BACKGROUND Persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is sustained by inadequate immune responses, either natural or acquired. Recent studies have suggested that immune responses to viral infection may be affected by microRNA (miR)-155, via its involvement in immune cell differentiation and maturation. However, little is known on the specific interaction between miR-155 and HBV in host antivi...

OBJECTIVE To study the expression profile and clinical significance of microRNAs (miRNAs) at different stages of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. METHODS The miRNA expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) at different stages of chronic HBV infection were screened using miRNA microarray and validated using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPC...

BACKGROUND Co-infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) and/or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection can alter the course of the disease. OBJECTIVES In this study, we investigated the frequency of HIV and/or HCV co-infection in chronic HBV patients and related risk factors in acquiring the HCV and or HIV co-infectionit. PATIENTS AND METHO...

objectives this study evaluates the correlation between hbv infection and snp in il-10 gene promoter. patients and methods ninety-six hbv-infected patients (32 chronic hepatitis b infection patients, 34 healthy carriers, 30 spontaneously recovered cases) and 31 healthy controls were enrolled. three biallelic (-819,-592,-1082) regions in the il-10 gene promoter were sequenced for all patients. r...

BACKGROUND Refugees are at an increased risk of chronic Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection because many of their countries of origin, as well as host countries, have intermediate-to-high prevalence rates. Refugees arriving to the US are also at risk of serious sequelae from chronic HBV infection because they are not routinely screened for the virus overseas or in domestic post-arrival exams, and...

A20 is an important negative immune regulator but its role in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still unknown. This present study was to investigate the potential role of A20 gene in the progression of chronic HBV infection. A total of 236 chronic HBV patients were included and consisted of 63 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 87 liver cirrhosis (LC) and 86 chronic hepatitis B (CHB). T...

BACKGROUND The epidemiologic trends of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients over the past 20 years are largely unknown. METHODS Prevalence and risk factors for HBV infection overall, at the time of HIV infection, and after HIV infection were examined in an ongoing observational HIV cohort study. Risk factors for HBV infection at the time of...

Thus far, many studies have evaluated the correlation between MBL2 gene polymorphisms and hepatitis B infection. Tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to investigate the relationship between MBL2 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by comparing 996 chronic HBV infection cases to 301 acute infection controls. There was no significant ...

Greenland remains a highly endemic area for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This is in sharp contrast to other modern societies, such as Denmark. To address this discrepancy, we investigated the natural history of HBV infection in Greenland by estimating the age-specific incidence of HBV infection, the proportion of chronic carriers, and the rates of hepatitis B surface antigen seroclearance...

Serologic assays for HBV are the mainstay diagnostic tools for HBV infection. However, the advent of molecular biology-based techniques has added a new dimension to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection. Over the past decade, improvements in molecular technology, permitting detection of as few as 10 copies/mL of HBV DNA in serum have led to redefinitions of chronic ...