infection and response to treatment with interferon. We studied the sera of 29 Israeli HCV patients, all suffering from chronic liver disease, and 34 patients with renal failure necessitating hemodialysis. HCV genotypes were detected using a reverse hybridization assay (LiPA), after reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, using primers spanning the 5' UTR of the HCV genome. In this preliminary report the predominant HCV type detected was type 1, found in 65% of the chronic hepatitis patients and in 88% of the hemodialysis patients. Subtype 1b was the most prevalent and was detected in >40% of the chronic hepatitis patients and in >70%of the dialysis patients. Other types detected were 2a and 3, and in only two patients was type 4 found. More than 50% of patients with type 1 (1a or 1b) among patients with chronic hepatitis had received blood transfusion in the past, but only 16.6% of patients bearing subtype 2a HCV had such a history. Our preliminary evaluation revealed that patients bearing subtype 1b seemed to have a better response to interferon treatment, as compared with patients infected with subtypes 1a, 2a, who displayed a low response rate.

Adult↗